Hifiman Edition X:
Disclaimer: These headphones came from Todd at TTVJ. They were loaned to me free of charge with no reimbursement from either party. I do everything in my power to keep any bias out of my reviews.
History and Intro:
I’ve been following Hifiman for a while now and I’ve always been intrigued by their house sound. Dr Fang Bian has a unique taste in sound and it is one I’ve really come to enjoy. (I especially love the sound of the HE-560 and HE-400i.) As with nearly all head-fiers, my excitement of the HE-1000 announcement was quickly doused by the $3k asking price. This was disappointing, as it is now out of reach of many (most?) audiophiles. But, its sound didn’t disappoint. To my ears the $3k HE-1000 is a better value than the $2k LCD-3 and $1600 HD-800. Bargain or not, the $3k is still way out of my realistic price range. This is where the $1800 HE-X comes in. Priced right in the middle of the majority of the flagships, the HE-X promises the form factor of the HE-1000 with Dr. Fang Bian’s trademark sound.
Review:
Sound:
I’ve always been disappointed in descriptions of sound. While it’s very possible to translate a cans signature sound into an accurate description, it is nearly impossible for a blind reader to truly know if they will enjoy that sound merely based on a written description. Therefore, I will do my best to leave out words like “Musical, symphonic, melodious, etc.” A comparison to other headphones as well as a subjective overall personal enjoyment level seems much more helpful to me. I’m also big on value for the money. As with nearly every person on earth, my budget is limited and I really want the most bang for my buck.
Hifiman HEX vs. Sennheiser HD800
The HD800 seems to be the most popular flagship around. One would be hard-pressed to find a table at a meet that lacks an HD800. So, I believe that Dr. Fang Bian likely had the HD800 as his number one target when he designed the HD800. A few members at my local meet did a direct A/B, Song-for-Song, comparison between the HEX and HD800. We all came to pretty much the same conclusion. “Fun” and “Bassy” were a couple of the terms used most often. Yet, a few members even thought that the HEX was more analytical and detail oriented than even the HD800. When looking at the measurements though, the HEX doesn’t come off as extremely bassy or bright. In fact, it’s a fairly flat headphone. I thought maybe it has a really quick transient response, but the measurements say otherwise. Perhaps it is just the “Planar” sound differentiating itself from the HD800. It has ridiculous detail in the bass while not losing anything in the rest of the frequency response. When the music gets complicated the HEX really stands out, yet in an entirely different way than the HD800. I posed the question at the meet “which headphone would you pick up if you were in the market for a $1500-$2000 headphone,” and most were pretty split. A few preferred the larger soundstage of the HD800, while a few were concerned that the quality issues of the HE1000 would also plague the HEX. Personally I’d pick the HEX every time. I’ve never been a huge fan of the HD800, and with the exception of the soundstage the HEX beats or competes with the HD800 in every category.
Hifiman HEX vs HE-1000
(I didn’t have access to the HE-1000 and there wasn’t one brought to the meet, so this is all from memory of past experiences)
The HE-1000 is an amazing headphone. Prior to the HEX, it was my favorite headphone I’ve heard. (I haven’t heard the Stax SR-009, Shangri La, or Orpheus). The stand out feature of the HE-1000 is how little it does wrong. It’s near the top of every category of headphone descriptions. It doesn’t have the largest soundstage, but it’s close. It isn’t the most analytical, but it’s close. It isn’t the most comfortable, but it’s close. The HEX loses a lot of the character of the HE-1000. It doesn’t have the perfection that the HE-1000 comes so close to achieving. It’s not a perfectly tuned instrument. But what it does well, makes up for any lack elsewhere. I’d still prefer the HE-1000 if they were exactly the same price, but the $1200 savings makes the HEX the better value.
Hifiman HEX vs HE-400i/HE-560.
With the exception of the ancient but venerable HE-6, the HE-400i/HE-560 are the next options going down the Hifiman totem pole. They are both some of my favorite headphones of all time, so even matching them would be quite the chore for Dr. Fang Bian. They have different sounds and characteristics, but they share some of the same shortfalls so I’ve lumped them together for this comparison. The biggest downfalls with both the HE400i and the HE560 are the small soundstage and lack of bass. I started my headphone journey with the AKG Q701’s, so most headphones are lacking in soundstage to my ears. The HE-400i’s are especially small though. The HE560’s open up a little bit, but they could still use a little more. The HEX on the other hand nearly matches the Q701’s. It’s not completely there, but it at least gets close. The bass on the HEX easily beats the HE-400i and HE-560. I doubt there will be too many complaints on the HEX’s bass. As far as value goes, the 400i is probably still the best value. It’s very close to the 560 on performance and nearly ¼ the price of the HEX. The HEX is probably second though. Despite being twice the price of the 560, its performance is high enough that any potential 560 buyers should seriously consider saving up more and getting the HEX.
Hifiman HEX vs OPPO PM-1/2’s
The PM-1’s are a very smooth headphone, but they feel fairly bland to me. To my ears, the PM-1’s are outclassed against the HEX. Sonically every aspect of the PM-1’s are slightly below the HEX. The HEX has a larger soundstage, the bass is more accurate, it has more detail, and slightly more comfort. The one area the HEX does give up ground to the OPPO is in regards to build quality. The PM-1/2 is an amazingly well built headphone. I wouldn’t hesitate to throw the OPPO in my carry-on to use on a plane, but I don’t even dare let the HEX leave my house without it being in it’s box. The Hifiman isn’t really fragile, but something about it makes you want to be extra careful with it. The OPPO feels bulletproof.
*It is worth mentioning, a few members at the meet felt that the PM-1 was a superior headphone. In fact, those same members felt the OPPO was the best headphone they’d heard. I personally disagree, but since everyones ears are unique the OPPO may be worth listening to.
Hifiman HEX vs Audeze LCD-X
(At the current time, I do not feel like I’ve spent enough time listening to the LCD-X to offer a fair comparison. It’s price point and design features make it the most obvious comparison though, so I am saving this spot for a future comparison after I’ve spent more time with the LCD-X)
Overall sound:
The HEX’s have such a pleasing sound. It’s one of those rare headphones where I don’t know really how to improve it. The soundstage could always be larger, but it’s already really impressive for a planar. In fact the deficiency isn’t really noticeable unless you happen to be following an HD800/K701/etc. level of soundstage. The low-end is amazing. It’s not ideal for an EDM style basshead, but it has so much detail you’ll find yourself searching out songs with prominent bass guitars, timpani’s, and even kick drums. The headphone is so fast that it sounds almost treble-centric without being bright. It brings out detail, but doesn’t have the fatigue often associated with headphones like the K701’s.
Quality:
This was a big deal at my local meet. Nearly everyone who saw the HEX was concerned about the quality. For reasons unbeknownst to me, Hifiman has a reputation for suspect quality. When approached about it, the answer always seems to be: “We’re looking into it.” For me personally, I have had no problems with the Hifiman quality control. My HE-400i is perfect and has been extremely durable so far. The story is the same with the HEX. I initially worried about the bend in the screens, but I have since found out that it is a design feature. The cables seem to high quality, the grills are a really nice metal, the box is stunning, and the pads feel very durable. The outer rim of the each cup is painted plastic, which sounds cheap but actually looks pretty nice. I haven’t had any problems whatsoever with the HEX so far.
Comfort:
In my opinion, the most underrated aspect of headphone reviews is the comfort. It can make or break a headphone. The HEX is not the as comfortable as the HD800, but it is very close. I can honestly say that without including the Sennheiser line, the HEX is the most comfortable headphone I’ve used. As planars go, they are fairly light. Put them on a scale and they’ll embarrass anything made by Audeze. Dumbo wouldn’t have trouble getting his ears inside the cups. The headband applies the perfect pressure and is adjustable for sizing. My one concern with comfort is the sizing. The HEX is a very large headphone. I have a medium to large head and yet I used the HEX on just one click from the smallest setting. If you have an extremely small head you might want to make sure the HEX will fit you before making a purchase.
Amping:
Hifiman really likes to advertise “Ultra High Sensitivity” and “103 dB!” This makes it seem like the HEXs don’t need a lot of headroom. This is very misleading. In fact, my O2 amp didn’t sound much better than an iPhone. It wasn’t until I put them on my Ember or a Violectric V281 at the meet that they really started to shine. I don’t want to make it sound like they don’t sound great out of an iPhone, in fact they are probably the best headphone in the world straight out of an iPhone. It’s just that they compete against a properly amped HD800 out of an iPhone. A lot of power really makes the HEX shine. Too much volume can hurt the HEX, but too much power will just make it sound better. Count on investing in a good amp if you’re planning on picking up a HEX.
Accessories:
The cables are really nice. They are quite a bit more pliable than the HE400i's cables. The box is identical to the HE400i box. Despite borrowing from a $500 headphone, the box seems appropriate for the HEX. The 400i box is just that nice.
Price:
$1799 is a lot for a set of headphones. But compared to its competition it fits fairly well. The LCD-X is $1699. The LCD-3 is $1999. The HD800 is now $1599. The HEX may not match your ideal sound signature, but it's hard for anyone to deny that the fidelity of the HEX is at least on par with the rest of the $1500-$2000 cans. I wish they were cheaper, but I don't know of a better headphone for less. Despite the price, they are probably the best value to be had in the $1800 range. (At least to my ears). In fact as far as value goes I’d say it’s better than anything above the HD650/HE400i level. Most of the $800-$1500 headphones give up enough that even at $1800 the HEX is the better buy.
Final wrap-up:
Is the Hifiman Edition X the greatest headphone ever? No. That honor probably belongs to the Shangri La or Orpheus. In fact I believe even the HE-1000 is a better headphone than the HEX. So the obvious follow up question: “Is the Hifiman Edition X the greatest headphone under $2000?” Absolutely! To my ears the Edition X can compete and win any sub $2000 headphone I’ve ever heard. It truly is an amazing headphone!
Special Thanks:
I'd like to give a special thanks to Todd Green from Todd The Vinyl Junkie (TTVJAudio.com). He lent me his personal HEX for this review. He's a great guy and a great dealer. You won't be disappointed by his service!
I'd also like to thank cskippy for doing the measurements shown in the review.
Disclaimer: These headphones came from Todd at TTVJ. They were loaned to me free of charge with no reimbursement from either party. I do everything in my power to keep any bias out of my reviews.
History and Intro:
I’ve been following Hifiman for a while now and I’ve always been intrigued by their house sound. Dr Fang Bian has a unique taste in sound and it is one I’ve really come to enjoy. (I especially love the sound of the HE-560 and HE-400i.) As with nearly all head-fiers, my excitement of the HE-1000 announcement was quickly doused by the $3k asking price. This was disappointing, as it is now out of reach of many (most?) audiophiles. But, its sound didn’t disappoint. To my ears the $3k HE-1000 is a better value than the $2k LCD-3 and $1600 HD-800. Bargain or not, the $3k is still way out of my realistic price range. This is where the $1800 HE-X comes in. Priced right in the middle of the majority of the flagships, the HE-X promises the form factor of the HE-1000 with Dr. Fang Bian’s trademark sound.
Review:
Sound:
I’ve always been disappointed in descriptions of sound. While it’s very possible to translate a cans signature sound into an accurate description, it is nearly impossible for a blind reader to truly know if they will enjoy that sound merely based on a written description. Therefore, I will do my best to leave out words like “Musical, symphonic, melodious, etc.” A comparison to other headphones as well as a subjective overall personal enjoyment level seems much more helpful to me. I’m also big on value for the money. As with nearly every person on earth, my budget is limited and I really want the most bang for my buck.
Hifiman HEX vs. Sennheiser HD800
The HD800 seems to be the most popular flagship around. One would be hard-pressed to find a table at a meet that lacks an HD800. So, I believe that Dr. Fang Bian likely had the HD800 as his number one target when he designed the HD800. A few members at my local meet did a direct A/B, Song-for-Song, comparison between the HEX and HD800. We all came to pretty much the same conclusion. “Fun” and “Bassy” were a couple of the terms used most often. Yet, a few members even thought that the HEX was more analytical and detail oriented than even the HD800. When looking at the measurements though, the HEX doesn’t come off as extremely bassy or bright. In fact, it’s a fairly flat headphone. I thought maybe it has a really quick transient response, but the measurements say otherwise. Perhaps it is just the “Planar” sound differentiating itself from the HD800. It has ridiculous detail in the bass while not losing anything in the rest of the frequency response. When the music gets complicated the HEX really stands out, yet in an entirely different way than the HD800. I posed the question at the meet “which headphone would you pick up if you were in the market for a $1500-$2000 headphone,” and most were pretty split. A few preferred the larger soundstage of the HD800, while a few were concerned that the quality issues of the HE1000 would also plague the HEX. Personally I’d pick the HEX every time. I’ve never been a huge fan of the HD800, and with the exception of the soundstage the HEX beats or competes with the HD800 in every category.
Hifiman HEX vs HE-1000
(I didn’t have access to the HE-1000 and there wasn’t one brought to the meet, so this is all from memory of past experiences)
The HE-1000 is an amazing headphone. Prior to the HEX, it was my favorite headphone I’ve heard. (I haven’t heard the Stax SR-009, Shangri La, or Orpheus). The stand out feature of the HE-1000 is how little it does wrong. It’s near the top of every category of headphone descriptions. It doesn’t have the largest soundstage, but it’s close. It isn’t the most analytical, but it’s close. It isn’t the most comfortable, but it’s close. The HEX loses a lot of the character of the HE-1000. It doesn’t have the perfection that the HE-1000 comes so close to achieving. It’s not a perfectly tuned instrument. But what it does well, makes up for any lack elsewhere. I’d still prefer the HE-1000 if they were exactly the same price, but the $1200 savings makes the HEX the better value.
Hifiman HEX vs HE-400i/HE-560.
With the exception of the ancient but venerable HE-6, the HE-400i/HE-560 are the next options going down the Hifiman totem pole. They are both some of my favorite headphones of all time, so even matching them would be quite the chore for Dr. Fang Bian. They have different sounds and characteristics, but they share some of the same shortfalls so I’ve lumped them together for this comparison. The biggest downfalls with both the HE400i and the HE560 are the small soundstage and lack of bass. I started my headphone journey with the AKG Q701’s, so most headphones are lacking in soundstage to my ears. The HE-400i’s are especially small though. The HE560’s open up a little bit, but they could still use a little more. The HEX on the other hand nearly matches the Q701’s. It’s not completely there, but it at least gets close. The bass on the HEX easily beats the HE-400i and HE-560. I doubt there will be too many complaints on the HEX’s bass. As far as value goes, the 400i is probably still the best value. It’s very close to the 560 on performance and nearly ¼ the price of the HEX. The HEX is probably second though. Despite being twice the price of the 560, its performance is high enough that any potential 560 buyers should seriously consider saving up more and getting the HEX.
Hifiman HEX vs OPPO PM-1/2’s
The PM-1’s are a very smooth headphone, but they feel fairly bland to me. To my ears, the PM-1’s are outclassed against the HEX. Sonically every aspect of the PM-1’s are slightly below the HEX. The HEX has a larger soundstage, the bass is more accurate, it has more detail, and slightly more comfort. The one area the HEX does give up ground to the OPPO is in regards to build quality. The PM-1/2 is an amazingly well built headphone. I wouldn’t hesitate to throw the OPPO in my carry-on to use on a plane, but I don’t even dare let the HEX leave my house without it being in it’s box. The Hifiman isn’t really fragile, but something about it makes you want to be extra careful with it. The OPPO feels bulletproof.
*It is worth mentioning, a few members at the meet felt that the PM-1 was a superior headphone. In fact, those same members felt the OPPO was the best headphone they’d heard. I personally disagree, but since everyones ears are unique the OPPO may be worth listening to.
Hifiman HEX vs Audeze LCD-X
(At the current time, I do not feel like I’ve spent enough time listening to the LCD-X to offer a fair comparison. It’s price point and design features make it the most obvious comparison though, so I am saving this spot for a future comparison after I’ve spent more time with the LCD-X)
Overall sound:
The HEX’s have such a pleasing sound. It’s one of those rare headphones where I don’t know really how to improve it. The soundstage could always be larger, but it’s already really impressive for a planar. In fact the deficiency isn’t really noticeable unless you happen to be following an HD800/K701/etc. level of soundstage. The low-end is amazing. It’s not ideal for an EDM style basshead, but it has so much detail you’ll find yourself searching out songs with prominent bass guitars, timpani’s, and even kick drums. The headphone is so fast that it sounds almost treble-centric without being bright. It brings out detail, but doesn’t have the fatigue often associated with headphones like the K701’s.
Quality:
This was a big deal at my local meet. Nearly everyone who saw the HEX was concerned about the quality. For reasons unbeknownst to me, Hifiman has a reputation for suspect quality. When approached about it, the answer always seems to be: “We’re looking into it.” For me personally, I have had no problems with the Hifiman quality control. My HE-400i is perfect and has been extremely durable so far. The story is the same with the HEX. I initially worried about the bend in the screens, but I have since found out that it is a design feature. The cables seem to high quality, the grills are a really nice metal, the box is stunning, and the pads feel very durable. The outer rim of the each cup is painted plastic, which sounds cheap but actually looks pretty nice. I haven’t had any problems whatsoever with the HEX so far.
Comfort:
In my opinion, the most underrated aspect of headphone reviews is the comfort. It can make or break a headphone. The HEX is not the as comfortable as the HD800, but it is very close. I can honestly say that without including the Sennheiser line, the HEX is the most comfortable headphone I’ve used. As planars go, they are fairly light. Put them on a scale and they’ll embarrass anything made by Audeze. Dumbo wouldn’t have trouble getting his ears inside the cups. The headband applies the perfect pressure and is adjustable for sizing. My one concern with comfort is the sizing. The HEX is a very large headphone. I have a medium to large head and yet I used the HEX on just one click from the smallest setting. If you have an extremely small head you might want to make sure the HEX will fit you before making a purchase.
Amping:
Hifiman really likes to advertise “Ultra High Sensitivity” and “103 dB!” This makes it seem like the HEXs don’t need a lot of headroom. This is very misleading. In fact, my O2 amp didn’t sound much better than an iPhone. It wasn’t until I put them on my Ember or a Violectric V281 at the meet that they really started to shine. I don’t want to make it sound like they don’t sound great out of an iPhone, in fact they are probably the best headphone in the world straight out of an iPhone. It’s just that they compete against a properly amped HD800 out of an iPhone. A lot of power really makes the HEX shine. Too much volume can hurt the HEX, but too much power will just make it sound better. Count on investing in a good amp if you’re planning on picking up a HEX.
Accessories:
The cables are really nice. They are quite a bit more pliable than the HE400i's cables. The box is identical to the HE400i box. Despite borrowing from a $500 headphone, the box seems appropriate for the HEX. The 400i box is just that nice.
Price:
$1799 is a lot for a set of headphones. But compared to its competition it fits fairly well. The LCD-X is $1699. The LCD-3 is $1999. The HD800 is now $1599. The HEX may not match your ideal sound signature, but it's hard for anyone to deny that the fidelity of the HEX is at least on par with the rest of the $1500-$2000 cans. I wish they were cheaper, but I don't know of a better headphone for less. Despite the price, they are probably the best value to be had in the $1800 range. (At least to my ears). In fact as far as value goes I’d say it’s better than anything above the HD650/HE400i level. Most of the $800-$1500 headphones give up enough that even at $1800 the HEX is the better buy.
Final wrap-up:
Is the Hifiman Edition X the greatest headphone ever? No. That honor probably belongs to the Shangri La or Orpheus. In fact I believe even the HE-1000 is a better headphone than the HEX. So the obvious follow up question: “Is the Hifiman Edition X the greatest headphone under $2000?” Absolutely! To my ears the Edition X can compete and win any sub $2000 headphone I’ve ever heard. It truly is an amazing headphone!
Special Thanks:
I'd like to give a special thanks to Todd Green from Todd The Vinyl Junkie (TTVJAudio.com). He lent me his personal HEX for this review. He's a great guy and a great dealer. You won't be disappointed by his service!
I'd also like to thank cskippy for doing the measurements shown in the review.
