HiFiman HE-500 (HE as in High End) Proving to be an enjoyable experience in listening.
- Thread starter jamato8
- Start date
Sonido
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 18, 2013
- Posts
- 1,327
- Likes
- 159
Great news! The experts on the Bottlehead forums have confirmed that indeed the tubes do not glow nor get warm, and if it's sounding fine, then it's working.
Can't really give too many impressions right now as I've just started listening, but I can say that it works fine with the Emotiva. No background noise problems up to 11 o'clock volume on the Emotiva, though gets exponentially worse after 12 o'clock. Only gets a microphonic hum if you place your hands near the tubes. I had inquired earlier on the Bottlehead forums on if the 10K ohm resistance of the Emotiva was enough to prevent noise problems and they said it should be just on the acceptable side as long as the PJCCS upgrade isn't installed. If that upgrade is installed, then noise floor could be a problem, and extra resistors may need to be added to prevent that. I have the Emotiva set to 9 o'clock, and whatever the volume level on the Quickie, there is very little background noise. Normal listening volume for me is 9 o'clock on Emotiva with Quickie at 12 to 2 o'clock (goes up to 4 o'clock). No problems for Emotiva at 10 o'clock either, so I'm sure 10 o'clock on Emotiva with Quickie at 4 o'clock is loud enough for anyone, except maybe the softest of classical music.
I'll try to give impressions tomorrow. So far I think I notice a better sounding bass guitar and smoother vocals than straight to Emotiva.
Can't really give too many impressions right now as I've just started listening, but I can say that it works fine with the Emotiva. No background noise problems up to 11 o'clock volume on the Emotiva, though gets exponentially worse after 12 o'clock. Only gets a microphonic hum if you place your hands near the tubes. I had inquired earlier on the Bottlehead forums on if the 10K ohm resistance of the Emotiva was enough to prevent noise problems and they said it should be just on the acceptable side as long as the PJCCS upgrade isn't installed. If that upgrade is installed, then noise floor could be a problem, and extra resistors may need to be added to prevent that. I have the Emotiva set to 9 o'clock, and whatever the volume level on the Quickie, there is very little background noise. Normal listening volume for me is 9 o'clock on Emotiva with Quickie at 12 to 2 o'clock (goes up to 4 o'clock). No problems for Emotiva at 10 o'clock either, so I'm sure 10 o'clock on Emotiva with Quickie at 4 o'clock is loud enough for anyone, except maybe the softest of classical music.
I'll try to give impressions tomorrow. So far I think I notice a better sounding bass guitar and smoother vocals than straight to Emotiva.
warth0g
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2013
- Posts
- 114
- Likes
- 11
Would be good to see some photos! I'm curious to see what this DIY setup looks like...
Sonido
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 18, 2013
- Posts
- 1,327
- Likes
- 159
Zoom25
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2011
- Posts
- 2,742
- Likes
- 272
Got some impressions coming up soon within the hour.
The 9'o clock sweet spot. No matter what the headphone.
Sonido
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 18, 2013
- Posts
- 1,327
- Likes
- 159
Some impressions on the Quickie -> Emotiva vs Emotiva without preamp for HE-500:
Ok look I'm really scared here to be honest. These results I'm hearing aren't supposed to be possible. I keep listening to various songs back and forth between Emotiva with Quickie and without, but I honestly think I hear it.
- Vocals are smoother, less sibilant
- More sub-bass rumble
- Better bass detail and better texture, more control <- This one is very apparent
- More body and definition on instruments that gives more realism
- Substantially better soundstaging and separation! (~15-20%) <- This one I thought I noticed early, but was afraid to believe, but after more listening, it's there. Really opens up the sound!
- Smoother sound throughout all frequencies, especially at louder volumes
- More revealing??? <- especially bass as mentioned, but there was a moment in a song I never realized that background noise was actually a bass guitar riff going on. Before it was just some background noise that was kinda meshed together, but now I hear distinct strums.
I'm at loss of words. I really hope this is some placebo effect, because I cannot believe there is this much difference. I'll have to compare with using the Crack as a preamp, but I'm pretty sure the difference was not this big. The Quickie is definitely warmer than the Crack. It's on the level of warmth as my Baby Sophia, but the Quickie + Emotiva combo resolves better by far. The Baby Sophia is warm, but less resolving than the Emotiva.
For $100 and about 5 hours of building time, well needless to say I think the Quickie is a winner! Honestly though, I want someone else to confirm what I'm hearing, because even now it's hard to believe there is such a big difference.
Is this the magic of DC power? Gotta start looking for battery sales. A set cost me $20 at the local convenience store.
Ok look I'm really scared here to be honest. These results I'm hearing aren't supposed to be possible. I keep listening to various songs back and forth between Emotiva with Quickie and without, but I honestly think I hear it.
- Vocals are smoother, less sibilant
- More sub-bass rumble
- Better bass detail and better texture, more control <- This one is very apparent
- More body and definition on instruments that gives more realism
- Substantially better soundstaging and separation! (~15-20%) <- This one I thought I noticed early, but was afraid to believe, but after more listening, it's there. Really opens up the sound!
- Smoother sound throughout all frequencies, especially at louder volumes
- More revealing??? <- especially bass as mentioned, but there was a moment in a song I never realized that background noise was actually a bass guitar riff going on. Before it was just some background noise that was kinda meshed together, but now I hear distinct strums.
I'm at loss of words. I really hope this is some placebo effect, because I cannot believe there is this much difference. I'll have to compare with using the Crack as a preamp, but I'm pretty sure the difference was not this big. The Quickie is definitely warmer than the Crack. It's on the level of warmth as my Baby Sophia, but the Quickie + Emotiva combo resolves better by far. The Baby Sophia is warm, but less resolving than the Emotiva.
For $100 and about 5 hours of building time, well needless to say I think the Quickie is a winner! Honestly though, I want someone else to confirm what I'm hearing, because even now it's hard to believe there is such a big difference.
Is this the magic of DC power? Gotta start looking for battery sales. A set cost me $20 at the local convenience store.
Nimzerz
1000+ Head-Fier
Some impressions on the Quickie -> Emotiva vs Emotiva without preamp for HE-500:
Ok look I'm really scared here to be honest. These results I'm hearing aren't supposed to be possible. I keep listening to various songs back and forth between Emotiva with Quickie and without, but I honestly think I hear it.
- Vocals are smoother, less sibilant
- More sub-bass rumble
- Better bass detail and better texture, more control <- This one is very apparent
- More body and definition on instruments that gives more realism
- Substantially better soundstaging and separation! (~15-20%) <- This one I thought I noticed early, but was afraid to believe, but after more listening, it's there. Really opens up the sound!
- Smoother sound throughout all frequencies, especially at louder volumes
- More revealing??? <- especially bass as mentioned, but there was a moment in a song I never realized that background noise was actually a bass guitar riff going on. Before it was just some background noise that was kinda meshed together, but now I hear distinct strums.
I'm at loss of words. I really hope this is some placebo effect, because I cannot believe there is this much difference. I'll have to compare with using the Crack as a preamp, but I'm pretty sure the difference was not this big. The Quickie is definitely warmer than the Crack. It's on the level of warmth as my Baby Sophia, but the Quickie + Emotiva combo resolves better by far. The Baby Sophia is warm, but less resolving than the Emotiva.
For $100 and about 5 hours of building time, well needless to say I think the Quickie is a winner! Honestly though, I want someone else to confirm what I'm hearing, because even now it's hard to believe there is such a big difference.
Is this the magic of DC power? Gotta start looking for battery sales. A set cost me $20 at the local convenience store.
I'm sold
Sonido
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 18, 2013
- Posts
- 1,327
- Likes
- 159
Wow I'm starting to hear sounds I've not heard in songs.... This is unbelievable. This is not supposed to happen at this point.
Sonido
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 18, 2013
- Posts
- 1,327
- Likes
- 159
You know that feeling when all hell has broken loose and you feel sick and want to throw up? That's how I'm feeling right now.
nehcrow
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2010
- Posts
- 1,499
- Likes
- 86
Sonido, you sold me! 
That sounds insane and at $99... dayum
Have to buy this Bottlehead Quickie as soon as I can
That sounds insane and at $99... dayumHave to buy this Bottlehead Quickie as soon as I can
Nimzerz
1000+ Head-Fier
Lol, so it seems this idea that I had before is a good one. I will probably try this out later in my journey for a full rig...
Sonido
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 18, 2013
- Posts
- 1,327
- Likes
- 159
Idk guys, been looking at acute lead poisoning symptoms. Includes gastric discomfort. Maybe it also includes hyperrealistic senses. I used lead/tin solder this time, and it made soldering so much easier. Lead free solder took forever to melt and positioning so it got hot enough. 5 minute per solder joint compared to 15 seconds with 60/40 solder. That probably drove me crazier than lead poisoning would.
Angelbelow
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2010
- Posts
- 558
- Likes
- 20
Really enjoying the HE500s so far. Happy with the WA7 pairing as well. Now looking and thinking about adding a midrange DAC around 1k-1.5k. I see the Yulong DA8 is a very popular choice and I now in the process of researching the DA8s, as well as others.
My purchasing of the WA7 was a bit hasty, I didn't really know which headphone I was going to buy next. I just knew that the WA7 was good value and highly regarded. 3~4 weeks after placing the order, I went to the San Diego headfi meet and really fell for the HE6 and HE500s. To my dismay, the WA7 was not an ideal pairing for the HE6s. However, the HE500s would be a fine pairing and I definitely agree. Really look forward to my listening sessions everyday.
I guess my point is I want to make sure my next purchase (desktop DAC) is more sound and researched. What do you guys think?
My purchasing of the WA7 was a bit hasty, I didn't really know which headphone I was going to buy next. I just knew that the WA7 was good value and highly regarded. 3~4 weeks after placing the order, I went to the San Diego headfi meet and really fell for the HE6 and HE500s. To my dismay, the WA7 was not an ideal pairing for the HE6s. However, the HE500s would be a fine pairing and I definitely agree. Really look forward to my listening sessions everyday.
I guess my point is I want to make sure my next purchase (desktop DAC) is more sound and researched. What do you guys think?
What is wrong with the DAC in the Woo Audio WA7? I would stick around with that for while before looking at upgrading to a new DAC.
The primary reason I would purchase the WA7 is due to the fact that it is an all-in-one unit, else I would have bought the Woo Audio WA6 SE and a standalone DAC.
The primary reason I would purchase the WA7 is due to the fact that it is an all-in-one unit, else I would have bought the Woo Audio WA6 SE and a standalone DAC.
Textfeud
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2012
- Posts
- 1,245
- Likes
- 82
Anybody have a nice HE-500 cable they want to trade for my one from Head-Direct? http://www.head-fi.org/t/693523/ft-fs-occ-balanced-headphone-cable-3m-for-he-series
It's a OCC balanced AND normal 6,3mm plug cable, 3m long. I just don't need the balanced plug so I'm looking for a trade.
It's a OCC balanced AND normal 6,3mm plug cable, 3m long. I just don't need the balanced plug so I'm looking for a trade.
Users who are viewing this thread
