[DavidMahler]

Well I did it, although I promised I wouldn't, I bought yet another headphone.....the HE-5 and out of the box it sounds stunning. I'm not going to make any review just yet. I want to get used to them and also let them burn in, but I am confused about one thing.....

I've read in many places that these headphones are less bright and carry more bass weight than the hd800. This has not been my experience. In fact my experience is completely opposite, I would venture to say these headphones are sharper and brighter and have less bass impact. Granted the amp I'm using is certainly not the best for testing purposes, I am using the Larocco PRII (currently the best headphone amp I own)..................I agree that all my headphones are far more deserving of a better headphone amp, but can the amp really be causing me to hear the hd800 as significantly bassier and less bright? It's not even that I'm complaining because I will remark right now that this is the best $600 I've ever spent on audio, but I want to make sure that it is the amp which is impacting the headphone and causing me to hear it as a VERY bright headphone. My source by the way is an MSB Platinum DAC III.....

If someone can explain why this amp choice may be causing this sonic result then that would be wonderful, if someone else agrees with me though and says the pair they own/heard of the HE-5 was infact brighter than the HD800 that would be helpful as well.

P.S. these are not yet burned in, but I have my doubts that burn in will mellow them up very much, and I'm not even sure I want them to change! I just am at a loss for understanding how these headphones got the reputation for being warmer / bassier than the HD800.....

Dave

 

[sampson_smith]

I think a good rule of thumb around here is wait at least 50 or so hours before doing a qualitative analysis of new 'phones. They are bound to change, and I guarantee you that many of the qualities that you currently ascribe to the HE-5's will be significantly altered, if not moot, in approximately one week's regular listening time.

 

[K3cT]

I've auditioned both out of a very respectable audio chain and I concur with you in terms of brightness and bass response. The HD800 is much more articulate in its bass response as opposed to the HE-5 which can be a bit thin.

The HE-5 is quite a magnificent headphone at its price range but the HD800 is simply in another league. It's just not a matter of preference here I think.

 

[SteveM324]

I found the HE-5 a little bit brighter than the HD800 but not excessively so. The bass of the HD800 extends deeper than the HE-5. I think the HE-5 bass is good but it is less tightly controlled compared to the HD800 and because of this, the HE-5 gives the impression to some that it has more bass than the 800. I agree that the HE-5 is a great deal at $599. At that price, I have not heard any better.

 

[Shahrose]

An excerpt from my review in the "HE-5..initial musings" thread:

"I'd like to note that I've never had this much trouble reviewing a pair of headphones before. These seem to change character so much from small changes in upstream components, that it's become hard to pinpoint their inherent sound signature. For instance, switching from coaxial to USB on my DAC made the HE-5 very smooth (as smooth as the HD650) whereas before they were noticeably brighter and more aggressive. It also tightened up the bass (a very good sign, considering this went hand in hand with one of the major cons I listed regarding the decay). I used a different source and their bass completely lost control and the sound became harsh and sibilant as others have described here. Moreover, the HE-5s can sound a bit dry depending on the gear used. The Senns did not exhibit this degree of variability from the same equipment changes (and I consider them to be quite revealing and transparent of gear upgrades), so that's saying something about the HiFiMAN. I believe you can guess why the views on these headphones are so polarized now..."

Here are accounts of other members in the same thread that I think support my findings:
thinker's HD800 / HE-5 + Krell Monoblock comparison, Part 2, Part 3
Skylab's "cons" list <--- found congestion with complex music that HeadphoneAddict and I failed to find in our respective gear.

archistilaw says: "I don't hear the "Bright character" unless the dynamic swing of the Classical piece simply causes the driving amp to run out of steam and "clip" the output"
Skylab, HeadphoneAddict and CNET's Steve Guttenberg found the HE-5 to be smoother than the HD800, and as I said above, I've heard them sounding smooth to overly bright. Then we have some in this thread (including the OP) that feel the opposite.

DavidMahler: My advice would be to atleast try them out of a better amp or a different source.
Just trying to demonstrate how impressions are all over the place with different systems/listeners. There are quite a few other impressions out there that say they either prefer the HD800s to these or vice versa. I guess you won't be able to tell unless you hear both from your own equipment.

 

[K3cT]

That's an interesting observation, Shahrose. Perhaps the HE-5 is even more finicky than the HD800 itself...

 

[Acix]

Try some Phonitor, Luxman, or other SS high end amp and maybe you'll get a straight answer.

 

[mrarroyo]

I have tried the HE5 out of at least 10 home amps ranging from $300 to $3,500. To date it pairs best w/ the Solo SRGII w/ the PSU1. The Solo SRGII tames the top end and infuses a much needed clarity in the mids as well an ample and deep soundstage. BTW, I also have the EF5 for which I am looking for better tubes since IMO the Solo SRGII is better match.

 

[Maxvla]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveM324 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I found the HE-5 a little bit brighter than the HD800 but not excessively so. The bass of the HD800 extends deeper than the HE-5. I think the HE-5 bass is good but it is less tightly controlled compared to the HD800 and because of this, the HE-5 gives the impression to some that it has more bass than the 800. I agree that the HE-5 is a great deal at $599. At that price, I have not heard any better.

I agree completely with the OP and this quote ^. I heard both today on the same (tube) amp/source.

edit: Also with Shahrose. I heard the HE-5 on a SS amp and the sound was completely different. Smooth and clear, but not as effortless as with the tube amp.

 

[ting.mike]

The HE5 is very very good, but to me it has always been brighter than the HD800. This was on the Beta22 Balanced and the CEC TL51XZ, which is a very warm source.

Same thing on the Macpro > Grace m902 set up. HE5 is brighter than the HD800.

 

[Shahrose]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ting.mike /img/forum/go_quote.gif The HE5 is very very good, but to me it has always been brighter than the HD800. This was on the Beta22 Balanced and the CEC TL51XZ, which is a very warm source. Same thing on the Macpro > Grace m902 set up. HE5 is brighter than the HD800.

We already know there is noticeable variability among HE-5 units. I'm almost certain this has a significant role to play in all of this. Read my earlier post in this thread and contrast it with your own.

I should have the HD800s with me in a couple weeks, at which time I'll be able to compare the two side by side. Once again, it may not prove much since I may have a bright or smooth pair of HE-5s, but it never hurts to add another data point.

 

[K3cT]

Impressions are all over the place. Now it makes you wonder which version of the HE-5 is the "true" one.

 

[saisunil]

I have noticed a change in character as well ... my first impression of them was very impressive ... it is transforming ... so I am letting them burnin' some more.

AKG701s, from my experience, needed 300+ hours of burn-in ... to open up

In any case it is not a bad phone the price - that is for sure ...
For that matter it is quite a good phone ... now it may not the best phone there is ... as someone mentioned - it s a very different phone ... I am glad it is different ... it is not a Senn, it is not an AKG, it is not a Grado, it is not a Stax ...

The inventory just keeps on growing

 

[MikePio]

That is very true Saisunil,

The most impressive aspect of this phone is that it just gives you a different experience than any other "can" I have heard, and the experience itself is truly something else. Its nickname should be "Chameleon" since that description fits it perfect. A keeper.

 

[ygm]

I've read somewhere that the first batch of HE-5 was burned in for several hundred hours at the factory and the consequtive batches only got a 20 hour burnin. This may account for the "brightness" some are experiencing.

I have about 20 hours on my recent production HE-5 and I don't think they sound overly bright. Go figure.

P.S. I also think they are a keeper.