lord_tris
1000+ Head-Fier
Mailing out the 560 tomorrow to Dvass i will have a nice report card later in the week.
HeadAmp Headphone Demos -- Sign up now for HiFiMAN HE-560
Ok, it's going to vaed tomorrow. I've PM'd him and just waiting for his reply with address.
Thanks again for the opportunity to audition these very nice cans.
GloryUprising
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How is the east coast pair looking? @keanex have you got them yet?
West coast review - also posted on the HiFiMan US tour review thread.
I have been a closed headphone fan for the early days of my headphone hobby, which started in early 2012, and have loved all I've been exposed to from the cheapies (Panasonic RTF-600) up to the TH-900 (most assuredly not cheap) and may in between. I'd guess about 35 or so and have owned most of them, with a sprinkling of audition units in the mix thanks to the generosity of both HiFiMan and HeadAmp. Then my eyes were opened to the potential of open backs with the audition of the HD-700. Yes, it impressed the heck out of me and the bass was glorious. Really made me realize an open back could do it all, which got me interested in learning more about them. Started reading the copious threads about the HiFiMan models and got the itch to try an HE-6. Well, after I bought a pair, spent a couple of weeks getting the right amp lined up (a Pioneer Spec 1 & 2 system that has been bench tested at 309 wpc) and the open back mod done, it was game on. And what a spectacular game it is. Never thought I could hear such bliss. I drive the HE-6 straight out of the speaker taps with a custom 26' long silver coated copper cable.
All this preamble to set the stage for my foray into listening to the HE-560. It arrived last week with great anticipation on my part. Opening up the box, I honestly was not impressed by the look or feel of the headphone. The veneer looks inexpensive and that metal hoop up top, well, honestly, it looks like "Abyss-lite" and some kind of torture device for a braces-wearing kid for overnight. That said, looks are not important - sound is the only real measuring point of a headphone, and these have "it". Auditioning them A/B style with my HE-6 (it fed again out of taps and the HE-560 out of the headphone out, a point to remember) I ran them through vinyl, CD's and iPod music (albeit nicely delivered by a NuForce iDo DAC setup) and listened to both phones back to back with the same source and music. Mostly it was smooth jazz but because the Eagles were in town last week, I went through my entire Eagles library, starting with one of my favorite songs of all time, "One of These Nights" up through the Hell Freezes Over CD.
The HE-560 is just a smidgen below the HE-6, and though the HE-560 is stock, with no grill mods, nor fed out of the speaker taps (since they are not my headphone I do not feel right touching a thing), they put up a good fight. The bass out of the HE-6 is the best I've heard, better than the Lawton modded D7000, D5000 and TH900, and is so visceral, full and powerful that it astounds me even now, a month into my ownership. The HE-560 is not quite up to the level of the 6 in the bass department, which to me is the most critical measurement of a headphone. I call myself a reformed basshead, one who used to think the XB500 was the end all/be all, but no more. I like a solid, clean bass that I can feel with the planar mids and highs to go with it.
Another interesting thing is the power it needed. It could be listened to back to back with the HE-6 at the same volume and when I compared it to the D7000 (my favorite dynamic can) the volume mismatch was huge. Had to turn the preamp down a considerable amount to volume match it. How some of you are listening to it out of low power sources amazes me - maybe I just like the full bodied sound it gives me with oodles of power pumped through it but I can't imagine driving it with anything less than a stout vintage amp. I'm a vintage freak by the way - have 8 separate vintage systems in use in my world, 4 of them over 100 wpc.
Comfort is another surprise to me and likely to you. I don't think the HE-6 is in any way uncomfortable or too heavy, and honestly am not that impressed by the HE-560. Sure, it is comfortable, but not in the class of the X1 for example, where it disappears on your head. If they copied the X1 suspension it would be perfection. But alas, it is just good, not great.
Look, for the retail price of $900, it should look the part. It looks, honestly in my opinion, cheap. No better than the HE-400i, which I'm also auditioning. In fact, it's not that much better than the 400i, and at double the price I feel it should blow it away. Maybe my 53 year old ears aren't the discerning golden ears of some of you, but I know what I like, and I like the HE-560. A lot. But it's not amazing nor is it world class in my view. A very good headphone it is, but I like the looks of the HE-400i more with it's finish instead of the veneer. If it was wood like originally intended and wasn't made with as much plastic I'd like it more, but I was impressed by the sound but not the fit or finish.
Would I buy it? Not after living with the HE-6 driven properly. But that I guess is the rub - I put it up against one of the top headphones in the world (in some peoples' view) and it just isn't as good a value overall.
I enjoyed the headphone a lot but I gave it the acid test comparing it to a modded, well driven HE-6. Hard to compare with that competition.
Thank you Justin and HFM for the opportunity. It was very enjoyable.
I have been a closed headphone fan for the early days of my headphone hobby, which started in early 2012, and have loved all I've been exposed to from the cheapies (Panasonic RTF-600) up to the TH-900 (most assuredly not cheap) and may in between. I'd guess about 35 or so and have owned most of them, with a sprinkling of audition units in the mix thanks to the generosity of both HiFiMan and HeadAmp. Then my eyes were opened to the potential of open backs with the audition of the HD-700. Yes, it impressed the heck out of me and the bass was glorious. Really made me realize an open back could do it all, which got me interested in learning more about them. Started reading the copious threads about the HiFiMan models and got the itch to try an HE-6. Well, after I bought a pair, spent a couple of weeks getting the right amp lined up (a Pioneer Spec 1 & 2 system that has been bench tested at 309 wpc) and the open back mod done, it was game on. And what a spectacular game it is. Never thought I could hear such bliss. I drive the HE-6 straight out of the speaker taps with a custom 26' long silver coated copper cable.
All this preamble to set the stage for my foray into listening to the HE-560. It arrived last week with great anticipation on my part. Opening up the box, I honestly was not impressed by the look or feel of the headphone. The veneer looks inexpensive and that metal hoop up top, well, honestly, it looks like "Abyss-lite" and some kind of torture device for a braces-wearing kid for overnight. That said, looks are not important - sound is the only real measuring point of a headphone, and these have "it". Auditioning them A/B style with my HE-6 (it fed again out of taps and the HE-560 out of the headphone out, a point to remember) I ran them through vinyl, CD's and iPod music (albeit nicely delivered by a NuForce iDo DAC setup) and listened to both phones back to back with the same source and music. Mostly it was smooth jazz but because the Eagles were in town last week, I went through my entire Eagles library, starting with one of my favorite songs of all time, "One of These Nights" up through the Hell Freezes Over CD.
The HE-560 is just a smidgen below the HE-6, and though the HE-560 is stock, with no grill mods, nor fed out of the speaker taps (since they are not my headphone I do not feel right touching a thing), they put up a good fight. The bass out of the HE-6 is the best I've heard, better than the Lawton modded D7000, D5000 and TH900, and is so visceral, full and powerful that it astounds me even now, a month into my ownership. The HE-560 is not quite up to the level of the 6 in the bass department, which to me is the most critical measurement of a headphone. I call myself a reformed basshead, one who used to think the XB500 was the end all/be all, but no more. I like a solid, clean bass that I can feel with the planar mids and highs to go with it.
Another interesting thing is the power it needed. It could be listened to back to back with the HE-6 at the same volume and when I compared it to the D7000 (my favorite dynamic can) the volume mismatch was huge. Had to turn the preamp down a considerable amount to volume match it. How some of you are listening to it out of low power sources amazes me - maybe I just like the full bodied sound it gives me with oodles of power pumped through it but I can't imagine driving it with anything less than a stout vintage amp. I'm a vintage freak by the way - have 8 separate vintage systems in use in my world, 4 of them over 100 wpc.
Comfort is another surprise to me and likely to you. I don't think the HE-6 is in any way uncomfortable or too heavy, and honestly am not that impressed by the HE-560. Sure, it is comfortable, but not in the class of the X1 for example, where it disappears on your head. If they copied the X1 suspension it would be perfection. But alas, it is just good, not great.
Look, for the retail price of $900, it should look the part. It looks, honestly in my opinion, cheap. No better than the HE-400i, which I'm also auditioning. In fact, it's not that much better than the 400i, and at double the price I feel it should blow it away. Maybe my 53 year old ears aren't the discerning golden ears of some of you, but I know what I like, and I like the HE-560. A lot. But it's not amazing nor is it world class in my view. A very good headphone it is, but I like the looks of the HE-400i more with it's finish instead of the veneer. If it was wood like originally intended and wasn't made with as much plastic I'd like it more, but I was impressed by the sound but not the fit or finish.
Would I buy it? Not after living with the HE-6 driven properly. But that I guess is the rub - I put it up against one of the top headphones in the world (in some peoples' view) and it just isn't as good a value overall.
I enjoyed the headphone a lot but I gave it the acid test comparing it to a modded, well driven HE-6. Hard to compare with that competition.
Thank you Justin and HFM for the opportunity. It was very enjoyable.
tracking # is showing that the east coast pair has been at the post office for pickup since august 18
GloryUprising
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Seriously? I hope the guy is ok....
Looks like he/she was last online in the 31st.
Anyway we can nudge the cans along?
keanex
Keeper of The All-New Headphone Buyer's Guide
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Hey sorry guys, apparently the HE560 arrived 2 weeks ago to my house, but I never received a notice. I'm going to the post today to get them.
lord_tris
1000+ Head-Fier
I know the box is cheap stained crap but I just need to post pics of how I got the box when I opened the package I very much doubt anyone caused this except the cheapness of the stain and wood rubbing inside the box its self.
keanex
Keeper of The All-New Headphone Buyer's Guide
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Just picked up the HE560 from the post and am putting some head time on them now. I'll save impressions for later.
vaed
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Picked up the west coast pair Friday night. Will ship it out on Tuesday.
keanex
Keeper of The All-New Headphone Buyer's Guide
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Sorry for not seeing it, but how long am I allowed to have these before shipping them back?
GloryUprising
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keanex
Keeper of The All-New Headphone Buyer's Guide
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Thanks, sorry guys for the huge delays in receiving these and shipping them. I'll have them out Wednesday. Sorry for nay hold up/inconvenience.
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