Hifiman Edition X

[prot]

My wishful thinking is the HEX isn't sounding as limp/dead/soft as the HEK (on any gear comparatively), but I have my reservations. I look forward hearing them. HEK fans are going to not like me saying this. Please don't bother - I have heard 7-8 pairs of HEK to date on a multitude of gear. Just one sounded slightly better than the rest. This is of course: imo.

That sounds like a lot of wishful thinking to me. Only heard one pair of he1k but the new driver seems to be smoother/slower by design. Doubt they can get a he6-like sound from this driver.

I'll be happy if they simply make the whole bass area sound uniform/consistent and add a bit more punch & tightness.
Also, doubt I'll pay a single cent over $1500. That's already a huge price for any HP... especially considering hifiman's poor BQ record.

 

[MacedonianHero]

  There are things that play in the same league (or above, depending on who you ask). modded HD-800, SR-009, Abyss are a few names that come to mind.
 
The H1k has been a disappointment among the "HE-6 crew", because it fails at conveying the energy in the music the way the good ol' HE-6 does.
 
While Audeze headphones might appeal to a certain crowd (with strong neck), the sound variability makes it very hard to say how any LCD headphone actually sound like (beside being of the darker variety).

That would be your particular crew then...I'm a former HE-6 owner and know of many others who like me were big fans, but the HE1000s have made them completely superfluous. 

 

[Maxx134]

The "problem" I have with HEK is that it lacks the drum/bass impact and visceralness that HE-6 provides. 
It also has a slight too distant sound, in my opinion. 

I am starting to think that hifiman is ahead of LCD...
In realizing that too thin a membrane is not going to give you the "HE6" impact factor...
Hifiman seems very quick to change things with the X version...

While the LCD solution is?...
more, heavier magnets...

Time will tell..

 

[money4me247]

I am starting to think that hifiman is ahead of LCD... In realizing that too thin a membrane is not going to give you the "HE6" impact factor... Hifiman seems very quick to change things with the X version...

While the LCD solution is?... more, heavier magnets... 

 Time will tell..

Audeze's solution is always MOAR magnetics.
 
everyone knows moar magnetics = moar audiophile

 

[Maxx134]

Yours brain will become magnetized....not good..
Turning the music up will be like going thru a CAT scan...


I am pretty sure this X not simply a trickle down but a different animal having different driver parameters and sensitivity..

To me I also thought the he1k was lacking the lively mids and solid bass impact,
but is did have much rumble and size..

 

[money4me247]

Yours brain will become magnetized....not good..
Turning the music up is like going thru a CAT scan...

I am pretty sure this X not simply a trickle down but a different animal having different driver parameters and sensitivity..

To me I also thought the he1k was lacking the lively mids and solid bass impact,
but is did have much rumble and size..

 
MRI scan is the one with magnets =P Cat is the one with X-rays.
 
nothing wrong with a liddle magnetic field tickling your brain. research being done on transcranial magnetic stimulation of deep brain regions & already FDA approved for the treatment of migraines and treatment-resistant depression.
 
I would say if you thought the HE-1k is lacking in bass, the HE-X has an overall warmer tonality that may be along the lines of what you are looking for. Also, possibly look into the LCD-X and Pioneer SE-M1 (both even bassier options imo).

 

[Maxx134]

Oh !
Lol !

 

[ohhgourami]

   
Aren't there already several planars on the market around the same price, that sound really good but don't need a Liquid Gold to sound good?  

 
Don't get me wrong, the HE-6 sounds great, but between the Ethers, Audeze's, Dharma, etc, there is plenty of competition in the HE-6's price point and none of them have special amping requirements.
 
From what I heard of the Edition X (brief listen in a noisy show environment), it shared much of the same tonality as the HEK.  At $1799, it's going to sell quite a lot I think.

There's your problem. You think the other headphones are comparable to the HE-6 because all you've heard is the LAu. I don't see an issue with a headphone needing more power, but amps not being able to provide. Luckily the standards has risen a bit though.
 
There's something seriously wrong with the audio industry these days. Every damn thing has to sound overly polite and tamed - that is so wrong! I guess people prefer to listen to concerts standing in the lobby these days.

 

[wink]

Chant:- "WE NEED MOAR UNPLUGGED CONCERTS"  ...  

 

[cradon]

 

For all I care HFM should bring back the old magnets (symmetrical ones, if the new ones can't pull it off), gold traces driver etc. Even take the HE-6s and tune/polish them some, as out of the factory gates they are not exactly a finished work of art (in both SQ and BQ). There's a reason people mod them. There's plenty they could have been done to tune the HE-6s and put a 2k price on them. These days there are even headamps that can drive them.

I agree. For me, all the HE-6 needed was deeper + more impactful bass, and more extended and detail highs.

 

[TPSRA]

   
I don't doubt it, but the comfort... 

 Hopefully they will make a new version at some point. Untill then I'm hopefully gonna use the HE-X. How is the treble on them by the way?

HE6 modded with the audeze lambskin earpads is way more comfortable than the stock one (or than the HM's new pads), it also provide more depth in soundstage,
but the weight....   deal with it!

 

 

[wink]

Quote:cradon

 I agree. For me, all the HE-6 needed was deeper + more impactful bass, and more extended and detail highs.

They used to say that about the original Beats.......    

 

[409499]

I only just found this thread and have not read any of the posts, but am I the only person that prefers the original Hifiman aesthetics, and thinks the new headband design looks ridiculous?
 
Now the Dharma and the Ether.... They look like some nice damn headphones.
 
Right, now to read this thread.....
 
Cheers.

 

[SpherE22]

I only just found this thread and have not read any of the posts, but am I the only person that prefers the original Hifiman aesthetics, and thinks the new headband design looks ridiculous?

Now the Dharma and the Ether.... They look like some nice damn headphones.

Right, now to read this thread.....

Cheers.

I can agree on the ether, but the dharma looks, feels, and sounds rediculous to me. The only thing that can make their sound "ok" is the DAVE. Im hoping the one I listened to were the preproduction unit....Bass was nothing impressive, mids were recessed and sibilant at the same time, and the treble is nothing close to lower end STAXes. Top headphone for me still remains the he-1000.

 

[prot]

I only just found this thread and have not read any of the posts, but am I the only person that prefers the original Hifiman aesthetics, and thinks the new headband design looks ridiculous?

Now the Dharma and the Ether.... They look like some nice damn headphones.

Right, now to read this thread.....

Cheers.

You surely arent the only one. But the new headband has much better weight distribution and is more comfortable.. at least in theory. And many, including me, fully agree with that choice. These arent exactly the kind of phones that you take out on the street so looks shouldnt matter .. at least not much.