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Hifiman HE-4 Impressions Thread

Jul 26, 2014 at 1:48 PM Post #2,566 of 4,142
Jul 27, 2014 at 1:18 PM Post #2,567 of 4,142
soundsgoodtome said:
 

It's not just a matter of volume but quality of sound. I tried the HE4 on a E18 and it sounds terrible simply put. Closed soundstage, piercing highs, no bass, and everything just sounds closed in. The HE400 on the other hand sound very much like it would plugged to the 900mW D100 as it did on the e18. E18 puts out 300mw @ 32ohm fwiw.
 
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I think I might have said this before, but with headphones like the HE 4, we hit a point at which many high end headphones, and amps "sound the same" but feel different. The reason I love my pb2 and NFB10ES2 is because of the quality of sound and the tactility it gives the HE 4, 
 
this is assuming your working with what should be an ideally "transparent" amp, I've got LME 49990 OP amps in my Pb2 with dummy Buffers, so it's pretty transparent or as much as it can b
 
Non the less, yea quality of sound and more imporantly tactility, are what seperate thousand dollars amps from hundred dollar ones 
 
don't forget that sound is felt as much as it is heard, the only different is much or little you take notice of that feeling 
 
Jul 28, 2014 at 12:06 AM Post #2,568 of 4,142
I really want to know if the jump to an he6 would be worth it. Id also like to hear the he4 on a well paired tube amp, and maybe on a vintage re-capped fully tested pioneer sx-1080 or higher, i need to start garage sale hunting again! Someone pay for my sx-727 to be recapped i dont have the time!
 
Jul 28, 2014 at 11:56 PM Post #2,572 of 4,142
Man i want to hear all 3 on an insane setup, actully all 4, he4 5le 6 and 560, be a great week long journey to have at some point.
 
Jul 28, 2014 at 11:57 PM Post #2,573 of 4,142
soundsgoodtome said:
  I let a member audition the HE560 and HE4 after Saturday's meet and they preferred the HE4 over the 560. Dunn DUN DunnnnnnN!
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Do you care to share why they preferred the 4? What stood out most?
 
Jul 29, 2014 at 12:39 AM Post #2,574 of 4,142
hemipowered007 said:
  Do you care to share why they preferred the 4? What stood out most?
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The gent auditioning it, mind you this is at a quiet setting afterwards and not at the actual meet, prefers to have all the range well represented and he felt the air of the HE4 to balance better with the Project Embers warmer sound. The HE560 might have been too warm for his taste with a vacuum tube, which he also admits he prefers the brightness of an SS amp.

So while my amp wouldn't be his first choice and my Amp/Dac in my opinion doesn't put out enough power at 600mw for the HE4 or 560 directly (which is why we were using the Ember to form an opinion and not his preference of SS), he preferred the HE4. He also takes into account the price.. The HE4 did however have the 560 production pads so the treble was even more lessened (vs stock HE4 velours).
 
Jul 29, 2014 at 10:50 AM Post #2,576 of 4,142
They cut the treble air a bit, if you like the he4 as is then it might be worth trying for the comfort (they're super comfy). The focus-a pad has more bass and less air with the treble being affected linearly whereas the focus pads don't have as much bass and has a hotter upper mid/lower highs but also a subdued upper high (air). I'll have to listen more but the focus pads seem to recess the mids whereas the focus-a doesn't. Probably something to do with the the more linear and subdued upper range on the focus-a. I would go with focus -a for a completely new flavor from stock He4.
 
Jul 29, 2014 at 2:41 PM Post #2,577 of 4,142
I didn't like either FocusPad on the HE-4 at all... And I like to use pleather pads or EQ to make HE-4 sound slightly warmer... just saying. I sold them immediately I had received them (poor comfort, poor match soundwise). My more extended view on both pads in the HE-4 guide.
 
Jul 29, 2014 at 3:13 PM Post #2,578 of 4,142
Comfort will differ from person to person, the focus-a pads do touch on some people's ear which can make them uncomfortable.. I'm not one of them.

As for sound I'd have to disagree with you. I think they sound good with the he4 but this could be coming from going on a reference sounding he560 to a more fun sound he4 signature. By no means does it sound bad and I'm skeptic of your bad sound analysis after you openly bashed Hifiman/HF members on the 560 thread.
ron12 said:
I didn't like either FocusPad on the HE-4 at all... And I like to use pleather pads or EQ to make HE-4 sound slightly warmer... just saying. I sold them immediately I had received them (poor comfort, poor match soundwise). My more extended view on both pads in the HE-4 guide.
Click to expand...
 
Jul 29, 2014 at 3:30 PM Post #2,579 of 4,142
I didn't try the Focus pads on HE-4 because I got very poor results with them with HE-500. They made them sound like a 100€ pair. I put pleather back on and midrange king was back.
 
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