HiFiman HE-500 (HE as in High End) Proving to be an enjoyable experience in listening.

[Rhamnetin]

how does the he500 fair on a tube?

hybrid and or otl.

OTL = not ideal enough power

And in general, you can make the HE-500 too laid back and warm with tubes, sacrificing treble extension. This is less likely with a hybrid that doesn't use tubes in the output stage, but such amps usually don't even run tubes within specification so be weary of them.

I think the only sub $1,000 tube amp I'd use the HE-500 with is the Bottlehead S.E.X.

 

[vlach]

OTL = not ideal enough power

And in general, you can make the HE-500 too laid back and warm with tubes, sacrificing treble extension. This is less likely with a hybrid that doesn't use tubes in the output stage, but such amps usually don't even run tubes within specification so be weary of them.

I think the only sub $1,000 tube amp I'd use the HE-500 with is the Bottlehead S.E.X.

I'm happy with the WA6. I feed it a 2.5V signal from my DAC, therefore power is not an issue.

 

[ostewart]

OTL = not ideal enough power

And in general, you can make the HE-500 too laid back and warm with tubes, sacrificing treble extension. This is less likely with a hybrid that doesn't use tubes in the output stage, but such amps usually don't even run tubes within specification so be weary of them.

I think the only sub $1,000 tube amp I'd use the HE-500 with is the Bottlehead S.E.X.

One of the best amps I've heard and used with the HE-500 is actually cheap... The Elemental Watson. It's a hybrid design and pairs so well with the HE-500 in my subjective opinion.

I disagree that the amp needs to be expensive to do the HE-500 justice, I really like them with the Burson Fun (V6 Classic op-amps).

 

[bagwell359]

I would think a used Mjonir would be decent and cheap. Tube roll for taste, and go balanced for Omph. Viola.

Toss in a used Gumby Multibit, and source of choice and that's a lot o' sound for cheapish money.

 

[bagwell359]

I see that you have the 4xx/560 headband on your HE500’s. I have the HE6se’s and I like style of the new headband but I must admit that the comfort of the 4xx/560 headband surpasses it. I think I may order one of the 4xx/560 headbands for my HE500’s.

I use the 4xx on mine and its a pleasant but minor improvement.

 

[bagwell359]

what headphone are you listening my friend , my HE500 are smooth and organic sounding with leather pads, and neutral with focus pads, i suggest you to change the pads to these - https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...0-HE-Series-Heaphones/900546_32792285299.html

There is a lot that accounts for differences in sound. I have to keep particular attention on changes in air pressure. Differences in drivers, amps, cables, recordings, pads...

I personally don't like them with leathers, and they are OK with focus pads, but didn't turn to magic until I went balanced and changed pads. YMDV.

 

[bagwell359]

how is the sound of the Sundara compared to the HE500?

Sundara is better than any 4** variant - but no match for the HE-500, bass cuts off like the 400's - too high. Highs reveal but can be spiky Mids lack that 500 magic.

I'd wait until the HE5se comes out and try them head to head with the Sundara.

Edit 12/27/20: The 5se (mine) was a brutal disappointment. But the 500 still bludgeons the Sundara.

 

[alphanumerix1]

One of the best amps I've heard and used with the HE-500 is actually cheap... The Elemental Watson. It's a hybrid design and pairs so well with the HE-500 in my subjective opinion.

I disagree that the amp needs to be expensive to do the HE-500 justice, I really like them with the Burson Fun (V6 Classic op-amps).

I got around to trying the he500 with the fostex hpv1 hybrid last night and enjoyed it alot.

 

[FastAndClean]

Sundara is better than any 4** variant - but no match for the HE-500, bass cuts off like the 400's - too high. Highs reveal but can be spiky Mids lack that 500 magic.

I'd wait until the HE5se comes out and try them head to head with the Sundara.

thanks bagwell359, i was considering the Sundara because of the lighter weight

 

[bagwell359]

thanks bagwell359, i was considering the Sundara because of the lighter weight

Wait! I should put a note in my sig "I don't consider headphone weight or comfort at all. If it weighed what a full grown watermelon weighed but sounded better, load up the truck for the watermelon!

So... no doubt the 4** and Sundara are more comfy than than the HE-500.

 

[SilverEars]

Wait! I should put a note in my sig "I don't consider headphone weight or comfort at all. If it weighed what a full grown watermelon weighed but sounded better, load up the truck for the watermelon!

So... no doubt the 4** and Sundara are more comfy than than the HE-500.

Man.., we got so much in common. I really didn't take notice of comfort for years. I would read people whine about hot-spots and how heavy headphones were, and was thinking,"what a bunch of whimps." Haha. Recently I just started to like Sennheiser's weight, and the way it grips and stays put. The vice grips. Kinda like fit, the HD6-- series classics feels like it fits well to my head. I think it's the combination of the pads and vice gripping.

 

[SilverEars]

So, I burned in the HE500 again (although it was burned-in many times before). Everything sounds much better today. With lots of impact. I swear the HD6XX throws off other headphone impression somehow. This is what I call burn-in (will keep burning them in, forever...). Appreciating the crisp and sharpness, which sounds a bit sharpened in response. Sharp forwardness, but very crispy sounding like Focals. More modern music that are more processed sounds really great with these, like the music changes to another level that breaks your preconception of modern music. Some people say certain music are badly mastered until you listen to them on the HE500 I'd say. <- this emoticon is wearing HE500.

I noticed sounds like cymbals have good definition to it. Like there is dimentionality to the sound due to the definition I think.

I'm using the velpads.

I think I went from mainly rock and audiophile tracks with HD6XX to everything on the HE500 (R&B, hip-hop, newwave, whatever have you). Interesting how the headphone directs your music listening. You keep leading to whatever sounds good to you with the particular headphone.

 

[bagwell359]

So, I burned in the HE500 again (although it was burned-in many times before). Everything sounds much better today. With lots of impact. I swear the HD6XX throws off other headphone impression somehow. This is what I call burn-in (will keep burning them in, forever...). Appreciating the crisp and sharpness, which sounds a bit sharpened in response. Sharp forwardness, but very crispy sounding like Focals. More modern music that are more processed sounds really great with these, like the music changes to another level that breaks your preconception of modern music. Some people say certain music are badly mastered until you listen to them on the HE500 I'd say. <- this emoticon is wearing HE500.

I noticed sounds like cymbals have good definition to it. Like there is dimentionality to the sound due to the definition I think.

I'm using the velpads.

I think I went from mainly rock and audiophile tracks with HD6XX to everything on the HE500 (R&B, hip-hop, newwave, whatever have you). Interesting how the headphone directs your music listening. You keep leading to whatever sounds good to you with the particular headphone.

YES! It's basically like a treasure hunt - but it doesn't start out that way.

* When I first got them I said, hey, these are good as I shuffle through my audio favs.

* What else should I try? Balanced. Everything is a little better - but the tight midbss and the silent background around the treble - notes yes, but the overtones get clarified too. "Looking for another pure love" from Talking Book - the liquidity of Beck's guitar is amazing.

*Continue w/ pad changes, until the one for me shows up - Ether Angled - much more focused, whole slew of music on these, buying new music, listening to mothballed stuff.

So, they always sound good, but sometimes they are ecstatic, and then you want to find the next one.

* I've been screwing with screens for some time. Overall they are better w/o them - but - that whole woodblock, finger snap, resonant low mid thing loses too much when they are gone, hence more experiments.

 

[Henry Hua]

How does it compare to HE560

 

[SilverEars]

YES! It's basically like a treasure hunt - but it doesn't start out that way.

* When I first got them I said, hey, these are good as I shuffle through my audio favs.

* What else should I try? Balanced. Everything is a little better - but the tight midbss and the silent background around the treble - notes yes, but the overtones get clarified too. "Looking for another pure love" from Talking Book - the liquidity of Beck's guitar is amazing.

*Continue w/ pad changes, until the one for me shows up - Ether Angled - much more focused, whole slew of music on these, buying new music, listening to mothballed stuff.

So, they always sound good, but sometimes they are ecstatic, and then you want to find the next one.

* I've been screwing with screens for some time. Overall they are better w/o them - but - that whole woodblock, finger snap, resonant low mid thing loses too much when they are gone, hence more experiments.

You notice certain era music to be a bit recessed in the mids? When I listen to modern music with HE500, it sounds very clear, crisp like I mentioned above, but when I go with the classic rock recordings, that's when audio sounds flat and unexciting. Interestingly, HD6XX brings out the music for those classic rock recordings. I think these are from 60's to the 70's? I think also applies to rock from 80's like Van Halen. It sounds like music is a bit recessed in the mids. HD6XX has this diffused pushed mids sounding presentation, like 3-4k is pushed outward, but it maybe more filled or linear in that region.

Perhaps different era music has different emphasis in the frequencies? Perhaps the monitoring equipment used commonly back then had mid-forwardness to them, and sound tamed in the mids? Also the recordings do not sound as dynamic, sounding compressed, without forwardness, and unexciting. I would expect modern studio equipment to be better, and music to be flatter.

Interestingly, modern music sounds really well defined, and HE500 brings out the impression how it was meant to sound like. Modern music sounds really good with these, particularly with processed sounds, electronic with lots of dynamics, bass, etc.. I'll admit that the better Hifimans do well for those type of sounds.

So, I would have to say HD6XX brings out flat old recordings (perhaps due to it's mid forwardness or really it's linear in the mids), but HE500 does well making modern recordings sound really good, with music generally sounding clear and crisp.