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

[SilverEars]

I did some modding to my HE-500 this past month. I grabbed an HE-560 V4 (Adorama Edition) a few weeks ago, did some comparing. I prefer the HE-500 by a significant amount. The only thing the HE-560 had over the HE-500 was comfort, and much more compatible 3.5mm connections. So, I decided to swap cups and headband out. Took out the 560 drivers and soldered in the HE-500 drivers, and now I have the best of both worlds in sound and comfort! This Deva style headband fits really well on my head, no hotspots and it's lighter than the original 500 headband and a lot less clamp force.



I also did a grill mod, got a hexagon aluminum sheet and painted it, with some issues because I didn't let the primer dry long enough so it took more than 4 days to dry. Anyway, the grill is mostly for aesthetics, I don't think I heard much of a sound difference, perhaps it's slightly more open.
I also glued some black organza under the grill to protect from dust. It's still very see through, which I like.

I'm really happy with my "new" HE-500s. With some EQ and a pad swap to 400S Velpads, these go head to head with my Focal Clear. Super tight bass, lots of dynamic punch, and plenty of treble detail. The imaging and soundstage are also the most natural I've heard in almost anything I've tried.

I know it's kind of expensive, but if you can get your hands on a Deva style headband with HE-560 style cups for the HE-500, the mod is worth it in my opinion. I can wear these for hours now. Actually, the HE-400i 2020 edition has the same headband and cups as the 560 V4 but it's painted black instead.

What a timing. I had some issues with my HE-6 today with the old headband. Such a flimsy build the classics were, but incredible driver. Hifiman is so weird. lol

I like that your headband has glossy finish and only says Hifiman.

I was searching for HE-6 headband replacements, and your shiny transplant popped up and looks very clean. I need to do it. That shell looks much more sturdy than the classics. It was a tossup between Audeze headband and now yours. Yours look like a simpler route.

 

[DivineCurrent]

What a timing. I had some issues with my HE-6 today with the old headband. Such a flimsy build the classics were, but incredible driver. Hifiman is so weird. lol

I like that your headband has glossy finish and only says Hifiman.

I was searching for HE-6 headband replacements, and your shiny transplant popped up and looks very clean. I need to do it. That shell looks much more sturdy than the classics. It was a tossup between Audeze headband and now yours. Yours look like a simpler route.

Yeah, I really like these new style headbands Hifiman is coming up with. I hated the Sundara style headband, no swivel and too much clamp. This HE-560 V4 headband, which is the same style as the Deva, has just the right amount of clamp force.

The transplant was relatively straightforward, assuming you put the old drivers into the new cups. The headband screws might not fit the old style HE-6 cup screw holes on the outside. I'm not entirely sure though, that's just what I read online.

Also, keep in mind this headband does say HE-560 on the other side, I only took pictures of the left side. Here's some full photos of what I got from Adorama: https://www.adorama.com/hmhe560v4.html
I got them for much less than that $899 list price last month, here's a link through slickdeals for $269: https://slickdeals.net/f/14638771-hifiman-he-560-v4-planar-magnetic-headphone-269-free-shipping

 

[illyria]

The more headphones I try, the more I realize that I absolutely love my HE-500s.

I think I need to stop spending money on other cans and just upgrade my amp. And maybe try out the he6, haha.


Can anyone recommend me an amp under $500 or so that would be better than my Magni 3?

 

[sennfan83261]

The more headphones I try, the more I realize that I absolutely love my HE-500s.

I think I need to stop spending money on other cans and just upgrade my amp. And maybe try out the he6, haha.


Can anyone recommend me an amp under $500 or so that would be better than my Magni 3?

My personal preferences:

• Drop CTH + Tung-Sol/Sylvania 6C8G tube/Western Electric 421A 396A (both need adapters): With the Tung-Sol/Sylvania, wide-soundstage and wonderful tone. The Tung-Sol is more neutral and the Sylvania is slightly lusher and more laid back. The 421A 396A has the best tonality but the soundstage is not as wide as the 6C8G. Negatives: Scratchy volume pot syndrome (fixable with Liquid Deoxit), the need to go hunt for the right tubes, need to get a "balanced" headphone cable (4pin XLR).
• Monoprice Cavalli Liquid Platinum (Modi Multibit DAC) + Amperex Bugle Boy 6DJ8 large halo-getters: This amp is currently at $399. With the right tubes the HE-500 sounds amazing. Full-bodied, plenty of bass, thick liquid mids. Overall, I think that the LP accentuates the positives of the HE-500. However, I've never been thrilled with the stock tubes and the HE-500 (to my ears, the sound is right up in your face). Negatives: No gain switch, rather there's a dramatic increase in the volume at 11:30a. Some volume pots exhibit channel imbalance below this position, so 10-11 o'clock volumes (my listening levels) are screwed up. Reshipped unit (a brand new LP with a different serial number) does not have the channel imbalance issue but the gain issue is still there. Like in the CTH above, need to find appropriate tubes for the HE-500 and need to buy a balanced headphone cable.
• Speaker amps - Best bass control. The bass loses the one-note(ness) and I daresay that it gets up there (close) with the bass of the HE-6. Slams hard and is well-textured. The HE-500's do react well with power. However, the HE-500 is still a more sensitive can than the HE-6, so one may hear the noise floor of high powered speaker amps, particularly the 100W+ amps that I use to drive my HE-6's. I think it sounds really good with my D-75 (45W at 8ohms) ($100) at the expense of a bit soundstage though. Negatives: Can be heavy and bulky, possible audible noise floor with the HE-500, old speaker amps may need some maintenance work, and may need extra gear like a preamp.

Lukewarm:

• THX AAA 789 - Plenty of bass, but it is slightly of the one-note variety. Little bit more relaxed than the Magni 3. Just flatter and less dynamic sounding than the amps that I listed above. Also, the volume pot gets scratchy here as well. Same fix as the CTH.

I don't have experience with other popular lower priced amps such as the Toppings, JDS Atom, Geshelli amps, etc. Nor have I listened to any Schitt amps other than the Magni 3. I really like the Cavalli hybrid amps with the HE-500, however I do not like the aspect of hunting down the right tubes to pair with the HE-500 or knowing that the tubes have a finite lifespan.

 

[illyria]

My personal preferences:

• Drop CTH + Tung-Sol/Sylvania 6C8G tube/Western Electric 421A 396A (both need adapters): With the Tung-Sol/Sylvania, wide-soundstage and wonderful tone. The Tung-Sol is more neutral and the Sylvania is slightly lusher and more laid back. The 421A 396A has the best tonality but the soundstage is not as wide as the 6C8G. Negatives: Scratchy volume pot syndrome (fixable with Liquid Deoxit), the need to go hunt for the right tubes, need to get a "balanced" headphone cable (4pin XLR).
• Monoprice Cavalli Liquid Platinum (Modi Multibit DAC) + Amperex Bugle Boy 6DJ8 large halo-getters: This amp is currently at $399. With the right tubes the HE-500 sounds amazing. Full-bodied, plenty of bass, thick liquid mids. Overall, I think that the LP accentuates the positives of the HE-500. However, I've never been thrilled with the stock tubes and the HE-500 (to my ears, the sound is right up in your face). Negatives: No gain switch, rather there's a dramatic increase in the volume at 11:30a. Some volume pots exhibit channel imbalance below this position, so 10-11 o'clock volumes (my listening levels) are screwed up. Reshipped unit (a brand new LP with a different serial number) does not have the channel imbalance issue but the gain issue is still there. Like in the CTH above, need to find appropriate tubes for the HE-500 and need to buy a balanced headphone cable.
• Speaker amps - Best bass control. The bass loses the one-note(ness) and I daresay that it gets up there (close) with the bass of the HE-6. Slams hard and is well-textured. The HE-500's do react well with power. However, the HE-500 is still a more sensitive can than the HE-6, so one may hear the noise floor of high powered speaker amps, particularly the 100W+ amps that I use to drive my HE-6's. I think it sounds really good with my D-75 (45W at 8ohms) ($100) at the expense of a bit soundstage though. Negatives: Can be heavy and bulky, possible audible noise floor with the HE-500, old speaker amps may need some maintenance work, and may need extra gear like a preamp.

Lukewarm:

• THX AAA 789 - Plenty of bass, but it is slightly of the one-note variety. Little bit more relaxed than the Magni 3. Just flatter and less dynamic sounding than the amps that I listed above. Also, the volume pot gets scratchy here as well. Same fix as the CTH.

I don't have experience with other popular lower priced amps such as the Toppings, JDS Atom, Geshelli amps, etc. Nor have I listened to any Schitt amps other than the Magni 3. I really like the Cavalli hybrid amps with the HE-500, however I do not like the aspect of hunting down the right tubes to pair with the HE-500 or knowing that the tubes have a finite lifespan.

Ordered a liquid platinum.

Now I need to track down those tubes and a cable, hahaha.

Thank you very much for the great write up!

 

[sennfan83261]

Ordered a liquid platinum.

Now I need to track down those tubes and a cable, hahaha.

Thank you very much for the great write up!

Sure np. Also, if you don't like it, you have 30 days to return it for a full refund (https://www.monoprice.com/help?pn=support). Try it with the stock tubes first to see how you like it.

 

[illyria]

Sure np. Also, if you don't like it, you have 30 days to return it for a full refund (https://www.monoprice.com/help?pn=support). Try it with the stock tubes first to see how you like it.

Expected to arrive on Wednesday, but my balanced cable hasn't shipped yet, haha.

Do you also have any recommendations for pads? I've been using Omni pads for a while but don't see them anymore for a replacement.

 

[sennfan83261]

Expected to arrive on Wednesday, but my balanced cable hasn't shipped yet, haha.

Do you also have any recommendations for pads? I've been using Omni pads for a while but don't see them anymore for a replacement.

Hmmm, it appears that the Ori pads replaced the Omni pads (they're slightly different to each other): https://drop.com/buy/zmf-pads-for-fostex-and-audeze/talk/1601865

I tried some Ori clones from a**express (/item/32957776585.html), and I didn't like them on my HE-6 (default preference: velpads). Sorry, I didn't get a chance to try them out on my HE500 before I shipped them off to a friend for him to try and measure. According to my friend, the Ori clones were the same as his ZMF Ori pads, although I would have to ask and confirm whether they measure the same as well. My dislike with the Ori clones on my HE-6 came from how they made the soundstage seem smaller compared to the velpads, particularly in the height department. Also, IIRC the mids from the Ori pads sounded more recessed than the velpads, the latter of which brings out the mids of the HE-6 very nicely. For my HE-500, my default pads are the velpads. Velpads probably are a tad less bassy than the Ori clones if I had to guess, I should check with my friend who measured these (he prefers the stock velours, uncomfortable as they are, for having a bit more slam than the velpads while preserving the nice mids). Sadly, the velpads appear to be out of stock at the moment.

I messaged @TeamHiFiMAN a few months ago inquiring when the velpads will be back in stock in the US. They replied that they expected the velpads to be back towards the end of the year. Has anything changed regarding these pads @TeamHiFiMAN?

 

[bagwell359]

My personal preferences:

• Drop CTH + Tung-Sol/Sylvania 6C8G tube/Western Electric 421A 396A (both need adapters): With the Tung-Sol/Sylvania, wide-soundstage and wonderful tone. The Tung-Sol is more neutral and the Sylvania is slightly lusher and more laid back. The 421A 396A has the best tonality but the soundstage is not as wide as the 6C8G. Negatives: Scratchy volume pot syndrome (fixable with Liquid Deoxit), the need to go hunt for the right tubes, need to get a "balanced" headphone cable (4pin XLR).
• Monoprice Cavalli Liquid Platinum (Modi Multibit DAC) + Amperex Bugle Boy 6DJ8 large halo-getters: This amp is currently at $399. With the right tubes the HE-500 sounds amazing. Full-bodied, plenty of bass, thick liquid mids. Overall, I think that the LP accentuates the positives of the HE-500. However, I've never been thrilled with the stock tubes and the HE-500 (to my ears, the sound is right up in your face). Negatives: No gain switch, rather there's a dramatic increase in the volume at 11:30a. Some volume pots exhibit channel imbalance below this position, so 10-11 o'clock volumes (my listening levels) are screwed up. Reshipped unit (a brand new LP with a different serial number) does not have the channel imbalance issue but the gain issue is still there. Like in the CTH above, need to find appropriate tubes for the HE-500 and need to buy a balanced headphone cable.
• Speaker amps - Best bass control. The bass loses the one-note(ness) and I daresay that it gets up there (close) with the bass of the HE-6. Slams hard and is well-textured. The HE-500's do react well with power. However, the HE-500 is still a more sensitive can than the HE-6, so one may hear the noise floor of high powered speaker amps, particularly the 100W+ amps that I use to drive my HE-6's. I think it sounds really good with my D-75 (45W at 8ohms) ($100) at the expense of a bit soundstage though. Negatives: Can be heavy and bulky, possible audible noise floor with the HE-500, old speaker amps may need some maintenance work, and may need extra gear like a preamp.

Lukewarm:

• THX AAA 789 - Plenty of bass, but it is slightly of the one-note variety. Little bit more relaxed than the Magni 3. Just flatter and less dynamic sounding than the amps that I listed above. Also, the volume pot gets scratchy here as well. Same fix as the CTH.

I don't have experience with other popular lower priced amps such as the Toppings, JDS Atom, Geshelli amps, etc. Nor have I listened to any Schitt amps other than the Magni 3. I really like the Cavalli hybrid amps with the HE-500, however I do not like the aspect of hunting down the right tubes to pair with the HE-500 or knowing that the tubes have a finite lifespan.

Lyr 3 w/ multibit - $699

 

[bagwell359]

Expected to arrive on Wednesday, but my balanced cable hasn't shipped yet, haha.

Do you also have any recommendations for pads? I've been using Omni pads for a while but don't see them anymore for a replacement.

Without a doubt Dan Clark leather ether angled - remove your rear screens as well, consider strongly the fuzzor mod, and any cable besides the stock rubbish. Parametric EQ also helps. Ori's make the bass muddy and over accentuated, and throttle the highs roughly - far less well than an EQ. Velpads are solid.

 

[DivineCurrent]

Hmmm, it appears that the Ori pads replaced the Omni pads (they're slightly different to each other): https://drop.com/buy/zmf-pads-for-fostex-and-audeze/talk/1601865

I tried some Ori clones from a**express (/item/32957776585.html), and I didn't like them on my HE-6 (default preference: velpads). Sorry, I didn't get a chance to try them out on my HE500 before I shipped them off to a friend for him to try and measure. According to my friend, the Ori clones were the same as his ZMF Ori pads, although I would have to ask and confirm whether they measure the same as well. My dislike with the Ori clones on my HE-6 came from how they made the soundstage seem smaller compared to the velpads, particularly in the height department. Also, IIRC the mids from the Ori pads sounded more recessed than the velpads, the latter of which brings out the mids of the HE-6 very nicely. For my HE-500, my default pads are the velpads. Velpads probably are a tad less bassy than the Ori clones if I had to guess, I should check with my friend who measured these (he prefers the stock velours, uncomfortable as they are, for having a bit more slam than the velpads while preserving the nice mids). Sadly, the velpads appear to be out of stock at the moment.

I messaged @TeamHiFiMAN a few months ago inquiring when the velpads will be back in stock in the US. They replied that they expected the velpads to be back towards the end of the year. Has anything changed regarding these pads @TeamHiFiMAN?

I got them on Audiophonics (from France) a month ago before they went out of stock, looks like are available on order right now with an extended 15-25 day wait: https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/acce...-for-hifiman-headphone-he-series-p-11452.html

 

[illyria]

Hmmm, it appears that the Ori pads replaced the Omni pads (they're slightly different to each other): https://drop.com/buy/zmf-pads-for-fostex-and-audeze/talk/1601865

I tried some Ori clones from a**express (/item/32957776585.html), and I didn't like them on my HE-6 (default preference: velpads). Sorry, I didn't get a chance to try them out on my HE500 before I shipped them off to a friend for him to try and measure. According to my friend, the Ori clones were the same as his ZMF Ori pads, although I would have to ask and confirm whether they measure the same as well. My dislike with the Ori clones on my HE-6 came from how they made the soundstage seem smaller compared to the velpads, particularly in the height department. Also, IIRC the mids from the Ori pads sounded more recessed than the velpads, the latter of which brings out the mids of the HE-6 very nicely. For my HE-500, my default pads are the velpads. Velpads probably are a tad less bassy than the Ori clones if I had to guess, I should check with my friend who measured these (he prefers the stock velours, uncomfortable as they are, for having a bit more slam than the velpads while preserving the nice mids). Sadly, the velpads appear to be out of stock at the moment.

I messaged @TeamHiFiMAN a few months ago inquiring when the velpads will be back in stock in the US. They replied that they expected the velpads to be back towards the end of the year. Has anything changed regarding these pads @TeamHiFiMAN?

Ohh, I'll keep an eye out for when the pads come back in stock. Thank you again!

Without a doubt Dan Clark leather ether angled - remove your rear screens as well, consider strongly the fuzzor mod, and any cable besides the stock rubbish. Parametric EQ also helps. Ori's make the bass muddy and over accentuated, and throttle the highs roughly - far less well than an EQ. Velpads are solid.

To confirm before ordering, the ETHER Flow angled pads?

Thank you for the recommendation!

 

[bagwell359]

Ohh, I'll keep an eye out for when the pads come back in stock. Thank you again!






To confirm before ordering, the ETHER Flow angled pads?

Thank you for the recommendation!

Yes that's the exact name. Search out my earlier posts re 500 and 6. There are lots of good folks writing, and I tended to write to them, so you could get a lot.

I've gotten over Covid the past 3 weeks or so and I don't listen to any of my other headphones, just the 500, because it never stresses me out.

 

[SilverEars]

Hmmm, it appears that the Ori pads replaced the Omni pads (they're slightly different to each other): https://drop.com/buy/zmf-pads-for-fostex-and-audeze/talk/1601865

I tried some Ori clones from a**express (/item/32957776585.html), and I didn't like them on my HE-6 (default preference: velpads). Sorry, I didn't get a chance to try them out on my HE500 before I shipped them off to a friend for him to try and measure. According to my friend, the Ori clones were the same as his ZMF Ori pads, although I would have to ask and confirm whether they measure the same as well. My dislike with the Ori clones on my HE-6 came from how they made the soundstage seem smaller compared to the velpads, particularly in the height department. Also, IIRC the mids from the Ori pads sounded more recessed than the velpads, the latter of which brings out the mids of the HE-6 very nicely. For my HE-500, my default pads are the velpads. Velpads probably are a tad less bassy than the Ori clones if I had to guess, I should check with my friend who measured these (he prefers the stock velours, uncomfortable as they are, for having a bit more slam than the velpads while preserving the nice mids). Sadly, the velpads appear to be out of stock at the moment.

I messaged @TeamHiFiMAN a few months ago inquiring when the velpads will be back in stock in the US. They replied that they expected the velpads to be back towards the end of the year. Has anything changed regarding these pads @TeamHiFiMAN?

I think it's the shape of the pads being oval. The Hifiman pads have circle shape opening. Ori sounds like there is a tunnel through the pads and the bass sounds natrow through the tunnel.

Perhaps why I disliked the Auteur? The pads making the sound weird? Tried Auteur pads on HE500 and just sounded off.

 

[TeamHiFiMAN]

Hmmm, it appears that the Ori pads replaced the Omni pads (they're slightly different to each other): https://drop.com/buy/zmf-pads-for-fostex-and-audeze/talk/1601865

I tried some Ori clones from a**express (/item/32957776585.html), and I didn't like them on my HE-6 (default preference: velpads). Sorry, I didn't get a chance to try them out on my HE500 before I shipped them off to a friend for him to try and measure. According to my friend, the Ori clones were the same as his ZMF Ori pads, although I would have to ask and confirm whether they measure the same as well. My dislike with the Ori clones on my HE-6 came from how they made the soundstage seem smaller compared to the velpads, particularly in the height department. Also, IIRC the mids from the Ori pads sounded more recessed than the velpads, the latter of which brings out the mids of the HE-6 very nicely. For my HE-500, my default pads are the velpads. Velpads probably are a tad less bassy than the Ori clones if I had to guess, I should check with my friend who measured these (he prefers the stock velours, uncomfortable as they are, for having a bit more slam than the velpads while preserving the nice mids). Sadly, the velpads appear to be out of stock at the moment.

I messaged @TeamHiFiMAN a few months ago inquiring when the velpads will be back in stock in the US. They replied that they expected the velpads to be back towards the end of the year. Has anything changed regarding these pads @TeamHiFiMAN?

Hi there,

Unfortunately the Velpads are still unavailable, so far we could not estimate when we will get them back in stock, maybe still need a couple of weeks. Sorry for the inconvenience.

April