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

[Tempest228]

2.5's bend easily. Can you gently pressure them from different sides while in and you are listening?

Left side cuts out with some light pressure, even when flipped. Buzzing is still random. I'd automatically assume it's the cable if it wasn't random.

 

[Sebbai]

Left side cuts out with some light pressure, even when flipped. Buzzing is still random. I'd automatically assume it's the cable if it wasn't random.

It’s the connector’s, have them changed to 3.5, mini-XLR or MMCX

 

[Kevintj604]

Wondering if the HE-500 is worth owning in 2023.

 

[Tempest228]

Wondering if the HE-500 is worth owning in 2023.

Barring my current issue, they are my favorite headphones. I have yet to find a similar headphone with a close sound signature. They are just so much fun to listen to.

 

[Kevintj604]

Barring my current issue, they are my favorite headphones. I have yet to find a similar headphone with a close sound signature. They are just so much fun to listen to.

Okay. I've ran through a tonne of the headphones on my list and now i'm searching through some backlog to see if there's any others I should try out. I'll add the 500's to my list.

 

[Tempest228]

It’s the connector’s, have them changed to 3.5, mini-XLR or MMCX

I'll have to look into doing that. Also bought a monoprice cable off Amazon to just doublecheck.

 

[bagwell359]

Wondering if the HE-500 is worth owning in 2023.

Depends.

What else do you have for cans and source? Parametric EQ? Cost if you don't have it. Mods present, willing to do?

I have modded/EQ'd my HE-6 SE v1 to outplay my modded/EQ'd 500, yet, female vocals, less technical, but just can't give them up.

 

[Kevintj604]

Depends.

What else do you have for cans and source? Parametric EQ? Cost if you don't have it. Mods present, willing to do?

I have modded/EQ'd my HE-6 SE v1 to outplay my modded/EQ'd 500, yet, female vocals, less technical, but just can't give them up.

Everything I currently own is in my signature. I’ve owned a lot of others in my previous gear as well. Nothing in my previous gear are things I would buy again except for the Arya or VC.

 

[Ethereal Sound]

It's still very worth, doubly so if you are willing to do some mods (namely fuzzor). I have a susvara but still keep and use my HE500 regularly. I recently got the ether angled pads and can confirm that they are truly top tier pads, along with the zmf auteur pads.

 

[bagwell359]

Everything I currently own is in my signature. I’ve owned a lot of others in my previous gear as well. Nothing in my previous gear are things I would buy again except for the Arya or VC.

Holy Smokes! If I had that double fistful of gear:

a. my wife would be displeased
b. i'd be spending money on, trips, jewelry, major home renovations to slacken a.

Seriously, with that stuff I don't see how a 500, in particular in stock form would see much use.

 

[bagwell359]

It's still very worth, doubly so if you are willing to do some mods (namely fuzzor). I have a susvara but still keep and use my HE500 regularly. I recently got the ether angled pads and can confirm that they are truly top tier pads, along with the zmf auteur pads.

Well there is that. Something about the luxurious mids keep me coming back, but its competition in my collection is a bit short of mighty. I know that I would instantly give it up for a mint OG LCD-4, Voce, Susvara, or D8000.

Maybe estats is the next area for Kevin. A high powered amp like a Blue Hawaii, and a Voce for timbre, and some bass, and an 007 for sparkle.... yeah

 

[TWerk]

I think 500 is worth a try for just about anyone. I've had far more expensive headphones in my collection but these still remain at the very top. They're just this perfect blend of fun and involving that I absolutely love. The mids are beautiful and lush, the bass has nice body and depth to it with good authority, the treble is sparkly and gives nice detail without fatigue. But it is this wonderful presentation they have too - like an orb of sound with really great imaging inside that orb. Very detailed and speaker-like.

Like bagwell said, it's like a less technical HE6SE V2 - that one has better resolving ability, refinement, and is an incredible headphone. These are a little more relaxed/warmer and they are very fun. Love them both, my favorite open backs from this hobby.

The other headphones Bagwell said he would give them up for are like 2-5K each. I don't think it's quite a fair competition when you have such a price gap. And I'm sure many of those can out resolve a 500 (including 6SE), but just pure resolution doesn't equal enjoyment and I have found the 500 simply has that super enjoyable tuning/balance.

And that's kind of the thing - I don't know that you can go "higher" up the ladder to spend more and get a better "HE500". Maybe closest logically is the 6SE but they are quite different sounding headphones. 500 is uniquely enjoyable and I highly recommend them.

 

[Kevintj604]

Holy Smokes! If I had that double fistful of gear:

a. my wife would be displeased
b. i'd be spending money on, trips, jewelry, major home renovations to slacken a.

Seriously, with that stuff I don't see how a 500, in particular in stock form would see much use.

My wife and I have separate bank accounts for personal items so we’ve actually never had a fight related to financial decisions.

We go on two major vacations a year and I still buy jewelry and that kind of stuff once in a while.

Most of the gear I’ve bought has been on an upgrade and trade model so I’ve only ever outright owned five or six headphones at a time. I’m basically always looking to upgrade and trade until I find items that I can’t live without.

I’m at a point in the journey where the only real way to progress is to hop up to Summit-Fi tier and that’ll mean I’ll have to sell a couple of my favorites to do that which I don’t really want to do.

The 500 that I’m looking at is being sold locally and it’s only about $200 so I thought it might be fun to play around with.

 

[TWerk]

$200 for the HE-500? That has to be the best deal in HE-500 history!

 

[r343]

Would grap HE500 faster than light for $200.