[MacedonianHero]

Great write up Rob (as usual).

I'd like to give them a try down the road. Looks like Fang has yet another winner. And at the price point very competitive. For those worried about the amping requirements for the HE-6s, this seems to fit the bill.

 

[MorbidToaster]

Got mine in today. Not too much impressions wise yet, but here's some unboxing photos.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/549413/hifiman-introduces-new-he-500-planar-magnetic-headphones/405#post_7484811

 

[jamato8]

Good write-up Rob. This last year has brought about some great monitors. I thing the challenge to define the sound they produce is all the more fun because they do produce so much that is truly enjoyable to listen to with the High End getting just that much better with more entries. 

 

[attilahun]

Just got my he500s a couple days ago. Have maybe 15 hours of burn in so far.
I'm alternating between by RSA raptor which is light on power to my RSA hr2 which has more punch.
High expectations can be troublesome, this is my first pair of orthos.
So far they sound a little muffled, when I switch back to my grado rs1s, the sound is far clearer and sharper.
Is this a symptom of too little burn in?
I'm a little worried so far, but everyone says they need time to open up.
Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[KingStyles]

Which has the better mids, the lcd2 or the he500?
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[eucariote]

Quote:

Just got my he500s a couple days ago. Have maybe 15 hours of burn in so far.
I'm alternating between by RSA raptor which is light on power to my RSA hr2 which has more punch.
High expectations can be troublesome, this is my first pair of orthos.
So far they sound a little muffled, when I switch back to my grado rs1s, the sound is far clearer and sharper.
Is this a symptom of too little burn in?
I'm a little worried so far, but everyone says they need time to open up.
Any thoughts appreciated.

Comparing HE-500 to RS-1, the latter are faster, sharper and have more impactful treble.  But I found that it was because they are peaked in the high mids & treble and not really because the HE-500 are deficient.  HE-500 have a much richer sound to me- with bass, mids and soundstage much more filled out.  I think it is natural to like what we are used to.  But give them time and you will appreciate the things that HE-500 add and eventually you might find that the RS-1 are unbalanced- at least I did after spending time with headphones with different signatures.
 

 

[Happy Camper]

Comparing HE-500 to RS-1, the latter are faster, sharper and have more impactful treble.  But I found that it was because they are peaked in the high mids & treble and not really because the HE-500 are deficient.  HE-500 have a much richer sound to me- with bass, mids and soundstage much more filled out.  I think it is natural to like what we are used to.  But give them time and you will appreciate the things that HE-500 add and eventually you might find that the RS-1 are unbalanced- at least I did after spending time with headphones with different signatures.
 

I approve this message.

 

[sunneebear]

Quote:

Just got my he500s a couple days ago. Have maybe 15 hours of burn in so far.
I'm alternating between by RSA raptor which is light on power to my RSA hr2 which has more punch.
High expectations can be troublesome, this is my first pair of orthos.
So far they sound a little muffled, when I switch back to my grado rs1s, the sound is far clearer and sharper.
Is this a symptom of too little burn in?
I'm a little worried so far, but everyone says they need time to open up.
Any thoughts appreciated.

Nope,I think just the opposite.  Its your ears that have been over burned by the rs1.

 
 

 

[attilahun]

I was afraid of this.
I've grown so used to the coloration, I don't even know it's there.
Reminds me of the tv showrooms that boosted color and brightness to grab attention.
I will hang in there and begin my process of deprogramming.
Thanks guys, appreciate your thoughts.
Will keep you posted.

 

[jamato8]

Quote:

Just got my he500s a couple days ago. Have maybe 15 hours of burn in so far.
I'm alternating between by RSA raptor which is light on power to my RSA hr2 which has more punch.
High expectations can be troublesome, this is my first pair of orthos.
So far they sound a little muffled, when I switch back to my grado rs1s, the sound is far clearer and sharper.
Is this a symptom of too little burn in?
I'm a little worried so far, but everyone says they need time to open up.
Any thoughts appreciated.

I don't have the RS1 but I have the HF2, for Grado sound. To my ear the HE-500 are more refined and even across the frequency range compared to the HF-2. They, the 500's, do not sound muffled in any way to me and that is not to say that you don't hear this but I am not sure why. I did find that for whatever reason the 500's take quite a bit of burn in and I never experienced this with the LCD-2 or the HE-6 as they took maybe a couple of hours. 
 
Quote:

Which has the better mids, the lcd2 or the he500?
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Wow, the LCD-2 seem more full in the mids but the 500's are very neutral and clean. I will have to listen and compare more. The bass is stronger on the LCD-2 and in a way I like the more neutral bass of the 500's as the bass, mids and high frequencies tend to blend better but I really do like both. 
 

 

[FauDrei]

Comparing HE-500 to RS-1, the latter are faster, sharper and have more impactful treble...
 

RS-1 faster than HE-500?!?
 
OK, I haven't seen frequency/time response waterfall plots, but from my past brief RS-1 audience, from quick listen to a new and unburned HE-500 and from what I see in RS-1 and HE-500 headphone data I would say HE-500 are faster.
 
I do concur on "sharper" and "more impactful treble" notion though.

 

[K3cT]

Quote:

Which has the better mids, the lcd2 or the he500?
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Depends. The LCD2 has a leaner, less forward but more transparent and nuanced midrange while the HE500's is thicker/richer, more forward and has a bloom in the lower midrange that results in a coloration. Both are good, depends on what you're looking for.

 

[XLR1]

Quote:

I did find that for whatever reason the 500's take quite a bit of burn in and I never experienced this with the LCD-2 or the HE-6 as they took maybe a couple of hours. 
 

My experience was that the HE-6 became smoother with quite a bit of burn-in.
 
 

 

[Shahrose]

Quote:

My experience was that the HE-6 became smoother with quite a bit of burn-in.
 
 

Same...for me the change happened only in the first 15-20 hours though.
 

 

[eucariote]

Quote:

 from what I see in RS-1 and HE-500 headphone data I would say HE-500 are faster.
 

Point taken, thanks for the graphs.  I only had the HE-500 for a week (and was drunk on music at the time) so my impressions are cursory.