[davidsh]

About that cable.. Cotton sleeved would be pretty cool

 

[mvrk10256]

Have had my 500's for a few days now. Put some hours on them on my Matrix M stage. Couple of things. 
 
I absolutely love these things. Glad I spent the money to step up from the 400's. these seem more detailed and less dark. The Matrix is just about on par for powering these bad boys. I managed to snag an Asgard 2 from ebay for a good deal, and I cant wait to try them on that. The Schiit amps really pack a punch for headphone amps. 

 

[tuna47]

I had double helix but a nylon cover and cut the stock cable to 6 ft really helps

 

[Austin Morrow]

Pretty sure I've reached aural nirvana with my iPhone 5 connected to the Cypher Labs Theorem 720, through the Charleston Cable Company "Audiophile" headphone cable, then to my HE-500's, listening to the song "The Countdown" from the Hunger Games soundtrack...

 

[warth0g]

I decided to wait until I'd read all the way through this thread before weighing in... not an insignificant undertaking I can assure you - but lots of interesting information and insights. I've had the HE500s for a couple of months now, although I had to send them in for repair (I dropped them), so haven't actually had the opportunity to put too many hours on them yet - but certainly enough to form an opinion, which I thought I'd share.
 
I'm an expat currently living in Shanghai, so I picked up some 500's as well as an amp/dac combo from a specialist Headphone shop buried away in the back of beyond. Initially I didn't like them at all. I found the trebles to be extremely harsh, just downright unpleasant to listen to, but I started to burn them in and left them going for a few days more or less non-stop, just checking on them periodically. I am now, without question, a believer in burn-in. The difference is night and day, and they've lost that harsh treble altogether.
 
However, unlike some, I've found them to be unforgiving of anything under 320kbps which, unfortunately, about half of my library is (itunes legacy). But my ALACs and most of the 320k stuff sounds phenomenal. In particular, jazz (Charles Mingus, Mingus Ah Um), Joni Mitchell (Blue), anything electronic (Daft Punk, RAM) and so on - sounds wonderful. I find myself completely addicted and cannot stop listening - sometimes I sit down to listen to a couple of tracks, but end up sitting there for hours...
 
What's not so good? Mainly classical. Maybe I need to seek out better recordings, but I'm finding that my set-up struggles a bit with the complex passages in classical music and it all becomes a little muddy and somewhat veiled. There's a distinct barrier between me and the music. Not sure if it's the phones or my amp...
 
But all in all, I think that I have been incredibly fortunate to pick these up, they're an absolute joy. I'm a very happy member of the club!

 

[Austin Morrow]

I decided to wait until I'd read all the way through this thread before weighing in... not an insignificant undertaking I can assure you - but lots of interesting information and insights. I've had the HE500s for a couple of months now, although I had to send them in for repair (I dropped them), so haven't actually had the opportunity to put too many hours on them yet - but certainly enough to form an opinion, which I thought I'd share.

I'm an expat currently living in Shanghai, so I picked up some 500's as well as an amp/dac combo from a specialist Headphone shop buried away in the back of beyond. Initially I didn't like them at all. I found the trebles to be extremely harsh, just downright unpleasant to listen to, but I started to burn them in and left them going for a few days more or less non-stop, just checking on them periodically. I am now, without question, a believer in burn-in. The difference is night and day, and they've lost that harsh treble altogether.

However, unlike some, I've found them to be unforgiving of anything under 320kbps which, unfortunately, about half of my library is (itunes legacy). But my ALACs and most of the 320k stuff sounds phenomenal. In particular, jazz (Charles Mingus, Mingus Ah Um), Joni Mitchell (Blue), anything electronic (Daft Punk, RAM) and so on - sounds wonderful. I find myself completely addicted and cannot stop listening - sometimes I sit down to listen to a couple of tracks, but end up sitting there for hours...

What's not so good? Mainly classical. Maybe I need to seek out better recordings, but I'm finding that my set-up struggles a bit with the complex passages in classical music and it all becomes a little muddy and somewhat veiled. There's a distinct barrier between me and the music. Not sure if it's the phones or my amp...

But all in all, I think that I have been incredibly fortunate to pick these up, they're an absolute joy. I'm a very happy member of the club!

Your hours mirror my thought completely, except for that last part. Get a warm DAC with a massive soundstage like the Yulong DA8 and you will fall in love with classical music!

 

[davidsh]

*cough* Stax *cough* *cough*

 

[warth0g]

Your hours mirror my thought completely, except for that last part. Get a warm DAC with a massive soundstage like the Yulong DA8 and you will fall in love with classical music!

 
Good to hear that my ears aren't completely off then (yet) To be honest, I'm trying to resist the upgrade urge, as I am basically very happy with my set-up, I just wish it could do classical better. The DA8 looks interesting though (in China, it seems to be about $1100) and if it would make it huge difference, then I might be tempted although not for a while. It looks like it's a DAC and amp combined - is the AMP OK, or would it need to be separately amped do you think?
 

*cough* Stax *cough* *cough*

 
If that's directed at me - good idea, as long as someone can lend me the money

 

[Austin Morrow]

Good to hear that my ears aren't completely off then (yet) To be honest, I'm trying to resist the upgrade urge, as I am basically very happy with my set-up, I just wish it could do classical better. The DA8 looks interesting though (in China, it seems to be about $1100) and if it would make it huge difference, then I might be tempted although not for a while. It looks like it's a DAC and amp combined - is the AMP OK, or would it need to be separately amped do you think?


If that's directed at me - good idea, as long as someone can lend me the money

The Yulong DA8 could be priced at $2500 and could still compete with end-game DAC's. The built in headphone amp is really, really, good. The DAC section is simply phenomenal. Get the DA8, and then add the A18 later on.

 

[FlySweep]

@Austin Morrow .. I've got that very same C3 "audiophile" cable for my HE-500, too.  It's an excellent cable from a build and ergonomic standpoint.  I came away quite surprised by the impact it had on the HE-500's sound (vs the stock cable).. the C3 "audiophile" cable had the HE-500 sounding noticeably more open, dynamic, and clear.  The stock cable made the HE-500 sound compressed and "laid back," in comparison.
 
I agree with of you & @warth0g about the HE-500's sound improving as it 'breaks in.'  I've actually owned the HE-500 twice and experienced improved sound after a 'break in period' on both pairs.  I remember the HE-500 sounding harsh, smeared, and the bass lacking extension and punch, ootb.. after a certain amount of use, it (for lack of a better word) 'blossomed.'

 

[warth0g]

The Yulong DA8 could be priced at $2500 and could still compete with end-game DAC's. The built in headphone amp is really, really, good. The DAC section is simply phenomenal. Get the DA8, and then add the A18 later on.

That is so incredibly tempting - but .. must... resist... (or divorce beckons).. Have added to my birthday list
 
By the way, I'm interested in anyone's thoughts on my current DAC / Amp.. like I say, for the most part, I'm pretty happy with it. It's very well made and looks great too. I'm actually very fond of it. But I do fear that it's not doing the HE500s justice. It does seem to have enough power, I'm almost never more than 9 o'clock on the volume control. As no-one has ever heard of this thing (it's from Taiwan I believe and was pretty much a  random purchase) here's a link to one of the handful of reviews:
 
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/trueharmonix3/1.html
 
As I haven't really heard any other higher-end set-ups, its difficult to judge it...seems pretty great (classical aside) to me...

 

[davidsh]

*cough* Stax *cough* *cough*

 
If that's directed at me - good idea, as long as someone can lend me the money

Why does everyone think a stax setup need to be that expensive 

 Is like sr-009 or nothing...
 
Wonder when hifimanrookies amp is due to arrive (are you still reading this thread?)

 

[joe50000]

I've found headphone nirvana with these cans.
 
They are simply amazing.  They make music that I hated to be absolutely wonderful.

 

[warth0g]

  I've found headphone nirvana with these cans.
 
They are simply amazing.  They make music that I hated to be absolutely wonderful.

I know what you mean.. I was trawling one of the threads in the Music section of the forum looking for inspiration for new albums.. everyone recommended "Eric Clapton Unplugged"... never been interested in his stuff at all, but I thought I'd give it a go.. and - damn - it sounds good on the 500s....

 

[hifimanrookie]

Why does everyone think a stax setup need to be that expensive   Is like sr-009 or nothing...

Wonder when hifimanrookies amp is due to arrive (are you still reading this thread?)

Yes i am..and am still waiting..latest news: last week got the 'ready to go' mail that i had to confirm so they will make a start now..this is the latest specs confirmed by them:

One DAC/headphone amp based on the front and rear panel we have sent drawings to you back in May 2013.

FRONT GLOSSY BLACK, TOP BLACK WITH VENT HOLES, IN STEEL NOT ALU.

- DAC is based on BC509.
- Headphone amp is based on NSL and capable to have 5 watt into 50 ohms.
- One USB 24/96 input for the DAC. (Capable of 192)
- Two 3 pin XLR female (neutrik with silver connectors) for headphone output.
- pine out for the 3 pin XLR is Pin1 GND, Pin 2 positive, Pin 3 Negative.
- One 1/4" TRS jack for spare headphone output.
- Alps volume control (LASER TRIMMED TYPE).
- separate power supply based on Biggie Pipe Power Supply.
- Power supply to headphone amp connects with a 4 pin XLR locking plug/jack.
- Black oak knob for volume control.
- no feet for the amp for you to install other feet.
- no on/off swtich.
- red dot to mark power plug live phase.

Additional products:

- PLC THINGEE FX2 WITH 4 OUTLETS.
- BLUE CIRCLE USB CABLE, 1METER.
- 2x 14AWG POWERCABLES.

And in this mail they told me it will be ready end of january...there is a little delay.. Oh well...i know already whats waiting about and for superb products its worth the wait..cough..toxic..cough toxic..

And i also still dont have my CODE-X headphone but that will be dropped on my doorstep second week of january i hope...as its scheduled for send off first week of january

So dont worry..eventhough i am quiet here..doesnt mean i forgot my friends here on this thread..as soon i know more....i will inform u guys...