[Ultrainferno]

Warmer midrange? Nooo, not in my unit

 

[conquerator2]

Well good but we really need a proper 6 vs 560 comparison!

 

[Clemmaster]

Well good but we really need a proper 6 vs 560 comparison!

OK... Boss!
 

 

[Makiah S]

  Warmer midrange? Nooo, not in my unit

Oh gawd, PLEASE tell me they are going to release REVISIONS <.<
 
I'd like to upgrade my HE 4 to a HE 560 at some point BUT I LIKE the DRY sound of the HE 4, so you know... I'd like a dry sounding headphone upgrade >.> HECK I run my Dry HE 4 out of an even drier solid state  

 

[Clemmaster]

Oh gawd, PLEASE tell me they are going to release REVISIONS <.<

I'd like to upgrade my HE 4 to a HE 560 at some point BUT I LIKE the DRY sound of the HE 4, so you know... I'd like a dry sounding headphone upgrade >.> HECK I run my Dry HE 4 out of an even drier solid state  

the HE-560 are the closest to the HE-4 in that. There's not lushness like the HE-500 or - to a lesser extent, the 400s, just a more detailed midrange that brings texture out with no other artifice.
Good stuff!

 

[ThurstonX]

  Oh gawd, PLEASE tell me they are going to release REVISIONS <.<
 
I'd like to upgrade my HE 4 to a HE 560 at some point BUT I LIKE the DRY sound of the HE 4, so you know... I'd like a dry sounding headphone upgrade >.> HECK I run my Dry HE 4 out of an even drier solid state  

 
That's cuz you live in Myrtle.  Just move to the desert, buy a tube amp, and you're good to go 

 

[Makiah S]

   
That's cuz you live in Myrtle.  Just move to the desert, buy a tube amp, and you're good to go 

 
 

the HE-560 are the closest to the HE-4 in that. There's not lushness like the HE-500 or - to a lesser extent, the 400s, just a more detailed midrange that brings texture out with no other artifice.
Good stuff!

But, I think I can get a HE 6 used for the price of the HE 560 new... still my little ole NFB 10ES2 is only like 6w into 50 ohms, the NFB 28 has an extra 400mW
 
Still I gatta hear the HE 560 before I say "it's not dry enough for me!] 

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Wouldn't an upgrade to the HE4 be the 5LE?

 

[Poetic]

Would the HE-560's be considered an upgrade over the the HE-500's ?

 

[jerg]

  Would the HE-560's be considered an upgrade over the the HE-500's ?

After you adjust to the sound signature, yes I think so. Especially true as the production model has a slightly different tuning from the test prototypes, bass is more present and "bigger"-sounding, low~mid midrange is more forward, and treble takes half a step back.
 
It (production unit sound) straddles the line between natural/organic signature, and neutrality. The test prototype was more heavily leaning toward utter neutrality, not quite clinically-so but close.

 

[conquerator2]

  After you adjust to the sound signature, yes I think so. Especially true as the production model has a slightly different tuning from the test prototypes, bass is more present and "bigger"-sounding, low~mid midrange is more forward, and treble takes half a step back.
 
It (production unit sound) straddles the line between natural/organic signature, and neutrality. The test prototype was more heavily leaning toward utter neutrality, not quite clinically-so but close.

Does that mean it is less airy as well? 

 

[JoelT]

 
It (production unit sound) straddles the line between natural/organic signature, and neutrality. The test prototype was more heavily leaning toward utter neutrality, not quite clinically-so but close.

Yeah, I saw this news on some other review sites as well. Was any reason given for the last minute change? I assume the new tuning is seen as being more accessible and having more popular appeal? Perhaps that's way off base.

 

[jerg]

  Does that mean it is less airy as well? 

I tested them side-by-side a lot, via music and sinewave tones (sweep and static); treble extends just as well, just mids/bass is a tad more off the production driver. In terms of perceived airiness, I feel the production tuning has less, but it's a more natural way of presenting air (upper treble doesn't really stick out ever, it's always blended well with the treble definition).
 
Hard to describe which one is qualitatively superior because they are all very small relative differences; the foundation of the HE560 sound is identical.
 
I'd say NOW it is more of a fitting hybrid combining HE500 and HE6; beforehand it was more of a HE6-esque balance with a tad smoother upper end.
 

  Yeah, I saw this news on some other review sites as well. Was any reason given for the last minute change? I assume the new tuning is seen as being more accessible and having more popular appeal? Perhaps that's way off base.

 
I think it's because of some semblance of collective opinion from beta testers that the test prototype tuning was a bit too "dry" in the low end / lower mids, and upper end a bit too present.

 

[conquerator2]

  I tested them side-by-side a lot, via music and sinewave tones (sweep and static); treble extends just as well, just mids/bass is a tad more off the production driver. In terms of perceived airiness, I feel the production tuning has less, but it's a more natural way of presenting air (upper treble doesn't really stick out ever, it's always blended well with the treble definition).
 
Hard to describe which one is qualitatively superior because they are all very small relative differences; the foundation of the HE560 sound is identical.
 
I'd say NOW it is more of a fitting hybrid combining HE500 and HE6; beforehand it was more of a HE6-esque balance with a tad smoother upper end.
 
 
I think it's because of some semblance of collective opinion from beta testers that the test prototype tuning was a bit too "dry" in the low end / lower mids, and upper end a bit too present.

Ow, ok... I take it it's all good. Maybe even good news
So they are still a lot more airier than the 500? Like, is the streble still more neutral/reference than the 500's darker/warmer presentation?

 

[jerg]

  Ow, ok... I take it it's all good. Maybe even good news
So they are still a lot more airier than the 500? Like, is the streble still more neutral/reference than the 500's darker/warmer presentation?

By far. It doesn't seem that treble changed at all, just that bass and lower/mid mids are raised by a couple of dBs.