[Articnoise]

I have both Utopia and HE-6. The HE-6 holds up very well. Even if Utopia is indeed amazing, HE-6 continues to blow me away and engages my emotions more forcefully. Hard left-right staging is a feature of all planars but ameliorated with the Vegan pads. I perceive a taller sound and overall larger image the HE-6. Bass is impressive on both but more visceral on HE-6. Resolution and overalll coherence goes to Utopia, so does treble smoothness--no grain, etchiness detectable, unless compared directly to a high-end stat setup. HE-6 can be slightly edgy even with mods, but is overall much better than any of the other HiFiMAN offerings I have heard.

 

Nice, how is the HE6 doing fast transients and complex music compered to Utopia, and if you have to choose one HP which one would you keep? 

 

[Takeanidea]

The HE-6 will remain a world class headphone in spite of Focal's new presence. The debate as to what the best is will rage on. The debate as to how much is too much for a headphone will continue. In all this the HE-6 can be got for under £1000. And with a good cable or 2 a decent powered amp they can get the juice from a recording that few others succeed at

 

[bosiemoncrieff]

Heck, I got my pair for $710—with an extra cable!!

 

[Takeanidea]

A bargain for sure. I see you have the K1000 and the HD800 too as I have. They really do sing  through my First Watt F5

 

[bosiemoncrieff]

Is that a kit or a finished product? Google couldn't answer it definitively and suggested it was ~3k

 

[Takeanidea]

It's custom built by @dill3000 from a design by Nelson Pass given to 100 members of the DIY community. Dillan has added his own touches to it. Yes the kit is extremely expensive but a custom build by a friend cuts the cost down somewhat

 

[dill3000]

Hi Guys,
 
@Takeanidea - The build is a fully dual mono First Watt F6 design with upgrades and tweaks. It sounds great with the HE6, K1000 or HE1000 (as well as speakers obviously)  
 
Slight correction - Nelson Pass allows the DIY community to have access to his designs after building 100 limited F6 amps.
 
 
This is my custom mini beast
 

 

 

[dill3000]

Another pic 
 
Below is my brothers HE6 which I modded for him. Its in the casing of a HE560 with the new 2.5mm connector and headband. 
 
 
 

 

[Jozurr]

  Another pic 
 
Below is my brothers HE6 which I modded for him. Its in the casing of a HE560 with the new 2.5mm connector and headband. 
 
 
 

 
 
What cable is that?

 

[dill3000]

Its a cable I made with Neotech UP-OCC Copper. I used the Norne Audio EIDOLIC 2.5MM connectors. 

 

[Jozurr]

That cable looks terrific! Where did you get the defunkt HE560 cups from?

 

[Velomane]

  Another pic 
 
Below is my brothers HE6 which I modded for him. Its in the casing of a HE560 with the new 2.5mm connector and headband. 
 
 
 

Wow, that looks great! Is the sound identical to a regular HE-6?

 

[nc8000]

That cable looks terrific! Where did you get the defunkt HE560 cups from?

You can order them directly from HiFiMan. There is a thread somewhere with a guide to transplanting and there was a lot of talk in the HE-500 thread some time ago

 

[dill3000]

Yes they sound just like a regular HE6 - these ones are stock with the open grill mod.  One improvement is with the Aluminum Trim Ring which I got also. It keeps the drivers more stable, also the pads fit more securely - this could improve the sound.
 
They feel more light on your head with the new headband also.
 
I spoke to HiFiMAN directly and got some for myself and friends who's HE6's I have modded.

 

[Astral Abyss]

I wish Hifiman would re-release the HE-6 in this new format...  Your mod is basically the perfect HE-6.