HIFIMAN HE-R10 Closed-Back Headphones Discussion & Impressions

[BlueBirdie]

Hello, new forumer here.

I have received my r10d a couple of days ago and I find it impressive so far except for one thing: bass is a bit too much for me.

I wonder if it will change after some time?

I noticed it gets better for my taste if I move the cups a little bit away from my ears. Are there any thicker pads I can try?

 

[BlueBirdie]

Are these going to fit?

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005...yCHa632r&utparam-url=scene:search|query_from:

 

[Lohb]

Hi guys, can the R10P be described as having hot and or icy treble ? This seemed to be a pervasive feature with HFM cans over the decade+, that the treble tended to be overly-icy from the house sound...and just with the likes of Arya Organic/HeKse and above this seems to have been 'solved' now....even lowly Ananda Nano has more accurate treble to my ears than first gen upper end cans from them.

Am assuming cupping the planar is not doing this with a ToTL closed planar can...

 

[Lohb]

Hello, new forumer here.

I have received my r10d a couple of days ago and I find it impressive so far except for one thing: bass is a bit too much for me.

I wonder if it will change after some time?

I noticed it gets better for my taste if I move the cups a little bit away from my ears. Are there any thicker pads I can try?

You'd want shallower pads to reduce perceived bass excess..generally taller pads take the FR more V-shaped with planars.
You're breaking the ear seal and that is why the bass is reduced, not the distance from the driver..sounds like that to me.
It is a crapshoot on breaking the seal on planars..it can take it up or down a notch.

 

[Kukuk]

Hi guys, can the R10P be described as having hot and or icy treble ? This seemed to be a pervasive feature with HFM cans over the decade+, that the treble tended to be overly-icy from the house sound...and just with the likes of Arya Organic/HeKse and above this seems to have been 'solved' now....even lowly Ananda Nano has more accurate treble to my ears than first gen upper end cans from them.

Am assuming cupping the planar is not doing this with a ToTL closed planar can...

Generally, I wouldn't consider the treble to be overly icy sounding. When I think of icy treble I think of a broad emphasis, which these don't have. They have very specific frequencies emphasized, and if the music you're listening to doesn't hammer those frequencies they can end up sounding somewhat warm or neutral-ish.

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

Hi guys, can the R10P be described as having hot and or icy treble ? This seemed to be a pervasive feature with HFM cans over the decade+, that the treble tended to be overly-icy from the house sound...and just with the likes of Arya Organic/HeKse and above this seems to have been 'solved' now....even lowly Ananda Nano has more accurate treble to my ears than first gen upper end cans from them.

Am assuming cupping the planar is not doing this with a ToTL closed planar can...

The R10P doesn’t sound like any other Hifiman maybe except for their other planar closedbacks.
The problem area is not really the treble but the enormous hump in the uppermids (alongside massive distortion numbers).

Definitely a case of try before you buy. I know folks who dig this can, but personally it’s one of the worst headphones I’ve ever listened to up there with the HI-X55.

 

[BlueBirdie]

You'd want shallower pads to reduce perceived bass excess..generally taller pads take the FR more V-shaped with planars.

Thanks for the answer, much appreciated! Any advice about alternative pads?

However, I have R10 Dynamic, not Planar, does it make any difference?

 

[Lohb]

Thanks for the answer, much appreciated! Any advice about alternative pads?

However, I have R10 Dynamic, not Planar, does it make any difference?

Does it make a difference....certainly.
No idea on pads.

 

[BlueBirdie]

Does it make a difference....certainly.

Of course it does... particularly on wallets

 

[BlueBirdie]

generally taller pads take the FR more V-shaped with planars.

Is it the same with dynamics?

 

[Dalmonegrig]

The R10P doesn’t sound like any other Hifiman maybe except for their other planar closedbacks.
The problem area is not really the treble but the enormous hump in the uppermids (alongside massive distortion numbers).

Definitely a case of try before you buy. I know folks who dig this can, but personally it’s one of the worst headphones I’ve ever listened to up there with the HI-X55.

This post is about HIFIMAN HE-R10 Planar Version-Stealth Magnet?

 

[Lohb]

Is it the same with dynamics?

Right, sorry got confused on that...had planar in mind when I posted on the thread today.
Best to pick up pads from aliexpress and just test diffferent materials and thicknesses.

 

[Dalmonegrig]

Right, sorry got confused on that...

Many people are confused by this because one topic simultaneously considers essentially 3 different headphones.
Initially, it was necessary to create three different topics to avoid confusion.

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

This post is about HIFIMAN HE-R10 Planar Version-Stealth Magnet?

Yes indeed it is (as also noted on the frequency response).
A very strange headphone imho.
A buddy of mine fiddles around with headphone mods and have made quite a few cans from scratch. The HE-R10P Stealth actually sounds like what you get when you just plunk on some cups to an openback planar without any dampening materials or consideration about reflections.
I love my HE500 and Sundara, but I’m not sure Hifiman know what they’re doing when making closedbacks.

 

[hawk13]

Right, sorry got confused on that...had planar in mind when I posted on the thread today.
Best to pick up pads from aliexpress and just test diffferent materials and thicknesses.

Gotta agree with @Lohb here. It’s about the sound you’re trying to achieve. In general, leather pads will be warmer with more emphasis on the bass; velour pads, on the other hand, will accentuate the upper range at the expense of the low-end. My personal favorite is sheepskin leather with the inner ring perforated.

There’s a guy on eBay who does all my HE1000se pads, and I have a pair he made for the R10P stealth but just haven’t tried em yet. I can tell you his leather HEKse pads are the best pads I’ve found for a clean but warm signature, and they only cost $30 a pair so you can swap em out every couple years like yer supposed to without worrying about the cost. His R10 pads were a little more but still cheap. Message me if you want his info.