HIFIMAN HE-R10 Closed-Back Headphones Discussion & Impressions

[BlueBirdie]

I'm listening now to this classic with the alternate mesh pads, which are thicker than the originals:

Sound is gorgeous with impressive bass, slightly better than with the original pads. Sure, if you want the trumpets in your face R10D is not for you, but everything in the arrangement can be heard with clarity. I'm liking it very much.

 

[BlueBirdie]

@Xinlisupreme I agree with this Italian reviewer completely (review is in Italian):



His votes toward the end are spot on, in my opinion.

 

[BlueBirdie]

Duplicate, sorry

 

[BlueBirdie]

Did some more pads testing today, and I can confirm there is an effect on sound. Compared to stock, all three alternates make the bass drier but to a different extent: mesh and velvet just a little bit (I cannot say if there is actually a difference between the two yet), sheepskin quite some more. It's similar to changing the reverberation of the room: less reverberation meaning drier bass.

The most dramatic effect is with orchestral music. I was having troubles listening to it with stock and both the new mesh and velvet: just too much reverberation, causing quite some confusion. Now with sheepskin reverberation is close to perfection and everything can be heard really well. With this record the difference is outstanding and R10D really shines:

On the other hand, I wouldn't recommend sheepskin for piano solo, being it classical, jazz or whatever. Stock is great for it, and alternate mesh and velvet just a little bit better. This is also true for pop, world music, electronic and generic jazz, at least for the few records I have tested so far. In other words, for now I recommend sheepskin only for classical orchestral music, for the rest alternate mesh, velvet and even stock are better.

Regarding mesh, I stress that stock and alternate are almost the same, but alternate are a few millimeters thicker in the thicker side (sides are uneven in all the pads) but not in the other.

YMMV etc.

I'll keep testing...

 

[ryanryanryan]

I had these for a week earlier this month (open box and returned) and I loved the sound (best I’ve heard, personally) but found them huge and awkward to move around in. Also I need my go-to set to be passable on Zoom calls in my home office and I just couldn’t with the Yoda ears.

A beautiful headphone, though.

 

[Kukuk]

@Kukuk Does R10D sound brighter than HP3? I had it and R9 also but i'd like a brighter DD so i'm looking at R10D considering its actual price also...

I don't think it's brighter than the HP3, but it's maybe a little brighter than the R9.

I’m considering to buy one but I own a Kennerton Rognir DD yet and Audivina as closed back HPs.
I took FRs not from the same Squig unfortunately, but on paper R10D looks has less mid presence and maybe can sound even warmer than my kennerton, am I wrong?

The R10D's upper mids are definitely down in level compared to most headphones, especially the R9. It's one of the main reasons I find them so hard to recommend, despite absolutely loving them to death. For the R10D, you really have to have an ear for unconventional headphones. If you're looking for your perfect, final closed-back headphone, they'll leave you disappointed for sure. These, to me, are an old fashioned tuned-by-ear headphone that makes no attempt to adhere to the Harman target curve, so I find comparing them to other headphones sorta misses the point.

 

[BlueBirdie]

If you're looking for your perfect, final closed-back headphone, they'll leave you disappointed for sure.

There's no such thing as a "perfect, final closed-back headphone", so why bother?

You'll be disappointed if you are looking for a bright sounding set, with a lot of highs in your face. Highs in HE-R10D aren't lacking. Recessed yes, lacking, no. My other closed cans, Fiio RT1 (non pro) have more, and sound amazingly as well. But after using HE-R10D for a while I find them having too much...

First reaction may be "what? no highs?" but after some time, be it burn in, ear adaptation or whatever, HE-R10d sound so clean and relaxed it's pure pleasure.

So in the end I think I agree with you...

Oh, and by the way I think they were worth the initial price. I feel just lucky I could've bought them for what I paid...

Here's another record that sounds amazing on HE-R10D:

 

[Lohb]

Any you guys experimented with extensive pad-rolling on the planar model or feel no need for it ?

 

[elwappo99]

These have come down quite a bit. Not that I would recommend them, but you can get a decent discount now.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806865721030.html

$163.75 - $20 coupon (USNY20) = $143.75. Sorry to anyone who paid over a grand

 

[BlueBirdie]

I notice they sold 800+ through that page (I bought mine from there, too, but the EU price was Euro 216---209 now).

No cans at that price can beat the HE-R10D in the bass department, and highs are great (admittedly, you may need to get used to the tuning, but they are great indeed), so why not recommend it? For people that can't or don't want to spend two grands on a set it may be a great choice. IMO, of course

 

[Spawn300Z]

He maybe talking about through that seller. You can get great deals on Hifiman’s site in the open box section right now and don’t have any warranty issues. So why not look on h
Hifiman’s site 1st?

 

[BlueBirdie]

Higher price?

https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/he-r10d-openbox.html

 

[elwappo99]

He maybe talking about through that seller. You can get great deals on Hifiman’s site in the open box section right now and don’t have any warranty issues. So why not look on h
Hifiman’s site 1st?

The aliexpress site is $80 less, is brand new, and directly from hifiman. It's a CNY special. They also have the HE-R9 for $54

 

[Spawn300Z]

Higher price?

https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/he-r10d-openbox.html

Is that price difference worth not having the piece of mind about have a full warranty from the manufacture? Not that big of a difference.

Unless you now you have full warranty.

 

[BlueBirdie]

Unless you now you have full warranty.

I think so: you need to register the product then it's covered.