[radnor]

I personally don't have a problem with the design as I'm not sure the earcup shape is even something that was patented by Sony. I do take issue with Hifiman naming them the same R10 though.

I think Hifiman would garner a lot less ill-will if they rename these headphones. Just my two cents.

My submission for the name: Hifiman Anexia.

@Nankai @TeamHiFiMAN

Hifi man will not rename.... I love the name.... they have every right to use R10. Sony does not own it.... as I said genius... look at all the people generating buzz for them... it’s great... will be even better if this thing sounds as awesome as the naming. R10 FTW!

 

[Currawong]

I think Hifiman would garner a lot less ill-will if they rename these headphones. Just my two cents.

I agree with that. It comes across like shameless copying (a cultural no-no in the West) and I see why people feel it's insulting. It reminds me a lot of one Chinese manufacturer that called its physically identical clone of the Sennheiser IE8 an ([Brand redacted] IE8). I don't get the impression that HiFiMan are just trying to make a clone like that company was though.

 

[radnor]

People are upset that they choose to release a pair of highend headphone without original design, who they choose to ripoff from is the second problem.

If hifiman is just a small Chinese company with no history in the headphone market i think no one would care.
But they have been in the game for such a long time with iconic headphone such as the hek and he6. people expect if they are releasing a new totl closeback headphone, its not a knockoff name and design wise.

Who are you to qualify the design of this headphone? I think it looks great. You are not familiar with the engineering that went into this.

 

[radnor]

I agree with that. It comes across like shameless copying (a cultural no-no in the West) and I see why people feel it's insulting. It reminds me a lot of one Chinese manufacturer that called its physically identical clone of the Sennheiser IE8 an ([Brand redacted] IE8).

It’s called consumer marketing..., and this is not representative of other Chinese “knockoffs” it’s hifi man having some nostalgic fun. Keep it up! There are about 100 people on earth that know what an R10 is other than thinking it’s a droid from the mandelorian.

 

[Ithilstone]

Still can't believe this product is real. Absolutely crazy that they would model it after another companies' product and call it the same exact thing.

Not really... Know your models Dude
Sony MDR-R10
Hifiman HE-R10.

 

[Currawong]

@radnor I edited my post.

I might have to consider seeing if I can review a pair. I don't think I could borrow a pair of R10s though to compare with.

 

[Mediahound]

I don't think I could borrow a pair of R10s though to compare with.

From what I understand, these days most of the original Sony R10's have deteriorating inner foam baffling inside the earcups so it's going to be very difficult to have a set not affected by that to some extent. Let alone actually finding a pair.

 

[Kuan China]

 

[mike138]

I'm not going to hate on them for using a design that another company abandoned. If Sony were still making these, that would be different.

That said, given the build quality I've had on my two HFM products, I wouldn't feel comfortable buying anything more expensive that their $500 range products.

 

[purk]

@radnor I edited my post.

I might have to consider seeing if I can review a pair. I don't think I could borrow a pair of R10s though to compare with.

Oh I am sure that they can send u one for free with an option to buy for a third off the retail price. I respect your review but I also know what goes around in the industry.

The HE-R10 appears a straight copy of the original MDR-R10 wooden housing design from the pictures though. I own the R10 and I can tell that it is nearly a straight copy. The wooden housing of the original R10 were carved out of a 200-years old Japanese maple tree. The tree was chosen for its special hardness and timbre quality. I don’t think harvesting a 200-year old tree just to make a headphones may not be legal anymore in Japan. Are they going for a HE-Qualia 010 and HE-L3000/5000 next? Such an easy recipe to make more money.

 

[elvergun]

I personally don't have a problem with the design as I'm not sure the earcup shape is even something that was patented by Sony. I do take issue with Hifiman naming them the same R10 though.

This!!

And then he acts all smug about it and boasts that there is nothing Sony can do about it.

 

[Fegefeuer]

Since Fang once mentioned wanting to nuke Sennheiser he could tackle the Orpheus one day.

Hifiman HE-90 would be quite a fitting name. No need to waste precious R&D resources.

 

[VandyMan]

HifiMan...

• Makes one of the very best open back headphones on the market. It seems to sell quite well despite a 6K price tag and claims of build issues.
• Makes the only high-end open back bluetooth headphone (Ananda BT). And it gets very positive reviews.
• Brings out a flagship closed back and prices it around the same price as it flagship open back. (Like Focal)
• Brings out a less expensive version of their new closed back flagship simultaneously, thus offering an expensive and a less expensive choice. (Again, like Focal)
• Brings out the very first ToTL closed back on the market with BT capability.
• Names and shapes their new headphone to pay tribute to legendary headphone that has not been made in twenty years that Head-Fiers still seek out. Makes no effort to deceive anyone that their new headphone is a recreation of the old R10. Uses the R10 name knowing that no one except dedicated enthusiasts will even know about the old Sony R10 i.e. they used the name as a hat tip to us. (BTW, I don't see any outrage on Head-Fi about Monoprice, a company that actually does rip off designs of smaller boutique headphone companies.)
• Contributes to the resurgence in ToTL closed back headphones; an area largely ignored by manufactures until the last few years.

If Head-Fi is really a hobby as some claim, we should be thrilled about this headphone and be speculating on sound quality. Instead, we get border line racist attack on "chi-fi," complaints that the founder once said something someone does not like, complaints about build quality, etc. etc. We get worries about "ripping off" Sony, a company that made 4.5 billion USD in profit last year alone. It is not that there is no truth to any of this. The problem is that if the reaction to a company to HifiMan, a company with their long history in the hobbyist community, bringing out a new flagship is to s*** all over them without ever hearing them, then Head-Fi as a hobby is dead, as far as I'm concerned.

You all seem to love a pile on. I think they just bring out the absolute worst in posters. Too many act like HifiMan personally attacked them rather than simply bringing out a new consumer product.

This topic is just a ton of negativity. It is wrong, it is becoming ugly, and most importantly, it is no fun.

 

[purk]

And it isn’t fair and the not an ethical thing to do.

 

[VandyMan]

And it isn’t fair and the not an ethical thing to do.

Go look at the early Susvara topics. HifiMan gets attacks no matter what. This claim that all this about ethics is hollow.