[wuwhere]

  patents maybe preventing that sort of attempt.

 
Patents expire. What patents can their be with electrostatic headphones? They all work with the same basic principles of physics.

 

[TonyNewman]

  ...They all work with the same basic principles of physics.

 
Try having that argument with a patent attorney. It isn't about what's right or logical, it's about the law.
 
(apologies for going OT).

 

[wuwhere]

(Apologise for OT as well)
 
Very expensive to make and manufacture.
 
http://realestate.aol.com/blog/videos/space-makeovers/518258992/

 

[relevorance]

  I can not understand why they stopped with the HE60 and HE90. While the amp was nothing to should about the 60 and 90 were and are excellent and it isn't like they couldn't still make them. 

 Can't they be copied and made better today by another company? With better materials today I'm sure it can be done.

That was basically what He Audio Jade tried to do but it had a lot of issues with build quality and sounding kinda cold/sharp.
I think that was the first headphone designed by Dr. Fang Bian.

 

[n3rdling]

   
Can't they be copied and made better today by another company? With better materials today I'm sure it can be done.

 
I've cloned the HE90 in my spare time, very happy with the result.  They sound very similar to the real HE90, considerably better than the Jade if I can toot my own horn for a second. 

 
Almost all patents regarding ESLs are expired.  The only significant one I can think of that I think is still protected is the curved panel patent owned by Martin Logan/Roger Sanders.  This has no useful application for headphones though.

 

[wuwhere]

   
I've cloned the HE90 in my spare time, very happy with the result.  They sound very similar to the real HE90, considerably better than the Jade if I can toot my own horn for a second. 

 
Almost all patents regarding ESLs are expired.  The only significant one I can think of that I think is still protected is the curved panel patent owned by Martin Logan/Roger Sanders.  This has no useful application for headphones though.

 
Must have been labor intensive to clone a legend.

 

[bozebuttons]

  I just tested the HE-1000 on two DAPs   X1 and DX-50. I found that the HEK needs plenty of power, it sounded pretty bland and uninviting coming from the DX-50, even the X1 sounded more engaging. While coming back to the combo audio-gd M7/M8, I can notice that a lot of the magic that these cans have don't come through the two DAPs I mentioned.

The Dx100 does a nice job driving the HEKs.

 

[reeltime]

 
I understand this hobby is all subjective and that everyone has different opinions, but I just can't understand how anyone who has heard both could honestly prefer the HD800 over the HE1000. Value-wise I can understand the argument, but in pure sonic comparison the HD800 can't even hold the HE1000's cable, it's clearly in another league. It's like telling someone Apple earbuds are as good as a low end pair of Grado's - sorry but it's just incorrect. There is nothing the HD800 does better in my comparison of the two, even the HD800's strong suits, imaging and soundstage, are superior on the HE1000 once they are properly broken in and properly amplified. Tell yourself what you want to justify sticking with the HD800, but the HE1000 is easily the better headphone in at least my opinion.

 
I own both the HD800 and the HE1000.  In my opinion, the HD800 is better in several areas:
 
1) Female vocals.  The HD800 is better in the upper middle frequencies than the HE1000
 
2) Snare snap.  Any recording with an aggressive snare- think Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Couldn't Stand the Weather" is a bit of a disappointment on the HE1000.  There's a pop missing on snare drums which I believe is the HE1000's biggest weakness.  It made 'ol Stevie Ray sound ordinary, where the track is brilliant on the HD800.
 
3) Soundstage.  While the HE1000 has maybe the best imaging I've ever heard, but the soundstage on the HD800 is wider.  
 
4) Comfort.  The HD800 is still the most comfortable headphone I've ever worn, at any price.  The only headphone that comes close is the Mr. Speakers Ether.  
 
This is not to say the HD800 is a better headphone than the HE1000.  I believe the HE1000 is better in more areas than the HD800.  The HE1000 has perhaps the best sounding bass of any headphone I've ever heard.  *I haven't auditioned the Abyss*.  The HE1000 is better at male vocals than the HD800.  The HE1000 has better imaging and clarity.  The HE1000 is warmer (I don't get the whole quest for neutral.  Neutral is boring and should be reserved for recording engineers, myself included).  The HE1000 is smoother through the higher frequencies-- but too smooth in some instances (see Snare snap).  
 
But to claim the HE1000 is better in every single area, to my ears, simply isn't true.  Both the HD800 and HE1000 are world class headphones.  They both bring unique attributes to the listener.  

 

[up late]

that lack of "pop"/"snap" on the snare is consistent with a lack of attack, softening/blunting of the leading edge of notes that's becoming common in descriptions of this can's sound signature from what i'm seeing

 

[JaZZ]

I'd venture a guess that there's an easy fix: increase the range between 1400 and 4000/6000 Hz by means of an equalizer.

 

[doctorjazz]

I thought on quick initial listen that the "snap" was missing as well. Maybe I've just acclimated to HEK world, but I don't find it lacking in that department anymore.
Just me, of course.

 

[richard51]

I thought on quick initial listen that the "snap" was missing as well. Maybe I've just acclimated to HEK world, but I don't find it lacking in that department anymore.
Just me, of course.

is it possible that the cause was the microzotl with  the hek ?

 

[Ultrainferno]

I thought on quick initial listen that the "snap" was missing as well. Maybe I've just acclimated to HEK world, but I don't find it lacking in that department anymore.
Just me, of course.

 
I can't say it bothers me either after a few weeks

 

[Kyno]

   
I own both the HD800 and the HE1000.  In my opinion, the HD800 is better in several areas:
 
1) Female vocals.  The HD800 is better in the upper middle frequencies than the HE1000
 
2) Snare snap.  Any recording with an aggressive snare- think Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Couldn't Stand the Weather" is a bit of a disappointment on the HE1000.  There's a pop missing on snare drums which I believe is the HE1000's biggest weakness.  It made 'ol Stevie Ray sound ordinary, where the track is brilliant on the HD800.
 
3) Soundstage.  While the HE1000 has maybe the best imaging I've ever heard, but the soundstage on the HD800 is wider.  
 
4) Comfort.  The HD800 is still the most comfortable headphone I've ever worn, at any price.  The only headphone that comes close is the Mr. Speakers Ether.  
 
This is not to say the HD800 is a better headphone than the HE1000.  I believe the HE1000 is better in more areas than the HD800.  The HE1000 has perhaps the best sounding bass of any headphone I've ever heard.  *I haven't auditioned the Abyss*.  The HE1000 is better at male vocals than the HD800.  The HE1000 has better imaging and clarity.  The HE1000 is warmer (I don't get the whole quest for neutral.  Neutral is boring and should be reserved for recording engineers, myself included).  The HE1000 is smoother through the higher frequencies-- but too smooth in some instances (see Snare snap).  
 
But to claim the HE1000 is better in every single area, to my ears, simply isn't true.  Both the HD800 and HE1000 are world class headphones.  They both bring unique attributes to the listener.  

 
If only the HE1000 was half the price to meet the HD800 

 

[up late]

sure. just something i've noticed in the impressions is all. want to hear this can for myself and form my own.