[borkenarrou]

My playlist today was comprehensive of Hiromi Uehara Trio Project , Holst : The Planets , Lady Gaga , My Bloody Valentine , Dream Theater , Valentina Lisitsa , Emerson Lake and Palmer , Porno For Pyros and Yuya Wang
So : lot of different things .

v2 where a very refreshing joy vs hekse on most of it , to say how different and differently good the two are .
Today I didn't want the airy stage and positioning ( usually I do ), I was emotionally curious and appreciated alot the welcome hekv2 smoothness across frequencies and their overall more emotional drive . It was a bit more immersive experience then usual - music felt more liquidly and continuously rendered across frequencies then on hekse.
The bass is nicer then before too, it now has a more tactile beat.
I really liked today listenings .

Nice impressions, it seems a tube amp can bring some of the V2 magic to the SE, if you can get hold of one will be interesting to hear your thoughts on it.

 

[boodi]

violectric v280/281 is said to add bits of a tube amp character

you have the v550 pro even more ultimate performances there likely - maybe not as warm as supposedly the v280/281 ?

 

[dawgwood9]

I just hit 50 hours on my hekv2stealth. Anyone else notice the depth of the soundstage change throughout burn-in? I'm amazed how much deeper it seems to go now compared to when I started listening on them. Could just be my ears/brain adjusting but I am hearing layers I haven't been able to extract separately before.

 

[borkenarrou]

violectric v280/281 is said to add bits of a tube amp character

you have the v550 pro even more ultimate performances there likely - maybe not as warm as supposedly the v280/281 ?

V550 is more neutral to my ears, the V2 sound great on it mostly but it still come acroos as bit thin and sibilant on some recordings, the V280/V281 from what I know are bit warmer so it can help in that area, from my little experience with (hybrid and budget) tube amps, they also add a certain flavour which I find very enjoyable, I can imagine a pure OTC tube amp like from Feliks or Cayin will up the game significantly, my theory is you can make the SE sound like V2 with proper selection of chain but a V2 can never bring the resolution and technicalities the SE possess.

 

[InquisitiveLogic]

Sure, I use the Soloist 3x as a headphone amp and as a pre-amp to active monitors/speakers.
There are too many buttons that need to be pushed or held. The switch would have been preferred.
For example, to enter into power amp mode - low gain. I need to press the menu button, turn the knob to headphone out, then turn the knob to low gain, then hold the menu button for over 10 seconds.
When I want to use the active speakers, I have to hold the menu button for over 10 seconds to exit the power amp mode. Then click the menu, and turn the knob to medium gain. (Low gain isn't loud enough for active monitors).

With I.E.Ms, on medium gain, there is an audible hiss (loud hiss on high gain). On low gain, it's dead silent.
With headphones, the drivers do not pick up the hiss like I.E.Ms.
I noticed an increase in sound separation on low gain power amp mode.

In non power amp mode, I listen to ~45-52 on medium gain, with a 5v output DAC (Gustard x26pro).

Right... I get what you mean by ergonomics of the Soloist. For me the biggest ergonomic gripe is the volume dial. Isnt that of a gripe but if the volume is turned down all the way and you cant find the remote, good luck with the liitle impatience that sets in while cranking up the dial!

Other than that its a straight set up for me. Foobar>D1se>Soloist>Cans.

The D1se also is about a lil over 5V out and for my listening tastes the HEKv2 come to life at about 85+ on volume, soloist medium gain, esp for electronic and EDM bassy music.

Fair enough. I do prefer the MG compared to the OG contradict to the popular opinion. Especially since my right ear is treble sensitive. But they're not great for Jazz, Classic, or anything acoustics. The bass in Jazz e.g. the bass solo in Someday My Prince Will Come - Bill Evans sounds very muddy in the MG. I think the Hekv2 would definitely make it sound better.

I see, to me the bass is not great. I mean its not bad, but I think I've been spoiled by Focal's dynamics.

Focal MG is a nice set, but not for my listening tastes and the performance it gives is a lil overpriced IMHO. I even preferred the R70x to MG esp for tone and soundstage.

HEKv2 is miles ahead compared to MG in almost every department except dynamics.

But for dynamics (and bass and over all performance as a Dynamic driver), I have yet to hear anything better or even close to TH900/909 sound!

I found a deal for a violectric v281. Will get it likely.
III day of burning in for hekv2 , Something got better ( hot mids edgy higs ) something not still ( stage layering and separation )

Do share your opinion when you get the v281 and what DAC did you pair it with.

 

[dunpeal]

Hey all! Which version of the HE1000 would have a soundstage closest to the HD800s?

 

[dawgwood9]

Hey all! Which version of the HE1000 would have a soundstage closest to the HD800s?

I would say V2. Compared to my HD800, the V2 width is just ever so slightly less.

 

[Melody Geek]

Hi Guys, Please I would like to ask something that is very important to me at the moment regarding the HE1000v2.
I have the chance to be able to choose between the HE1000v2original and the newer HE1000v2stealth but I have one big dilemma.
I read 700 pages about the he1000 and found hundreds of contradictory opinions about it.
Im upgrading my Arya v2 non stealth because of treble fatigue after around 1 hour, would like to move from the arya to the HE1000v2 stealth or non stealth, so Im really wondering:
1) Which one is more sibilant or higher in treble (most important question)
2) Which one have bigger bass (perhaps comparing with arya v2)
3) Any advantages of the HEKv2 stealth vs the original non stealth
4) Im aware soundstage of the he1000v2 original is slightly bigger as most people agree in the forum but this is not very important to me because I got the HD800S.
Please any help will be highly appreciated, hopefully people with experience with both headphones please, specially if some of you are lucky enough to A/B both stellar cans!
When I bought the HD800S I ask sennheiser for a FR graph and they provided that within few hours but asking hifiman about it is so strange, is like if they are afraid of showing that and send me here instead
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP, really appreciated it!

 

[seacard]

In my opinion, the original V2 has less sibilance and is a better headphone overall. In fact, while the SE is my favorite, I think the original V2 might be the best option for you if you are sensitive to bright headphones.

 

[Thetaburn]

I have the chance to be able to choose between the HE1000v2original and the newer HE1000v2stealth but I have one big dilemma.
I read 700 pages about the he1000 and found hundreds of contradictory opinions about it.

The contradictions likely stem from the high scalability of the Hekv2.
Every user will have a different DAC, amp, cable and etc. setup which suits their own sound signature preference.

I can only say every piece of equipment I have added has changed the sound signature (some more than others).

The Arya V2 (previously owned) is an enjoyable headphone if the only issue for you is treble, you can switch to a warmer DAC and AMP or EQ the treble region down.
Using all copper cables and interconnects helps subtly.
In addition, if your DAC allows upsampling to DSD, using music players like Hq Player or Audirvana can smooth out the treble.

 

[boodi]

Looking forward to the 150+ hour update.

I must admit I wasn t prepared to such a ..decongestion . last 24 48h the hekv2 refined 'dramatically' in all segments or so , bass got more tasty and groovy , everything got more tight , making for overall more space and progressively loosing some of the loose character of midbass and mids > becomes smoother and smoother

 

[boodi]

By the way i am very ok with the bass quantity ( running hekv2 without any eq )
Impact is another story ..but I am not using my Fostex or Onkyo lately ..been more then a month now

 

[boodi]

V550 is more neutral to my ears, the V2 sound great on it mostly but it still come acroos as bit thin and sibilant on some recordings, the V280/V281 from what I know are bit warmer so it can help in that area, from my little experience with (hybrid and budget) tube amps, they also add a certain flavour which I find very enjoyable, I can imagine a pure OTC tube amp like from Feliks or Cayin will up the game significantly, my theory is you can make the SE sound like V2 with proper selection of chain but a V2 can never bring the resolution and technicalities the SE possess.

How are you liking the v550 with the v2 ? Is it your favourite amp among all you heard/have or you wouldn't recommend it?
Also whats your listenings and music preference if I may ask?

Thanks for taking the time.

I hope the v280/81 will not cut on the air/details on hekse .

 

[Thetaburn]

Stage is usually nearer with hekv2 , you 're placed quite more in proximity with the performers.

There's an added distance with hekse. Which i usually prefer. Stage is also higher. This all makes for more discernible parts of the music ,easier separation etc. I see how many could prefer more involvement through proximity though for many genres

This was mentioned in the He1000 Impressions forum and on Reddit,

https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/un8rfh/peak_weebfi_hifiman_sennheiser_orange_technica/

The Hekv2 is quirky, as you have to find a 'sweet spot' for the soundstage to sound coherent.
I also found that when the headband is tilted toward the back of your head, the soundstage projects a bit more outwards versus a more inside-the-head experience if the headband is lying on the top of the head.

On my head, when the headband is on the 3rd notch, the sound stage is huge and enveloping.
Shorten it to the 2nd notch and the resolution is significantly more focused and detailed, but the soundstage size shrinks a bit, especially in height.
#3rd notch is my preference.

Is this the same for the Hekse, since the drivers on these He1000 series are so big and have so much room for adjustment?

 

[boodi]

Makes sense : to have the best picture of the stage it needs matching drivers distance from eardrums and center them accordingly well..and we also have different ears ( i mean the outer shape, the lenght of ear canal etc, to not talk about inner chemestry and slight change due to it onperception , or how the mood affect it daily etc )