Hifiman HE1000-SE

[Patlezinc]

I could not test all combinations. What is sure is that the soundstage depth is really bigger. You can push the volume further without having the ears torn. I don't think the 9038 pro is a bad DAC. It is very detailed but a bit agressive with the HeKSE (it is a combination thing I guess). Seems ok with some other headphones if you read some other point of views.
About the sibilance, I solved it after a lot of research and testing. In fact I started to look at FR of the HEKse. Strangely, I found different measurements. The Crinacle tool has something magical because you can EQ live et see what's happening. So I tried. Was better, but loosing a bit of the signature. Then I tried another Fr measurement I found from reviewers. Same again, better but... hmmmm. I did at the end what I should have done the first day. I took my Umik and Rew and measured myself. I don't have the ear-like stuff to be accurate but did various tests and found a pretty nice bump at 10kHz. The things is you precisely don't see it on the Crinacle tool, big dip here. But that was the point to look at. I found someone saying to tame the 9,5khz when I read some stuff in the forum, I guess we agree. So I have a -3.0db here, with Q3.0 and on most songs now I am ok. The others are just bad recordings I am afraid. PowerAmp have this magic thing that you can choose for each track what EQ you want. So useful.
I am very happy to have my HeKSE as its full potential now. Ok, maybe not full because some will say I need a Hugo or stuff like this, but frankly it is very very good. It was before too, but as I always say, when you compare you start to see the real truth.

 

[SemiAudiophile]

After a few weeks now with the HE1000SE it pains me to say that it is a all around much better headphone than the LCD 4.

Going back to the LCD 4 sounds like the sound stage has collapsed, detail retrieval is a lot less, imaging is not as precise and overall not as clear as the HE1000SE.

Bass is punchier and you get more slam on the LCD 4 but the HE1000SE has better definition and texture in the low end and I think its actually overall better in that department as it still has good slam.

I would like to thank Hifiman and the HE1000SE for ruining my LCD 4 which is a headphone I never thought of selling but I am tempted now.....

HEKSE is the best overall headphone I've ever heard/owned. I demoed the LCD-5 and the new Focal Utopia but didn't come off impressed. They were show conditions so maybe not the same as extended listening with own equipment.

I recently went back to estats because I missed their sound and picked up L700. And honestly found that the HEKSE can pretty much do the same things the L700 can but with more detail/resolution and are better at imaging. L700 is more comparable to Arya and HD8XX I think. Estats do sound a fair more delicate and lighter in their presentation though and are still special in their own way.

I think estats back then we're probably the most technically capable headphones/ear speakers you could get. But now planars have gotten much better and are cheaper to own/drive. I get a sense Dr. Fang Bian was a big electrostatic fan and based his sound inspiration and signature from them because they do sound very much alike.

 

[Patlezinc]

After a few weeks now with the HE1000SE it pains me to say that it is a all around much better headphone than the LCD 4.

Going back to the LCD 4 sounds like the sound stage has collapsed, detail retrieval is a lot less, imaging is not as precise and overall not as clear as the HE1000SE.

Bass is punchier and you get more slam on the LCD 4 but the HE1000SE has better definition and texture in the low end and I think its actually overall better in that department as it still has good slam.

I would like to thank Hifiman and the HE1000SE for ruining my LCD 4 which is a headphone I never thought of selling but I am tempted now.....

As I said to Boodi in private, I found the Focal Clears pretty good.
Before hearing the HeKSE…
After, I found them to be very average. Sorry to say that, was my feeling at the moment. Don’t want to hurt Clears lovers. Once again, if you compare.. —> troubles in your mind

 

[boodi]

I could not test all combinations. What is sure is that the soundstage depth is really bigger. You can push the volume further without having the ears torn. I don't think the 9038 pro is a bad DAC. It is very detailed but a bit agressive with the HeKSE (it is a combination thing I guess). Seems ok with some other headphones if you read some other point of views.
About the sibilance, I solved it after a lot of research and testing. In fact I started to look at FR of the HEKse. Strangely, I found different measurements. The Crinacle tool has something magical because you can EQ live et see what's happening. So I tried. Was better, but loosing a bit of the signature. Then I tried another Fr measurement I found from reviewers. Same again, better but... hmmmm. I did at the end what I should have done the first day. I took my Umik and Rew and measured myself. I don't have the ear-like stuff to be accurate but did various tests and found a pretty nice bump at 10kHz. The things is you precisely don't see it on the Crinacle tool, big dip here. But that was the point to look at. I found someone saying to tame the 9,5khz when I read some stuff in the forum, I guess we agree. So I have a -3.0db here, with Q3.0 and on most songs now I am ok. The others are just bad recordings I am afraid. PowerAmp have this magic thing that you can choose for each track what EQ you want. So useful.
I am very happy to have my HeKSE as its full potential now. Ok, maybe not full because some will say I need a Hugo or stuff like this, but frankly it is very very good. It was before too, but as I always say, when you compare you start to see the real truth.

quite stumbled on each time you named Poweramp as your 'eq tool' mistery solved ..

 

[Patlezinc]

I just put my wife in the game. M15s alone. Then C9.
« You are inside the orchestra », « you rediscover the music in fact », « really more emotional ». She is not in technic, noob here. Hehe.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

As I said to Boodi in private, I found the Focal Clears pretty good.
Before hearing the HeKSE…
After, I found them to be very average. Sorry to say that, was my feeling at the moment. Don’t want to hurt Clears lovers. Once again, if you compare.. —> troubles in your mind

Yeah it feels like having your heart broken when a new headphone you buy is better than the old one lol. I try to keep 2 high budget headphones in my collection and I have an HD700 that I keep lying around as it was 1st audiophile headphone back in university days.

To be honest I would only now get a headphone that is as or more technically proficient as the HE1000SE. That would obviously be the Susvara but I would have to spend probably a lot take advantage of those headphones as my Cayin HA-3A & Topping D90 will not be a good match for them.

 

[Patlezinc]

Yep. You have to save a lot for a Susvara, but it is only the beginning of the problems . I am afraid it will never happen. But we are lucky guys anyway you know

 

[tradyblix]

Awww yeah, I'm an Arya Stealth fan and I just bought an HE1000se. I'm stoked ! I hope I'll enjoy the changes from Arya V3.

Happy to join the club

 

[EdvonSchleck76]

Hey guys, do you know if the new price for HEkSE is now 1999 USD? Or will HEkSE have a new successor? Therefore the price maybe so low? Thanks,Ed

 

[tradyblix]

Hey guys, do you know if the new price for HEkSE is now 1999 USD? Or will HEkSE have a new successor? Therefore the price maybe so low? Thanks,Ed

Yes, the entire line currently has price cuts.

HE1000 V2 1399
HE1000 Stealth 1399
HE1000se 1999
Arya Stealth 999

Don't know how long it will last for. Heard rumors company is up for sale, so maybe temporary.

Headphones will always have successors, especially if they're Hifiman, they made 4 revisions of Arya already for example. 4 of HE1000.

Unless you're Sennheiser where you basically "exited the market" for years already.

 

[Patlezinc]

I read until fathers day

 

[tradyblix]

I read until fathers day

Heard same, but dunno if true.

 

[EdvonSchleck76]

Doesnt look like that because the is no ad regarding fathers day on their website...

 

[Patlezinc]

It is written. « Father’s Day and summer sales »

 

[tradyblix]

They didn't discount Susvara tho, did they ? I guess because either nobody buys that MSRP off the website, or if they do it's a "Money is no object" thing