[Spawn300Z]

Sorry I meant to tag @Erick Muller

 

[Erick Muller]

The HEKSEs scale real well. You will have less issues with them if you consider upgrading your amp.

Yep, with the XD05 Pro with the stock DAC card and the stock opamps installed it sounded incredible, I'm also waiting for Flux Labs to confirm that I can place an order for the M-Field, but I'm also considering getting the XD05 Pro for myself because the one I'm currently testing is just on loan from my father.

I tried with the Sparkos opamps and detailed was off the charts but maybe a little bit too much of a good thing, specially with the HEKse and also got a chance to tried the AKM DAC module and oh boy, that even scaled further with dynamics and punch while maintaining almost the same level of detail.

I think I'm already set with my DAC, I'm just missing the amp because with the S17 just sounded shrill and harsh with a lot of my cans, specially planars, right now I'm just using the EF499 because it sounds better to me than my Cyan 2/S17 combo.

I'm also considering the Hifiman Goldenwave Serenade as a possible upgrade given how well the synergy is with the HEKse it stands to reason that the Serenade is going to be even better.

 

[Patlezinc]

It turns out in a HeKse topic

 

[jonh1]

Look for at least a Hifiman Prelude.

I totally agree!
I have such a system myself now. The amplifier is gorgeous! And it has great synergy with HiFiMan headphones.

 

[cfranchi]

I got the chance this weekend to compare the sundara to the HEKse and I must say that I was really impressed with the sundara's stock tuning, out of the box, this is a headphone I can listen too without any EQ, the HEKse I can also do but less so, because it's so much energetic in the treble, not peaky but definitively the detail is brought forward more so, I feel I will get fatigue more quickly with the HEKse than with the sundara, BUT the sundara does have a peak in the treble that only comes with certain recordings and with certain female vocalists from time to time, but it's not so frequent that it becomes an issue for me.

Frankly, I have been really impressed and surprised with the SQ of Hifiman's offerings throughout their entire line up, now I can see why so many people love the sundara, the only criticism I have with the sundara are the ergos, it's comfortable enough but the fact that there's even less cup swivel even compared to a focal headphone does lead to a kind of clampy feel with the headphone, not anything near as bad as something as an HD6X0 out of the box clamp force by any means.

The HEKse is definitively more clear and detailed than the Sundara and it just run circles around the sundara with the spacial presentation and sound stage, the HEKse it's more extended both in the low and high end, it's more sparkly, but the Sundara does feel a little bit more punchy in the bass and I think I enjoy more the vocals on the sundara than the HEKse eventhough the sundaras are less clear and detailed.

Sundara is a great headphone regarding its tuning.

From Resolve’s headphones ranking about Sundara:

« This should be considered a default reference planar magnetic headphone in my opinion, with one of the best and most balanced tunings out of any headphone available at any price. «

https://headphones.com/blogs/buying-guides/resolve-headphone-wall-of-fame

 

[Patlezinc]

hmm. He says the Focal clear has a fine tuning. I had it, would not say that. Very subjective list afterall

 

[Erick Muller]

Sundara is a great headphone regarding its tuning.

From Resolve’s headphones ranking about Sundara:

« This should be considered a default reference planar magnetic headphone in my opinion, with one of the best and most balanced tunings out of any headphone available at any price. «

https://headphones.com/blogs/buying-guides/resolve-headphone-wall-of-fame

It's incredibly balanced and it remains highly engaging while not being fatiguing at all, in comparison to many other headphones, truly impressive, specially for the price.

 

[Erick Muller]

hmm. He says the Focal clear has a fine tuning. I had it, would not say that. Very subjective list afterall

The only other headphone I would say it's even better than the sundara would probably be the Focal Clear, but I do have to change the pads for some dekoni's

 

[Patlezinc]

Well, that is what I said, subjective stuff

 

[Trinkle]

Yeah. The HEKu has a fuller mids, less to no sibilance and a smoother highs that still maintains good details. Overall it’s a worthy upgrade in sound quality to me that I bought it on the spot

How does the vocals of HEKu compare with HD800S, I found the vocals to be too distant with HEKse compared to HD800S and returned it.

 

[Patlezinc]

Distant? Like being far from you?
It is really dependant on songs I would say. I never had this feeling

 

[Trinkle]

Distant? Like being far from you?
It is really dependant on songs I would say. I never had this feeling

May be because my last headphone was HD800S, the vocal range is quite elevated compared to the HE1000SE. In HD800S it feels that the vocals are much closer to you compared to other instruments, I probably got used to it and that is why it felt distant.

 

[Trinkle]

deleted

 

[Patlezinc]

Ok, never heard the 800s but I have also have this feeling of voices closer than instruments on most songs

 

[tassardar]

How does the vocals of HEKu compare with HD800S, I found the vocals to be too distant with HEKse compared to HD800S and returned it.

It’s not as distant and more focused.