[bagwell359]

Thanks for that I've just put those exact settings in and it's now better. I only use an eq when it's essential, and so now that's a lot less deviation than a full shelf. Great stuff 👍

Thanks, I spent months trying to get the settings set - but also not mangling the sound too much. I'll flip you my settings for the v1, very close. The higher ringing area: 9k +/- 800 Hz does shift from unit to unit. You'd have to take time with yours to dial it in exactly.

Ringing has a pernicious effect but after mods like "fuzzor" and pads, there is music present as well, so you can only shave off a smidge to make it easier to listen too but not rob the music of its overtones. I wrote maybe a dozen pieces on this topic in the main 500, OG 6, and 6 SE threads if you get into it.

 

[LugBug1]

Is your Ananda the OG or the Stealth Magnet (SM) edition ?
Asking cause i have the Ananda SM and the HE6SEv2. To my ears they are more sidegrades then one "superior" to the other (sure YMMV).
I love the clarity, detail and punchiness of the HE6. I love the soundstage, midbass presence and beautiful timbre of the Ananda SM.

OG my friend. I had been listening non-stop for a week with the HE6SEv2 and then got a shock when I went back to my favourite hp. Now that the dust has settled and I'm going back and forth more,,, I still love the Ananda. It's perfect for my taste. But ! It simply doesn't have the 'life-like' timbre of the He6. It doesn't have the same micro details. Or punchy fun sound.. tightness of bass.. freq extension.
I love electronic music and the soundstage of the Ananda is amazing. I prefer it over the HD800. It's a perfect size without being unrealistic. Infact I spent many years with the hd800 attempting to make them sound like the Ananda.. I discovered this when I first bought the Ananda.

I think they pair well together. I'd advise anyone with an Ananda to also go for the HE6sev2 if they want a more intimate stage but with overall better sound.

(I will no doubt end up with the Ananda Stealth at some point. I'm such a big fan of this headphone.)

 

[LugBug1]

Yes my impressions as well between ananda and he-6se

He6 technicalities are more in line with the hek series in terms of resolution and overall sq

Just got the Susvara, and it gives you the mid/high frequency response of the ananda and the technicalities one notch above the he6

I’d say on a technical level though, the jump from he6 to Susvara is about the same as ananda to he6

That’s a very general and subjective statement- and not a knock on the Susvara as much as praise to the he6

ill post more he6 se v2 versus Susvara as I become more familiar

But initially they are just slightly more refined but I could honestly see someone preferring the he6

Unless you’re simply looking for a diff sound signature, the he6seV2 is the absolute value king IMO

Easily competes in the 1-2k range

It's weird, I have recently imagined what an He6 would sound like with my Ananda's soundstage and I suspected the Susvara would be this. Obviously I have no idea, but your description is not too far from my thoughts.

Hmm.. the Susvara is a pipe dream for me. Congrats on owning it ! And thank you for giving us your comparison with it's older (updated) sibling.

 

[bagwell359]

Not a reproduction of HE6, sounds more like a redux of HE500. Id call it HE500+. Still, I think HE500 different enough to warrant keeping. Most noteably HE500 CSD doesnt share a resonance so large as HE6se… Not sure yet on it’s audibile effects. Ill a/b with the same pads on each later.

The SE v1 is my best can, but the 500 is close, and yes having both is worthwhile. The only issue with the 600 its 6-7 db less efficient than the 500. I've modded both equally, and on that basis I offer my take:

Back when I heard the SE v1 I had to disabuse those that said it was just like the OG 6. It is physically quite different and doesn't sound the same. But its related. The v1 and v2 are similar but the 1.8k dip isn't as steep on the v2, and the ringing seems a bit less on the v2 too.

Can you clarify what you mean that the resonance of the se isn't as much as the 500?

To me, the 500 bass isn't as deep or impactful, in fact its a bit underdamped. The mids of the 500 are certainly more lush, but the 500 rings more then the v1 or v2 in the treble. Even modded out the biggest thing is the technicals of the 500 are not really in the same class as either SE. Its more homogenized, and less insightful. Without the fuzzor mod and some judicious EQ'ing the 500 also has cymbal harmonics about twice as long as they should. Kind of addictive but also wrong.

 

[Philimon]

Its more homogenized, and less insightful

Agreed (about HE500).

500 rings more then the v1 or v2 in the treble

HE6se obviously more resolving with better seperation but cant say if its because HE500 “rings”. Other reasons for why HE500 is less resolving etc?

500 bass isn't as deep or impactful

Havent a/b directly so cant confirm. I dont doubt your impressions because I know youve spent a lot of time listening and tinkering with both.

Can you clarify what you mean that the resonance of the se isn't as much as the 500?

Ya that needs clarification... Ill post my CSDs later. HE6se has a large resonance (HFM ortho wall) in presence region. HE500 has many small resonances across the range as seen in some lower tier Hifiman. Perhaps helps explain why HE500 sounds homogeneous or lush.

 

[bagwell359]

HE6se obviously more resolving with better seperation but cant say if its because HE500 “rings”. Other reasons for why HE500 is less resolving etc?

HE specifically tuned the 500 to have a warmer midrange, he lost bass cycles, and there is the aluminum vs gold, and possibly different mylar under different tension,

Ya that needs clarification... Ill post my CSDs later. HE6se has a large resonance (HFM ortho wall) in presence region. HE500 has many small resonances across the range as seen in some lower tier Hifiman. Perhaps helps explain why HE500 sounds homogeneous or lush.

Techporn has a HE6sev2 CSD graph that's very good except centered at 4.3 kHz. I'd do a -3 db Q 7.60. The one at 9.2 kHz is down from the v1 or 500, hadn't noticed that before.

Based on the FR and CSD on Tech porn, I'd EQ:

42 Hz +2.4 Q 1.0 bass shelf
500 Hz -1.8 Q 1.8
1.8k +3.6 Q 2.2
4.3k -3.0 Q 7.6
7.5k -3.0 Q 7.2
9.2k -3.6 Q 8.6

If you have more than 6 bands, then try:

3.2k -1.4 Q 9.0
14k +4.0 Q 9.4

That's a bit different than the v1. The 9.2k and 14k due to unit variation could be off a bit, careful listening to reference transducers and well known reference recordings could nail it down.

Add: I couldn't locate the CSD for the 500 at the 4 letter site, but the ones for the HE-6 and HE-560 DIY-Audio-Heaven are very rocky, and I recall the 500 being worse than the 6 but not as bad as the 560.

 

[Philimon]

T60RP earpads. They are a bit small and oval so required some trimming of the mounting ring to fit.

 

[TWerk]

HE-500 was my choice because I don't have the best amp to run the 6. I think that needs to be mentioned for the 500, lower power requirements vs. a 6 making it a more versatile choice. I think for many people who have standard (around 2 watt) headphone amps, this is something to be considered.

And then also - the HE-400 which is even easier to power than the HE-500.

I think the OG 400 was a great buy - I got mine second hand here for (under $100!!) and I can't imagine beating it for that price. It does have a rather spicy treble peak in there that can come out at times which is the biggest weakness but it is otherwise a really fun headphone to rock out with and has really great soundstage, bass, and imaging! Minus that occasional treble zing - it is a sweet headphone!

The later revisions of the 400 miss out a lot of what made the OG special.

I am very happy with the duo (some of my very favorite headphones, period) - although it must be included - to my ears they both need the stock velour pads - the same ones that come stock with the 6. I have come to prefer those the most for the openness, bass punch, and soundstage.

 

[theangelboy]

HE-500 was my choice because I don't have the best amp to run the 6. I think that needs to be mentioned for the 500, lower power requirements vs. a 6 making it a more versatile choice. I think for many people who have standard (around 2 watt) headphone amps, this is something to be considered.

And then even more so - the HE-400 which is even easier to power than the HE-500.

I think the OG 400 was a great buy - I got mine second hand here for (under $100!!) and I can't imagine beating it for that price. It does have a rather spicy treble peak in there that can come out at times which is the biggest weakness but it is otherwise a really fun headphone to rock out with and has really great soundstage, bass, and imaging! Minus that occasional treble zing - it is a sweet headphone!

The later revisions of the 400 miss out a lot of what made the OG special.

I am very happy with the duo (some of my very favorite headphones, period) - although it must be included - to my ears they both need the stock velour pads - the same ones that come stock with the 6. I have come to prefer those the most for the openness, bass punch, and soundstage.

The OG 400 and 500 really have a different tuning to modern HE series Hifimans and they compliment each other well. The HE-400 was my first planar (and kind of started an obsession, honestly, just look at my sig...) I did find the treble emphasis dominated a bit too much. However, a few years ago I tried some sheepskin Ori pads I had bought for my X00 Purpleheart (hated that combo) and it transformed the 400 to a headphone with some of the smoothest and most luxurious mids I have every heard. Adele with those headphones makes my brain melt. A very different tuning than stock and probably far from any "accurate" target curve, but I find them incredibly enjoyable.

I picked up a HE-500 a while ago. It's well used but still sounds great. I can understand why it's earned such a legendary status. Because of the warmer tuning, the mids and bass come through more than the modern Hifiman house sound. I find it to have some incredible sub-bass rumble. It doesn't slam or is as tight as the HE6se V2, but has more a subwoofer quality to it and feels like it extends forever. I'm not sure why or how the bass can sound like that given it measures as a ruler-flat line just like most planars, but I love it. Super fun with action movies.

The HE6se V2, on the other hand, has that modern Hifiman house sound but just refined to a ridiculous degree. It's so tight and fast it makes the lower tier offerings feel sluggish and sloppy by comparison. Really quite impressive. But based on how different the OG 400 and 500 are from their "successors" (400i, 560, etc.) I would love to get a taste of a HE-6 one day and hear how really it differs from the modern incarnation. Reviews can only convey so much info about the experience.

 

[TWerk]

100% - good analysis of the series - These old Hifimans really do have some magic to them.

All 3 - 400, 500, 6 still are bangers (and will continue to be) after over a decade since their release.

 

[bagwell359]

HE-500 was my choice because I don't have the best amp to run the 6. I think that needs to be mentioned for the 500, lower power requirements vs. a 6 making it a more versatile choice. I think for many people who have standard (around 2 watt) headphone amps, this is something to be considered.

It's been mentioned often. It's about 6 db more efficient. The 500 is low, the 6 is like driving a Quad ESL.

I think the OG 400 was a great buy - I got mine second hand here for (under $100!!) and I can't imagine beating it for that price. It does have a rather spicy treble peak in there that can come out at times which is the biggest weakness but it is otherwise a really fun headphone to rock out with and has really great soundstage, bass, and imaging! Minus that occasional treble zing - it is a sweet headphone!

The 400 bass drops off starting at 70 Hz and is down about 7 db at 20 Hz. But they are not properly damped (a little slow - good for rock, but not so much for some other types) so they sound impressive and beastly. Some have have thought it has better bass than the 500, but the 500 is very strong to 30 Hz and drops softly from there. But it is fun and can be had for not much $.

The later revisions of the 400 miss out a lot of what made the OG special.

I am very happy with the duo (some of my very favorite headphones, period) - although it must be included - to my ears they both need the stock velour pads - the same ones that come stock with the 6. I have come to prefer those the most for the openness, bass punch, and soundstage.

I've tried 13 pads on the OG 6, 6 SE and 500 - the Ether Angled from DCA is my fav. Balanced top to bottom, very wide image if rear screen is off or a replacement with a more open grid. Doesn't do much however for the 400i or 4XX.

 

[azonin]

After a long wait I finally just received my iFi Pro iCAN Signature - and boy, what a difference! I can conclusively say that on its own the iFi Pro iDSD Signature is NOT enough to drive the HE6SE v2 properly. Immediate differences: the bass goes from just an OK level to the "I feel like I'm at a concert and it resonates through my chest" level. The width of the sound stage for highs, especially female vocalists goes from "little ping pong ball area inside my head where the voice is" to a much wider, less confined area. All of this with the default, non-boosted XBass and 3D settings.

Will post more as I get to play more with the iCAN. Special thanks to @Shane D for the enlightenment!

 

[Shane D]

After a long wait I finally just received my iFi Pro iCAN Signature - and boy, what a difference! I can conclusively say that on its own the iFi Pro iDSD Signature is NOT enough to drive the HE6SE v2 properly. Immediate differences: the bass goes from just an OK level to the "I feel like I'm at a concert and it resonates through my chest" level. The width of the sound stage for highs, especially female vocalists goes from "little ping pong ball area inside my head where the voice is" to a much wider, less confined area. All of this with the default, non-boosted XBass and 3D settings.

Will post more as I get to play more with the iCAN. Special thanks to @Shane D for the enlightenment!

Enjoy! I LOVE that combo.

 

[TWerk]

It's just too bad it costs 5x what the headphone costs.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

It's just too bad it costs 5x what the headphone costs.

Give it time, it will eventually cost 10X what the headphone costs. Adorama is running sales