HifiMan HE6 V2 Adorama

[Andrew_WOT]

I see there are few mods avail: pads and grills. Do they improve sound or just aesthetic?

Headband for comfort, open grill supposed to open up soundstage slightly, but the effect is so subtle that can be accounted for placebo.

 

[bagwell359]

，Yes, just ordered an AC (arctic cable) grill for $19 and it's on the way. Did you mean no need to keep the HFM 'filter' or 'screen', just naked with the AC grill on?

I meant that I use them with no rear screen, but, if you don't want to take the risk, grab some after market ones. Those Arctics look excellent and the price is very good too.

 

[bagwell359]

Headband for comfort, open grill supposed to open up soundstage slightly, but the effect is so subtle that can be accounted for placebo.

Maybe, I've only used the no grill thing vs stock with the Ether Angled and the ZMF lambskin. The ZMF's soundstage is like a small postage stamp, so I noticed nothing, except that.

But trying stock, and 3 of my home brew screens and no screen with the Ether Angled does provide different results. The most open (about 90%) and no screen both with the Ether provide a gigantic soundstage width with the HE-500, and slightly less wide, but a bit taller with the HE-6 SE. I do not find that case to be subtle.

Anyone wishing to try this, I recommend Thurman Green "Dance of the Night Creatures" first 3 cuts on Mapleshade only $5.06 used on Amazon.

 

[dstarr3]

I see there are few mods avail: pads and grills. Do they improve sound or just aesthetic?

New pads are a night-and-day transformation, like they usually are. Grilles, I don't remember how much of a difference it made, but it's free and easy to remove them and see for yourself, and also free and easy to put them back on if you don't like it.

 

[theangelboy]

My first wired headphone in 1 year. Quite surprised how hard it is to drive it - almost as difficult as Susv.

Comfort wise, actually I have no issue with it.

I see there are few mods avail: pads and grills. Do they improve sound or just aesthetic?

Removing the grilles or using ones that are less restrictive helps with rear reflections. The difference isn't huge but has no sonic downsides imo.

You can test this difference yourself very easily. Remove the grille retention rings (carefully, they can snap) and the grilles. Put some pink noise on loop and hold the grilles, one in each hand, in such a way that your hands or fingers don't cover it. Then move the grilles towards and away from the cups. You should be able to hear the pink noise profile changing right away.

As for pads, these can have a bigger impact on sound. Stock pads have a bigger dip around 1.5khz than most other options and has more aggressive and uneven treble in general. The He6se is incrediblely versitile when it comes to pads so almost no pads sound bad on it. I prefer velour (like Hifiman's own round velour pads), others on here like genuine leather (like the Ether angled pads) . Both material options will have different effect on the sound so it's a matter of whatever suits your taste better.

 

[jsmiller58]

I have new grills on the way. Is there a post or video that shows how to safely remove and replace grills?

 

[greenfielda2]

I have new grills on the way. Is there a post or video that shows how to safely remove and replace grills?

 

[greenfielda2]

Maybe, I've only used the no grill thing vs stock with the Ether Angled and the ZMF lambskin. The ZMF's soundstage is like a small postage stamp, so I noticed nothing, except that.

But trying stock, and 3 of my home brew screens and no screen with the Ether Angled does provide different results. The most open (about 90%) and no screen both with the Ether provide a gigantic soundstage width with the HE-500, and slightly less wide, but a bit taller with the HE-6 SE. I do not find that case to be subtle.

Anyone wishing to try this, I recommend Thurman Green "Dance of the Night Creatures" first 3 cuts on Mapleshade only $5.06 used on Amazon.

It is on Tidal HiFi too

 

[jsmiller58]

Thanks!

 

[bagwell359]

It is on Tidal HiFi too

Thurman Green?

 

[bagwell359]

Removing the grilles or using ones that are less restrictive helps with rear reflections. The difference isn't huge but has no sonic downsides imo.

You can test this difference yourself very easily. Remove the grille retention rings (carefully, they can snap) and the grilles. Put some pink noise on loop and hold the grilles, one in each hand, in such a way that your hands or fingers don't cover it. Then move the grilles towards and away from the cups. You should be able to hear the pink noise profile changing right away.

As for pads, these can have a bigger impact on sound. Stock pads have a bigger dip around 1.5khz than most other options and has more aggressive and uneven treble in general. The He6se is incrediblely versitile when it comes to pads so almost no pads sound bad on it. I prefer velour (like Hifiman's own round velour pads), others on here like genuine leather (like the Ether angled pads) . Both material options will have different effect on the sound so it's a matter of whatever suits your taste better.

It does tend to cut reverb. "Grandma's Hands" by James Taylor on Chesky has these finger snaps. and that's a bright light on the differences, wood blocks too. IMO there is too much reverb with the stock screens. Try it out.

 

[jsmiller58]

It does tend to cut reverb. "Grandma's Hands" by James Taylor on Chesky has these finger snaps. and that's a bright light on the differences, wood blocks too. IMO there is too much reverb with the stock screens. Try it out.

Without the screens do you worry about dust or other contaminants?

 

[bagwell359]

Without the screens do you worry about dust or other contaminants?

Yes, even with the screen and the little patch of material the magnets can attract small specks of metal and more likely charged cooking oils/soot. I keep all of my cans in air tight plastic bins with a anti moisture packs. As for handling I keep my hands flat and more with deliberation. But those Artic Cable screens look mighty fine, and safer for those with cats and kids.

 

[jsmiller58]

Yes, even with the screen and the little patch of material the magnets can attract small specks of metal and more likely charged cooking oils/soot. I keep all of my cans in air tight plastic bins with an anti moisture packs. As for handling I keep my hands flat and more with deliberation. But those Artic Cable screens look mighty fine, and safer for those with cats and kids.

Thanks! I have multiple dogs, and in the summer we have an awful lot of ash from nearby and distant forest fires, so do worry about particulates. I think I will keep the inner screen, but move to the Arctic grills. It will only be a partial step, but, as you say, if nothing else the grills look really cool!

 

[Dramlin]

Aftermarket grills are a great upgrade, especially the Arctic Cables ones since they have smooth edges and look nice. For those worried about dust (like me), the answer is to take the fabric off of the stock grills and apply it to the aftermarket ones. This is easily done by using a glue stick. I used the purple Elmers sticks that they seem to sell everywhere. Gently tap the glue stick all over one side of the aftermarket grills. Peel the fabric off of the stock grills (it comes off easy), then apply it to the aftermarket grills. Take the old stock grills and lay them on top of the aftermarket grills/fabric overnight to let everything evenly set.