[captouch]

I intend to rewire my stock HE-500 cable (silver) to XLR and build a "pigtail" for connection to a speaker amp (like the HE-6 cable). Does anyone know the correct pin allocations for the XLR? Am I correct in assuming that the conductor connected to the central pin in the earcup connector is positive, and should be connected to the red speaker output?

Finally, I assume that I should use the 8 Ohm taps rather than the 4 Ohm ones......

The speaker amp in question is an 18W PSE 300B Opera Consonance Reference 5.5 Mk.II (see avatar!)

I did the same thing - re-wiring the stock cable to XLR. Pinout is:

L+ pin 1
L- pin 2
R+ pin 3
R- pin 4

I just cut the 1/4" plug off then used a DMM to ID each wire. Yes, the central pin is positive on the earcup side.

Your amp has separate outputs for 4 vs 8 ohm? If so, I guess the higher one is more appropriate since the 500's are >> than 8 ohms.

 

[.Sup]

Would people agree that bass control or tightness comes from both the headphone design and the amp driving the headphone? And if so, some amps might produce a tighter bass than others?

  

That is absolutely true

 

[palmfish]

In my experience, perception of bass control and tightness is more greatly affected by the fit/seal of the headphones to your head than it is from one amp to another. Just swap from velour to leather pads on the HE-500's and see what happens to the bass.

 

[preproman]

Quote:

In my experience, perception of bass control and tightness is more greatly affected by the fit/seal of the headphones to your head than it is from one amp to another. Just swap from velour to leather pads on the HE-500's and see what happens to the bass.

 
 
Well,  If you swap amps with the same headphone you will see a difference if there is one.  I can say thin in my case:
 
LCD-2.2, HD650, and the Denon D7000.  these are the only so called bass heavy headphones I have.  My M^3 surly does give out more bass quantity.  However, My B22 surly does give out a better bass quality.  Meaning with the B22 I hear the bass being more tight and with more attack.  With the M^3 the bass sometimes bleeds over into the mids on these headphones and is less tight with a little more rumble.

 

[palmfish]

Quote:

 
 
Well,  If you swap amps with the same headphone you will see a difference if there is one.  I can say thin in my case:
 
LCD-2.2, HD650, and the Denon D7000.  these are the only so called bass heavy headphones I have.  My M^3 surly does give out more bass quantity.  However, My B22 surly does give out a better bass quality.  Meaning with the B22 I hear the bass being more tight and with more attack.  With the M^3 the bass sometimes bleeds over into the mids on these headphones and is less tight with a little more rumble.

 
If you didn't do this under controlled conditions (blind, instant swtiching, level matched, etc.), then your experience, while valid for you, is inconclusive.
 
I do appreciate what you're saying and I'm glad you have found a subjective listening experience that sounds good to you though...

 

[preproman]

Blind is always better - I agree 100% on that.  However, when you live with the amps the opinion then becomes un biased.  I'm not really sure it's inconclusive opposed to obvious.
 
I never do an instant switch.  IMHO you have to live with a sound before going to the next.  Then the different sounds become evident. 

 

[Jfkervan]

Hi,

Anyone tried the musical fidelity m1 hpa - hifiman he-500 combo? Comparisons to other he-500 combos (e.g. Lyr, fiio 9k, matrix m-stage,...)

 

[Jfkervan]

Some edits: here are the 4 combos I'm still considering for the hifiman he-500

1. With musical fidelity m1 hpa
2. With schiit lyr
3. With violectric v100 or v200
4. With lake people g109

Anyone? (especially intrigued in 1.)

 

[MaJoMax]

Quote:

Some edits: here are the 4 combos I'm still considering for the hifiman he-500
1. With musical fidelity m1 hpa
2. With schiit lyr
3. With violectric v100 or v200
4. With lake people g109
Anyone? (especially intrigued in 1.)

Pairing with Bifrost + Lyr, love everything about it. + you can do tube rolling, with aftermarket cables, HE-500 just sing and bling~
 
Or, and that's what i am planning to do as well---> http://www.head-fi.org/t/629352/hifiman-he-500-on-a-speaker-amp-emotiva-mini-x-a-100-project
 
He-500 love the speaker amp~
 
Enjoy!

 

[davidsh]

Got a question here!
I am the somewhat new owner of the HE-500, and I am wondering about whether I play them too loud or not... Anyways!
With the 'phone lying next to you, playing music, how loud is it to you?? Is it like laptop speakers or a slight whisper?
Thank you

 

[nc8000]

Laptop speaker

 

[Terja]

Yup ... these are speakerphones

! except you wear them on your head ...

 

[davidsh]

That seems loud

Usually I don't listen that loud, 10 'oclock on my 1.1 watt amp will do, 12 is like MAX, and that is speaker loud...

 

[nc8000]

I go to about 10-11 on my RPX-100 and that is laptop speaker loud

 

[SanJoseCanJunkie]

Based on your description, likely not too loud for shorter periods of time, but probably a bit too loud for extended listening.
 
IMO, the BIGGEST way to improve audio quality is to eliminated background noise.