NOTE: I will update and edit this one post in multiple installments to save clutter in the thread.
Installment #1 (Posted 5/19/2015): First two listening sessions.
AT AXPONA: I took a Parasound Z CD player and my own CDs to Axpona. I listened to the same music from the same player on multiple sets of headphones. I didn't do extended listening to any of the headphones, because there wasn't time. However, my opinion is that SIGNIFICANT sonic differences should be apparent rather quickly.
HE-1000: The vendor had a Geek Audio amplifier. I listened to my Denon (Lawton modified AHD 7000s) first and they sounded good. Then I listened to the HE-1000s. I was stunned. It was OBVIOUS after only a few seconds listening that these are phenomenal. I could detect absolutely
no sonic deficiencies. NONE.
Detail: Detail was STUNNING. Intricate, not exaggerated, just highly resolving.
Smoothness: These seemed perfectly smooth without being the least bit rolled off to my ears.
Balance: They seem very evenly balanced, top to bottom.
Bass: Spectacular. Deep and controlled, with great punch, yet not boomy. As deep as my Denons but much
more well controlled, articulate and musical.
Treble: Not rolled off as far as I could tell. Spectacular detail.
AT HOME: Out of the box they sounded good to great and seemed to open up very quickly, even in the first half hour. Based on my initial listening (about 2 hours), I will tentatively CONFIRM everything I said about them above.
Installment # 2; 5/22/15: Third listening session. Obviously these change during the breaking in process. The fact that my new Oppo HA-1 is also breaking in at the same time adds another variable. At this point, at about 4 hours total time on both the HE-1000s and the HA-1, there seems to be slightly more detail, similar dynamics, and now just a very slight hint of brightness, which is new. Still awesome, but now I can see that more burning in will be necessary for this setup (HA-1 + HE 1000) to achieve its optimal sound. That said, at this point I can't imagine anyone saying they lack detail. No way. At any rate, the plan is to start using the Purist Audio Enhancement CD tomorrow for some formal burning in time.
Installment #3; 5/31/15: Additional listening after more burn in time with Purist Audio CD. Brightness is ameliorated with additional burn in. I still consider these to be spectacular headphones, almost unbelievably good. I have other observations and some ideas but I will save them for my formal review after thinking them over some more. I will say this: They can even handle
organ fugues and capture the deep notes with amazing deft and weight.
Installment #4 (final installment for this post); 6/13/15: Now with the MicroZOTL. This changes things and takes away any hesitation I had about writing a gushing, effusive review. The synergy with this little amplifier is utterly magical!