[doctorjazz]

Just another point...using an old iPod nano for break in, take a listen now and then, it still had enough to drive the HEK, and still sounds really good...you don't NEED the megabuck amp for them, but it does scale up.

 

[jerg]

I think some of you just value the attack of a sound signature more than other people.
 
I feel that the attack on HE1000's is adequate, more and I'd probably fatigue more listening to it (even if it'd be exciting to listen to, say at a head-fi meet), less and I would complain too.
 
It's certainly more attack than HE560 (Focus-A pads), which in retrospect does feel a hair lacking in this attribute.

 

[ruthieandjohn]

For me (and I don't think I'm the only one), my like / dislike of a headphone is very much influenced by 1) what headphones I already have, and 2) what my history of owning headphones has been.
 
I have essentially ALL of the Grados, including its top of the line PS1000 (more expensive than the HD 800!), and I have the Sennheiser HD 800 as well as its Sennheiser-matched amp, the HDVD 800.  (I also have the Joseph Grado-made HPA1 amp for all my Grados).
 
With this collection of headphones, I do not have a pair that simultaneously gives me impactful, palpable, yet tight bass while giving me clear fast trebles.  I found that the HiFiMAN headphones, at least the HE500, fills that hole by doing both very well.  In fact, I had a pair of HE500s, then traded them for a rare vintage Grado (knowing that I could more easily find an HE500 than I could find the vintage Grado later), then found and bought another pair of HE500s, then traded them away toward another vintage Grado (Grados are my hobby!), and was in the market for a third pair of HE500s when the HE1000 beta program came up.
 
The first two seconds of hearing the HE1000 astounded me with this simultaneous deep bass and huge soundstage.  So for me, they fill this hole I've been looking for.  More careful review as linked in my signature confirmed and elaborated upon this initial impression.
 
But I am keeping the HE1000, and even buying an amp especially for it (HiFiMAN EF-6).

 

[musicman59]

  @boinger : to each their own.
 
The last time I heard my HEK ( mine is boxed , waiting to be sent back to hifiman for refund) we listened some orchestral pieces and compared with the SR009 and Abyss. HE1K's precision, instruments separation, imaging, layering clearly was inferior to both headphone. Not to mention the HD800.    
 
Considering I'm always cautious about my own bias and subjectivity , I was eager to have someone else impressions. that's why we organized the mini meet with my friend and his SR009 and AByss last saturday. Fortunately , although he's not a big HE-6 or HD800 fan, his conclusions was the same than mine and match what I wrote here . My friend was even less forgiving than I am... 

I a at the opposite side of you.... Mine will be packed this weekend to be returned but not for a refund but to exchange them for a current production unit with the final changes.
 
That's what the policy is for beta testers who want to keep the HE-1000 at the deposit price. I communicated with HiFiMAN Team this week and he let me know that they beta tester that decide to keep the headphones are entitle to send them back for an exchange for one of the current production.

 

[jamato8]

  I a at the opposite side of you.... Mine will be packed this weekend to be returned but not for a refund but to exchange them for a current production unit with the final changes.
 
That's what the policy is for beta testers who want to keep the HE-1000 at the deposit price. I communicated with HiFiMAN Team this week and he let me know that they beta tester that decide to keep the headphones are entitle to send them back for an exchange for one of the current production.

So what are the changes besides the headband?

 

[musicman59]

 
So what are the changes besides the headband?

As far as I know the changes are the shorter headband and tighten up the tolerances in the manufacturing process.
There are two other changes that are not confirmed so far: The rotation of the cups just to 180 degrees and not the current 360 in the beta units and potential thicker ear pads. Again, these two are not confirmed.

 

[ruthieandjohn]

  As far as I know the changes are the shorter headband and tighten up the tolerances in the manufacturing process.
There are two other changes that are not confirmed so far: The rotation of the cups just to 180 degrees and not the current 360 in the beta units and potential thicker ear pads. Again, these two are not confirmed.

I think that they will also add an instruction manual (said to be the best ever written by HiFiMAN) and the headphone stand as used in the original introduction of the HE1000, shown here:
 

 
EDIT - CORRECTION:  I learned that the HE1000 headphone stand shown above will not be shipped with the production HE1000s. It is only compatible with the vertical grills of the pre-beta prototype HE1000, not the horizontal grills of the final product.  As physicists know, the vertical grills diffract the sound waves in the orthogonal (horizontal) direction, that is, far and wide; the current horizontal grills diffract the music vertically -- high and low.  The stands are therefore incompatible.

 

[Sorrodje]

  I think some of you just value the attack of a sound signature more than other people.
 
I feel that the attack on HE1000's is adequate, more and I'd probably fatigue more listening to it (even if it'd be exciting to listen to, say at a head-fi meet), less and I would complain too.
 
It's certainly more attack than HE560 (Focus-A pads), which in retrospect does feel a hair lacking in this attribute.

 
 
Attack/edge is one thing. Consequences in term of imaging & Layering are another thing. I made enough comparisons by myself to take my decision and explain my impressions in my review. I can perfectly understand why a lot of people could love the HE1K though. 

 

[boinger]

  @boinger : to each their own.
 
The last time I heard my HEK ( mine is boxed , waiting to be sent back to hifiman for refund) we listened some orchestral pieces and compared with the SR009 and Abyss. HE1K's precision, instruments separation, imaging, layering clearly was inferior to both headphone. Not to mention the HD800.    
 
Considering I'm always cautious about my own bias and subjectivity , I was eager to have someone else impressions. that's why we organized the mini meet with my friend and his SR009 and AByss last saturday. Fortunately , although he's not a big HE-6 or HD800 fan, his conclusions was the same than mine and match what I wrote here . My friend was even less forgiving than I am... 

Hi Sorrodje, 
 
Can you tell me how the bass in the sr009 compares to the he1k? 

 

[Sorrodje]

 @boinger : Lighter in my opinion. Tighter as well but Bass and especially Low bass are where the HE1K shine in my opinion. The SR009 will never convey the heft and the solidity of good ortho bass.  BTW, I never felt the SR009 bass were lacking in the grand scheme of things. 

 

[boinger]

@Sorrodje Yea I have always wanted to listen to the SR-009 and see what they are all about. Haven't had the opportunity though. 

 

[musicman59]

Anybody driving the HE-1000 with Cavalli's Liquid Glass?

 

[preproman]

Can we get conformation on the changes to the production version from HiFiMan?

 

[purrin]

  It's certainly more attack than HE560 (Focus-A pads), which in retrospect does feel a hair lacking in this attribute.

 ^ This...
 
The production unit I have does seem to have a bit more heft and isn't as splashy in the treble. Don't know if this is placebo, unit to unit variation, more factory pre-burn-in, or final production tweaks. The pads seem to be the same.
 

  The last time I heard my HEK ( mine is boxed , waiting to be sent back to hifiman for refund) we listened some orchestral pieces and compared with the SR009 and Abyss. HE1K's precision, instruments separation, imaging, layering clearly was inferior to both headphone. Not to mention the HD800.  

 
Agreed. If headstage and precise localization is important, HEK is not for you. HEK stage about on par with HD600/650 stage, some things a little bit better, and some things a little worse.

 

[Audio Addict]

I think that they will also add an instruction manual (said to be the best ever written by HiFiMAN) and the headphone stand as used in the original introduction of the HE1000, shown here:

Definitely a thick manual with them now. Summer Yin sent me a pair on loan for next weekend's Chicago Head-Fi meet along with a HM901S

Also the headphones still turn 360 degrees.