You really love the HE1000 Roy! Thanks for your thoughts. I've found a pair in the UK for a good price, I'll probably nab them and see how they fare when powered by the Moon 600i, which easily fills the requirement of punch and power (it's a beast)...
Dual-mono design; the L/R channels are powered independently; a (custom) transformer for each. If it can't drive the HEK to their maximum, nothing can :¬) Its a very transparent amplifier, one of it's many strengths being dynamic power and agility. A TOTL headphone amp for DAC Jam :¬)
Ross, my take on the HE1K is a positive one - at the same time it's not an overly positive one. I owned the HE1K, Abyss, HE-6, HD800 and the 009s all at the same time - oh and the LCD-3F. I was using the Pass Labs INT-30A as the amp. Both the INT-3 and the MOON 600i play in the same league - both really good damn amps.
The LCD-3F was my least favorite then came the HE1K / HD800.
I really like the Abyss, HE-6 and the 009s. I like these headphones for their energy. That's IMO is what the HE1K lacks. The HE1K is a very good headphone on it's own and on it's own merits. However, once you compare them side by side with other TOTL headphones (HE-6, Abyss and the 009) I felt they fell short for what I was after. IMO they are way better that the LCD-3Fs but I would also put them in the same category as the LCDs - that being a forgiving headphone of sorts. Unlike the Abyss, HE-6 and the 009s (HD800 as well - it's other things about the HD800 that bug me). They don't provide the energy I was looking for. They are a nice and relaxed type of headphone - they do have more at the top end compared to the LCDs but not to the others.
I like the HE-6, Abyss and 009s for the same reason most people don't like them. I also don't like the HE1K for the same reason most people love them. Again, they are a really good headphone. But amps like the MOON 600i and Pass Labs amps won't do anything to fix it's forgiving nature. Those same amps with the Abyss and HE-6 really brings them to a very high performing level.
I don't think the HE1K loves current. It's a more sensitive headphone compared to the likes of the HE-6 and Abyss. The HE-6 and Abyss thrives with more current, just not so with the HE1K.
HiFi Man had so many complaints about the HE-6 being too hard to drive, they didn't want to make the same mistake with the HE1K. I never did think the HE-6 was a mistake, but the masses do. My journey with the HE-6 was a educational one indeed.
Now I've moved on the Stax, the same energy as the Abyss and the HE-6 - just in a more smooth natural clean way IMO.
It will be interesting to hear your impressions with them side by side to the Abyss.