I spent a couple of years in the stax camp in the past with various KG amps (T2/carbon/BHSE) etc etc .
I still have 2 port modded 007mk2s and a 007mk1 just for collection sake.
While i admit the bass of the 007s are great, theyre still not HE-1 levels in engagement/resolution. Problem with the HE-1 is that the internal DAC is seriously meh. To each their own.
Let me revisit this topic with a more refined perspective since I have some time to write a real thought down. I'm aware you own a he-1.
I don't intend to excessively criticize the HE-1, it's important to acknowledge that my initial experience with it was in a siloed meet setting. Despite this, I maintain an interest in owning one at some point, as I appreciate the luxury element that Sennheiser has incorporated into the product. As someone who lives in Los Angeles and works in the entertainment industry, I consider the $70k price point to be reasonable. A friend of mine owns a Rick Owens couch made from the same marble, which reportedly costs $250k. He's the target buyer of the he-1.
Although I've mostly kept my thoughts on the HE-1 to myself, I feel compelled to share them while they remain fresh in my mind. As I mentioned in my other post. It's highly probable that the HE-1 is bottlenecked by its amplification (in my case, a different DAC was used). However, this is a logical issue, as incorporating a Megatron or T2 level amp into the case was likely impossible, and Sennheiser had to determine what was sufficient given the design parameters. There is also some type of motor that needs to move the pieces, and the case for the headphone takes some amount of space. The solid-state amp in the earcups is an intriguing workaround, although I cannot attest to its effectiveness. Nonetheless, I appreciate the innovation.
From a purely sonic perspective, the HE-1 exhibits totl resolution. It avoids the bass anemia and piercing highs that plague many electrostatic headphones. While not entirely neutral, the HE-1 maintains a balanced sound signature, albeit with a somewhat unnatural timbre. The soundstage and separation are not particularly remarkable. Additionally, there seems to be a trade-off in the midrange, where the increased low-end presence comes at the expense of the lush vocals found in the HE90. I struggled to derive any emotional connection from the HE-1, although living with it might yield a different experience. I suspect this could be related to power limitations. The Stax SR-007 MK1, when paired with the Carbon, T2, or Megatron amplifiers, also presents a well-balanced tuning but with an elevated midrange, which sets it apart from the treble sparkle provided by the SR-009 and SR-X9000. This is why I strongly prefer the 007. To some extent, the SR-X9000 suffers from similar issues as the HE-1 but with less fullness, better separation, and inferior bass performance.
So I suppose my overall impression is that the HE-1 is designed not to offend but lacks any outstanding virtues that would allow it to compete with the true greats in the headphone world. Those who focus solely on the price tag and believe it to be the ultimate solution may be misunderstanding the product's target market. The HE-1 is aimed at consumers who have limited knowledge about headphones but desire a one-stop, high-end audio solution—the type of individual who might own multiple sports cars, homes, and businesses. It's essential to remember that the Head-Fi community is akin to a group of hot rodders, and we may be overlooking the fact that the HE-1 is more comparable to a Ferrari SF90 in terms of its intended audience and market positioning.
