This amp offers the most power at the cheapest price of $200, but many have stated that the balanced section is best, so at least use it with the 4-pin-xlr-out:
As for DACs, the Schiit Modius is the cheapest and most reliable FLAC-capable XLR DAC at $200, or Geshelli Labs JNOG2 (or J2) with amanero USB module upgrade for $300 as the cheapest and most reliable DSD-capable XLR DAC:
There is a new sale on Aliexpress!
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Important - just like Aliexpress coupons, these codes can be used on combined order - you can order a 30$ item from one store, and 20$ item from another store - you will be able to use the 6$ off 50$ coupon.
Even more important - during this sale, you can get up to additional 5% off your purchase in exchange for Aliexpress coins on many items
Mine just arrived, hopefully these last more than my previous Hifiman headphones.
Contruction is solid, cable is a joke! It's really bad, but my alternative cables works fine (Cardas).
Mine just arrived, hopefully these last more than my previous Hifiman headphones.
Contruction is solid, cable is a joke! It's really bad, but my alternative cables works fine (Cardas).
Interesting... looking at your photo - I never realized that HiFiMAN is making a special version for Adorama!!
I wonder how these HE6se differ from non-Adorama HE6se headphones?
When I ordered the HE6SE V2's from Adorama the last time they were heavily discounted, I had already ordered the Hifiman Ananda from Headphones.com the day before, and between the two Hifiman headphones I received one each of all of Hifiman's 3.5mm to 6.35/4.4mm/4-pin cables and adapters. I could swap all the different "ended" cables between both headphones before I received my 4.4mm 3rd party cables, and that was a great start that allowed me to connect to all of my desktop and portable DAP/DAC/AMP's right away when the headphones arrived.
I highly recommend getting the Ananda's too, currently at $699 ($999 MSRP) at headphones.com, where I bought mine. Adorama doesn't sell the Ananda's. And, don't forget to add ?emailprice=t to the end of your Adorama URL's to get the Hifiman (and other brand) current discounts.
Here are the Hifman HE6SE V2 + Ananda cables I use, and although I found GUCraftsman on AliExpress I've found Hifigo shipping options are less expensive / faster, so I asked Hifigo to add the Hifiman compatible GUCraftsman cables to their site. If you find a GUCraftsman cable on AliExpress that isn't on Hifigo, send an email to support@hifigo.com and ask them nicely to add them for order to their site: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/3879013 https://hifigo.com/collections/gucraftsman
GUCraftsman's product Titles are a bit opaque, and Hifigo only had CUCraftsman's collateral images and text to bring over to the Hifigo site, so I found I had to dig into the descriptions and even the images to find the details I needed to order Hifiman compatible cables, here is what I found and bought:
And, some details on the wire used in the cable weave:
This cable Title only names Beyerdynamic in the Title, but in the image it does list Hifiman headphones supported - click on the "Spoiler" to see the images, and the 3.5mm Cup end connectors work great with both the HE6SE V2 and Ananda:
There is also another cable that is HD600 HD650 HD660s compatible, using 16 core woven cable instead of 8-core, I haven't tried it out yet, it is also a bit less expensive, check out the image on the site that describes the cable wire count / AWG, it actually looks a bit "better", but I'd already bought the 8-core version:
The GUCraftsman cables are 1.2M - a length best for portable/mobile use which is great when I am running mobile with my FiiO M15/BTR5/BTR3k, but when I am at home at the desktop, I need a longer length of cable.
GUCraftsman - with communications / translation handled through Hifigo - have been kind enough to agree to create new 2M Length 4.4mm Female to 4.4mm Male extension cables - I hope available for everyone eventually, which will extend my 1.2M 6N OCC Copper and 1.2M 6N Silver headphone cables by 2M as 4.4mm Female to 4.4mm Male extension cables, using the same 6N OCC Copper or 6N Silver wire/cable/connectors.
I ordered 2 - 2M long extension cables - one made with 6N Silver cable and one with 6N OCC Copper cable. I'll report back when I receive each of them. I would imagine GUCraftsman would also make 1M extensions, but the cost would likely not drop by much. When I am at home longer cables let me move more freely away from my desktop headphone amps without needing to switch to BT headphones / TWS's
BTW, the Hifiman HE6SEV2 and Hifiman Ananda are still sounding great almost 6 months later, and oddly enough the more I listen exclusively to Planars the better they sound to me. I am listening with my SendyAudio Aiva's - my first Planar headphones - again for the first time in months, and they are now sounding "normal" to me. As my first Planar Headphones after many decades of only listening with Dynamic Headphones my Aiva's sounded awesome, but "weird" to me for quite a while.
What I am trying to say is, if you do get the Hifiman HE6SE V2 give them time if they sound "weird" to you at first. Also, I've listened with the HE6SE V2's on everything from low power consumer portable HF/VHF/SWL radios with 3.5mm ports, my Nintendo Switch 3.5mm port, and they all produce sound through the Hifiman HE6SE V2, but none of those weak power combinations drive the HE6SE V2 to it's best full sound capability.
My Xduoo TA-20 puts out almost 2W and the Hifiman HE6SE V2 sound great! Compared to the lower power devices that allowed the HE6SE V2 to output audible and listenable sound, there is a clear improvement to the Sound Quality with more power - the HE6SE V2 exhibits better Bass Slam and better Dynamics, but even 2W isn't enough. The Xduoo TA-30 + HE6SE V2 reports I've received indicate that 3W is better sounding than 2W, but even more power will be better from other HE6SE V2 owners reports.
Warning!: You can blow the HE6SE series Planar elements with too much power! Please don't hook up to a speaker amp and treat the HE6SE V2 like speakers - you can blow one or both of the Planar elements! Only use the HE6SE as *Headphones*, and use the added power to improve Dynamics and Bass slam, not to increase the Volume "level"!
There is/was a Hifiman HE-Adapter to help protect the Hifiman HE6/HE6SE V1, I bought my HE-Adapter from analogueseduction.net, and it is still listed as "Available":
The HE6SE V2 needs at least 2W output as recommended by Hifiman, and all the reports I've heard suggest at least 5W-7W, with the best reports coming from those using 10w-15W amplification, many using either the FLUX FA-10 or Flux FA-10 Pro or using direct connect headphone connections to speaker AMPs. I've been waiting for the FLUX Volot to arrive before ordering a Flux headphone amp.
...and there are many other great NOS tubes out there!
I had heard so many Planar owners extoll the synergistic sound of Tube amps + Planar Headphones I had to try it! I am happy to say I hear the same great sound synergy with my Hifiman HE6SE V2, Hifiman Ananada, and SendyAudio Aiva's through the Hybrid Tube/SS TA-20 headphone amp as well.
I am communicating through Hifigo to Xduoo about creating a Hybrid Tube/SS Headphone Amplifier with enough power to satisfy the HE6SE V2 and other high power needy headphones.
Happy Listening! - Scott
Please check out these Hifiman threads here on Head-Fi for more info on the Hifiman HE6SE V2 + Ananda:
Just as a reminder, Ananda is sold for $599 under the open box section of Hifiman online store. Their open box headphones come with their full 1-year warranty and afaik they do not charge for shipping or sales tax (maybe only if you're in NY?).
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