The Sennheiser HE1 and how I came back after 16 years hiatus from Headfi (acquisition, unboxing, installation, and impressions over time)

[icnaiwhimor1975]

Why would following the Harman Curve impact soundstage?

it's not about the curve
but about the size and shape of the drivers

in x9000 the stage is much bigger
simply because there are 100+mm drivers
and they are round - that's the main thing

all these headphone manufacturers don't understand one thing - the driver shape should be round and no other

all square stax - have a bad stage
the same with HE60 \ HE90 \ HE1

the same will happen with any headphones
that have a small driver
and not a round shape

 

[protoss]

After I leave the thread is a wasteland

 

[Joey_V]

Interesting assessment.

 

[Digital Enigma]

It was mentioned earlier in the thread but it was confirmed that they are using rebrand JJ gold ECC802S for the HE1. Cheap to replace

https://www.jjtubes.eu/ecc802-s-gold

 

[Joey_V]

I think front 4 are 802
The rear 4 are different

 

[Exekuhtor]

It was mentioned earlier in the thread but it was confirmed that they are using rebrand JJ gold ECC802S for the HE1. Cheap to replace

They are good, warm and detailed. I use them in my Valhalla 2. I will actually get adapters to use them in my Envy too and see ghow they perform with higher end gear.

 

[Digital Enigma]

I think front 4 are 802
The rear 4 are different

The front 4 are yes the rear 4 are just another type of JJ

 

[Joey_V]

The front 4 are yes the rear 4 are just another type of JJ

I believe rear are 803

 

[Digital Enigma]

I believe rear are 803

All together 8 matched tubes of 802 and 803 is roughly £290/$370

 

[goldwerger]

It was mentioned earlier in the thread but it was confirmed that they are using rebrand JJ gold ECC802S for the HE1. Cheap to replace

https://www.jjtubes.eu/ecc802-s-gold

The stock tube of the AIC10 is also the JJ ECC 802 S (can’t recall if gold pin or not). I’ve upgraded that for that amp, but it was the best stock tube I got with an amp. May be the best current production 12au7 type(?)

Thanks for sharing!

 

[number1sixerfan]

it's not about the curve
but about the size and shape of the drivers

in x9000 the stage is much bigger
simply because there are 100+mm drivers
and they are round - that's the main thing

all these headphone manufacturers don't understand one thing - the driver shape should be round and no other

all square stax - have a bad stage
the same with HE60 \ HE90 \ HE1

the same will happen with any headphones
that have a small driver
and not a round shape

The biggest indicator for me, at least with stats, has been driver size.. and shape makes sense now mentioned and thinking on those that excel soundstage wise and not. Two important things here from my POV:

1. The Harmon Curve isn't some sort of godsend standard to match. It literally does not matter to me other than existing as a tool to try to gauge what one may or may not like--in that sense, it's incredibly value. That's where it ends for me.

2. Manufacturers build headphones with different goals in mind. I.e. I think the HD600, HD650, HE60 and HE90 were all built with expected tradeoffs for a signature they aimed for that appeals to the masses. All of these headphones trend towards a more safe and unoffensive sound (HD600 and HE60 slightly less so). I agree with others when they have said Sennheiser tends to play it safe. With the HD800 series, as a comparison, they took risks and as a result hobbyists' perspectives on them are more diverse and less consistent. (still a valuable swing for the fences imo.. although I've bought and sold the HD800/s like 3 times lol)

I don't necessarily knock headphones for not having the most drastic soundstage, it's just when things actually start to sound closed in that it becomes a problem.

 

[Joey_V]

I don’t feel the HE1 has a small stage. It feels natural especially once you get used to it. If it was unnatural, I’d pick up on it pretty quick since I reference it against the stereo (and vice versa).

 

[ThanatosVI]

The biggest indicator for me, at least with stats, has been driver size.. and shape makes sense now mentioned and thinking on those that excel soundstage wise and not. Two important things here from my POV:

1. The Harmon Curve isn't some sort of godsend standard to match. It literally does not matter to me other than existing as a tool to try to gauge what one may or may not like--in that sense, it's incredibly value. That's where it ends for me.

2. Manufacturers build headphones with different goals in mind. I.e. I think the HD600, HD650, HE60 and HE90 were all built with expected tradeoffs for a signature they aimed for that appeals to the masses. All of these headphones trend towards a more safe and unoffensive sound (HD600 and HE60 slightly less so). I agree with others when they have said Sennheiser tends to play it safe. With the HD800 series, as a comparison, they took risks and as a result hobbyists' perspectives on them are more diverse and less consistent. (still a valuable swing for the fences imo.. although I've bought and sold the HD800/s like 3 times lol)

I don't necessarily knock headphones for not having the most drastic soundstage, it's just when things actually start to sound closed in that it becomes a problem.

I'd be curious how a HD850 would sound. Sadly they never went for that tuning

 

[protoss]

Wambulance incoming ...

 

[ThanatosVI]

HE1 is harman curve certified, it is next to perfect, natural and accurate. Don't worry, you are set for life.

Wambulance incoming ...

Summit-fi'ers love their unnatural distortions that causes harm to human hearing.

We can easily spot them. Abyss TC, Immanis, shangri-la, valkyrie, almost all plywoodman gear. Any bio listing these items presents a false reality of what is called natural. These gears are next to cringe-worthy.

If owners, admit it, and say, yes, i love these unnatural, distortion headphones, than okay fine but its always the opposite claiming those are natural and accurate and have zero clue what harman curve is which is technically the HE1.

"We should literally change the words 'Harman Curve' to Sennheiser HE1."

You're mixing topics here. Harman Curve has nothing to do with distortion.
And while the HE-1 follows Harman Curve very closely it also introduces unnatural distortion.
It's powered by a tube amp which always brings (wanted) harmonic distortion.