The Sennheiser Orpheus 2? A First Look At The Sennheiser HE-1 (The New Orpheus)

[jibzilla]

I totally agree bud. What would be interesting is to know how much a custom rig would cost to get comparable sound quality.

 
Not so custom but I see the Poorpheus 2 having a hard time keeping up with let alone besting the Brinkman Bardo/kgsshv/009 setup I listened to. Even more intoxicating than the Pavane/Teton/Hd800 setup that I owned and gushed about on here.
 
I will give sennheiser some street cred. for putting the amplifier in the headphone but this still looks more like a uber rich product than a pro/hifi audio product.

 

[up late]

it looks like hi fi to me. it's obviously not aimed at the pro audio market if that's what you mean.

 

[VandyMan]

   
Not so custom but I see the Poorpheus 2 having a hard time keeping up with let alone besting the Brinkman Bardo/kgsshv/009 setup I listened to. 

 
You compared them or are making a guess?

 

[ToroFiestaSol]

What I need is a new "Baby Orpheus", based in the big daddy Orpheus HE-1060, with a price tag under 3k (with the amp included, and a nice one, not like in the old Baby Orpheus) and that gives to everything a run for the money.
 
That would be the real home run for Sennheiser.

 

[jibzilla]

it looks like hi fi to me. it's obviously not aimed at the pro audio market if that's what you mean.

 
If it had a panzerholz case instead of marble. If it did not waste a bunch of space with tubes that are from what I have read just for show. If it did not have a dac as part of the bundle. If it were not $55k.
 
I also feel a good hifi product should feel right at home in a pro audio setting. At least to me the best hifi products are pro audio as well. My HD800 and Lcd-X are staples in the pro audio world. As many people use them as a tool for mastering as do people who use it for leisure. My 007 I do not know about but it would not surprise me if it were popular in pro audio as well.

 

[jibzilla]

   
You compared them or are making a guess?

 
Making a guess. The sound quality was unreal, or too real actually. That is also with an amp that I feel is not the most synergetic for the 009.
 
My other guess is that a kgsshv carbon or kgsshv circlotron carbon would have taken it even further. I actually sold the sr-009 because I felt like I would be chasing the dragon for well.. the rest of my life. 

 

[up late]

the tubes aren't "just for show" but they are "on show". the dac is an integral part of the integrated system. pro audio and consumer audio are different market segments. that doesn't preclude folks from buying audio gear from either one, however.

 

[wink]

   
(snip)
I actually sold the sr-009 because I felt like I would be chasing the dragon for well.. the rest of my life. 

And, pray tell what is wrong with that.....?  

 

[jibzilla]

  And, pray tell what is wrong with that.....?  

 
Nothing. Might chase the dragon again if I live long enough. House and car needed an upgrade a long time ago. When the hd800/Teton/Pavane was firing on all cylinders it was a good 80% of the sr-009/kgsshv/bardo. Really thought I was done but a not so pleasant tube experience left me yearning for the Solid State. Should have a cool new amp this summer.

 

[astrostar59]

   
Nothing. Might chase the dragon again if I live long enough. House and car needed an upgrade a long time ago. When the hd800/Teton/Pavane was firing on all cylinders it was a good 80% of the sr-009/kgsshv/bardo. Really thought I was done but a not so pleasant tube experience left me yearning for the Solid State. Should have a cool new amp this summer.

Interesting. What was the not so pleasant tube experience? 

 

[wink]

He needed a KGSSHV Carbon...

 

[soundoholic]

Last week, it was an extraordinary event. A group of 20 hp-fans could 9 hours compare the old Orpheus with the new one of Sennheiser - HE1. Many fans have Stax 009 and /or 007, some of them use high-end amplifiers like Accuphase, Ayon, 300B SET amps etc. with LST, Linear Stax Transformer, a highend adapter of mein construction. Three of them have the legendary Orpheus. I have prepared a special CDR with test recordings of classics, jazz, pop.
Overall impression: the old Orpheus is a "work of art". The new HE1 in contrast, "a feat of engineering".
 

 

 

 

 
.

 

[astrostar59]

  Last week, it was an extraordinary event. A group of 20 hp-fans could 9 hours compare the old Orpheus with the new one of Sennheiser - HE1. Many fans have Stax 009 and /or 007, some of them use high-end amplifiers like Accuphase, Ayon, 300B SET amps etc. with LST, Linear Stax Transformer, a highend adapter of mein construction. Three of them have the legendary Orpheus. I have prepared a special CDR with test recordings of classics, jazz, pop.
Overall impression: the old Orpheus is a "work of art". The new HE1 in contrast, "a feat of engineering".
 

Interesting, this is what we need to get a handle on how the new HE1 is, as opposed to magazine reviews. IMO I trust enthusiasts more than printed reviews.
 
Have you got any more in-depth information? Where was the HE1 better, and was it good / great on all material, even old recording and 70's progressive rock that can sound nasty?
 
I am thinking from what I had read the old Orpheus might be more forgiving and the HE1 more accurate? Where did it sit next to the 009s, i.e. how much 'more' or realistic did it get?
 
A long demo is key IMO as off the bat many speakers and headphones can sound amazing, but get listening fatigue after a while as they tend to over egg detail and sound 'hi-fi'. Lets hope the HE1 is well beyond that.

 

[soundoholic]

I could listen and compare these two sets 2 times. This possibility was quite short and concentrated, together about 20-25 minutes. It was hard to name all the pros and cons in detail. Although I knew the old Orpheus. But my opinion is in no way much different from the general comments below.
Short judgment by many of colleagues:
Is the new one much better than the old one? No!
Is the price proportion of the new to the old one (second-hand price) in relation to the improvement in sound? No!
 
The HE1 is already excellent in the sound, but not better, just different. A bit darker in the middle than the old Orpheus, with other, fashionable sound signature. Everything on the highest level, but not with the range of colors of the middle, with that unique aura, as in ancient Orpheus. In HE1, there is a raised bass (almost too much of a good, imo), balanced but somewhat restrained mids and crystal clear highs, but enjoyable without stinging sharpness. Bass boost, as well as the overall signature can be guessed that the sound spectrum was somehow electronically "adjusted".(?). If so, we might in future expect some corrections. The power amplifier electronics are located in shells and that brings a bit disadvantage - the pads become warm and ears red with the time ...
The most important thing for me: With Stax 007 and 009 in my LST-system, with Ayon Crossfire or Accuphase amp, I am fully satisfied to have no special desire to possess an Orpheus or HE1.

 

[jmills8]

I gave it a listen and well it sounded so good. One word to describe it would be "realistic".