Adorama LTD Hifiman HE6SE Review
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- Today we compare and contrast the Adorama LTD Hifiman HE6se with the original Hifiman HE6se. This review covers build quality, comfort, frequency response measurements and subjective impressions with movies, music and games.
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Nice review! I got a pair from Adorama on $699, have around 48 hours of burn in.
I'm running this from a Topping D10s -> Topping L30, and while I know the L30 doesn't nearly provide enough power to power these cans, I am absolutely loving how they sound. I can't compare to the HE-6SE V1 though (it's simply out of my price range.)
However, it IS decidedly an upgrade if you're coming from a HiFiMAN Sundara (I own a pair).
I agree though that the fit is rather loose and the clamping force a bit too light. With that said, I still certainly feel that it has enough bass to provide a rumble.
Thank you for the kind words. I really enjoy it when you guys jump in with your own personal experience. I am only one person and a lot of this is subjective. I am glad you are happy with them. Congrats on finding a great set for you!
This is actually on sale right now at adorama for $699 linked through slickdeals website.
HE6se v2 is pretty great from my short impressions. Really great dynamics and bass extension. Haven't had the time to listen too analytically with it though but would love to compare it to the OG one day.
Glad you like it!
I got my HE6SE from Adorama this week and I think my skull is a bit thicker, as I have no issues with clamping force. And thus the sound coming from it is simply amazing. The bass SLAMS so much, it's unreal. With artists like Infected Mushroom, your whole skull rattles, but it doesn't overpower the other frequencies.
I'm running it from a Topping A90 at the moment (balanced in through a SMSL SU-9 and balanced out), but I also ordered an Emotiva A100 BasX to check out what a speaker amp can do to the sound.
That's awesome. When the seal/fit is there NOTHING beats the slam and impact of the 6se. Congrats on a killer headphone!
What was the verdict, A90 or A100?
@@ryanguy6789 the A90 sounds a bit cleaner, more refined, but the A100 is much more powerful. On the speaker amp the bass truly rumbles and slams even more.
So what I did as a temporary fix is I have a topping dx3 pro and went to a thrift store for a speaker amp. The dx3 is my dac and use an onkyo TX 8522 as my amp. I ultimately want the hifiman ef400
Very nice video as usual :) However the irregular camera focusing at the beginning of the video is pretty distracting.
Thanks for checking out the video. I truly appreciate the feedback. I'm still an amateur at videography and it is great to get objective notes on what to work on. Take care.
I appreciate the honest review. I just picked up a pair of these to be delivered in a couple days. Did you think possibly some of the change you noted for the worse here could be due to the different earpads? The original HE-6 came with the old velour style pads which I was able to purchase for 10 dollars on ebay direct from Hifiman, which was something I think is a no brainer. If the drivers are very close or same as original, my thinking is ear pads could have been altering sound for you. Ear pads in general can very dramatically alter a headphones sound.
thank you for the kind words. Honestly, this one has been awhile, I would have to go back and look at the pads. You are absolutely right, pads can make all the difference in the world. I have it in my head it was the different headband and how that headband sealed on my head shape. I just could not get the same seal. I recently had the 6se v1 in house again and it sounded out of this world. If you can get proper seal and the top of the headband is okay for comfort, they should be fantastic.
@@gamingaudioguide9292 No, you surely raise a valid point with headband as well. The entire fit of a headphone can affect sound in a big way which does include how the headband sits as well as the ear pads. Some cans it makes more of a difference then others but for sure, finding that sweet spot and positioning of a headphone on your head is very, very important and I think this entire experience you had with multiple pairs of HE-6 underscores that importance.
How does the clamping force on these compare to the Sennheiser HD660s and Hifiman Sundara?
Did you try the ananda? Would you tale the ananda or he6se v2 (at same price point) ?
How is the soundstage on these? Specifically compared to the Ananda.
There's a possibility that your review copy could have suffered from stuck drivers. That's a very common problem with this model. I found my initial unit to be shrill and underwhelming, but I warrantied it, and I finally hear what everyone else is hearing with my second unit
Hey man,
I am looking to get some proper Headphones mainly for competetive FPS gaming. What would you recommend to me? I thought of something like the Beyerdynamic dt 1770 or 770. And what AMP would you recommend for the headphone you think is best. And my last question would be which microphone you would recommend, as you need one seperatly from the headphones. The mic should be good enough for communicating and maybe for streaming.
Tips from anyone welcomee :)
Thank you
If you might be streaming, something like the MOTU M2 is a great solution, as it has XLR input for a nice mic and a nice headphone amp if your headphones are less than 300 ohms and pretty efficient. That plus a Tygr 300R is a pretty fantastic combo. The closed options you mention are also good if you prefer closed and can EQ them a bit.
Can't wait to try these on a Singxer SA-1 I feel like the grill mod and swapping to a much more comfortable headband will make this headphone a bunch more fun
It's crazy how many people sleep on this in at 2021. Same with the he560v4. @ 229 they're an easy pick over Sundara @ 350+ alllll day.
Great, thanks for doing this. I have the he6se and I absolutely love them. Pairing with the chord Hugo tt2, omg...so punchy and the bass, good lord, huge, bold lots of texture. I had a defective Susvara and the he6se was sounding way more pleasing. I will not get the v2.
thank you for checking out the video and taking the time to comment!
Damn, a $5000 headphone amp. They'd better sound amazing.
@@jeremyratter3634 it does. Another good amp for it is the Hifiman EF6. But the chord Hugo tt2 just brings everything closer. But the price tag is higher, my EF6 is in storage, once in a while I plug it for a listening.
Have you given any thought to reviewing the Sound Blaster AE-9? Have been considering replacing my SoundBlaster Z with it.
I have looked at it. I have not had any requests to do it. You can get some good interfaces for that much money..... Let me take a look at it again.
@@gamingaudioguide9292 awesome! comparable prices of stacks aside, I think the software suite is an important factor for gaming. The virtual surround they provide is incredible through stereo headphones, which is why I can't play any games without my Soundblaster Z. Just need to set it up right (set windows to 5.1/7.1 then enable virtual surround -- channels amazingly through the headphones). A single footstep and I know exactly where they are. Something the virtual surround on usb headsets or windows spatial audio can't seem to shake a stick at.
For more context... I went with the dt 1990 pros per your video recommendations (currently awaiting shipment), and came across your channel doing research and was blown away that finally I found a channel that reviews high end headphones and their performance for gaming. Huge apex legends fan, and sound is incredibly important for me in that game.
I have a Soundblaster Z with 770 250ohm now, but the idea of the AE-9 paired with the 1990 seems like a tempting upgrade for me given the external parts and better internals + newer software. I am worried about the treble issues but we'll see.
Thanks again for the reviews and responses.
@@digitalzomb yes, chances are you will want to EQ that spike. If you don't have a passive filter, you can use Equalizer APO. It's a little bit of a learning curve but extremely useful and powerful once you understand it. Plus it's free.
You do have a pretty solid sound setup right now. It can improve, but keep in mind they are all diminishing returns beyond what you have today. Make sure you are doing it for the fun of trying new gear and not JUST the improved audio experience, or you'll be disappointed.
Thank you for checking out the channel!
@@gamingaudioguide9292 Love trying new headsets -- I was very VERY disappointed by the Sennheisser HD 599 -- it sounded VERY bassy, and muddy. Could not hear anything in game, no detail. But I've heard issues with Soundblaster Z amp not properly adjusting power for lower ohm headsets such as this, which could result in muddy sound I guess? Unfotunately I don't have them anymore but the 1990s will be my open ear replacement. Just hope they're more comfortable for longer wear than the 770s which clamp a bit in odd spots for me.
how do these compare to the akg k1000?
I have not yet had the opportunity of trying the k1000, sorry.
If it was All Matt Brush sliver like the deva and black headband the paint didn't wear out like typical HiFi man I would get this I think if you have the money that would make That headphone worth it I want adorama to make that please I think they should just stop making this to make this version And just go with my idea you just make us that super super ton of money you will get and we The people will be happy and buy more than do already I don't have the urge to buy because of that though
How do you think the Hifiman HE-560 v4 would compare sound wise to these?
Impossible to say without trying them. Keep in mind you are talking about a single-sided magnet array vs double-sided. This means less control of the driver. Typically dual magnet array translates to increased resolution and sub bass impact. oh.... and heavier. :)
I also have a question about power requirements: I have an IFI IDSD Signature (4.1 watts in a 32 ohm load on High gain), as well as the brand new IFI IDSD Diablo (5 watts in a 32 ohm load on High gain). The headphones are 50 ohms, will my equipment be strong enough?
Also, can I connect the included XLR male to a 4-pin XLR female to a 4.4 balanced cable at the amplifier end?
@@jeremyabramson4343 I haven't used an adapter like that, as I currently do not have an amp with a pentaconn output. In theory, yes, but do your homework. IF either can output enough power, it will be through that output.
looking at the signature specs, ifi rates it for 1.56W continuous, the 4W is a peak - so probably not with that one. The Diablo i couldn't find detailed specs for but I assume about the same.
If you decide to try it, keep me posted and let me know how it goes! good luck.
@@gamingaudioguide9292 1.5 watts at 64 ohms though. HE6SE is 50 ohms -- so more than 1.5 W continuous do you think?
@@jeremyabramson4343 slightly more, sure. You'll be pushing that little amp pretty darn hard though....
Keep in mind my testing was mostly with XLR on the THX 887 which can do 3.7W into 50 ohms. My amp was also receiving a pro level signal at about 4-5V incoming. The ifi only has RCA inputs, so the incoming signal is only 2V - so the amp will have to do even more to get that 2V amplified.
I am not confident in the combo.
If you couldn't get good sound out of these headphones, not sure you should be talking about how great the driver is in the review.
Yeah, it's tough.... Just trying to give my full assessment. I know what the driver is capable of and if it wears differently for someone, they may get the v1 6se sound out of them. I think I throw plenty of caution at potential buyers (or at least I hope so). Adorama does have a good return policy, so if one wanted to take a crack at them, the opportunity is there. Obviously I have zero incentive to push them on anyone. Just trying to provide maximum context with my experience.
Thank you for watching and taking the time to leave feedback, I value the additional perspective. Take care.
@@gamingaudioguide9292 I'm considering whether to purchase the Adorama deal and swap in an Audeze headband... but it's hard to tell from reviews whether the he6se is actually using the same components as the he6, and every reviewer seems to use a different amp (with many different opinions). So I think my inclination is to pass on it b/c it requires too much work to get it sounding its best. It's a shame that Hifiman combines great sound with garbage hardware.
Your last sentence there pretty much mimics my own thoughts. I wish they put more into the build. The original HE6 vs HE6se is kind of irrelevant. The HE6 at this point is old stock, tough to find and a worry for repair. If you go chasing one of these, I would either try to find the HE6se v1 at a good price OR roll the dice on this version with a warranty and exchange policy. I'm with you though, lot of investment - time or money and there are a lot of good headphones out there. I hope I gave you some information to make a more educated purchasing decision.
Thank you for watching the video and taking the time to leave a comment, I really appreciate it. Take care.
TL;DR - "NOT A GOOD COMPETITIVE GAMING HEADPHONE"