Hifiman HE1000se Headphone Review - Summit-Fi Sound?
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- čas přidán 6. 06. 2024
- The Hifiman HE1000se headphone is something incredibly special. It exposes music in a new way, with insane amounts detail, composure, and power. The high efficiency allows you to enjoy it on nearly any source or form of amplification, which is an engineering marvel in itself considering how amazing this headphone sounds.
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Other products mentioned:
JDS Labs Atom Stack
Denafrips Ares II DAC
Monoprice THX AAA 887 Headphone Amp
Schiit Hel2 Gaming Amp/DAC
Antlion Audio Mod Mic Uni
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro and Features
03:35 - Comfort
07:36 - Planar Magnetic?
10:48 - The Sound
17:28 - Something Special
19:35 - Final Thoughts
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Joe@GadgetryTech.com
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I've been obsessed with headphones since middle school. Remember promising myself a few days before college graduation that I'd save up for a TOTL headphone one day. Fast forward years later and a Susvara, LCD-5 & Abyss 1266 sit on my desk. Absolutely love the hobby.
rich boy
@@soulfulfool I'm not ashamed to admit it either. I used to hit up the dumpster behind Boat N' Net in Corpus just to save money on food. Had nothing but a longboard, shoes, and maybe clothes for 3 days at a time. Got my degree, busted my ass & worked my way to the top. Now I get to buy and listen to whatever tf I want.
@@robertreynolds2212 What is your take on all of your flagship headphones and which one do you like the most and why?
the red halo, bcs of the sound signature, the sound of my 1st iem yeah sort of more 'personal' factor, he1 is way better
@@Kl2O The Susvara is the my favorite followed by the 1266. It just does everything so well and is the closest thing to a complete package imo. If your taste is geared toward more aggressive music like metal or electronica, the 1266 is loads of fun.
Just ordered these.. After watching your review I'm even more excited to get them! Thanks for the thoughtful review.
One of the best headphone reviews I’ve ever heard. You covered every topic I had concerns about. Thank you. You pretty much convinced me that the HE1000SE are what I’m looking for.
As an HE1000se, Focal Utopia and Sennheiser HD800 owner, I agree with you that this headphone is truly special. I have recently switched from Topping D90 to Denafrips Ares II and the HEKse's soundstage got even bigger 😳 (actually, by quite a bit). Whilst the Utopia has certain qualities which are unique to it, the HEKse allows music to breathe and be all around me.
Oh, one more thing - I've noticed that you seem to be using the original Hifiman cable. If you think that the HEKse sounds great now, then you'll be blown away when you switch to an OFC copper cable (can't remember what Hifiman uses for theirs but it's not a pure copper cable). It makes the sound even more natural, more airy and transparent. My HD800 had the same issue with its original silver-plated cable where an upgrade to a "non-fancy" pure copper cable made it sound more cohesive and balanced.
I did upgrade cables but it wasn’t OFC copper. Thanks for the tip, I’ll be sure to pick one up! I too use the Ares II and it’s amazing! I just reviewed that recently. Truly a magical combo!
@@GadgetryTech 😃 I keep switching between NOS and OS/Slow depending on my mood (the Sharp/Fast filter sounds artificially aggressive to me and less airy, although perhaps more precise, but some of the magic disappears).
I've just realized that my amp (Topping A90) has a very low input impedance which is theoretically a terrible match for the Ares's very high output impedance. The pairing has always sounded a bit "soft" to me but I thought it was just how the Ares was supposed to sound (the price to pay for its soundstage and holography). From what I've read the unbalanced connection would be a much better pairing impedance-wise (I've been using XLR cables) so I'm gonna get a couple of RCA cables and see if that makes a difference. If there's ways to make the Ares sound even better then I'd be blown away. Hopefully, I don't have to buy a new amp just because of this DAC's unusual specs...
Hi Michal. I have the HE1000SE and was wondering what exact brand and model of OFC copper cable you bought. I can't wait to try one
Hi Michael.Thanks for your advice.Can you tell me a brand OFC cable, please?And better balanced or unbalanced?I just bought HEKse...thanks
It's great that you mention the gaming potential of top tier headphones like this. When reviewing summit-fi, people often overlook that if you have these things attached to a desktop computer, which you almost always do, you WILL be expecting them to do everything well. Not just music and production, but stuff like gaming and media consumption as well. It's the exact same thing with my HiFiman Edition XS. I purchased them for listening to Apple music lossless, but they turned out to be absolutely perfect for gaming(yes, I like them better than the HD 800 for gaming because those headphones totally lack bass). Now I am looking to purchase the HE1000SE and pair it to a Chord Hugo 2 for endgame sound.
Wonderful review, not because I happen to agree based on my HE1000se ownership, but based on your comprehensive insights. There happen to be a lot of "goods" with this headphone but you covered everything that needed to be covered in good detail without being overbearing/over the top. Thanks.
Great review, and yes, I fell into the hekse trap as well. I had them here for a few days last September, and have been in depression since they left the room. And I have had the Arya Stealth for about 14 months now, a headphone that I truly love and keeps impressing me. But yeah, the hekse is a totally different ballpark, I am now trying to save money to get them in a few months. They essentially fix various things I don't like about the Arya, and vastly elevate everything I do like about the Arya.
A little note about the section where you list the main transducer technologies. You may want to add the AMT technology (Air Motion Transformer), used by the now popular HEDDphone (well...popular among audiophiles at least). Also, I never tried the Raal or any other ribbon cans, and was intrigued when you said they sound very different. Estats already sound very different to me, and I did read a bunch about the Raal, but I am curious, could you elaborate in what way the ribbon sound very different to you?
Great review! I’m a little biased because I’ve owned a pair of these for 8 months now, but I can honestly say everything you have said about the headphone is completely true. I find these cans either transport me to either the recording studio, or to a perfect seat in the music hall every time. They represent the recording in the most honest and transparent way I’ve ever heard from a headphone, and have the ability to sound average on this recording, and jaw dropping on that one, as they will sound precisely as good or bad as the recording itself is. Details, speed, smoothness, and as you have mentioned decay are the best I have personally ever heard in a headphone. I agree with you as well on the bass this headphone provides. It has almost surgical precision and delves as low as I’ve ever heard, quite astonishing. Really nice job on the review., people can definitely get a feel for the sound of the SE based on what you have said. Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much for the kind words! I'll admit it's intimidating to cover a headphone this good because it can be challenging to properly articulate every nuance it has. So glad to hear you enjoy them as much as I do.
@@GadgetryTech Joe, you are most welcome. I agree it’s tough to cover high end headphones, as it’s so easy to get slapped around or get an earful from people, so great job on being brave and going for it! The one thing I appreciated about your review is you don’t rely on tons of graphs or EQ, and you don’t sweat the “Peak” at such and such a KHz , you just talk about how it sounds and the less technically minded like myself get as much from that as from any other kind of review. Once again, great work and keep it up!!!
Hi mate. Hope you are doing great 👍 Thank you for this informative review.. I am searching for a TOTL headphones to complement my Lcd x 2021. My main opinion are focal Utopia and He1000se. Also now little bit excited seeing arya stealth competing with TOTL headphones. Need your suggestions to finalize my purchase. My source will be Fiio m17 DAP.
I have watched your review several times and really felt the need to respond. Thank you so much for being so honest and informative. So, because of you and how you have explained so well how these headphones perform I have just ordered the HE1000 SE and they arrive tomorrow. When they arrive I will start with my test tracks (which include Sound and Vision David Bowie, for the intro drumming and Badfinger, Day after day) and many more, can't wait. I was advised to buy the Focal utopias and did look at the Meze Elite. I have the Meze Liric and love them as a closed back. Can’t thank you enough for your efforts.
So..do you like them?
I cannot express how much I like them and how they have changed my life with regard to listening to music in such a fantastic way. They still have not been run in so they are meant to be even better. All the tracks that I wanted to test are way beyond what I thought they would be. Percussion, piano, strings and trumpets are amazing. They are so comfortable to wear and I find I just pick them up just to admire them. Using them with my Cayin N8ii and cannot be more happy. So yes I do like them - thanks@@quinto34
@@quinto34 yes they are amazing
Good review! My endgame HP of choice would probably be the Susvara or SR1a (I look for resolution, neutrality and soundstage) but because of some budget limitations, I aim to buy the new Arya Stealt Magnets intead... Have you heard it? If yes, any thoughts about it or something else to sugget under 2000$?
Thanks Christian! I actually plan to review the Arya Stealth soon but it could be a month or so. It should be a pretty amazing headphone. Another one to consider is the 800S but those don't have as much bass.
I visited a local audio store last week, to find something that could complement my Stax SR-007mk2's. Had ZMF Verite Open and Meze Empyrean on a radar. But, accidentally, I spotted HEkSE on a shelf - ended up buying one. For my taste and the type of the sound I was looking for, these were more than I expected to hear from any can. Great review, I fully agree with all you said.
Thanks for this. I've got to make a purchase judged solely on reviews as I'm not able to go to where I could audition the headphones I'm comparing. The price on these is down from 3500 to 2000 by Jan 24. That's amazing value and no other manufacturer seems able to reduce their prices like this. I think the reviews and this price drop are making them the obvious choice. I listen mostly to classical, choral and acoustic folk/country and everyone seems to indicate they do well with those.
Yeah just buy them
How do you compare it vs the hd800s in gaming in terms of soundstage and ping point imaging to localize footsteps?
been happy with my HE1000se. it's in rotation with the Clear, HD800s, LCD-2.1, and CD3000. I feel pretty good about this current stable after going through an R10, L3000, K1000, PS1, 007, and Qualia 010.
How would you compare the HE1000se to the HD800s? Similar? Different enough?
@@JTB-- 800s and the 1000se are similar when I dial them into my ideal sound. They're both EQ'd to harman target and running on HQP with closed-form-M on my iCan/iDSD stack. On the 800s I turn on the XBass to the 2 setting, while leaving the 1000se to off/no XBass. With those settings, both are punching in bass/sub-bass effortlessly. 800s sizzles on treble more than the 1000se, but not as much as the Clears. soundstaging is oddly same but different on both, since each seems to favor one part of the frequency graph over the other. high-mids are exceptional on the 800s while low-mids are better on the 1000se. speed has to goto the 1000se. I dropped the L3K, PS1, and R10 after I got the LCD-2 back in 2011, and dropped the 010 after I got the HD800s, so I know what's sticking around for the long haul.
@@JTB-- The HD800s can't do bass like the HE1000se. It's also not as detailed. So yeah. Planars are better than dynamics.
How do these compare to the Audeze MM 500s? I absolutely love those headphones but I own a hifiman ef 400 dac amp! Thinking those would sound magical on the ef400
That was an interesting video. Not something I could realistically see myself purchasing, but you definitely made me want to. Most reviews of audiophile grade equipment come off as extremely elitist about it, but you're more grounded and I appreciate that.
Thanks Rory! Appreciate the support!
Fully agreed, subscribed
Hi there, do you know how does this headset pair with JDS Labs el dac II+ and el amp II+ and the schiit hel plus?
Good review. I'll stick with my AKG K812s and my Grado RS1s..... For now. 😁
18:03 Might want to also name other headphones specifically when doing comparisons and describing certain sound qualities to make your comparison more concrete.
Dekoni Sheepskin pads For those headphones That combination is a match made in heaven for me and there's also AMT Or air motion transformer drivers but that's A little bit harder to explain because it's a new Tech on on a headphone
when they leak sound do your microphone pick it up?
Would you say that ARYA Organic is almost on the same Level or is the money well spend on the HE1000SE? Both are excellent and if there are just minor nuances that can barely be heard in real lif scenarios I might safe the extra cash and just go with Organic.
it's $1699 now on Amazon, it's worth 100%
@@sanhnguyen97 living in germany so prices are a Bit different. But I think I‘ll go all in with he1000se.
try Kacey Musgraves - Slow Burn on them :-o
I got the Arya Stealth. Considering upgrading to these via Hifimans upgrade program. 1350$ investment. Would you say it is worth it?
it's $1699 now on Amazon, it's worth 100%
Thats a good price indeed :)
In case it helps I have the anandas, aryas and these and the HE1000se are quite a step ahead from even the Arya and more intimate and exhilarating imo!
The HE1000se is my favorite pair I own. I can’t use them all the time because it makes other headphones not sound as hot and I have to keep an open perspective.
@@GadgetryTech great review too! Awesome job!
I put my HD 800s up for sale 10 minutes after getting the HEKse. They made the 800s sound really mediocre
@@JTB-- that’s seriously impressive. I haven’t A/B’d them side by side before.
@@GadgetryTech I think there is a point in the HP hobby when you finally know what your favorite headphones are and the one's you use the most. For me I've narrowed it down to 3. HEKse, Verite Closed and HE6se V2. The rest of the HP's basically become dust collectors. So you need to make the tough decision of what's going to go. The HD 800's actually wasn't that hard to let go after hearing what the HEKse was doing. You also have to be willing to sell some stuff off to buy other stuff you want to check out. It's the nature of the beast in this HP hobby I guess.
How many ohm he 1000 se have?
35
If you are reviewing headphones like these might want to skip over the whole 'they are not for travel ... they leak noise bit'. Just looking at them and you saying they are open is enough.
Overused and misused word: endgame
I’ve never used it in a prior review if that helps! In all seriousness, to many people spending $3500 on a pair of headphones usually comes with the intent of not needing or wanting to buy another pair. Hence the only thought of endgame here, especially when it sounds as incredible as it does.
Using "Endgame" is not misused when talking about a headphone this expensive and this good
I'm sure it sounds great but it looks butt ugly. I like my Corsair virtuoso rgb wireless XT.