I recently bought the HE1000se and they're just as amazing as Wave introduced. I also want to point out that Hifiman has changed the texture of all 3 stock cables (no longer the vacuum tube cable) in the latest batches.
Wave, THIS was the highly anticipated review I’ve been waiting for and I totally agree with your spot on assessment of this headphones virtues, plus I really wondered what you would think of it. The SE’s incredible affinity for producing world class detail and resolution is infectious, and I can’t wait to hear what it has in store for me every listening session. I appreciate the fact that you can enjoy your headphones without EQ too, as some reviewers have slammed the SE for being too bright and so have to be farting around dimming out some of the frequencies before they can listen to it. Your judicious explanation of how you found the treble on the SE was very accurate I believe, as there are many other factors to consider as well, amp pairing and aftermarket headphone cable to name a couple that can factor into the sound. I find this headphone shows anything and everything about a recording, so if its bright then the SE will portray that accurately, and if it’s something else it will portray that accurately too. This thing is a window directly into my music. Lightening fast, yet clear, huge, and smooth, nothing rattles it ever, as you have mentioned. Great review Wave, definitely one of the best and most accurate ones I’ve seen regarding the 1000SE. Keep up the great work!!
I just got a pair, due to the pricing ($2,000 summer discount) and I love a lot about them, but the upper register needs some EQ work, so I can finally get my ears to stop bleeding. Running them through a ADI-2 Pro FS. I am at around 120 or 130 hours of moderate level break in (70 - 85 dB) The main changes that occurred = in the bass, as far as I can HEAR. Everything went from slightly "dry" to more "cohesive" after about 70 hours.. The treble is HOT and with some tracks, that were produced with a lot of energy, they overcook the song. Tracks that weren't produced with enough treble sound perfect, lol. Not sure about my model in particular, but I will run some upper register frequency sweeps to locate the peaks, in order to come up with a eq game plan.. I would like to go as moderately as possible, so I don't mess with other areas of the frequency spectrum, for now. The bass may get boost, but it is so beautiful and natural and on tracks where the producer mixed in more or less, the bass shows up more or less. Maybe subtly cutting the treble will help add more definition/impact to the bass, too, although out of the box it is damn good. THE LISTENING AND TWEAKING EXPERIMENTS CONTINUE!
I have RME also but I don’t use it anymore. It bright and flat. With HEkSE you should try warm tube and with powerful dac. I use Wandla now and woo wa 22. Now I have different HEkSE than with RME. It took some time to understand that RME ADI 2 is really bad dac/amp. It just universal but nothing more. Difference is soo HUGE.
Your review is spot on! I currently own HE1000se, Susvara, Raal SR1a and HD800s, and have in the past own 009 + KGSSHV carbon, Focal Stellia, Final D8000, LCD 3, HE1000V1, HD800. Some reviewers oddly say HE1000se has odd tonality. I am quite sure they don't play real instruments! The tonality of HE1000se is not perfect (no headphone is). But as someone who goes to life concert with unamplified real instruments and play a grand piano at home regularly, I can say that this is one of the most faithfuly in terms of timbre and tonality (but certainly behind susvara). It is a little splashy in the treble, for sure. But because those are much higher frequencies and also not far off, it is tonally far more accurate (i.e. having more realistic timbre) than say, Audeze LCD 4/LCD2 (both of them sound very dark and odd). It is also, to a smaller extent, better in that regard to 009 (too hot between 1-2khz) and focal Stellia (a bit too flabby in the bass). I think this is a slightly underrated headphone, as it is not the current flagship of hifiman. Certainly the Susvara is better when well-driven. But HE1000se is often better than the flagship of other brands (in my mind, it is overall better than Utopia, and certainly LCD 4, for example).
@@MistaLova-Lova A few friends asked me this. The only reason is that I want a second listening system at the office. It is an ideal listening environment. Back home, I have to take of the kids and I don’t have much time to listen. I am more of a music lover than audiophile , although sound quality matters A LOT to me. So I don’t care about owning headphones with opposite sound signature. So brands like audeze are out. I also compared the Utopia with the HE1000se and find the utopia to be inferior on multiple fronts. Back to your question: there is nothing that HE1000se has that is missing in Susvara. People talked about it will be a waste of money if you don’t have a matching amp for the susvara. But my experience (admittedly very limited) is that even on a lesser amp, as long as the power output is high enough, susvara is at least as good as the HK1000SE technically. And it is obviously better in terms of timbre (or tonality. I don’t think it is necessary to distinguish between the two terms). Considering that some would pay USD $1000+ for a cable just to fine tune the tonality of HK1000SE, I think it is better just to spend on susvara (without aftermarket cable, if budget is a concern).
@@TrampledReed Thank you very much for such detailed reply. I had an ulterior motive in asking that question, hehe, because I've owned an HE1000se for a while now, I also have a Utopia (I see what you mean about the comparison, but there are days when I appreciate the Utopia's depth and the HEKse sounds a bit lacking in that department in comparison). As much as I've always liked the HEKse, it's never been a fully-satisfying headphone for me because of its tonality, slightly lacking depth (although it's got so much more of it than the Arya) and the elevated highs together with its always-grandiose presentation sometimes make it come across as too technical-sounding, making the Utopia fuller and soulful in comparison. I have for a long time been wondering if the Susvara is what I've been looking for, but I've just been afraid to pull the trigger in case the Sus turns out to be so "correct"-sounding that it's boring. I don't have one of those amplifiers that would be considered best for the Sus but surely my Burson Soloist 3XP is both powerful and fantastic-sounding (huge step-up from the A90).
@@MistaLova-Lova Enjoyment can be rather subjective so I can't recommend one way or another. For me, the emotional impact I got from music does not come from coloration, but about how believable, how close to a live performance a headphone can get. If I close my eyes, I can feel some feel, lively person performing/singing for me, with all the nuiances that a live performance can give me, I get moved with goosebumps. Also all the layers the music I know is there, I need them to be there. It is in this regard that I highly recommend the susvara. While still not replacing a live performance, this is as close you can get from a headphone (perhaps excluding some ridiculously expensive headphone like Shanghir-la senior?). If coloration is your thing, then Utopia is not the right one either! While the tonality of utopia is not as natural (as in being realistic, not 'natural' as being warm and woody), I would not consider it as very 'colored' either. In fact it is still quite neutral. The problem with Utopia, for me, is that it sounds quite 'small' in comparison. It's much closer to a normal headphone experience. It does not render space and ambience as well as the Susvara, not even close. These two are quite important to me, given what I am looking for. But given the price and given the fact that the utopia is so easily driven, it might still be competitive.
Hello. I have been using these headphones for almost a year now. In general, I agree with your conclusions, but with one caveat. I was able to appreciate their true capabilities when I connected them to the Trafomatic Audio Head 2 amplifier. I have had many of the amplifiers you have used to test them and spent hundreds of hours comparing with other headphones. And for me there was an ideal couple. I strongly advise you to take the Head 2 amplifier for review and listening and feel this magical synergy. I think that given your vast experience, you will be surprised and delighted. In addition, it is interesting to your subscribers. Good luck to you.
This is accurate and bright headphones. They need warm tube amp. And opposite warm headphones need bright amp. I have setup for HEkSE and Organic - Ferrum Wandla - Woo WA 22 2nd ed. With Denoni perforated pads and internal foam to reduce brightness and increase bass impact. It’s bad idea to drive them with non warm tube amp but with mojo 2 they sounds surprisingly good because mojo 2 is warmer than Hugo 2.
This is just a stunning headphone! And the most cherished in my current collection. I recently upgraded to the Mjolnir 3, which replaced my Jotunheim, still feeding with a bifrost 2/64. The synergy between the Mjolnir 3 and the Hekse is astonishing! My first reaction after 1 minutes of listen? Turn off all existing Eq's in the various sources I use, no need anymore! The Mjolnir simply improves the performance of the hekse in just about all the areas where I could have desired a bit more: more bass and sub-bass, more dynamics and punch/slam, even more epic and bigger stage, even more resolution, and even better control of the treble. It just sounds SPECTACULAR! With this rig, the Hekse is now for me on an end-game level of timber and realism of things, spatial presentation, ability to separate and place the elements of a mix in its vast stage (an ability that appears impossible to challenge even with the most crowded and complex mixes), and ultimately, how natural it sounds. What would happen if I replaced my bifrost with an Yggy? (might happen in the near future) I guess I should call an ambulance right before trying, just in case. Definitely an underrated headphone, and I recently watched a video by a channel I won't name, a video in which they rated a massive list of headphones (2023)... when they got to the Hekse they quickly dismissed it as a "C tier" headphone because it is "super bright" according to them, without much discussion.... I don't know if those guys need to change brand of Q-tips, or if they are just a bunch of gamers without much understanding of sound, but I am guessing it might be time for me to move on and stop watching their reviews, since I always find myself in disagreement with them. And by all means, I HATE very bright headphones, and I don't respect treble-heads.
I also saw that in their lousy rating of the HEK SE and I was like wtf??? They cramped on it when the treble energy isn’t THAT bad. The spaciousness I get when listening to classical music is off the charts so that alone trumps other minor shortcomings it may have. For me anyway.
I can't get over the three-dimensionality of sound that these headphones produce. I don't think I truly appreciated what soundstage "depth" meant until spending some time with the HE1000SE.
incredible review! Nobody I've read/watched describes the experience of using headphones as true to my experience as you do. Excellent description of soundstage!
The eaiest and biggest mistake to make in high-end audio is to mistake brightness for detail/resolution. It took me a long time and a lot of $$$ to finally figure it out. You can have both, but it's an artform to find it. When you can listten for hour upon hour, and be disapointed that you have to stop, you've found it.
Sage advice and I agree. I think it's also a mistake to think that the same phenomenon is limited to the treble region, though, which is why I mentioned this in the video. The human heuristic of "more is better" is quite strong. I think many perceive forward mids as having increased clarity when often the headphone/speaker/amp/whatever is just emphasizing certain frequencies to make what's already there more noticeable. Similarly more bass presence can be falsely interpreted as increased slam or more detailed bass. As you've stated though, it is possible to have both forward AND resolving in the same regions, but it's very hard to do and relatively uncommon. Plus, those FR games often make things sound unnatural (at last to me). Once prices get high enough, I much prefer clarity and detail come from excellent resolution than from FR games. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@wavetheorysound You make (yet) anouther good point regarding the entire frequency spectrum. One of the most amazing things for an audiophile to realize that there are nuances, details, resolution in deeply low bass notes. It's so rare, that not too many people have heard it to know it (can) exist. Having high resolution bass is far more rare in the speaker world, than the headphone world due to the accoutical power required to fill a large space and all the endemic room accoustics challenges. It's amazing how often audiophiles make comments on how things sound, when in fact they are for the most part, uncalibrated. How do you know what "state-of-the-art good" is, unless you've experienced it yourself. Even then, accoutical memory is fragile and fleeting unless it is refreshed (often).
Good timing, tomorrow's mail will bring with it a HEKse with a Black Dragon V2 cable. All for the sweet price of $2K combined (used obviously). Might be one of my better deals in hifi it seems. Looking forward to listening. Thanks for the review
@orrman how do you find the black dragon cable compares to stock cable. I am finding the he1000 se treble too forward. Does the black dragon cable attenuate the treble noticeably or is it subtle?
Woow, what a Review man,...that was crazy good...." Momentary i have the Kv2 non Stealth and its damn good..." But i think i should give the SE a Try..." Thanks 😄
Wave, the pads are not the same for the 1000V2 and 1000SE. Although one will fit on the other, the SE pads are called “Serenity” and have no mesh on the pad itself, as the mesh is now on the cup. The 1000V2 uses “Ultrapad”, which has the mesh on the earpad. Therefore you can use the V2 pad on the SE but you’ll have TWO meshes, one on the cup and one on the pad. 🎉
@@gauravgoel8092 Dekoni pads would probably be great with this headphone!! I wouldn’t think 2 meshes would block the sound TOO much, but I guess if it did you could trim the mesh off the Dekoni’s. Let me know how you decide to proceed!!
@@chickenheads3746 thanks a lot for your response. Actually I checked later, and actually dekoni sheepskin pads come without the mesh itself. So no issues.
@@gauravgoel8092 My pleasure, that is great to hear!!! Enjoy the Dekoni pads and if you have a chance let me know how they are, as I was wondering the same. All the best!!!
27:51 yes I find arya's vocal performance is a little bit too far behind to my liking. I find ZMF does vocal a lot better, in fact I think they specialize in that based of 2 of their headphones that I've tried, the Auteur OG and Atticus
Hey Wave Theory! Another great review, thank you so much. Now I'll see if I can have this experience and go test the SE. Instead of buying the V2 Stealth right away. I am happy. Have fun too. Maybe with this music tip, it's my most valuable: Nik Bärtsch Ronin music. Start with Module 27, then 41_17... It's priceless what these artists give to the world. Right?
Hey wave , ok the he1000se isn't a favorite , the zmf verite close isn't a favorite , so tell me what is your go to headphone for relaxing and pur music listen go to headphones ? I ask because I have the he1000se and zmf verite cl and both have there limit or problem , so I'm want to try something that is better all around than thise two
@soulfulfool no don't have that one , and after months of listening my He1000se is my best ever and for overall sound vocals and instruments , jazz ect. Hifiman rocks , my zmf verite close is great on vocals but that about it to my ears
@@Angel-AbC9 I also own VC, you cant expect that closed back will be better in everything, that said ZMF headphones sound different with each pad type and audio sources. About vocals it is most likely to personal preferences, I got few pairs of headphones and each one got their own timbre but none of them sounds bad, if they sounded the same it will be boring.
If the he1000 v2 and the he1000 se had a baby, that would be my ideal headphone. I upgraded to the SE but am on verge of going back. I found the sound signature of the v2 sublime, if lacking a little “air”. Even though the technical improvements of the se are undeniable, there is just way too much treble energy. No matter the genre, the forward treble is extremely distracting and unnatural. If the v2 is organic and holographic, the se is unapologetically Hifi. Although the detail retrieval of the se can be jaw dropping , I almost never get that tingly, immersive “happy place” feeling the v2 gave me. That feeling is why I listen to headphones.
Hi guys I have the HEKSE with a D90 A90 stack and even with that Hyper detail combo I find it absolutely perfect for my own ears (I do not find the HD800 non S sibilant though).
@@brothatwasepic Treble is not an issue at all for me too with the HE1000SE. I only EQ'd the 8k region by -3db just to make it sound more natural, but it was never harsh for me. Could very well be that some HE1000SE's have more treble than others. I guess some lose the driver lottery. I have a tube amp too tho, but not that warm tubes.
Hi There! I havet an eversolo dmp a8, a topping a70pro and arya st. I am leaning toards the 1000se. Do you thingk my setup för those are ok? And am i goding to hear and differens beteende these two pair of headphones? Thank you for a verk good rewiew! Peter from sweden!
Great video as always! One question, would you say the HEK v2 has a more controlled treble than the Arya? I hear sometimes some sibilance in it even with the Hifiman EF400 and new cables. I was considering upgrading my Arya Stealth to the HEK V2 but after this I think the HEK SE might be the better choice.
@@wavetheorysound thanks! Honestly Arya ain't bad at all, maybe I'm just too much of a perfectionist and the EF-400 is such a fantastic pairing for tonality. I haven't tried EQ yet, which might also help a lot, since I think this might be at most 3-4 db peak just by ear. It's not a very strong sibilance when it shows occasionally.
Great review, very handy comparisons! Sure 44min is long, but when the content is there no issue. Maybe you could try to get some high end face or Amps with this and Sus. That way you can really hear the Quality in both headphone and chain.
I would love to. I'm at the mercy of what gets loaned to me though. I'm not big enough to generate the funds to self purchase everything yet. Maybe some day 🤞
Thanks! I did not have Arya and He1000se in house at same time, unfortunately. In my Arya SE review I have a detailed comparison with HE1000V2 tho, which in concert with the comparison in this review may be helpful to you. Thanks for watching!
Update and edited comment I believe the original HE1KSE Had a screen like mesh Instead of the Acoustic cloth or foam or whatever you want to call it On the back of the cup Behind the grills Which change the sound by 5% And I believe the difference is slightly less air and slightly less hot Is travel in more bass From the original other than that there's no difference between the 1st one and the 2nd I wish the HIFIMAN susvara was this egg shape 🥚then the sus would be the utopia of HiFi headphones for me until you get to the WARWICK ACOUSTICS APERIO System my Personal favorite headphone from HIFIMAN is HE1KSE with Dekoni Audio Elite Sheepskin earpads for music movies and games thanks for making this so long I want a longer video
Great review on the Schiit Bifrost 2. Since you're big on headphones and DACs there is one test that would be very beneficial to anyone looking for a DAC and a headphone amp. I have both the Schiit Bifrost 2 and the ifi Neo idsd performance edition DAC, both sell for 800. Both are great, why I think the ifi Neo is so good is it's balanced like the Bifrost, the DAC is amazing just like the Bifrost but it also has a wonderful headphone amp all for the same price. I think you would be amazed comparing the two DACs. I love both but the ifi is the much better deal overall for the price and sound quality, would love to hear your thoughts by doing this comparison. Both companies are fantastic, you won't go wrong getting either one
Great video (but don't rub your nose so much, distracting😄). I love my Hekse most of all my over ears (Utopia, Elite, Grado PS-2k, etc.). Pretty much agree with all your conclusions (and, yes, the Elite doesn't compare sonically but it is one of the most beautiful mechanisms I have ever seen as well as being the most comfortable headphone I've ever worn). Thanks for an insightful review and have subbed.
Build wise Hifiman is now building the HEKV2 with the same chassis as the HEKSE... they just put a different headphone strap (black/brown) and the drivers are different.. so the $1900 HEK that is sold today is a better V2 than the original... and is a bargain at $1900
Huh. I was not aware of this. I thought the se was already built on the v2 chassis. But, HiFiMan honestly tells me next to nothing. They are as hands-off a company as I've worked with so far.
@@cdotwu the original build has 2.5mm input at the headphone cups.... the new build has the exact same build as the HEKse that is 3.5mm input at the headphone cups... they fixed every thing that the reviewers brought up except the cables... and as fugly as the cables are they actually work well with the headphones.... but I like to use the Hart Audio cable solution for all of my headphones... just makes it easy for someone with more than one headphone and sources...
@@wavetheorysound one of the complaints of the original HEK was also where the cup rotates with the headband.. they now have a Delrin spacer there to tighten that joint... and you no longer see the machine/hand sculpting that was on the older ones too.... when you mentioned how transparent they are and you can hear the outside world... when I first got a pair I put on some music and found out while the music is playing you can hold your hands out about 8 inches on each side and you can actually re direct the music back into the headphone from the reflections of the sound bouncing off of the palms of your hands.... it was kinda fun playing with that 🙂
Fanfastic review. I loved how you "compared" the HEKse to the Utopia - I own both, and as you say, it's not wise to try to compare them. Some people will prefer one over the other; others like me might be crazy enough to go for both. ;-) They really are on a similar level but just approach things so differently and thus complement each other so well. It's important to remember that Hifiman's original cables are not pure copper and have their own specific sound... I immediately got an OFC copper cable and the improvement is very significant in terms of clarity, frequency cohesiveness and... believe it or not, the headphone gets even bigger- and airier-sounding! I've never heard the Susvara, I thought the HEKse would be really close to its performance. Would the Sus not be a slightly more "boring" headphone which a smaller soundstage and everything sounding "smoother"? And would an upgrade from the HEKse to the Susvara only be worth it if bought together with one of those crazy-expensive amps? :)
Sus is a little sweeter sounding, yes, but it's also more resolving and has noticeably more natural timbre. I'm likely going to do a re-review of Sus sometime in the not-distant future. Probably after Utopia and after Caldera - IF I can get one of the latter in in a reasonable timeframe.
@@wavetheorysound That famous natural timbre is tempting me because sometimes I find the HEKse just a little bit technical/dry/sterile sounding (these words need to be seen in context, though - it is a headphones that's always engaging, never boring). I have an option of upgrading to the Susvara, but am worried that while my A90 amp will surely have enough juice to drive it, it might still be so far from its peak performance that the Sus might effectively turn out to be worse than the HEKse with this amp... I like the A90's neutrality because it's fed by the Gustard X26 Pro which sounds much more natural and full-bodied than cheaper DACs.
@@MistaLova-Lova I think your problem is going double measurement based on the amp and DAC, you could stand to gain some r2r warmth and dynamics I'm guessing.
@@pokrog Problem sorted with feeding the Gustard HQPlayer-upsampled DSD signal (sooo much better) and A90 upgraded to Burson Soloist 3XP. All the detail I ever wanted but now in a deep, holographic, 3D way 🙂
This headphone kinda reminds of the Audeze MM 500 you did a while back and I love that headphone. I know the 500 will point out the bad records to a fault! I don’t really know if this headphone is worth the upgrade to the 500’s
@@davidrexford586 I have the He1000se now. I think they have slightly better smoothness, finesse and detail. But I like the tuning of the Arya Stealth better. Getting used to the He1000se now. Like them alot :) Endgame for me.
if you want an amazing experience then get a chance to get the Burson Conductor 3X GT DAC/AMP for either HEK version and crazy on the Susvara... that amp combo just has to be experienced
Hi, I was looking for a DAC/AMP for the He1000se around $1000-$2000. I currently have the JDS elements III ... I was thinking in the Chord Qutest + JDS or the RME ADI-2 DAC FS... What do you think about these 2 options? any other recommendation? Thanks
Never! Never buy Adi 2 for Hifimans! I have Adi 2 and I never use it with HEkSE. Yoh need warm tube amp and change pads from stock pads. You will have less bright more bass impact and more body in sound. Under 1000 yo li have just one - mojo 2. It’s much much better with HEkSE. I use Wandla+ woo wa 22. Warm tube for bright headphones. And Wandla is just mind blowing dac. It’s hard to compare it with Adi 2. It’s night and day. Also try daps with warm tubes. Like iBasso dx 320 with amp 13(it’s 2k together) Or Cayin if you have deep wallet.
Human juke box for the office 3 meter headphone cable with every purchase that double as a jump rope Disclaimer handles not included On a serious note the upper frequency was too much air for me but I wonder if it was the amp.
and @Erik Leonardi the tunings are similar. HiFiMan has not completely but come quite close to standardizing the FR on their egg-shaped open-back planars with the stealth magnets. The Hekse is a whole 'nother level in the other technical categories, though. Its resolution, staging, timbre, etc. belong on the $4k tier, IMO. Arya se is very very good and likely competes with many $2k models from competitors, but the HEKs - both of them - are more expensive for reasons, they are better performers and noticeably so, on the right signal chains.
I just got the he1000se because of some reviews . Now my ears are hearing the mid vocals are right in my head dead centered the stage isn't wide since left right music seems to be right there , a bit bright in the Tribble and when I turn it up it sounds worst , I'm not happy with them a may want to sell it and it's brand new
It sounds good. You're still leaving a big chunk of the hekse's potential untapped so there's lots of room to grow. But it will be a good experience while you save up.
As I said in the video, there's not a clear answer to that. V2 hits harder in the midbass. Se hits harder in the subbass. Which matters more to you? And does that matter more than se's improved performance elsewhere? Or does none of that matter because they're currently $1500 different? To each their own on all those questions.
@@wavetheorysound Well, I always adjust my headphones according to Oratory's settings. For me, the punch around 150 hertz is clearly more important. Less punch than the V2 has would be fatal. More slam in the lowest range I do not need at all. There is no way around it, I have to make a direct comparison. people actually disagree on whether the SE is an upgrade. I've also talked to several people who regretted switching to the Susvara, and wish they had their V2 back. Very exciting headphonesi
I used a Corpse Grave Digger for much of the review. The comparison with V2 was done with stock cables. If you're treble sensitive I'd get something as close to pure copper as possible. If you aren't, you might like the detail emphasis of silver.
Using some amps that have come in recently I've been able to use my single-ended Plussound X8 with the Hekse. Comparing that to the Grave Digger w/ XLR->6.3mm adapter the X8 chills the treble out to a noticeable degree. I think many who find the Hekse too bright would be right at home with the Hekse on an X8 cable.
No way. But Arya Stealth is only $650 now. This is a crazy deal because Arya Stealth is way up on the list for performance, and it's only $650. It beats $1500 headphones from other brands, in my opinion.
@@wavetheorysound Why do you think some prefer the V2 over the SE and vice versa? I like the price of the V2 used, got an offer of $1100 to buy a great condition Hekv2.
I have the Mojo 2. Top tier sound quality for the money, while having a bit of warmth that suits the HEKSE and the ability to use lossless EQ. Then you have the added benefit of it being portable so you’re not chained down to your desk.
I have my Arya Stealth and I really like it now.. Initially the sound signature was kind of odd: very bright with recessed mids.. I changed the stock cable and pads and now it sounds phenomenal: very neutral with just the right amount of bass and treble.. The mids came forward now and sound just right.. For those who find HFM headphones bright I recommend soft velour / skin combo pads.. for me they resolved all the issues.. the headphones now sound very enjoyable and lifelike..
I have the Arya Stealth as well and I changed the cable for a apos flow. Do you have a link or the name of the pads I should buy? I still find some sibilance in some tracks. Also does the pads have any drawback to the technical perfomance? (Soundstage/imaging/detail)
Not as punchy, but not a lightweight there either. IMO hekse gives much bigger and holographic stage, much more detail, and more natural timbre. It's still somewhat amp picky but only in a synergy sense. It has more options because it's easy to drive.
The treble shelf still feels like pushing detail down my throat with a lack of warmth & vocals. Then add no bass punch makes it unfavorable to many modern genres.
I don't hear it that way. IMO the Hifimans are very resolving but among the more detail-relaxed in the high end. All of the info is in there, it's just not pushed forward. You might like ZMF Atrium tho, warm, lush, and punchy.
I have an Arya Stealth right now. I find it to be great. Do you think The HeKse is a significant improvement over it, and worth moving to in the future? Is it better in every regard? One guy I know said that the HeKse is an improvement over the Arya, as the Arya is an improvement over the HE400se. Sounds a bit crazy. I'll also be very curious to see what you think of the HEKV2 Stealth in the future. Passion for sound just made a video on it and the HeKse: th-cam.com/video/GB4iMpq17T0/w-d-xo.html .
7 months later, but i'll try to answer your question if you still need to know as I have both the Aryas and HE1000SE. I'd say the HE1000SE is around 20% better than the Aryas in everything except the bass. Now is that worth 2x the price? That's only up to you. Bass is less detailed but much louder on the arya. Anyone saying it's a significant upgrade is fooling themselves. The Arya is truly amazing value at $999.
@@TheSaassaf I have not tried the v2 I imagine the v2 to sound similar to the Arya just a little better. I bought some leather pads for my He1000Se, and i'm hoping that will solve the bass issue, since the seal is bad right now with the current pads. I think whatever version you get of these headphones, they will all be very similar in performance.
@@TheJonazas I really donno what to do actually, I can't do demo here and I can get 2000 usd SE OR 1400 v2 .. some says v2 more 'fun' some say SE are the end game .. 600 bucks is no joke :)
@@TheSaassaf I didn't know either 1 week ago :D. I just decided to pick up the HE1000SE and be "done" with upgrades. But it was all just a coinflip in the end which one I would buy, so I can't really help you there. I love my HE1000SE after EQ though i'll tell you that. Truly next level from the Arya SE I have, but it's ofc also 2x the price and it's not anywhere close to 2x better. Price to performance is good up to 1000 dollars, and when you pay more you get slightly better headphones. So the 1000 V2 will for sure be a better value, but if you are looking for endgame headphones like me and don't care too much about the price, go for the HE1000SE. The only thing i'm missing with HE1000SE is more bass and slightly more body to the midrange which Audeze LCD X/4 has plenty of. The rest is nearly perfect imo (after EQ)
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That's some dedication. A 44 minute video just so you could make that single 'HeK of a comparison' pun. Keep up the good work. 👍
If you're not that dedicated to the craft of dad joking, you may not call yourself a dad joker 😆
I recently bought the HE1000se and they're just as amazing as Wave introduced. I also want to point out that Hifiman has changed the texture of all 3 stock cables (no longer the vacuum tube cable) in the latest batches.
“That’s a HEK of a comparison”🤣
Wave, THIS was the highly anticipated review I’ve been waiting for and I totally agree with your spot on assessment of this headphones virtues, plus I really wondered what you would think of it. The SE’s incredible affinity for producing world class detail and resolution is infectious, and I can’t wait to hear what it has in store for me every listening session. I appreciate the fact that you can enjoy your headphones without EQ too, as some reviewers have slammed the SE for being too bright and so have to be farting around dimming out some of the frequencies before they can listen to it. Your judicious explanation of how you found the treble on the SE was very accurate I believe, as there are many other factors to consider as well, amp pairing and aftermarket headphone cable to name a couple that can factor into the sound. I find this headphone shows anything and everything about a recording, so if its bright then the SE will portray that accurately, and if it’s something else it will portray that accurately too. This thing is a window directly into my music. Lightening fast, yet clear, huge, and smooth, nothing rattles it ever, as you have mentioned. Great review Wave, definitely one of the best and most accurate ones I’ve seen regarding the 1000SE. Keep up the great work!!
I just got a pair, due to the pricing ($2,000 summer discount) and I love a lot about them, but the upper register needs some EQ work, so I can finally get my ears to stop bleeding. Running them through a ADI-2 Pro FS. I am at around 120 or 130 hours of moderate level break in (70 - 85 dB) The main changes that occurred = in the bass, as far as I can HEAR. Everything went from slightly "dry" to more "cohesive" after about 70 hours.. The treble is HOT and with some tracks, that were produced with a lot of energy, they overcook the song. Tracks that weren't produced with enough treble sound perfect, lol. Not sure about my model in particular, but I will run some upper register frequency sweeps to locate the peaks, in order to come up with a eq game plan.. I would like to go as moderately as possible, so I don't mess with other areas of the frequency spectrum, for now. The bass may get boost, but it is so beautiful and natural and on tracks where the producer mixed in more or less, the bass shows up more or less. Maybe subtly cutting the treble will help add more definition/impact to the bass, too, although out of the box it is damn good. THE LISTENING AND TWEAKING EXPERIMENTS CONTINUE!
I have RME also but I don’t use it anymore. It bright and flat. With HEkSE you should try warm tube and with powerful dac. I use Wandla now and woo wa 22. Now I have different HEkSE than with RME.
It took some time to understand that RME ADI 2 is really bad dac/amp. It just universal but nothing more. Difference is soo HUGE.
This is dedication - great review!
Your review is spot on! I currently own HE1000se, Susvara, Raal SR1a and HD800s, and have in the past own 009 + KGSSHV carbon, Focal Stellia, Final D8000, LCD 3, HE1000V1, HD800. Some reviewers oddly say HE1000se has odd tonality. I am quite sure they don't play real instruments! The tonality of HE1000se is not perfect (no headphone is). But as someone who goes to life concert with unamplified real instruments and play a grand piano at home regularly, I can say that this is one of the most faithfuly in terms of timbre and tonality (but certainly behind susvara). It is a little splashy in the treble, for sure. But because those are much higher frequencies and also not far off, it is tonally far more accurate (i.e. having more realistic timbre) than say, Audeze LCD 4/LCD2 (both of them sound very dark and odd). It is also, to a smaller extent, better in that regard to 009 (too hot between 1-2khz) and focal Stellia (a bit too flabby in the bass).
I think this is a slightly underrated headphone, as it is not the current flagship of hifiman. Certainly the Susvara is better when well-driven. But HE1000se is often better than the flagship of other brands (in my mind, it is overall better than Utopia, and certainly LCD 4, for example).
Why do you have both the HEKse and Susvara in your collection? I'm intrigued if perhaps the HEKse has something than the Sus is missing for you.
@@MistaLova-Lova A few friends asked me this. The only reason is that I want a second listening system at the office. It is an ideal listening environment. Back home, I have to take of the kids and I don’t have much time to listen. I am more of a music lover than audiophile , although sound quality matters A LOT to me. So I don’t care about owning headphones with opposite sound signature. So brands like audeze are out. I also compared the Utopia with the HE1000se and find the utopia to be inferior on multiple fronts. Back to your question: there is nothing that HE1000se has that is missing in Susvara. People talked about it will be a waste of money if you don’t have a matching amp for the susvara. But my experience (admittedly very limited) is that even on a lesser amp, as long as the power output is high enough, susvara is at least as good as the HK1000SE technically. And it is obviously better in terms of timbre (or tonality. I don’t think it is necessary to distinguish between the two terms). Considering that some would pay USD $1000+ for a cable just to fine tune the tonality of HK1000SE, I think it is better just to spend on susvara (without aftermarket cable, if budget is a concern).
@@TrampledReed Thank you very much for such detailed reply. I had an ulterior motive in asking that question, hehe, because I've owned an HE1000se for a while now, I also have a Utopia (I see what you mean about the comparison, but there are days when I appreciate the Utopia's depth and the HEKse sounds a bit lacking in that department in comparison). As much as I've always liked the HEKse, it's never been a fully-satisfying headphone for me because of its tonality, slightly lacking depth (although it's got so much more of it than the Arya) and the elevated highs together with its always-grandiose presentation sometimes make it come across as too technical-sounding, making the Utopia fuller and soulful in comparison. I have for a long time been wondering if the Susvara is what I've been looking for, but I've just been afraid to pull the trigger in case the Sus turns out to be so "correct"-sounding that it's boring. I don't have one of those amplifiers that would be considered best for the Sus but surely my Burson Soloist 3XP is both powerful and fantastic-sounding (huge step-up from the A90).
@@MistaLova-Lova Enjoyment can be rather subjective so I can't recommend one way or another. For me, the emotional impact I got from music does not come from coloration, but about how believable, how close to a live performance a headphone can get. If I close my eyes, I can feel some feel, lively person performing/singing for me, with all the nuiances that a live performance can give me, I get moved with goosebumps. Also all the layers the music I know is there, I need them to be there. It is in this regard that I highly recommend the susvara. While still not replacing a live performance, this is as close you can get from a headphone (perhaps excluding some ridiculously expensive headphone like Shanghir-la senior?).
If coloration is your thing, then Utopia is not the right one either! While the tonality of utopia is not as natural (as in being realistic, not 'natural' as being warm and woody), I would not consider it as very 'colored' either. In fact it is still quite neutral. The problem with Utopia, for me, is that it sounds quite 'small' in comparison. It's much closer to a normal headphone experience. It does not render space and ambience as well as the Susvara, not even close. These two are quite important to me, given what I am looking for. But given the price and given the fact that the utopia is so easily driven, it might still be competitive.
Have you heard of the Sennheiser HE1?
I own an HE1
000se
Hello. I have been using these headphones for almost a year now. In general, I agree with your conclusions, but with one caveat. I was able to appreciate their true capabilities when I connected them to the Trafomatic Audio Head 2 amplifier. I have had many of the amplifiers you have used to test them and spent hundreds of hours comparing with other headphones. And for me there was an ideal couple. I strongly advise you to take the Head 2 amplifier for review and listening and feel this magical synergy. I think that given your vast experience, you will be surprised and delighted. In addition, it is interesting to your subscribers. Good luck to you.
This is accurate and bright headphones. They need warm tube amp. And opposite warm headphones need bright amp. I have setup for HEkSE and Organic - Ferrum Wandla - Woo WA 22 2nd ed. With Denoni perforated pads and internal foam to reduce brightness and increase bass impact. It’s bad idea to drive them with non warm tube amp but with mojo 2 they sounds surprisingly good because mojo 2 is warmer than Hugo 2.
This is just a stunning headphone! And the most cherished in my current collection. I recently upgraded to the Mjolnir 3, which replaced my Jotunheim, still feeding with a bifrost 2/64. The synergy between the Mjolnir 3 and the Hekse is astonishing! My first reaction after 1 minutes of listen? Turn off all existing Eq's in the various sources I use, no need anymore! The Mjolnir simply improves the performance of the hekse in just about all the areas where I could have desired a bit more: more bass and sub-bass, more dynamics and punch/slam, even more epic and bigger stage, even more resolution, and even better control of the treble. It just sounds SPECTACULAR! With this rig, the Hekse is now for me on an end-game level of timber and realism of things, spatial presentation, ability to separate and place the elements of a mix in its vast stage (an ability that appears impossible to challenge even with the most crowded and complex mixes), and ultimately, how natural it sounds. What would happen if I replaced my bifrost with an Yggy? (might happen in the near future) I guess I should call an ambulance right before trying, just in case. Definitely an underrated headphone, and I recently watched a video by a channel I won't name, a video in which they rated a massive list of headphones (2023)... when they got to the Hekse they quickly dismissed it as a "C tier" headphone because it is "super bright" according to them, without much discussion.... I don't know if those guys need to change brand of Q-tips, or if they are just a bunch of gamers without much understanding of sound, but I am guessing it might be time for me to move on and stop watching their reviews, since I always find myself in disagreement with them. And by all means, I HATE very bright headphones, and I don't respect treble-heads.
Your reaction mirrors mine exactly, great write up 👍
Crinacle 😂
Timber? But there is no wood in my HE1000se. 🙁
@@TheWorldTeacher you mean "wood" in the sound?
I also saw that in their lousy rating of the HEK SE and I was like wtf??? They cramped on it when the treble energy isn’t THAT bad. The spaciousness I get when listening to classical music is off the charts so that alone trumps other minor shortcomings it may have. For me anyway.
I'm so glad you said that this tuning sounds truer to neutral than Harman. I've been saying forever that that hifiman dip isn't a negative.
One of the few hifi/headphone channels I don’t take with a grain of salt.
I can't get over the three-dimensionality of sound that these headphones produce. I don't think I truly appreciated what soundstage "depth" meant until spending some time with the HE1000SE.
It is said often, but you are great at what you do. Thanks for your in depth and honest review.
This is an incredible review. Thanks, WaveTheory.
incredible review! Nobody I've read/watched describes the experience of using headphones as true to my experience as you do. Excellent description of soundstage!
The eaiest and biggest mistake to make in high-end audio is to mistake brightness for detail/resolution. It took me a long time and a lot of $$$ to finally figure it out. You can have both, but it's an artform to find it. When you can listten for hour upon hour, and be disapointed that you have to stop, you've found it.
Sage advice and I agree. I think it's also a mistake to think that the same phenomenon is limited to the treble region, though, which is why I mentioned this in the video. The human heuristic of "more is better" is quite strong. I think many perceive forward mids as having increased clarity when often the headphone/speaker/amp/whatever is just emphasizing certain frequencies to make what's already there more noticeable. Similarly more bass presence can be falsely interpreted as increased slam or more detailed bass. As you've stated though, it is possible to have both forward AND resolving in the same regions, but it's very hard to do and relatively uncommon. Plus, those FR games often make things sound unnatural (at last to me). Once prices get high enough, I much prefer clarity and detail come from excellent resolution than from FR games. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@wavetheorysound You make (yet) anouther good point regarding the entire frequency spectrum. One of the most amazing things for an audiophile to realize that there are nuances, details, resolution in deeply low bass notes. It's so rare, that not too many people have heard it to know it (can) exist. Having high resolution bass is far more rare in the speaker world, than the headphone world due to the accoutical power required to fill a large space and all the endemic room accoustics challenges. It's amazing how often audiophiles make comments on how things sound, when in fact they are for the most part, uncalibrated. How do you know what "state-of-the-art good" is, unless you've experienced it yourself. Even then, accoutical memory is fragile and fleeting unless it is refreshed (often).
As usual, a superb and informative video just after I pulled the trigger on HEKV2!
Good timing, tomorrow's mail will bring with it a HEKse with a Black Dragon V2 cable. All for the sweet price of $2K combined (used obviously). Might be one of my better deals in hifi it seems. Looking forward to listening. Thanks for the review
I saw that sale on Head-Fi the other night. You got a hek of a deal for sure. Enjoy!
@orrman how do you find the black dragon cable compares to stock cable. I am finding the he1000 se treble too forward. Does the black dragon cable attenuate the treble noticeably or is it subtle?
I needed guidance on headphones, and wavetheory was there for me!
C'mon dude, I just decided to pull the trigger on the v2 and this review came along.😜great review btw👍
Hey congrats! Still an amazing headphone. Plus, if you get itchy down the road, , that $1000 trade in can get you a hekse
@@wavetheorysoundThat's an excellent advice! I actually got the HEKv2 for a good price!
Woow, what a Review man,...that was crazy good...."
Momentary i have the Kv2 non Stealth and its damn good..."
But i think i should give the SE a Try..."
Thanks 😄
Wave, the pads are not the same for the 1000V2 and 1000SE. Although one will fit on the other, the SE pads are called “Serenity” and have no mesh on the pad itself, as the mesh is now on the cup. The 1000V2 uses “Ultrapad”, which has the mesh on the earpad. Therefore you can use the V2 pad on the SE but you’ll have TWO meshes, one on the cup and one on the pad. 🎉
I was thinking to order dekoni earpad for HE1000SE, i hope having 2 meshes would not make sound bad?
@@gauravgoel8092 Dekoni pads would probably be great with this headphone!! I wouldn’t think 2 meshes would block the sound TOO much, but I guess if it did you could trim the mesh off the Dekoni’s. Let me know how you decide to proceed!!
@@chickenheads3746 thanks a lot for your response. Actually I checked later, and actually dekoni sheepskin pads come without the mesh itself. So no issues.
@@gauravgoel8092 My pleasure, that is great to hear!!! Enjoy the Dekoni pads and if you have a chance let me know how they are, as I was wondering the same. All the best!!!
@@chickenheads3746 sure, it may take few more days before I order. But I'll update back here.
27:51 yes I find arya's vocal performance is a little bit too far behind to my liking. I find ZMF does vocal a lot better, in fact I think they specialize in that based of 2 of their headphones that I've tried, the Auteur OG and Atticus
Hey Wave Theory! Another great review, thank you so much. Now I'll see if I can have this experience and go test the SE. Instead of buying the V2 Stealth right away. I am happy. Have fun too. Maybe with this music tip, it's my most valuable: Nik Bärtsch Ronin music. Start with Module 27, then 41_17... It's priceless what these artists give to the world. Right?
How are they vs the organic? Especially for EDM
Very good video! Thank you for your time in this video!
Hey wave , ok the he1000se isn't a favorite , the zmf verite close isn't a favorite , so tell me what is your go to headphone for relaxing and pur music listen go to headphones ?
I ask because I have the he1000se and zmf verite cl and both have there limit or problem , so I'm want to try something that is better all around than thise two
have you try Atrium?
@soulfulfool no don't have that one , and after months of listening my He1000se is my best ever and for overall sound vocals and instruments , jazz ect. Hifiman rocks , my zmf verite close is great on vocals but that about it to my ears
@@Angel-AbC9 I also own VC, you cant expect that closed back will be better in everything, that said ZMF headphones sound different with each pad type and audio sources. About vocals it is most likely to personal preferences, I got few pairs of headphones and each one got their own timbre but none of them sounds bad, if they sounded the same it will be boring.
If the he1000 v2 and the he1000 se had a baby, that would be my ideal headphone. I upgraded to the SE but am on verge of going back. I found the sound signature of the v2 sublime, if lacking a little “air”. Even though the technical improvements of the se are undeniable, there is just way too much treble energy. No matter the genre, the forward treble is extremely distracting and unnatural. If the v2 is organic and holographic, the se is unapologetically Hifi. Although the detail retrieval of the se can be jaw dropping , I almost never get that tingly, immersive “happy place” feeling the v2 gave me. That feeling is why I listen to headphones.
Which amp/dac did you drive the HE1000SE? I'm looking to upgrade to the SE but put off by the treble energy.
@@Arome909 I’ve been using with a chord mojo mostly.
you can eq the treble region to comfortable level like v2
Hi guys I have the HEKSE with a D90 A90 stack and even with that Hyper detail combo I find it absolutely perfect for my own ears (I do not find the HD800 non S sibilant though).
@@brothatwasepic Treble is not an issue at all for me too with the HE1000SE. I only EQ'd the 8k region by -3db just to make it sound more natural, but it was never harsh for me. Could very well be that some HE1000SE's have more treble than others. I guess some lose the driver lottery. I have a tube amp too tho, but not that warm tubes.
Hi There! I havet an eversolo dmp a8, a topping a70pro and arya st. I am leaning toards the 1000se. Do you thingk my setup för those are ok? And am i goding to hear and differens beteende these two pair of headphones? Thank you for a verk good rewiew! Peter from sweden!
Great video as always! One question, would you say the HEK v2 has a more controlled treble than the Arya? I hear sometimes some sibilance in it even with the Hifiman EF400 and new cables. I was considering upgrading my Arya Stealth to the HEK V2 but after this I think the HEK SE might be the better choice.
It's been awhile since I heard Arya se but my guess is yes. The control here is very good 20Hz-more KHz than my ears go anymore hahaha
@@wavetheorysound thanks! Honestly Arya ain't bad at all, maybe I'm just too much of a perfectionist and the EF-400 is such a fantastic pairing for tonality.
I haven't tried EQ yet, which might also help a lot, since I think this might be at most 3-4 db peak just by ear. It's not a very strong sibilance when it shows occasionally.
Great review, very handy comparisons! Sure 44min is long, but when the content is there no issue.
Maybe you could try to get some high end face or Amps with this and Sus. That way you can really hear the Quality in both headphone and chain.
I would love to. I'm at the mercy of what gets loaned to me though. I'm not big enough to generate the funds to self purchase everything yet. Maybe some day 🤞
Thanks for this wonderful review! Would you do a comparison between arya se and he1000se?
Thanks! I did not have Arya and He1000se in house at same time, unfortunately. In my Arya SE review I have a detailed comparison with HE1000V2 tho, which in concert with the comparison in this review may be helpful to you. Thanks for watching!
Update and edited comment I believe the original HE1KSE Had a screen like mesh Instead of the Acoustic cloth or foam or whatever you want to call it On the back of the cup Behind the grills Which change the sound by 5% And I believe the difference is slightly less air and slightly less hot Is travel in more bass From the original other than that there's no difference between the 1st one and the 2nd I wish the HIFIMAN susvara was this egg shape 🥚then the sus would be the utopia of HiFi headphones for me until you get to the WARWICK ACOUSTICS APERIO System my Personal favorite headphone from HIFIMAN is HE1KSE with Dekoni Audio Elite Sheepskin earpads for music movies and games thanks for making this so long I want a longer video
Longer?!?! 😆 What else did I not cover?
@@wavetheorysound you made my day with this video thanks for your great Content this is very appreciated I appreciate You're hard working content
@@wavetheorysound He is appreciating it but his words were not structured correctly, he wanted a long video for a long time and you gave it to him 🙂
Great review on the Schiit Bifrost 2. Since you're big on headphones and DACs there is one test that would be very beneficial to anyone looking for a DAC and a headphone amp. I have both the Schiit Bifrost 2 and the ifi Neo idsd performance edition DAC, both sell for 800. Both are great, why I think the ifi Neo is so good is it's balanced like the Bifrost, the DAC is amazing just like the Bifrost but it also has a wonderful headphone amp all for the same price. I think you would be amazed comparing the two DACs. I love both but the ifi is the much better deal overall for the price and sound quality, would love to hear your thoughts by doing this comparison. Both companies are fantastic, you won't go wrong getting either one
I absolutely love these with the Hifiman EF6 amp with tt2 as a Dac. Same thing with the he-6se.
Great video (but don't rub your nose so much, distracting😄). I love my Hekse most of all my over ears (Utopia, Elite, Grado PS-2k, etc.). Pretty much agree with all your conclusions (and, yes, the Elite doesn't compare sonically but it is one of the most beautiful mechanisms I have ever seen as well as being the most comfortable headphone I've ever worn). Thanks for an insightful review and have subbed.
so.... these or Arya Organic? Is more money really moa POWAA? Can't decide :(
seeing so many high end open back hifiman's, I am just imaging what a review of shangri la sr from you would look like.
I have a feeling NO ONE is going to be in a hurry to loan one of those out.
@@wavetheorysound that’s why you need an excuse to take a trip to California
@@sumeetagarwal6561 all the leaves are brown and the sky is gray 🤔😆
Build wise Hifiman is now building the HEKV2 with the same chassis as the HEKSE... they just put a different headphone strap (black/brown) and the drivers are different.. so the $1900 HEK that is sold today is a better V2 than the original... and is a bargain at $1900
How can you tell a new build HEKv2?
Huh. I was not aware of this. I thought the se was already built on the v2 chassis. But, HiFiMan honestly tells me next to nothing. They are as hands-off a company as I've worked with so far.
@@cdotwu the original build has 2.5mm input at the headphone cups.... the new build has the exact same build as the HEKse that is 3.5mm input at the headphone cups... they fixed every thing that the reviewers brought up except the cables... and as fugly as the cables are they actually work well with the headphones.... but I like to use the Hart Audio cable solution for all of my headphones... just makes it easy for someone with more than one headphone and sources...
@@wavetheorysound one of the complaints of the original HEK was also where the cup rotates with the headband.. they now have a Delrin spacer there to tighten that joint... and you no longer see the machine/hand sculpting that was on the older ones too.... when you mentioned how transparent they are and you can hear the outside world... when I first got a pair I put on some music and found out while the music is playing you can hold your hands out about 8 inches on each side and you can actually re direct the music back into the headphone from the reflections of the sound bouncing off of the palms of your hands.... it was kinda fun playing with that 🙂
@@dixter1652 I've noticed that with HiFiMans too. Makes me respect how hard building a good closed-back must be.
I love the HE2KV2. You mentioned an upgrade to the SE for $1000 > Do you have a link to that offer? Great video.
Guh. The link is broken! I'll ask my rep about it.
@@wavetheorysound thanks
I upgraded from Arya se to HEKse. Emailed hifiman customer support for a quote.
What is your reference or favorite amp for the HEKV2?
Fanfastic review. I loved how you "compared" the HEKse to the Utopia - I own both, and as you say, it's not wise to try to compare them. Some people will prefer one over the other; others like me might be crazy enough to go for both. ;-) They really are on a similar level but just approach things so differently and thus complement each other so well.
It's important to remember that Hifiman's original cables are not pure copper and have their own specific sound... I immediately got an OFC copper cable and the improvement is very significant in terms of clarity, frequency cohesiveness and... believe it or not, the headphone gets even bigger- and airier-sounding!
I've never heard the Susvara, I thought the HEKse would be really close to its performance. Would the Sus not be a slightly more "boring" headphone which a smaller soundstage and everything sounding "smoother"? And would an upgrade from the HEKse to the Susvara only be worth it if bought together with one of those crazy-expensive amps? :)
Sus is a little sweeter sounding, yes, but it's also more resolving and has noticeably more natural timbre. I'm likely going to do a re-review of Sus sometime in the not-distant future. Probably after Utopia and after Caldera - IF I can get one of the latter in in a reasonable timeframe.
@@wavetheorysound That famous natural timbre is tempting me because sometimes I find the HEKse just a little bit technical/dry/sterile sounding (these words need to be seen in context, though - it is a headphones that's always engaging, never boring). I have an option of upgrading to the Susvara, but am worried that while my A90 amp will surely have enough juice to drive it, it might still be so far from its peak performance that the Sus might effectively turn out to be worse than the HEKse with this amp... I like the A90's neutrality because it's fed by the Gustard X26 Pro which sounds much more natural and full-bodied than cheaper DACs.
@@MistaLova-Lova I think your problem is going double measurement based on the amp and DAC, you could stand to gain some r2r warmth and dynamics I'm guessing.
@@pokrog Problem sorted with feeding the Gustard HQPlayer-upsampled DSD signal (sooo much better) and A90 upgraded to Burson Soloist 3XP. All the detail I ever wanted but now in a deep, holographic, 3D way 🙂
@@MistaLova-Lova Nice. I actually really like Burson amps with Hifiman headphones, they're a solid pairing imo.
This headphone kinda reminds of the Audeze MM 500 you did a while back and I love that headphone. I know the 500 will point out the bad records to a fault! I don’t really know if this headphone is worth the upgrade to the 500’s
Mm500? 😅 it’s black and white 😀 mm500 is not bad but they just different headphones with different sound signature
Really good review! Considering upgrading from Arya Stealth to these ones. Just hope 2.5 RMS W pr channel is enough for them.
I have these headphones and they can be very intense so be aware.
@@davidrexford586 I have the He1000se now. I think they have slightly better smoothness, finesse and detail. But I like the tuning of the Arya Stealth better. Getting used to the He1000se now. Like them alot :) Endgame for me.
I wouldnt say the Arya Stealth is more bang for buck, tho...
@@MarcLie90 and me as well.. the depth and clarity is at times chilling and intense depending on your taste in music
Would say*
Great review
if you want an amazing experience then get a chance to get the Burson Conductor 3X GT DAC/AMP for either HEK version and crazy on the Susvara... that amp combo just has to be experienced
Hi, I was looking for a DAC/AMP for the He1000se around $1000-$2000. I currently have the JDS elements III ... I was thinking in the Chord Qutest + JDS or the RME ADI-2 DAC FS... What do you think about these 2 options? any other recommendation? Thanks
hm hifiman, toppings will do
Never! Never buy Adi 2 for Hifimans! I have Adi 2 and I never use it with HEkSE. Yoh need warm tube amp and change pads from stock pads. You will have less bright more bass impact and more body in sound. Under 1000 yo li have just one - mojo 2. It’s much much better with HEkSE. I use Wandla+ woo wa 22. Warm tube for bright headphones. And Wandla is just mind blowing dac. It’s hard to compare it with Adi 2. It’s night and day.
Also try daps with warm tubes. Like iBasso dx 320 with amp 13(it’s 2k together) Or Cayin if you have deep wallet.
You had me rolling with the "One HEK of a comparison" line - loved it, the review too!
£1800 now, so I'll just go ahead and sell/trade my Arya. nice shop near me looks after me and my gear.
Human juke box for the office
3 meter headphone cable with every purchase that double as a jump rope
Disclaimer handles not included
On a serious note the upper frequency was too much air for me but I wonder if it was the amp.
Can you share your thoughts on HEKSE vs Arya Stealth?
and @Erik Leonardi the tunings are similar. HiFiMan has not completely but come quite close to standardizing the FR on their egg-shaped open-back planars with the stealth magnets. The Hekse is a whole 'nother level in the other technical categories, though. Its resolution, staging, timbre, etc. belong on the $4k tier, IMO. Arya se is very very good and likely competes with many $2k models from competitors, but the HEKs - both of them - are more expensive for reasons, they are better performers and noticeably so, on the right signal chains.
Para el género de música electrónica si podría recomendarlo?
I just got the he1000se because of some reviews . Now my ears are hearing the mid vocals are right in my head dead centered the stage isn't wide since left right music seems to be right there , a bit bright in the Tribble and when I turn it up it sounds worst , I'm not happy with them a may want to sell it and it's brand new
What equipment you use my friend?
Great review! Any opinion on the pairing of he1000se with ef400?
It sounds good. You're still leaving a big chunk of the hekse's potential untapped so there's lots of room to grow. But it will be a good experience while you save up.
Thank you.
which one has more punch V2, or se?
As I said in the video, there's not a clear answer to that. V2 hits harder in the midbass. Se hits harder in the subbass. Which matters more to you? And does that matter more than se's improved performance elsewhere? Or does none of that matter because they're currently $1500 different? To each their own on all those questions.
@@wavetheorysound Well, I always adjust my headphones according to Oratory's settings.
For me, the punch around 150 hertz is clearly more important. Less punch than the V2 has would be fatal. More slam in the lowest range I do not need at all. There is no way around it, I have to make a direct comparison. people actually disagree on whether the SE is an upgrade. I've also talked to several people who regretted switching to the Susvara, and wish they had their V2 back. Very exciting headphonesi
What replacement cabling would you recommend for these headphones?
I used a Corpse Grave Digger for much of the review. The comparison with V2 was done with stock cables. If you're treble sensitive I'd get something as close to pure copper as possible. If you aren't, you might like the detail emphasis of silver.
The WyWire Platinum headphone cables make these honestly 100% better.
Using some amps that have come in recently I've been able to use my single-ended Plussound X8 with the Hekse. Comparing that to the Grave Digger w/ XLR->6.3mm adapter the X8 chills the treble out to a noticeable degree. I think many who find the Hekse too bright would be right at home with the Hekse on an X8 cable.
@@wavetheorysound How would you compare the Corpse Gravedigger vs the stock cable
are the arya stealth on the same league as the HE1000se?
No way. But Arya Stealth is only $650 now. This is a crazy deal because Arya Stealth is way up on the list for performance, and it's only $650. It beats $1500 headphones from other brands, in my opinion.
Which did you prefer? Hekv2 or Hekse?
Se
@@wavetheorysound So does it worth 1~1.5k more or the differences is rather mild? How much of a price deficit would u go v2 over Se?
@@megadoodoo5088 from a technical standpoint yes. From an enjoyment standpoint, for me...probably, but that may not be the case for you.
@@wavetheorysound Why do you think some prefer the V2 over the SE and vice versa? I like the price of the V2 used, got an offer of $1100 to buy a great condition Hekv2.
which dac/amp is a good pairing?
I have the Mojo 2. Top tier sound quality for the money, while having a bit of warmth that suits the HEKSE and the ability to use lossless EQ. Then you have the added benefit of it being portable so you’re not chained down to your desk.
More worth it than HE 1000 v2?
It’s night and day. He1000 v2 stealth it is closed to Arya. HEkSE closed to Susvara.
FINALLY
I have my Arya Stealth and I really like it now.. Initially the sound signature was kind of odd: very bright with recessed mids.. I changed the stock cable and pads and now it sounds phenomenal: very neutral with just the right amount of bass and treble.. The mids came forward now and sound just right.. For those who find HFM headphones bright I recommend soft velour / skin combo pads.. for me they resolved all the issues.. the headphones now sound very enjoyable and lifelike..
I have the Arya Stealth as well and I changed the cable for a apos flow. Do you have a link or the name of the pads I should buy? I still find some sibilance in some tracks.
Also does the pads have any drawback to the technical perfomance? (Soundstage/imaging/detail)
@@pianistor555 No drawbacks for me.. It was one of those moments: Yeah, now this thing sounds right!)
How much better than he6se v2?
Not as punchy, but not a lightweight there either. IMO hekse gives much bigger and holographic stage, much more detail, and more natural timbre. It's still somewhat amp picky but only in a synergy sense. It has more options because it's easy to drive.
@@wavetheorysound oh thanks, and HE1000se better speed too? overall faster?
@@wavetheorysound oh thanks, and HE1000se better speed too? overall faster?
I understand these are a little bright which is a problem for my ears.
Fair enough. The treble shelf isn't that high above perceptive neutral, but if you're treble sensitive it can be an issue.
The treble shelf still feels like pushing detail down my throat with a lack of warmth & vocals. Then add no bass punch makes it unfavorable to many modern genres.
whould would be a better option in your opinion?
I don't hear it that way. IMO the Hifimans are very resolving but among the more detail-relaxed in the high end. All of the info is in there, it's just not pushed forward. You might like ZMF Atrium tho, warm, lush, and punchy.
put the HEK on a tube amp and it turns to magic...
@Dixter Hi Dixter could you help me envision what putting the HEKSE on a tube Amp does. Make it warmer?
Still using gawdawful cables. Same as with my Anandas. Tsk.
Right? Hifiman and Focal seem locked in a battle for who can have the biggest gap between their headphone quality and stock cable quality 🙄
I have an Arya Stealth right now. I find it to be great. Do you think The HeKse is a significant improvement over it, and worth moving to in the future? Is it better in every regard? One guy I know said that the HeKse is an improvement over the Arya, as the Arya is an improvement over the HE400se. Sounds a bit crazy. I'll also be very curious to see what you think of the HEKV2 Stealth in the future. Passion for sound just made a video on it and the HeKse: th-cam.com/video/GB4iMpq17T0/w-d-xo.html .
7 months later, but i'll try to answer your question if you still need to know as I have both the Aryas and HE1000SE. I'd say the HE1000SE is around 20% better than the Aryas in everything except the bass. Now is that worth 2x the price? That's only up to you. Bass is less detailed but much louder on the arya. Anyone saying it's a significant upgrade is fooling themselves. The Arya is truly amazing value at $999.
@@TheJonazasand what about the v2 ? That everyone says has a better bass ? More fun then SE ?
@@TheSaassaf I have not tried the v2 I imagine the v2 to sound similar to the Arya just a little better. I bought some leather pads for my He1000Se, and i'm hoping that will solve the bass issue, since the seal is bad right now with the current pads. I think whatever version you get of these headphones, they will all be very similar in performance.
@@TheJonazas
I really donno what to do actually, I can't do demo here and I can get 2000 usd SE OR 1400 v2 .. some says v2 more 'fun' some say SE are the end game .. 600 bucks is no joke :)
@@TheSaassaf I didn't know either 1 week ago :D. I just decided to pick up the HE1000SE and be "done" with upgrades. But it was all just a coinflip in the end which one I would buy, so I can't really help you there. I love my HE1000SE after EQ though i'll tell you that. Truly next level from the Arya SE I have, but it's ofc also 2x the price and it's not anywhere close to 2x better. Price to performance is good up to 1000 dollars, and when you pay more you get slightly better headphones. So the 1000 V2 will for sure be a better value, but if you are looking for endgame headphones like me and don't care too much about the price, go for the HE1000SE.
The only thing i'm missing with HE1000SE is more bass and slightly more body to the midrange which Audeze LCD X/4 has plenty of. The rest is nearly perfect imo (after EQ)
It seems like your shouting.. or maybe its a junk mic. I dunno.
Das ständige Gefummel mit dem Kopfhörer in den Händen nervt total....
No thanks
lol they are ugly, and $4k for a not real wood plastic stick on edging, good grief
Very cool review