REVIEW NOTES: I absolutely love how these headphones sound. The only thing that makes them not my top headphones, is the smallish and round ear opening. It makes them not super comfortable for long haul listening. These super fun, yet super hard to drive, planar-magnetic headphones respond very well to EQ but seem to need a bit less EQ than the Arya. I bring down 9.5Khz a bit and add some bass boost, that's it. The vocals and bass impact sound sweeter than both Arya (and Susvara from what I understand), and more midrange focus, which is a good thing. They are however not as comfortable to wear as the Arya . See these links for current availability: amzn.to/2OFsrD7 or ebay.to/30u31Oa BTW, one of the test tracks I used, (but I used Qobuz which has this in 96Khz): ua-cam.com/video/LbHHMnX74Io/v-deo.html
0:50 :they are not special edition SE stands for stealth edition..it uses double sided magnet and the magnet is rounded and is more acoustically optimized to have less sound reflection that cancels out the sound produced by the driver
Coming up: why I sold the Z1R and the Hifiman Arya.....but then if you decide to get the Audio Technica adx5000, we should see another video on why I sold he6se. Happy to see you trying Hifiman. Waiting for the review later.
For those of you who are on a budget after buying the HE6 SE and need an amp to drive this beast, I would highly recommend purchasing the Emotiva BasX A100 mini integrated amplifier. The 6.35mm headphone socket on this little monster is wired directly to the speaker terminals. Emotiva includes a bypass jumper switch and instructions so that you can bypass the resistor on the headphone output which effectively gives you 50W per channel into 8 ohms at the headphone output. At 50 ohms this equates to about 8.5w per channel. In the UK it costs £350 so about 400 euros. It is extremely well made, compact but heavy. Internally it is mainly, point to point wiring similar to a true valve amp. It has been tuned to sound similar to a 1980s or 1990s amp/receiver, which I find very pleasing.
Thanks for the review. I 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?
Depends on how you define 'best' but generally yes, but not without strings attached. IE., only if it's driven with enough power. Also note that they are not as comfy as the Arya.
@@phototristan hi would the dcs bartok drive these adequately?Full scale output level of bartok is 1.4 w rms into 33 ohms, 0.15 w rms into 300 ohms, output levels are 0, -10, -20,-30 dB set in menu and Min headphone impedance is 33 ohms.
@@phototristan The amp I have does 6.4w into 32ohms power isnt an issue its just that making a decision with high end audio is so difficult as sound is a very subjective thing. I've demo'd the Arya and LCD-X but I dont think i'll ever have the opportunity to try the HE-6se without actually buying it. Even trying to track down a used pair of HE-6 is impossible in Australia as hardly anyone seemed to buy them.
@@TheWretchedWorld Yeah I am running my V281 wth my Chord Dave and my new A90 with my Holo Spring KTE 2 Dac and so far I like these combo's better than the A90 with the Dave and etc.. But as of now my Feliks Euforia with the Dave is King sounds amazing..
Nice review. I have a pair and generally agree with all you have said, although I wouldn't choose to use the word Dark. Particularly when compared to an Audeze. Cheers!
HE2000V2 form factor will be a lot more comfortable for sure. It will also be a bit brighter headphone in terms of the sound overall and of course way easier to drive.
Good thing I have pads that have a bigger ear in opening they're perforated which is nice for those hopefully make the highs a little bit dark and the dynamics stronger Bass too I'm definitely replacing the cable because HIFIMAN always had those type of cables it makes the headphones drivers really compressed in the Dynamics and a little bit dry a little bit of a funky tuning aka a little sharp especially if you put there HIFIMAN velor pads their focus pads they're focus a pads and maybe their PaliPad with their cable and a little bit of a metallic and plasticy Timbre and they're capable feels like if you took a rubber hose and crossed it the straw
Late comment though it intrigued me when you mentioned about replacing the sliver plated copper with a pure copper cable. Do you have a video where you elaborate on this or is this a preference only? Thanks
REVIEW NOTES: I absolutely love how these headphones sound. The only thing that makes them not my top headphones, is the smallish and round ear opening. It makes them not super comfortable for long haul listening. These super fun, yet super hard to drive, planar-magnetic headphones respond very well to EQ but seem to need a bit less EQ than the Arya. I bring down 9.5Khz a bit and add some bass boost, that's it. The vocals and bass impact sound sweeter than both Arya (and Susvara from what I understand), and more midrange focus, which is a good thing. They are however not as comfortable to wear as the Arya . See these links for current availability: amzn.to/2OFsrD7 or ebay.to/30u31Oa
BTW, one of the test tracks I used, (but I used Qobuz which has this in 96Khz): ua-cam.com/video/LbHHMnX74Io/v-deo.html
i found the arya don't need any EQ . sound is funny that way i suppose.
@@KenMoreira Yeah, it's really personal preference.
0:50 :they are not special edition SE stands for stealth edition..it uses double sided magnet and the magnet is rounded and is more acoustically optimized to have less sound reflection that cancels out the sound produced by the driver
Great to see you doing more videos , very relaxing and detailed review
can the iii iDxD signature drive these?
Coming up: why I sold the Z1R and the Hifiman Arya.....but then if you decide to get the Audio Technica adx5000, we should see another video on why I sold he6se. Happy to see you trying Hifiman. Waiting for the review later.
Hint- the Arya is not going anywhere.
Very cool I was thinking about getting those but nvr got around to it. Saving up for a TT2 also. :)
For those of you who are on a budget after buying the HE6 SE and need an amp to drive this beast, I would highly recommend purchasing the Emotiva BasX A100 mini integrated amplifier. The 6.35mm headphone socket on this little monster is wired directly to the speaker terminals. Emotiva includes a bypass jumper switch and instructions so that you can bypass the resistor on the headphone output which effectively gives you 50W per channel into 8 ohms at the headphone output. At 50 ohms this equates to about 8.5w per channel. In the UK it costs £350 so about 400 euros. It is extremely well made, compact but heavy. Internally it is mainly, point to point wiring similar to a true valve amp. It has been tuned to sound similar to a 1980s or 1990s amp/receiver, which I find very pleasing.
Thanks for the review. I 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?
I would recommend the Hifiman Arya headphones with your set up. The HE6SE can play, but won't be ideal since they are so power hungry.
Would you say this is the best pair of headphones under 2k you've heard thus far? If not then which one?
Depends on how you define 'best' but generally yes, but not without strings attached. IE., only if it's driven with enough power. Also note that they are not as comfy as the Arya.
@@phototristan hi would the dcs bartok drive these adequately?Full scale output level of bartok is 1.4 w rms into 33 ohms, 0.15 w rms into 300 ohms, output levels are 0, -10, -20,-30 dB set in menu and Min headphone impedance is 33 ohms.
fizywig No that is not going to drive it adequately.
MEDIAHOUND hi would ear hp4 would have adequate power to drive he-6se?
does tt2 power this enough ?
Yep, it sure does.
Thank you so much for the review. Just wondering how they compare to the older he6s? Are the old ones better sounding?
Trying to decide between the arya, he6se or lcdx. The comparison with the Susvara irks me to buy these....
IF you have the power, the HE6se will be the best out of those with the Arya not far behind, and more comfy.
@@phototristan The amp I have does 6.4w into 32ohms power isnt an issue its just that making a decision with high end audio is so difficult as sound is a very subjective thing. I've demo'd the Arya and LCD-X but I dont think i'll ever have the opportunity to try the HE-6se without actually buying it. Even trying to track down a used pair of HE-6 is impossible in Australia as hardly anyone seemed to buy them.
@@TheWretchedWorld Maybe go for the Arya then. It will be the most comfortable out of these and is really not far behind the HE6se.
Nice.. What's your thought's on a Violectric V281 via Balanced? Or a Topping A90?
Should be great on the Violectric. I have not heard the Topping.
both are great amps
@@TheWretchedWorld Yeah I am running my V281 wth my Chord Dave and my new A90 with my Holo Spring KTE 2 Dac and so far I like these combo's better than the A90 with the Dave and etc.. But as of now my Feliks Euforia with the Dave is King sounds amazing..
Nice review. I have a pair and generally agree with all you have said, although I wouldn't choose to use the word Dark. Particularly when compared to an Audeze. Cheers!
That's true. It's more in terms of other Hifiman headphones.
how you compare the HE6se VS H1000V2?
HE2000V2 form factor will be a lot more comfortable for sure. It will also be a bit brighter headphone in terms of the sound overall and of course way easier to drive.
Good thing I have pads that have a bigger ear in opening they're perforated which is nice for those hopefully make the highs a little bit dark and the dynamics stronger Bass too I'm definitely replacing the cable because HIFIMAN always had those type of cables it makes the headphones drivers really compressed in the Dynamics and a little bit dry a little bit of a funky tuning aka a little sharp especially if you put there HIFIMAN velor pads their focus pads they're focus a pads and maybe their PaliPad with their cable and a little bit of a metallic and plasticy Timbre and they're capable feels like if you took a rubber hose and crossed it the straw
With the tt2 the he6se woke up! So dynamic, so punchy.
I like to hear these one day.
Late comment though it intrigued me when you mentioned about replacing the sliver plated copper with a pure copper cable. Do you have a video where you elaborate on this or is this a preference only? Thanks
Sure. See: ua-cam.com/video/LA7mGXPev8c/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/DPSTZ_K7YGw/v-deo.html
@@phototristan second video explained it perfectly! I agree with your preference and will be picking up a pure copper headphone cable. Thank you