I finally got my hands on the HE1000 Stealth, and I’ve been able to do a direct comparison between the HE1000SE, the Arya Stealth and the Edition XS, which I already own. I’ve only auditioned them for a half day, but I mostly agree with your assessments-especially in comparison to the HEKSE. I do think they’re the most impeccably tuned headphone HFM has produced to date-certainly the most Harman-compliant. The most notable improvement I’ve heard thus far compared to the others, and a characteristic I’ve never found in any of the prior HFM offerings, is the bass response. The published FRCs show a 5-6 dB increase in the low shelf starting around 30hz, and boy can I hear it-for my other headphones I always fully engage the analog xBass feature on my Pro iCAN Signature, but for these I encountered a few tracks where I had to dial it back. The headphones were literally producing a physical bass response on rock tracks that is immeasurably exciting, and a clear advantage over my HEKSE and Arya SE. Interestingly, the Edition XS produces something close to this deep, clean and stable bass response as well, and a very fine Harman signature which reinforces my belief that these are very underrated cans, and the best you can buy under $500 (perhaps under $1,000). The other notable difference I notice when comparing the HE1000 Stealth to the HE1000se is a considerably reduced fatigue factor. I know you found these new HEK Stealths to be brighter than the SEs, but I’m experiencing something unexpected-the high mids, around the 6,500 to 8,500 hz range, are noticeably attenuated compared to the SE, both on the FRCs and subjectively, and thus I experience none of the bitingly intense accents that have caused listening fatigue for me in the past with the SEs-the same fatigue factor that has also differentiated the HEK V2 and SE enough for Crinacle to rate the V2s in the Superior range (fourth from the top) compared to the lower A+ rating given to the more costly SEs. The higher frequencies (over 9,000 hz) may be more prominent in the HEK Stealth, but I don’t experience that as fatigue-perhaps my 54 year old ears aren’t able to discern the excess brightness you reported in these compared to the SE, but I think this just calls attention to how broad “brightness” can be defined and experienced along differing ranges of the audible spectrum and between different ears. The only characteristic I have yet to define between the HEK Stealth and the SE is resolution and detail retrieval. Frankly I’ve never heard another headphone that is as resolving as the HEKSE-and I’m sure that is a factor both of their inherent design and their bright tuning. On these initial listenings, I make up that the SEs may still have an advantage in this regard (albeit a slight one), but I’d need to level out their tunings with PEQ to fully determine whether the HEK Stealth resolves detail as divinely as the SE. Given that the two are using essentially identical magnets and the same neodymium driver, along with identical grilles and ear cup form factors, if the SEs are an improvement in this quality I’d sure like to know why. Finally the build quality of these new HEK Stealths is extraordinary, and in my view as equally fine as the HEKSE. I suppose some might quibble with the wood veneers around the pad housing, but I actually like that look, and in terms of comfort I don’t think you could ask for a lighter weight, more comfortable form factor in any flagship headphone. I’ve owned my SE for over a year and have put them through the paces for sure, and they still look unblemished and as good as new. I fear that the $1,999 price point is going to omit this HEK Stealth from serious consideration amongst the other outlandishly priced flagships out there-the Susvara still enjoys the reputation as the sole major player in the Stereophile set, and I think HFM’s later iterations such as the HEKSE and this new HEK Stealth offer considerable innovations and advantages over the seven year old Susvara. Personally I can’t appreciate any ways in which the Susvara outdoes the HEKSE (for instance) in resolution, soundstage or timbre, and in fact I think the HEKSE is considerably superior to the Susvara in tuning, efficiency (that sensitivity of 83 is a technological relic in my view), and bass response. Similarly, if I had never heard the HEKSE (and paid $3,500 for it), I would consider this HEK Stealth as an endgame headphone-and I’m still not convinced that the HEKSE earns its $1,500 higher price point in any way. Those who claim the soundstage isn’t as wide and the detail retrieval isn’t as exacting may fail to recognize how much tuning influences both of these factors-and I’d lay odds that if the HEKSE and HEK Stealth were leveled with PEQ, they’d sound near identical. Assessing them both out of the box, I still consider the elevated bass shelf and the tamed high mids I’m enjoying in these HEK Stealths advantages over the HEKSE, despite their lower price point-and given their near-identical presentations in all other categories, I’m left to conclude that the HEK Stealth is priced lower simply as a reflection of the lower costs of technological improvements, along with a strategic decision to leave the SEs priced higher to maintain their “flagship” status. I think these new HEK Stealths now represent the best headphones you can buy (at least for the rock, electronica, EDM and similar genres I enjoy) for under $2,000, if not overall. For comfort, build, versatility, tuning, soundstage and “fun” factor I haven’t found their peer. I’m baffled by how unheralded they have been and still are, and given how quietly HFM launched them (barely at all), I think that’s a indicator of how marketing hype can tempt folks to part ways with three times their cost with quite specious returns on their investment.
Thanks for sharing your experiences! The only point I'd seek to clarify is that what you're saying about the fatigue being less for you with the HEK Stealth is no doubt true for you BUT will vary for others. It all comes down to the shape and length of a person's ear canals and the sensitivities it creates at various frequencies.
@@PassionforSound Yes I said as much about brightness being experienced differently among different frequency ranges, ages and ears. To my ears these were less fatiguing than the HEKSE, primarily in the high-mids, and at 54 (presumably older than yourself) I may not appreciate the potentiation in the >10,000 range (although I lined up the FRCs on a graph and I’m not appreciating a significant difference between the two, other than in the low end). Also don’t mean to be competing with your review on your channel ☺️
Ah, sorry, I must have slimmed a bit fast and missed that clarification you made. Didn't take it as competition at all and appreciated the extra set of experiences being shared for people to consider. 🙂
I think both of you can be right, most early reviews of the HekSE (> 2 years) says its bit hot on the treble, but later reviews not so much, my theory is as we know Hifiman does silent revisions from time to time it is possible the newer HekSE has slightly improved tuning based on consumer feedback, @srkbear1 any clues about the build year of your HekSE.
@@hdsarma Thanks! I bought it in September of 2022, so surely it’s a recent build, since it was first launched in 2018 I believe. I don’t know if anyone else noticed, but HFM dropped the list price of the HEK Stealth and original V2 to $1,399 last week, and the price of the Arya Stealth to $999. The prices of the HEKse dropped to $1,999 from $3,500! The Susvara remains unchanged at $5,999. Given that I can’t hear much difference between the resolutions of the HEKse and the HEK Stealth, and that the latter has a much more robust and Harman-compliant bass shelf, the price differences between all these is seriously puzzling! I don’t know if they have something new coming down the pike, but $1,399 for the HEK Stealth is one hell of a deal for their arguably best-tuned headphone to date-and I’d sure like to know what’s going on under the hood between the two that justifies the price difference between $1,399 and now $1,999. I’m grating my cheese that I paid $3,500 for the SE now! I’m pretty sure this price drop heralds a new flagship line awaiting us-after all it’s been eight years since the oval pad HEK series launched, and seven since the Susvara was released. I managed to get my HEK Stealth via a $500 trade up from my Arya Stealth through Hifiman customer service, and I can’t imagine how it could be improved upon-unless they are being seriously forward thinking and venturing into true audiophile wireless territory. I guess we’ll see!
I just received the HE 1000 stealth and man they are definitely a worthy upgrade over the Arya stealth, just everything perfect that I look for in a headphone. And they are a perfect with the ef 400 and also the chord mojo 2. Extremely happy with my purchase.
For future readers trying to decide. Imo the HEK stealth is better for acoustic/vocal tracks, some rock too. Every track Passion listed was more or less within this genre. If you are into electronic music and similar genres though.. it's less than the Arya stealth. The body, the feeling of bass notes, overall feeling is less on the HEK stealth. The HEK stealth in this environment has more resolution (vocals for ex.) but it feels like it's being constrained. You might feel like you should be getting more details but aren't because the lower parts of the body are underempasized, sometimes it might feel like the music is a somewhat amenic backdrop to the vocals. For an all arounder, I feel the Arya stealth is arguably the best. Haven't tried the HEKse cause...haven't found a way to demo them. Gear used is an A90 & Quobuz.
@@mopnem I have the Arya stealth as well! I enjoy the HE 1000 stealth a lot more! Pretty much for any kind of genre, but I do believe EDM and hip hop sound better on the Arya’s though. Could be because I use the EF 400 and the HE stealth sound better to my ears then Arya stealth’s do on that dac amp
@@colingordon0986 Fair enough! Thanks for the input, was kinda curious if you would agree or not. I might try eqing the HEK stealth cause I want to like them for everything. Never have eq’d before but it might be worth a shot for this instance.
@@mopnem honestly I use them as well with the mojo 2 and they sound fantastic! I own like 4 other pairs of headphones, and I like the HE stealth over all of those. They also sound better once you listen to them more and more. There the kind of headphone that might sound decent at first but gets better and better the more you listen to them.
After being captivated by this review, I'm considering the Hifiman HE1000 Stealth and HE1000SE. I've gathered that the HE1000SE has sonic similarities with the Susvara, and the HE1000 Stealth might lean towards the brighter side in treble. Given my current gear, I'm leaning towards the HE1000SE. I've been deeply immersed in high-fidelity audio and am cherishing the pairing of my Hifiman Edition XS with the Chord Mojo 2. The Edition XS punches above its price point, delivering a sonic experience that's hard to match. While they can be a tad bright for certain genres, I've fine-tuned them with EQ, adding a touch of bass warmth to achieve my desired sound signature. I'd love to hear recommendations from the community on this. Your insights are highly sought after. 🎶🎧
If you're enjoying the Edition XS, but find it a touch bright, I'd say the HE1000SE will be a great choice. Smoother treble, a little less bass punch, but a much more refined and detailed listening experience with a more balanced overall tonality.
I purchased both the HE1000SE and HE1000v2 Stealth at the same time two months ago, for the sale prices of $1999 and $1399 respectively. I kept the SE. They are extremely open to EQ. And the only thing i needed to do to get a touch more staging is reduce the upper mids a touch. The detail retrieval and the "realism" is uncontested on the SE. I EQ'd my SE to the tuning of the Meze Elite, essentially, which means I now have the staging and separation of the Elite (and the HE1000v2 Stealth for that matter), along with the uncontested detail and realism of the SE. EQ'd, I cannot imagine there is a better headphone, especially at the $1999 price point. I do not believe there is a better end game headphones value than the Hifiman HE1000SE for $1999 in the world.
I largely agree with you here. I think the Susvara is still technically better and the Elites and Calderas have benefits too, but at the price, the HEKSE is phenomenal
Really good to know that you are a musician that plays viola and violin. That instantly adds to the credibility of your ear and listening sensibilities. I'd have liked to know that a long time ago. Of course I've always trusted and enjoyed your reviews but being a musician, that's another level. Throw that information around more often.
I try not to overplay it because it can sound arrogant or egotistical. I played violin and viola for 10+ years and piano for even more (I've lost track of piano years) 🙂
I’ve had the opposite experience with the SE compared to the original V2-I find my SE somewhat fatiguing on certain tracks, although far more detailed and resolving. I’m surprised to hear about this treble excess in the HE1000 Stealth, because Crinacle ranks the original V2 above the SE only due to the latter’s excess brightness. The original V2 and Susvaras are two out of the four options that Crinacle gives an “S” rating, with the SE listed at the top of the table offerings in the “A+” range-again only due to tuning differences. From what I’ve heard, the original V2 differs from the Stealth model only in terms of the Stealth magnet, and I’m perplexed that this would change the FRC to such an extent. I’ve auditioned the original V2s compared to the SE and the Arya Stealth, and I find the V2s and the Aryas to be almost identical in their tuning-the V2s are much harder to drive, but they share the wide soundstage and very Harman-compliant tuning with the Aryas. For that reason I consider the original V2 to be the “step-up” from the Arya Stealth, differing almost exclusively in resolution and imaging quality-and I consider the SE to be in another category altogether. I also consider the Edition XS to be the entry level option in this line of three HFM options with the original V2 and the Arya Stealths-they also have similar tuning and soundstage, and honestly I think they only differ from the Aryas in the premium aspects of the build. I don’t think one could ask for a finer-sounding headphone under $1,000 (under $500!). One thing you didn’t mention was the extra bass extension shown in your own FRCs in the HE1000 Stealth compared to the SE-it looks like there’s a 5db increase in the bass shelf in the former, and I’m curious if the new HE1000 Stealth has more bass slam out of the box compared to the SE. I also don’t agree with the Susvara/SE comparison-the Susvara (from 2016) is pre-Harman, and it is substantially lacking as a result in the bass compared with the SE. Consequently, at least for rock or similar genres, I find the Susvara to be incredibly dull and anemic, and far less physical and exciting than the SE-from my perspective I still consider the SE to be HFM’s definitive all-rounder flagship for that reason. To me the Susvara is a prototype of what HFM achieved with their Stealth magnet technology, and its oval pad successors took its merits many steps further-and I think its price point is justified only in the service of recouping their original R&D costs for their step up in the game in the industry. Their subsequent offerings have been far more efficient and modern-sounding, while retaining all of the Susvara’s speed and detail-even with the larger driver. When I received the Susvara along with the Arya Stealth, original V2 and SE for a definitive audition (using a Topping d90se and a 14 watt balanced iFi Pro iCAN Signature amp to drive the hell out of them), the Susvaras were the first to go back in the box-it continues to elude me why folks still speak with such reverence about that thing (I think they’re being biased by price). HFM’s oval pad innovations improve on the Susvara in just about every category. I had a very hard time deciding between the original V2 and the SE, because I loved the former’s tuning-but in the end I couldn’t part ways with the SE’s level of detail. So I kept the SE and added the Arya Stealth to give me a similar experience to the V2. It was my hope that the V2 Stealth would offer the perfect combination of the V2’s tuning and soundstage along with the SE’s impeccable detail. Based on your review and FRC specs it sounds like that was a folly. I also own the Meze Elites, and they are far and away more muted and less detailed to my ears than the SE-with both pad options I find the Elites seriously wanting in the high end. I do think that all the HE1000 options belie any claims of poor build quality in the HFM line-my set is impeccably and seamlessly assembled and I have zero worries about their durability. I have heard that the Dekoni Hybrid pads on the SE potentiate their bass response and tame their treble and fatigue to some extent, although I’ve been afraid to try the pad roll because I’ve heard of many folks who have cracked the frames on the stock pads when attempting to remove them. Would be curious about your own experience with this. But overall I applaud you for another thoughtful review!
I've revisited the two headphones multiple times since the review and the HE1K stealth is definitely brighter than the HE1KSE (which is also a little bitey sometimes). I never heard the OG HE1K. Maybe they tuned the stealth more to that target? I can't say.
@@PassionforSound Thanks for responding to that rambling reply! At this point, who knows what Dr. Bian is thinking? He just released this Audivina, and from everything I’ve been told it’s more “reference” tuning than Harman and again lacking in the bass. I have no clue why some premium manufacturers release closed back headphones with some kooky idea that they should be optimized for studio engineers-what recording engineer is using some high concept art piece for their everyday work? To me the one quality I look for in a closed back, the only one that makes any sense, is one that reclaims all the fullness and low end lost to the air in an open back driver. Yes the sound isolation is a nice perk, but who wants a closed back with flat tuning and a bass roll off? You’d think Bian would have learned from the R10P, which was a ludicrously expensive bust. HFM is still my favorite brand overall, but I can’t make sense of their choices. I’ve never seen a flagship headphone such as this HE1000 Stealth be released with so much confusion and so little fanfare-the dealer sheets say HE1000V2 Stealth, but when HFM finally got around to mentioning the thing on their website last week they’re calling it the HE1000 Stealth. Others call it the V3. And based on its sensitivity of 93 and the new tunings you mentioned, it really isn’t similar at all to the original HE1000 or the V2. And despite it being available in Europe for months, they still haven’t announced it! I’m at a loss. HFM got a lot of grief about the bright tuning on the SE. Surely they’ve seen Crinacle and read the reviews. Their most lauded headphone by far (other than the Susvara, which I’ve said enough about) is the original V2-so why they would release a successor with greater detail but even more brightness and fatigue than the SE is a total mystery to me. If they had gotten it right, at that price point it would have made them heroes and sold gazillions. Something tells me that there’s a Susvara successor in the works. Other than the Audivina, all their recent offerings have been Stealth retreads of their existing lines. I still think their oval driver trounces their round options like the Sundara and Susvara (the Edition XS renders the Sundara unlistenable), but since their TOTL is going on 8 years old I’m suspect that we’re in for a refresh. We’ll see how that one is tuned and whether they can improve the original’s efficiency, so it won’t require a high voltage transformer to drive-but based on their recent habits I don’t have much faith that they’ll finally release the “perfect” headphone. DCA tried with the Stealth and Expanse, which were both properly tuned out of the box, but even they require a hefty power amp to drive, and tuning be damned I still find them both lacking in excitement for reasons I can’t articulate. For now I’m with you-I’m sticking with my SE, especially with the analog bass oomph I get in the low end from the xBass on my Pro iCAN Signature amp. If you happen to come across a worthy competitor headphone in your future, I’m all ears!
Yes, based on the comments I've received on this video, it seems the v2 and HE1K Stealth are quite different headphones in terms of tuning. HiFiMan are definitely an interesting brand with some of their decisions. When they hit, they really hit, but when they miss...
@@provisionalhypothesis I fully agree. We’re all just a guy with opinions ☺️ I often disagree with him, about the Utopia for instance-I own one and wouldn’t rank it in the top five at all. Same with the Susvara. I just think his justifications for ranking the original V2 above the SE, from a tuning standpoint, are valid. And I think the new HEK Stealth, which he has not reviewed, deserves to be ranked a bit above the SE (which I also own), based on tuning. It’s the first HFM flagship with a low shelf so close to Harman, and it is less fatiguing to my ears.
@@provisionalhypothesis Hey there, thanks for asking! It’s probably evident by now that I enjoy watching myself type a bit too much, so forgive me for the length. That question is too complex for a blurb! I can only tell you what I currently own and how often I listen to each. My first “audiophile” headphone purchase was the Sony Z1R, followed by a set of 2020 Focal Utopias, both of which I still own. For HFM I have the HEKse, the Edition XS, and I just traded up my Arya Stealths for the HEK Stealth. I also have a Meze Elite and an Apple AirPod Max. Previously I owned the Susvaras, a DCA Stealth, a Focal Clear MG, an Audeze LCD-X and LCD-4, and I spent quite a bit of time auditioning the HEKV2 and Sennheiser HD800S. I should give a disclaimer that I am very fond of a punchy, full (but not boomy) bass response (I don’t listen to much classical, it’s mostly rock in every incarnation, alternative, some R&B and Hip Hop and occasionally dance music such as EDM or Hi-NRG), and that has informed most of my choices. That should explain why I jettisoned the Susvaras and the Sennheisers. The Focal Clear MGs I gifted to my nephew. I sold the Audeze LCD-X because it was crap, and the LCD-4 because they nearly broke my neck every time I put them on my head. The DCA Stealth was sold, along with my Susvaras, to those who own plutonium-powered amplifiers to drive them-even my 14 watt balanced iFi Pro iCAN Signature apparently lacked sufficient power, which I found absurd. The Apple AirPods Max I only use to watch movies or on airplanes, I’ve only kept the Sony Z1R because it’s my only closed back, and god only knows why I still own the damn Focal Utopias. Like you from what it sounds like, the Utopias were my lesson learned the hard way about conflating cost with quality, and trusting corporate funded website reviews-besides my disappointment with their performance, nothing has turned me off of a brand more than their shill to release the 2022 “improved” model for $1,000 more-not to offer any improvements in sound, but to resolve the very driver failure issue you referred to. As soon as I heard that they weren’t offering a trade up, I washed my hands of the company for good. Other strikes against the Utopias include their positively claustrophobic soundstage, and their pre-Harman, wholesale lack of bass-made worse by their notorious driver clearance issues that leads to terrifying pops when you try to apply enough PEQ bass to make them enjoyable. So I’m not sure I can name a top five. There’s plenty of celebrated brands I haven’t tried. But if I had to pick three to last me for all time, I’d probably be neck-and-neck between the HEKse and the HEK Stealth, and I’d have a hard time choosing between my Edition XS and the Meze Elites. Yes, that wasn’t a typo-I think the Elites are the most beautiful, lavishly designed top tier headphones I’ve ever seen, they’re luxuriously comfortable, and I love the versatility of the pad options. But although they’re probably the most “musical” of the bunch, I think they lack in high end-what’s there is beautifully executed, but when I put them on after listening to the HEKse I feel like I’m a couple of fathoms under water, with either pad choice. Whereas the Edition XS, despite its barebones build, sounds daringly close to the HEK series-with a soundstage that extends for miles, beautiful tuning and a hell of a lot of fun for a mind-boggingly cheap $459. I love that I can throw it around and take it anywhere and still get great sound. If someone told me I could only have one right now, it would probably be the HEK Stealth-only because of that 5-6dB low shelf rise over the HEKSE. The SE may be a tad more resolving, but I don’t think by much. That being said, HFM has basically let the cat out of the bag in an email to me that they have a flagship refresh in the near future. I can’t imagine how they could improve what’s out there (maybe they’re really going bleeding edge with an xmems driver option?), but I’m such a devoted fan of theirs that I can’t wait to see and hear what’s next! How about yourself?
HEKse is a good time. Very likely to please many people especially if you listen to a lot of different genres and have a preference for vocals and strings. You'd be in for a treat and I would say.. it would be worth the extra spend over the Arya SE. The Arya Organic might throw a wrench into that evaluation when it's released but the HEKse is a very, very easy recommendation if you don't mind the spend. Very balanced, I'd agree with your evaluation of its general characteristics and your assessment of its tonal strength. I recall being confused by what HiFiMan was trying to accomplish with these various offerings at similar price points but I think it's a bit simplified for me now: if you can afford the HEKse ---> just get it
Yep, that pretty much sums it up, I think. You're right about the Arya Organic. I haven't tried directly comparing with the HEKSE yet, but it will be a tough battle I expect.
@@Spliffstar5582 - I'm a pretty decent basshead, I often say there's levels to being a basshead, and I'm probably the equivalent of a brown belt with a black stripe in that regard. I mean I own a Campfire Cascade and run it on a Zen DAC with TrueBass on, I got an addiction I confess. Yet I've never found the bass to be lacking on the HEKse, and I think I would attribute that to the quality of bass response it provides. I do own the EF400 but it's rarely the source I use for the HEKse, I tend to pair it with a Mojo 2 or a Questyle m15 because it's easy enough to drive and the highs on both of those devices bring out the sweetness of HiFiMan's treble tuning for me. I guess I could see the HEKse sounding thinner comparatively to other headphones, especially on a leaner source, but not sure I can agree about them being dry. Having owned a couple of closed Focals, those lean dry to my ear. I would describe the HEKse as a more liquid/fluid listen, more smoothed than etched. Sorry to use flowery audiophile language but it's the best I got. I use the Senny HD600 as my basis if something sounds a bit more fluid or dynamic or drier or etched or strident or sibilant or in terms of gauging timbre quality. I unfortunately don't have a reference point for bass, I tend to like a lot of bass and very high quality bass (in terms of tone, control and texture) independently. I can have a good time with some bloat or I can get my Darko on and snob it up. Everyone's tastes are different though, hopefully you find something that works better for you. Good luck!
@@dasninjastix thank you for sharing your experience and your opinion. The package was already ready for shipment. I unpacked it again and listened again to see if there really is so little bass. Maybe I was exaggerating a bit, even though the arya stealth and he stealth have more bass quantity. But I have reconsidered my decision. And I'm keeping it now. As I also have an arya stealth, which is a good counterpart to the SE, I'm now selling the HE stealth, as I think it sounds similar but a bit snappier than the arya stealth. Thanks for the assessment. Best regards
28:06 Excellent review Lachlan, I really enjoyed it. I thought your comments comparing the Arya, V2 stealth and the SE were strong and very accurate. I owned the V2 non stealth for 4 years before upgrading to the SE, which I’ve owned for 2 years now. Although I absolutely loved my V2’s, I quickly realized they were no match for the SE’s lightning speed and absolutely smooth presentation. The SE’s, although ruthlessly visceral, are also smooth as butter and have one of the best centre images I have ever heard. You’re totally right, the V2 stealth is way more “Out there” left and right wise, but the SE’s ability to reign everything in and provide a cohesive, smooth yet totally enjoyable wall of sound around my head is nothing short of intoxicating. My original non stealth V2’s were actually brighter in my opinion than the SE’s are! Great video, I thought your comments were spot on. Keep up the great work, I really enjoy your reviews!!
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences! It's always nice to get some confirmation that I'm not the only one hearing things that way. Glad you enjoyed the review! 🙂🙂
@@PassionforSound No you had it pegged in your review, really good stuff!!! The other thing I really enjoy about the SE which I know you will appreciate is a guy can wander around the house with it hooked to an iPhone and a Cayin RU6 (Watched your awesome dongle review!!) for pretty darn amazing sound on the go!! That’s what I do!!! Happy listening Lachlan, keep those excellent reviews coming my way!!!
''the V2 stealth is way more “Out there” left and right wise'' Can you elaborate this ? I'm looking for this type of sound to be honest. More distinct right and left, wider stage. I find that Edition XS have wider stage(more right/left) than Arya Stealth.
It's especially confusing when the HE1000 V2 and HE1000 V2 Stealth have absolutely NO differentiator externally. You might be able to see the magnet difference if you look closely at the earcups but that's about it. And yes the non stealth is quite a bit different, the stealth version adds quite a bit more bass compared to the non stealth which is more neutral and leaner sounding.
Great review ❤ I had the HE1000SE for almost two years but then sold it. I appreciate the large and spatial representation, the price of the HE1000SE has fallen significantly in Europe, maybe I'll get it again.
@@PassionforSound Since this video, the prices for the HE1000se $1,999.00 (€2399) and the HE1000-Stealth Magnet version $1,399.00 (€1499) have dropped significantly and the Arya Organic is brand new. It would be interesting if you could make an update video.
@@PassionforSound I'm looking forward to the Arya Organic review. The recently introduced HEDDphone TWO piqued my curiosity last week, perhaps a serious alternative to the Hifiman's.
I got the HEKSE's. Compared them side by side to my Arya Stealth's. I think Arya Stealth stock tuning slightly better and more tolerable. However HEKSE is clearly better headphone. Stage width, depth, spaciousness, separation, details all on another level. Definite step up. And no, it's not because of elevated treble. The headphone is inherently more capable. To my ears, Arya is more intimate, mid forward and slightly warmer and slightly more bassy. You get more meat from the mids and more impact from the lows and highs. It sounds more focused and upfront. Slightly thicker. HEKSE mids quite distant and treble quite elevated. It sounds softer and layered. Going from Arya S to HEKSE stage immediately opens up to the sides and in front. There are a lot more things going on in the music. All separated and have space around them. HEKSE makes Arya sound flat and blunt. Arya have sharper attack but HEKSE have better dynamic expression i think. Arya is a bit more engaging headphone. HEKSE offers more imaginative soundstage. I found HEKSE much better for games. The staging and imaging much better. Arya Stealth comes out a bit better with engaging, hype music. It's more aggressive and focused. Both of these headphones are bright i think. I use EQ with them. I mean they are fine if your listening session is short but you kinda need EQ if you keep them on your head all day. Impressive headphones. I see why they are expensive. But i think they should focus on tactility of their drivers for their upcoming headphones. I heard people saying HE6 and HE6se have that tactility. I haven't heard these headphones myself but i honestly crave that aspect of the sound. On the other hand, that tactile quality may harm the staging capabilities so everything is a trade off i guess.
I'm happy that I have He1000 v2, not stealth or SE. Stealth technology doesn't match my ears. I used to have Arya Stealth. It was perfect in the beginning. However, after the honeymoon time, I often had fatigued by the bright and sharp sounds. I know that Arya stealth had pinpoint accuracy and clarity. Still, my honeymoon didn't last long with Stealth technology. These are just my subjective experiences. Also, I have never tried he1000 stealth or SE. So I might be wrong.
I'd recommend trying another stealth version headphone before making up your mind because they're all a little different. Thank you for sharing your experiences though!! 🙂
@@soraflame66 Any Arya is brighter than any he1000. The hek v2 might be a tad warmer in general than the hekse, but the hekse is not too bright for me (the Arya, including the stealth, is annoyingly bright for me without eq). And the hekse has amazing bass, with good heft, and in general better than the hek v2 in every aspect, resolution, imaging, depth, dynamics, realism, you name it.
@@PassionforSound Thank you! I did, sat 2 hours in the shop today and listened to a lot of good stuff. The HE 1000 Stealth were a little bit too bright for me, I bought the Arya.
Thanks for sharing. To realize the full potential of a headphone, the FR should be personalized. In addition, the EQ can be used to correct construction and principle-related unevenness in the FR. I recently did an a/b comparison between the HE-1000 Stealth and the Susvara. Both were set to the same volume and FR. So I was able to check the headphones for their technical performance. For me, the HE-1000 Stealth was clearly the winner. The Sus has the higher transparency, and higher resolution. The HE-1000V2 Stealth has significantly more energy and punch in the low frequencies, and a more authentic timbre. The Susvara has a different character than the HE-1000 Stealth. The Sus is extremely airy and high-res. Which are very positive characteristics to the next. However, as is well known, the coin has two sides. Due to its airiness, it lacks a "stable foundation" in the low frequency range. At least in direct comparison with the Stealth, the bass seems relatively powerless and gentle (it reminds me of the typical DCA sound).With the Susvara, it was already clear at medium volume and some drums, or a bass guitar, that it has significantly less impact, and punch, than the Stealth.Incidentally, I've already had the experience with the LCD 5 that at some point a point is reached where even more resolution somehow has a negative effect. Nobody needs more resolution than Stealth delivers. I suspect that out of 100 people the preference would be split 50/50. For gentle classical music or very smooth jazz, I would also prefer the Sus. For the rest clearly the Stealth. I had almost every TOTL headphone you can buy. The HE-1000 Stealth is the best I've ever heard. PS. The Lyr+ is a perfect match for the HE-1000 Stealth.
I'm looking at the V2 Stealths very closely. But I've had people tell me just get the Arya Stealths. My purpose is mostly movies and single player, non-competitive gaming, with music on the side. Pretty much a comfortable daily driver with kick ass dynamics and low end for cinematic experiences. Would you have any opinion on my use case? My budget is around 3kish, including the used market, so I have a lot of choices, but I've heard the Arya Stealths more than any other headphone. I currently use the LCD-X and they're great, but just too heavy.
I would probably go for the Arya Stealths too. The HEKv2S is great, but it will depend a lot on your tastes for enhanced treble. The HEKv2S will probably give you slightly better sound location for gaming, but will be a little less balanced for your movie watching, etc.
Really appreciated this thorough review. I thought I got screwed when the Arya Organic came out after I got the Arya Stealth last year. But after listening to your explanation from your video of Arya Organic and now this video on the HE1000SE vs HE1000 V2 Stealth, I realize the HE1000SE is just the right addition to my headphone collection. The Arya SE is really the maximum brightness I want to experience and I would love to have a headphone that could provide better intimacy, better tonal balance, that could provide better enjoyment in listening to Jazz music. Right now I'm using LCD-X for smooth jazz and Focal Clear for crossover jazz. The Arya rarely gets used for these because it's not intimate enough or too aggressive in the treble for enjoyment. I'm hoping the HE1000SE will be the solution of providing a bigger and more enjoyable sound stage for crossover jazz and better timbre and nice smoothed out detail in smooth jazz when paired with the Hifiman EF400
@@FierceLeo. I just saw this, and thought I’d weigh in? Honestly I don’t think either are suitable for serious audio mastering, because they’re both tonally-colored headphones and open back. Both have emphasis in the high end, more V-shaped than what you’d want from studio headphones, and although the V2 is the more neutral of the two, it’s also less detailed. The new HEK Stealth in particular has quite an elevated low shelf as well. For listening, Harman tuning (which is fairly V-shaped) is the supposed ideal. For audio engineering, you want balanced and flat. From what I understand, the new Audivina has very neutral tuning, and a decent amount of noise isolation to help facilitate a good master. Hope that helps!
Thanks Lachlan for a great and helpful review. I purchased the Meze Elites and the Burson Soloist 3X largely on your reviews and I have been VERY happy! The Elites will almost certainly be my endgame cans. However, I am also thinking about purchasing the HE1000se headphones as a second option and as a 'contrast' to the Elites, so your comparison to the HE1000se was very helpful. May I ask if you think the Burson Soloist 3X might help tame any potential treble sharpness/brightness which is sometimes associated with the HE1000se? Unfortunately, where I live I won't get a chance to demo personally the HE1000se. Thanks again and keep up the great content!
Hi Marc, that's great that I've been able to help you so far. I think the HEKSE is a great compliment to the Elites. Sadly, the Soloist 3X won't do a lot to tame the HEKSE without an op-amp swap. That doesn't mean it will be bad - I enjoy them on all my gear, but they won't be as easy to listen to as the Elites. That said, we all hear treble a bit differently so you might have no fatigue at all. Hope you love them!
@@PassionforSound Thanks Lachlan, appreciate the reply and duly noted. As an ageing audiophile, the inevitable loss of hearing in the higher frequencies might be a blessing with regard to the HEKSE's potentially brighter treble response😊😆
I've got extra unexpected money to burn! Considering the SE is now £1900 vs £1100 for the Stealth V2, I'll trade my Ayra Stealth for the SE. May as well go full upgrade, but can fully demo them and hopefully the shop still has my amp (Burson 3x GT) to use as well. My Tungstens are still months away so will see when they arrive as I doubt I keep both well, maybe not!
I bought new HEkSE for 1900€ because of discount of Hifiman and discount saler. It’s amazing price compared to its level. Original price in France is 2300€ because of French taxes. Happy for those who have price 1999$ outside EU. And with additional seller discount it’s possible to get it in 1600-1700$.
Great review. I've had my HEKse for a long time now. It was an upgrade to the Arya V2 and although it sometimes comes across a bit bright, it's a huge upgrade over the Arya (not heard Arya Stealth) in every aspect of sound. One thing worth reiterating - the depth that you get with the HEKse compared to the Arya. "Chocolate Chip Factory" by Tool sounds two-dimensional on the Arya compared to the HEKse that has the drums going not just left to right but front to back. Not quite the level of the Utopia but it compensates for that with the overall size of the soundstage. I've recently been considering upgrading to the Susvara even though I've never heard it (so, a gamble). But having heard so many opinions saying that I might be disappointed unless I find a perfect match in terms of amp (not just raw power but also sound signature) which I wouldn't really want to spend that much money on, I think I'm better off with the HEKse since it's highly enjoyable and different enough from the Utopia to make me wanna reach for it. I know that you're a big fan of the Elite, I hope that I can hear what they sound like. My hunch is that I wouldn't enjoy them long-term because I find "smooth" headphones boring, although it can certainly be a very sensible choice if one's plan is to "only" have one headphone in their collection. The consensus seems to be that the HEKse is technically very close to the Utopia and well ahead of the Elite. I think your love for the Elite's tonality will play a big factor in your perception of the headphone (which applies to all of us and all of our preferences), but you did also mention that going back to the HEKse reminds you of how coloured the Elite is. That's one of the reasons I've been unwilling to let my HEKse go - even though it sometimes sounds a bit too technical, I then switch to the Utopia which has its own nuanced colouration and sooner or later I'll return to the HEKse... and so the story goes, having contrasting headphones keeps me always engaged and always entartained. 🙂 I think that the Susvara could spoil this balance in my case.
Michal, it sounds like you might just love the Susvara if you enjoy a more energetic and lively sound. For that preference, they are probably the greatest option around and their amp requirements are vastly overstated IMO. They will benefit from a slightly warmer/fuller amp tuning, but that's easy enough to find.
@@PassionforSound Thanks for that suggestion. I was close to upgrading not long ago but the price difference is so huge that I thought that I'd better be reasonably certain that it's worth it first. And my understanding was that it's the HEKse which is the livelier headphone whilst the Susvara is supposed to be smoother, gentler, more ethereal, delicate, with less bass and possibly less body. I was also worried that the soundstage would shrink on the Sus and if you add to this the risk of losing the HEKse's precise and airy treble (I'm worried that the Sus's striving to be "perfect" would mean less air up top, albeit it's certainly a bit exaggerated on the HEKse) then I started hesitating if this would definitely be an upgrade. But you seem to be saying that the Sus might be a better companion to my Utopia than the HEKse is. 😃 My amp is the Burson 3XP with the Super Charger. To me it sounds full-bodied and energetic, especially with HQPlayer's Sinc filters applied (which should be similar to Chord's in terms of sound presentation). These settings actually make the HEKse sound so full at times that it makes me think that there's even more transparency to be had. Don't get me wrong, I'm not all about transparency, but the Utopia plays the role of the headphone which puts cohesiveness over everything else (so I probably wouldn't enjoy anything warmer than it, like a Meze headphone) so I want further transparency and separation from my planar headphone. Do you think that the Burson would do the job with the Susvara in terms of it pulling ahead of the HEKse, now that you know what the HEKse sounds like?
Hmmm... not sure I would both with the Susvara on the Soloist 3XP. There's enough power, but the real benefit of the Susvara is that it will reveal so much texture and detail from higher end systems. You might be underwhelmed (considering the price) if driving it from the Soloist 3XP. I wonder if the HEKv2S might actually be the better option for your chain. It is the more detailed and somewhat more spacious (presented differently) headphone compared to the HEKSE.
What dac/amp all in one combo would you recommend to get the HE1000 Stealth to the warmer site ? So that the treble becomes more smooth. Would you go for the SMSL M500 MK3 , the Topping 7 pro plus or the Fiijo K9 Pro ESS or the Mojo 2 maybe? Or would you go for some EQ in the treble. Thanks for the great review by the way?
@@PassionforSound and the EF600? Would you prefer that one on top of the 2 above? I ask you this because you liked the SOUND of the 400 in your review the most or not? No more questions :)
I’m in Sydney and demo’d the 3 headphones compared here. Pretty spot on evaluation mate. I probably would dish the new 1000stealths more than you did. To hot in the treble for me. For example, in “cocaine” in Eric Claptons slowhand album, there’s a little snare shuffle that most headphones mush up, i could hardly hear it on the hek stealths without the bass and guitar being unbearably loud. I ended up happily buying the Arya stealth. The SE does have a lovely smoothness to the mid bass that separates in some songs it but I found it hard to pick between them on a lot of songs, and some songs I liked the Arya better. In the end I couldn’t warrant twice the price for the SE.. yet… lol
The SE is curretly USD$1800 (with a three-year warranty!), just in case Mr. Dietz is unable to supply one of his Mod House Tungsten headphones according to my specifications.
Im not going to lie - i had the exact opposite experienxw. The Stealth was smooth (but bright) with thicker bass, while the SE was super bright (especially past 10khz.)
I'd have to look at the graphs to check, but what might be happening there is that we all have different treble sensitivities due to the shape of our ears canals and the natural resonances that creates. If a headphone's treble peaks happen to hit the exact wrong (or right) frequencies for your ear resonance (or mine), it could create this experience.
Thank you for the video, been looking for this! please asking for some help, Im a person that get fatigued with the arya v2 non stealth and Im trying to find the right hifiman upgrade, the last 2 options are the he1000v2 Original and the newer he1000v2 stealth, which one do you recommend to have a look first, focusing mainly and getting the version of he1000 with less treble. thank you in advance, hello from Brisbane mate!
Hi MG. I can very quickly help here. Do not get the HEK Stealth if the Arya v2 is fatiguing. The HEK Stealth is worse for fatigue. I haven't tried the OG HEKv2, but by all reports they seem to be the best option for you.
@@PassionforSound Thank you so much mate I really appreciate it, I ask many reviewers but you are the only one with a quick a simple suggestion, The reason I was considering the stealth is because some people says that is having bigger bass, like the arya v2 vs the stealth, so I thought the stealth versions in general also reduce the treble like in the arya V3. thank you so much I will go to sydney next week to A/B both and buy the less fatiguing one. thank you mate, keep the awesome work, I'll be around!
Hello! I wanna order dekoni pads for he1000se and organic. Please could you help me with advice? 1. How sound could change with hybrid pads and perforated leather? 2. Pads can be removed and installed without glue? on latches? 3. Maybe exist better pads than Dekoni? I anticipate decreasing treble and increasing bass a little. And I don’t like comfort with stock pads.
Dekoni pads are generally great. As for what each pad will do - that's a bit hard to know because different headphones respond differently. I'd expect Dekoni will provide some measurements to help with this though. Even if it's measurements for a different HiFiMan model, the general changes should be fairly consistent across all models. Finally, the pads don't require glue. They use a simple plastic clip system.
By the way, is it possible make review of affordable fully balanced amp with pre amp woo wa22 especially highlighting tube rolling to choose right ones. For 2700$ it’s great for its tech specs.
I have probably watched this review 3 times now. So helpful! I have enjoyed the Arya Stealth quite a bit but if I can get more out of the HEK line I’d rather upgrade now. I’m using an EF400 - can you provide me any info of how the HEK Stealth vs HEKSE performed on the EF400? I know I’ll need to try them to know for sure but I’m hoping to learn as much as I can before spending more money 😊
So glad you've found the review so useful! I don't have the EF400 anymore, but having owned it for a while, I would say the performance of both headphones will be as I described in the video which means that the HEK Stealth will be a bit more aggressive than your Aryas while the HEKSE will change the sound signature a little while rewarding you with a better overall sound quality IMO
Have you made any decisions yet about an upgrade to the Arya Stealth? I own the Arya Stealth and the HEKSE, and I picked up the Arya specifically due to its tamed highs and high mids that have led to some listening fatigue in my HEKSEs. But now I just grabbed up the HEK Stealth as of yesterday, and thus far I’m seriously impressed. It seems to truly provide the level of detail retrieval I get with the SE, with not only the tamed highs the Arya provides but an entirely new addition of a 5-6 dB rise in the bass shelf compared with all of the others-this HEK Stealth is the first planar (other than the DCA Stealth/Expanse, which are a nightmare to drive) that truly provides the bass slam and a precise low end that shows how more accurate a planar magnet can be than their dynamic counterparts. It’s the most “fun”, rock-friendly flagship I’ve heard yet-I’m not quite sure how it compares to the HEKSE in terms of detail retrieval, but I’m guessing that when I PEQ the two to be matched the differences will be vanishingly minimal. I wasn’t expecting this-I’ve considered the HEKSE my endgame headphone for over a year despite its fatigue factor, but these new HEK Stealths just might become my new favorite of all time. Why HFM has been so low key about their release is beyond me, but if I were starting over, I couldn’t imagine paying the extra $1,500 for the SE (or buying a companion Arya) had I heard these first. HFM is VERY cool about upgrades-you might consider approaching them with a trade up option for your Aryas. Usually they’ll oblige for merely the difference in retail price. In my view it would be worth the trouble!
I think i have got an itch to get something for new year :P I got the focal clear which i like, hifiman edition xs which is good. I think i am little treble sensitive but i usually use Roon and get it adjusted. Do you think under $1800 Aud Stealth would be a good upgrade? plz
I ordered Arya and was looking to upgrade to he1000 but you praise the Meze Elite more than he1000 and it's closed hp so now I'm thinking to order Meze.
Thank you for answer! By the way, is it possible make review of affordable fully balanced amp with pre amp woo wa22 especially highlighting tube rolling to choose right ones. For 2700$ it’s great for its tech specs.
This is a really useful review for me at the moment. I have just returned today from the dealer and ended up preferring the Arya Stealth over the 1000SE due to its more 'direct' presentation and tuning. Unfortunately they did not have the HE1000 Stealth for me to try. If I understand you correctly, the presentation and tuning of the Arya Stealth and HE1000 Stealth are very similar, but the 1000 Stealth has better technicalities...is that correct? If so I'll wait until I can compare the Arya Stealth and the 1000 Stealth before making a purchase. Your advice is very much welcomed if you have time.(Liked and Subscribed)
To me , I own the arya stealth and love it , I won't buy next step up when its not big step up from arya , so my next would b something different , zmf top or mid tier headphones .
Hi Lachlan, I've been researching headphones for a little while now and really enjoy your reviews. I was hoping you could tell me what you would choose out of the Arya Organic, 1000 Stealth and 1000 SE for a daily driver. Listening to music for hours each day, varied genres like rock, pop, rap, folk, edm. I just want to ENJOY my music mainly. I want to buy just 1 set of headphones that are brilliant. The trouble is that between these three models, I read and watch conflicting opinions all the time. I trust you - so if you could only have 1 pair - which would it be? I know this is all subjective :)
The HE1000SE are comfortably the best headphone of this bunch to my ears so that's what I'd choose. The challenge is that so much comes down to preferences and a little bit of system synergy too. Do you have any experience with other headphones or setups that you love (or hate) where you can get a sense of what you really want a headphone to be strong at or anything to avoid?
@@PassionforSound thanks so much for replying to me. Your first line actually sealed the deal. I’ve ordered the HE1000SE! I’m actually new to the audiophile headphone world. Started with a HD599 then grabbed Edition XS and an EF499 amp. My Edition XS had a rattle in the cup so I returned it to Amazon and by that point decided to just purchase something top tier and enjoy! I did enjoy the Edition XS sound. I’m sure I’m going to love them and get right into this as a hobby now. But always #1 is enjoying the music. Thanks again mate, all the best!
How are you finding them compared to the Edition XS? I own the Edition XS but wasn’t that impressed with my Mojo 2 and Tidal, and then I got the right channel buzz out of warranty. Currently considering the Amanda Nano at £389, the Arya Stealth at £619, the Arya Organic at £899 and the HE1000 V2 Stealth at £1099, all about 20% off. Unfortunately the HE1000 SE isn’t on sale and I can’t justify £1699.
@@doifeellucky Hey, terribly sorry for the late reply. Unfortunately, I won't be much help as I am unable to test any of the headphones outside of my XS that also were faulty like yours and my new HE100SE. I can say that they are a clear giant jump up in sound quality and build quality from the XS. As you would expect from the price. In fact, I was quite surprised how much better these feel in hand that the XS. Mine too had issues. The box they come in is so much nicer than the other hifiman stuff too. It really added to the premium feel for me. I don't have much of a point of comparison but obviously they sound tremendous. I think what I feel when I listen to them is that whatever I am listening to sounds like it should sound. And good recordings knock my socks off haha. Also, I am noticing new sounds, and even words and lyrics, in songs I have listened to all my life which is blowing my mind. Also though, if it's a poor recording, or say I'm listening to vinyl and there are pops. I sure as hell know it's not perfect haha. I had read that these were mostly good for classical music and that maybe my preferred genres were better suited to other headphones. Maybe, but let me tell you, when I pop on 'Kid A by Radiohead', 'Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish', or 'This is All Yours by Alt-J', I am transported to another realm. Goodness me these can be magic. Another thing is gaming - my goodness. I feel like I am cheating in Black Ops 6, haha. They are that good. Wish they had a mic as I hate having to downgrade to my Arctic 7s to chat with my mates on discord while I game. I want to wear these for EVERYTHING! Overall, I love them. They feel solid and well-made and they sound fantastic. Would I have been equally happy with the Organics or He1000 stealth? Who knows? Probably as you don't know what you don't know. But I am happy with my purchase. Also, I will say I continued to read over and over that these were super bright and sibilant and couldn't be listened to for long periods. Maybe that was the old version of them, but I have no trouble listening to these all day. And they are super comfy. Hope this rant helps someone. Enjoy the music peeps :)
Thanks man. I have the HE1000SE and absolutely love them but I also have eardrums where I don't find things too bright in case it helps. Ie:My Hd800 sounds great to me
I really like them too and I normally don't gel well with bright headphones so either my hearing has declined suddenly or there is a specific frequency in their tuning that effects some but not me. Hopefully it's the latter...
@FierceAugLeo I feel like to me the SE would reveal more of the micro details in your recording/production so you may hear more in the HE1000SE. If you happen to be in Vancouver Canada you are welcome to borrow mine anytime
Most retailers of HiFiMan should be getting it in so try any local retailer and just be sure that you're getting an HE1000 with the stealth magnets sticker on the box. That said, I think the SE is the better choice for mixing and mastering
Excellent video! Loved the B role intro and music. Having the Arya Stealth I have been wondering how much of a sound upgrade I would experience moving to the HE1000 series. Thanks for all the details describing each versions sound. Looks like I'll be saving up for the HE1K SE. Do you think once you get the HE1K SE the Arya Stealth will be obsolete in one's collection? Not sure if I should trade up or keep it in my collection. I also appreciate the comparison to the Susvara. I completely understand that sometimes a less technical headphone can actually be more fun to listen to. That's what the Sennheiser HD6XX/650 do for me. Thanks again for the great reviews! Cheers
Glad I could help. I think I would probably consider the Arya obsolete with the HE1KSE in the collection so I would do a trade up and then maybe put the funds into other gear to give you more diversity of headphone flavour or some other source gear. That said, if you really love the Arya Stealth, you might want to hold onto them until you try the HE1KSE in case you find them different enough to keep. For me, the HE1KSE is consistently more enjoyable so it's an easy decision, but we're all different in what we enjoy.
@@PassionforSound Lachlan, do you plan to sell your Arya Stealth and keep the HE1KSE instead? By the way, to get the full picture, you really need to try our original HE1KV2 and compare it to other HiFiman hi-end headphones
@@PassionforSound I've got my endgame source thanks to you and your review. I sold my FiiO K9 Pro AKM and went to the top.. Burson Conductor GT. I am so happy with that purchase even though I'm still making payments on it. Gotta love 0% interest payment plans. LOL. I definitely will trade up to the HE1K SE from the Arya SE at some point. Love the way you describe the sound improvement and that they are more entertaining than Susvara. As always thanks for doing what you do. Cheers
I will possibly sell the HEKv2S and keep the Arya I think. I might keep them all as good reference points for people who've heard one or other before. I did try to borrow an OG HEKv2 for the review, but had no luck
I wonder, Lachlan - did you at all perform a burn in process? I've owned several HFM cans and the "reference" lines of Ananda and above have all benefitted from at least 50 hours (to start) for the treble to mellow out. Just curious. Great impressions - as usual......
Hi Eric, yes. My standard process with all headphones is to open them up, measure them immediately and then let them run (either while I listen or not). I then do listening tests and re-measure after at least a week of use, but normally more (more in this case).
@@PassionforSound So, at least about ~50 hours or so - yes? My Arya Stealths took at least that 'to start' to settle in the treble - my V2's too. Yeah, if the HEKsm is even more aggressive in the upper treble than the Arya Stealth - I pause slightly at lusting after them, LOL. I wonder how much more neutral/bright your Chord Hugo TT is compared to my Gustard H20 with Sparkos Labs SS-3602 discrete opamps? For me, that begs consideration that if the TT is uber neutral bordering on bright - and my H20 is less so - I wonder if that would be the difference in taming some of that upper treble aggressiveness in the HEKsm while leaving the extra detail and texture remaining? Thoughts??? OTOH, if the HEKsm is even more spacious, layered, and tonally rich vs the Arya Stealth, I still may want to try them at some point in the near future. Thoughts??? Again, great job on your general (and more detailed) impressions......
The TT2 is definitely what I would describe as 'true neutral' (even though that's still subjective). That said, I personally find the HEKS to still be too aggressive from amps like the smooth, LTA MZ3 (even after lots of burn-in). They're a very capable headphone, but I think they'll be to aggressive for many people.
@@PassionforSound Hi Lachlan!!! I finally took the plunge and bought the HEKv2 Stealths. While I juuust started the burn-in process - I can definitely say that they're definitely pretty bassy and bright fresh out of the box...almost "too" bassy and brittle in the treble compared to my well-played in Arya Stealth (this played through my Gustard H20). However, after only about ~25-30 hrs so far, they've sort of started to mellow in both the treble and bass - while also getting a muuch larger stage and much better layering so far. I'll keep you posted on any other changes.....
It will have sufficient power for sure, but keep in mind that the quality it can provide will not get the very most out of the HEKSE (this is not about power quantity). The reason I say this is so that you don't feel underwhelmed if the HEKSE don't sound quite as good as you might expect from the descriptions given by people using much higher quality source chains.
@@PassionforSound do you think that the Arya Organic will be a better choice then for me? Honestly the only resaon that i would pick the Stealth over the Organic is because of the material and more premium look
Great video. I just went to HIFIMAN website, but as you said the names are just too confusing. What it says "HE1000 V2" said "Newly Upgraded Version of the HE1000". But, it's same price as HE1000 Stealth. Does this mean this v2 is not a stealth version?? Does it mean HE1000 Stealth is actually HE1000V2 Stealth at the same price??? I gave up on the ordering.
I confirmed with one of their reps that the latest version is the HE1000 Stealth. There is no V2 stealth. They left the name as HE1000 Stealth on the Hifiman website.
And very interested in your reviewing mad 24 from ambient acoustic with 24 drivers in each headphones. It’s miracle based on comments in web. Company from Ukraine and they are manufacturing this miracle during the war! They have test version of mad 24 in Europe.
Can I ask how it does the stealth compare to the old V2? which one do you prefer? You're the only youtuber I could find at the moment that has a proper review in depth on it. thank you agian for great video
He mentioned that he doesn’t have the original V2 for comparison. But I’m shocked that the new HE1000 Stealth is brighter than the SE-the one advantage the original V2 had over the SE was a smoother high end and less fatigue, along with a somewhat more horizontally extended soundstage. The SE has a bit more vertical soundstage and emphasis in the mid bass, which makes them a tad “warmer”, but they have a peak around 7500 hz which can make them fatiguing on some tracks (along with probably helping their detail emphasis). Without a doubt, the SEs are the most detailed headphones I’ve ever heard, and they’re easier to drive than the V2. It was my hope that this HE1000 Stealth would retain all the virtues of the original V2 (primarily the soundstage and impeccably agreeable tuning), but would be more resolving due to the Stealth magnet-if they had achieved that I think it would be the ultimate headphone, especially for rock and similar genres. But it looks like they blew it by messing with the high end. For now I think the SE, despite its excess brightness, is their finest creation. The Audivina has bass roll off and sounds like a bust. I suspect that we may be seeing a Susvara refresh soon, but if they don’t improve its efficiency and match the physicality, expansiveness and punch of their oval pad lines I’ll be passing that one by as well. If you already have the original V2, I’d stick with it-Crinacle ranks it in the top four for a reason. If you’re looking for your first foray into HFM flagships, I’d consider the SE with some PEQ to tame the high end a bit. If this new HE1000 Stealth is brighter than the SE, fatigue will be a major deterrent.
Yes, like srkbear said, I can't comment on the v2. I tried to get one for this review, but had no luck. Based on the comments from people, it seems like the stealth HE1K has its very own tuning and is not a direct V2 upgrade.
@@PassionforSound Interestingly, HFM still has the HEKV2 for sale on their webpage, but retailers have said that they’ve stopped receiving stock. If this HEK Stealth will indeed replace the original V2 entirely, then I should arguably amend my recs to encourage folks to consider snapping up the remaining supply while they’re available-because the original V2 is the most agreeably tuned option for all genres out there. And despite it not achieving quite the detail retrieval of the SE or the Susvara, it’s still no slouch in that department, and it has its own advantages in soundstage and sub bass punch. It dazzled folks when it came out, and I still suspect that some of the detail gains found in the SE are the result of the potentiated treble rather than the design of the driver itself. I think I can confidently say that the original V2 is the most beautifully tuned and fatigue-free option in its class of any headphone I’ve ever tried. Plus it’s design and build quality are sublime, and there really isn’t a more comfortable headphone to be found anywhere. I know of no other headphone where the pads make absolutely no contact with your ears, yet have optimized sound no matter where they’re positioned on your head. Hence my belief that their oval pad line was one of their finest innovations, along with their neodymium magnet and perhaps their Stealth tech. HFM and Audeze were the two brands that brought planar magnetics to the mainstream, and the qualities I mentioned are where I think HFM came out on top.
@@PassionforSound thanks for the reply and it sounds like it. A lot of people at can jam said the v2stealth is very trebly and quite fatiguing. I'll reconsider my options. Thanks.
4:16 Sorry if i got that wrong, but the HE400SE is the hardest to drive Hifiman after the Susvara? What about the HE-6 for example? When i tried the 400SE the didn't seem very power dependant to me. More like a Sundara
I have the Arya Organic, would it make sense to get the HE1000se just for Acoustic music/soundtracks/gaming, because i heard they are great at this kind of stuff. Or would they just replace my aryas? Regards
Thank you for the reply! a friend has the arya stealth and finds my organic a bit bright sometimes and he was thinking about upgrading to the HE1000se in the future. Would you say he will have that problem there too?
@GoldDeluxe5000 that's so hard to say because we all have different specific sensitivities. I think the HEKSE might be tuned closer to the Arya Stealth than the Arya Organic, but I'd need to go back and look (and I'm away from my computer at the moment).
That would be great, really appreciate your help here. One last thing, would you say the HE1000SE are good for any genre? Let's say I want to listen to rock/heavy metal oder edm, is that possible without having to get a new pair of ears afterwards? Thanks again! In really have mixed feelings going for them because I hear so many people say different things about them, on one side I'm really excited to get them on the other side im kinda scared lol. Because there's no dealer/shop near us where we could test them, so we always have to buy and hope for the best. Ofc there's a return window when buying online but it's not really nice buying and sending it back all the time for the shop too. English is not my first language btw so please excuse any faulty grammar or writing.
The HEKSE has significantly less treble than the Arya Organic (and maybe even the Arya Stealth) so it should cause any problems, I think. Also, a good headphone should work for you across all genres unless it's right on the edge of your preferences and tolerance already in which case some genres might push them too far.
I think a comparison between HE1000SE and Final D8000 pro will be a good battle... And i think how you described the Meze is like a typical V shaped sound... and the graph shows it
The Elites aren't really v-shaped so much as mid focussed with a bit of extra upper treble. I would love to compare the Final D8K Pro. Hopefully at some point...
I would choose blindly D8000 pro as I know Japan precision and technology behind it. I owned Arya V2, sold it even if it has nice sound stage it wasnt enough, treble was failed in that model. Maybe high end audio chain could fix it but still for mid-fi headphone like Arya chain worth lets say 4000$ thats overkill. With price tag of hekse I could find Meze Elite or mentioned D8000 pro, both higher quality products in my eyes.
I own the dac/amp TA-ZH1ES, do you think this will work well with the v2 Stealth? TA-ZH1ES power: 1.2 / 32Ω Hifiman HE1000V2 Stealth: 32Ω / Sensitivity 93 dB
I would like your opinion on the following. With the Stealth, despite the Harman target, I noticed a certain tendency to sharpness, or obtrusiveness, in the 1 kilohertz range. can you remember how wer se compares to that?
I never had them here together to comment properly, but I know what you mean about the Stealth and I feel like any edginess from the HEKSE sits higher in the frequency response
Which egg shape Hifiman headphone you think has the widest soundstage ? Not the biggest but the widest, lateral depth. Distance of right/left to the ear. Especially interested in new HE 1000 v2 stealth vs Arya Stealth. I'm not looking for height or depth. I'm looking for more width like HD800S. So far i heard XS, Ananda v2 and Arya Stealth. I found that XS has the widest soundstage. I want more clear right and left imaging. Arya Stealth seems to push lateral images in front a bit and sound fairly closer to the ear.
I would have said XS too, but that's it's problem IMO - too much width and zero depth. If you want extreme width in the HiFiMan range then the HEK Stealth might be the best choice, but the Arya Stealth is pretty similar for staging IIRC
@@PassionforSound Yeah XS is a great all rounder but it's technicalities clearly lacking i think. I may get the HEK Stealth. Honestly Hifiman killing it with these prices. Other brands doesn't drop prices or release new headphones. Hifiman is very agile. I wonder if they are gonna innovate and bring fresh headphones and step up their tech or they will just sit. XS tier headphones were $1500 couple of years ago. Now HEK's are $1400 and Sundara exists.
Hi sir, I am using Edition xs and I wanna upgrade to a better headphones. My preferences are: 1. More forward depth in the sound stage like the singer is in front of my head (not left and right width) 2. Better bass impact than Xs Thank you
HE1000SE might be a good option for you, but you could also look at the Meze 109 Pro and Focal Clear MG. Both are quite different from the XS, but excellent.
@@PassionforSound hi sir, Im using Topping E70 + A90D. Meze and focal are very easy to drive. I wanna use A90 to its best capability. Apart from all these info, what is the best headphones under $2000 that is best in forward depth in soundstage?
An amp's performance isn't defined by the difficulty of the headphones used with it. It's about the tonal quality and presentation of the amp. I stand by the suggestions I made as you'll have a hard time beating either of them with any other headphone in your budget range.
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!
Hi Peter, I think you'll definitely hear the improvement, but you might want to consider upgrading the amp at some point to get some extra staging depth. The A70 Pro is solid, but it does lack the stage depth of something like a Geshelli A3 Pro, Aune S17 Pro or Schiit Mjolnir 3 (in order of price and performance)
The HEKSE probably does stage a little better than the Arya. I wasn't personally a fan of the Empy 2. Maybe check my review (and some others) before deciding.
Yes, they do. Stealth magnets have been around since the Susvaras. They've just been gradually added to the lower models and called out as "stealth magnet" versions on the products that weren't already stealth.
@@PassionforSound Thanks, for some reason I had assumed it was a new technology. Anyway, I ordered them in which is probably the most financially irresponsible decision I've ever made. But hopefully it will be the last time I ever buy headphones.. now I have to pray that I'll be able to sell my Aryas to recover some of the money. Also, has the frequency response stayed the same since their release or have they made some silent revision? I ask because I apply Oratory1990's preset for every headphone and the one available for this one has some years now..
Hi, I was looking for a DAC/AMP for the He1000se around $1000-$2000. I currently have the JDS elements III ... I was thinking in the Chord Qutest + JDS or the RME ADI-2 DAC FS ( I watches the video that you posted 3 years ago) ... What do you think about these 2 options? any other recommendation? Thanks
I'd definitely still rate the Qutest as one of the very best options around the price. The JDS amp might limit its performance a touch though (I haven't tried it, but past JDS Labs amps I've tried have all been using integrated op-amps that have flattened the soundstage a bit). If you could do the Geshelli A3 Pro amp with the Qutest, that would be magic!
Yeah, looks like HiFiman understood that people liked balanced HE1000V2 non-stealth much more than 1000se, so they decided actually to downgrade this headphone, so now he1000se looks less bright and more tonally corect for 1500$ more(
Those were my first thoughts too, except I had no idea that a V2 Stealth had been released and I thought Lachlan had got the names wrong 🙂 My goodness, HEKse has always been considered a bright headphone; I've had it for a while and really like it but there are days when it's just a bit too bright for me. I think I'd still prefer this to an overly smooth headphone so since this is not the only one in my collection I can't see myself parting with it easily. But I can't see a big market for the V2 Stealth if it's even brighter.
@@MistaLova-Lova Ok now im utterly confused. Lachlan says HE1k SE is warmer than Susvara? 21:40. I have never heard this from anyone. Incredibly bizarre.
@@Smood47 Hm, that's strange given what pretty much everyone else is saying about the Susvara's treble being "sweeter". My suspicion is this - Lachlan is not particularly sensitive to treble so he didn't find the HEKse bright (which is also chain-dependent) and that's why he didn't notice much of a difference there between the Sus and the HEKse in this regard. HEKse perhaps presents as having more bass and/or body (probably also chain-dependent) and that's what he's referring to when he's talking about "warmth". Just my theory, though.
Hello I have a Hifiman EF-400 DAC and Hifiman recently issued a recall for some of units, I was wondering if there was a way to measure my amp and find out if my unit is one of the ones affected?
@@JTB-- My unit was not one of the SKUs involved in the recall and it sounds pretty fantastic so far. No hum or noise at all. Even with IEMs there doesn't seem to be any static even at low volumes, I'm very happy with it so far.
so confused by all the comparisons out there between these two. some call the stealth warmer/bassier and the SE brighter and leaner...and here I hear the complete opposite. lol
Yes. It's very confusing. The graphs and my repeated experiences with these two support what I've said, but maybe it's about how people are describing the sound. Words can mean different things to different people. I think the Stealth might have more bass, but also more treble so some will focus on just the bass and say it's bassier when the SE is warmer across its overall tonal balance due to more midrange weight.
I always thought everyone was kung-fu fighting according to the 70s hit song lol Great video review , I have the arya stealth and very happy with it , hopefully I can get the he1000se in the future.
I really wish you could review these headphones with a flat frequency. Meaning both headphones frequency response flat by sonarworks or similar program . This way we know what's is really better.. eq added to headphone color the sounds which is not a bad thing. But comparatively no fair... Audio engineer would love that review too as more engineer starting to use headphone but ideally want flatten response.. 🙏
I've tested EQ'ing headphones to flat before and they obviously start to get a similar sound tonally, but there are still significant differences due to the technical capabilities of the drivers, the damping of the housings, etc. I can have a think about EQ'ing headphones to flat in future reviews and see if it's adding value to my discussion of them.
OK.. will be looking forward to that part of the reviews. Appreciate ur review alots. Help me out in buying amp dac. Looking to get an headphone under $1000 sumn for studio purposes..best recommendations... maybe u can compare the lcd x, arya, and focal clear tuned flat on frequency and let me know...ur opinion 🙏 🙏.
I don't have most of those headphones to can't offer that one. As for amps, check out my Geshelli Labs A3 Pro review and also the Passion for Sound Recommends link in the description.
@@PassionforSound in the case of the HEK stealth vs SE, I think it would have been useful. Technology-wise, it's not even clear what the difference is between the stealth and SE, and I suspect that most of the differences between the two can be attributed to their tuning.
Hi Lachlan, I ordered HE1000V2 non stealth, but got HE1000 stealth as a surprise. I was interested in non stealth due to the praise it got over the years. Now my dealer is unable to return slthough I have sent email to hifiman also. Do you think the stealth is still ok the keep. Any preferred DAC, AMP for good synergy you recommend please...
Hi Gaurav, I haven't heard the original HE1000 V2 (non stealth) so I don't know how they compare. If you're keeping the HEKv2S, I'd recommend a smooth sounding combo to help control any of the HEK's aggression. A nice tube amp and/or an R2R DAC could do a great job with these.
@@PassionforSound Hi Lachlan, very wrll said. I think R2R +Tube is so nice. I'll try that. Also , do you think if it is worth to go directly to HE1000SE. I do not see any good reviews of HE1000 stealth so I'm thinking to replace it with HE1000SE, as dealer is ready to upgrade now.
Sorry, I deliberately avoid comparisons to Harman and am not setup to do this. My graphs are calibrated so that a flat line would sound like a dead-neutral studio monitor in case that helps you with them. 🙂
On Amazon if I wanted the HE1000V2 STEALTH do I buy the he1000 or the he1000v2 listing??? It's so confusing lol. Also literally EVERYONE says the he1000 special edition has HUGELY overblown treble so it can't possible be right that the he1000v2 stealth has even more treble. This is the one part that just confounds me you must've been reviewing a different pair because most people say the he1000 special edition is way way to bright and ear piercing treble and I couldn't tolerate that lol.
You'll have to check with the seller about the stealth version. As for the ear-piercing treble on the SE, that's definitely not what I heard or measured so I have no idea what's going on with those statements. Either those people have specific treble sensitivities that are different to mine, or there's been a silent product revision, or people are getting confused/speaking about something they haven't actually listened to (this happens far more often than it should)
@@soraflame66hey I’m not sure about on Amazon, but the Hifiman store site has been updated finally and you can get the 1000Stealth or the 1000v2 for $1999 each. I’m kind of bummed because I sent back my V2 thinking I was paying for an upgrade program for a new V2 stealth but it’s something different. Not sure what’s going on exactly haha. These are great but now I’m wondering if they were any better or worth the extra money I paid to upgrade
What sucks is i bought bitfrost 2/64 and zmf verite close which i s good but now bought he1000se and its a bit bright or to much highs just not much fullness and i cant go out and buy another amp/dac just for one headphone ,, grrr this is disappointing .
Haha , this is nearly opposite what Josh Valour said.. that the SE over detailed and treble high.. but probably through the topping 90 stack that he raves about.. (very Pin point and dry) For the price, it’s hard to go past the Arya Stealth with a better, lush warm amp..
@@PassionforSound definitely the SE.. I sometimes wonder if there is variation from set to set with Hifiman cans. They seem to be a brand that has as many different opinions as there are reviews lol
That's very true. Any headphone with spiky treble will tend to create that though because we all perceive treble a little differently (moreso than mids and bass)
@@PassionforSound Which is the best all rounder out of the HE1KSE, HE1K V2 Stealths and Arya SE? I am going to be having a home demo with the HE1KSE and I listen to practically all genres of music including dub techno, ambiant, electronic etc. I hear from other reviewers that the HE1KSE is best with classical music and I am not a big fan of that.
That's an interesting question! I think I would still choose the HEKSE, but the Arya Stealth is definitely an excellent alternative and the new Arya Organic is very nice too (review on the way). I think starting with an audition of the HEKSE is a good idea. See how you like it and then you can decide to stick with it or seek a different sound. Feel free to drop back in and share your impressions - what you like/don't like with the HEKSE - and I can help provide further direction if needed.
@@PassionforSound I definitely will the HE1KSE arrives tomorrow I will be pairing it with the mojo 2 and and an audioquest carbon cable. They easier to drive then the other headphones mentioned which is a plus.
@@PassionforSound After comparing the HE1000se to Lcd X 2021 with my mojo 2 I cam definitely say the HE1000se is the superior headphone which is to be expected given the price difference. The soundstage, clarity, instrument placement and detail is much better. The HE1000se also sounds more realistic and holographic with the treble not being harsh. However, I am curious as to how the HE1000se would sound with a warmer dac as I do like a warm signature. The Mojo 2 is neutral. Do you have any suggestions? I do like portable dac amps because I like to lie in bed when listening to music. I am considering trying the IFI xDSD Gryphon as that is slightly warmer although from reviews more people prefer the mojo 2. If you have the Gryphon could you test it and compare with the mojo 2? I also tested them with movies and TV shows and they perform very well.
I think HiFiMan's concerns of dropping in ranking is over blown. Maybe you might get an older residual stock by a third party seller or worst non-planar headphones with deceptive descriptions.
I think you're looking for black and white in a hobby that's all grey. I pretty clearly stated a preference to the HEKSE, but there will be others who prefer the HEK stealth.
I understand what your saying some reviewers play it close to favor manufactures , by not going to negative saying its good some may like this or that while this other one has better this or that.. This is why I do like the reviewer wave audio , he will tell it straight , saying this is not good .
The challenge with that is that we all have different ears (anatomically) and this means we actually all hear things differently so anyone defining a headphone as good or bad is assuming that everyone hears the same way and that's a fallacy. Of course, having preferences is important so that people can get a sense of how their tastes align with a reviewer, but from there they need to be able to buy based on a scale of warmer vs brighter, edgier vs smoother, etc. to account for personal tastes and anatomic differences.
SE is the better option IMO because it's more tonally balanced. In my measurements, a flat line response will sound like a perfectly neutral studio monitor (tonally)
I finally got my hands on the HE1000 Stealth, and I’ve been able to do a direct comparison between the HE1000SE, the Arya Stealth and the Edition XS, which I already own.
I’ve only auditioned them for a half day, but I mostly agree with your assessments-especially in comparison to the HEKSE. I do think they’re the most impeccably tuned headphone HFM has produced to date-certainly the most Harman-compliant.
The most notable improvement I’ve heard thus far compared to the others, and a characteristic I’ve never found in any of the prior HFM offerings, is the bass response. The published FRCs show a 5-6 dB increase in the low shelf starting around 30hz, and boy can I hear it-for my other headphones I always fully engage the analog xBass feature on my Pro iCAN Signature, but for these I encountered a few tracks where I had to dial it back. The headphones were literally producing a physical bass response on rock tracks that is immeasurably exciting, and a clear advantage over my HEKSE and Arya SE.
Interestingly, the Edition XS produces something close to this deep, clean and stable bass response as well, and a very fine Harman signature which reinforces my belief that these are very underrated cans, and the best you can buy under $500 (perhaps under $1,000).
The other notable difference I notice when comparing the HE1000 Stealth to the HE1000se is a considerably reduced fatigue factor. I know you found these new HEK Stealths to be brighter than the SEs, but I’m experiencing something unexpected-the high mids, around the 6,500 to 8,500 hz range, are noticeably attenuated compared to the SE, both on the FRCs and subjectively, and thus I experience none of the bitingly intense accents that have caused listening fatigue for me in the past with the SEs-the same fatigue factor that has also differentiated the HEK V2 and SE enough for Crinacle to rate the V2s in the Superior range (fourth from the top) compared to the lower A+ rating given to the more costly SEs.
The higher frequencies (over 9,000 hz) may be more prominent in the HEK Stealth, but I don’t experience that as fatigue-perhaps my 54 year old ears aren’t able to discern the excess brightness you reported in these compared to the SE, but I think this just calls attention to how broad “brightness” can be defined and experienced along differing ranges of the audible spectrum and between different ears.
The only characteristic I have yet to define between the HEK Stealth and the SE is resolution and detail retrieval. Frankly I’ve never heard another headphone that is as resolving as the HEKSE-and I’m sure that is a factor both of their inherent design and their bright tuning. On these initial listenings, I make up that the SEs may still have an advantage in this regard (albeit a slight one), but I’d need to level out their tunings with PEQ to fully determine whether the HEK Stealth resolves detail as divinely as the SE. Given that the two are using essentially identical magnets and the same neodymium driver, along with identical grilles and ear cup form factors, if the SEs are an improvement in this quality I’d sure like to know why.
Finally the build quality of these new HEK Stealths is extraordinary, and in my view as equally fine as the HEKSE. I suppose some might quibble with the wood veneers around the pad housing, but I actually like that look, and in terms of comfort I don’t think you could ask for a lighter weight, more comfortable form factor in any flagship headphone. I’ve owned my SE for over a year and have put them through the paces for sure, and they still look unblemished and as good as new.
I fear that the $1,999 price point is going to omit this HEK Stealth from serious consideration amongst the other outlandishly priced flagships out there-the Susvara still enjoys the reputation as the sole major player in the Stereophile set, and I think HFM’s later iterations such as the HEKSE and this new HEK Stealth offer considerable innovations and advantages over the seven year old Susvara. Personally I can’t appreciate any ways in which the Susvara outdoes the HEKSE (for instance) in resolution, soundstage or timbre, and in fact I think the HEKSE is considerably superior to the Susvara in tuning, efficiency (that sensitivity of 83 is a technological relic in my view), and bass response.
Similarly, if I had never heard the HEKSE (and paid $3,500 for it), I would consider this HEK Stealth as an endgame headphone-and I’m still not convinced that the HEKSE earns its $1,500 higher price point in any way. Those who claim the soundstage isn’t as wide and the detail retrieval isn’t as exacting may fail to recognize how much tuning influences both of these factors-and I’d lay odds that if the HEKSE and HEK Stealth were leveled with PEQ, they’d sound near identical. Assessing them both out of the box, I still consider the elevated bass shelf and the tamed high mids I’m enjoying in these HEK Stealths advantages over the HEKSE, despite their lower price point-and given their near-identical presentations in all other categories, I’m left to conclude that the HEK Stealth is priced lower simply as a reflection of the lower costs of technological improvements, along with a strategic decision to leave the SEs priced higher to maintain their “flagship” status.
I think these new HEK Stealths now represent the best headphones you can buy (at least for the rock, electronica, EDM and similar genres I enjoy) for under $2,000, if not overall. For comfort, build, versatility, tuning, soundstage and “fun” factor I haven’t found their peer. I’m baffled by how unheralded they have been and still are, and given how quietly HFM launched them (barely at all), I think that’s a indicator of how marketing hype can tempt folks to part ways with three times their cost with quite specious returns on their investment.
Thanks for sharing your experiences! The only point I'd seek to clarify is that what you're saying about the fatigue being less for you with the HEK Stealth is no doubt true for you BUT will vary for others. It all comes down to the shape and length of a person's ear canals and the sensitivities it creates at various frequencies.
@@PassionforSound Yes I said as much about brightness being experienced differently among different frequency ranges, ages and ears. To my ears these were less fatiguing than the HEKSE, primarily in the high-mids, and at 54 (presumably older than yourself) I may not appreciate the potentiation in the >10,000 range (although I lined up the FRCs on a graph and I’m not appreciating a significant difference between the two, other than in the low end). Also don’t mean to be competing with your review on your channel ☺️
Ah, sorry, I must have slimmed a bit fast and missed that clarification you made. Didn't take it as competition at all and appreciated the extra set of experiences being shared for people to consider. 🙂
I think both of you can be right, most early reviews of the HekSE (> 2 years) says its bit hot on the treble, but later reviews not so much, my theory is as we know Hifiman does silent revisions from time to time it is possible the newer HekSE has slightly improved tuning based on consumer feedback, @srkbear1 any clues about the build year of your HekSE.
@@hdsarma Thanks! I bought it in September of 2022, so surely it’s a recent build, since it was first launched in 2018 I believe.
I don’t know if anyone else noticed, but HFM dropped the list price of the HEK Stealth and original V2 to $1,399 last week, and the price of the Arya Stealth to $999. The prices of the HEKse dropped to $1,999 from $3,500! The Susvara remains unchanged at $5,999. Given that I can’t hear much difference between the resolutions of the HEKse and the HEK Stealth, and that the latter has a much more robust and Harman-compliant bass shelf, the price differences between all these is seriously puzzling!
I don’t know if they have something new coming down the pike, but $1,399 for the HEK Stealth is one hell of a deal for their arguably best-tuned headphone to date-and I’d sure like to know what’s going on under the hood between the two that justifies the price difference between $1,399 and now $1,999. I’m grating my cheese that I paid $3,500 for the SE now!
I’m pretty sure this price drop heralds a new flagship line awaiting us-after all it’s been eight years since the oval pad HEK series launched, and seven since the Susvara was released. I managed to get my HEK Stealth via a $500 trade up from my Arya Stealth through Hifiman customer service, and I can’t imagine how it could be improved upon-unless they are being seriously forward thinking and venturing into true audiophile wireless territory. I guess we’ll see!
I just received the HE 1000 stealth and man they are definitely a worthy upgrade over the Arya stealth, just everything perfect that I look for in a headphone. And they are a perfect with the ef 400 and also the chord mojo 2. Extremely happy with my purchase.
So glad you're enjoying them!
For future readers trying to decide. Imo the HEK stealth is better for acoustic/vocal tracks, some rock too. Every track Passion listed was more or less within this genre. If you are into electronic music and similar genres though.. it's less than the Arya stealth. The body, the feeling of bass notes, overall feeling is less on the HEK stealth. The HEK stealth in this environment has more resolution (vocals for ex.) but it feels like it's being constrained. You might feel like you should be getting more details but aren't because the lower parts of the body are underempasized, sometimes it might feel like the music is a somewhat amenic backdrop to the vocals. For an all arounder, I feel the Arya stealth is arguably the best. Haven't tried the HEKse cause...haven't found a way to demo them. Gear used is an A90 & Quobuz.
@@mopnem I have the Arya stealth as well! I enjoy the HE 1000 stealth a lot more! Pretty much for any kind of genre, but I do believe EDM and hip hop sound better on the Arya’s though. Could be because I use the EF 400 and the HE stealth sound better to my ears then Arya stealth’s do on that dac amp
@@colingordon0986 Fair enough! Thanks for the input, was kinda curious if you would agree or not. I might try eqing the HEK stealth cause I want to like them for everything. Never have eq’d before but it might be worth a shot for this instance.
@@mopnem honestly I use them as well with the mojo 2 and they sound fantastic! I own like 4 other pairs of headphones, and I like the HE stealth over all of those. They also sound better once you listen to them more and more. There the kind of headphone that might sound decent at first but gets better and better the more you listen to them.
After being captivated by this review, I'm considering the Hifiman HE1000 Stealth and HE1000SE. I've gathered that the HE1000SE has sonic similarities with the Susvara, and the HE1000 Stealth might lean towards the brighter side in treble. Given my current gear, I'm leaning towards the HE1000SE. I've been deeply immersed in high-fidelity audio and am cherishing the pairing of my Hifiman Edition XS with the Chord Mojo 2. The Edition XS punches above its price point, delivering a sonic experience that's hard to match. While they can be a tad bright for certain genres, I've fine-tuned them with EQ, adding a touch of bass warmth to achieve my desired sound signature. I'd love to hear recommendations from the community on this. Your insights are highly sought after. 🎶🎧
If you're enjoying the Edition XS, but find it a touch bright, I'd say the HE1000SE will be a great choice. Smoother treble, a little less bass punch, but a much more refined and detailed listening experience with a more balanced overall tonality.
@@PassionforSound Thank you so much for your insight!
I purchased both the HE1000SE and HE1000v2 Stealth at the same time two months ago, for the sale prices of $1999 and $1399 respectively. I kept the SE. They are extremely open to EQ. And the only thing i needed to do to get a touch more staging is reduce the upper mids a touch. The detail retrieval and the "realism" is uncontested on the SE. I EQ'd my SE to the tuning of the Meze Elite, essentially, which means I now have the staging and separation of the Elite (and the HE1000v2 Stealth for that matter), along with the uncontested detail and realism of the SE. EQ'd, I cannot imagine there is a better headphone, especially at the $1999 price point. I do not believe there is a better end game headphones value than the Hifiman HE1000SE for $1999 in the world.
I largely agree with you here. I think the Susvara is still technically better and the Elites and Calderas have benefits too, but at the price, the HEKSE is phenomenal
What EQ settings did you use? Another HE1000SE user here.
Really good to know that you are a musician that plays viola and violin. That instantly adds to the credibility of your ear and listening sensibilities. I'd have liked to know that a long time ago. Of course I've always trusted and enjoyed your reviews but being a musician, that's another level. Throw that information around more often.
I try not to overplay it because it can sound arrogant or egotistical. I played violin and viola for 10+ years and piano for even more (I've lost track of piano years) 🙂
@@PassionforSound Yeah, you just have to hint and drop clues. You're already established as a reviewer. It's clear sailing from here.
I’ve had the opposite experience with the SE compared to the original V2-I find my SE somewhat fatiguing on certain tracks, although far more detailed and resolving. I’m surprised to hear about this treble excess in the HE1000 Stealth, because Crinacle ranks the original V2 above the SE only due to the latter’s excess brightness. The original V2 and Susvaras are two out of the four options that Crinacle gives an “S” rating, with the SE listed at the top of the table offerings in the “A+” range-again only due to tuning differences.
From what I’ve heard, the original V2 differs from the Stealth model only in terms of the Stealth magnet, and I’m perplexed that this would change the FRC to such an extent. I’ve auditioned the original V2s compared to the SE and the Arya Stealth, and I find the V2s and the Aryas to be almost identical in their tuning-the V2s are much harder to drive, but they share the wide soundstage and very Harman-compliant tuning with the Aryas. For that reason I consider the original V2 to be the “step-up” from the Arya Stealth, differing almost exclusively in resolution and imaging quality-and I consider the SE to be in another category altogether.
I also consider the Edition XS to be the entry level option in this line of three HFM options with the original V2 and the Arya Stealths-they also have similar tuning and soundstage, and honestly I think they only differ from the Aryas in the premium aspects of the build. I don’t think one could ask for a finer-sounding headphone under $1,000 (under $500!).
One thing you didn’t mention was the extra bass extension shown in your own FRCs in the HE1000 Stealth compared to the SE-it looks like there’s a 5db increase in the bass shelf in the former, and I’m curious if the new HE1000 Stealth has more bass slam out of the box compared to the SE.
I also don’t agree with the Susvara/SE comparison-the Susvara (from
2016) is pre-Harman, and it is substantially lacking as a result in the bass compared with the SE. Consequently, at least for rock or similar genres, I find the Susvara to be incredibly dull and anemic, and far less physical and exciting than the SE-from my perspective I still consider the SE to be HFM’s definitive all-rounder flagship for that reason.
To me the Susvara is a prototype of what HFM achieved with their Stealth magnet technology, and its oval pad successors took its merits many steps further-and I think its price point is justified only in the service of recouping their original R&D costs for their step up in the game in the industry. Their subsequent offerings have been far more efficient and modern-sounding, while retaining all of the Susvara’s speed and detail-even with the larger driver.
When I received the Susvara along with the Arya Stealth, original V2 and SE for a definitive audition (using a Topping d90se and a 14 watt balanced iFi Pro iCAN Signature amp to drive the hell out of them), the Susvaras were the first to go back in the box-it continues to elude me why folks still speak with such reverence about that thing (I think they’re being biased by price). HFM’s oval pad innovations improve on the Susvara in just about every category. I had a very hard time deciding between the original V2 and the SE, because I loved the former’s tuning-but in the end I couldn’t part ways with the SE’s level of detail. So I kept the SE and added the Arya Stealth to give me a similar experience to the V2.
It was my hope that the V2 Stealth would offer the perfect combination of the V2’s tuning and soundstage along with the SE’s impeccable detail. Based on your review and FRC specs it sounds like that was a folly.
I also own the Meze Elites, and they are far and away more muted and less detailed to my ears than the SE-with both pad options I find the Elites seriously wanting in the high end.
I do think that all the HE1000 options belie any claims of poor build quality in the HFM line-my set is impeccably and seamlessly assembled and I have zero worries about their durability.
I have heard that the Dekoni Hybrid pads on the SE potentiate their bass response and tame their treble and fatigue to some extent, although I’ve been afraid to try the pad roll because I’ve heard of many folks who have cracked the frames on the stock pads when attempting to remove them. Would be curious about your own experience with this. But overall I applaud you for another thoughtful review!
I've revisited the two headphones multiple times since the review and the HE1K stealth is definitely brighter than the HE1KSE (which is also a little bitey sometimes). I never heard the OG HE1K. Maybe they tuned the stealth more to that target? I can't say.
@@PassionforSound Thanks for responding to that rambling reply!
At this point, who knows what Dr. Bian is thinking? He just released this Audivina, and from everything I’ve been told it’s more “reference” tuning than Harman and again lacking in the bass. I have no clue why some premium manufacturers release closed back headphones with some kooky idea that they should be optimized for studio engineers-what recording engineer is using some high concept art piece for their everyday work?
To me the one quality I look for in a closed back, the only one that makes any sense, is one that reclaims all the fullness and low end lost to the air in an open back driver. Yes the sound isolation is a nice perk, but who wants a closed back with flat tuning and a bass roll off? You’d think Bian would have learned from the R10P, which was a ludicrously expensive bust.
HFM is still my favorite brand overall, but I can’t make sense of their choices. I’ve never seen a flagship headphone such as this HE1000 Stealth be released with so much confusion and so little fanfare-the dealer sheets say HE1000V2 Stealth, but when HFM finally got around to mentioning the thing on their website last week they’re calling it the HE1000 Stealth. Others call it the V3. And based on its sensitivity of 93 and the new tunings you mentioned, it really isn’t similar at all to the original HE1000 or the V2. And despite it being available in Europe for months, they still haven’t announced it! I’m at a loss.
HFM got a lot of grief about the bright tuning on the SE. Surely they’ve seen Crinacle and read the reviews. Their most lauded headphone by far (other than the Susvara, which I’ve said enough about) is the original V2-so why they would release a successor with greater detail but even more brightness and fatigue than the SE is a total mystery to me. If they had gotten it right, at that price point it would have made them heroes and sold gazillions.
Something tells me that there’s a Susvara successor in the works. Other than the Audivina, all their recent offerings have been Stealth retreads of their existing lines. I still think their oval driver trounces their round options like the Sundara and Susvara (the Edition XS renders the Sundara unlistenable), but since their TOTL is going on 8 years old I’m suspect that we’re in for a refresh.
We’ll see how that one is tuned and whether they can improve the original’s efficiency, so it won’t require a high voltage transformer to drive-but based on their recent habits I don’t have much faith that they’ll finally release the “perfect” headphone. DCA tried with the Stealth and Expanse, which were both properly tuned out of the box, but even they require a hefty power amp to drive, and tuning be damned I still find them both lacking in excitement for reasons I can’t articulate.
For now I’m with you-I’m sticking with my SE, especially with the analog bass oomph I get in the low end from the xBass on my Pro iCAN Signature amp. If you happen to come across a worthy competitor headphone in your future, I’m all ears!
Yes, based on the comments I've received on this video, it seems the v2 and HE1K Stealth are quite different headphones in terms of tuning. HiFiMan are definitely an interesting brand with some of their decisions. When they hit, they really hit, but when they miss...
@@provisionalhypothesis I fully agree. We’re all just a guy with opinions ☺️ I often disagree with him, about the Utopia for instance-I own one and wouldn’t rank it in the top five at all. Same with the Susvara. I just think his justifications for ranking the original V2 above the SE, from a tuning standpoint, are valid. And I think the new HEK Stealth, which he has not reviewed, deserves to be ranked a bit above the SE (which I also own), based on tuning. It’s the first HFM flagship with a low shelf so close to Harman, and it is less fatiguing to my ears.
@@provisionalhypothesis Hey there, thanks for asking! It’s probably evident by now that I enjoy watching myself type a bit too much, so forgive me for the length. That question is too complex for a blurb!
I can only tell you what I currently own and how often I listen to each. My first “audiophile” headphone purchase was the Sony Z1R, followed by a set of 2020 Focal Utopias, both of which I still own. For HFM I have the HEKse, the Edition XS, and I just traded up my Arya Stealths for the HEK Stealth. I also have a Meze Elite and an Apple AirPod Max.
Previously I owned the Susvaras, a DCA Stealth, a Focal Clear MG, an Audeze LCD-X and LCD-4, and I spent quite a bit of time auditioning the HEKV2 and Sennheiser HD800S.
I should give a disclaimer that I am very fond of a punchy, full (but not boomy) bass response (I don’t listen to much classical, it’s mostly rock in every incarnation, alternative, some R&B and Hip Hop and occasionally dance music such as EDM or Hi-NRG), and that has informed most of my choices.
That should explain why I jettisoned the Susvaras and the Sennheisers. The Focal Clear MGs I gifted to my nephew. I sold the Audeze LCD-X because it was crap, and the LCD-4 because they nearly broke my neck every time I put them on my head. The DCA Stealth was sold, along with my Susvaras, to those who own plutonium-powered amplifiers to drive them-even my 14 watt balanced iFi Pro iCAN Signature apparently lacked sufficient power, which I found absurd.
The Apple AirPods Max I only use to watch movies or on airplanes, I’ve only kept the Sony Z1R because it’s my only closed back, and god only knows why I still own the damn Focal Utopias.
Like you from what it sounds like, the Utopias were my lesson learned the hard way about conflating cost with quality, and trusting corporate funded website reviews-besides my disappointment with their performance, nothing has turned me off of a brand more than their shill to release the 2022 “improved” model for $1,000 more-not to offer any improvements in sound, but to resolve the very driver failure issue you referred to. As soon as I heard that they weren’t offering a trade up, I washed my hands of the company for good.
Other strikes against the Utopias include their positively claustrophobic soundstage, and their pre-Harman, wholesale lack of bass-made worse by their notorious driver clearance issues that leads to terrifying pops when you try to apply enough PEQ bass to make them enjoyable.
So I’m not sure I can name a top five. There’s plenty of celebrated brands I haven’t tried. But if I had to pick three to last me for all time, I’d probably be neck-and-neck between the HEKse and the HEK Stealth, and I’d have a hard time choosing between my Edition XS and the Meze Elites. Yes, that wasn’t a typo-I think the Elites are the most beautiful, lavishly designed top tier headphones I’ve ever seen, they’re luxuriously comfortable, and I love the versatility of the pad options. But although they’re probably the most “musical” of the bunch, I think they lack in high end-what’s there is beautifully executed, but when I put them on after listening to the HEKse I feel like I’m a couple of fathoms under water, with either pad choice.
Whereas the Edition XS, despite its barebones build, sounds daringly close to the HEK series-with a soundstage that extends for miles, beautiful tuning and a hell of a lot of fun for a mind-boggingly cheap $459. I love that I can throw it around and take it anywhere and still get great sound.
If someone told me I could only have one right now, it would probably be the HEK Stealth-only because of that 5-6dB low shelf rise over the HEKSE. The SE may be a tad more resolving, but I don’t think by much.
That being said, HFM has basically let the cat out of the bag in an email to me that they have a flagship refresh in the near future. I can’t imagine how they could improve what’s out there (maybe they’re really going bleeding edge with an xmems driver option?), but I’m such a devoted fan of theirs that I can’t wait to see and hear what’s next!
How about yourself?
HEKse is a good time. Very likely to please many people especially if you listen to a lot of different genres and have a preference for vocals and strings. You'd be in for a treat and I would say.. it would be worth the extra spend over the Arya SE. The Arya Organic might throw a wrench into that evaluation when it's released but the HEKse is a very, very easy recommendation if you don't mind the spend. Very balanced, I'd agree with your evaluation of its general characteristics and your assessment of its tonal strength. I recall being confused by what HiFiMan was trying to accomplish with these various offerings at similar price points but I think it's a bit simplified for me now: if you can afford the HEKse ---> just get it
Yep, that pretty much sums it up, I think. You're right about the Arya Organic. I haven't tried directly comparing with the HEKSE yet, but it will be a tough battle I expect.
I send it back today because the se has not enough bass. Dry and way to thin. The rest sounds great. I am using it with ef 400.
That's the treble peak offsetting the bass that's there. I understand your decision.
@@Spliffstar5582 - I'm a pretty decent basshead, I often say there's levels to being a basshead, and I'm probably the equivalent of a brown belt with a black stripe in that regard. I mean I own a Campfire Cascade and run it on a Zen DAC with TrueBass on, I got an addiction I confess. Yet I've never found the bass to be lacking on the HEKse, and I think I would attribute that to the quality of bass response it provides. I do own the EF400 but it's rarely the source I use for the HEKse, I tend to pair it with a Mojo 2 or a Questyle m15 because it's easy enough to drive and the highs on both of those devices bring out the sweetness of HiFiMan's treble tuning for me. I guess I could see the HEKse sounding thinner comparatively to other headphones, especially on a leaner source, but not sure I can agree about them being dry. Having owned a couple of closed Focals, those lean dry to my ear. I would describe the HEKse as a more liquid/fluid listen, more smoothed than etched. Sorry to use flowery audiophile language but it's the best I got. I use the Senny HD600 as my basis if something sounds a bit more fluid or dynamic or drier or etched or strident or sibilant or in terms of gauging timbre quality. I unfortunately don't have a reference point for bass, I tend to like a lot of bass and very high quality bass (in terms of tone, control and texture) independently. I can have a good time with some bloat or I can get my Darko on and snob it up. Everyone's tastes are different though, hopefully you find something that works better for you. Good luck!
@@dasninjastix thank you for sharing your experience and your opinion. The package was already ready for shipment. I unpacked it again and listened again to see if there really is so little bass. Maybe I was exaggerating a bit, even though the arya stealth and he stealth have more bass quantity. But I have reconsidered my decision. And I'm keeping it now. As I also have an arya stealth, which is a good counterpart to the SE, I'm now selling the HE stealth, as I think it sounds similar but a bit snappier than the arya stealth. Thanks for the assessment. Best regards
28:06
Excellent review Lachlan, I really enjoyed it. I thought your comments comparing the Arya, V2 stealth and the SE were strong and very accurate. I owned the V2 non stealth for 4 years before upgrading to the SE, which I’ve owned for 2 years now. Although I absolutely loved my V2’s, I quickly realized they were no match for the SE’s lightning speed and absolutely smooth presentation. The SE’s, although ruthlessly visceral, are also smooth as butter and have one of the best centre images I have ever heard. You’re totally right, the V2 stealth is way more “Out there” left and right wise, but the SE’s ability to reign everything in and provide a cohesive, smooth yet totally enjoyable wall of sound around my head is nothing short of intoxicating. My original non stealth V2’s were actually brighter in my opinion than the SE’s are!
Great video, I thought your comments were spot on. Keep up the great work, I really enjoy your reviews!!
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences! It's always nice to get some confirmation that I'm not the only one hearing things that way. Glad you enjoyed the review! 🙂🙂
@@PassionforSound
No you had it pegged in your review, really good stuff!!!
The other thing I really enjoy about the SE which I know you will appreciate is a guy can wander around the house with it hooked to an iPhone and a Cayin RU6 (Watched your awesome dongle review!!) for pretty darn amazing sound on the go!!
That’s what I do!!!
Happy listening Lachlan, keep those excellent reviews coming my way!!!
That's a great point about the portable usage around the house! So glad you're enjoying the content
Which one would be better for Mixing and Mastering music? SE or V2?
''the V2 stealth is way more “Out there” left and right wise''
Can you elaborate this ? I'm looking for this type of sound to be honest. More distinct right and left, wider stage. I find that Edition XS have wider stage(more right/left) than Arya Stealth.
It's especially confusing when the HE1000 V2 and HE1000 V2 Stealth have absolutely NO differentiator externally. You might be able to see the magnet difference if you look closely at the earcups but that's about it. And yes the non stealth is quite a bit different, the stealth version adds quite a bit more bass compared to the non stealth which is more neutral and leaner sounding.
Great review ❤ I had the HE1000SE for almost two years but then sold it. I appreciate the large and spatial representation, the price of the HE1000SE has fallen significantly in Europe, maybe I'll get it again.
Still a brilliant headphone!
@@PassionforSound Since this video, the prices for the HE1000se $1,999.00 (€2399) and the HE1000-Stealth Magnet version $1,399.00 (€1499) have dropped significantly and the Arya Organic is brand new. It would be interesting if you could make an update video.
There's no update video on the cards as such, but my Arya Organic review will consider the HEKSE as a comparison.
@@PassionforSound I'm looking forward to the Arya Organic review. The recently introduced HEDDphone TWO piqued my curiosity last week, perhaps a serious alternative to the Hifiman's.
I'm keen to try the Heddphones too if I can get my hands on them
I got the HEKSE's. Compared them side by side to my Arya Stealth's. I think Arya Stealth stock tuning slightly better and more tolerable. However HEKSE is clearly better headphone. Stage width, depth, spaciousness, separation, details all on another level. Definite step up. And no, it's not because of elevated treble. The headphone is inherently more capable.
To my ears, Arya is more intimate, mid forward and slightly warmer and slightly more bassy. You get more meat from the mids and more impact from the lows and highs. It sounds more focused and upfront. Slightly thicker.
HEKSE mids quite distant and treble quite elevated. It sounds softer and layered. Going from Arya S to HEKSE stage immediately opens up to the sides and in front. There are a lot more things going on in the music. All separated and have space around them. HEKSE makes Arya sound flat and blunt.
Arya have sharper attack but HEKSE have better dynamic expression i think. Arya is a bit more engaging headphone. HEKSE offers more imaginative soundstage. I found HEKSE much better for games. The staging and imaging much better. Arya Stealth comes out a bit better with engaging, hype music. It's more aggressive and focused. Both of these headphones are bright i think. I use EQ with them. I mean they are fine if your listening session is short but you kinda need EQ if you keep them on your head all day.
Impressive headphones. I see why they are expensive. But i think they should focus on tactility of their drivers for their upcoming headphones. I heard people saying HE6 and HE6se have that tactility. I haven't heard these headphones myself but i honestly crave that aspect of the sound. On the other hand, that tactile quality may harm the staging capabilities so everything is a trade off i guess.
Thanks for sharing your experiences! I'm glad you got to try them for yourself to better identify your preferences.
I'm happy that I have He1000 v2, not stealth or SE. Stealth technology doesn't match my ears. I used to have Arya Stealth. It was perfect in the beginning. However, after the honeymoon time, I often had fatigued by the bright and sharp sounds. I know that Arya stealth had pinpoint accuracy and clarity. Still, my honeymoon didn't last long with Stealth technology. These are just my subjective experiences. Also, I have never tried he1000 stealth or SE. So I might be wrong.
I'd recommend trying another stealth version headphone before making up your mind because they're all a little different. Thank you for sharing your experiences though!! 🙂
Try the hekse, sound quality-wise it wipes the floor with the hek v2 or any arya.
@@daniluzzu but its also way brighter and treble murder...
@@soraflame66 Any Arya is brighter than any he1000. The hek v2 might be a tad warmer in general than the hekse, but the hekse is not too bright for me (the Arya, including the stealth, is annoyingly bright for me without eq). And the hekse has amazing bass, with good heft, and in general better than the hek v2 in every aspect, resolution, imaging, depth, dynamics, realism, you name it.
What a coincidence, I'll be at a shop tomorrow to take a 2nd listen to the HE1000 Stealth (and probably the Arya 2021 as well).
Hope you find one you love!
@@PassionforSound Thank you! I did, sat 2 hours in the shop today and listened to a lot of good stuff. The HE 1000 Stealth were a little bit too bright for me, I bought the Arya.
Nice choice! Glad you got to try them for yourself 🙂🙂
Thanks for sharing.
To realize the full potential of a headphone, the FR should be personalized. In addition, the EQ can be used to correct construction and principle-related unevenness in the FR. I recently did an a/b comparison between the HE-1000 Stealth and the Susvara. Both were set to the same volume and FR. So I was able to check the headphones for their technical performance. For me, the HE-1000 Stealth was clearly the winner. The Sus has the higher transparency, and higher resolution. The HE-1000V2 Stealth has significantly more energy and punch in the low frequencies, and a more authentic timbre.
The Susvara has a different character than the HE-1000 Stealth. The Sus is extremely airy and high-res. Which are very positive characteristics to the next. However, as is well known, the coin has two sides. Due to its airiness, it lacks a "stable foundation" in the low frequency range. At least in direct comparison with the Stealth, the bass seems relatively powerless and gentle (it reminds me of the typical DCA sound).With the Susvara, it was already clear at medium volume and some drums, or a bass guitar, that it has significantly less impact, and punch, than the Stealth.Incidentally, I've already had the experience with the LCD 5 that at some point a point is reached where even more resolution somehow has a negative effect. Nobody needs more resolution than Stealth delivers.
I suspect that out of 100 people the preference would be split 50/50. For gentle classical music or very smooth jazz, I would also prefer the Sus. For the rest clearly the Stealth.
I had almost every TOTL headphone you can buy. The HE-1000 Stealth is the best I've ever heard.
PS. The Lyr+ is a perfect match for the HE-1000 Stealth.
I'm looking at the V2 Stealths very closely. But I've had people tell me just get the Arya Stealths. My purpose is mostly movies and single player, non-competitive gaming, with music on the side. Pretty much a comfortable daily driver with kick ass dynamics and low end for cinematic experiences. Would you have any opinion on my use case? My budget is around 3kish, including the used market, so I have a lot of choices, but I've heard the Arya Stealths more than any other headphone. I currently use the LCD-X and they're great, but just too heavy.
I would probably go for the Arya Stealths too. The HEKv2S is great, but it will depend a lot on your tastes for enhanced treble. The HEKv2S will probably give you slightly better sound location for gaming, but will be a little less balanced for your movie watching, etc.
Really appreciated this thorough review. I thought I got screwed when the Arya Organic came out after I got the Arya Stealth last year. But after listening to your explanation from your video of Arya Organic and now this video on the HE1000SE vs HE1000 V2 Stealth, I realize the HE1000SE is just the right addition to my headphone collection. The Arya SE is really the maximum brightness I want to experience and I would love to have a headphone that could provide better intimacy, better tonal balance, that could provide better enjoyment in listening to Jazz music. Right now I'm using LCD-X for smooth jazz and Focal Clear for crossover jazz. The Arya rarely gets used for these because it's not intimate enough or too aggressive in the treble for enjoyment. I'm hoping the HE1000SE will be the solution of providing a bigger and more enjoyable sound stage for crossover jazz and better timbre and nice smoothed out detail in smooth jazz when paired with the Hifiman EF400
I think you'll really enjoy the HEKSE and it's cheaper now too, I believe. With the EF400 it should be a nice complement to your other cans.
I ordered the HE 1000 STEALTH yesterday! So excited for them to get here!
Awesome! Congratulations and enjoy!!
Thanks for this great review. I got my HE1000se 1.5 months ago and love it so much.The sound stage is so amazing!
So glad you're loving your HE1KSEs!! (And the review too) 🙂
Which one would be better for Mixing and Mastering music? SE or V2?
@@FierceLeo. I just saw this, and thought I’d weigh in? Honestly I don’t think either are suitable for serious audio mastering, because they’re both tonally-colored headphones and open back. Both have emphasis in the high end, more V-shaped than what you’d want from studio headphones, and although the V2 is the more neutral of the two, it’s also less detailed. The new HEK Stealth in particular has quite an elevated low shelf as well.
For listening, Harman tuning (which is fairly V-shaped) is the supposed ideal. For audio engineering, you want balanced and flat. From what I understand, the new Audivina has very neutral tuning, and a decent amount of noise isolation to help facilitate a good master. Hope that helps!
@@srkbear1 Besides the Audivina, what other headphones are neutral in the low range and high end range
@@DenofLeos What price range?
Thanks Lachlan for a great and helpful review. I purchased the Meze Elites and the Burson Soloist 3X largely on your reviews and I have been VERY happy! The Elites will almost certainly be my endgame cans. However, I am also thinking about purchasing the HE1000se headphones as a second option and as a 'contrast' to the Elites, so your comparison to the HE1000se was very helpful. May I ask if you think the Burson Soloist 3X might help tame any potential treble sharpness/brightness which is sometimes associated with the HE1000se? Unfortunately, where I live I won't get a chance to demo personally the HE1000se. Thanks again and keep up the great content!
Hi Marc, that's great that I've been able to help you so far. I think the HEKSE is a great compliment to the Elites. Sadly, the Soloist 3X won't do a lot to tame the HEKSE without an op-amp swap. That doesn't mean it will be bad - I enjoy them on all my gear, but they won't be as easy to listen to as the Elites. That said, we all hear treble a bit differently so you might have no fatigue at all. Hope you love them!
@@PassionforSound Thanks Lachlan, appreciate the reply and duly noted. As an ageing audiophile, the inevitable loss of hearing in the higher frequencies might be a blessing with regard to the HEKSE's potentially brighter treble response😊😆
Thanks Lachlan, I’m going to wait for the HE1000SE invisible magnet edition V81 ; )
Haha. It's like that!!
I've got extra unexpected money to burn! Considering the SE is now £1900 vs £1100 for the Stealth V2, I'll trade my Ayra Stealth for the SE. May as well go full upgrade, but can fully demo them and hopefully the shop still has my amp (Burson 3x GT) to use as well.
My Tungstens are still months away so will see when they arrive as I doubt I keep both well, maybe not!
I bought new HEkSE for 1900€ because of discount of Hifiman and discount saler. It’s amazing price compared to its level. Original price in France is 2300€ because of French taxes. Happy for those who have price 1999$ outside EU. And with additional seller discount it’s possible to get it in 1600-1700$.
Congratulations! It's a brilliant headphone, especially at that price.
Great review and you did a good job of covering up for not having the other v2 to compare. But, I still wish you did.
Yeah. I did try, but no local patrons had a pair ☹️
Great review. I've had my HEKse for a long time now. It was an upgrade to the Arya V2 and although it sometimes comes across a bit bright, it's a huge upgrade over the Arya (not heard Arya Stealth) in every aspect of sound. One thing worth reiterating - the depth that you get with the HEKse compared to the Arya. "Chocolate Chip Factory" by Tool sounds two-dimensional on the Arya compared to the HEKse that has the drums going not just left to right but front to back. Not quite the level of the Utopia but it compensates for that with the overall size of the soundstage.
I've recently been considering upgrading to the Susvara even though I've never heard it (so, a gamble). But having heard so many opinions saying that I might be disappointed unless I find a perfect match in terms of amp (not just raw power but also sound signature) which I wouldn't really want to spend that much money on, I think I'm better off with the HEKse since it's highly enjoyable and different enough from the Utopia to make me wanna reach for it. I know that you're a big fan of the Elite, I hope that I can hear what they sound like. My hunch is that I wouldn't enjoy them long-term because I find "smooth" headphones boring, although it can certainly be a very sensible choice if one's plan is to "only" have one headphone in their collection. The consensus seems to be that the HEKse is technically very close to the Utopia and well ahead of the Elite. I think your love for the Elite's tonality will play a big factor in your perception of the headphone (which applies to all of us and all of our preferences), but you did also mention that going back to the HEKse reminds you of how coloured the Elite is. That's one of the reasons I've been unwilling to let my HEKse go - even though it sometimes sounds a bit too technical, I then switch to the Utopia which has its own nuanced colouration and sooner or later I'll return to the HEKse... and so the story goes, having contrasting headphones keeps me always engaged and always entartained. 🙂 I think that the Susvara could spoil this balance in my case.
Maybe wait for the new version of sus. Is coming.
Do you have that from a reliable source, Philip? Or is it just conjecture based on all the other revised models popping up?
Michal, it sounds like you might just love the Susvara if you enjoy a more energetic and lively sound. For that preference, they are probably the greatest option around and their amp requirements are vastly overstated IMO. They will benefit from a slightly warmer/fuller amp tuning, but that's easy enough to find.
@@PassionforSound Thanks for that suggestion. I was close to upgrading not long ago but the price difference is so huge that I thought that I'd better be reasonably certain that it's worth it first. And my understanding was that it's the HEKse which is the livelier headphone whilst the Susvara is supposed to be smoother, gentler, more ethereal, delicate, with less bass and possibly less body. I was also worried that the soundstage would shrink on the Sus and if you add to this the risk of losing the HEKse's precise and airy treble (I'm worried that the Sus's striving to be "perfect" would mean less air up top, albeit it's certainly a bit exaggerated on the HEKse) then I started hesitating if this would definitely be an upgrade.
But you seem to be saying that the Sus might be a better companion to my Utopia than the HEKse is. 😃
My amp is the Burson 3XP with the Super Charger. To me it sounds full-bodied and energetic, especially with HQPlayer's Sinc filters applied (which should be similar to Chord's in terms of sound presentation). These settings actually make the HEKse sound so full at times that it makes me think that there's even more transparency to be had. Don't get me wrong, I'm not all about transparency, but the Utopia plays the role of the headphone which puts cohesiveness over everything else (so I probably wouldn't enjoy anything warmer than it, like a Meze headphone) so I want further transparency and separation from my planar headphone.
Do you think that the Burson would do the job with the Susvara in terms of it pulling ahead of the HEKse, now that you know what the HEKse sounds like?
Hmmm... not sure I would both with the Susvara on the Soloist 3XP. There's enough power, but the real benefit of the Susvara is that it will reveal so much texture and detail from higher end systems. You might be underwhelmed (considering the price) if driving it from the Soloist 3XP. I wonder if the HEKv2S might actually be the better option for your chain. It is the more detailed and somewhat more spacious (presented differently) headphone compared to the HEKSE.
Nice review.. Do you think SE is a good mastering tool with a little eq?
Yes, I think it could be very good
@@PassionforSound 👍
What dac/amp all in one combo would you recommend to get the HE1000 Stealth to the warmer site ? So that the treble becomes more smooth. Would you go for the SMSL M500 MK3 , the Topping 7 pro plus or the Fiijo K9 Pro ESS or the Mojo 2 maybe? Or would you go for some EQ in the treble. Thanks for the great review by the way?
Of these options, the Mojo 2 with a treble shelf to pull down a bit on the upper end is probably your best bet. Otherwise, the M500 Mk3.
@@PassionforSound and the EF600? Would you prefer that one on top of the 2 above? I ask you this because you liked the SOUND of the 400 in your review the most or not? No more questions :)
The EF600 is better, I think and the NOS mode will definitely help to smooth of the attack from the HEK
@@PassionforSound I have ordered the EF600. Thanks for the advice. Would you set the 600 to low gain NOS or not?
That just depends on the volume level you need. I'd start in low gain and go to high if you're having to turn the volume up a long way.
I’m in Sydney and demo’d the 3 headphones compared here.
Pretty spot on evaluation mate. I probably would dish the new 1000stealths more than you did. To hot in the treble for me. For example, in “cocaine” in Eric Claptons slowhand album, there’s a little snare shuffle that most headphones mush up, i could hardly hear it on the hek stealths without the bass and guitar being unbearably loud.
I ended up happily buying the Arya stealth. The SE does have a lovely smoothness to the mid bass that separates in some songs it but I found it hard to pick between them on a lot of songs, and some songs I liked the Arya better. In the end I couldn’t warrant twice the price for the SE.. yet… lol
So glad you were able to try them for yourself and I think you made a great decision. Thanks for sharing your experiences
Finally bought the HE1000SE today.. for AUD $2799 at addicted to audio.. glad I waited !
@MrRosscoz great deal. Enjoy your new cans!
The SE is curretly USD$1800 (with a three-year warranty!), just in case Mr. Dietz is unable to supply one of his Mod House Tungsten headphones according to my specifications.
That's a nice deal
Where?
@@JTB-- notice the timestamp on my comment. 🤓
@@JTB--, in my case, I have ordered the Tungsten. 🎧
@@JTB-- iFi Phantom.
Im not going to lie - i had the exact opposite experienxw. The Stealth was smooth (but bright) with thicker bass, while the SE was super bright (especially past 10khz.)
I'd have to look at the graphs to check, but what might be happening there is that we all have different treble sensitivities due to the shape of our ears canals and the natural resonances that creates. If a headphone's treble peaks happen to hit the exact wrong (or right) frequencies for your ear resonance (or mine), it could create this experience.
awesome review mate!
is the note decay of the two similar to that of the verite open?
I don't think either is the same as the VO, but the tonality of the HEKv2S makes it sound a little faster and snappier
do i understnd well?he1000 you speak about is the stealth magnet?
This is the HE1000 Stealth and the HE1000SE both being reviewed and compared.
He1000se has become my favorite planar over the others thank you again for your review
My pleasure! Glad you're enjoying your HEKSEs.
@@PassionforSound it’s beautiful! I’m running it on the violetric V550 I really hope you can get one in for review soon
Will you do a Video or do you have an opinion on the Arya Organic compared to the He1000se?
That one's coming. I haven't compared them yet...
Thank you for the video, been looking for this! please asking for some help, Im a person that get fatigued with the arya v2 non stealth and Im trying to find the right hifiman upgrade, the last 2 options are the he1000v2 Original and the newer he1000v2 stealth, which one do you recommend to have a look first, focusing mainly and getting the version of he1000 with less treble.
thank you in advance, hello from Brisbane mate!
Hi MG. I can very quickly help here. Do not get the HEK Stealth if the Arya v2 is fatiguing. The HEK Stealth is worse for fatigue.
I haven't tried the OG HEKv2, but by all reports they seem to be the best option for you.
@@PassionforSound Thank you so much mate I really appreciate it, I ask many reviewers but you are the only one with a quick a simple suggestion, The reason I was considering the stealth is because some people says that is having bigger bass, like the arya v2 vs the stealth, so I thought the stealth versions in general also reduce the treble like in the arya V3. thank you so much I will go to sydney next week to A/B both and buy the less fatiguing one.
thank you mate, keep the awesome work, I'll be around!
So glad I could help. I'm glad you're going to audition because that's always best. Please drop back in and let me know how you go! 🙂
I've just ordered the HEKSE for roughly 1500$ on AliExpress brand new!! I'm pairing it with my Mjolnir 3 and the Harmony DAC.
Nice! That will be a brilliant setup
Hello! I wanna order dekoni pads for he1000se and organic. Please could you help me with advice?
1. How sound could change with hybrid pads and perforated leather?
2. Pads can be removed and installed without glue? on latches?
3. Maybe exist better pads than Dekoni?
I anticipate decreasing treble and increasing bass a little. And I don’t like comfort with stock pads.
Dekoni pads are generally great. As for what each pad will do - that's a bit hard to know because different headphones respond differently. I'd expect Dekoni will provide some measurements to help with this though. Even if it's measurements for a different HiFiMan model, the general changes should be fairly consistent across all models.
Finally, the pads don't require glue. They use a simple plastic clip system.
Thank you a lot! I’m big fan of your Chanel.
By the way, is it possible make review of affordable fully balanced amp with pre amp woo wa22 especially highlighting tube rolling to choose right ones. For 2700$ it’s great for its tech specs.
I have probably watched this review 3 times now. So helpful! I have enjoyed the Arya Stealth quite a bit but if I can get more out of the HEK line I’d rather upgrade now. I’m using an EF400 - can you provide me any info of how the HEK Stealth vs HEKSE performed on the EF400? I know I’ll need to try them to know for sure but I’m hoping to learn as much as I can before spending more money 😊
So glad you've found the review so useful!
I don't have the EF400 anymore, but having owned it for a while, I would say the performance of both headphones will be as I described in the video which means that the HEK Stealth will be a bit more aggressive than your Aryas while the HEKSE will change the sound signature a little while rewarding you with a better overall sound quality IMO
Have you made any decisions yet about an upgrade to the Arya Stealth? I own the Arya Stealth and the HEKSE, and I picked up the Arya specifically due to its tamed highs and high mids that have led to some listening fatigue in my HEKSEs.
But now I just grabbed up the HEK Stealth as of yesterday, and thus far I’m seriously impressed. It seems to truly provide the level of detail retrieval I get with the SE, with not only the tamed highs the Arya provides but an entirely new addition of a 5-6 dB rise in the bass shelf compared with all of the others-this HEK Stealth is the first planar (other than the DCA Stealth/Expanse, which are a nightmare to drive) that truly provides the bass slam and a precise low end that shows how more accurate a planar magnet can be than their dynamic counterparts. It’s the most “fun”, rock-friendly flagship I’ve heard yet-I’m not quite sure how it compares to the HEKSE in terms of detail retrieval, but I’m guessing that when I PEQ the two to be matched the differences will be vanishingly minimal.
I wasn’t expecting this-I’ve considered the HEKSE my endgame headphone for over a year despite its fatigue factor, but these new HEK Stealths just might become my new favorite of all time. Why HFM has been so low key about their release is beyond me, but if I were starting over, I couldn’t imagine paying the extra $1,500 for the SE (or buying a companion Arya) had I heard these first.
HFM is VERY cool about upgrades-you might consider approaching them with a trade up option for your Aryas. Usually they’ll oblige for merely the difference in retail price. In my view it would be worth the trouble!
I think i have got an itch to get something for new year :P I got the focal clear which i like, hifiman edition xs which is good. I think i am little treble sensitive but i usually use Roon and get it adjusted. Do you think under $1800 Aud Stealth would be a good upgrade? plz
You'll define needing to EQ if you're treble sensitive, but they're an excellent headphone.
@@PassionforSound lol must be confusing for you. Just asked about the iems n headphones at the same time 😀 thank you 🙏
I ordered Arya and was looking to upgrade to he1000 but you praise the Meze Elite more than he1000 and it's closed hp so now I'm thinking to order Meze.
The Meze Elite is an open back, but it is also the headphone I would choose over the HEK
Thank you for answer! By the way, is it possible make review of affordable fully balanced amp with pre amp woo wa22 especially highlighting tube rolling to choose right ones. For 2700$ it’s great for its tech specs.
I don't currently have access to Woo gear, but will gladly review their amps of the opportunity ever presents
This is a really useful review for me at the moment. I have just returned today from the dealer and ended up preferring the Arya Stealth over the 1000SE due to its more 'direct' presentation and tuning. Unfortunately they did not have the HE1000 Stealth for me to try. If I understand you correctly, the presentation and tuning of the Arya Stealth and HE1000 Stealth are very similar, but the 1000 Stealth has better technicalities...is that correct? If so I'll wait until I can compare the Arya Stealth and the 1000 Stealth before making a purchase. Your advice is very much welcomed if you have time.(Liked and Subscribed)
Thanks Dave! Yes, the HEK Stealth is like a more technical Arya Stealth, but with also a little more energy/attack in the treble
@@PassionforSound Thank you
To me , I own the arya stealth and love it , I won't buy next step up when its not big step up from arya , so my next would b something different , zmf top or mid tier headphones .
Hi Lachlan, I've been researching headphones for a little while now and really enjoy your reviews.
I was hoping you could tell me what you would choose out of the Arya Organic, 1000 Stealth and 1000 SE for a daily driver. Listening to music for hours each day, varied genres like rock, pop, rap, folk, edm. I just want to ENJOY my music mainly.
I want to buy just 1 set of headphones that are brilliant. The trouble is that between these three models, I read and watch conflicting opinions all the time.
I trust you - so if you could only have 1 pair - which would it be? I know this is all subjective :)
The HE1000SE are comfortably the best headphone of this bunch to my ears so that's what I'd choose. The challenge is that so much comes down to preferences and a little bit of system synergy too.
Do you have any experience with other headphones or setups that you love (or hate) where you can get a sense of what you really want a headphone to be strong at or anything to avoid?
@@PassionforSound thanks so much for replying to me. Your first line actually sealed the deal. I’ve ordered the HE1000SE!
I’m actually new to the audiophile headphone world. Started with a HD599 then grabbed Edition XS and an EF499 amp.
My Edition XS had a rattle in the cup so I returned it to Amazon and by that point decided to just purchase something top tier and enjoy! I did enjoy the Edition XS sound.
I’m sure I’m going to love them and get right into this as a hobby now. But always #1 is enjoying the music.
Thanks again mate, all the best!
@sillyhat700 so glad I could help. Congratulations on your purchase. I hope you love them!
How are you finding them compared to the Edition XS? I own the Edition XS but wasn’t that impressed with my Mojo 2 and Tidal, and then I got the right channel buzz out of warranty. Currently considering the Amanda Nano at £389, the Arya Stealth at £619, the Arya Organic at £899 and the HE1000 V2 Stealth at £1099, all about 20% off. Unfortunately the HE1000 SE isn’t on sale and I can’t justify £1699.
@@doifeellucky Hey, terribly sorry for the late reply. Unfortunately, I won't be much help as I am unable to test any of the headphones outside of my XS that also were faulty like yours and my new HE100SE.
I can say that they are a clear giant jump up in sound quality and build quality from the XS. As you would expect from the price. In fact, I was quite surprised how much better these feel in hand that the XS. Mine too had issues. The box they come in is so much nicer than the other hifiman stuff too. It really added to the premium feel for me.
I don't have much of a point of comparison but obviously they sound tremendous. I think what I feel when I listen to them is that whatever I am listening to sounds like it should sound. And good recordings knock my socks off haha.
Also, I am noticing new sounds, and even words and lyrics, in songs I have listened to all my life which is blowing my mind. Also though, if it's a poor recording, or say I'm listening to vinyl and there are pops. I sure as hell know it's not perfect haha.
I had read that these were mostly good for classical music and that maybe my preferred genres were better suited to other headphones. Maybe, but let me tell you, when I pop on 'Kid A by Radiohead', 'Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish', or 'This is All Yours by Alt-J', I am transported to another realm. Goodness me these can be magic.
Another thing is gaming - my goodness. I feel like I am cheating in Black Ops 6, haha. They are that good. Wish they had a mic as I hate having to downgrade to my Arctic 7s to chat with my mates on discord while I game. I want to wear these for EVERYTHING!
Overall, I love them. They feel solid and well-made and they sound fantastic. Would I have been equally happy with the Organics or He1000 stealth? Who knows? Probably as you don't know what you don't know. But I am happy with my purchase.
Also, I will say I continued to read over and over that these were super bright and sibilant and couldn't be listened to for long periods. Maybe that was the old version of them, but I have no trouble listening to these all day. And they are super comfy.
Hope this rant helps someone. Enjoy the music peeps :)
Thanks man. I have the HE1000SE and absolutely love them but I also have eardrums where I don't find things too bright in case it helps. Ie:My Hd800 sounds great to me
I really like them too and I normally don't gel well with bright headphones so either my hearing has declined suddenly or there is a specific frequency in their tuning that effects some but not me. Hopefully it's the latter...
Which one would be better for Mixing and Mastering music? SE or V2?
@FierceAugLeo I feel like to me the SE would reveal more of the micro details in your recording/production so you may hear more in the HE1000SE. If you happen to be in Vancouver Canada you are welcome to borrow mine anytime
Where can I buy V2 stealth, I never new the stealth edition came out??
Most retailers of HiFiMan should be getting it in so try any local retailer and just be sure that you're getting an HE1000 with the stealth magnets sticker on the box. That said, I think the SE is the better choice for mixing and mastering
actually recently I bought a new Hifiman he1000se, its cables are black as the same as He1000v2.
That's interesting (and probably preferable I would say)
Thank you for the detailed review.
I'm waiting after ordering He 1000 se.
Glad you liked the review. Great choice of the HEKSE. Hope you love them!
Excellent video! Loved the B role intro and music. Having the Arya Stealth I have been wondering how much of a sound upgrade I would experience moving to the HE1000 series. Thanks for all the details describing each versions sound. Looks like I'll be saving up for the HE1K SE. Do you think once you get the HE1K SE the Arya Stealth will be obsolete in one's collection? Not sure if I should trade up or keep it in my collection. I also appreciate the comparison to the Susvara. I completely understand that sometimes a less technical headphone can actually be more fun to listen to. That's what the Sennheiser HD6XX/650 do for me. Thanks again for the great reviews! Cheers
Glad I could help. I think I would probably consider the Arya obsolete with the HE1KSE in the collection so I would do a trade up and then maybe put the funds into other gear to give you more diversity of headphone flavour or some other source gear. That said, if you really love the Arya Stealth, you might want to hold onto them until you try the HE1KSE in case you find them different enough to keep. For me, the HE1KSE is consistently more enjoyable so it's an easy decision, but we're all different in what we enjoy.
@@PassionforSound Lachlan, do you plan to sell your Arya Stealth and keep the HE1KSE instead? By the way, to get the full picture, you really need to try our original HE1KV2 and compare it to other HiFiman hi-end headphones
@@PassionforSound I've got my endgame source thanks to you and your review. I sold my FiiO K9 Pro AKM and went to the top.. Burson Conductor GT. I am so happy with that purchase even though I'm still making payments on it. Gotta love 0% interest payment plans. LOL. I definitely will trade up to the HE1K SE from the Arya SE at some point. Love the way you describe the sound improvement and that they are more entertaining than Susvara. As always thanks for doing what you do. Cheers
I will possibly sell the HEKv2S and keep the Arya I think. I might keep them all as good reference points for people who've heard one or other before.
I did try to borrow an OG HEKv2 for the review, but had no luck
So glad I could help Clint! The Conductor GT is a beast!
Have you tried the ZMF Caldera yet? Any chance a review is coming?
No and yes 😁
Haven't tried it yet, but I have one coming soon so I'll be trying it AND reviewing it in the coming months.
@@PassionforSound Oh I can't wait for that review and comparison and how it sits with your tastes.
Me too!
I wonder, Lachlan - did you at all perform a burn in process? I've owned several HFM cans and the "reference" lines of Ananda and above have all benefitted from at least 50 hours (to start) for the treble to mellow out. Just curious. Great impressions - as usual......
Hi Eric, yes. My standard process with all headphones is to open them up, measure them immediately and then let them run (either while I listen or not). I then do listening tests and re-measure after at least a week of use, but normally more (more in this case).
@@PassionforSound So, at least about ~50 hours or so - yes? My Arya Stealths took at least that 'to start' to settle in the treble - my V2's too.
Yeah, if the HEKsm is even more aggressive in the upper treble than the Arya Stealth - I pause slightly at lusting after them, LOL.
I wonder how much more neutral/bright your Chord Hugo TT is compared to my Gustard H20 with Sparkos Labs SS-3602 discrete opamps? For me, that begs consideration that if the TT is uber neutral bordering on bright - and my H20 is less so - I wonder if that would be the difference in taming some of that upper treble aggressiveness in the HEKsm while leaving the extra detail and texture remaining? Thoughts???
OTOH, if the HEKsm is even more spacious, layered, and tonally rich vs the Arya Stealth, I still may want to try them at some point in the near future. Thoughts???
Again, great job on your general (and more detailed) impressions......
The TT2 is definitely what I would describe as 'true neutral' (even though that's still subjective). That said, I personally find the HEKS to still be too aggressive from amps like the smooth, LTA MZ3 (even after lots of burn-in). They're a very capable headphone, but I think they'll be to aggressive for many people.
@@PassionforSound Hi Lachlan!!! I finally took the plunge and bought the HEKv2 Stealths. While I juuust started the burn-in process - I can definitely say that they're definitely pretty bassy and bright fresh out of the box...almost "too" bassy and brittle in the treble compared to my well-played in Arya Stealth (this played through my Gustard H20). However, after only about ~25-30 hrs so far, they've sort of started to mellow in both the treble and bass - while also getting a muuch larger stage and much better layering so far. I'll keep you posted on any other changes.....
@Ezees23 thanks for the post. I hope you grow to love them!
Would you say that the Ifi Zen stack is enough to drive the HE1000 Stealth?
It will have sufficient power for sure, but keep in mind that the quality it can provide will not get the very most out of the HEKSE (this is not about power quantity). The reason I say this is so that you don't feel underwhelmed if the HEKSE don't sound quite as good as you might expect from the descriptions given by people using much higher quality source chains.
@@PassionforSound do you think that the Arya Organic will be a better choice then for me? Honestly the only resaon that i would pick the Stealth over the Organic is because of the material and more premium look
It's hard to say. I never compared them directly, but I like the Arya Organic more than I ever enjoyed the HE1000 Stealth
Great video. I just went to HIFIMAN website, but as you said the names are just too confusing. What it says "HE1000 V2" said "Newly Upgraded Version of the HE1000". But, it's same price as HE1000 Stealth. Does this mean this v2 is not a stealth version?? Does it mean HE1000 Stealth is actually HE1000V2 Stealth at the same price??? I gave up on the ordering.
I wish I could answer you, but I'm confused too! You might need to email them to confirm.
I confirmed with one of their reps that the latest version is the HE1000 Stealth. There is no V2 stealth. They left the name as HE1000 Stealth on the Hifiman website.
@@whitemike528 thank you very much for clarifying it!
Thanks Mike!
And very interested in your reviewing mad 24 from ambient acoustic with 24 drivers in each headphones. It’s miracle based on comments in web. Company from Ukraine and they are manufacturing this miracle during the war! They have test version of mad 24 in Europe.
That definitely sounds like an interesting IEM
Can I ask how it does the stealth compare to the old V2? which one do you prefer?
You're the only youtuber I could find at the moment that has a proper review in depth on it.
thank you agian for great video
He mentioned that he doesn’t have the original V2 for comparison. But I’m shocked that the new HE1000 Stealth is brighter than the SE-the one advantage the original V2 had over the SE was a smoother high end and less fatigue, along with a somewhat more horizontally extended soundstage. The SE has a bit more vertical soundstage and emphasis in the mid bass, which makes them a tad “warmer”, but they have a peak around 7500 hz which can make them fatiguing on some tracks (along with probably helping their detail emphasis). Without a doubt, the SEs are the most detailed headphones I’ve ever heard, and they’re easier to drive than the V2.
It was my hope that this HE1000 Stealth would retain all the virtues of the original V2 (primarily the soundstage and impeccably agreeable tuning), but would be more resolving due to the Stealth magnet-if they had achieved that I think it would be the ultimate headphone, especially for rock and similar genres. But it looks like they blew it by messing with the high end.
For now I think the SE, despite its excess brightness, is their finest creation. The Audivina has bass roll off and sounds like a bust. I suspect that we may be seeing a Susvara refresh soon, but if they don’t improve its efficiency and match the physicality, expansiveness and punch of their oval pad lines I’ll be passing that one by as well.
If you already have the original V2, I’d stick with it-Crinacle ranks it in the top four for a reason. If you’re looking for your first foray into HFM flagships, I’d consider the SE with some PEQ to tame the high end a bit. If this new HE1000 Stealth is brighter than the SE, fatigue will be a major deterrent.
Yes, like srkbear said, I can't comment on the v2. I tried to get one for this review, but had no luck. Based on the comments from people, it seems like the stealth HE1K has its very own tuning and is not a direct V2 upgrade.
@@PassionforSound Interestingly, HFM still has the HEKV2 for sale on their webpage, but retailers have said that they’ve stopped receiving stock. If this HEK Stealth will indeed replace the original V2 entirely, then I should arguably amend my recs to encourage folks to consider snapping up the remaining supply while they’re available-because the original V2 is the most agreeably tuned option for all genres out there. And despite it not achieving quite the detail retrieval of the SE or the Susvara, it’s still no slouch in that department, and it has its own advantages in soundstage and sub bass punch.
It dazzled folks when it came out, and I still suspect that some of the detail gains found in the SE are the result of the potentiated treble rather than the design of the driver itself.
I think I can confidently say that the original V2 is the most beautifully tuned and fatigue-free option in its class of any headphone I’ve ever tried. Plus it’s design and build quality are sublime, and there really isn’t a more comfortable headphone to be found anywhere.
I know of no other headphone where the pads make absolutely no contact with your ears, yet have optimized sound no matter where they’re positioned on your head. Hence my belief that their oval pad line was one of their finest innovations, along with their neodymium magnet and perhaps their Stealth tech. HFM and Audeze were the two brands that brought planar magnetics to the mainstream, and the qualities I mentioned are where I think HFM came out on top.
@@PassionforSound thanks for the reply and it sounds like it. A lot of people at can jam said the v2stealth is very trebly and quite fatiguing. I'll reconsider my options. Thanks.
4:16
Sorry if i got that wrong, but the HE400SE is the hardest to drive Hifiman after the Susvara? What about the HE-6 for example? When i tried the 400SE the didn't seem very power dependant to me. More like a Sundara
I was referring to the headphones I have in my collection. I don't have an HE-6 🙂
I have the Arya Organic, would it make sense to get the HE1000se just for Acoustic music/soundtracks/gaming, because i heard they are great at this kind of stuff. Or would they just replace my aryas? Regards
They'd just replace the Aryas IMO 🙂
Thank you for the reply! a friend has the arya stealth and finds my organic a bit bright sometimes and he was thinking about upgrading to the HE1000se in the future. Would you say he will have that problem there too?
@GoldDeluxe5000 that's so hard to say because we all have different specific sensitivities. I think the HEKSE might be tuned closer to the Arya Stealth than the Arya Organic, but I'd need to go back and look (and I'm away from my computer at the moment).
That would be great, really appreciate your help here. One last thing, would you say the HE1000SE are good for any genre? Let's say I want to listen to rock/heavy metal oder edm, is that possible without having to get a new pair of ears afterwards? Thanks again!
In really have mixed feelings going for them because I hear so many people say different things about them, on one side I'm really excited to get them on the other side im kinda scared lol.
Because there's no dealer/shop near us where we could test them, so we always have to buy and hope for the best. Ofc there's a return window when buying online but it's not really nice buying and sending it back all the time for the shop too.
English is not my first language btw so please excuse any faulty grammar or writing.
The HEKSE has significantly less treble than the Arya Organic (and maybe even the Arya Stealth) so it should cause any problems, I think.
Also, a good headphone should work for you across all genres unless it's right on the edge of your preferences and tolerance already in which case some genres might push them too far.
the SE is really tempting at the moment. some UK dealers selling at around £1600 now.
Yes. It's excellent value at current pricing
I think a comparison between HE1000SE and Final D8000 pro will be a good battle...
And i think how you described the Meze is like a typical V shaped sound... and the graph shows it
The Elites aren't really v-shaped so much as mid focussed with a bit of extra upper treble.
I would love to compare the Final D8K Pro. Hopefully at some point...
@@PassionforSound H1KSE + D8kpro + Caldera.... what a dream show!!
I'll be very curious to see how Caldera stacks up!
I would choose blindly D8000 pro as I know Japan precision and technology behind it. I owned Arya V2, sold it even if it has nice sound stage it wasnt enough, treble was failed in that model. Maybe high end audio chain could fix it but still for mid-fi headphone like Arya chain worth lets say 4000$ thats overkill. With price tag of hekse I could find Meze Elite or mentioned D8000 pro, both higher quality products in my eyes.
@@soulfulfool now the Yamaha YH-5000SE entered the playground as well....
I own the dac/amp TA-ZH1ES, do you think this will work well with the v2 Stealth?
TA-ZH1ES power: 1.2 / 32Ω
Hifiman HE1000V2 Stealth: 32Ω / Sensitivity 93 dB
You'll have no problems at all driving the HEK Stealth with almost anything so definitely no problems with the TA-ZH1ES
I would like your opinion on the following. With the Stealth, despite the Harman target, I noticed a certain tendency to sharpness, or obtrusiveness, in the 1 kilohertz range. can you remember how wer se compares to that?
I never had them here together to comment properly, but I know what you mean about the Stealth and I feel like any edginess from the HEKSE sits higher in the frequency response
@@PassionforSound Understand. Thank you for your quick response. Hifiman goes crazy, the stealth is available for 1400, the se for 2000.
Which egg shape Hifiman headphone you think has the widest soundstage ? Not the biggest but the widest, lateral depth. Distance of right/left to the ear. Especially interested in new HE 1000 v2 stealth vs Arya Stealth. I'm not looking for height or depth. I'm looking for more width like HD800S. So far i heard XS, Ananda v2 and Arya Stealth. I found that XS has the widest soundstage. I want more clear right and left imaging. Arya Stealth seems to push lateral images in front a bit and sound fairly closer to the ear.
I would have said XS too, but that's it's problem IMO - too much width and zero depth.
If you want extreme width in the HiFiMan range then the HEK Stealth might be the best choice, but the Arya Stealth is pretty similar for staging IIRC
@@PassionforSound Yeah XS is a great all rounder but it's technicalities clearly lacking i think. I may get the HEK Stealth. Honestly Hifiman killing it with these prices. Other brands doesn't drop prices or release new headphones. Hifiman is very agile. I wonder if they are gonna innovate and bring fresh headphones and step up their tech or they will just sit. XS tier headphones were $1500 couple of years ago. Now HEK's are $1400 and Sundara exists.
Hi sir,
I am using Edition xs and I wanna upgrade to a better headphones.
My preferences are:
1. More forward depth in the sound stage like the singer is in front of my head (not left and right width)
2. Better bass impact than Xs
Thank you
HE1000SE might be a good option for you, but you could also look at the Meze 109 Pro and Focal Clear MG. Both are quite different from the XS, but excellent.
@@PassionforSound hi sir,
Im using Topping E70 + A90D.
Meze and focal are very easy to drive. I wanna use A90 to its best capability.
Apart from all these info, what is the best headphones under $2000 that is best in forward depth in soundstage?
An amp's performance isn't defined by the difficulty of the headphones used with it. It's about the tonal quality and presentation of the amp. I stand by the suggestions I made as you'll have a hard time beating either of them with any other headphone in your budget range.
@@PassionforSound thank you.
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!
Hi Peter, I think you'll definitely hear the improvement, but you might want to consider upgrading the amp at some point to get some extra staging depth. The A70 Pro is solid, but it does lack the stage depth of something like a Geshelli A3 Pro, Aune S17 Pro or Schiit Mjolnir 3 (in order of price and performance)
Are there not better soundstage in the 1000se compared to the arya st?
Maby the Meze emp 2?
The HEKSE probably does stage a little better than the Arya.
I wasn't personally a fan of the Empy 2. Maybe check my review (and some others) before deciding.
Since the SE is available since 2018, is there any unique identifier for the latest version?
The SE is an ongoing version without changes. Only the stealth version of the regular HE1000 is new (and it has the different wood colour)
@@PassionforSound But the SE publication on Amazon says it has stealth magnets, it can't have them since their release in 2018, right?
Yes, they do. Stealth magnets have been around since the Susvaras. They've just been gradually added to the lower models and called out as "stealth magnet" versions on the products that weren't already stealth.
@@PassionforSound Thanks, for some reason I had assumed it was a new technology. Anyway, I ordered them in which is probably the most financially irresponsible decision I've ever made. But hopefully it will be the last time I ever buy headphones.. now I have to pray that I'll be able to sell my Aryas to recover some of the money.
Also, has the frequency response stayed the same since their release or have they made some silent revision? I ask because I apply Oratory1990's preset for every headphone and the one available for this one has some years now..
is the fiio k7 enough to power up the he1000 stealth?
Yep. No problems at all - they're actually quite easy to drive
Hi, I was looking for a DAC/AMP for the He1000se around $1000-$2000. I currently have the JDS elements III ... I was thinking in the Chord Qutest + JDS or the RME ADI-2 DAC FS ( I watches the video that you posted 3 years ago) ... What do you think about these 2 options? any other recommendation? Thanks
I'd definitely still rate the Qutest as one of the very best options around the price. The JDS amp might limit its performance a touch though (I haven't tried it, but past JDS Labs amps I've tried have all been using integrated op-amps that have flattened the soundstage a bit). If you could do the Geshelli A3 Pro amp with the Qutest, that would be magic!
@@PassionforSound
Thank you! Is it possible to use the Qutest as DAC and the RME as amp in a way to have EQ functionality?
I don't think so. From memory, the ADI-2 is digital in only.
V2 is brighter than SE da fuck? V2 has always been known to be warmer.. its weird stealth version made it brighter.
Yeah, looks like HiFiman understood that people liked balanced HE1000V2 non-stealth much more than 1000se, so they decided actually to downgrade this headphone, so now he1000se looks less bright and more tonally corect for 1500$ more(
Those were my first thoughts too, except I had no idea that a V2 Stealth had been released and I thought Lachlan had got the names wrong 🙂 My goodness, HEKse has always been considered a bright headphone; I've had it for a while and really like it but there are days when it's just a bit too bright for me. I think I'd still prefer this to an overly smooth headphone so since this is not the only one in my collection I can't see myself parting with it easily. But I can't see a big market for the V2 Stealth if it's even brighter.
@@MistaLova-Lova Ok now im utterly confused. Lachlan says HE1k SE is warmer than Susvara? 21:40. I have never heard this from anyone. Incredibly bizarre.
@@Smood47 Hm, that's strange given what pretty much everyone else is saying about the Susvara's treble being "sweeter". My suspicion is this - Lachlan is not particularly sensitive to treble so he didn't find the HEKse bright (which is also chain-dependent) and that's why he didn't notice much of a difference there between the Sus and the HEKse in this regard. HEKse perhaps presents as having more bass and/or body (probably also chain-dependent) and that's what he's referring to when he's talking about "warmth". Just my theory, though.
warm and bright can coexist at the same time, why the surprise?
I have TT2 and meze empy (thanks to your review). Would 1000SE work well with TT2?
Yes, it's a nice pairing. It is notably brighter than the Empys, but a good complement in that respect too.
Thanks!
Hello I have a Hifiman EF-400 DAC and Hifiman recently issued a recall for some of units, I was wondering if there was a way to measure my amp and find out if my unit is one of the ones affected?
I don't know - sorry. Best to contact HiFiMan directly on that one
@@PassionforSound thanks anyway, good review!
I had the EF400 and liked it a lot. But after a few days there was a hum/buzz in High Gain NOS mode. Check that
@@JTB-- My unit was not one of the SKUs involved in the recall and it sounds pretty fantastic so far. No hum or noise at all. Even with IEMs there doesn't seem to be any static even at low volumes, I'm very happy with it so far.
@@StoneColdClassics Nice 👍. That Himalaya DAC is great
For me the cheaper one looks like it has better sonics'
Good review as always, thank you ✌😎👍
Glad you liked the review. If the FR of the HE1000 V2 looks like it suits your preferences then go for it by all means! 🙂
so confused by all the comparisons out there between these two. some call the stealth warmer/bassier and the SE brighter and leaner...and here I hear the complete opposite. lol
Yes. It's very confusing. The graphs and my repeated experiences with these two support what I've said, but maybe it's about how people are describing the sound. Words can mean different things to different people. I think the Stealth might have more bass, but also more treble so some will focus on just the bass and say it's bassier when the SE is warmer across its overall tonal balance due to more midrange weight.
@@PassionforSound Thanks for the reply. How well would you say the He1000SE handle electronic music? EDM, etc.
@Innocence44 I'd say they're brilliant for that, but we're all different in what we like for our favourite genres.
SE VS Organic?
I always thought everyone was kung-fu fighting according to the 70s hit song lol
Great video review , I have the arya stealth and very happy with it , hopefully I can get the he1000se in the future.
Glad you liked the review. I hope you get the HEKSE soon too - they're excellent.
I really wish you could review these headphones with a flat frequency. Meaning both headphones frequency response flat by sonarworks or similar program . This way we know what's is really better.. eq added to headphone color the sounds which is not a bad thing. But comparatively no fair... Audio engineer would love that review too as more engineer starting to use headphone but ideally want flatten response.. 🙏
You would be very surprise of how many of your headphone sound comparatively that way..
I've tested EQ'ing headphones to flat before and they obviously start to get a similar sound tonally, but there are still significant differences due to the technical capabilities of the drivers, the damping of the housings, etc.
I can have a think about EQ'ing headphones to flat in future reviews and see if it's adding value to my discussion of them.
OK.. will be looking forward to that part of the reviews. Appreciate ur review alots. Help me out in buying amp dac. Looking to get an headphone under $1000 sumn for studio purposes..best recommendations... maybe u can compare the lcd x, arya, and focal clear tuned flat on frequency and let me know...ur opinion 🙏 🙏.
I don't have most of those headphones to can't offer that one. As for amps, check out my Geshelli Labs A3 Pro review and also the Passion for Sound Recommends link in the description.
@@PassionforSound in the case of the HEK stealth vs SE, I think it would have been useful. Technology-wise, it's not even clear what the difference is between the stealth and SE, and I suspect that most of the differences between the two can be attributed to their tuning.
Hi Lachlan, I ordered HE1000V2 non stealth, but got HE1000 stealth as a surprise. I was interested in non stealth due to the praise it got over the years. Now my dealer is unable to return slthough I have sent email to hifiman also. Do you think the stealth is still ok the keep. Any preferred DAC, AMP for good synergy you recommend please...
Hi Gaurav, I haven't heard the original HE1000 V2 (non stealth) so I don't know how they compare. If you're keeping the HEKv2S, I'd recommend a smooth sounding combo to help control any of the HEK's aggression. A nice tube amp and/or an R2R DAC could do a great job with these.
@@PassionforSound Hi Lachlan, very wrll said. I think R2R +Tube is so nice. I'll try that. Also , do you think if it is worth to go directly to HE1000SE. I do not see any good reviews of HE1000 stealth so I'm thinking to replace it with HE1000SE, as dealer is ready to upgrade now.
I would personally take the HEKSE over the HEKv2S.
@@PassionforSound ok got it. I'm also trying to go with a replacement with HE1000SE...lets see if they approve
I keep losing focus on the review because of your t-shirt 😂
😁
I like treble and main the DT1990's so I guess I will like the HE1000 Stealth?
Yes, you should be ok with the HEK Stealth if you like the DT1990
@@PassionforSound Okay I'm also looking at the Ananda Nano's. I listen to a lot of electronica/edm. So hard to decide!
Don't forget the Arya Organic too - higher performance than the Ananda Nano, but cheaper than HEK Stealth and not as harsh up top.
Hello, is it possible to upload the he1000v2stealth frequence to harman target? Would be great! :) thanks for everything!
Sorry, I deliberately avoid comparisons to Harman and am not setup to do this. My graphs are calibrated so that a flat line would sound like a dead-neutral studio monitor in case that helps you with them. 🙂
That t-shirt is amazing
It's great, isn't it!?
On Amazon if I wanted the HE1000V2 STEALTH do I buy the he1000 or the he1000v2 listing??? It's so confusing lol. Also literally EVERYONE says the he1000 special edition has HUGELY overblown treble so it can't possible be right that the he1000v2 stealth has even more treble. This is the one part that just confounds me you must've been reviewing a different pair because most people say the he1000 special edition is way way to bright and ear piercing treble and I couldn't tolerate that lol.
You'll have to check with the seller about the stealth version. As for the ear-piercing treble on the SE, that's definitely not what I heard or measured so I have no idea what's going on with those statements. Either those people have specific treble sensitivities that are different to mine, or there's been a silent product revision, or people are getting confused/speaking about something they haven't actually listened to (this happens far more often than it should)
@@PassionforSound alright thank u :)
How do we purchase the he1000 stealth? I can't find anything about them anywhere.
Apparently they are being listed as the HE1000 v2. The challenge is making sure you're getting the stealth version and not the old non-stealth v2
@@PassionforSound on Amazon if I wanted the HE1000V2 STEALTH do I buy the he1000 or the he1000v2 listing??? It's so confusing lol
That's a very good question and I don't know for sure. Can you contact the seller?
@@soraflame66hey I’m not sure about on Amazon, but the Hifiman store site has been updated finally and you can get the 1000Stealth or the 1000v2 for $1999 each. I’m kind of bummed because I sent back my V2 thinking I was paying for an upgrade program for a new V2 stealth but it’s something different. Not sure what’s going on exactly haha. These are great but now I’m wondering if they were any better or worth the extra money I paid to upgrade
Update… I talked to Hifiman and they confirmed it is 1000v2 with stealth magnets even though it’s just listed as 1000 stealth
What's the name of the song in the intro at around 0:50?
I don't keep records of the tracks I use. Perhaps play the video back and use Shazam to identify it.
Excellent as always
Thank you! Glad you liked it
What sucks is i bought bitfrost 2/64 and zmf verite close which i s good but now bought he1000se and its a bit bright or to much highs just not much fullness and i cant go out and buy another amp/dac just for one headphone ,, grrr this is disappointing .
That's a bummer! Sorry to hear that. Have you tried it in NOS mode?
@PassionforSound hi yes it helps a little but not much , I have to keep music at min not to loud so it doesn't get bright
@@PassionforSound my he1000se us starting to sound better , I guess it needed a burn in since it was new
That would make sense. Are you also using the stock cable? Going to a pure copper cable might also help.
Haha , this is nearly opposite what Josh Valour said.. that the SE over detailed and treble high.. but probably through the topping 90 stack that he raves about.. (very Pin point and dry)
For the price, it’s hard to go past the Arya Stealth with a better, lush warm amp..
Was Josh talking about the stealth version or the OG HEK V2? Hard to imagine anyone hearing the HEK Stealth as being less bright than the HEKSE.
@@PassionforSound definitely the SE.. I sometimes wonder if there is variation from set to set with Hifiman cans. They seem to be a brand that has as many different opinions as there are reviews lol
That's very true. Any headphone with spiky treble will tend to create that though because we all perceive treble a little differently (moreso than mids and bass)
How do the HE1K Stealth's compare to the LCD X 2021?
I can't get the LCD-X for review so I can't comment. Sorry!
@@PassionforSound Which is the best all rounder out of the HE1KSE, HE1K V2 Stealths and Arya SE? I am going to be having a home demo with the HE1KSE and I listen to practically all genres of music including dub techno, ambiant, electronic etc. I hear from other reviewers that the HE1KSE is best with classical music and I am not a big fan of that.
That's an interesting question! I think I would still choose the HEKSE, but the Arya Stealth is definitely an excellent alternative and the new Arya Organic is very nice too (review on the way). I think starting with an audition of the HEKSE is a good idea. See how you like it and then you can decide to stick with it or seek a different sound. Feel free to drop back in and share your impressions - what you like/don't like with the HEKSE - and I can help provide further direction if needed.
@@PassionforSound I definitely will the HE1KSE arrives tomorrow I will be pairing it with the mojo 2 and and an audioquest carbon cable. They easier to drive then the other headphones mentioned which is a plus.
@@PassionforSound After comparing the HE1000se to Lcd X 2021 with my mojo 2 I cam definitely say the HE1000se is the superior headphone which is to be expected given the price difference. The soundstage, clarity, instrument placement and detail is much better. The HE1000se also sounds more realistic and holographic with the treble not being harsh. However, I am curious as to how the HE1000se would sound with a warmer dac as I do like a warm signature. The Mojo 2 is neutral. Do you have any suggestions? I do like portable dac amps because I like to lie in bed when listening to music. I am considering trying the IFI xDSD Gryphon as that is slightly warmer although from reviews more people prefer the mojo 2. If you have the Gryphon could you test it and compare with the mojo 2?
I also tested them with movies and TV shows and they perform very well.
I think HiFiMan's concerns of dropping in ranking is over blown. Maybe you might get an older residual stock by a third party seller or worst non-planar headphones with deceptive descriptions.
Yes, I figured they'd pretty quickly reclaim a good ranking by differentiating the new model, but that was what they told me.
@@PassionforSound I just purchased my first planer HiFiMan headphones and amp. Looking forward to your channel. (edited misspelling Siri)
Congrats Marc. Enjoy!
Nice
Arya organic is out !!
Yes it is. Review coming soon 🙂
@@PassionforSound let's hope they decided to tame that 8khz and over madness..
I haven't checked that yet, but I'm enjoying their sound
all this is confusing, and got even more so with the new unveiled
I do agree. Time for some range consolidation I think
You have a bit of uptalk, sir. Seems common with Australians for some reason.
Just say stealth and se lol
Another useless audio review! This one is great but,.....that one is great too but,...kind of similar???!!!
I think you're looking for black and white in a hobby that's all grey. I pretty clearly stated a preference to the HEKSE, but there will be others who prefer the HEK stealth.
I understand what your saying some reviewers play it close to favor manufactures , by not going to negative saying its good some may like this or that while this other one has better this or that.. This is why I do like the reviewer wave audio , he will tell it straight , saying this is not good .
The challenge with that is that we all have different ears (anatomically) and this means we actually all hear things differently so anyone defining a headphone as good or bad is assuming that everyone hears the same way and that's a fallacy. Of course, having preferences is important so that people can get a sense of how their tastes align with a reviewer, but from there they need to be able to buy based on a scale of warmer vs brighter, edgier vs smoother, etc. to account for personal tastes and anatomic differences.
Which one would be better for Mixing and Mastering music? SE or V2?
SE is the better option IMO because it's more tonally balanced. In my measurements, a flat line response will sound like a perfectly neutral studio monitor (tonally)
HE1000 VS STEALTH IS NOT TOO BRIGHT!!