HIFIMAN HE1000 V2 Over Ear Planar Magnetic Headphone

Product Information

The HE1000 is by far one of our most popular high-performance luxury headphones to date, and with good reason,” said Dr. Fang Bian, Founder and CEO, HIFIMAN. “No other headphone in its price range comes close to offering the same level of engagement when listening to high fidelity audio".

In the end Audeze LCD-4 scored 3 points and Hifiman HE1000SE outplayed them with 6 points. I’m not ditching the LCD-4, it is still a mighty fine headphone fighting with the best there is, it’s the heaviest, but also the nicest looking one and its special ingredient in the midrange will always have a place in my heart. When it comes to technicalities, that can impress an audio junkie like myself, HE1000SE is in a league of its own, as every time I put them put on, I felt like my audio experience was going to the next level. Human voices seems to be pushed further, and a bit muffled amidst all the details. When I hear songs with HD 800S the voices seem to be closer than instruments in most songs, giving me a feeling of the presence of the singer, his/her emotions. This is absent in the HE1000SE, the life that I felt in music with the HD 800S is all but gone. Normally we call these growing pains and Edition X seems more in keeping with the safer plastics or metals which Hifiman does a great job on. hello there, this will be my first official review that I will be writing.I am not a professional in this area, this is just a hobby. (NOTE) source: tidal (hifi,master,normal) But you still need a pitch, you still need a story behind the sound and a reason for why things are the way they are. You won’t convert everyone but the context is important.You can get them directly from Hifiman web-store right here, you can also get them from your nearest Hifiman authorized dealer right here, or you can get them from Apos Audio right here. No matter where you get them from, please leave a comment below and let me know how they are treating you. I've been quite wordy about the low range yet for me the star of the show is the luscious mid range of these. When an headphone can deliver full bodied presentation with natural timbre for both piano and female vocal, I know i'm into mid centric territory that doesn't forget their fundamentals harmonic hidden in lower mid range. It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with HIFIMAN, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. I’d like to thank HIFIMAN for providing the sample for this review. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it. The purpose of this review is to help those interested in the HIFIMAN HE1000 V2 Stealth / V3 Planar Magnetic Headphones find their next music companion.

The Hifiman HE1000 Stealth is not a soft, warm or smooth sounding headphone. It’s more neutral in this regard, but it at all times is highly musical. The majority of the weight is in fact housed in the cups rather than the headband or supporting gimbals but it doesn’t drag down on your head like the old HE6 or HE500. Much like the HE400i and HE560 the HE1000 uses the new headband system which distributes weight far more evenly than the old traditional headband. When it comes to imaging and soundstage, LCD-4 always impressed me with their depth, with pin point location of the notes (imaging) and less so with a left to right soundstage size. HE1000SE on the other hand, is always big sounding, it is taller sounding, it is wider sounding and it is exactly as deep and pin point accurate, easily winning another round. If there is one area of concern it is the oiled wood veneer finish of those cups. I know wood and Hifiman are not the best of buddies with a few aborted attempts for one reason or another. The HE1000 is not just a reshaping or replacement of the HE6 nor is it the evolution of what was started with the recently redesigned HE400, HE400i, and HE560. Those cans, though no less enjoyable, belong to both a different era and a different target market. The Good Doctor

You get a beautiful signature like with the Mojo @ in regards to body, bass, and vocal presence but the technical level just is so much higher. The resolution is higher and it comes with better note extension, note decay and an overall better timbre. The depth, layering and dynamics are also on a really high level. I’d even dare say that this setup is situated somewhere between the Headonia and Envy, and that says a lot. For a portable source, the sound quality is spectacular. The SP3000 and HE1000 Stealth have sublime energy. Fully recommended.

I’ve been using the HE1000 Stealth for multiple months already as my main headphone and I have connected it to many different amplifiers with a multitude of different DACs. At the heart of the HE1000, it is really all about weight distribution and comfort. The cups are huge, Jade huge but surprisingly light. They are neither rounded like the HE6 and the K812 nor are they angled or ‘D-shaped’ (as I call it) like the HD800. Ergonomically, the HE1000se is exceptionally comfortable, thanks to a specially designed headband that features a steady arch structure for stability and durability for years of usage without change in fit. A new matte finish with ebony wood trim adds a smart, attractive touch that enhances the overall design. Added Dr. Bian: “The HE1000SE makes it easy to exceed the legendary HE1000 V2 performance without an expensive amplifier. I couldn’t be more proud of this headphone.” in the planar world is competitive, especially when you consider that the HE1000 from headband to gimbals and outer grills is crafted from metals rather than plastics. For a 400+g headphones, it feels surprisingly comfortable! It clamps just a bit less than the hifiman aryas which i find a little too clampy. It is also built better and with nicer materials (and is certainly one of the best looking headphones in the market right now). FYI, the earpads in the he1000se is slightly bigger than the susvara's pads. During my time with it, i found out that after about an hour or so of wearing the he1000se, there seem to be some discomfort at my jaw which it is clamping again. This is just a little problem and definitely will not make me want to not buy it.*The depth and layering, especially with higher-end desktop amplifiers are a pleasure to the ear. The amount of body from bass to treble is balanced. There’s a good amount of weight in a high-end kind of way but there’s never too much or too little impact. It sits right, exactly how it should be in a headphone of this level. The third and final cable is a shorter portable 1.5m cable (terminated with a 3.5mm TRS plug) which I think I remember getting a similar one with the HE400 Gen 1 but not honestly sure. As popular as it may be, I believe it’s important to keep pushing the envelope with revisions that present a dramatic improvement in sound while maintaining the essence of what made the original such an overwhelming success with music fans and audiophiles who invest in the best equipment for enjoying their favourite recordings.” To my surprise, entry level DAC/Amps could drive them decently, even thumb like gizmos like Shanling UP2 and Audioquest Dragonfly had enough headroom with my punchy electronica. Audiobyte HydraVox also worked extremely well and honestly this is how I’ve tested them for 90% of the time. Its warmer tonality and its super liquid and easy-going nature worked as Ying to the HE1000SE’s Yang, complementing each other’s faults, while making sweet love with my ears. Based on all the testing I have done, it’s clear that a good number of (higher-end) portable sources will make the HE1000 Stealth sing. They won’t all sounds as good and your tuning preference might be different, so the rule as always is to try before you buy.

You can wear these for hours without issue and the combination of velour and leather offers a nice balance between seal and heat dissipation. I was not about to go all ‘Quint’ on this review either and start recanting Spanish Ladies as the HE1000 munched through my previously durable amps with rather limp results. Headphone Amps: Benchmark HPA4, SparkoS Labs Aries, Flux Lab Acoustics FCN-10, Musician Andromeda, Singxer SA-1, Burson Soloist 3X, xDuoo XA-10, Topping A30 PRO & others The revised headband is the outcome of a clever manufacturing design. This not only offers better comfort but also an improved seal of the cushions around the ears and on the head for better bass. The headband mixes a distinct metal alloy with fine calf skin to create a durable arch assembly. The perforation on the leather helps to dispel the heat. For extra comfort, the low mass also lessens the general weight of the headphone.While not as technically performant as the Headonia, the Auris Audio HE2-SE+ and Stealth combo still manages to impress. Those who prefer a high level of sound(quality) but with a smoother and softer touch – mostly noticeable in the treble and vocal range, will absolutely love this combo. I could listen to it all day myself.