Hifiman HE6se Review (Headphone)

[Luke Lemke]

That's a little surprising.

The Magnius should be about 2x power through balanced vs the Magni.

Yep. But I wonder if that's the case only if you use the balanced inputs. At this moment it seems it was a bad purchase in my case, the Magni/Modi stack was good enough. I'll probably buy the Modius, test both stacks and decide which one I will sell later on. Since I live in Brazil I can sell all of these dacs and amps with a profit anyway, so financially speaking I'm fine.

 

[watchnerd]

Even with RCA in -> XLR out?

Well, I don't how how the Magnius works, but on my Mjolnir 2, yes, the XLR out is double power even with RCA in.

(the Mjolnir 2 has a built-in unbalanced to balanced converter)

 

[watchnerd]

Yep. But I wonder if that's the case only if you use the balanced inputs.

It's not the case on my Mjolnir 2.

I don't recall Amir saying it was true in his review of the Magnius, either.

 

[Robbo99999]

I wish there was some Oratory or elsewhere measurements of the V2, should be a stonking headphone with EQ based on proper measurements! (Someone send one to Oratory!)

 

[staticV3]

I wish there was some Oratory or elsewhere measurements of the V2, should be a stonking headphone with EQ based on proper measurements! (Someone send one to Oratory!)

• Crinacle (GRAS 43AG-7)
• Antdroid (GRAS 43AG CLONE) more rig details here
• Resolve (GRAS 43AG-7)

 

[watchnerd]

• Crinacle (GRAS 43AG-7)
• Antdroid (GRAS 43AG CLONE) more rig details here
• Resolve (GRAS 43AG-7)

On Crinacle, the V1 & V2 are really close measuring.

[As an aside, the graph for my old HE400i looks pretty competitive overlaid on the HE6SE]

 

[pkane]

I wish there was some Oratory or elsewhere measurements of the V2, should be a stonking headphone with EQ based on proper measurements! (Someone send one to Oratory!)

For my V2 I’ve been using a slightly modified EQ for v1 posted by @Maiky76

Hifiman HE6se Review (Headphone)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Hifiman HE6se planar magnetic headphone. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $1,800. I had previously reviewed the now discontinued Hifiman HE6 so great to see how the replacement performs. The HE6se distinguishes itself with new...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Robbo99999]

• Crinacle (GRAS 43AG-7)
• Antdroid (GRAS 43AG CLONE) more rig details here
• Resolve (GRAS 43AG-7)

Spot on! I'd be happy using the Crinacle & Resolve measurements to create an EQ, I'd probably average their measurements together if there is a sensible compliance between them (looks like it) & then do an EQ based on that. Yeah cool, I'd be confident buying that headphone based on that.

 

[RHO]

These are now $699 in the Hifiman store.
Edit: I noticed this has already been mentioned.

 

[stargazer713]

Looking to get in on the Adorama deal. Would my WA7 with max output of 1 Watt at 32 ohms be good enough for these?

 

[staticV3]

Looking to get in on the Adorama deal. Would my WA7 with max output of 1 Watt at 32 ohms be good enough for these?

Here's the required power at 64Ω according to Amir's measurements:

That an Amp can deliver 1W @32Ω doesn't mean it can do that at 64Ω as well!
1W@32Ω=5.65Vrms, 1W@64Ω=8Vrms

 

[stargazer713]

Here's the required power at 64Ω according to Amir's measurements:
View attachment 167827
That an Amp can deliver 1W @32Ω doesn't mean it can do that at 64Ω as well!
1W@32Ω=5.65Vrms, 1W@64Ω=8Vrms

Thanks for sharing, then I think it should be fine at reasonable listening level.

 

[watchnerd]

Thanks for sharing, then I think it should be fine at reasonable listening level.

Keeps us updated on how it works out

 

[Jimbob54]

Spot on! I'd be happy using the Crinacle & Resolve measurements to create an EQ, I'd probably average their measurements together if there is a sensible compliance between them (looks like it) & then do an EQ based on that. Yeah cool, I'd be confident buying that headphone based on that.

You noticed the large channel imbalance on the Crinacle graphs? Not something I've noticed on my pair but had I seen this prior to buying it would have made me wonder about QC.

(Its there whether you look at his averaged results or all 3 runs )

 

[Robbo99999]

You noticed the large channel imbalance on the Crinacle graphs? Not something I've noticed on my pair but had I seen this prior to buying it would have made me wonder about QC.

(Its there whether you look at his averaged results or all 3 runs )

View attachment 167873

Yeah, there's an average of around 3dB channel imbalance from 20Hz-3kHz, and not that much better higher up the frequency range. Somewhat similar to the channel imbalance on my K702 headphones, which I didn't really notice unless looking for it, but mine do sound better with a channel matching EQ - so yeah that's not an ideal channel match for that HE6SE V2 by any stretch. I don't know what percentage of units are affected with such channel matching though.

 

[Luke Lemke]

It took me a while but I realized that I don't really like the HE-6SE V2. It lacks excitement IMO (even with EQ).

I'm considering selling these and buying the Dan Clark Aeon X open from Drop. It seems they are almost exactly the same cans as the Aeon RT Amir has reviewed. Anybody has any thoughts?

 

[Jimbob54]

It took me a while but I realized that I don't really like the HE-6SE V2. It lacks excitement IMO (even with EQ).

I'm considering selling these and buying the Dan Clark Aeon X open from Drop. It seems they are almost exactly the same cans as the Aeon RT Amir has reviewed. Anybody has any thoughts?

They bring no more or less excitement than the HE6. You need to consider what properties of a headphone's sound constitute exciting for you and find some that have those properties.

 

[Luke Lemke]

They bring no more or less excitement than the HE6. You need to consider what properties of a headphone's sound constitute exciting for you and find some that have those properties.

I guess that's my problem, I can't really define what I mean by "excitement". I can say though that my focal clear MG is a lot more fun to listen to, but I don't know if it's all in my head. Maybe it's frequency response, spatial effects, driver positioning, etc. I think the bass of the focals are more "punchy" and it sounds more open, that much I can say.

The Aeon X costs $200-300 less as well, so it seems I'll be at least saving some money. Have you listened to both? Which one do you prefer, subjectively speaking?

 

[Jimbob54]

I guess that's my problem, I can't really define what I mean by "excitement". I can say though that my focal clear MG is a lot more fun to listen to, but I don't know if it's all in my head. Maybe it's frequency response, spatial effects, driver positioning, etc. I think the bass of the focals are more "punchy" and it sounds more open, that much I can say.

The Aeon X costs $200-300 less as well, so it seems I'll be at least saving some money. Have you listened to both? Which one do you prefer, subjectively speaking?

I have the HE6 V2 and the Aeon RT Open. The Hifiman are a better headphone to my ears before and after EQ but I would struggle to tell you why.

 

[Luke Lemke]

I have the HE6 V2 and the Aeon RT Open. The Hifiman are a better headphone to my ears before and after EQ but I would struggle to tell you why.

Thanks! Which amp do you use? I'm using the Magnius right now.