I was initally impressed with the clarity and drive of the HO200 amp when I first used it with the 6SEV2. After several months of daily use of the HO200, my feelings have changed with regard to the HO200/6SEV2 combination. The HO200 seems to have been designed to have a highly analytical character which I find to be annoying and strident sounding with the 6SEV2 on some of my favorite recordings. Some classical music recordings with massed violins and loud brass passages or chorales are harsh sounding to the point of being off-putting. So, my search for an end game amp for the 6SEV2 continues.I'm keeping the HO200. I have tried a number of other headphone amps and speaker amps that disappointed me in one way or another when used with 6SEV2, but I quickly became addicted to the HO200/6SEV2 combination for all kinds of music. The preamp output of the HO200 sounds uncolored and I don't notice any loss of detail or dynamics when using it with my powered speakers and my speaker amp. Many thanks to Aoshida HiFi US audio store on amazon.com.
What do you mean by a lossy adapter? I understand you need an adapter, but why is it lossy?The HiFiMan stock 6SEV2 cable requires a lossy XLR to TRS adapter to connect to the L30
Seriously?I was initally impressed with the clarity and drive of the HO200 amp when I first used it with the 6SEV2. After several months of daily use of the HO200, my feelings have changed with regard to the HO200/6SEV2 combination. The HO200 seems to have been designed to have a highly analytical character which I find to be annoying and strident sounding with the 6SEV2 on some of my favorite recordings. Some classical music recordings with massed violins and loud brass passages or chorales are harsh sounding to the point of being off-putting. So, my search for an end game amp for the 6SEV2 continues.
But the HO200 is definitely worth trying out. I think that the HO200 is great with more laid back headphones such as the Sennheiser HD700 and Final Sonorous III. The preamp out of the HO200 makes my powered speakers sing.
For now, I am using the V6SEV2 with the revised mighty mite Topping L30 amp with Canare headphone cable built by audiophileninja (eBay seller). The HiFiMan stock 6SEV2 cable requires a lossy XLR to TRS adapter to connect to the L30 and sounds inferior to me compared to the ninja cable.The L30 barely has enough gain at max volume on its high gain setting for the 6SEV2 but I can live with it for a while until I hopefully find something better.
I may try out the HiFanMan EF400 amp soon.
...The HiFiMan stock 6SEV2 cable requires a lossy XLR to TRS adapter to connect to the L30 and sounds inferior to me compared to the ninja cable...
Your question makes me realize that lossy is not the best word choice. Does a cable with an XLR to TRS adapter on the end change the sound of the cable in a negative way? Is information on the recording altered or lost when an adapter is used? Only an individual listener can decide. My experience has been that any adapter that I have added to the signal chain makes a noticeable and important difference and causes alteration and loss on studio recordings that I have personally made when compared to listening to the same recording with an identical brand and model number cable that is terminated with a plug that does not require an adapter. DHC claims to build a silent/unnoticeable adapter that cannot be heard and does not change the sound at all versus using no adapter. Perhaps they do but a DIY cable re-termination to eliminate the need for an adapter costs far less than buying a DHC adapter. I chose not to re-terminate the HiFiMan cable so that if I sell the headphones someday the buyer will get the original cable and XLR to TRS adapter that the heaphones came with from the factory. I recommend and use Canare L-4E5C for DIY headphone cables but I realize that not everyone knows how to make their own cables. Canare L-4E5C cable is used by cable builder audiophileninja at eBay.What do you mean by a lossy adapter? I understand you need an adapter, but why is it lossy
Thanks for the tip. I'll take it under advisement.Seriously?
You can hear the differences between cables? I mean really?
I see you are new here.. Welcome. Stay , learn, you may then realize that cables are cables for the most part, unless broken ...
You already have stellar headphones and amp. Time to learn how to extract the max from these. If you don't EQ, you are losing a lot... Your system will not improve with different cables... Not objectively.. The difference between adequate cables are in your mind... It leads to believe you hear differences that are actually not there. This can be verified. Those differences , however "day and night" they may appear when sighted, vanish once you test more rigorously.. or read about it ....
I am still waiting for my amp (THX 789) and headphones (HE-6SEv2) that are in transit.
Peace.
Really shouldn't do if it connects securely and wired properly.Does a cable with an XLR to TRS adapter on the end change the sound of the cable in a negative way? Is information on the recording altered or lost when an adapter is used?
Unlikely.Only an individual listener can decide. My experience has been that any adapter that I have added to the signal chain makes a noticeable and important difference and causes alteration and loss on studio recordings that I have personally made when compared to listening to the same recording with an identical brand and model number cable that is terminated with a plug that does not require an adapter.
he's new, cut him some slack. He will either get it or leave. Gotta give em enough rope
My experiences exactly. The Atom could drive the original HE6, to decent but not loud levels, it can’t with the SE. It barely plays it. No EQ with gain reduction... It can'tFWIW I have the Adorama HE6SE v2 and the Atom+ now. Full volume at max gain is still not loud enough without any EQ whatsoever. According to the Headphonesty power calculator with the worst case scenario numbers of appx. 79.5 db/mW sensitivity (converted) measured by Amir and 64 ohm impedance the headphone should be peaking at 106.5 db SPL at about 5.7 V and 500 mW from the Atom but I'm not hearing it. So the sensitivity may be even lower.
Edit: I meant 106.5 dB, not 116.5.
Took a while, but glad you are sorted. Listening to my V2 now actually.My experiences exactly. The Atom could drive the original HE6, to decent but not loud levels, it can’t with the SE. It barely plays it. No EQ with gain reduction... It can't
I received my replacement HE6SEv2 a few minutes ago. The first sample I received was DOA, with one of the planar torn... Sent it to HifiMan , it was quickly replaced. Communications was clear, response, swift, the headphones were sent FeDex 2 days paid by HiFiMan. Follow-up emails to confirm receipt and satisfaction. No complaint from me, they handle the return very well.
Ok... .... .... Darn! It is good. It is superb. Seriously wondering what I would ask from a headphones, it is superior in some aspects from what I remembered to the original He-6, while being more difficult to drive... I may get a balanced DAC, just because ... My chain:
View attachment 220012
The AAA 789 drives the HE-6SEv2 to very loud levels (for me) at its highest gain setting at volume knob at 1 o'clock. I use the balanced headphones output...
I am pleased, extremely pleased.. I think it is an endgame headphones. Wow!. Now to research and finance a set of speakers of similar quality ... JBL 708p? Revel 228 or 328 BE, Ultima Studio or Salon2, Genelec The Ones? Neumann KH 420? .. Speakers will be"supported" by 3 subs that are linearized with MSO (Multiple Subwoofer Optimizer).
Peace.
I , urge anyone contemplating an headphones system to consider this chain, that was inspired by this thread. I am listening to it as I type this and I am in Audio heaven. Subjective , perhaps there is serious numbers to back this up. There are perhaps other combinations...Took a while, but glad you are sorted. Listening to my V2 now actually.
Here's the requirements for both:Anyone had both and could give an idea how different they are to drive
I'm curious about Topping; There's a lot of videos on youtube and forum posts about debating ASR reviews and topping. Some people get a bad set; others complain about not full measurement reviews. Im confused.. so not bought anything yet.This afternoon I pick up the package with the new HE6se v2's. We'll see how they perform with the D30 Pro + A30 Pro combo.
Bummer. I guess EQ can't solve it? I'm personally not against EQ; just know its tricky when recording due to phase changes, but is not counting so much on the full mix.After listening to several hours and several genres with the HE6se v2 connected to the Topping D30 Pro and A30 Pro set, unfortunately the headphones will not stay with me. I don't know whose fault it is, but the bass level is clearly inferior to that of the Ananda, and it doesn't bring any refinement in the mids and treble over Ananda's performance level. A strange feeling; the bass response of the HE6se v2s reminds me of my old STAX SR-303.