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HiFiMan HE-R10P Stealth Headphone Review

Rate this headphone:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 266 97.8%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 3 1.1%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 3 1.1%

  • Total voters
    272
A non-negligible number of their readers buy audiophile ethernet equipment, so... pretty stupid.

Being stupid in today's world seems to be a personal choice we are supposed to respect. Personally I kind of side with Sir Francis Bacon on the "Knowledge is Power" premise... but we live in a bizarre era where the amount of information available overwhelms many, and it has become harder to discern true "information" (accurate non-partisan) from "noise" (multiple agendas).

We probably should not discuss these bigger epistemology (aka "how do we REALLY know what we thing we KNOW") principles under this topic.

Epistemology has always been a big fascination of mine. With AI, it stands even more at the crossroads between human intelligence and its differentiation to existing AI. It is always a relevant way to think about what we and why we know "little truths" like we try to discuss in ASR.
 
Being stupid in today's world seems to be a personal choice we are supposed to respect. Personally I kind of side with Sir Francis Bacon on the "Knowledge is Power" premise... but we live in a bizarre era where the amount of information available overwhelms many, and it has become harder to discern true "information" (accurate non-partisan) from "noise" (multiple agendas).

We probably should not discuss these bigger epistemology (aka "how do we REALLY know what we thing we KNOW") principles under this topic.

Epistemology has always been a big fascination of mine. With AI, it stands even more at the crossroads between human intelligence and its differentiation to existing AI. It is always a relevant way to think about what we and why we know "little truths" like we try to discuss in ASR.
Spot on... The disinformation and swirl of rubbish just keeps circling the drain for some and not for others.
 
It's a heinous crime: that's my simplified reaction to this headphone! Ha!
 
As an end user that would never in their right mind pay this much for headphones, this is exactly the kind of thing that makes me just say NOPE to the entire brand.

If they can't do a high end product correctly, why should I ever believe they could do an affordable product correctly?

I like to call it the Nike Effect.
 
As an end user that would never in their right mind pay this much for headphones, this is exactly the kind of thing that makes me just say NOPE to the entire brand.

If they can't do a high end product correctly, why should I ever believe they could do an affordable product correctly?

I like to call it the Nike Effect.
You don't need to believe, you can check the results from the tests that our host so admirably provides. For instance.
 
1734607629565.png
;)


JSmith
 
You could burn the wooden covers and realize some value in the nice flames they created in the fireplace. That's worth 75 cents.

When one considers the high-quality entire audio system one could purchase for 5.5K, I would think these headphones should come with a hot tub and maybe a weekly visit from a massage therapist. You could wear them in the hot tub and if they were accidentally submerged the sound quality would not be adversely affected.

And the massage therapist could loosen up that pain your neck from knowing you got ripped off on the headphones.
 
Maybe the distortion actually does something. I mean it's 10% so it's resonating or something and that gives the sound some reverb or something... Does waterfall plot work for headphones?
 
I know the Harman curve isn’t end all, be all, but I’m very curious as to what the company was aiming for here. What was the design process, how did they actually tune it? By ears of an engineer? By measuring frequency response? A and B blind testing ? …. What finally landed them on this tuning

Honestly just curious , no even calling this product bad
 
HiFiMan does it again! The SUSVARA wasn't ridiculous enough, I guess. If this review was noticed on places like Head-Fi like the SUSVARA review, I bet people are defending it by saying it's intentionally designed to sound like this. I'm sure it was, but I don't think this is a sound quality that anyone seeks at any price.

You don't need to believe, you can check the results from the tests that our host so admirably provides. For instance.

Yeah, HiFiMan is pretty neat in that their best products tend to be their more affordable ones.
 
You could burn the wooden covers and realize some value in the nice flames they created in the fireplace. That's worth 75 cents.

When one considers the high-quality entire audio system one could purchase for 5.5K, I would think these headphones should come with a hot tub and maybe a weekly visit from a massage therapist. You could wear them in the hot tub and if they were accidentally submerged the sound quality would not be adversely affected.

And the massage therapist could loosen up that pain your neck from knowing you got ripped off on the headphones.
Not just one audio system- if you give me that kind of money, I could probably buy an all in one audio interface for recording or measuring needs (Motu M2/Topping E2x2 OTG) + bluetooth dac (Fosi ZD3) + stereo amp (3e A5) + tower speakers (JBL A170) + a good sub (waiting for an XLR version of the RSL Speedwoofer 12s) + an open back headphone (HD560S) + nice iems (7Hz Zero 2/7Hz G1/Kefine Klean/Tripowin Vivace/Inawaken Dawn MS/Meze Alba) + a dongle (Tanchjim Luna) + wireless iems (Moondrop Space Travel) + a good wireless speaker with nice EQ (Tribit Stormbox Blast- for karaoke or busking stretch to get the Blast 2 version or the JBL 320) and probably have enough left over to x2 that
*or choose to get the mics and a laptop and smartphone while you're at it :p
 
Being stupid in today's world seems to be a personal choice we are supposed to respect. Personally I kind of side with Sir Francis Bacon on the "Knowledge is Power" premise... but we live in a bizarre era where the amount of information available overwhelms many, and it has become harder to discern true "information" (accurate non-partisan) from "noise" (multiple agendas).

We probably should not discuss these bigger epistemology (aka "how do we REALLY know what we thing we KNOW") principles under this topic.

Epistemology has always been a big fascination of mine. With AI, it stands even more at the crossroads between human intelligence and its differentiation to existing AI. It is always a relevant way to think about what we and why we know "little truths" like we try to discuss in ASR.
I think it's more like some people find the disinformation more satisfying to believe in, so they just go ahead and do so.
 
Last edited:
I wanted to see what one of the most delusional headphone reviewer in Poland (Piotr Ryka) had to say about these, was not disappointed.
Here's few bits translated from the summary:

Advantages
  • Wonderful melody.
  • The highest level of detail.
  • Fully developed sopranos of the highest culture.
  • Very realistic human voices.
  • Warmth, roundness of sounds and a slight lowering of tone that makes listening easier.
  • Powerful bass.
  • Good band bonding.
  • Complete transparency of the medium.
  • Bringing space to life.
  • Complete feeling of openness, despite the closed structure.
  • Large stage areas.
  • Extremely voluminous.
  • Very good handling of reverb.
  • A special, almost unique ability to make the sound spacious despite its remaining in the sphere of echo return.
  • Overall impression of power.
  • There is no distortion.
  • Skillfully combining technical excellence with a sense of complete naturalness.
  • Perfect for poor quality recordings.
  • Showpiece among the best.
  • Dynamics, speed, sustain – everything at the highest level.
  • Very nice.
  • Very comfortable.
  • Earcups like in real R10.
  • Membranes as in Susvara.
  • Easy to drive even for portable equipment.
  • They isolate well from the surroundings.
  • Three cables included.
  • Including symmetrical cable.
  • Decent packaging.
  • A beautifully published book with technical materials.
  • Optional wireless module.
  • Well-known and recognized manufacturer.
  • Reviewers liked them, and I liked them.
  • Polish distribution.
  • Ryka approved.
Disadvantages and caveats
  • A cable for one earpiece? That's not the best idea for headphones of this level.
  • The bass area could format better.
  • For this money the packaging could be more elegant.
  • Due to the unusual nature of the connection, it is difficult to estimate the impact of using better cables.
  • Why is it so expensive?
  • They did not reach the level of the original in key aspects.
  • Strong, and often cheaper, planar and dynamic competition.
 
I know the Harman curve isn’t end all, be all, but I’m very curious as to what the company was aiming for here. What was the design process, how did they actually tune it? By ears of an engineer? By measuring frequency response? A and B blind testing ? …. What finally landed them on this tuning

Honestly just curious , no even calling this product bad
I honestly think they take an existing open back model and stick the chosen cups on
 
Hmm, 3 great votes!

Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos voted great given the affordability factor. A Weyerhaeuser heir voted great for the wood quality.

I doubt it - neither of them are stupid.

We have some evidence of Elon using a gaming headset with boom mic with LED for his streaming test on X. Strangely enough he's one of the world's best Daiblo4 players, and may even take the #1 spot when the new rankings are released.

The headset he's using probably doesn't sound any worse than the HE-10RP and likely costs $100.

I challenge the gurus here to identify what that headset is. :)

1734686863736.png
 
I wanted to see what one of the most delusional headphone reviewer in Poland (Piotr Ryka) had to say about these, was not disappointed.
Here's few bits translated from the summary:

Advantages
  • Wonderful melody.
  • The highest level of detail.
  • Fully developed sopranos of the highest culture.
  • Very realistic human voices.
  • Warmth, roundness of sounds and a slight lowering of tone that makes listening easier.
  • Powerful bass.
  • Good band bonding.
  • Complete transparency of the medium.
  • Bringing space to life.
  • Complete feeling of openness, despite the closed structure.
  • Large stage areas.
  • Extremely voluminous.
  • Very good handling of reverb.
  • A special, almost unique ability to make the sound spacious despite its remaining in the sphere of echo return.
  • Overall impression of power.
  • There is no distortion.
  • Skillfully combining technical excellence with a sense of complete naturalness.
  • Perfect for poor quality recordings.
  • Showpiece among the best.
  • Dynamics, speed, sustain – everything at the highest level.
  • Very nice.
  • Very comfortable.
  • Earcups like in real R10.
  • Membranes as in Susvara.
  • Easy to drive even for portable equipment.
  • They isolate well from the surroundings.
  • Three cables included.
  • Including symmetrical cable.
  • Decent packaging.
  • A beautifully published book with technical materials.
  • Optional wireless module.
  • Well-known and recognized manufacturer.
  • Reviewers liked them, and I liked them.
  • Polish distribution.
  • Ryka approved.
Disadvantages and caveats
  • A cable for one earpiece? That's not the best idea for headphones of this level.
  • The bass area could format better.
  • For this money the packaging could be more elegant.
  • Due to the unusual nature of the connection, it is difficult to estimate the impact of using better cables.
  • Why is it so expensive?
  • They did not reach the level of the original in key aspects.
  • Strong, and often cheaper, planar and dynamic competition.

If the review is genuine and not bought marketing, it just shows that people are easily betrayed by their senses. See expensive - hear expensive.

Thank the gods for AP, Klippel, B&K, GRAS, Harman, and Science!
 
Why don't you stop it and understand that the measurement of distortion of amirm in this site, are not realistic -20dB harmonic distotion on 2k.

All eggshape Hifiman's doesn't have distortions, and maybe probably be the microfone or just amirm making some authentic noize.

Look at this, think again. You distortion believers.
bcd269949cfb580aafd15a3c21359891e3c920e6_2_1380x754.png

It is a truly world-class sounding headphone, a closed Susvara said by expert audiophiles.

If you don't believe me go check else sites of eggshape hifiman and the like of -Soundstage solo measurements.

I'm a very happy owner of HE-R10D and EF500 which produce some serious sound. Not your kind of eyes-watering ultra low inaudible distortion and everything. And i used to be here and buy lot of things which doesn't sound nearly as an EF500 and i still watch. But this flawed measurements are outrageous.

The hell is going on with Hifiman distortions here. Be blind then if you want, make your judjes and mistakes. This is now 1599€ open box and the top class of closed backs.
 
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