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HiFiMan HE-R10P Stealth Headphone Review

Rate this headphone:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 265 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
    271
Sometimes I think companies design products to enrage the folks here at ASR. But that would imply the companies know of, or care about, the opinions of folks at ASR, and I am not sure about that.
 
I keep the scale in the relative THD constant so comparisons are easy. So when distortion ratio is quite high, it goes above the graph. For this reason, I also show the absolute distortion:

index.php


Alas, since headphone frequency response is very variable, you can't get complete sense of scope of distortion.
Yes, thanks, but one is in %, the other in dB. I know that the latter is actually closer to what we perceive, but I still think of distortion in % terms.
 
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.View attachment 415210
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.
The headphones.com graph you quoted was captured at a lower level, possibly 86 dB SPL, not 94 dB SPL like Amir's measurement.
6% THD is roughly -24 dB and we know the THD was more, percentage-wise.
 
One should keep in mind that when listening to music 2kHz won't probably ever reach 100dB SPL and that distortion would only be 'valid' for short duration peaks occurring.
Nice behavior it certainly is not, certainly not at this price point.
Get 2 E3's instead.... unless one is sold on hifiman planar and the Sony R10 looks ... perhaps the cheaper 'laid back' HE-R10D would be the better choice as that is closer to the Sony R10.

Too bad hifiman was not able to make an R10 that is tonally smack between the R10D and R10P ... for under 1k$ ...
 
Prove it... or shut up.
I can prove the oposite:
1734702836110.png

Here are both measurements overlayed. Amir's measurements have significantly higher SPL, and the frequency responses roughly match. Amir shows significantly higher distortion, which, given this:
1734702950829.png

It isn't very surprising. It also shows that the distortion peaks seem to shift with level: see the green 114dB peaks being much more in line with the other measurement peaks' frequency. None of this is very good news. It means that there is probably a wide range of distortion latitude from device to device as well. Also note that in this frequency area, the Left/Right tracking isn't the best, further strengthening my hypothesis.
 
I don't like talking badly about companies' products because obviosuly people's jobs and dreams are at stake... but is this typical for Hifiman?

Hifiman has the largest range of headphones of any audiophile headphone company, by a wide margin. There is a lot of variation in sound signature and specs both within and between their model lines. I've heard a few that I like and some that I hate.

I think it is worth noting that despite a handful of good reviews, listening impressions of this headphone posted to the forums have been very negative. That is why Hifiman is clearing these out at $1500. It looks like their new top-of-the-line closed back from them is the ISVARNA. I have not heard it, but it is a dual-driver design, which is intriguing.

BTW, Hifiman has grown into a large company. My understanding is that their biggest market is China, but they clearly sell a lot in the US. I don't think you need to be concerned about criticizing them. (I too hesitate to trash talk small companies.)
 
Just noted this was posted under headphone amps section rather than headphones.
 
I thought the FR didn't look that bad but that distortion is inexcusable. They would have a better headphone if they slapped the wood cups on one of the HE6 variants.
 
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.
So, at Hifiman from $5500 to $1600, just because open box??? for any decent product open box reduces price no more than 20%; that tells a lot, regardless how it sounds, sorry pal if you paid the full price,
 
Seems like Hifiman joins the ranks of Abyss and Yamaha in the infamous ‘horrendously tuned TOTL Club’ where folks use money to gauge performance and are allergic to objective measurements. You place an insane pricetag on a headphone, and the club comes running.

I’ve actually listened to this headphone. I laughed out loud. Only one other can has managed to get that response from me - another closedback atrocity named the HI-X55.

Thanks for the review Amir.
 
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.
Yeah, it's a fine headphone that HE400SE, I think we both know that from personal experience with it (I think you bought one a while back). (with EQ).
 
Hifiman is a weird company. Their lower priced headphones like the He400se and Sundara have great great frequency responses and low distortion but they seem to try to do the opposite with their more expensive models.
Perhaps these flaws if supported by enough hype and bias and "authority" positioning certain models above others gets twisted in one's brain to be perceived as better?

Like poor bass can be called lean in a cheap headphone or punchy, textured and technical in an expensive one.
 
Hifiman is a weird company. Their lower priced headphones like the He400se and Sundara have great great frequency responses and low distortion but they seem to try to do the opposite with their more expensive models.
Perhaps these flaws if supported by enough hype and bias and "authority" positioning certain models above others gets twisted in one's brain to be perceived as better?

Like poor bass can be called lean in a cheap headphone or punchy, textured and technical in an expensive one.
You have to be a true connoisseur to appreciate the selective appeal of Hifiman's top of the range headphones.
 
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