Hifiman HE6se Review (Headphone)

[Matti-Otala]

The difference between the two amps at the limit into 64ohms is a bit over 1dB SPL. Essentially meaningless for any practical purpose.

but the difference in mA and Vrms is not negligible, shouldn't it affect the dynamic range?
or are those values also inaudible in practice?

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

What a wonderful discovery. These pads are a revelation. This is exactly what I wanted from the Dekonis.

https://amzn.eu/d/dsYC3zo

The comfort is perfect.

The fabric feels like silk.

I can hardly notice any difference in the sound.

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

Can someone explain the differences in tonality to me?
@oratory1990

Oratorys posted on Reddit

Oratorys in Neutron frequency-correction, Auto EQ.

Amirs from page 1

Are these just different targets?

 

[AryaStealth]

Are these just different targets?

Different models of GRAS dummy heads, different approcheas to EQ (if I'm not mistaken amirm doesn't try to fix any deviation from the target if he likes the sound with a few filters).
In ear microfone measurments from accuratesound.ca for he6se v2 show a large sharp 7db peak rising from 3000Hz with a resonance at 3750Hz. Oratory's measurments show only 2db peak. I can definely confirm it is more than 2db on my head.

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

That can't be the explanation comma the first two measurements are both from oratory.

 

[AryaStealth]

That can't be the explanation comma the first two measurements are both from oratory

I think it was answered by Oratory many times: he has nothing to do with EQ profiles generated by AutoEQ project. He publishes EQ profiles only as pdf files on his page on Reddit.

 

[Jimbob54]

That can't be the explanation comma the first two measurements are both from oratory.

Auto EQ oratory measurement driven EQ dont EQ to quite same target plus oratory goes for target plus some tuning to ear preference

 

[staticV3]

Auto EQ oratory measurement driven EQ dont EQ to quite same target

AutoEQ used to have a 0.5dB deviation from Harman in the bass, but nowadays the target is identical to oratory's PDFs.

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

From about 6kHz onwards, things look different.

 

[Jimbob54]

From about 6kHz onwards, things look different.

View attachment 444815

They look different full stop . Peak exceeds bass shelf in one . They aren't the same for reasons explained

 

[Jimbob54]

From about 6kHz onwards, things look different.

View attachment 444815

Which 2 are they . The auto EQ and Amirs EQ ?

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

Both from Oratory.
The higher one is from reddit.
The other one is auto EQ from Neutron

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

This is Oratory vs. Armin.
That's why I'm asking, if they have different targets...

 

[staticV3]

This is Oratory vs. Armin.
That's why I'm asking, if they have different targets...

View attachment 444829

No, they do not. Both target Harman OE2018.

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

So does this difference arise because of two measuring systems?!

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

Here Crin vs. Oratorys (Neutron autoEq preset)

Crins is my favorite so far.
Didn't heard Amir's preset. I'll try it tomorrow.
It looks pretty dark in comparison...

 

[Jimbob54]

So does this difference arise because of two measuring systems?!

No . Because of different filters to try and get to same target . Amir is only trying to improve tonality so isn't trying to hug the curve (plus different unit and rig )

Auto EQ uses software to get there . Oratory may use that to start but he doesn't EQ as high up and applies ears to tweak .

Compare the oratory pdf filters to this and you'll see where it changes https://github.com/jaakkopasanen/AutoEq/tree/master/results/oratory1990/over-ear/HIFIMAN HE6se

 

[Robbo99999]

So does this difference arise because of two measuring systems?!

Differences arise because it's a different unit being measured - unit to unit variation, but also because Amir EQ's by eyeball rather than exactly, and also because Amir shows one individual measurement whereas Oratory's is an average of many measurements after reseating the headphone in slightly different positions. The Oratory one would generally be more accurate for an "exact" Harman EQ. Failing that then use the one you like the sound of most, but you can tune Oratory EQ's using his customisation filters anyway (which are the ones listed in the bottom right of the pdf).

EDIT: the aftermarket pads you're using might not measure the same as the stock pads anyway, which makes it less valid for you to use any of these EQ's anyway, so it might be a bit of moot point.

 

[oratory1990]

So does this difference arise because of two measuring systems?!

We also don't measure the exact same unit of headphones.
I've measured 5 units of the HE6se, unit variation was low but not zero.

The unit you listen to will not be identical to the average. That's why EQ settings based on averages of a model *have* to be finetuned by the user.

 

[AryaStealth]

So does this difference arise because of two measuring systems?!

This, and the unit variation as well, which used to be pretty high for he6se v2. Sometimes Hifiman makes silent revisions years later as well, for example with Arya Stealth they changed a bit the headband (now Arya Stealth's clamp force is light, and it used to be very strong. I'm pretty sure that change alone will make the old PEQ profiles sound very different or even bad because clamp force significantly changes the headphone position on your head and alters the frequency response, especially resonances).