Hifiman HE6se Review (Headphone)

[bagwell359]

sorry, i refer to the v2, still available on amazon

That listing is for a used item. Not new. I would also avoid the v2 since the headband is brutally bogus compared to the original SE.

 

[Oldson]

That listing is for a used item. Not new. I would also avoid the v2 since the headband is brutally bogus compared to the original SE.

it says its new at £561.71 (1 left with more on the way)

or used at £539.24

 

[bagwell359]

it says its new at £561.71 (1 left with more on the way)

or used at £539.24

I'm looking at US listings. $434.73

 

[Oldson]

as you can see, we "pay through the nose" for evrything here in the UK

 

[zonk]

In the Hifiman Store with Code "HSS12OFF" 12% discount on refurbished / open box
- https://eu.hifiman.com/products/he6se-open-box

After applying the discount code Hifiman HE6SE (V1) open box for 368,72€ and free shipping.

 

[Monsieurétourdi]

Offered at a very reasonable price in an open box, I ordered these headphones, and I'm glad I did!

Damn, I love the sound!

With the equalizer settings, they're amazing, what a pleasure. My Aune S17 amplifier is heating up more than usual, and I even managed to turn the volume all the way up on one track. It was loud, but I wanted even more... They're power hungry (I think the -7dB on the EQ plays a big part).

I'm happy that in 2026 I was able to treat myself to this product at a reasonable price, which provides such great listening pleasure.

 

[Barossan]

I have a pair of HE6se that I was intending to drive with a Violectric DHA V226. However, the supplier is having trouble supplying, so I was looking at alternative amplifiers, specifically the Topping A90 or A70 Pro. I note that Amirm was happy with the A90 in his review, but I have also been impressed with the specs of rhe Topping A70 Pro. Is there any reason to think one would do a better job of driving the HE6se than the other?

 

[solderdude]

Looks mostly.
A70D can go 1.5dB louder (not really audible)
You only need this kind of power when you want it to play very very loud.
10W will make you reach 118dB peaks.

The violectric will be able to deliver 2W in the HE6SEv2. (violectric is current limited with this load, the Toppings aren't with the HE6SE. = 112dB peak
The A70pro = 6W = 116dB peak
A90D = 4W = 114.5dB peak

 

[Barossan]

Looks mostly.
A70D can go 1.5dB louder (not really audible)
You only need this kind of power when you want it to play very very loud.

Thanks for the response. I do like quite loud, but I also have some very high and very low frequency hearing loss, and an imbalance between the right and left ear (being old and decrepit) so I was hoping to have some headroom for EQing. I quite like the look of the A70 and was thinking of pairing with the D70 dac.

 

[zonk]

I have a pair of HE6se that I was intending to drive with a Violectric DHA V226. However, the supplier is having trouble supplying, so I was looking at alternative amplifiers, specifically the Topping A90 or A70 Pro. I note that Amirm was happy with the A90 in his review, but I have also been impressed with the specs of rhe Topping A70 Pro. Is there any reason to think one would do a better job of driving the HE6se than the other?

I use the HE6SE with a Topping A90 with EQing. It's has enough power.
So you can choose an A90 or A70 Pro. Don't know if the A90 is still available, but the A90D is still available.

If you're thinking about to buy a DAC too, the A70pro and D70pro is a nice combination.

 

[Barossan]

I use the HE6SE with a Topping A90 with EQing. It's has enough power.
So you can choose an A90 or A70 Pro. Don't know if the A90 is still available, but the A90D is still available.

If you're thinking about to buy a DAC too, the A70pro and D70pro is a nice combination.

Excellent, thank you - if the Violectric delivery slips again I might switch to the A70 Pro / D70 Pro combo

 

[zonk]

Excellent, thank you - if the Violectric delivery slips again I might switch to the A70 Pro / D70 Pro combo

The Topping L70/E70 would be an option too, that is cheaper than a A70pro/D70pro stack.

Or maybe the Topping DX5 II (DAC/AMP combo) would be an option too. It has additionally a PEQ feature.

 

[solderdude]

Topping DX5 II will reach 16V = 115dB peak.

 

[Barossan]

Topping DX5 II will reach 16V = 115dB peak.

Thanks - I've tried to better understand the relationship between impedance, sensitivity, voltage and current but with little success (including reading your article previously linked). Not a lot of clarity yet, but this is a probably a function of my limitations rather than deficiencies in the explanations!. The DX5 II on paper certainly seems to do the trick - I recall reading a post on this forum where a HE6se owner was unhappy with the DX5 II but haven't been able to find it again, so not sure what their problem was. I will look into it further - separates might be nice, but no need for spending without purpose (there is always something else that could use the funds).

 

[MRC01]

Thanks - I've tried to better understand the relationship between impedance, sensitivity, voltage and current but with little success (including reading your article previously linked). Not a lot of clarity yet, but this is a probably a function of my limitations rather than deficiencies in the explanations!

Back 40+ years ago, what I remember helping me the most in this area was reading analogies of electricity to water (voltage is pressure, current is flow, resistance is resistance), to make the basics like V = IR more intuitive. These days that kind of introduction to electricity is even more easily available on YouTube and other sources.
Like this:

 

[zonk]

Thanks - I've tried to better understand the relationship between impedance, sensitivity, voltage and current but with little success (including reading your article previously linked). Not a lot of clarity yet, but this is a probably a function of my limitations rather than deficiencies in the explanations!. The DX5 II on paper certainly seems to do the trick - I recall reading a post on this forum where a HE6se owner was unhappy with the DX5 II but haven't been able to find it again, so not sure what their problem was. I will look into it further - separates might be nice, but no need for spending without purpose (there is always something else that could use the funds).

On the Hifiman homepage they say that the amplifier should have at least 2 Watts output power per channel (2000mW x 2). Amir measured 64 Ohm for the HE6SE. The following numbers are from the spec sheets.
A90D: 4000mW x 2 @ 64 Ohm
DX5 II: 4300mW x 2 @ 64 Ohm
L70: 4700mW x 2 @ 64 Ohm
A70pro: 6000mW x 2 @ 64 Ohm

The DX5 II is a very interesting feature package at a very good price. If there were complaints about this device it's mainly related to the external EQ software in combination with the DX5 II. I have not seen anything regarding lack of output power.

 

[Barossan]

On the Hifiman homepage they say that the amplifier should have at least 2 Watts output power per channel (2000mW x 2). Amir measured 64 Ohm for the HE6SE. The following numbers are from the spec sheets.
A90D: 4000mW x 2 @ 64 Ohm
DX5 II: 4300mW x 2 @ 64 Ohm
L70: 4700mW x 2 @ 64 Ohm
A70pro: 6000mW x 2 @ 64 Ohm

The DX5 II is a very interesting feature package at a very good price. If there were complaints about this device it's mainly related to the external EQ software in combination with the DX5 II. I have not seen anything regarding lack of output power.

I suspect I've got some sort of internal snobbery feeding in regard to the DX5 - I have trouble believing a device that cheap could be all I need! I should have another look at the reviews.

 

[solderdude]

I suspect I've got some sort of internal snobbery feeding in regard to the DX5 - I have trouble believing a device that cheap could be all I need! I should have another look at the reviews.

This is exactly the reason why people buy a more expensive DAC/amp.
In your case it is about output voltage and getting enough current from the amp to reach that voltage.
All the mentioned Topping DACs have enough power to make it go loud.

When you plan to use Harman target EQ or even worse you are a basshead AND you want to play loud with tactile bass the 4-6W may not be enough.
Note that while the difference between 4 and 6W seems big 6W is only 3.5dB louder.

When you want to go even louder you might damage the drivers and you would need to apply more than 20V.
To do this you would need to use a speaker amp and connect to the speaker outputs.
That would need to be rated at least 100W/8ohm (28V) to go yet another 3dB louder and would be applying 13W peaks to reach 119dB peaks.

 

[Barossan]

This is exactly the reason why people buy a more expensive DAC/amp.
In your case it is about output voltage and getting enough current from the amp to reach that voltage.
All the mentioned Topping DACs have enough power to make it go loud.

When you plan to use Harman target EQ or even worse you are a basshead AND you want to play loud with tactile bass the 4-6W may not be enough.
Note that while the difference between 4 and 6W seems big 6W is only 3.5dB louder.

When you want to go even louder you might damage the drivers and you would need to apply more than 20V.
To do this you would need to use a speaker amp and connect to the speaker outputs.
That would need to be rated at least 100W/8ohm (28V) to go yet another 3dB louder and would be applying 13W peaks to reach 119dB peaks.

Thanks again. I've ordered a speaker amp adapter from HifiMan in case I want to try out the speaker amp. I was wondering what output level I would need from a two-way amp to provide enough headroom.

 

[Shinano]

I did some EQ on the HE6SE that I got yesterday. After trying the oratory, Amir, and AutoEQ EQs, I was pretty unimpressed. It sounded very thin, and all the body of the music was gone. Now I liked the Harman EQ for a pair of Bose QC35 IIs, those had a very positive improvement. So after a bit of work this is what I came up with:

I got the bass to the Harman curve, but left everything else. I was expecting to have to EQ out the dip starting at 1khz, but decided to leave it. I wonder if the EQs that EQ that out sound thin for that reason. But this is just my attempt at an EQ that I like, but I thought I would share in case anyone would like to try it. EQ that works with Peace (maybe works with more, but that's what I use) is attached.