Hifiman HE6se Review (Headphone)

[staticV3]

the volume reaches around -15dB, which isn’t far off the maximum volume.

-15dB is 35% of maximum, in terms of perceived volume

Is it around 15-16V though?

Best to double-check that before you conclude that the Amp is the issue and go buy a new one.

To conclude, the Marley is a brilliant amplifier, but the HE6 needs more power...
My next step will be the Topping A900...

Advice squarely ignored. Nice!

 

[Igor_S]

ONLY if you want to play really loud.
At 'normal-loud' listening levels (105dB peaks) it only needs 5V (0.4W).
It really does not matter at these levels whether or not the amp can provide 6V, 16V or 20V.
It won't sound any different on more powerful amps when listened to at the same level.
Matti Otala would certainly have agreed with this.

My brain agree with you, but my ears - don't.
I can't explain it "scientifically" but my ears hears effect of more powerful (way more powerfull then needed) amp.

 

[staticV3]

My brain agree with you, but my ears - don't.
I can't explain it "scientifically" but my ears hears effect of more powerful (way more powerfull then needed) amp.

Most ears do.

Right up until you do the comparison blind and with levels matched.

Then suddenly no one can differentiate anymore.

 

[Matti-Otala]

ONLY if you want to play really loud.
At 'normal-loud' listening levels (105dB peaks) it only needs 5V (0.4W).
It really does not matter at these levels whether or not the amp can provide 6V, 16V or 20V.
It won't sound any different on more powerful amps when listened to at the same level.
Matti Otala would certainly have agreed with this.

In theory, I fully agree; in practice, however, when I set the volume to the desired level (between 80% and 90%), the dynamic range seems to be compressed compared to lower volume levels.....

P.S.

For anyone interested who has the Chord Mojio 2, you can achieve the 3 V setting by starting at maximum volume and turning it down by 8 clicks; I measured it with a tester...

 

[Matti-Otala]

-15dB is 35% of maximum, in terms of perceived volume





Advice squarely ignored. Nice!

I didn’t ignore the advice, but since there’s a retailer here in Italy who’s letting me try it out... why not?
So I’ll do a blind test as well...

 

[solderdude]

in practice, however, when I set the volume to the desired level (between 80% and 90%), the dynamic range seems to be compressed compared to lower volume levels.....

Yep, the word 'seems' is the correct word.
The dynamic range will certainly not be compressed when the amp is low distortion.
The headphone does not care what supplies the voltage nor about the headroom that remains.

For anyone interested who has the Chord Mojo 2, you can achieve the 3 V setting by starting at maximum volume and turning it down by 8 clicks; I measured it with a tester...

That is useful info.

I didn’t ignore the advice, but since there’s a retailer here in Italy who’s letting me try it out... why not?
So I’ll do a blind test as well...

Realize that when there is a difference > 1dB in loudness between 2 amps the louder one will always be preferred and found to sound fuller and more dynamic.

 

[Matti-Otala]

I’d like to add some further listening impressions with the Marley MK1 (first version) and the HE6SE v2. It might sound strange, but it needs to be warmed up just like a valve amp; it doesn’t perform well until it’s properly warm, which takes at least 15 minutes.
The difference between the un-equalised sound and the sound with Oratory’s EQs is at least 10dB more volume; in fact, I often turn the volume right up (I like listening at a certain volume, like being right under the stage at a live gig; I don’t do long listening sessions...)
Without an EQ, I can now say that the Marley amplifier is suitable for the HE6se v2.
in my opinion, of course

 

[dumbsuck]

I have the HE6SE v2 and use them with my D10s + L30 combo. And they play plenty loud to me. They sound really good, with some of the best spatial qualities I've ever heard. High quality live acoustic recordings are stunning on these, it's like the headphones teleport me right in the same room as the musicians, it's crazy. All this with no EQ - these do not need EQ. None of my headphones do, and I have many.

 

[shinbojan]

I've bought the HE6seV2 specifically because I wanted to find out whether I can actually hear differences between amps.

So far I've used the Magni 2U, Aleph Mini, and currently I'm using the Aune S17 Pro Evo.
I also have a Fosi ZA3, which I've tried via speaker taps. It sounded good, but nothing mind-blowing.

Right now I'm building a DIY 711 headphone measurement rig, and once it's finished I want to properly compare the ZA3 and the Aune.
I've never done proper level-matched A/B testing before, so this will also be a learning experience.

There’s one thing that confuses me though, and maybe someone can help me understand it.

The Aune has two modes: 50mA and 100mA bias.
The 100mA mode sounds noticeably fuller and more enjoyable to me — more bass, more body, less precise than 50mA, but overall I prefer it.

However, once I apply the Oratory PEQ preset, I can barely hear a difference between the two modes anymore.

That’s what confuses me:
if the 100mA mode is supposedly delivering more current and handling the HE6 better, shouldn’t the difference become even more obvious once EQ (especially bass boost) is applied?

 

[solderdude]

That’s what confuses me:
if the 100mA mode is supposedly delivering more current and handling the HE6 better, shouldn’t the difference become even more obvious once EQ (especially bass boost) is applied?

It isn't going to provide more current nor power in higher idle current mode.
It will just get hotter (sooner) and above a certain temp will lower the idle current itself.

Assuming you mean the N7:
In 100mA mode it will provide 0.6W in class A and above that (balanced out) up to 3.5W in the HE 6SE
In 50mA mode it will provide 0.16W in class A and above that (balanced out) up to 3.5W in the HE 6SE

This means there is nothing 'pure class-A' about this amp when it concerns headphones with an impedance below 150ohm (100mA) and only pure class A in 300ohm headphones (balanced out).
It is just marketing.

In low gain mode the max. output power is 1.1W (in HE6SE) but the class-A power remains the same.

Its a capable amp though ... just not always 'pure class-A' above a certain level in lower impedance headphones it is an AB amp.