Hifi man HE500 Thread

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by Darkkp, Nov 2, 2015.

  1. Darkkp

    Darkkp New

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    Hi everyone, just wanted to start a thread about the HE 500, what do you guys think of them and if u had them what did u get instead. I have the paired with the modi 2 Uber and the lyr 2, I think they are really amazing but still can't get past their weight (getting a suspension pad to see if there is a difference in comfort).
     
  2. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    Love mine to death. Modi 2U-->Project Ember.

    Honestly, assuming a good used price, I haven't found a better value in the headphone world outside of the HD650.

    For whatever reason, the weight doesn't bother me a bit.
     
  3. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

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    Seconded on negligible weight. Magni/Modi give it plenty of juice, I hardly make it to 11 o'clock before it's loud enough to be used as speakers.
    I found em after obsessing over my uncle's Magnepans for more than a year. All that ever popped up was the LCD-2, due to all the hype on Head-Fi at the time. I eventually found HiFiMAN and checked out their lineup, looked at dozens of reviews, and finally got it. I love these cans a lot, and can't wait to drive em with the Carbon.
    I'm also getting the suspension headband from HiFiMAN this krismas and I'll figure out how to duct-tame em together.
     
  4. Darkkp

    Darkkp New

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    What do u mean by getting the suspension pads from hifiman?
     
  5. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

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    I'm buying them from HiFiman? I asked them if I could and the representative (Amy) said yes, though she did say HE-500 headband. Hopefully they can sell the headband seperate.
     
  6. Darkkp

    Darkkp New

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    hmm I confused here, are u trying to get the he 560 headband to install on the he 500?
     
  7. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    As someone who had the HE-500 the issue I had with it was mostly comfort. They are somewhat heavy on the head and you really can't listen to them for long periods of time (this is stock I am talking about). However, the HE-500 bass was tight, punchy, accurate. The sound stage was airy and open. I would say the detail and instrument separation was quite good but not on the level of the HD-650

    In the end I ended up getting rid of them and am currently using an HD-650 as my main headphone.
     
  8. Darkkp

    Darkkp New

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    Taking comfort out of the equation, which of the 2 do you think is superior and do you think that the hd 650 is gonna pair well with the schiit modi 2 uber and the lyr 2?
     
  9. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    I think the HD-650 is superior. I have no experience with the Modi but the Lyr 2 if you are tube rolling I would say that from my experience and @Hands can back this up that the HD-650 scales really well with a tube amp. However, you would probably have to tube roll in order to get the ideal sound that you wish for (unless you think the stock tubes sound great with the pairing).

    I personally didn't think that the Lyr 2 and the HE-500 sounded like a good pairing together and this was regardless of tubes. Sometimes you would get some added treble distortion (yes surprisingly I noticed treble issues on this one). I didn't get any distortion with the Lyr 2 and HD-650 pairing.
     
  10. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

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    Yup, I'll be Macgyvering it up somehow.
     
  11. PoochZag

    PoochZag The Shadow knows - Friend

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    I really like these, so far my favorite headphones ever, but I have yet to own a true top-of-the-line to compare with (an LCD-X or Ether/C may happen in the near future). A franken AD2000 and Alpha Dogs would be the most notable others.

    Typically I use them with a SMSL M8 to a Lyr 1, but they also sound fine out of an O2. I have swithced between Alpha Pads and Focus Pads, and I think I have settled on the Focus Pads. While they aren't as plush, comfort is close enough and I find the bass a little more punchy.

    I recently put the Lohn suspension strap (he sells them on HF) on them, and it really helps with comfort. It makes more contact with my head, and feels more stable
     
  12. Kamikazi

    Kamikazi Friend

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    I'm about to toss mine into the bin. Second time the SMC connectors inside the headphone have started to self destruct. Good sounding headphone, but the long term build quality wasn't there yet from Hifiman.
     
  13. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

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    Just fix em if you know how. I wouldn't throw away $300+ if it was damaged, I'd work on em.
     
  14. Judeus

    Judeus Facebook Friend

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    hate them, sound veiled, heavy, no soundstage
     
  15. Bagged Milk

    Bagged Milk Friend

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    I had never heard of Magnepan so I looked it up. Apparently the company is located about 19 miles away from where I live. Might have to stop by there sometime and see if they offer tours, or if they'd at least let me audition a pair of loudspeakers.
     
  16. MrTie

    MrTie Friend

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    Sorry about your wallet Bagged Milk.
     
  17. foba

    foba New

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    Yeah rocking my HE-500´s with Gustard H10. Loving the speaker-esque sound and that meaty bass. Soon getting FocusPad-A:s for these.
     
  18. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

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    Oh feck yourself. Why do I have to live in the middle of nowhere with nothing cool anywhere near me? Jealous as hell now, you go have fun. And take me with you next time. :p
     
  19. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

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    Nothing a little modding can't fix, With the veil issue at least. (Though I have yet to do any of em) The weight, eh, deal with it. :cool:

    Soundstage, well, I'm not actually sure how headphones can even be capable of any kind of soundstage, so I won't argue on that one. Especially since the other headphone I've got is a grado.
     
  20. Kamikazi

    Kamikazi Friend

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    Have had these for a couple of years now, so it is kind of time to look for something new. All the mods and new pads have made them substantially better than they were out of the box and they are very competitive with most headphones out there. My main concerns are a lack of portability and that they need good quality power to do really do the bass justice and bring out that speaker like slam they can give. Don't really have much complaints about staging and imaging, all headphones are imperfect to a degree.
     
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2015

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