HE-6 Measurements (removing stock dampening, pad rolling, fuzzor)

Discussion in 'Audio Science' started by Thujone, Oct 31, 2015.

  1. Thujone

    Thujone Friend

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    Alright, fine! Found some on B&H for $62. Measurements will follow...
     
  2. Thujone

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    I posted some quick impressions of the vegans in the HE-6 thread prior to measuring. Smoother treble response, better tonal balance, great! Just finished measuring and yup... HF is right on this one.

    Go Vegan (compared to velour pads back-to-back)

    Veg
    [​IMG]

    Velour
    [​IMG]

    Veg
    [​IMG]

    Velour
    [​IMG]

    Veg
    [​IMG]

    Velour
    [​IMG]

    Veg
    [​IMG]

    Velour
    [​IMG]


    Notes: FR and distortion measurements favor the vegan pads, IMO. Some vibrations are occurring around 20Hz and below but screw it. CSD and spectros show a very slightly sluggish decay in the upper mids compared to velour, but vegans clean up that mean 4kHz junk in favor of a little more 11kHz junk.

    More subjective junk

    In the long run, I can listen to the vegans forever (no fatigue). While I wasn't too bothered by treble before, I still kept the volume knob down a bit more than I would like in order to not get too fatigued after long listening sessions. I believe the only fatigue I'll have now is on the top of my head.

    For $62 on B&H (and even the $80 on Audeze's site), the vegans are an easily justifiable upgrade in terms of comfort and tonal balance. Soundstage and imaging is certainly different now, I'm not too used to angled pads and a large ear chamber, but I'm sure many would prefer this to the stock pad alternatives.
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2017
  3. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

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    Yup! the vegan pads are the best, the second best are the pads from T1, but if you bought the lcd vegan, the T1 pads are no need. ps, sr007 with a great amp couldn't beat he6 with vegan (of course need a good amp, too).
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2015
  4. Thujone

    Thujone Friend

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    Yeah, I likely won't be trying any other pads for a while...

    One thing though, I don't even have these adhered to the headphones and they make such a tight seal that the drivers are flexing when I put the headphones on or adjust them. I can't seem to find many people who have had this problem?
     
  5. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

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    It'll be fine. PS, you could also change the headband to the HE560's, they're comfortable as hell.
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2015
  6. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    It's been said in the other HE-6 thread that the HE-560 headband is incompatible with the old style headphones.
     
  7. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

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    My friend sent his HE6 back to HM, and the headband bacame HE560's (they change it silently).
     
  8. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Well that's pretty neat. I wonder if they have a modification kit available for purchase? Maybe an email to Headdirect is in order...
     
  9. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

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    I don't think so, they already discontinued he6 except in North America...HM seems to hate he6 after he560 appeared.
     
  10. elwappo99

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    Any chance to grab some pictures of that?
     
  11. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

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    I forgot at that time...I've heard he sold the phones.
     
  12. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    It is not if you want to use the Vegan pads: they don't work with the HE-560's headband, unless - like me - you have a small/narrow head.

    The yokes press on the outer of the Vegan pads when the headband is stretched (to fit the head) and it put pressure on the temples.
     
  13. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I would like to see if the location of those ridges is related to the pattern spacing of the rug liner. My initial reaction wants to say there's diffraction phenomena, but the scales aren't right; 11-12kHz is roughly 30mm, which is an order of magnitude off from the rug liner. Hmm or perhaps that spacing is generating ultrasonic distortion which somehow produces some wonky intermodular stuff back down in the audible realm??
     
  14. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I actually thought the vegan pads were a bit too dark sounding. I've seen some mention over at hf of people putting a bit of tape on the inner edge of the vegans to bring back some reflective energy.
     
  15. Thujone

    Thujone Friend

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    It seems unlikely but maybe the 11-12kHz is not from the opening but rather the resonant frequency of the rug liner material itself? I could put a slightly different sized piece in there and see if it measures differently.

    As for the vegans, I can see that. They are the darkest pads I own, but they work well with the slightly bright Project Ember.

    After the holiday I plan to do some more measurements, including removal of the grill.
     
  16. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Heh, perhaps the rug liner should be tensioned :D

    Removing the grill definitely adds some airiness to the sound. The effect is immediately perceptable simply by waving the grill over the opening after you've removed it. The effect is quite strong on the HE-6, but significantly less so with the 500 (due to the one sided magnet array I believe).
     
  17. Thujone

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    Effect of Grill

    FR
    [​IMG]

    Grill CSD
    [​IMG]

    No Grill CSD
    [​IMG]


    Notes: wasn't expecting much of an objective difference, and there doesn't appear to be much. I did reproduce this measurement several times and the difference at about 15kHz is definitely there, and having a boost there will give a perception of more air. Not sure how accurate my mic is up top though! All in all, I don't doubt there is a subjective difference here (just like removing the fiberglass). Frankly, I don't quite have the balls to do extensive listening in this state, too much cat hair around.
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2017
  18. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Hmm I was expecting to see a bit more difference there. The only other thing I can notice is a tiny bit less wiggle up the rise from 2-3kHz without the grill.

    Do you have distortion comparisons?
     
  19. Prydz

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    Have you measured with vegans without fuzzor?
     
  20. Thujone

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    Grill Distortion

    [​IMG]

    No Grill Distortion

    [​IMG]



    Overall it looks to be a bit less (0.624% THD vs. 0.433% with the grill removed). This could just be the grill buzzing under the clips, eh?
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2017

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