All of HE-5XX's bullshit (that I noticed)

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by takato14, Nov 6, 2020.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Curious, looking at the markings on the headphone. Where does it say it HE-500?
     
  2. bhk1004

    bhk1004 Acquaintance

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    I mean, drop mentions on the product description page that this is inspired by he500 on the product page. Makes perfect sense that people would look to it for similarities.
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I think only time will tell. They do feel flimsy, but I think that's more about the built-in swivel on the adjuster to the headband and overall play and give. It's not solid feeling like the HE4XX or HE-500 headbands, but those were horrible in terms of comfort and ergonomics - not to mention when they broke, they exploded all over the room.

    I've already dropped my pair four times from four feet up and once accidently fling them across the room (holding the headband apart like a rubber band) while tweaking them.

    The fit and finish leave something to be desired - noticeably worse from in quality from other HFM's I've had owned and handled. On the other hand, ergonomics are improved - at least for people with big Asian heads.
     
  4. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    The Drop Porsche 9XX:

    [​IMG]
     
  5. mk801

    mk801 Almost "Made"

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    As bhk1004 mentioned, Drop's promotional emails and product description page tried pretty hard to hitch the HE5XX onto the HE500 wagon, hence my earlier characterization. I thought you of all people would rail on, or at least chide, companies for such marketing practices.

    https://i.imgur.com/9zPWnqk.jpg

    https://i.imgur.com/VqBTi8e.jpg
     
  6. robot zombie

    robot zombie Friend

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    The marketing is arguably the biggest offense. I don't know what they were thinking with that, considering nobody whos ever heard them would think to compare the two if not for the marketing. And they had to know it wouldnt be a favorable comparison for the he5xx.
     
  7. Kernel Kurtz

    Kernel Kurtz Friend

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    I was going to ask what is under the headband. I have a pretty big head, and these have no clamping force at all. I'd imagine a lot of people like that for comfort, and it has already been mentioned these will not work well for people with small heads. They work fine for me if I am sitting upright and gravity keeps the headband on top of my head, however I often like to recline on my couch when I'm listening, and in that case gravity wants to slide the headband back towards my neck. Was thinking of just putting the headband in a vice around a large mandrel and bending them tighter. I think so long as it is soft steel and not aluminum or plastic that might work, depending on the "springiness" of the steel. Anyone have any other suggestions?
     
  8. mk801

    mk801 Almost "Made"

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    I agree. The HE5XX by itself is just okay in my opinion. Its soundstage is really good, if not great, at its price point. However, its okay bass (improved upon by an easy mod), zesty upper mids/lower treble (maybe fixed by EQ), lower resolution relative to other cans in its price range (some treble detail gets kind of smeary), inferior build, lack of body in the mids, etc. would make me recommend the HD6XX instead.
     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2020
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    "Inspired" I wouldn't blink an eye about, since everything is inspired by something. But you got me on the "bring the iconic HE500 Series up to speed", because that would imply a bit more.

    Believe it or not, nope. I think you have me confused with Amir of Audio Science Review, the Defender of the Faith.

    I could care less about marketing practices unless it's deceptive graphs (overly smoothed, expanded Y-axis, limited Y-axis, etc.) or white papers about stuff that people can't hear, e.g. audio nervosa stuff like intersample overs. My reviews are always done BEFORE opening up gear, reading about circuits, implementations, white papers, marketing materials, etc. I feel that if I know too much, then I will have preconceived notions that would be a cause of confirmation bias.

    I'm old school, raised mostly by my grandmother while my dad went to grad school and then went on to work 40-hours weeks, and my mom ran a corner store. As such, being imparted by the wisdom of the people before the silent generation, I am generally immune to modern marketing techniques. I still use a Pixel 2. And only because I gave my Pixel 1 to my son. My base assumption is that all marketing is BS - even @schiit's Continuity and Nexus make cringe - but I think Jason does it for a bit of tongue-and-cheek. Besides, it's easier to say Continuity instead of "thingy that solves the transconductance doubling issue." I suggested to Jason Even Flow. You know, the Pearl Jam song.

    I simply assumed people would be smarter than Fry.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2020
  10. robot zombie

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    I'll have to check when I get home, but it feels like the same cut sheet steel as the forks. Its definitely a bit thick to be aluminium or simple thin spring steel.

    Its so hard to tell though... considering youd have to cut the cusion somewhere to slide it back and see. I think itd be easy enough to tell by feel , just slowly bending it a little to see how it reacts.
    Oh, no doubt its not dethroning the hd6xx. I think its best as an alternative (assuming you have hd6xxs already) due to the openness and zingy treble presentation. Its at least more toned down this time. And overall the highs are still kind of dark. I think thats what makes it work for me. Bass isnt amazing but it has a tautness that the hd6xx loses to that slight bloom and warmth. The big weakness for me are the mids. They just dont have that decadent density to them. Theyre inoffensive, flat, and maybe a little papery. Really laid back in the lower to center mids.

    I had to laugh, I peeped a drop review reccomending the he5xx over hd6xx. Well, its not really that funny. If you can only buy one, the hd6xx should be it. I hope people deliberating between the two arent mislead by statements like that.

    But I digress. As much as I love the hd6xx (that is my reference for how a good headphone should generally be,) you can't have steak dinner every night. The he5xx is opposite to the hd6xx in many key ways. Got hd6xx's and just want something different to break out sometimes? He5xx compliments them nicely for not too much cash. Thats the context for my whole impression of them.

    I really dont think theyre bad at all. Enjoyable as a fun little side thing. I think I'll have more to say about the good and bad after sitting down with them more.
     
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I would have taken HE5XX over HD6XX when I was 22 years old. I have no doubt about this.
     
  12. robot zombie

    robot zombie Friend

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    I might've too. They're definitely more exciting. Nothing much to dial into, its all there with no subtlety. Put them on and go "wow." They're a blast for electronic music with lots of panning, layered synths, and different hf percussive sounds.
     
  13. mk801

    mk801 Almost "Made"

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    Well, on one hand there is history of Hifiman selling cheaper versions (~45-50% of MSRP) of their more expensive offerings with cheaper materials where one would be hard-pressed to find any significant differences to their respective sounds (see HEK at $3000 MSRP -> Arya $1599), and on the other hand, there's knock-down versions (HEK -> HEX). I find there's little in between the HEKv1 and the Arya (more like the HEKv1 represents the best aspects of Arya v1 and v2); I still need to listen to my friend's HEKv2 though. Since the HE500 was selling at Amazon at $499 before Hifiman shuffled it off this mortal coil, and is selling between $300-400 used these days, your meme unintentionally betrays a bit of truth.

    [puts on pendatic hat] So you actually do care about marketing practices... [takes off pendatic hat]
     
  14. Kernel Kurtz

    Kernel Kurtz Friend

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    Sometimes they write themselves.
     
  15. tubefans

    tubefans MOT Drop

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    You guys don't know Massdrop/Drop at all. Their only purpose is to make more money. They knew everybody there already owned HD6XX or HD58X, and they want people to buy more headphones from them. This 5XX is carefully planned, selected and served for this purpose. Remember Drop keep saying those two are very, very different. They’re two very different beasts in terms of how they sound, how they’re put together, and how they make you feel.
     
  16. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    How dare they!! Those greedy SOBs. You’d swear they were a business or something. Someone should strip them of their audiophile charity status.
     
  17. robot zombie

    robot zombie Friend

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    And here I was thinking they were a nonprofit humanitarian organization! :/

    Nah, but they sure are out to sell products. I don't think anybody is confused about that. And yeah, the highlight would be that the wide-open planars would sound very different from the generally favored high-impedance dynamics. That's less marketing and more outlining the most basic differentiating attributes in the simplest possible way. They're not trying to sway you towards something less than what it is there. That is exactly what they are. You're going to get a drastically different experience depending on which one you pick.

    Fully buying into it would have involved picking them up and declaring them the he500 v2. If you buy that, they gotcha good.
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    HFM’s HE-5 reissue isn’t the same as the old HE-5 either. They have some similarities in FR, but the new ones have less heft and less body, but faster transient response than the originals. Sound familiar?
     
  19. Huhnkopf

    Huhnkopf Friend

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    [​IMG]



    This one here should follow the pattern.
     
  20. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    Re: diaphragm tension - two diaphragms that are the same in every way but tensioned differently will have the following differences:

    1. higher tensioned diaphragm will have a higher resonance frequency
    2. higher tensioned diaphragm will be less efficient.
    3. Depending on the design, the higher tensioned diaphragm *may* reduce certain frequency artifacts by reducing excursion at the edges relative to the mounting plate.
     

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