Hifiman HE-6SE

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by purr1n, Aug 22, 2018.

  1. Ksorota

    Ksorota Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,780
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    01810
    So is the swapped polarity due to poorly executed assembly or a general lack of attention during headphone assembly?

    I would assume it is easy to attach the wire leads to the appropriate driver connection points to maintain proper polarity. Am i missing something?

    Could it be the cable?
     
  2. cameng318

    cameng318 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2020
    Likes Received:
    327
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Wyoming
    I think the polarity is an intentional tuning strategy, since it's consistent across the brand. Hifiman headphones have minor updates over the years, but the polarity is always flipped. I checked the cables connection, and it's the same with Focal cables (tip is signal, and sleeve is ground). Thus the reversal happens in wiring the driver to the 3.5 mm socket. There are headphones from other brands that are also intentionally phase reversed, like the Stax 007 or AKG K812, just to name a couple.

    Tbh, the engineer side of me never thinks human can hear phase. The audiophile side of me only hears a subtle difference in vocals. I've heard people talking about vintage Japanese recordings were phase reversed, so it could be trying to reverse it back. I bet there are many other recordings phase reversed. Reversed phase might work great for you, if your collection of albums also have reversed phase. It should be worthy to give it a try and see if it suits your taste, since flipping phase is so easy and lossless to do a comparison via software. Different people and setups probably have different sensitivity about phase.
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
  4. skem

    skem Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,911
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Charles River
  5. cameng318

    cameng318 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2020
    Likes Received:
    327
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Wyoming
    Ah yes, a good point! Then it's a really complex topic to analyze mathematically like IMD. I'm currently using Magni 3+, so this effect shouldn't play in much. Maybe the reversed phase synergies well with tube distortion, like compressing more air coming at us for a softer attack, or perhaps the opposite. It'll take more testing and listening to find out.
     
  6. cameng318

    cameng318 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2020
    Likes Received:
    327
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Wyoming
    Just got my exchanged unit from Adorama, this matching is what I'm talking about! It's almost like measurements from the same driver. Interestingly though, the impedance are higher than my last pair. It's now 63.1/63.5 ohms for left/right (it was 57.3/56.4 ohms for the mismatched unit), so I guess Hifiman does have a matching protocol of some sort. My last unit might just be a unicorn. Perhaps I even got 10% thinner gold on the diaphragms for this unit (which should be a good thing for sound).

    If you are buying a new (or used) pair of HE6SE V2, I would recommend you check out its FR mismatch especially if you have access to measurement rigs. Multimeter measurements don't tell the whole story here. I remember HE6 used to be $1000+. These $699 units saves a bunch, and miniDSP EARS only costs $199.
    [​IMG]
    On a second thought, this is my first time buying a headphone on Adorama. Maybe they figured out an algorithm to sort out consumers, and they sent me the mismatched unit to test if I'm okay with B grad units o_O Hmmm I can never tell. Anyway, I'm very satisfied with this perfectly matched unit.
     
  7. YtseJammer

    YtseJammer Almost "Made"

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2015
    Likes Received:
    257
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Retired from SBAF
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2021
  8. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,237
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    What’s with the weird stock Jellyfish cable on the HE6se? By far the weirdest cable I’ve ever seen. WTF was hifiman thinking? This is a 1600$ headphone! The cable kinks and flops around like a dead jellyfish.
     
  9. elwappo99

    elwappo99 Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Likes Received:
    797
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    SoCal
    I think the only other stock cable that can compete is the HE-500. Awful cable that they use on almost all of their "high end" headphones. If you look closely the wires inside are ultra thin like 28 ga wires.
     
  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,237
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    I’m sure the Jellyfish extract in the coating increases dielectrics.
     
  11. dubharmonic

    dubharmonic Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,032
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Evanston, IL
    Reminds me of a catheter, which is even worse. These are also shipped with the Susvara, last I checked.
     
  12. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,237
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    Honestly IV tubing would make a better cable.
     
  13. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,237
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    Any good budget replacement cables out there? I checked in AliExpress and didn’t find much the only ones I found were balanced only. Though I’ve got messages in with the sellers.
     
  14. bhk1004

    bhk1004 Acquaintance

    Joined:
    May 6, 2020
    Likes Received:
    47
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    nj
  15. jaker782

    jaker782 Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    May 6, 2019
    Likes Received:
    399
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Maryland
    I concur. I've purchased two of their cables and on both occasions I recieved my cables in about 7 days. Reasonably priced and IMO more ergonomic and less stiff than Periapt. Hart Audio is good as well with their modular system, but they have much longer lead times.

    Edit: I am actually using a modular cable from this seller on Ebay for my 6se, which uses Canare wire and also very flexible. Great price for the quality and fast shipping. Very impressed.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/4pin-XLR-H...-/254870246016?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2021
  16. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,237
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    I like this YouTube guy. Until I want to spend half of what the headphone cost on a Forza cable this might be enough.
     
  17. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,237
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    This AliExpress cable looks good. I messaged with the seller and he will terminate them with any connector not just the ones mentioned and he can make a pigtail XLR > 6.35mm adapter with the same cable for $20.

    https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqi5WQR

    The eBay cable is cool too.
     
  18. jaker782

    jaker782 Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    May 6, 2019
    Likes Received:
    399
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Maryland
    Nice find! And good to know regarding the pigtail option. If you don't mind the wait, that looks like a solid option for a non-sheathed cable.

    Keep in mind that with that Ebay cable, you can get a modular cable with two extensions for $70. So you could get both 1/4" and XLR for the a similar price as the AE cable with pigtail add-on. Being US made, Ebay cable would arrive much faster. Both would be solid options.
     
  19. jaker782

    jaker782 Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    May 6, 2019
    Likes Received:
    399
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Maryland
    Those looking for a decent option for the open grill mod, these 80mm custom acrylic computer fan grills available on Amazon and Ebay for like $6 a pop fit the bill. All you have to do is snip/file/sand off the tabs just enough to get them to fit snuggly in the cups via friction. Just be careful not to trim the tabs too much. Since they are relatively thick and flush with outer edge of the cups when installed, they do not work with the Hifiman retainer rings. Friction keeps them in place so the rings aren't needed anyway:

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LDET12...abc_WQCXHYKDTNT9MQFCDYCV?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

    20210221_113102.jpg
     
  20. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,237
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    Ohhhh that’s a very bad idea. You’re going to get a piece of dust or fiber into the driver and it will then vibrate forever and the headphones will be ruined. It doesn’t matter if they’re that much more open in the back this is snake oil stuff. Sorry. They need damping behind the driver not to be more open.
     

Share This Page