Hifiman HE-6

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by Meteora, Nov 13, 2015.

  1. MrTie

    MrTie Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    815
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    A.B.E. - PA
    Ah the S300i is China-Krell might have something to do with the used value.
     
  2. Malabargold

    Malabargold Flipper

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2016
    Likes Received:
    120
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Where are you seeing the S300i for less than the 400xi? I cheapest I have seen the S300i is at $2k+
     
  3. MrTie

    MrTie Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    815
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    A.B.E. - PA
  4. MrTie

    MrTie Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    815
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    A.B.E. - PA
  5. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    I'm waiting to see how the Schiit 2 channel stuff sounds.
     
  6. elwappo99

    elwappo99 Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Likes Received:
    797
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    SoCal


    @ohhgourami

    Posted a bit over on HF, but I just took into possession a pair of HE-6. It's got 4 screws, and definitely a black paint on it. IIRC, my previous pair (one of the first pairs produced) had a purpleish tone to it.

    Anyway, if my memory isn't totally lost, it's a very different sounding headphone. Definitely not as clear and spacious, but a much warmer tone. And Bass! Whew, this thing definitely has some impact in the bass. Much more than I remember. My gut feeling is it's a toss up, but these warmer ones definitely pair with a Raggy well.
     
  7. jelt2359

    jelt2359 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    Likes Received:
    157
    Trophy Points:
    43
    I also discussed this with @ohhgourami via pm, but while my 4 screw was on 'vacation' in China (speaker amp accident), I picked up a (later version) 6 screw. It sounded completely different. BTW, my 4 screw version was so early, it did not even have the plastic ring around the drivers- so Blutack-mod was like heaven for it. In fact seeing the plastic ring on my 6 screw version was what prompted me to PM @ohhgourami, and turns out his had that too. Mine didn't have it, and even after arriving back from China it still doesn't have it. My PM went a bit like 'wtf is this plastic ring, did I get cheated etc...'.

    Anyhow I got my 4 screw back and promptly sold the 6 screw immediately. No matter what I did with the 6- remove everything behind the drivers, etc- it still sounded significantly warmer and less incisive than my 4 screw set. The 6 screw also did not respond as incredibly to the Blutack mod as the 4 screw.

    If you had an early pair like I did (mine was a preorder set from 2010), I suggest you hold on to it- that housing causes some major difference in sound with the newer sets, which persisted even when I had my drivers replaced recently.
     
  8. ohhgourami

    ohhgourami Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    597
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    SGV, CA
    Are you using the same amp combo you did 3 years ago? HE-6 changes quite a bit depending on the amp. What pads are you using now?
     
  9. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

    Banned
    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2015
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    28
    ohG, did you already get your ideal speakers?
     
  10. elwappo99

    elwappo99 Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Likes Received:
    797
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    SoCal
    Super rough week at work. Definitely appreciate your replies, I'll have to look into it further on the weekend.

    Interesting stuff. Sounds like i might be in for a goose chase on the 4 screw version that is clearer.

    My unit is 4 screws but sounds way warmer. I'll compare but im talking like he500 warm. One thing i noticed is the housing is a shiny black. Very black. My older unit definitely had a purple tone.

    I was using velours. Same pads as i did previously. Running a rag now but even on some spare amps it sounds very different.

    Is this a driver revision or enclosure then? Seems like enclosure would be easy to spot a difference.
     
  11. takato14

    takato14 God of Ruin

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    654
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Michigan, USA
    My 6 screw sounds kinda warm and dull, not very concise or clean compared to the Sansui. I am still underpowering it, but I can sort of hear the driver's potential behind the mess of shit that is the amplifier distorting -- and what I hear sounds very much superior to a lot of equipment I've used in the past. However, something's still missing from the timbre, from how it presents sound...

    I really need to get that speaker amp in here already so I know of I need to start looking for a 4 screw.
     
  12. jelt2359

    jelt2359 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    Likes Received:
    157
    Trophy Points:
    43
    [​IMG]

    Here was my newer (warmer) set. 6 screws, and a white plastic ring between the driver and the housing. My extremely old 4 screw set did not have have this white plastic ring, whereas I believe @ohhgourami's 4 screw set did.
     
  13. ohhgourami

    ohhgourami Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    597
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    SGV, CA
    Nope, didn't have that white "ring" either.
     
  14. Ony

    Ony New

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2016
    Likes Received:
    42
    Trophy Points:
    13
    Nobodies tested wood cup on he-6 instead of plastic ?
     
  15. takato14

    takato14 God of Ruin

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    654
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Michigan, USA
    Realistically the cups on the HE-6 won't make much, if any difference at all. They don't really obscure either side of the driver.
     
  16. MrTie

    MrTie Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    815
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    A.B.E. - PA
    Quick question in regards to resistors.

    My current setup is:

    Theta DSPro Gen II

    Anthem 225

    HE-6

    with the addition of the Theta(which outputs an insane 4v+ over rca) I am now finding that I have very very limited usable volume knob range on my integrated.

    I'm considering adding some mills resistor, but my question is in regards to safety, most of the previous posts on these have been in relation to sub 100w tubes amps, my amp makes over 200 watts into 8ohm, would this present a problem using a low wattage resistors?
     
  17. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,268
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Add the resistors between the DAC and the amp.
    Voltage divider. There's barely any power transmitted there, so smaller resistor (good precision) would work.

    It is in effect a fixed attenuator.

    You could achieve the same thing with transformers, but it's more expensive.
     
  18. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,467
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2016
  19. MrTie

    MrTie Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    815
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    A.B.E. - PA
    [​IMG]

    Essence ST SPDIF out ->Theta DSPro Gen II-> B&K Pre in passive mode->Clone Firstwatt F5 Turbo->HE-6.....I'm about this life son.
     
  20. MrTie

    MrTie Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    815
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    A.B.E. - PA
    Ok so this industrial , hot as hell ,garbage can looking mofo of DIY Firstt Watt amp has displaced my very nice sensible powerful Canadian integrated.

    Anthem still wins by the tiniest margin in bass depth/tightness, however that may be down to the cheapy preamp I'm using.

    The F5T out resolves the shit out of the Anthem, air/echo/decay stuff is jaw dropping detailed on this amp, and HF maintain extremely good details without getting overly harsh. Staging seems about equal but separation and sense of ease is noticeably better on the F5.

    I would highly highly suggest anyone with a $400-1000 amp budget to give a DIY F5/T a hard look, build or buy. I also pulled all my gear out into the living room and was well pleased with this amp on my speakers as well.

    Given an appropriate application, this is amp is a killer.

    Now of course I'm curious about some of the other First Watt circuits.

    I'm most likely going to unload the anthem, and pursue building a First Watt B1 JEFT buffer Pre, as I don't need any additional gain, quite the opposite with the Theta(3-4v), I will actually be buying pair of Harrison -12db attenuators so I can use more of my knob.

    I know we have some other First Watt users in here, any thoughts other amps in the line? I think the new F7, as a further refinement of the F5 circuit, looks really appealing for the HE-6, I may build one once it reaches retirement and hits DIY.
     

Share This Page