Hifiman HE-6SE

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

  1. Drifterxny

    Drifterxny Friend

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    I've had about 3 long listening sessions (2-4 hrs) with them now, and I don't find anything that bothers me in terms of ergonomics. It actually feels a lot lighter than Utopia.
     
  2. jaker782

    jaker782 Friend

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    I am in favor of the He560/se v1 style suspension headband. I do have a smallish, narrow head and find the stock v2 headband to be too loose fitting with inadequate clamp force. Plus, while there is decent padding, the thinness of the band combined with weight of the headphones does lead to a hot spot for me. All of this is remedied by swapping out the v2 headband for a He560 v2 headband I picked up awhile ago from Adorama. This suspension style band fits much better IMO for smaller heads, but can definitely see how it would not be comfortable for those with larger heads. I think Dekoni Nuggets or a Pilot Pad would have been a decent option to use with the v2 headband as well, but I did not go that route.
     
  3. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Thanks for all the replies! I appreciate it.

    unfortunately it turns out the hybrid hifimsn headband doesn’t fit the HE6se V2

    The HE560 V2 headband is pretty cheap (ie reasonably priced) compared to the Hifiman Hybrid headband. How easy is it to swap them out and are you sure it fits? You’re talking about this headband?

    https://www.adorama.com/hmhb560.html
     
  4. jaker782

    jaker782 Friend

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    That picture is not the 560 v2 headband. Sadly, I think the v2 headband is sold out so they have started shipping the one pictured, which is actually this headband:

    https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/the-newly-enhanced-comfort-headband.html

    That one is not compatible with the 6se v2. The actual 560 v2 headband looks like this one:

    https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/hybrid-headband.html

    Here are pics of my 560 v2 headband:

    20210128_184522.jpg 20210128_184504.jpg
     
  5. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I am getting some aftermarket cables for the HE6se and so far have received the 2 cheaper options I ordered.

    an “OCC” copper cable from AliExpress (below) 70$

    a Hart Audio cable (above) 50-ish$

    [​IMG]

    Both are very nice. The AliExpress cable looks beautiful whatever it’s made of must be something readily available in China because the same cable is used all over AliExpress with various terminations. This one I had custom made for the HE6se.

    Interestingly they both sound worse than the stock jellyfish cable to me. Anyone who wants to claim I’m subject to confirmation bias can STFU now because I thought basically anything would sound much better. The Hart Audio cable is too warm I actually thought about adjusting my mods than I realized it might be the cable and it was. The AliExpress cable just sounds weird and definitely not better.

    I’m curious if anyone knows if the jellyfish cable is silver plated copper? Might explain what I’m hearing.
     
  6. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    the problem might be that what Adorama currently sells is the “HE560 V4” not the V2.
     
  7. loadexfa

    loadexfa MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Yeah, from what I can tell in the manual, it is silver plated copper:
    http://down.hifiman.com/manual/HE6se.pdf
    (This online manual matches the one that came with my V1 6se).

    Too bad those alternatives sound like crap, I guess these need silver plating to match the tuning. I wonder if pure silver would sound good too.
     
  8. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    they weren’t that bad, just slightly inferior and I thought anything would be better even a stock HD650 cable.

    thanks! Just in time to change my cable order from Norse Audio.

    Edit: cable deniers should have a look at the last 3 posts ;)
     
    Last edited: Mar 15, 2021
  9. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    If not too much trouble, try removing the mods and re-evaluate the cables. I was looking at Hart cables and was wondering if the extra modular connections would affect the sound. I am thinking a copper cable may improve my HE6SE v1.
     
  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    The mods are a good thing, they make the driver move as it should and create flatter FR. They make it a more revealing headphone so removing them doesn’t really make sense to test what synergizes.

    I would recommend sticking with silver plated copper cables for the HE6se unless you want to change the sound. The Hart cables were warmer and had slightly recessed mids.

    I do still think the Hart cables are probably good for other headphones. I ordered some for my T50rp and T60rp after this experience. Those headphones are tuned with copper cables.
     
  11. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Here’s a cheap (equal to Hart audio) silver plated copper cable for the HE6se. I have no idea if it’s actually OCC or how it sounds but my AliExpress cable had a beautiful weave and felt nice at least.

    https://a.aliexpress.com/_mK66vwf
     
  12. cameng318

    cameng318 Friend

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    I did some listening with my HE-6SE today, and also felt the jellyfish cable actually sounds good. The jacks aren't flush to the cup, so I only tried a 3 meter Mogami cable from Arctic Cables on my HE-6SE. I bought the cable for my Elex, so it's actually my first time putting it on HE6-SE. It's 3x longer than the jellyfish, so probably not an apples to apples comparison. I used Gungnir A2 and Jot 2. HE6 is one of the most revealing headphones I have, and the difference in vocal is noticeable to me. The Mogami cables feels like there's a thin mesh of film grain on vocals, if that makes any sense.

    Then I connected the jellyfish to my Elex. The Elex sounded cleaner too. Going back to the stock Focal cable, it feels like those Mogami cables again. Those of you who own both HE-6SE and Focals might try the jellyfish on your Focals, maybe it will sound improved to your ears.

    I've had great quality cables that sounded bad to me (Oyaide made in Japan cable for my K702, fantastic build quality, sounded clean, but throws off the tone and timbre), so I really don't understand how cables make difference... but it just works. Looking at the jellyfish, there's one other special thing besides silver plated. The wires inside aren't even twisted. It even makes less sense to me now why it sounds good. Nobody would ever suggest you put untwisted silver plated copper wire in your signal chain.

    The real question is where did Hifiman sourced the jellyfish o_O Are they organic free range pasture raised cage free wild caught from New Zealand with zero hormones and pesticides?
     
  13. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Yeah we’ll see about the jellyfish cable when I get Forza Audioworks and Norne silver/copper cables in. ;)

    but the wires going from the 3.5mm jacks to the driver are such garbage I don’t know how much improvement can be made without rewiring them internally. Which I hope to do at some point.
     
  14. Drifterxny

    Drifterxny Friend

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    Wish i had seen your post before ordering the hart cable, it sounds so much worse than stock, everything's more distant and recessed. I can't believe how much better the stock sounds, guess can't judge a book by its cover.
    Looking forward to your thoughts on the Forza and Norne cables.
     
  15. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I made a beautiful leather strap hoping to make a suspension headband with my HE6se. Nice thick leather. But the shape of the headband I think makes it so it don’t work. It’s too wide and not tall enough. Too bad it would be really comfy!

    [​IMG]
     
  16. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    All these people making nice fancy leather headbands... meanwhile my suspension headband is a piece of an old belt attached with hockey tape o_O
     
  17. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    good idea I couldn’t figure out a temporary glue that was strong enough. Here’s what it looks like. When you open the headphones enough to fit on your head the headband strap is just barely hanging under the headband.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Unfortunately the headband isn’t tall enough as it’s designed to sit directly on your head. So the fit is too tight. It needs a plain metal headband that is taller and allows the headband strap to be longer. It sort of barely fits but it’s too tight.

    shame. Wtf was Hifiman thinking getting rid of the HE6se V1 headband? They even use this uncomfortable POS on their 5000$ “R10 ortho”. I guess no one at hifiman actually uses their headphones.
     
  18. ufospls2

    ufospls2 Friend

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    I actually found the clamp a bit much with the V1's headband after about 1.5 hours. I think I might have a big head in terms of width though. The lack of swivel didn't seem to matter too much. I think, sadly, the best option is the audeze headband if you can get one of the metal ones (not carbon) for a good deal. The carbon one at 200 kinda defeats the purpose of the pricepoint of the HE6seV2. With that being said, it looks really cool.

    The stock headband of the V2's looks like garbage tbh, but I haven't personally tried it. Maybe Hifiman, after all the snapping troubles of their earlier plastic headbands from the HE400i's, went with sturdiness over looks and comfort. Seems kinda dumb that a $5500 closed back has the same headband too, you are right.
     
  19. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I did an experiment to see if the pads on the Adorama Hifimans - HE6se V2 and HE560 V4 actually seal too the cups. I’m happy to report that they do seal. There was no difference in bass response between regular pad attachment and with electrical tape sealing the crack between pads and cups.

    just generally a good thing though I was hoping I could get improved bass response by sealing the pads to the baffle.

    [​IMG]
     
  20. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I've never heard these, but this review of a bunch 'o HE6es might be interesting to you folks.

     
    Last edited: May 31, 2021

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