The All Purpose Advice Thread

@Zed Bopp - I replaced the headband pads in my HD600 and HD580 with HD650 headband pads. It fits perfecty. I agree about the looks. I find the HD650 headband pads to be a bit more comfortable, as well.

 

Thanks, @Dino - it's an easy decision then!

 

Have anyone tried the Meze 11/12's IEM? They look rather nice and I like the Meze 99's.

 

I am on the horns of a headphone dilemma. My beloved HE-6 has gone Tango Uniform (tits up) with a dead right-side driver. I am waiting for Chinese New Year to end to see if HifiMan Customer Service has a path forward for me. Part of me says pick a different direction because it will be end-of-life issues from now on. However, the HE-6 on a speaker amp is the best sound I have ever experienced. Next best - and far off - is a modded HD650 on my Cavalli LG. I have never found a set of closed cans that suited me. I have tried and sold or returned Ether C's, Paradox, and Fostex Purplehearts. Nighthawks didn't live here very long either before they got voted off the island.

I still intend to look at options to repair/replace the HE-6's because I know they suit me. If that doesn't work, which direction might I go? I have limited opportunities to audition other than from sellers that will take returns. I am thinking that an HD800 with SDR mods might be worth a shot. If not that, what else? thx.

 

Would you consider the HE-1000? Seems like a direct path from the HE-6. I haven't seen a lot of people use the HEK off speaker taps. If the amp you were using with the HE-6 made it sing, maybe it could do the same with the HEK?

 

IMO, there are a couple problems with the HE-1000 as an HE-6 successor. First, the price. Even new, HE-6 was $1300 where HEK started at $3000. Current price for HEK is still $2400, double the price of HE-6.

The next problem is the lack of visceral impact. When I auditioned the HE-1000, There was a surprising difference in slam and perceived impact compared to HE-6. The HEK does seem to have deeper, more extended bass but it just kind of places it there instead of going, "Hey did you see what I just did? That was awesome right?" HE-6 does that.

I question the use of power amps with the HEK as it's far more sensitive and has a much thinner diaphragm. It would be pretty easy to blow the drivers even on accident.
I too am hoping that there is a headphone that can best the HE-6 both in price and performance. Sadly, the trend seems to be a higher price take means a better headphone.

 

For HP's with "normal" power needs, my Cavalli LG can make them sing. Given that my HE-6's went TU so soon, I would not pay $3K for another Hifiman product of what is apparently still mediocre build quality that sounded worse than the HE-6. In fact, if Hifiman sticks me out here with no repair path forward (which has not happened yet) on an expensive purchase that is not that old, then it would sour me against owning future products from them (as in never ever). In that case, I'd be looking for another alternative in the sub-$1500 range and I'd keep my eye out for a used HE-6. If I paid $3K+, well hell, $2K+, it would have to be a balls-out undisputed winner from a company with a reputation of supporting owners through a normal product lifetime. Focal Utopia was looking like that as the hype train was leaving the station, but now scattered snippets of reality are taking some blush off the Utopian rose. I rode an Ether C hype train and an Audioquest Nighthawk hype train, but with God's help I hope to never board another.

thx all. Surely there are other HE-6 aficionados around here who have become similarly left for dead or disillusioned and found a new happy place.

 

It seems like Utopia is the closest match to HE-6 but it has it's own little quirks. Plus a different presentation, for better or worse, compared to planars. I would get one for $2000 but stop the f'ing price gouging.

 

Hi guys,

New member here. I opened a thread but was recommended to post on this thread instead.

I need help to eliminate a faint hiss I am getting from my HD800S.

My setup is Laptop-> Cambridge Azur 851D -> First Watt J2 -> Speaker taps -> HD800S

I really like the sound of J2, a lot over the Azur 851D headphone out. However, there is a faint hiss through the J2 when the DAC is on.

1. The hiss doesn't increase or decrease with change in volume.

2. If I disconnect the USB, the hiss remains.

3. If the amp is on but the DAC is off, there's no hiss.

4. There is no hiss through the headphone out of the Azur 851D.


What do you think the problem could be? Should I go and buy another DAC just to see if the DAC is the problem? Could it be the interconnect? My interconnects are generic, but very sturdy build.

Thank you!

 

I've had hiss in a similar situation as yours with dac connected. I figured it couldn't be the schiit Bifrost Multibit hissing, so I swapped the generic interconnects with ones I made myself and the problem went away. If you have any spare cables just lying around, I'd give the cable swap a shot before buying a new dac.

 

Swap interconnect directions? The cable shielding is attached only at one end.

 

The used market for a HEK has settled around the $1,500-$1,600 price mark (thanks to the V2 for driving down the price).Even with that, it's almost twice the cost of a used HE-6.

 

Could be a ground loop. Try a 2 prong adapter on the power cable to see if that fixes it.

BTW how does the J2 sound with the HD800S? Does it transform the headphone into something else? I'm interested in trying speaker tap of a power amp myself with the HD800.

 

The hiss could also be ultrasonic oscillation, e.g. in the output stage. I have had this before where music still sounds OK, but it's oscillating at 1 to 5 MHz. Does the hiss change if you touch the speaker terminals, wave your hand around near the circuitry, or move the interconnects or headphone cable around? Another sign of oscillations is higher temperature (e.g. op amps), but having built a Pass amp before I know that they're hot anyway, so that won'r help. You'd need to use an oscilloscope to be sure. Can you try other headphones? Also try disconnecting all input to the J2 (not just turning the DAC off) and see if you still get the hiss.

Disclaimer: I'm not suggesting that's what it is, just another option to consider.

Edit: added final disclaimer.

 

If one can FIND a used HE-6! There is not currently a single set on FleaBay, HF, SBAF, or Audiogon. Any ideas? Somebody wanna hook a brother up?

 

Thanks, will be getting new interconnects today. I also have a strong feeling it could be the interconnect.

Thanks! The interconnect between the DAC and amp is XLR, so can't really change directions. Or did you mean some other interconnect?

Just tried that, on both the amp and DAC, didn't help, thanks for the suggestion though. It doesn't sound like a ground loop, it's a low-level hiss, the one you would get if you connect ultra-sensitive IEMs to high-powered amp, not a hum. But that kind of hiss usually increases with volume control, mine remains the same, which is peculiar.

As for the J2, I wouldn't say it "transforms" the headphone, but the soundstage and bass is considerably better. This is with prolonged comparison with my Azur 851D headphone out, which is single ended, but connection to J2 is balanced, that could have some role to play as well. But in general I prefer the J2 sound, with my HE6, my speakers, everything. I want all my music flow through it, hence trying this convoluted approach of running the HD800S.

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried these, didn't change anything. If I disconnect the DAC the hiss goes away, doesn't that mean it is either the DAC or the interconnect between the DAC and amp?


FWIW, the he6s don't hiss in the same system. But they are of a much lower sensitivity.

 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/833303/great-combo-he6-rsa-darkstar

May be convince this guy in selling the HE6 only? The Darkstar is also a fantastic amp, so you could get both if you need a new amp.

There was another one on sell two days ago, it's gone though.

I would have sold mine as the HD800S are getting more head time, but they are just so different, for now I will keep both.

 

Looks like he already has the prices broken down in the text and the total is listed as that is his preference for the sale.

"The price for RSA darkstar is 1700usd, Hifiman HE6 is 950USD, 2500USD for both. Darkstar and HE6 are just perfect with each other so I would prefer to sell them together."