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Author Topic: HiFiMan HE-560 measurements  (Read 41145 times)

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Armaegis

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Re: HiFiMan HE-560 measurements
« Reply #160 on: September 05, 2014, 08:02:55 PM »
The sound is a decent. I've only had a few days with it (and it ships off to the next reviewer tomorrow). Definitely more power than the Clip+ and Fuze. I'd say slightly more defined sounding across the board. It's big and heavy compared to the Sansas though. The UI is kinda weird too; not bad once you get used to it, but still odd in a few places.

For me, I don't feel it brings enough improvement in sound to justify the extra size/weight/cost for portable pocket use. As something to take to the office or sit in a library, sure.
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Do you think there may be an acoustic leak from the jack hole? ~Tyll Hertsens

Not sure if I like stuffing one hole or both holes. Tending toward one hole since both holes seems kinda ghey ~Purrin

Eric_C

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Re: HiFiMan HE-560 measurements
« Reply #161 on: September 11, 2014, 04:20:22 PM »
Brief impressions with Vali and Pico (DAC/amp, but using amp section only):
Vali doesn't do the highs any favours. If there's a hint of brightness / hot mastering, it sounds borderline piercing. Otherwise quite alright. I think this is thanks to how realistically HE-560 portrays instruments. Soundstage feels a bit narrow. Am on 10 o'clock on volume.
Pico is actually smoother up top, and therefore sounds more pleasant. Bass seems stronger, prolly equally tight. Am on 11-12 o'clock, on high gain.
Both amps fed out of Bifrost Uber.

Seriously considering Asgard 2 for more solid state goodness than the Pico can punch out. For practical reasons the Pico is in constant danger of being yanked around, and I'll have to keep it charged. I guess I'll have to get rid of the Pico.

People on HF keep recommending Garage Project amps, but I really dislike the open design. Also, it's the same few people raving about those amps and I don't know them well enough to take their word as gospel.
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Eric_C

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Re: HiFiMan HE-560 measurements
« Reply #162 on: September 22, 2014, 03:45:55 PM »
Caved; bought an Asgard 2.
It's better than the Vali for this headphone.
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CCS

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Re: HiFiMan HE-560 measurements
« Reply #163 on: September 29, 2014, 07:04:41 PM »
Just got these a couple of days ago and I'm very impressed. I have not yet compared these to Paradox Slant, but I can say that I find them very close to neutral. Detail retrieval is fantastic and these may be the cleanest, clearest sounding headphones I've ever listened to, without being especially bright or harsh. I've never heard a headphone that renders treble quite like this, but the closest experience I can remember was a friend's entry-level STAX system. I'm quite happy with these headphones.

Edit: May be some time before I make any comparisons. Once I put these on, they don't want to come back off till I'm ready to take a break from listening to music.
« Last Edit: September 30, 2014, 05:34:06 AM by CCS »
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HideousPride

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Re: HiFiMan HE-560 measurements
« Reply #164 on: September 29, 2014, 08:55:51 PM »
Got a pair of these in today. Initial impression is that there's lots to like. They feel significantly lighter than the 500s and look much less cobbled together. They sound good across genres, and I found myself toe tapping. They sound somewhat lean though, I'm kinda wishing for a fuller/warmer sound. Clamp still kinda sucks. The stock pads are kinda grainy? Not sure if that's the right word, they somehow rub against my ears the wrong way.
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ThurstonX

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Re: HiFiMan HE-560 measurements
« Reply #165 on: September 29, 2014, 11:01:25 PM »
Quote from: HideousPride on September 29, 2014, 08:55:51 PM
Got a pair of these in today. Initial impression is that there's lots to like. They feel significantly lighter than the 500s and look much less cobbled together. They sound good across genres, and I found myself toe tapping. They sound somewhat lean though, I'm kinda wishing for a fuller/warmer sound. Clamp still kinda sucks. The stock pads are kinda grainy? Not sure if that's the right word, they somehow rub against my ears the wrong way.

re: the pads, you could try smoothing the grain of the velour prior to putting them on.  May help a little.  I like deep pads and ended up making my own.

re: clamping, you can bend the spring steel at the curve point.  Just expose the max amount on the cup side, place your thumbs on either side of the curve point, and then bend outward, applying steady pressure for a few seconds.  Repeat on the other side.  Test.  Bend more if too tight, bend back if too loose, though in my experience if not kept flexed on a suitable stand (the curved "head" shaped ones), the tension will return.  If so, just bend a little again, and they'll be as right as rain.  They were killing me at first, until people told me about that little trick.  Instant relief.

HTH.
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CCS

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Re: HiFiMan HE-560 measurements
« Reply #166 on: September 30, 2014, 10:16:02 PM »
@purr1n

Do you know what may be causing strange measurements in the treble? Both the FR plot and CSD you provided indicate little response between 10k-20k and Tyll's FR measurement looks pretty similar in this region, however most people here (myself included) hear it as quite neutral and Tyll hears it as a pretty bright headphone. You seem convinced that it is some sort of measurement artifact and I'm inclined to agree, but I'm curious as to why the measurements look this way.
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OJneg

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Re: HiFiMan HE-560 measurements
« Reply #167 on: September 30, 2014, 11:57:56 PM »
It's an artifact that comes from averaging the impulse responses. At least to my knowledge...

Do a single sweep or run PN through the system and you shouldn't see any nulls up there.
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CCS

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Re: HiFiMan HE-560 measurements
« Reply #168 on: October 02, 2014, 12:45:05 AM »
I think I may prefer the HE-560 to the Slants. Bass is a bit more neutral, but still has some oomph and is very detailed. I feel that bass textures and details are easier to pick out on the 560. The midrange is similar, but a little less thick. The bump in the upper midrange adds a little bit of bite when compared to the Slant, but never seems too aggressive to me. Treble seems flatter, resulting in a brighter sound, whereas the Slant is a touch dark in comparison, yet the HE-560 seems a little less prone to sibilance on most of my marginal recordings and makes it easier to listen to formerly problematic tracks. There's a sense of effortlessness to the treble that the Slant can't quite match.

I'd say the HE-560 is a bit better overall, though the Slants make for a more relaxing listen, when the extra edge of the 560's upper mids is less appreciated. Quite a nice headphone.

Edit: The Slant is also vastly preferable, with regards to comfort. The HE-560 is reasonably comfortable, but the Slant is like wearing high quality leather furniture. Very soft and gentle.
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Tor4

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Re: HiFiMan HE-560 measurements
« Reply #169 on: October 02, 2014, 07:08:27 PM »
Quote from: CCS on October 02, 2014, 12:45:05 AM
I think I may prefer the HE-560 to the Slants. Bass is a bit more neutral, but still has some oomph and is very detailed. I feel that bass textures and details are easier to pick out on the 560. The midrange is similar, but a little less thick. The bump in the upper midrange adds a little bit of bite when compared to the Slant, but never seems too aggressive to me. Treble seems flatter, resulting in a brighter sound, whereas the Slant is a touch dark in comparison, yet the HE-560 seems a little less prone to sibilance on most of my marginal recordings and makes it easier to listen to formerly problematic tracks. There's a sense of effortlessness to the treble that the Slant can't quite match.

I'd say the HE-560 is a bit better overall, though the Slants make for a more relaxing listen, when the extra edge of the 560's upper mids is less appreciated. Quite a nice headphone.

Edit: The Slant is also vastly preferable, with regards to comfort. The HE-560 is reasonably comfortable, but the Slant is like wearing high quality leather furniture. Very soft and gentle.

Interesting on the sibilance... I haven't heard HE-560s yet but my personal pair of Slants is very sibilance-free. Like more sibilance-free than both LCD-2 and HE-500 (and pretty much every other audiophile headphone I have owned so far). Really smooth and sibilance-free sound even with black metal stuff or Taylor Swift :-P Well, there is always room for improvement I guess but hard to imagine as far as sibilance goes here, IMHO...
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