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Author Topic: Are the he1000s worth buying?  (Read 3351 times)

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drfindley

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Re: Are the he1000s worth buying?
« Reply #20 on: August 20, 2015, 08:19:39 PM »
Quote from: ohhgourami on August 20, 2015, 08:04:16 PM
Miles more comfortable than HE-6? Not when you're using Vegan pads and have the headband bent to the shape of your skull.
Actually, I couldn't agree more. My HE-6s went from least comfortable headphone I owned to most comfortable with the Vegan pads. It is a little heavy, but meh, not an issue for me.

I think the HEK is not really worth it. I'd rather have an HD600/650, HE-6, HD800 or Stax instead.
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knerian

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Re: Are the he1000s worth buying?
« Reply #21 on: August 20, 2015, 08:41:24 PM »
Quote from: drfindley on August 20, 2015, 08:19:39 PM
Actually, I couldn't agree more. My HE-6s went from least comfortable headphone I owned to most comfortable with the Vegan pads. It is a little heavy, but meh, not an issue for me.

I think the HEK is not really worth it. I'd rather have an HD600/650, HE-6, HD800 or Stax instead.

Ha!  For the price of an HE1K you can pretty much buy an HD800, HE-6 and an HD600/650 when on sale.  Damn.
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paranoidroid

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Re: Are the he1000s worth buying?
« Reply #22 on: August 20, 2015, 11:46:20 PM »
Quote from: ohhgourami on August 20, 2015, 08:04:16 PM
Miles more comfortable than HE-6? Not when you're using Vegan pads and have the headband bent to the shape of your skull.

If that's not comfortable, you might want to consider neck strengthening exercises :p

Yep, miles. For me. I haven't tried any of the mods. I know you're semi-joking on the neck exercises, but I've had the similar weighted HE500 for a few years and they are perfectly fine and comfortable for the first hour or casual listening but I use them at my work desk for marathon sessions. Do you wear your HE6 for 4-8 hours a day everyday? That's what I do, and I think a minority can claim they can do that comfortably with the older Hifimans. In any case I don't think the HE1K is worth upgrading if you love the HE6 sound AND are ok with the comfort. But it was worth twice the price to me buying new based on the technical advantages I appreciated on the HE1K over the HE6, the less fatiguing treble and comfort.  Still crazy $$ but consider many can spend $1.5k or more on a questionable or barely perceivable upgrade in sound quality in DACs or amps that decision doesn't seem THAT crazy.
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paranoidroid

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Re: Are the he1000s worth buying?
« Reply #23 on: August 21, 2015, 12:05:22 AM »
I was also thinking, for price/performance of all the headphones I've heard I don't think they're really that bad despite being one of the most expensive headphones I've tried. I'd put it like (all IMO of course) - from best value to worst:

HE-500 (at current prices)
MAD DOG
HD650
HE-560 / HE-400i / HE-6
LCD-2
HD800
HE1000
LCD-3
SR-007 / SR-009 (when factoring an amp, and my signature preferences)
ETHER

Also heard the Abyss and they did not impress at all and would be last on this list, except I don't think I figured out a good fit in the short time I tried it and didn't give it the fair chance, so leaving it off.

Just a datapoint to help the original posters question.
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Negura

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Re: Are the he1000s worth buying?
« Reply #24 on: August 21, 2015, 12:09:19 AM »
Please allow to include a version of this based on EU sound quality/pricing (ok SR-009s PJ priced and SR-007s used value):

HD800 > HE-6 > SR-009 > SR-007s MK1 >> LCD-3 > HEK >= LCD-2 > HE-500

This is not factoring an equivalently capable stat amp. That's when there's a bit of a problem.
« Last Edit: August 21, 2015, 01:32:58 AM by Negura »
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ohhgourami

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Re: Are the he1000s worth buying?
« Reply #25 on: August 21, 2015, 12:12:05 AM »
I can easily wear them for 4-6 hours. Take a 5 min breather in between to let my ears get some fresh air but no uncomfort because of weight.
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paranoidroid

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Re: Are the he1000s worth buying?
« Reply #26 on: August 21, 2015, 12:13:22 AM »
Quote from: Negura on August 21, 2015, 12:09:19 AM
Please allow to include a version of this based on EU pricing/sound quality (ok SR-009s PJ priced and SR-007s used value):

HD800 > HE-6 > SR-009 > SR-007s MK1 >> LCD-3 > HEK >= LCD-2 > HE-500

How much higher are Hifimans pricing in EU vs USA? That's funny I have HE-500 as best value and you have it as last. Just goes to show how variable YMMV is. At $499 USD new, Amazon Prime - I really do think they are the best value headphones on the list. Your HD800 top value pick is technically much better in many ways, but not three times the price better, which is why I put the value of the HD800 in the middle.

I also consider the HEK to be a MUCH worse value than the HE-500 but you have it ahead of it.
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Negura

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Re: Are the he1000s worth buying?
« Reply #27 on: August 21, 2015, 12:18:56 AM »
It's sound quality/value. HD800s being EU made, are cheaper than in the USA comparative to the others. I bought my HD800s for the same price as the HE-6s, and yes the HD800s are better, despite some of their limitations.
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jerg

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Re: Are the he1000s worth buying?
« Reply #28 on: August 21, 2015, 12:35:35 AM »
The longer "beta" headband on HE1K is needed for it to have the proper deep ergonomic fit, with that it's more comfortable than even HD800 (which is already a heck of a lot more comfortable than any existing old or new Hifiman) for me.
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ohhgourami

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Re: Are the he1000s worth buying?
« Reply #29 on: August 21, 2015, 01:25:22 AM »
Quote from: jerg on August 21, 2015, 12:35:35 AM
The longer "beta" headband on HE1K is needed for it to have the proper deep ergonomic fit, with that it's more comfortable than even HD800 (which is already a heck of a lot more comfortable than any existing old or new Hifiman) for me.
Fang made a mistake by shortening the headband on the production model. Creates a pressure point. Not the right way to fix the sizing issue and ruins the possibility for deeper pads later on.
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