The funny thing is that when you hook up the HE-1000 directly to the AK120II and Fiio X7 and turn up the volume to 11 110/90, it actually sounds surprisingly good. Sure layering, clarity and detail aren’t the best and the sound is more musical than it is clean, detailed and precise but it is a joy to listen to in case of emergency when there’s no amp available 😉
The HE-1000 on my Glenn 300B amp is sublime. Dynamics, detail, sound stage, layering, etc.: it’s all there. The tubes however do tend to give the Hifiman a little less bass but at the same time they make the mids very rich and the treble nicely soft. In the end, the two desktop amps I prefer the HE-1000 on are the Violectric and the 300B. As a portable amp my choice would go to the Bakoon.
Conclusion
I have to apologize to Hifiman for not having posted the HE-1000 review earlier this year but hey, I saved the best for last. I mean that. To me, the Hifiman HE-1000, is the best headphone of 2015. Is it expensive? Yes, sure it is. $3000USD is a lot of money and buys you a whole bunch of other headphones. Is it worth it? Well that’s only something you can decide. If you compare the Price/Quality ratio of the HE-1000 against the one of the new Orpheus than this is a no-brainer.
Is it the very best headphone there is looking at technicalities? No it probably is not (HD800). It however is a headphone that scores very well on everything and most of all always stays musical. It’s an absolute joy to listen to and I’m pretty sure it sounds great on a whole lot of amplifiers besides the ones I tested.
Hifiman wanted to make a reference headphone and they have succeeded in doing exactly that. The HE-1K in combination with the Violectric setup has become my to go to headphone at home and I don’t even want to think about sending it back. For those who can’t quite afford it, the new HE-X might be something to look in to. I haven’t heard it myself yet (it’s on its way here) but it’s priced at $1799, should be easy to drive and should sound like its big brother. I can’t wait already.
Barun C
Thanks for a very enjoyable read. Hope that the Edition X review and comparison is followed up by this. Did you get a chance to compare it with the HE6?
Headfonia_L.
Not yet, been a while since I heard the He-6
Berkhan Oğulcan Akçay
Another great one Lieven. It’s always a pleasure reading your reviews. I’ve listened HE-1000’s, and I agree on most of it. I don’t find them very musical I think they’re more on the analytical side.
But we always have our own opinions 🙂 Enjoy them together with HD800’s!
Headfonia_L.
Thank you. Enjoy!
Michael De Lazzer
My favorite headphone. Period. It leaves me searching for anything it does wrong. Huge win for HifiMan. I prefer the HE-1000 over my HD800, which gets very little use these days. The HE-1000 is the very reason we need DSD files, it brings them to life. Having not heard the new Orpheus, I can say it’s the best headphone I’ve ever heard, and yes, I’ve spent time with the Stax SR-009.
ohm image
I’ve heard a lot of love for this model. John Darko mentioned to me that it was the only headphone he cared to own, or something like that.
Headfonia_L.
Darko… 😉
Headfonia_L.
It’s a really nice headphone. I like both the HD800 and the HE-1000 🙂
szoze
Great review again Lieven! Thanks. Sorry that your HE500 doesn’t get more playtime. It is a very special headphone indeed and I personally don’t think it is surpassed by HE560.
Headfonia_L.
If only the HE-500 was more comfortable. I agree though, the HE-560 did not replace it. And Thanks!
Joe Dalu
Nice review guys!
go well
Joe
Headfonia_L.
Thanks Joe!
Yaroslav
> LCD-X is on my shopping list for 2016
DO IT 😛
Seriously, ended up there. They are amazing.
George Lai
Merry Christmas and Happy Sounds New Year 2016, Lieven and Nathan and families.
Headfonia_L.
Thank you George. All the same to you and your family 🙂