Review: Hifiman HE6SE – Iconic

Comfort, Design & Build Quality

The old HE-500 and HE-6 shared the same old headband system and the headband didn’t really make the heavy headphones more comfortable.

The new HE6SE doesn’t use the HE-1000’s headband system but it uses a new hybrid headband which is lighter and more adjustable. It for sure is more comfortable compared to the original HE-6 headband but the new headband doesn’t let the cups swivel in all directions and that to me is a bit of a shame. It would certainly improve the comfort even more if they could as the HE6SE now sometimes feels a bit weird on the ears as it can’t perfectly follow the shape of your head. That’s something very personal however, and for you it might feel perfect. The HE6SE still weighs an impressive 470g, so it is important to get the comfort as high as possible.

To do so, Hifiman is using their Focus ear pads with memory foam surrounded by pleather and soft velour outer layers. I really love the ear pads on this headphone, I just wished they were a little bigger and thicker so my ears wouldn’t touch the pads all the time. The bigger Jade/Ananda pads are so much more comfy. Sure it’s a different design, but comfort is oh so important. Luckily the HE6SE sounds so good I’m willing to forgive this little shortcoming.

Design-wise the HE6SE does look really nice, especially the matte black earcups and driver grills. The headband design and looks I’m not such a fan of, but that again is personal. Hifiman for the HE6SE decided to use the 3.5mm cable connectors and they are angled at 10 degrees to reduce pressure on the connectors and cable.

Build quality-wise these are good. Especially the ear cups, grills and connectors. As said I’m less of a fan of the headband and I wish the yokes system was differently working and looking nicer but it all does look sturdy. I couldn’t find any flaws regarding to build quality and for $1800USD there shouldn’t be any either.

Sound

Hifiman describes the new HE6SE as a no compromise headphone that delivers a transparent and completely natural rendition of the most complex recordings.

To test it’s sound we used the HE6SE on several different high end amplifiers as you’ll see later but the description of its sound in this chapter is based on the combination with the Auris Audio Nirvana in balanced mode, with the Sensitivity set at 32Ohm.

General

As expected and intended, the HE6SE has a neutral, linear and balanced tuning and the musical delivery is precise and dynamic yet musical. From bottom to top the clarity is exceptional and you get a clean sound with a perfectly black background at all times. The HE6SE’s timbre in bass, mids and treble is exceptional and it’s decay is exemplary.

The HE6SE is fast, tight and always in control. No matter what music you’re listening to, with a powerful amplifier you’ll get the very best out of it. The HE6SE’s sound stage is wide, deep and extends well in all directions. The transparency is beautiful, the separation and spaciousness it spot on, realistic. The layering is excellent though some other high end headphones show more precision and definition there.

All-in all the HE6SE was and still is a reference headphone, there’s no discussion about that. The only difference nowadays is that there are many other high level reference headphones, even within Hifiman’s product line-up, and then I’m thinking Jade II, HE-1000SE and both the Jr. And Sr. Shangri La units.

The Bass, Mids & Treble section and comparisons can be found on the Third Page of this review. Click HERE.