So I acquired a HE500 some months ago now. I purchased them due to their reputation; similar to the OG HE6, pre Fazor LC2, basically, ‘Old but still competitive.’
Since getting them, I have been through a good few headphones in sub £1000 category, well-recommended cans, trying to “beat” my old Hifimans. And, I can’t. This list includes the 2020 LCD X, Edition XS, Sundara, GL2000, DT1990, etc… My HE500 just seem to do everything very well. The GL2000 came close but the centre image always seemed too close and it did funny things to snare drums.
So I ask you, particularly those who’ve heard a HE500, what’s next? I’m beginning to think I’m gonna have to shell out some serious cash for an OG HE6 or something. Is there anything else sub £1k, like a HE6 V2 maybe, that is as well-rounded as a HE500 but does what it does better?
Hello,
I don’t know the He500.
But it will be difficult in this price range.
I guess something like a Lcd 3,Hifiman Arya would be more the next level.
The old planar headphones seem to offer more sound than the new low ohm planar headphones even today.
They’re more efficient, but the sound is probably less.
There are enough people looking for the older models because of the sound.
I wish the manufacturers would go back to the old way.
Because even the low ohm planar headphones are hard to drive.
There aren’t many amps that can reproduce that without distortion to make the most of it, especially power-wise and in a clean ratio.
With my Aeon R/T I had a hybrid amplifier built that runs without distortion and also has the power to do so, the result is indeed different than before.
The older Hifiman also run better than the new models and the top models were also a little better made in my opinion.
well, if you are looking for something with a similar sound signature, probably never will, but if you go after similar level performance, understanding that the characteristics of the sound will change because of the different driver type and materials it’s made of vs. planar, then you will succeed.
I still have one eye on a pre-Fazor LCD 2 as they’re know for great timbre in particular. I’m not sure how they’d compare to HE500 though. Plus, I wasn’t bowled over by the LCD X I had, do I’m wary to invest in any kind of Audeze as I know their house sound is prominent across the majority of their cans.
Yes, you have to be a bit careful with the pre fahor.
There are always some on sale.
And the condition is important.
There are also many repaired ones that are sold as pre fazor but have the fazor inside.
Because Audeze doesn’t really make them any more.
There is a note on the Audeze site about the serial number.
Audeze also told me that the drivers either work or they don’t. There is nothing in the middle.
So if you find one that matches the serial number and the condition is good it should be good.
If it hasn’t been driven excessively hard.
Sound wise I have nothing to complain about,the Lcd 2C is supposed to be close to the old days before pre Fazor Audeze told me.
The rest is again a matter of equipment anyway,dac and amp.
I have the HE-500 and an OG 4-screw HE-6. From Hifiman’s modern lineup, I’ve tried the Arya v2, Ananda, Edition XS, HE6v2 and Sundara. I’ve also tried the Audeze LCD-X 2021, LCD-XC.
Basically sold them all. I rotate between the HE500, HE-6 and HD650. For now, that is all I need from a headphones perspective. Very happy with what I have and also relieved that GAS has been cured - for now The OG HE-6 is like a turbo charged HE500 in the dynamic and bass frequencies. At times, the bass can be a bit slow on the HE500 with my music collection.
All this to say, the HE500s are definitely something special - especially for what they go for on the used market.
Thanks for this response. So if you had a HE500, but not your OG HE6, would you consider HE6 v2 a worthy purchase?
Separately, why do you keep the HE500 around if you have an OG HE6? The fellow that I bought my HE500 only sold it to me because he’d finally obtained an OG HE6. My understanding is that a 6 beats out the 500 in most regards; so they’re very similar, it’s just that the 500 isn’t quite so amp dependant/hard to drive.
I had the HE6 v2 and OG HE6 at the same time earlier this year. I’d consider the v2 to be a worthwhile purchase. Especially open box from Hifiman or Adorama deal. Believe it or not, the v2 is actually a bit more refined than the OG HE6, especially in the treble regions. The treble peaks on the OG are deadly without EQ or mods - fatigue sets in within 30 mins. For those who have not heard OG, the v2 is 90% there.
For me, and like what you’ve experienced, the HE500 is special. I prefer the mids on the HE500, as well as the driveability vs. OG HE6. With the HE6 being harder and harder to find, I definitely use it sparingly. I am quite happy to put on the HE500s and still have a similar sound signature for a shorter session. It’s also kinda fun to own both and be able to enjoy a special time during Hifiman’s evolution.
Thanks again for your response. I actually ordered the v2 a few hours ago as curiosity got the better of me. There’s so little information, so few perspectives out there about the 500. I’m even happier with my purchase now considering your comments. Getting an OG 6 still sounds like a worthy goal in my mind but the prices often scare me off. See how the v2 does.
After having gone through 3 pairs of HE500’s (sold and rebought lol) and having owned the HE6SEv2 for a brief period I can say that the v2’s are a clear upgrade in some aspects, but the 500’s can actually hang with them in a lot of areas. For bass punch the 500’s are honestly not that far off the v2’s. The gap widens when you put the v2’s on a speaker amp, but then a lot of speaker amps kinda resolve like crap compared to modern day modest headphone amps unless you’re willing to spend the big bucks.
Frequency response wise, I saw someone describe going from the 500’s to the v2’s as walking into a cold shower and I could not have agreed more lol, it’s a cooler sounding headphone.
HE560…? Stax L700 or Nectar Hive? Verite Open? HE500 wasn’t to my taste in the treble, or enough technical power for the price IMO. Original HE6 though. . . And LCD-3. Still my top 2 I’ve ever heard.
I like generally like HD660 a lot on the cheaper side, but of course it’s only a mid-range level phone.
The OG HE-6 is like a turbo charged HE500 in the dynamic and bass frequencies. At times, the bass can be a bit slow on the HE500 with my music collection.
And LCD-3. Still my top 2 I’ve ever heard.