Update: bought V2s; may upgrade to SE…
I like them and will write a more detailed post shortly, including why I feel the need to upgrade and how they compare to a couple other cans.
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So, I’ve actually decided to hold off upgrading for the time being. The HEKv2 are fantastic and are a match made in heaven on my Luxman P-700u.
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The HEKv2 are absolutely wonderful. Other “Keepers” have come and gone but the HEK remains…
I work mine from a Violectric V550 sourcing roon via Spring3 KTE. 
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I am really hoping that the pads that @NtraXMod is working on can give me back a bit of that bass in the SE that I miss about the V2 without destroying the rest of the FR. Pad rolling is the one thing I’ve been wanting to do with hifiman egg cans forever but there has just never been an option.
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Yeah, there’s never an option to pads roll until now. Hopefully I can make more to test out. I’m eager to get them and measure them as well.
I thought I was the only idiot who bought an expensive headphone without auditioning. My reference were the HE400 then the Sundara (satisfied with both but wanted more) and finally took the plunge with Susvara.
No way!! I’m exactly that kind of idiot, but luckily for me I was quite familiar with the “HFM” sound and the gamble turned out to be well worth it. HE400/Sundara/Susvara, now DATS an impressive upwards progression, whoooo hoooo!!
Now the question of do you have the source gear to make them worth them price. They take HE-6 levels of power.
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I really love the Hifiman headphones, have owned the 4xx, Sundara, Arya, HE6 v2, and HE1000 v2…
Havent tried an HE1000 SE or Susvara. How do they compare to the HE1000 V2 and HE6 V2? Cant afford them right now, but wondering if those are worth an upgrade or if HE1000 V2 and HE6 V2 are good enough as end game?
Since this is active again… I noticed that people sell the HEKv1 for quite a bit cheaper than the V2, is there an upgrade in sound or just the build?
I owned the V2 for 4 years and loved it. Awesome headphone, totally enjoyable. I’ve had the HEKSE now for 8 months and I can say it’s awesome too. I could definitely live happily on a desert island with either of them, but the SE is faster, smoother, has more precise laser pinpoint bass, and better details.
Don’t get me wrong though, both are awesome.
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I didn’t think there was any way I’d like the SE more than the v2 and my expectations were shattered when I upgraded through hifiman. I kinda miss the little bass bump that the v2 had but EQ solves that if I ever care enough. The amount of detail the SE has makes the Arya look like a $200 dynamic by comparison.
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I wasn’t able to audition the SE before sending my V2 away in a box, so I was a little apprehensive too!! What if the SE showed up and I liked the V2 better? Luckily that didn’t happen and my decision turned out to be a sound one. I’m not sure if I’ve ever had a set of cans I’ll head downstairs to listen to at 3am because I “Can’t sleep” lol.
I’m glad that I read the post on here. Gained some insight for what to expect if I upgrade. One of the customer service reps (Tony) asked me for proof of purchase when I inquired about upgrading from my Arya (Stealth) I purchased about 5-6 weeks ago to the HE 1000v2’s. He said in his e-mail back to me that I would be able to upgrade if my purchase was in the last 30 days. I sent my receipt anyway and I’m waiting for him to respond.
Very interesting. My V2’s were older ones, with 2.5mm plugs, and I sent them in with payment proof for the upgrade and that was it. Upgrading to the V2’s that’s awesome, they’re amazing cans! Ya once the process actually begins it doesn’t take that long really. I think my order took about a month total, maybe a little less before my new headphones arrived at my door. And that was me sending the V2’s to them from Canada as well.
Hope all runs smoothly for you and you get your V2’s!!
I don’t think the Arya is actually in the “HEK” upgrade path normally. HEKv1 to V2 and either v1 or v2 to SE is what I’ve seen typically, so if they let you upgrade your Arya I think they may already be going above n beyond. Which is cool, and examples why it never hurts to reach out and ask questions.
Hope that it works out for you. Would be curious to see what they do for upgrades when the HEKv2 is already on sale $1K off msrp currently.
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Hello. I was told to just send them the difference, which would be 700.00, plus shipping. I’ve only had my Arya’s for about 5 1/2 weeks. I sent him the receipt already. If I would have known that the HE 1000v2’s were on sale, I would have purchased them instead. I found out about them when I went to purchase the EF400 DAC/AMP. Thanks for the information though because I thought the upgrade would be from any headphones.
They have different plugs? So what I use for my Arya’s won’t fit? It’s the same plug I used when I first purchased the Ananda’s.
If they are new he1000v2 they will have 3.5mm jacks on the earcup. They changed from the 2.5mm late 2020. Pretty sure they should be the same as your Arya was.
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Oh. Ok I have the newer jacks on my headphones.