đŸ”¶ Hifiman HE6SE

Headphones [Official] Open Back
1216

I currently have an A30Pro, A70Pro, SMSL H300 and H400 to compare to each other. They’re all really good, but to pick just one it’s the Topping A70Pro hands down. Currently listening to the H400 and it’s got everything but the wow factor. I just sold an SP400/M400 stack last week and th4e SP400 was more fun and dynamic.

All A30Pro’s have a faint hum when turned off with the front switch you can hear in a quiet room. Silent noise floor, but drums hits aren’t distinctive with a fast response like the SMSL SP400 (it’s a party music amp) It also doesn’t have a standby mode and is warm if it’s in use or not.

The H300 is a good choice for the price, but the bottom gets hot unless you put in taller feet or place it on a slotted monitor riser for circulation under it. Also the gain switch is alarmingly easy to snick past medium and into high by accident.

This H400 has a great low and medium gain range, you’ll likely never need to use high gain no matter what you have if a 5 volt DAC is plugged into it. The size is XXL and only the full size SMSL DACs will fit under it, the top is actually cooler than the bottom. Anything smaller will fit on top though. It doesn’t get hot if there’s enough ventilation under it, but just sitting there it’ll build up if the AC isn’t blowing steady. The black and white display is a bummer, no Vu Meter or spectrum analyzer like the A70Pro. It costs less of course, but at least the display auto dims completely off, on the A70Pro it never completely goes out.

The A70Pro plugged into an E70 9028Pro DAC in 5 volt mode has convinced me we’ve hit the pinnacle of headphone amplifier performance. I’ve also had the Octo and Velvet versions and sound and performance identical, just form factor and connectivity are all you get for the price tags. I really like this E70 display since it’s so crisp, but the USB indicator is always on even after it dims.

Personal preference out of all the amplifiers I have currently:
Topping A70Pro
Topping L30 II
SMSL SP400 (sold just days ago)
Topping L30 II (I use it with an E50 DAC so balanced available for powered speakers)
SMSL H400
SMSL H300 (if you have the thermals for it, the H400 has a true standby mode for coolness)

It wasn’t until I spent a week with the A70Pro that I realized the difference between them. If you’re working up to it financially, get the L30 II and you won’t be missing a thing for sound quality, just top end power of course.
I tested with the 68 ohm and 50ohm never Hifiman HE6SE with a -6.9db preamp reduction to equalize. Put on the extended version of “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight” by Genesis and try to get the quiet parts loud enough while equalizing. That’s the ultimate torture test for any amplifier.

3 Likes
1217

I wonder if the reason you like the A70pro so much compared to the competition is due to the A70pro possibly being able to sustain its peak power output for longer than the others. Different frequencies will put more of a strain on the the amp with some loads. :thinking:

1 Like
1218

I have been intrigued by this T’ang-ku-la Module and the architecture that surrounds it. Enough to where when I see an A70 Pro online my buy-it finger starts twitchin’! :laughing: But I have something else in mind, so I am motivated to be good.

Have you used the A70 Pro as a preamp? If so, what did you think?

1 Like
1219

I just tested it for function with another amplifier as input, haven’t put it through it’s paces yet. I have a couple of speaker amplifiers, but just some crappy passive speakers to test if they work, not performance.

Topping A70Pro new $337 with coupon code APOS10 if you sign up as a new customer. Cannot beat that price. Also I’ve worked with Apos and their warranty service is great, and out of California, not China.

2 Likes
1220

A70 Pro is the only Topping in my opinion where they’ve deviated slightly from their usual design and made something that’s not dry sounding.

3 Likes
1221

Yeah it’s not the smoothed consumer friendly sound most have. The SMSL SP400 is my favorite from them, it’s got dynamics for drum hits and sounds more realistic. I’m keeping the A70Pro since it’s just the best at everything. Also the spectrum analyzer display is really handy when equalizing. When gaming I can get near a sound effect I want to dial up and see in real time what frequency it’s going off at. At $337 everyone should get one if they can. The Aliexpress 11/11 sale will be the next time they come close to if, if you’ve racked up enough coins by then.

1 Like