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:

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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?

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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.

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1222

I recently got myself a parasound A21 (thank you @Pokrog you’re the worst type of hfm hypeman and I wish I could afford the A21+ :joy:) and now I’m looking to upgrade my dac and/or preamp. Currently, I’m using a Geshelli labs J2 (ess) and have been eyeing getting a mimir, warmer, or even the Laiv verse. I’m kind of at a loss for what to look for in a preamp besides the function of volume control but I understand that one can be an improvement. I’ve already got a nobsound passive preamp, so maybe I should focus on upgrading my dac before dipping my toes in something else? Any thoughts?

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1223

Sorry.

What kind of price range are you looking at? There’s some decent options for DACs these days that actually have extremely capable preamps/volume controls in them.

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1224

~$1000. Preferably less if I can manage but I’m a little flexible

1225

What’s your aim for the upgrade? Like what specifically do you feel is lacking that you want more of in your current system?

1226

I’m looking for more from spacial and dynamic characteristics; texture, stage, placement, holography, as well as more slam. Maybe a little warmth.

1227

I’d look into getting an Audalytic DR70 and cleaning up your signal path with a USB isolator, maybe a DDC, and potentially a UPS for some added power cleanup/equipment protection. I think you’d get some real benefits all around from the USB isolator and a UPS and it really wouldn’t hurt to sneak in a DDC, but USB would still be just fine from an ISOUSB211 USB filter of pretty much any kind. I think you can get the DR70 for under $400, a UPS for $2-400 that can handle your DAC, amp, and potentially your audio source like a PC (probably do math for UPS sizing but things typically draw a lot less power than you think), USB filter for $30-$60 for feeding your DAC USB. It would be an end to end system upgrade that would basically solve any of the smaller issues that hold back most setups and you’d get a massive DAC upgrade in the process that has a solid volume control in it. Maybe get a Douk U2 Pro and feed the DR70 Coax, maybe. Might not be worth it though because Gustard makes good USB and with an ISOUSB211 filter, it’s about as clean as you could hope for.

If it was my money, that’s how I’d do it.

2 Likes
1228

Funny enough I already have everything you’ve listed, aside from a UPS which I’m in the process of shopping for. I’ll take a look into the DR70.

Any thoughts on opamp upgrades for it?

Thanks!

1229

Hey if anyone is looking looking to sell their HE6SE please DM me

1230

I think they’re like under $350 most places now new.

1231

Yeah I’m trying to find exactly that, but can’t locate any lately

1232

These should be directly from Hifiman. Options have the V1 and V2. I still haven’t ever tried the v1, but from what I’ve seen it’s identical to the V2 but with a better headband and I think the V1 never had the driver sticking issue. Either way, I’d definitely get them directly from Hifiman for warranty reasons. Depending on where you live, with coupons, it stays under $400 there.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809658192353.html

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808188045259.html

1233

Absolute legend thank you so much, it isn’t on sale ATM for the Australian region but I’ll keep an eye on it and you’re 100% right about needing. Warranty on a pair of V2’s that’s the one I was hoping to get as well, the Frequency response looks a bit better. Looks to a different driver in the V2 as well being 64 ohms not 50

1234

Yeah, the V1 and V2 should both be 64ohm. For some reason Hifiman never updated the specs for them and just used old HE6 specs. I think the sensitivity is a little lower too.

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1235

Yeah you’re right and thanks for putting me in the right direction on this, looking for the best hifiman store front to buy from as their AliExpress store seems to be suspended atm