Hifi man HE500 Thread

I am using them with Schiit Mjonir/Balanced Mogami cable from a Soekris DAM R2R Dac.

Modifications i have done are: changed pads to Audeze Vegan, and used Sennheiser headband cushion.

Also have them palying through solderdude's active filter (frequency lift at around 8khz i im not mistaken)

Nice sound, not perfect but nice.

My reference headphones are Sennheiser HD800 with Anax II.

 

I still think jergpads are about as good as it gets with these. I've compared to 5-6 other pairs with various pads and mods done and still keep coming back.

 

I have 6 different sets of headphones, and if I had to give up all but one (based on sq alone), I think the he500s would be the one I keep. My lcd2s are a close second. Based on reliability however, dt880s and hd 600s will probably both outlast me, while the planars...well... one never knows, does one?

 

I've wanted to try these, but since they were discontinued the prices on the used market have gone out of my league. They're asking for as much as they cost new.

Also a lot of the sellers jack up the price above the new price based on dubious "upgrades." I don't want to buy your goofy cables and I don't want a pair that is more vulnerable to damage because the outer grill cloth was removed.

I'm skeptical of the HE-560. The measurements don't look as good.

 

On Amazon, you can find em used and new for under $500. I got mine for $440, and I've seen em in the $300s on Head-Fi before. I think HiFiMan also still has them in stock.

 

I have the HE-500 headphones. I would say there are a few downsides to this headphone:

1) Weight and comfort. I don't have a problem wearing them for hours, but I could easily see that being a problem for most.
2) Seems like it needs a decent amp to get the most out of these. Probably not like a HE-6 obviously. Due to this, they might not pair with a lot of equipment well. My Yulong D100 MKII makes them sound ok for instance, but for the expense is ok good? Probably not. I used them with my Violectric V100, and I get strange harmonics out of the HE-500. I just got a Schiit Lyr 2, and now they are singing really well. I didn't really use them all that often before. Now I can't put them down. I also find on the Lyr 2 that they have a sound signature similar to my HD600 but perhaps a little more slam and sparkle up top.
3) Expensive. I think they originally listed for nearly $800. I got mine after they were reduced to $700.
4) The stock cable has a bad habit of sending any movement (microphonic?) sound into the ear. I had to replace the stock cable because of this.
5) The stock ear pads seem to negatively effect sound quality, and I replaced them with the HiFiMan Velour ear pads.

If you can get over these limitations and find the right amp pairing, the HE-500 can be very rewarding. I love mine now, and I'm glad I didn't sell them off.

 

I did the grill mod the other day, and it really did make a large difference.

 

I have been listening to my HE-500 with the HiFiMan Focus pads for last several hours. They do give a little better bass extension, and the treble does seem more linear. But I felt like the vocals become too recessed. They are way more comfortable than the stock leather or velour pads. Nonetheless, to my ears, I really preferred the velour pads from a sound perspective. I don't really miss the bass or linear treble, and I can turn the volume down and still get good vocals. I prefer to listen to music most of the time at pretty comfortable/safe volume levels... Would the Focus pads create a similar sound to the Jerg mod?

 

My brief time with them reminded me of a HD600 with more bass extension and a slightly more harsh upper mid range. Definitely liked them, and I'm sure good results could be had with pad rolling and a good high powered amp.

 

There's a good graph here comparing the stock velours to the jergpads: http://www.head-fi.org/t/646812/hifiman-he500-he400-jergpad-mod-v2-5

Basically, it removes the dip at around 8k. I've been happy enough with my jergpads that I've never tried anything else. BUT, they're starting to wear out and break down so I may have to start searching sooner rather than later.

I don't recall seeing any measurements for the HE-500 with Focus Pads. Just a lot of anecdotal stuff.

 

I just finished retesting some Focus pads on an older pair of HE-500s, and I have to say they are probably the best HiFiMan production pads for the HE-500 that I have listened to yet so far. I'm not sure what happened with my first test, but this time I used an older HE-500 and made sure that the pads definitely locked into their grove and that the thin part of the pad was as precisely positioned towards the front as possible. I really did not like the sound quality of the stock leather pads, and the velour ones are actually quite good. If you like a more intimate sound (vocals more pronounced), the velours do that really well. The Focus pads seem to boost the bass a little and even the treble some (perhaps a more neutral sound quality), and based on the responses thus far it looks like no measurements have been done with the HE-500 and the Focus pads to confirm what I'm hearing. Nonetheless, I have a feeling that they are probably replicating close to what the Jerg pad modification does without having to slice and dice up a couple sets of HiFiMan pads. I do plan to do some more testing on a newer pair of HE-500s that I just picked up. Does anyone know if there are any production differences between newer and older HE-500s?

 

I currently have the HE500 with a magni 2 U. I'm ooking to upgrade amps specially a tube amp that would work well with orthos, so far I am considering a lyr 2. Can I do better for around the same price? Thanks!

 

Around the same price I doubt it, but for $550 you can get the Torpedo III that everyone raves about around here. Just have to build it yourself is the catch. Unless you can buy it pre-built, but I'm not sure you can, and it'll be more expensive

 

ive read a few times the Tiii is not the best match with orthos.

 

Put the Project Ember II on your list.

It sounds fantastic, is cheaper, and only requires 1 tube so it's a bit easier on the wallet.

 

Thanks for the responses everyone. Looks like I'm going to give the Lyr 2 a try first.

 

I just bought HE500 used for app $350 ($500 Canadian) in great shape and with a Cardas cable. I sold almost new HD600 to get those and I am glad. Not that HD600 were bad I just like the speed and control. No matter how loud you play them there is nothing really bothering about the sound, they are in full control. I have to spend more time with them, those my first planars.
And yes HD800S have more separation better sound stage and sound amazing to me but there is something very engaging in the sound of HE500.

 

Throwing in my 2c here to an old thread, here some of my impressions of the HE500:

Running Modi 2 --> Lyr 2 --> HE-500 (Focus pads) and comparing to HD600 (new stock pads)

Bass Quality HE500 >> HD600
Bass Quantity HE500 > HD600
Mids Quality HD600 >> HE500
Mids Quantity HD600 > HE500
Treble Quality HD600 >= HE500
Treble Quantity HE500 >= HD600

Soundstage is wider on HE500, imaging is better on the HD600. The bass is what shines in the HE500 and while the mids are pretty damn good, the HD600/650 is still the undisputed king of mids. There is a bit of harshness in the upper mids of the HE500. Comfort is much better on the HD600 than the HE500.

Edit: One final note. For price performance, I would go with the HD600 hands down. If price isn't a concern, it really comes down to preference.

 

Agree 100%. Ended up selling the he500 at some point when I needed some $. Used the hd600 way more, and they are so much more comfy. I had more faith in the reliability and repairability of the Senns as well. Listening to them this very moment. Miss the bass of the hfms though.