HiFiMAN HE1000 v2 + HEX v2 release soon?

I've been reading this thread and sorry if this has been asked, cause what I've seen is comparison with Ether Flow instead of normal Ether. What's the general consensus between HEX v2 vs Ether open? I mainly hear stuff like mainstream Japanese song, anisong, and vocaloid with occasional orchestra, Muse, Mika and some other britpop, I also game a lot (overwatch or battlegrounds). There's a trade in program going on near me so I thought I might as well take the plunge because I feel a bit bored with my Ether and I find it to be lacking in some ways.

My DAC is LH Labs Xfinity v2.0 and my amp is jotunheim.

 

This is very valuable, thank you.

 

It funny but one will have more bass than the other depending on the tracks. The difference was so small I couldn't justify trading one for the other based on bass quantity.

 

Meant to ask before, but you meant the V1 had a wider soundstage over the V2?
So the V2 has a fuller tonal shift at the expansive of the more holographic soundstage?

 

Edit** I hate these names that are easy to mix up
For a HEK V2, it is
Massive upgrade in all aspects...
from bass to treble to Soundstage to tonality to realism.

For an HEXV2, I simply cannot say,
As I haven't heard it with exception of at a show, so no comment here..

I understand, and it wasn't a question of Mooooaaarrr, lol..
No it was about the ability of Utopia bass to have delicacy in its detailing.

But the same track on both HEKV2, and Eikon had, at one specific point, a deeper and heavier impact leading me to be startled at the oompth wich was produced,
And which the Utopia did not do to me,
but instead displayed the detailing of the same impact.

It should be acceptable common knowledge the Utopia is a bit lean in this area and less impactful than its brother the Elear so no surprise here, and I did not say UTOPIA was lacking, just a different presentation.

No,
the focus and tonality of the sonic imaging is more true, solid , and realistic on the V2.

The V1 does has a more distanced and vague presentation wich can be alleviated with forward gear and mods, giving a great holographic image but still not as focused as V2.

Soundstage width was very similar though, and yes the V2 presentation was closer yet also deeper ,
and so just as large overall which is at level of HD800 with much better presentation and normal tonality.

V1 is still a great can and would be a great choice over an HD800 if you want planar bass impact with large Soundstage.

 

Ha, that's the very reason why my HD 800 is gone and HEKV1 appeared instead. Large soundstage, yet served with proper bass slam and tonal balance that suits my subjective taste.

 

To the few V2 owners. How do the HEX and HEK present vocals in the middle stage. ie are they forward/image as large/high as the rest of the stage like a HD650. Or are they say like the Elear/Utopia where the imaging particularly at the centre is quite small. HD800 being somewhere in between. Thanks

 

Has anyone compared the HE1000 V2 (not V1, but the newer V2) to the venerable LFF Code-X? Currently enjoying the HEK V2 on the Gungnir Multibit/Mjolnir 2 stack, but the fact that everyone who has heard Code-X calls it the overall best planar headphone still makes me curious. It may not be a fair comparison since HEK V2 is more than twice as expensive as Code-X, but apparently Code-X has given much more expensive headphones a good run for their money.

 

Great headphone but not the best planar imo. @max134 had both and sold the Code-X.

 

Best advice...
Don't sell your Code-X

At the time I sold it I was actually looking for larger Soundstage only.
HEK was just a very different relaxed smoky grand sound.
It had larger stage but wasn't any more resolving.
Great for classical.

The Code-X can beat anything in its path of same size.
It will slaughter the Ether Flow and has the juicy supple bass of a closed can.
Resolution and clarity above all still untill your talking hd800 level resolve, which it can reach.

I convinced at least one owner to not be fooled and make mistake to sell his code-x for something like a Flow.


HEKV2 in stock form finally at level of resolve and stage to eclipse it, but still not at bass slam.


Today I settled on having just two home cans (open &closed) ,
because sometimes I want a large stage, while other times a closed can give me the immediacy and slam I like as well.

Exactly on point.
The Code-X stage is actually well rounded.
I used the Audeze non leather for larger stage but bass was more supple on the leather pads.

Many great cans will come and go but There are few cans we just refer to as a reference to aspire to.
That's why you hear them mentioned.

Knowing what you want in a headphone, can save you alot of money instead of chasing the next best newest can.
I haven't learned yet, almost lol.

 

I don't chase after FOTM cans only to be disappointed, learned that lesson the hard way a long time ago.

I know what I want, all I want is the Code-X and not really interested in anything else. But it's really become a bitch to find one for sale. Heck, I am at a point where I think trading my HE1000 V2 for a Code-X 1:1 is not a bad deal.

 

I feel the same way about the Utopia and anything from Audeze.

To each their own.

 

Having heard a lot of stuff, I have to say that this trio would cover all range for me: HEKV2, Susvara and Utopia. Haven't heard Code-X, though. Is it really that good?

 

I own the X V2s but haven't heard the HEK. Vocals, my impression, like everything else about the X V2s, nothing stands out. Vocals are neither large nor small, they just blend with the rest of the music. It's another reason I keep coming back to these cans. Nothing in particular stands out (i.e., they don't go hey listen to me because of my amazing bass, mids, or treble!). Initially I found them boring, but they get the most use because nothing stands out, and so I find myself spending more time listening to the music and less listening to the gear. Are they perfect? Nope. Comfy and enjoyable for long listening sessions? Yep.

 

Aren't HEKv2 and Susvara quite similar? Fast transients with long decay of harmonics, light mid-bass, deep sub bass, wide staging. Seems like you would want want to replace the HEKv2 with a headphone that has mid-bass slam or extra large staging--either LCD-4 or HD800S would seem to fill that slot better utility-wise.

 

Well, to my ears HEKV1, which I have nearby, is nothing like Susvara. I've read that V2 is a bit better, hence still much more similar to V1 than Susvara. Maybe my guessing game is wrong, I haven't heard V2.

In any case, here's what I think:

HEKV1/V2 - proper bass slam and romantic character in general
Susvara, very balanced, open, lively and refined, jack of all trades so to speak
Utopia - precise and fast

 

Curious, one of the main things I felt was missing from the HEK (particularly v1) was slam. The bass extends well but I heard little in the way of slam/impact. v2 is an improvement, but still not a strength imho. Sounds like the Susvara is significantly better in this regard?

 

In comparison to V1, Susvara is different, lighter in general, more open and airier. HEKV1 has enough slam for me, when paired with amps and source I use. Low end is in these always nicely rounded and not exceptionally snappy, but it does the trick for me. Perhaps that's why you're not into V1's bass that much, which is understandable.