Hifi man HE500 Thread

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by Darkkp, Nov 2, 2015.

  1. MF_Kitten

    MF_Kitten Banned per own request

    Banned
    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2016
    Likes Received:
    181
    Trophy Points:
    43
    The beyer headband looks like a bad idea, considering the yokes are too thin to sit properly in there... But holy cow the Audeze headband looks amazing! Is it just a matter of removing the old yokes and screwing these on? Assuming the screws don't strip obviously.
     
  2. netforce

    netforce MOT: Headphones.com

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2016
    Likes Received:
    3,111
    Trophy Points:
    93
    The beyer one, me and a friend got an HE-500 with a broken headband so we decided to take parts from different headphones to make it. Might do the same mod on it later.

    The Audeze headband one I had to do a little tweak on one of the yokes to get it to fit, namely using a dremel to take off a little excess and went to home depot for some screws and washers. The Headband and Audeze yoke kit you can purchase which not many people seem to know. I have gotten a few and sold of few of the kits to friends who also tried it on their HE-6. Considering I have the HE-500 not really being used, I could make a guide on how to do it. Only stickler is that my HE-500 screws are super rusted so would have to remove and replace the socket.
     
  3. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    537
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    Home Page:
    I just got me a pair a few days ago. Here's some early thoughts...

    • How does anyone put out such a nice hp with a flimsy wire like this? I've never had problems with microphonic cables at home before, this one is noisy as hell.
    • Probably not news to most, but the original velour pads are very, very uncomfortable. Next up were the Focus pads (or A's, how does one tell which?), much better.
    • Started to install the pleather pads to find out their mounting rings come right off, nice!
    • There were some words of curse before my sheepskin HM5 pads hugged them rings, but it was totally worth it - comfort and treble smoothness was found.
    • These hug my head kind of tightly, though not a problem.
    • I still hear that noisy cable rattling around whenever I move, maybe this is why Hifiman gets such slack.
    • These are very small compared to LCD-2

    Sound
    • first impression was warmth akin to 600/650 and LCD-2, me likey
    • bass is not as deep nor weighty as my LCD-2.1, but tighter
    • HE-500 wins details, LCD-2 has wider soundstage and better instrument separation
    • treble is way more present - not annoying, cymbals sound like they should
    • HE-500 is much more in-your-face, in comparison relaxing it is not
    • HE-500 is closer to neutral (meaning I'd rather mix with them) than the Audezes
    • this would be an easy pair to recommend to just about anyone - it isn't dark nor bright, one very agreeable tuning
    • HD600 is the closest manifestation of a flat headphone to me, this is somewhat similar when listening back-to-back, more fun though..
    • I had no idea I'd like these lots - I have a very negative view of Hifiman because of their recent activities
    • I'm hearing much to love here... Who'd a thunk it!
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2018
  4. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    537
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    Home Page:
    God damn it, this noisy stock silver cable is driving me bonkers! Any ideas for a cheap-ish (max 50€) replacement in the EU area, in the vein of Blue Jeans etc? I don't need no cable mojo, just a wire that works: isn't heavy, tangly, noisy & all that. Doesn't need to be long, but 3m doesn't bother me either. Cheers.
     
  5. Kamikazi

    Kamikazi Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    53
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Cape Town, South Africa
    Check out Forza Audioworks if you are in the EU. Their entry level cable looks like it should do the job for the budget you have in mind.
     
  6. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,506
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Toronto, ON, Canada
    Not knowing any better at that time I sold HE500 when I got HE1000v2. Well I had a chance to hear again my pair which I sold to a friend. I immediately regretted it. Different headphones but
    cannot be replaced. If you own it, hold on to it.
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2018
  7. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    537
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    Home Page:
    I hear the upper mids / presence region (using angled sheepskin HM5 pads) a bit too hot. EQing out 2.8k and 4k with -1,5db helps lots for extended listening in my case. This gives me some needed "distance" - everything's not shouting at me all the time. I usually like some extra energy there, see HD600. Right now I'm boosting 1db above 7k - these do have a dark tilt, if ever so slightly.

    Btw, 500 is the most open headphone I've had yet in terms of isolation - you hear everything wearing them. It's one weird feeling putting them on.
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2019
  8. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    6,838
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Home Page:
    Just bought a pair of these. I will save the impressions for later. I just wanted to share my headband mod.

    I really hate,the handband on the stock HE500. I had a broken driver Denon AH-D2000's laying around, and thought they are about the same size...well...it worked, kind of.

    [​IMG]

    So yes, that is an HE500 with a D2000 headband. It is much more,comforable for these heavy headphones. They feel much more secure on my head, even when walking around. The D2000 headband has a tilted back piviot point, which makes the top band hit your head slightly further forward and has way better contour. The extra camping force might be too much for some, but now I feel I can trun my head and not have them slide around. Clamping force is actually kind of welcome for this heavy headphone, but it is not crazy - about the same as a HD6X0.

    The only issue is the housing for the HE500 is slightly wider than the D2000 driver that is cruved on the outside. That means the housing rubs a bit when going from listen position to together on the Y axis swivel, but a minor point to me.

    And yes, I have tbe D2000 pads on there now, but just for testing purposes. I think I still like the Focus pads at the moment.

    I know the updated headbands are available from HiFiMan for $75 US, but this made a decent alternative for me.
     
  9. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,042
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Asia
    Is the 2C headband compatible, mate? It is so comfortable on my head.
     
  10. Huhnkopf

    Huhnkopf Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,076
    Trophy Points:
    93
  11. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    537
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    Home Page:
    Just received a Forza Audioworks Color series (grey) cable from Poland (39€ + shipping). Very malleable, noise-free and sounds just like that horrible thing HFM originally seemed fit for such a nice hp - perfect!
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2019
  12. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    537
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    Home Page:
    As much as I like the comfort and general sound of the Brainwavz angled sheepskin pads I went and ordered a pair of those in velour. There's this certain shoutiness in the upper mids that the velours might just control better according to measurements before by @cskippy (cheers for the awesome work btw!), we'll see.
     
  13. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    537
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Finland
    Home Page:
    Brainwavz angled velour pads installed and tested. The upper mids shout might be less, but the mid-bass now comes out quite strong. Bass overall seems a bit woolier, less tight. Lows kind of remind me of HD650, but that kind of warmth really isn't my thing. Need to listen some more, maybe then put them sheepskins back.

    I don't really feel a significant difference in comfort, these still hug my big head kinda tight fully extended.
     
  14. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,506
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Toronto, ON, Canada
    I got "my" HE500 back!. No, it is not the one I stupidly sold two years ago, but in good enough shape to realize once again that I have never listened to more engaging headphones. Connected through a Reversed Polarity Trick adapter to Bryston BHA-1, listening to Schubert string quartet "Death of the Maiden". I think I said it before, if you own HE500, hold on to it. There is nothing else like that.
     
  15. DEATHxMACHINE

    DEATHxMACHINE Friend

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    May 6, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,000
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Washington
    How much is the sound effected by reversing the polarity?
     
  16. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,506
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Toronto, ON, Canada
    I would say not much, I can compare it directly on Bryston BHA-1, using 2x3 pin (left channel reversed polarity), and 4 pin balanced out. It may be the amplifier but the only thing I noticed is a bit, just a bit, better controlled mid bass, which makes overall bass FR cleaner.
     
  17. etherealsound

    etherealsound New

    Joined:
    May 30, 2018
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Madison, WI
    [​IMG]
    Can confirm, I've got a set on my desk right now and it works awesome. I will say, I agree with much said here on the HE-500. It is most definitely worth keeping as there isn't much out there that can really compare to it, at any price point. I truly do hope that Hifiman makes a "true" successor to this headphone (and to the older generation of hifiman planars in general).

    Another very nice thing about the HE-500 is that it is quite forgiving to poor recordings. My other main headphones are the HD800 and Susvara and those are brutal with badly recorded material. In this regards, it's awesome to have the HE-500 around to make these poor recordings more palatable. Lots of people here have also commented on their favorite pads and I'll throw in my 2c and say that my favorite are the ZMF Auteur pads. They are incredibly comfortable, make sure that your ears are not touching the drivers, and add a touch of warmth.

    https://imgur.com/a/DQAHq0h
     
  18. Baten

    Baten Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,130
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    EU
    Glad to hear they still hold up so well :) that new headband looks like a solid upgrade! That a Forza Audioworks cable on the HD500?
     
  19. mk801

    mk801 Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2019
    Likes Received:
    285
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Seconded. I had a spare gimbal set lying around for my LCD-2's. Realizing that I didn't need a backup set, I used it on a spare HE-500 instead. I bought the spare last year for pretty cheap to do some mods, which I never got around to doing. Thanks @netforce for providing some tips.

    Basically, just 4x M2.5 screws (and matching washers), 0.25" nylon spacers, and rubber o-rings (or fiber washer) with the Audeze headband + gimbal set of course. Pretty easy to do. Luckily, my screws for my spare HE-500 were already loose, whereas my main HE-500 screws are pretty much rusted on and they started to strip (the heads of the stock screws seem to be made out of playdough). So, my main HE-500 goes to being my backup and my spare is my main for now. No apparent differences between the two soundwise.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2020
  20. etherealsound

    etherealsound New

    Joined:
    May 30, 2018
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Madison, WI
    It is indeed. Looks and sounds amazing. Managed to grab it on their black Friday sale, which made an already affordable cable practically a steal.
     

Share This Page