Hifiman Edition X (HEX)

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by velvetx, Dec 8, 2015.

  1. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,067
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Noticed a few people currently have these on SBAF and wanted to make a dedicated thread for reviews, impressions, and comments. Official SBAF measurements can be found HERE.

    Price:

    $1799

    Specifications:

    Frequency Response : 8Hz-50kHz
    Sensitivity : 103dB
    Impedance : 25 ± 3 ohm
    Weight : 14.07 Oz (399 g)

    Pictures:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2015
  2. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,067
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Figured I would bring over my RMAF impressions to the official thread and add a little to it:

    At RMAF I was really impressed with how good they sounded. I could easily detect the HEX's ability to pick up details in songs and create a similar soundstage to the HE1K. Don't get me wrong the HE1K still beats the HEX in both of these departments as well as resolution but you can tell that the characteristics came from the big brother. The other thing I liked was the tight punchy bass that was neither too overpowering or too underwhelming. I actually thought the balance of bass on the HEX was superior to the HE1K. I really liked the HE1K but I actually felt that I could listen do a wider variety of music with the HEX. The HE1K I would call a reference can while the HEX is just a great fun all around headphone. Personally I listened to the HEX through both the HFM-901 and iBasso DX90 and the HE1K through the LH Labs Vi DAC

    One word in my mind describes these headphones and it is smooth. Just really an easy headphone to pick up and listen with and the really interesting thing is if you wanted to plug it into your DAP or phone it brings the same relaxing experience. It's not meant to be as power hungry as some of the other HFM headphones in their lineup and really even if you didn't have an amp/dac I think you would be able to enjoy them much the same.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2015
  3. kapanak

    kapanak Canucklehead - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    259
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Purchased from Amazon late November, arrived last week. ~$2850 CAD after taxes, shipping and duties.

    Source and Cables: Stock cable all around. Cables do not change the sound. Concero HP, Torpedo III, Sony PHA-2, and Taurus MKII were paired with the HEX. DAC was Concero HD for the amps. The headphones sounded better out of Concero HP and Torpedo 3 than the Taurus MKII, possibly due to Taurus MKII being used single-ended, or the fact that it is a slightly warm amp. I wish a balanced cable was included at this price point.

    Rant: There is some talk that these headphones are really meant to be portable. I say to that … *insert profanity*. $1800 headphones that are open, huge, and awkward looking are not portable headphones. Yes, there will always be a special few who will wear them like portable headphones, but IMO the purpose of an expensive piece of gear is to be listened to in the comfort of one’s own home, in that awesome comfortable chair. And that leads me to the summary of all that will follow:

    TL;DR:

    Great long term listening comfort, good ergonomics, light and efficient (for a planar). Bass presence is middle ground of planar headphones, not too high, not too low, nice and textured. Mids a bit recessed, but sweet and smooth (in a good way). Treble relaxed and too smooth, definitely rolled. Although fairly good resolution despite the slightly lower treble presence. No audible spikes to my ears. Warm and somewhat dark, not HD650 dark though, and unlike any of the other headphones I’ve heard before in tonality and sound signature. Definitely on the other end of the spectrum to HD800 in sound signature, a good complementing headphones perhaps. Really an effortless listen. Close but unambiguous soundstage. Does not demand attentiveness to the music. If you could turn a very comfortable listening chair into a pair of headphones that instilled the same kind of emotion and feeling, these would be it. I like HEX, but not enough to keep it.

    Longer Text and Comparison to HD800 to be added ...
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2015
  4. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    818
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    I hate to say this because I own one and I think it is beautiful headphones,
    But:
    1- the cup is to long so it covers way too much down to jaw.
    2-There cup is also shallow and one side I can touch my upper ear lobe slightly against the driver.
    3-the Headband is so big that at lowest setting it is still a bit too big
    4-upper trebles rolled off.
    It is amazing the soundstage still is good & better than Ether.
    5- this silky smooth can is a bit dark and too soft at top & relaxing for me.
    6- the bass has dynamics and stage, but micro levels/layers of bass not easily detectable as the HD800 or Ether.

    The unit only has 30-40 hours on it but so does my Ether.
    7- extremely light for the size, but again, too big to be a portable.
    8-regardless how it is promoted, I found the best sound when amped properly with balanced cables as well.
    Not no tiny portable.
    It actually sounded good on portable though.
    9- bottom line, the soundstage and bass is good, but the micro detailing from bass to trebles is not at HD800 or Ether level.


    My guess is that the details are escaping out of the rear of this unit.
    Also the rear of the cups are high sensitive to a hand near them they will change tonality of the headphone.

    All an all a nice headphone which need to be priced a bit lower to compete .
    Personally not my cup of tea, as I crave highest resolution & detailing.
    I may look to stax next meet.

    Edit:
    If the cup and headphone overall was a bit smaller according to the ear, and not like an HD800 spacing,

    and it had leather pads, this might have been more powerful exciting can..
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2015
  5. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Unless you're planning on returning it, you should send it to guys like purrin, ultrabike, and myself for tests and measurements (assuming USA-based). :)
     
  6. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Oh wait, forgot I'm on the loaner list...2nd unit for consistency check? ;) haha
     
  7. TheBarnard

    TheBarnard Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    64
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    South Florida
    Tomorrow I'm going to be able to hear these compared to HE1000, Ethers, LCD3, and ZMF Omnis, and LCD-X/3s

    Pretty excited, I hope I get enough time in to report something cool here
     
  8. obsidyen

    obsidyen New

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Hi guys... I'm an EDM/modern music kind of guy mostly. That said, I listen to other genres from time to time. Bass extension, rumble, impact, slam are very important as well as an inoffensive, smooth treble. I like TH900 bass for instance but I just can't stand its treble.

    So I'm thinking of buying Hifiman Edition X which seems cool... Then there's Audeze LCD-X which is said to be amazing for EDM, but Audeze has some reliability problems and it would be hard to get broken pairs fixed , as I live in Turkey and shipping costs alone would be very high in case of some kind of failure. There's a Turkish dealer but they add too much profit margin, thus it's much cheaper to buy from Audeze directly.

    So the question is, is Hifiman Edition X better than LCD-X? Generally and also in terms of an EDM/modern music perspective.

    Cheers.
     
  9. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    The HE-X sounded smoother to me than the one LCD-X I heard. The one LCD-X I heard was kinda rough and bright sounding. But when you consider Audeze variance, I can't say what another pair will sound like.

    Can't speak for bass slam.

    I know I sound like a broken record here, but you might be better off getting an HD650, modding it (guide is out here in the forums), and getting a really powerful and dynamic sounding tube amp to give them lots of oomph. Honestly, I find I get more slam that way than from most, not all, orthos. That said, some think the HD650 has a bass roll-off. I don't doubt what they hear, but I just don't hear it that way myself.

    If you can somehow find a pair, consider the Fostex TH-X00. Those have big, powerfull bass without the weird brightness of the TH-900.
     
  10. obsidyen

    obsidyen New

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Thanks but I've read TH-X00 is mid-bass focused just like HD650. Mid-bass is fine but it's easy to do. Sub-bass, now that's hard to do. I doubt TH-X00 can do sub-bass like TH900.

    You wouldn't hear half of this song with HD650. Whatever amp you use.

     
  11. TMRaven

    TMRaven Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    621
    Trophy Points:
    93
    TH-X00 is definitely not mid-bass focused. Its bass is upward sloping the lower down you go, and it doesn't have the best of control down low with a good amount of 2hd order harmonic distortion, so I'd say it's 40-60hz focused.
     
  12. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    You can compare purrin's HD650 and TH-X00 measurements to get a relative idea about bass extension and such. But, again, I hear the HD650 as having plenty of extension down to 20Hz. In-line with the midrange and treble. I know others say they hear differently. I don't always hear this wonderful planar extension many talk about either, so take that FWIW.
     
  13. audiofrk

    audiofrk Guest

    The extension is usually subtle when properly controlled/done. From what I hear it helps ground the music. Give it better staging and body to the performance. Sorta like taping your finger on a table the majority of the sound is in the tap but the you can get a feel for the table & fingert that made the sound by listening to the low notes. Realism that's a Small addition but I like it. Though headphones like the hd650 doesn't have good control down here it doesnt add much.

    Actually the addition is more depend on the music than the headphone. With newer master leaning towards the unimportant.
     
  14. joeq70

    joeq70 New

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2015
    Likes Received:
    70
    Trophy Points:
    13
    Location:
    WV
    I'm looking forward to your comparison!
     
  15. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    818
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    I have had mine HE-X for a week and although it has some of the good attributes of my others, like a large soundstage and nice bass presence,
    I find it does not replace my others as I hoped so I probably will sell them.

    To me the like the Ether have a closer presentation which I prefer, but even the HD800 manages to have a more forward presentation while still managing to be larger soundstage, probably because it is a brighter headphone.
    I would say HE-X gives a non agressive relaxed yet still dynamic presentation.
     
  16. audiofrk

    audiofrk Guest


    I like this critique very clearly states what didn't gel with owners preference and what are some positive traits.* I think the measurements will vindicate your observations.

    In my opinion for orthos I'd rather they be darker than bright. I donno why but bright orthos always have peeks and ringing in the highs. No tech is perfect so I'd rather an ortho do what orthos do best ...bass.

    *the head-fi heX thread is annoying me its either all "ITS AMAZING" or "its crap" no explanation of gear, music, or preference.
     
  17. Problem

    Problem New

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Had a brief listening session at a meet last week and was not entirely impressed with the Edition X it sounded too smooth and soft for my liking.

    Though it had a better bass extension than the HE-K but felt it generally lacks the slam like the HE-6 or the coherence of the HD650.
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,780
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Been listening to them for a few hours now going through different types of music. I'm using Wyrd>Modi2>Vali2 chain at high gain. Most of what I am going to say is echoing you guys:
    1. Less resolving than HEK, by quite a bit. Wished there was a bit more air. Less resolving than HD650 and HE-560.
    2. Less clarity than HEK. HEK had this super pristine clarity across the band. HEX doesn't have this. In fact, the overall clarity from the midrange on up doesn't beat the HD650. Sort of a slight grey blackground and softness. Veiled isn't quite the word I'm looking for. My guess is some distortion in the midband very reminiscent to the Oppo PM1 (not nearly to the extent of the PM-1). Would be curious about the distortion measurement.
    3. Not nearly as agile or fast as HEK. Comparing to HE-560, the HE-560 might be a wee bit faster.
    4. Lack of impact and softness compared to HD650 or HE-560. The attacks are zippier with more solid point of impacts on the latter two headphones.
    5. THE GOOD STUFF: None of that slightly splashy treble of the HEK. Warmer sound and more easy going sound. Less lean overall than HEK. Not mid-bassy at all like HD650. Overall a very good frequency response with one nit-pick (see below.) Sort of like an HE400S with better bass extension.
    6. Slight glare which seems largely recording dependent. Again, a nit-pick.
    7. Very efficient. I forgot to turn down volume when switching back from HE-560. Ouch.
    Summary: Think of it as an HEK lite, but more easy-going frequency response and good treble timbre. Probably the most agreeable FR to my ears from a stock HiFiMan yet. For the price, I would have liked to hear better technicalities though.

    Measurements in a bit.
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2015
  19. No_One411

    No_One411 Fired by Jude

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    560
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Saratoga, CA
    Interesting that most people seem to like the HEX over HEK.

    Assuming all else equal: (Read: disregard price difference)
    Is this because their setup too noob? :D
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,780
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    I'll give this a shot on a higher end setup in a bit. I have data for measurements. Need to process. I found out I got food poisoning.
     

Share This Page