I switched out my sus pads to dekoni sheepskin perf just to play around a bit. There actually ended up being a fair change in presentation which I wasn’t expecting. Bass impact is down a little but stage has opened up significantly both in width and depth and I want to say that detail took a very slight step up as well. Most importantly though they got a small bump in how forward texture is which is quite welcome. My guess is that this is a small dip in upper mids and a bit of an extension at 5k, but I havent looked at comparative measurements yet. TBH I am realy enjoying these so ill probabaly leave them on for a while longer before switching back and reevaluating.
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I’ve read this whole thread but would like some comments around macro dynamics, HEK V2 Stealth verses HE6se V2.
Coming from my OG HE500, I have had the HEK for a few days. I’m loving it, but I’m finding it’s the difference in macro dynamics (drum hits, string plucks) that’s getting me about the HEK. I’m wondering if I can simply get a HE6se V2 and get similar joy. The HEK does many things different/better than my HE500, but it’s the macro dynamics that really get me.
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Welcome to the forum.
I own HE500 and have heard the other Hifiman planars around this price range. I’ll give my two cents on your experience.
I don’t know what your source gear is, but assuming you aren’t spending excessive amounts on source gear (think $5k minimum), I personally think your HE500 will have better macro dynamics than anything Hifiman currently makes, including HE6se v2. I would pass on buying the HE6se v2, personally. The HEK series, Arya, Ananda, and even Susvara all sound softer by comparison as you have now heard. Now, I would also say the current planar offerings have better overall technicalities, justifying their respective price tiers.
If you want a direct upgrade from the HE500 that has similar/better macrodynamics and improves on what it already does, I would seek an original HE6 on the used market (they are rare, sorry). The other option is to invest heavily into source gear that emphasizes macrodynamics in your HEK.
Your ears aren’t deceiving you, you’re just catching onto the strengths and nuances that each headphone is capable of 
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Thanks for the welcome and the response! Sorry, I should have been clearer, I find that the HEK hits harder than my HE500. The HEK does a lot of things better/different, but, now having experienced it, it is the macro dynamics that are the thing I have found I appreciate most. Could it be that the elevated mid bass is making me perceive the HEK to be more dynamic?
I wanted to upgrade for a few reasons, but, primarily it was because my 500 can sounds congested when I’m listening to busy passages. I thought I would prefer the staging of the HEK but it’s just different, not necessarily better for my tastes.
My signal chain goes Douk U2 Pro > Gumby MB > Kinki THR-1. I think my system is fairly dynamic? Good staging system too IMO. My Cayin IHA-6 was more dynamic but sounded very intimate to me in comparison to the Kinki so I sold it. I don’t have much experience with source gear of this tier; would y’all say it’s a punchy chain?
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Here is a 6 screw for a reasonable price
What specificaly are you looking to get out of changing from hek (also, which one do you have)? Honestly, I would put HE6SE below all but HEKV1 in technical performance.
The HEK is ticking almost all of my boxes; though I find the tuning a little warm for my taste. I got the HEK V2 Stealth. It’s that the HEK is doing all of the things better than my HE500, but, now having heard it, I only actually care about it’s increased ability to resolve busy passages and macro dynamics, over my HE500. Because of this, I’m wondering whether I should return the HEK, and just get HE6se V2, and save some money!
OG HE6 is absolutely on my list, but as has already been said, they’re uncommon - particularly here in the U.K… Plus, they go for more money than the new price of the HEK V2 Stealth!
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Decided to try the HE6se V2, after I sent back the HEK V2 Stealth.
I’m not sure how much of a fair fight this is with the DCA Angled Pads on my 500, against a stock HE6se V2, but the 500 takes it for sheer enjoyment. The macro dynamics of the 500, the fullness and balance of the sound is currently winning me over. The HE6 is winning on resolution, but I rank resolution as lower in importance. Ever so slightly hot treble for me too. I’ll swap the pads around and give this another go tomorrow.
The HEK V2 Stealth had good macro dynamics, better IMO than the HE6se V2, but I felt the elevated mid bass of the HEK got in the way of my enjoyment - it sounded almost bloated (to me)!
Looks like I need to get my ears on an OG HE6. That and a 1266…
Hilarious how much juice this HE6 needs, I have to be pretty brave going past 10 o’clock on the Kinki with any other can, but this boy had me spin the dial to 3 a damn clock!
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I was truly surprised by the HE6se v2 personally. I picked one up on a whim. For context, I had and enjoyed the Edition X v2, and more recently I owned the HE1000 v2 (classic) which was my favorite piece for focused listening sessions until such time I acquired a Susvara, and eventually sold the HEKv2.
Returning to the HE6sev2,
I picked it up as mentioned on a whim because I was looking for another headphone to use on my Susvara setup for more casual listening or “Daily driver” on that setup to give the Susvara a rest and for a change up without having to migrate myself physically over to my other setup.
I really appreciate the contrast between the Sus and HE6se, and though it is most likely all in my mind, I find that it is more fitting to listen to 80’s buttrock , or NewWave & Indy & classic rock, soul & funk etc. using the HE6se vs. Susvara, which I reserve for (in my mind) more sophisticated genre i.e., Jazz & Fusion, and instrumental progressive etc.
Even though I do miss the HEKv2 I have not replaced it because I feel the HE6 delivers the resolution I need for the music I listen to with it and it’s quick, with good dynamics and timbre. Where the HEKv2 was superior IMO on all fronts it was also at times more similar to the Susvara and not providing a sense of something different. Don’t take that last bit as an endorsement for the HEK series as a baby Sus, It Is Not, but it is a closer relative than the HE6se v2 IMO on the setup where I work the 2 pieces.
In any regard I think it speaks pretty highly of the HE6se v2 that at least for me, fills a GAP that was occupied previously by the HEKv2.
My HE6se v2 is stock, no grill mod or pad swap. I’m using a Norne Vygarde (silver/copper fusion) cable with it. I work it from a setup many are familiar with Roon ROCK → ultraRendu → Spring 3 KTE → Ferrum OOR with Hypsos psu. The OOR is set to medium gain and not that it really matters where the volume pot is because it depends a lot on your input voltages from the DAC to the amp, but I never get much past 11 before it is too loud for comfort.
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Got the HEKv2 OG yesterday, compared it to the Arya v1, already put the Arya up for sale (MZ2 + Amber 3 combo). Soundstage is comparable but the famous veil has been lifted. Not much more to say other than the HEK at ~1k used is a keeper.
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Turns out the DCA pads could have given the 500 an unfair advantage.
The frequency response of the HE6se V2 is much more pleasing to my ear now! The treble has been pulled back just a little, and is no longer too sharp for me. This can now appears to need just a touch more juice to drive. It sounds smoother to me now. Though I have found the 6 to be a tad bass lean. I’ve given it a 5 dB shelf below 120 Hz (not particularly scientific). This makes it seem more balanced overall imo.
Drums in tracks I’m familiar with (Wheel’s ‘Movement’ for example) still seem somewhat overshadowed by guitars. There’s little meat to the drums too, particularly compared to my HE500. Floor tom hits on the HE6se V2 don’t have any weight to them, you can hear the attack/stick hitting skin, and there is some rumble underneath it but the resonance (THE MEAT!) is missing from the middle! The attack and rumble need to be connected by the boom that appears to be missing (I am a drummer, I apologise for being so anal). This what the HE500 does so well. The HEK V2 Stealth did it great too.
Anyone got any tips past these pads for the HE6se V2? Or should I just send it back and save my pennies for an OG HE6?
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I liked ZMF Auteur Hybrids when I had mine. I’m glad you’ve found some pads that work for you. The HE-6 is fun headphone when you get it dialed in.
O.K., so it looks like I have gotten hold of a HE-6, 4 screw (least efficient version). It’s on its way.
So, my question is first, Kinki THR-1, it’s pretty powerful, how will it fair against the least efficient headphone I will have the pleasure of encountering? Secondly, is it, along with my Gumby MB, a good pairing?
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Honestly, i think 4 screw is a bit easier tp run than sus. It needs more gain so the pot ends uo higher but it played well with stuff sus did not (most notably gsx-mini). Id just see how it goes once you get it in. Once youve had some time with it and post some impressions we can help further figuring out where to go chain wise
In other news, massive gz! Thats a seriously great can. Basicaly sus without the texture downsides
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HE-6 and susvara are pretty similar in terms of gain. By that I mean the amount of volume they produce on the same amplifier + volume level will be similar. Where they differ is that HE-6 sounds pretty close to its best as long as it just has gain (but it can scale further ofc), whereas susvara comes off as very soft and lacking texture on the same setups. This also makes matching an amplifier to make susvara sound its best absolute hell.
I’ve not heard the Kinki THR-1 but if it has the gain (aka you don’t max out the volume knob and it doesnt distort) then you should be fine. The Gumby will add a layer of fun grunt for sure, but honestly I wouldn’t use that Dac specifically. HE-6 4 screw is very clear and specializes in very clean slam, texture, and sound separation so I feel that the Schiit Dacs hold it back a bit.
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Would you say that Schiit DACs are not good at those aspects of sound? My Gumby MB is punchy, and that’s one of the qualities I value most in the hifi. I hadn’t planned on upgrading my DAC for a while, but I must ask, what would you recommend if I wished to stay in roughly the same price range?
The Schiit DACs are punchy, yeah. And for the longest time that was what I prioritized most in my chain. If that’s what you desire most, then stick with a Schiit DAC.
But when I reviewed the Yggdrasil and compared it to DACs in the $2-4k range, I described it as such:
Schiit Yggdrasil A2: The equivalent of audiophile junk food. Not accurate, not detailed, almost excessively too wild, fun, and fat-sounding that it can make the other DACs sound boring. Truly the American hifi experience.
And honestly to this day I still feel this way. The Schiit DACs sounds warm, fun, fat, and punchy. If that’s what you want, then more power to you. But HE-6 4S is already plenty punchy and fun that I feel like using a Schiit DAC actually holds it back a bit from its full technical capabilities.
Unrelated note: punchiest headphone setup I can think of is probably Yggdrasil → A&S Mogwai SE → 2020 Focal Utopia. I’m sure @Draaly would approve.
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I now want to try this again but with rossini. The previous chain showed me picilos can punch. Think sibilance can too?
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Got the Audivava in on loan today. Yes, they are in fact that bad.
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My Susvara is finally here, a little late, but better than never. Probably won’t do a full impression of this headphone, just this little 6-hour impression.
My main purpose in buying the Susvara was to compare the midrange to the Mysphere 3.2 since the Mysphere 3.2 pretty much turned me into a different person because of its midrange. I also gained a new appreciation for the ATH-L3000, which is a different take on the midrange, but oddly satisfying as well.
1 sentence comparison in the midrange:
Mysphere 3.2 (Performance that leaves me in Awe [Magical no equipment close to real life taste]), Susvara (Performance that makes me say Ooooh [smooth and rich taste]), ATH-L3000 (Performance that makes me say Mmm Mmm Mmm [sweet and rich taste])
1 thing I really like so far:
One thing I really like about the Susvara besides its smooth midrange, is that it handles music so easily. Like just having a relaxing session with minimal brain usage, the Susvara is just revealing music with ease and I am still in a relaxed state. So, it’s revealing without being offensive somehow if that makes sense. I like that a lot. It reminds me of what I like about the Caldera when I owned it.
What the experience is reminding me of:
The smoothness reminds me a lot of my short session with the Sony MDR-R10. Not as smooth, my memory wants to say the Sony MDR-R10 is smoother, but I’m also not maxing out the full potential of the Susvara so I am not sure if it can get smoother on higher-tier equipment. Just wanted to say that out loud since I was considering buying a Sony MDR-R10 next year, but honestly keep getting scared because people keep talking about dead drivers, different serial numbers, replacing foam, etc etc. Just thinking out loud if the Susvara might be a good (maybe even better alternative) for someone like me that wants to own a Sony MDR-R10, but without the risk. I also only listen to the Sony MDR-R10 for like 10-15 minutes and the Susvara only for about 6 hours (casual listening) right now, so this is more of a throw-away thought honestly.
Conclusion
So far I am liking the Susvara so far on my current setup. It’s reminding me of my ATH-L3000 in a way that it does everything really good and nothing really offends me. I think the bass is pretty good. This might be a similar reaction I had with the Mysphere 3.2 where a lot of people undervalue it’s bass and I came in a mindset that the bass was going to be like the HD600 and BAM. My brain wasn’t ready and I like the bass 1st impression. Midrange is obviously good and the treble hasn’t been harsh yet. I also haven’t critically listen to the headphone yet, waiting on the weekend when I have more free time to actually do nothing and listen to music. 1 thing I actually do appreciate about all three headphones: Mysphere 3.2 (dynamic ear speakers); Susvara (Open-back Planar headphones); ATH-L3000 (Wooden Closed-Back). They are completely different tuning and are nothing alike in any way. Yet, I still really appreciate all 3 midrange and none of these headphones are an obvious 1 headphone I can live forever headphone. That’s just my greedy side showing, might as well embrace it. I just hope I don’t get another Supratek situation where I made a hasty decision and I got to sell one of my headphones again. Just gotta save the old-fashioned way of putting a quarter in a piggy bank.
This is also just 6 hours, so who knows? I might like the Susvara more to actually try to max it out, but for now, I am pretty satisfied with what I have now.
My Chain: ROON Rock - Intel NUC 7i7 > EMM Labs NS1 > [AES] Mojo Audio Mystique EVO B4B 21 > Custom 45/6SN7 Tube Only Supratek Cabernet DHT > [RCA] Allnic HPA-5000XL > Susvara
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