Honestly the hekse is just an overall better headphone, direct ish upgrade for the most part, although the hekv2 does have a bit wider and more grand stage although less precise and accurate than the hekse, and perhaps the hekv2 has a bit more slam and impact but lacks some of the control and nuance of the hekse in the bass. From an overall technical perspective the hekse is better, but it’s also a bit more amp picky than the hekv2 and isn’t as forgiving. The hekv2 might also be slightly more tonally rich but don’t quite remember there
I will say that I don’t think the jump from the hekv2 to hekse is massive, but it is noticeable and worthwhile with proper source gear imo
I believe that is what I am experiencing. I read so much about them that I was expecting to be amazed. I heard before only Sundara and HEX v2 and this is big big step up in every aspect. To put in better words I am pleased with them and I can listen to the music on them for hours and on few instances stop and be fully sucked in what I hear. I was maybe expected it all over the place and maybe my music picks just suck
I was considering this as an option but I came to the conclusion that I would be craving TOTL anyway in the future, so I decided to sell what I thought can be sacrificed and got the budget to get Susvara. I know higher end amp would give me a better result but I could probably go for something from “nice shit” in M0N’s list but not for something higher due to price limits. Something in maybe 4K range could be doable so maybe there are options that would give a better result for Susvara and were very solid for Th900. Other limit is that I would prefer to stick with SS amps due to convenience.
That is for sure the case and I plan to give them much more time. Yes got them new. I believe some stand outs are obvious but some are yet to be discovered and appreciated. As mentioned I in general like them and enjoy the sound so not plans to go for anything else.
This is something I keep pondering on. Reading your comparison many times it seems I leaving a lot of performance on the table. I would not say my experience is lackluster but I can imagine it can be improved in a noticable way
This is actually something that was immediately noticeable even to my noob ears and in some songs I was also surprised by the bass while in some other it felt kind of not where I remember it to be dynamic wise from previous listening sessions with other headphones. I know it is not 1266 or even my Th900 for the bass slam and impact and I don’t expect it to be there. It is also not lacking in a way I felt about AWKT when I had those. With that said I admit there is some bass bias on my end I have to be mindful about appreciating all the qualities it offers and not being it headphone it can’t be.
this forum is the only place I actually visit for knowledge and recommendations on daily basis since I trust community here and there is knowledge and information not available in other places I visited. the decisions is obviously always mine and maybe I made some sub optimal on the way but that is part of the learning process I think
Just playing around cause i have them in hand bit audeze vegan on susvara is actualy pretty intersting. It gives it a small peak in the 5k region but overall gives it a hair darker (and imo) bit more natural of a tone.
@M0N since your mysphere write up is the only chunk of information I was able to find, how would Paltauf HPA-100 handle Susvara. And th900 potentially.
From your article it seems like solid amp and tilted in a direction I might be after. I am just not sure this is upgrade or sidegrade to v550. I know you had only limited time with it but curious about your thoughts as always. Also would it pair nicely with aqua?
I think well considering the cost, it will be a more relaxed pairing which I don’t know if that’s my preference with the susvara, but I think it does a fairly good job, a bit of a step up from your violectric but not a massive jump or anything imo
That I have no idea so can’t comment there
It’s a slight upgrade slight sidegrade for the most part
Wasn’t able to really test that many dacs on it, but I would assume it would pair well
You might be able to find something like a used Pass Integrated and use the speaker taps.
Effectively all the Bakoon is, is a 20W speaker amp that puts all the power out to the headphone socket as well as the speaker taps.
We’re still in the low 20’s in the AM walking the dogs. I thought I was done with that crap. I also laughed when I saw your corporate cubicle carpeting. I’m fortunate enough to not have sat in a corporate cubicle of over 20 years now. lol
You’ll probably have to contact a cable place to get an adapter, you want spades to 4 pin XLR, most places don’t list them, but they’ll make them if you ask. I’d go with the same place that made the cable you choose when the nasty feeling stock cable finally gets to you.
So I have an OG HE-6 (4-screw) kindly on loan from @krack and figured I would give some brief impressions (I will probabaly do a better writeup later once Ive had more time with them). The cans have been modded to dual 3.5 so I have been using my susvara cable (silver coated copper 8-core beauty by viking weave cables). Along with the cans @krack sent me Audeze Vegan Pads, Hifiman Vele Pads and Stock pads. I have also tried my spare set of susvara pads on them. Honestly, of the four options, I think the only two that are truly worthwhile here are the Veli pads and Audeze Vegans.
The Chain:
SU-2 KTE → Yggy → Cavalli LC (Philips harleen from the 70s)
Unfortunately this is the only amp I realy have on hand to be able to run the cans properly. It is gimping the cans in control a bit and I suspect they will scale higher in terms of general SQ as well if given better chains. I did also test on forge for a bit but I havent had a ton of listening time at home so that usage has been pretty minimal tbh.
The Pads:
Audeze Vegan - These are the most interesting pads to me. They give this very very weird experience that i can only realy explain as LCD-4 presentation with susvara tonality (though a hair more peaky about 5k, but not by much). Its honestly a realy cool setup, but it is a bit situational and doesnt realy feel like a daily driver. If you own an OG HE-6 I think it makes sense to try the vegans but I am not sure it makes sense to buy an HE-6 just for this sound alone as there are some other things that give similar enough overall experiences that are much easier to find than unobtanium pads on an unobtanium can.
Veli Pads - While nowhere near as striking as the vegans, these are my favorite pads on the headphone and IMO an extremely worthwhile combo (I do think HE6 is worth hunting down with these pads even at the ever increasing prices). Just to be frank, these pads make the cans sound like an ever so slightly less polite susvara. Separation is down a small amount but general levels of detail, honestly, are extraordinarily close to susvara (if I had to compare I think the HE6 has detail on par with D8KP and Soli P being just a real small like 1/4 step behind susvara). As for timbre there are some trade offs between susvara and HE-6. Susvara does pure timbre of drums and cymbals better but HE-6 nails horns and woodwinds much better than sus (an area that I truly feel sus is lacking if I am honest). I would also say susvara probably has slightly more natural vocals but its a hard call for me since I dont index super highly for vocal timbre so long as the mids arent just a peaky disaster. The real stand out on HE6 though is that it does away with politeness of susvara. While it can certainly be polite when needed susvara I find ends up being fairly polite even when it shouldnt be (a clarinet honking for example). HE-6 doesnt fall into this trap and is more than happy to get lively when called upon. Over all, I am enjoying these HE6 more than susvara on this chain. We will see how that changes once I get my 13R back and the AIC-10 arrives but I am really tempted to sell susvara and buy an HE-6 in the mean time (and just rebuy sus once the amps come back)
Sus Pads - They make the images slightly clearer and better seperated than the veli pads but they loose a lot of the livliness that I am enjoying so much so not my cup of tea. On a side note I trued veli pads on sus to see if I got rid of some of the politeness but unfortunately it didnt change much tbh.
Stock pads - Honestly, just veli pads with a worse FR and an aggravating upper mids/trebble. Hard pass on these.
Gratz and thanks for the writeup. I think some impressions would change if you tried the 6 screw which is the ‘dirtier’ and ‘less-Susvara sounding’ HE-6. Though if you use HE-6 stock pads you’re a monster.
And yes I also think your current chain (and even my current chain honestly) could get more out of HE-6. I initially wanted to send it to you to try on Bakoon and AIC-10 but since that’s been delayed guess we’ll just have to wait.
And for anyone looking for the Velpads, they’re here. Only $15 and well worth it:
For my personal listening and chains I’ve heard both headphones on, HE-6 is my choice over Susvara. And of course for the price there’s not even a debate.
my fav sweater is just like that, that thicc type of sheep wool just makes one feel at home.