It is time for me to honor this great headphone. Even after Hifiman has released their Stealth version, the HE1000v2 is still available. The HE1000 is special for many reasons: It was the first flagship after the HE-6, and was a radical departure. Everything was new. The HE1000 was the first oval/egg-shaped Hifiman headphone. The new headband design was a development of the HE-560. It was the first headphone to have asymmetrical magnets, and it had a new diaphragm. It also had detachable cables using 2.5 mm and later 3.5 mm TRS jacks instead of the screw-on F-type coax connectors previously used.
The original HE1000 came out in 2015 but was soon replaced by the almost identical sounding HE1000v2 in 2016. Two years later, in 2018, came the HE1000SE, a less power hungry version with a different sound. The HE1000v2 was not discontinued but it saw a price reduction.
The HE1000 series headphones were designed with an asymmetrical magnet structure with smaller magnets on the inside. Recently the HE1000v2 got the “stealth magnet” treatment. This new version is called the HE1000 Stealth. Stealth magnets is a fancy word for more aerodynamically shaped magnets. It’s similar to Audeze’s Fazor waveguides, except the Fazors are add-ons, whilst the stealth magnets are magnets shaped inherently aerodynamically.
The HE1000SE was equipped with stealth magnets from the beginning, the second Hifiman to get stealth magnets. The first was the Susvara, which came in 2017, but the Susvara doesn’t have asymmetrical magnets.
Recently Hifiman has upgraded as good as all headphones with stealth magnets.
The HE1000v1, HE1000v2 and the HE1000SE have all been called the “Baby Susvara” or “Poor Man’s Susvara”, and with good reason. They sound great and give you much of what the bigger brother offers at a much lower price.
BUILD QUALITY AND COMFORT
HE1000 was the first egg-shaped Hifiman. The HE1000 v1 HE1000V2, HE1000SE and HE1000 Stealth all look almost identical and share the same basic design. The HE1000SE has darker wood veneer and matte steel, the HE1000v2 has lighter brown wood and a less matte steel finish.
The build is good, with mostly metal parts. The headband is a steel arc and a strap, there’s good swivel action for the cups. Pads are large and deep. There are detachable cables with 3.5mm TRS connectors on the headphone.
I find the HE1000 series very comfortable, even though they are a bit larger than I would prefer. I think the old Hifiman circular design is great, like HE560 and Sundara.
SPECIFICATIONS HE1000v2
- Type: Open-Back
- Driver type: Planar magnetic
- Fit: Over-Ear
- Cable connector on headphones: 3.5 mm new version, 2.5 mm older version
- Cables: 3m/4-pin XLR; 3m/6.5mm TRS; 1.5m/3.5mm TRS right-angle
- Weight: 420g
- Impedance: 35 ohm
- Efficiency: 90 dB/mW
LISTENING IMPRESSIONS
The amplifier used for this session is the Bryston BHA-1, my source is RME ADI-2 DAC FS.
Terminal 7 by Tomasz Stanko Quintet
The HE1000v2 is very spacious and open-sounding. The percussion is snappy and tactile. The trumpet is textured and beautifully soft.
Amsterdam Venue by Tomasz Stanko Quintet
The HE1000v2 sounds very good, as with the previous track it is very detailed and spacious. The trumpet is rendered especially well.
Fading Sorrow by Marcin Wasilewski Trio
The HE1000v2 is incredibly spacious and enveloping. The timbre is very good, the piano, the standing bass, the saxophone, the percussion. It’s all very natural and easy flowing. The HE1000v2 has a liquid and ethereal quality to its presentation.
Assume Form by James Blake
The HE1000v2 has great and strong bass, the vocals are smooth. The percussion isn’t as snappy as I’ve heard them with e.g. Focal Utopia. The soundstage is wider but not as ultra-precise.
Fly Forward J.Higdon / Hilary Hahn
The HE1000V2 sounds great with orchestral music. The HE1000V2 has great timbre and a wide soundstage but lacks the hyper-precise imaging of the Utopia. The tonality is rather similar.
Present Tense by Radiohead
The HE1000v2 has great dynamic bass and a very coherent and well-balanced presentation. The treble is crisp but not too bright, and Thom Yorke’s vocals are smooth, warm and natural sounding.
Hellhound On My Trail by Cassandra Wilson
The HE1000v2 has very pleasant, lush vocals. The guitar is crisp, there’s gobs of detail. The sound is very open. The presentation is both delicate and energetic.
Escape Route by Boris Blank
The HE1000V2 gets to show off its fabulous bass capabilities here. The imaging is also very good. There’s tonal warmth and the sound has good weight and body.
Metamorphoses Nocturnes by Belcau Quartet
An interesting modern classical piece, it is mostly very quiet and tender. Great detail retrieval and imaging, the strings have body and attack.
Mahler Symphony No.2 III by Paavo Järvi
The HE1000v2 can surely play the kettledrums. The bass is deep and textured. The strings are sweet and nuanced, also with nice texture. The soundscape is wide and tall, there’s no problem separating instruments.
Don’t Panic by Coldplay
The HE1000v2 has a fabulous bass presentation, and Chris Martin’s vocals are sweet and lush and sound very natural.
AMPLIFIERS FOR THE HE1000V2
I have tried a range of amplifiers with the HE1000v2 over the years. It certainly needs some power to shine and it isn’t the easiest headphone to match perfectly. When you get the right combo, however, it’s a fabulous experience. Here are some amps I like with the HE1000v2, in no particular order:
MYTEK LIBERTY THX AMP
Exceptionally clear and tight amplifier for the HE1000V2. Super clean without being bright or clinical. The imaging is the best I’ve heard. Truly impressive.
REBEL AMP
This is also a great amp for the HE1000V2. It’s not too different from the Mytek Liberty THX Amp, just lacking a little bit of that hyper clarity but giving a hint of some extra warmth instead.
MONOLITH THX AAA 887
Clear and neutral like the Mytek Liberty THX Amp, but just not equally resolving. Extremely impressive considering the price.
FERRUM ERCO
Another great option, this is a DAC/amp that sounds very clean and dynamic like the Mytek Liberty Amp, but with a hint of warmth.
AUDIO-GD MASTER 9
One of my favorite amplifiers for the HE1000V2. Authoritative, dynamic and it brings out the midrange more than most.
BRYSTON BHA-1
Much like the Master 9, this amp pairs very well with the HE1000v2. Lots of power, very clean and yet with a nice smoothness. A bit thicker in the midrange than the THX amps.
TOPPING A90
Another solid performer. Somewhat resembling the BHA-1, like a scaled-down version. Slightly thick mids, not as dynamic as the Bryston but very good.
VIOLECTRIC V281
Very clean, neutral and punchy sounding with the HE1000’s presenting a fabulous soundstage but not the beefiest mid-range.
SPARKOS LABS GEMINI
Adding a tube to the input stage, this tube hybrid amp delivers a sound that’s a bit lush in the mids, but still very punchy and detailed. A great amp.
WOO WA22
Fabolous synergy with the HE1000v2. Brings out the mid-range more than any other and is generally very “alive” sounding. Not as tight and deep in the bass as the best solid-state amplifiers, but that doesn’t matter much.
TRAFOMATIC AUDIO HEAD 2
The Head 2 offers a bit better resolution, texture and soundstage than the WA22 but lacks that warm and up-front midrange. With some Amperex NOS tubes in place, the Head 2 becomes significantly more present in the midrange, making me prefer it to the Woo.
CARY SLI-80 SIGNATURE
Pure bliss straight from the speaker taps. Warm and totally delicious sound with spades of power. Dynamic and detailed, smooth and luscious.
HEADPHONE COMPARISONS
There are many great headphones to compare the HE1000v2 with, and here I have picked out a few.
HIFIMAN HE1000V1 vs HE1000V2
First a few words on the difference between the original and the HE1000v2.
Sound-wise, the difference between these two headphones is very minor. When I a/b-ed them I often could not tell them apart. But when I did, I tended to perceive the mk2 as a tad lighter than the mk1, which sometimes had a tad more mid-bass presence. It was not consistent, though.
Overall, their tonal balance was close to identical. The perceived level of detail was identical to my ears in my set-up, and so was the stereo image presentation (height, width and depth). Sense of speed and attack, dynamics, they were all the same.
In terms of build, the HE1000v2 is lighter and has a thinner frame/ear cups and thicker pads. It’s an improvement in comfort. Another change is the cable. The cable of the first HE1000 was black and very stiff. The HE1000v2 has the new style Hifiman tube cable. I like it – it’s light and flexible.
HIFIMAN HE560 vs HE1000V2
The HE-560 is a very interesting headphone because it was the first headphone with a one-sided magnet driver from Hifiman. Further, it launched a new Hifiman “house sound”, moving away from the thicker and more full-bodied sound of the HE-500 and HE-6.
It also was the first using the new style headband mech design, and also with wood veneer. There actually was a prototype with real wood in the cups, but Hifiman choose to go for plastic and wood veneer for durability reasons.
I remember being terribly disappointed heading out for the first time, it sounded nothing like the HE-500. It grew on me, and now I really like the HE-560
As good as it is, though, the HE560 loses out in all aspects when compared directly to the HE1000v2 on the Audio-Gd Master 9. The bigger brother is better balanced, clearer and more transparent. The mid-range is a bit drawn back with the HE-560 and is definitely more present with the HE1000v2.
The headphones require about the same level of power, but in my experience, the HE1000v2 is slightly more picky with amplifier matching than the HE560.
HIFIMAN ANANDA vs HE1000v2
In many ways, the HE1000 v2´s presentation is not very different from the original Ananda´s. But it has none of Ananda’s weaknesses. It has similar sound-staging but is better, especially in depth. It digs deeper in the bass, it has better dynamics, the tonality is more coherent, and it is cleaner across the range: The slight midrange bloom of the Ananda is exchanged for a very well-balanced and even more detailed midrange.
That being said, the HE1000v2 is also harder to drive, and way more expensive. You get a lot of what Hifiman has to offer from the Ananda, but the HE1000v2 is still a significantly better headphone, especially if you have a powerful amplifier.
HIFIMAN HE1000SE VS HE1000V2
Amps: Woo WA22, Questyle CMA800R and Monolith THX AAA 887. Source: RME ADI-2 DAC FS.
I listened to all the tracks with all three amps. My relative preferences didn’t shift. The HE1000SE sounds a bit sweeter with the WA22, but basically, the differences between the two headphones remain. All three amps are solid performers with these headphones.
Can’t You See by Susan Wong
The detail level, separation and soundstage are all very similar. The HE1000SE is crisper, brighter. They are tuned differently. The HE1000 had warmer, a little thicker mids. I find it the most natural sounding.
All For Us by Labyrinth
Again, the detail etc is the same, the only difference is tuning. The HE1000SE is a bit brighter and drier sounding, which gives a slightly more apparent sense of texture, but it feels a bit artificial in direct comparison to the HE1000 v2.
Almost like The Blues by Leonard Cohen
Again the same. They are equally detailed and the sound stage is marvelous with both. However, I prefer the presentation of the HE1000. The bass also has a more natural feeling.
C.P.E. Bach Cello Concertos by J-G Queyras
Here too, the only difference is in the tuning. Both are great, but I find the HE1000 most natural.
I am already repeating myself after just a few tracks so I continue my playlist and there is no difference in the perceived difference between these two cans. Basically identical amount of detail and soundstage depth, height and width. They both have a great extension in both directions. Both are great performers. The difference is mainly in the frequency response. HE1000SE has a brighter and drier sound, with a more withdrawn mid-range. The HE1000 v2 has more warmth, a slightly less pronounced high end and a more natural-sounding low-end presentation. Basically, I find HE1000 v2 more natural sounding all over.
FOCAL UTOPIA VS HE1000V2
These days these headphones are in very different price classes. However, at launch, they were closer. Hifiman is pressing prices down, Focal … the other way… Kudos to Hifiman!
In terms of sound signature, They are not very differently tuned, but the HE1000v2 has a bit more bass and a tad more lower mids. In terms of the general presentation, the HE1000v2 is a bit more mellow. It’s not as sharp and focused but has a more laid-back style.
The HE1000v2 has a big soundstage, wide and tall and decently deep. The Utopia is narrower but deeper. There is more space between the Instruments with the Utopia. There’s more blackness. Better pinpoint imaging.
The Utopia’s treble is extremely clean and dynamic. It’s almost supernatural. The treble is very energetic without becoming harsh. The HE1000v2 is, if it has got a good amplifier, also very good. It’s very resolved, but not just as hyper-resolved, as the HE1000v2. It can occasionally sound a bit splashy and diffuse in direct comparison. They have roughly an equal amount of treble energy.
They both have a very good mid-range with lots of detail and texture. The HE1000v2 sounds a bit more mellow and lush, but they’re not very different. It depends a bit on the track.
Even though the Utopia has a stellar bass performance, it cannot beat the HE1000v2. It’s got a bit more quantity and a flatter response. It’s a top-tier planar magnetic headphone after all.
I have touched upon this before but I find both to be very good at macro dynamics, micro dynamics and detail retrieval but the Utopia tends to impress me the most except for the lowest regions where it rolls off a bit.
Both these headphones need a proper amplifier to really shine. However, there is no doubt that the Hifiman HE1000v2 is more picky. It demands quite a lot of power to come to life, and maybe most importantly a powerful high-quality amplifier will bring more control to the treble.
With stock pads on the Utopia, the HE1000v2 has more bass, but with the Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin pads, the Utopia gets roughly an equal amount of bass. The HE1000v2 still has better bass quality, though. In general, the Utopia is warmer sounding with the sheepskin pads, warmer than the HE1000v2, with the stock pads it’s the other way around. Personally, I prefer the Utopia with the sheepskin pads over the HE1000v2, with stock pads it is more of a tossup.
HD800S vs HE1000V2
Both these headphones need a good amp match to shine. The HE1000v2 needs quality power to wake up and become the dynamic beast it can be. The HD800S needs something a little different. To me, the HD800S is almost two different headphones with my select solid state amps vs my tube amps. In a fast a/b, it might not sound very different, but the difference is in the small things that add up and change the experience.
The treble is the most problematic part of the HD800S. It’s less piercing than the original HD800 but the HD800S is still a quite bright headphone. It really helps with a tube amp or a hybrid like the Sparkos Gemini, though. The treble is then more rounded and less fatiguing. However, the treble is also giving you lots of detail and a huge sense of air and space.
The HE1000v2 also has treble energy, but I find it more natural and non-fatiguing. It’s got more energy in the lower treble, the HD800S in the higher treble.
Thus, the HE1000v2 is not overly smooth or laid back, just less intense in the highest frequencies. The treble of the HE1000v2 has even more weight than the HD800S, but it is not fatiguing. They’re both very d etailed.
The midrange is very revealing with both headphones. The HE1000v2 has a more energetic presentation with more weight and body because of more upper mids/lower treble energy.
They aren’t miles apart, but I generally find the HE1000v2 having a more natural timbre. With the tube amps, the HD800S gets more organic and natural sounding which helps a lot.
The bass:There is really no contest here, the HE1000v2 has better bass quantity and quality, timbre and detail. That being said, the HD800S has a very good quality bass performance. It’s quite flat before it starts rolling off slightly and gradually. It can even be punchy but rolls off sooner than the typical high-quality planar magnetic headphones. The roll-off feels, however, quite gentle, and with most tracks, it’s not an issue. None of these are bass cannons, but I feel the HE1000v2 has nailed the bass presentation for my personal preferences albeit not as good as my favourite, the HE-6.
Soundstage, sound signature and timbre: Properly driven, the HE1000v2 is just as spacious, and sometimes even more so, than the HD800S. In other words, they are both top-of-the-line in this regard. Imaging is good on both, they create a good holographic listening experience. The HE1000v2 might be wider, the HD800S deeper. It depends on the track and what frequencies are dominant.
In terms of sound signature, these often aren’t too far apart. I think it is quite track-dependent because they have variations in the frequency response that are not big enough to say that they are constantly very different.
When it comes to timbre I prefer the HE1000v2. I’m generally a fan of the Hifiman tuning. However, often the two are surprisingly similar sounding.
LCD-X (2021) VS HE1000v2
The LCD-X is Audeze’s most successful headphone, and it is with good reason. Especially after the 2021 update, it’s a great sounding and well balanced headphone, yet still having that good old Audeze house sound (although they seem to change that a bit with the newer models)
Detail: Both headphones are very high in detail. However, at least with an amp that brings out the best of it, the HE1000v2 has more detail across the board.
Treble: The HE1000V2 has more treble and upper mid-range weight and energy. The Audeze is noticeably darker sounding. The treble is clear and detailed, but the HE1000v2 is more dynamic and energetic, generally tuned brighter.
Mids: As mentioned, the HE1000v2 has more presence in the upper mids, making it sound brighter (song with the treble). Vocals are more mellow and less energetic sounding with the LCD-X. Not in a bad way, but different.
Bass: Both are great performers in the lower octaves. The LCD-X is thicker and more meaty. The bass is fatter and fuller.
Soundstage: The HE1000v2 has one of the widest sound stages I have heard, and the LCD-X doesn’t try to compete. The HE1000v2 (when well amped) has better separation and imaging too. The LCD-X isn’t bad, it’s just got a more intimate sound-stage.
Dynamics: The HE1000v2 is snappier and lighter on its feet. The LCD-X is still a dynamic sounding headphone, but it feels a tad slower. However, I might add; In a quite delicious way.
Amplification: Here, the Audeze has a great advantage. The HE1000v2 needs a powerful quality amp. The LCD-X is much easier to please. It scales with the amp, but by far to the same degree as the HE1000v2.
Build and comfort: The LCD-X is built “like a tank” and feels very solid. It’s also heavy as a tank, but with well distributed weight and great pads it is very comfortable. The HE1000v2 is also off good build, but feels less sturdy.
Overall, the HE1000SE has a brighter and airier sound whilst the LCD-X is meatier, warmer and darker. They are both excellent sounding headphones with fabolous bass and very good detail level across the frequency spectrum, although the HE1000V2 is more resolving.
FOCAL CLEAR MG HE1000V2
The Clear MG is the latest version of the Focal Clear, and shares many traits with the Utopia, but it’s differently tuned.
Detail: Both the Clear MG and the HE1000v2 have high levels of detail. However, at least with an amp that brings out the best of it, the HE1000v2 has somewhat more detail across the board, especially in the bass.
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Treble: The HE1000V2 has more treble and upper mid-range weight and energy. The Clear MG is slightly darker sounding. The treble is clear and detailed on both. It might be more snappy on the Clear MG, but more nuanced with the HE1000v2.
Mids: The HE1000v2 has more presence in the upper mids, making it sound brighter. Vocals are a tad mellower with the Clear MG. It’s like a blend of the HE1000v2 and the LCD-X.
Bass: Both are great performers in the lower octaves, but the dynamic driver of the Clear MG cannot quite match the planar magnetic HE1000v2 in depth and texture.
Soundstage: The HE1000v2 has a very wide and open sound-stage, and when properly amped, very good separation and imaging. The Clear MG is also quite open sounding, and as the big brother Utopia, it’s got very pinpointed imaging.
Dynamics: Clear MG is a bit more snappy and dynamic, while the HE1000v2 feels lighter on its feet, more ethereal and delicate. The Clear MG has better macrodynamics, the HE1000v2 better microdynamics.
Amplification: The Clear MG is way easier on the amp. The HE1000v2 needs a powerful quality amp. The Clear MG is much easier to drive, even though it scales with the amp it isn’t by far to the same degree as the HE1000v2.
Build and comfort: The HE1000v2 and the Clear MG both look great and feel solid. The Clear MG is comfortable, but I wish it had more swivel action, something the HE1000v2 doesn’t lack.
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CONCLUSION – WRAPPING IT UP
There’s one comparison missing in this article: I am eager to get some proper time with the latest Stealth version. However, I hope to have been able to give the readers some usable reference points. The HE1000v2 compares well with the competition. It’s been a long review, and if you’ve read it all, the pattern should be clear. Here’s the main essence about the HE1000v2 as I experience it:
Sounds signature and timbre
In terms of sound signature, I find the HE1000v2 nicely balanced, with just the right amount of bass, mids and highs. The overall timbre and tonality is very natural sounding.
Treble
The HE1000v2 is not low on treble energy, but I find it more natural and non-fatiguing. It’s got more energy in the lower treble. The HE1000v2 is not especially smooth and laid back, but less intense in the highest frequencies than the HD800S. It’s very detailed, but that is dependant on a good amplifier.
Midrange
The mids are very detailed with the HE1000v2. It has more weight and body than many of its competitors, like the HD800S and HE1000SE.
I find that the HE1000v2 has a natural midrange timbre.
Bass
The HE1000v2 has good and well-balanced bass quantity and fantastic bass quality, timbre and detail. The HE1000v2 has a great bass presentation, not many headphones can match.
Soundstage
Properly driven, the HE1000v2 is very spacious sounding, and often better than the “king of sound stage”, the HD800S. The Utopia is narrower but more precise. The soundstage precision of the HE1000v2 depends quite a bit on the amplifier, the best I’ve heard for imaging is the Mytek Liberty THX Amp.
Dynamics
Again, if you get the amp right, these headphones are snappy and punchy. The bass is simply delicious.
Amplification: The HE1000v2 needs a powerful quality amp. However, there are many amps that do it justice and I’ve listed my personal favourites above. I adore it with the Cary SLI-80 Signature, but there are plenty of options in all price ranges.
Build and comfort: The HE1000v2 looks great and it’s solidly built, albeit not something I throw around in a bag. . It’s very comfortable with great swivel action, large and spacious pads and a well constructed headband design.
All in all, the HE1000v2 is one of my personal favourite headphones, and comes highly recommended. Not only that, we have put the HE1000v2 on the Headphoneer IT-list.
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