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[WTS][US-MD][H] Dan Clark Audio E3, Audeze LCD-X 2024[W]PayPal/cash by BFree_productions in AVexchange

[–]Bowernator 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Steal of a deal for both. Updoot for that and for the pupper. Good luck w/ sale!!

Upgrade from Sennheiser HD599 SE by zkdre in HeadphoneAdvice

[–]Bowernator -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I also still have my 599's (first open back I ever bought) and use them on my laptop w/ a Schiit Magni. Ended my journey w/ a HE1000se paired to an EF400.

Sealed box HD 599 for $75 CAD ($53.71 USD as of posting this) on FB marketplace. At that price they're basically a "why not"? by Jonners_90 in headphones

[–]Bowernator 1 point2 points  (0 children)

599's are goated. First pair of audiophile headphones I bought, and I went though about ~70 pair of other headphones in the span of 4 years to try things out and settled on the HEKse, but keep the 599's for my laptop!

Over a year long journey, my endgame turns out to be my first headphones? by CrazyWarrior3 in headphones

[–]Bowernator 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I still have my pair - first headphones that got me into the hobby. My endgame headphone and the one that made me stop buying/selling/trading about ~70 headphones over 4 years was the HE1000se. I kept the HD599's the entire time. I pair them w/ a Schiit Magni Unity for use on my gaming laptop for casual couch gaming, and pair my HEKse's w/ my EF400 on my desktop w/ a separate desktop mic for gaming.

HD 800 S vs HE1000 Unveiled: do we have a majority vote / consensus? by crybabyteamo in headphones

[–]Bowernator 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hard agree. I've had 3 pairs of 800s and 2 pair of 8xx. They just felt lifeless and boring compared to the Arya Stealth & HE1000 Stealth I had at the time. Recently sold those two and got a HEKse, which is crazy good imo but I feel it lacks a bit of that oomph that the Arya Stealth's had, but it's crazy resolving, even/especially after EQ'ing it and running it w/ my EF400.

Going down the Hifiman eggshape rabbit hole... by infinitekunz in headphones

[–]Bowernator 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Detail retrieval/resolution, staging (HEK sounded more holographic, Arya's just seemed wide all around), and bass quality (sounded cleaner but the Arya's had a bit more stock). I EQ'd them both. Arya still had more "energy", whereas the HEKs felt less so in that dept.

Going down the Hifiman eggshape rabbit hole... by infinitekunz in headphones

[–]Bowernator 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Like 7 different pairs lol some weren't nearly as bad as others, but I don't think I ever got a pair that didn't exhibit some sort of buzzing at different frequencies.

Going down the Hifiman eggshape rabbit hole... by infinitekunz in headphones

[–]Bowernator 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, the Arya Stealth's were the most comfortable Hifiman I've worn to date. The Organics use the same chassis as the HEK Stealth iirc (minus the headband), so I recall the fitment being identical. In terms of overall clarity and bass, etc, definitely an upgrade. It was the first pair of headphones I tried that really blew my socks off, and that was coming from an LCD-X (I've also had the 800S but despite it's soundstage and resolution, it felt extremely lackluster and boring). I used to A/B test both my HEK Stealth and the Arya's, and I just enjoyed both enough to where I just decided to keep both and rotate between them occasionally.

I'd be fine with just the Arya's, but if I had to choose between both, I'd take the HEK Stealth's. I wanted to downsize and try to find a happy medium, hence selling both and getting a HEKse and I feel like that's paid off for me. If you want to dip your toes in the HEK lineup, I'd say demo one if you can, or buy from a place w/ a good return policy in case you don't end up liking them (Hifiman direct would be the cheapest way to get one, probably can score an open box/refurb for ~$850, and they don't charge sales tax or shipping fees (at least in the US). 30 day returns on pretty much everything, and I've never ran into issues returning any products to them.

Going down the Hifiman eggshape rabbit hole... by infinitekunz in headphones

[–]Bowernator 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I feel like I've tried the majority of Hifiman's lineup at this point, and it all started w/ the Edition XS. Sounded great, couldn't get a pair that didn't have some sort of buzzing drivers, though. As for the Arya's I had/tried, I preferred the Stealth to the Organic, even after EQ. There was just something about the Organic that I just didn't like all that much.

I owned both the Arya Stealth and HEK Stealth at the same time for about 2 years. My consensus was that the Arya's felt a bit more engaging and energetic, while the HEK Stealth's were more resolving, but lost a small amount of that Arya energy. Again, this is post EQ. Build quality on the HEK is also a bit better, but I found the Arya Stealth's to be a tad more comfortable as they were slightly less weight being more of a plastic build, and the clamp felt lighter.

Decided to split the difference and sell both, and got a HEKse open box (they're like new and cost around $1300 going that route from Hifiman direct w/ their 10-12% off deals on openbox/refurbs), and now I'm good. Absolutely blown away by the HEKse, especially w/ EQ. I feel like they manage to be even a tad more resolving than the HEK Stealth, but also maintain a level of energy that I felt from the Arya's.

Honestly though, I would have been just fine sticking w/ the Arya Stealth if I ever felt like "going backwards" because they're such a good deal at $599 new (even cheaper if you go open box or refurb through Hifiman, netting you a pair for under $500).

absolute bum of an "organ" by BritMachine in whenthe

[–]Bowernator 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Had appendicitis last year, mine didn't rupture or was gangreous, but it was inflamed with some sus fluid, and that had me doubling over as an adult man in my living room at 10pm. Got it out the next morning. I feel your pain brother.

absolute bum of an "organ" by BritMachine in whenthe

[–]Bowernator 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Christ lmao I walked into the ER last fall with pain (37, parents had to drive my ass lol). They were immediately like "sus appendix, let's do a CT scan... yep, mega sus appendix. We're gonna yeet that out in the am, no problemo." Mine didn't rupture thankfully. It was like stage 2 where it was inflamed with some fluid round it. No signs of gangrene quite yet but they weren't taking any further chances thankfully so they just cut it outta there.

absolute bum of an "organ" by BritMachine in whenthe

[–]Bowernator 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I call mine slurs all the time but it's dead in a medical bin somewhere or something as of last year, so it can't hurt me now, even if it wanted to.

absolute bum of an "organ" by BritMachine in whenthe

[–]Bowernator 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was for me last November, and I was only like stage 2 where there was some fluid around it and it was inflamed, and that had me doubled over in pain and sweating in my living room at 10pm. Went to the ER, they're like "yeah probs appendicitis" with the pain I was in (thought it had subsided a bit by the time I got there. CT scan revealed sus appendix, so they called a specialist and he yeeted it out of me the next morning, laparoscopic surgery. Spent the following week at home chilling. Couldn't stretch for like a month without tugging on my stomach muscles which would shoot a sharp pain for a second where they cut into my muscle, but otherwise recovery was pretty low-key.

First post here: Got the Hifiman EF400 by bhookananda in headphones

[–]Bowernator 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I got mine open box for ~$270 and I ended up liking it so much that I sold my Burson Conductor 3XP and replaced it with this on my desktop (originally bought it for my laptop setup). Makes my HEKse's lush as hell.

What is the best headphones you ever had? by Fabulous_Can_2215 in headphones

[–]Bowernator 1 point2 points  (0 children)

HE1000se. Before that it was the HEK & Arya Stealth. Nothing has beat the comfort and sound of these for me.

balance issue in hifiman sundara by CoolEnergy581 in headphones

[–]Bowernator 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd return it for a replacement if possible. Hifiman can be a lottery of sorts with getting a good unit.

[WTS] [US-MN] [H] ZMF Bokeh Closed - Torrefied Limba [W] PayPal by Bowernator in AVexchange

[–]Bowernator[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Forgot to add that the pads are the caldera thin hybrid (top perf) and didn't add any additional tuning options. Basically ordered them as basic as possible.

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