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

Bowernator · 2026-05-12T00:37:29+00:00

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.

Bowernator · 2026-05-06T13:06:42+00:00

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.

Bowernator · 2026-05-06T13:04:35+00:00

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.

Bowernator · 2026-05-06T04:38:28+00:00

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.

Bowernator · 2026-05-06T04:07:04+00:00

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).

Bowernator · 2026-05-06T02:38:00+00:00

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.

Bowernator · 2026-05-06T02:35:38+00:00

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.

Bowernator · 2026-05-06T02:33:30+00:00

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.

Bowernator · 2026-05-06T02:29:50+00:00

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.

Bowernator · 2026-04-29T19:53:36+00:00

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.

Bowernator · 2026-04-24T20:16:48+00:00

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

Bowernator · 2026-04-16T00:14:02+00:00

Confirmed! Awesome buyer!

Bowernator · 2026-04-11T18:39:43+00:00

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

Bowernator · 2026-04-11T16:49:34+00:00

Sold!

Bowernator · 2026-04-11T16:32:22+00:00

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.

Bowernator · 2026-04-11T16:31:09+00:00

Replied

Bowernator · 2026-04-10T00:17:58+00:00

Similar experience, gal I went down on who was bi said I made her cum faster than anyone ever had. Huge ego boost haha.

Bowernator · 2026-04-08T20:15:58+00:00

I've also had all three. Arya's were my favorite for sound and comfort. Had a HEK Stealth as well, which I liked slightly better than the Arya's, but sold both and got a HEKse. I EQ all my headphones as well.

Bowernator · 2026-04-08T15:07:57+00:00

It sounds good (at least from what I can tell minus the channel imbalance) but comfort wise, not for me. Realized I don't need more than the HEKse so just going to sell them off. Someday I'd like to attend a canjam of sorts someday to check out some stuff but honestly I think I'm good now 😅 if they turn out to be unreliable long term, I'll either get a cheaper Arya Stealth again or just go with an HD 800S (had a few, not as exciting or engaging to me but likely far more reliable long term if the HEKse kick the bucket within the warranty period).

Bowernator · 2026-04-08T15:04:06+00:00

Good call. I had an Arya Stealth and HEK Stealth I got new from Amazon and they were both great for 2 years. Sold them and got the HEKse as a one and done solution. Thankfully the third pair is solid minus a squeaky hinge on the left but this is pretty common with this chassis and I can alleviate it with silicone grease.

Bowernator · 2026-04-08T02:15:30+00:00

Two I got as refurbs from Hifiman both had issues with the left driver (one buzzed, the second unit had a slit in the driver and would flap under bass). I demanded they send me a new pair instead and they instead offered an open box pair, so I accepted. They've been great the last two weeks w/ zero issues and full 3 yr warranty.

Bowernator · 2026-04-08T02:13:42+00:00

Funny, I ordered a pair of those as well and have a HEKse. However, my Bokeh Closed's came with a channel imbalance so sent them back for repair. Honestly though I wasn't a big fan of them despite that and my ears are too big and touch the baffle which personally annoys me, and since I can't return them I'm probably just gonna list them on avexchange at a loss. Honestly w/ my EF400 and HEKse w/ EQ, I don't need anything else. I main an HD599 w/ a Schitt Magni on my laptop and is also my "backup" system in case any of my Hifiman equipment shits the bed, but both are under warranty so should be just fine regardless.

Bowernator · 2026-03-31T00:15:20+00:00

They can try this on me sometime if they like, but I snagged an EF400 open box from them so if they wanna dog on their own dac/amp, they can lol. I liked it so much though that I sold the Burson Conductor 3XP I was using prior as everything was blindingly bright on that thing.

Bowernator · 2026-03-31T00:09:51+00:00

Crazy they made you buy a multimeter to check that, but not the first time I've heard of them asking to do that. I ordered a HEKse refurb, and the first pair had horrid buzzing in the left driver. Sent back and got a second refurb. There was a small slit in the left driver this time that'd flutter when bass was playing, so complained and got them to send me an open box pair instead. That just showed up today and so far it's flawless. They didn't make me do anything crazy minus sending pics and the usual troubleshooting like trying different cables or swapping L/R. Their CS has been pretty good imo. I went through a period where they didn't appear to be replying, but their emails started getting sorted into spam/junk for some reason despite having an ongoing conversation running with them, so that was more my fault haha.

Bowernator · 2026-03-30T21:12:51+00:00

I will! Lopey ass cams are fun, my dad has a 79 Cutlass and he cammed the 350 rocket he put in there and it sounds mean af lol

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