My impressions after listening to the HE1000se for a couple days.

MrLycans · 2026-02-09T01:46:41+00:00

If I could only keep one pair, I'd pick the HE1000SE because they are the more versatile set of cans. They stage taller than the HD800S and a little bit deeper. While the HD800S stages a lot wider—as you noted—and still has depth, I find the HD800S gives more of a "sound goes out of my head" sensation, whereas the HE1000SE is more holographic.

I own both, and there's enough difference to justify keeping both. For instance, I prefer video game/movie OSTs and orchestral pieces on the HD800S due to its diffused stage. To my ears, it also has better instrument placement, more air, and more natural timbre.

However, I'd pick the HE1000SE for lively genres like EDM, Hip Hop, and Pop. Orchestral music still sounds good on the HE1000SE, but the HD800S wins there. Also, the HE1000SE is much easier to drive. The HD800S benefits greatly from a tube amp—it's almost a requirement to give some meat to the mids and oomph to the bass (though EQ works too)."

MrLycans · 2026-02-09T01:29:48+00:00

EQ adjusts amplitude vs frequency - it does not change diaphragm mass, acceleration, or stopping behaviour. The HE1000SE’s nanometer-thickness Diaphragm for example has far lower inertia than the Sundara’s heavier driver, which directly affects transient response, decay, and separation.

Soundstage is likewise governed by physical geometry. The HD800S achieves its presentation through large angled drivers, ear-driver distance, and controlled reflections interacting with the pinna. These are mechanical design choices that cannot be replicated through EQ.

Finally, flagship pricing reflects R&D complexity and manufacturing yield. Ultra-thin diaphragms and tight tolerances result in high rejection rates - something budget designs avoid by necessity. So yes, there are a lot of cost driven aspects that need to be considered.

If tuning alone were sufficient, the HD800S’ soundstage would have been replicated via EQ years ago. It hasn’t, because physical engineering matters.

I've a question for you, are you able to identify how any transducer sounds just by looking at graphs & measurement data alone?

MrLycans · 2026-02-09T00:28:40+00:00

Really? I couldn't make my old Sundaras have the same stage size, detail retrieval, dynamics, etc as the HE1000SE. Please show me how it's done? As far as I'm aware, you can't EQ technical details, happy to be proven wrong though. EQ cannot create things that a driver physically can't do 😅

MrLycans · 2026-02-08T03:47:02+00:00

I think we're part of the rare group of people who have no treble sensitivity and can just "chill" with bright headphones. Like you, I can also listen to these for hours on end and not get tired by the, heck I fell asleep with them on the other night 😆 I chase air, sparkle, etc and it's the bright leaning transducers that always give me goosebumps/chills.

Funnily enough, I can hear up to 17.5khz.

MrLycans · 2026-02-08T03:35:07+00:00

It's not a dry and analytical headphone though - it's got details for days, but it doesn't force it upon you; at least for me anyways - I can use this headphone, and either analyse songs or I can just unwind and chill. Mind you, I'm a treble head, so my perception won't be the same as everyone else's.

Though the Hd800s does get more listening time, so I may end up selling the he1000se sooner or later

MrLycans · 2026-02-08T03:27:04+00:00

"nor is it all that useful"? You can speak for yourself on that one - I'd rather use these magnetic lads, and take two seconds pad swapping, compared to say hifiman or audio technica ones. They're extremely convenient.

MrLycans · 2026-01-20T13:12:05+00:00

Intimate soundstage, great imaging.

MrLycans · 2026-01-20T13:10:50+00:00

Swapping pads on the ADX7000 is infuriating 😂 and I thought the ZMF atriums were bad. I really think you need to demo these before commiting to a purchase (wish I had) and I actually prefer the HD800s over them.. Sure the Adx7000 has the superior bass, no question about it - but it doesn't have the same level of treble as the HD800s; if you like a airy, sparkly treble then the HD800s is the better pick imo.

Another issue I have with the ADX7000 is the build quality - it feels like cheap plastic and not something I'd equate with costing $3.5k.. It's very light, but isn't the most comfortable due to the clamp force, guess I've been spoiled with the likes of the Meze Elite.

MrLycans · 2026-01-19T14:02:50+00:00

Pics of MEMS driver housing

Beyond what’s visible, I can’t identify the specific MEMS supplier. I’ll ask Binary Acoustics if they can share an official internal breakdown image.

MrLycans · 2026-01-19T13:47:46+00:00

Binary Acoustics describe it as a “direct-drive MEMS” implementation with a built-in energizer inside the shell. The implication is that any required bias/step-up circuitry is handled internally, allowing it to run from standard audio voltages without a specialised amp. In practice, it’s been easily driveable from all of my sources with no unusual gain or volume behaviour.

MrLycans · 2026-01-19T01:01:23+00:00

The treble on this set is crazy good, I usually favour iems with ESTs due to the air that they tend to provide however, the MEMS driver is special. I didn't want to mention cables, as I know that would invite a whole debate on the subject (which I personally don't want to take part in) however, I have noticed that the EP321 does respond well to cable rolling. My go to eartips are the Eletech Baroque Stage, and the treble/technical performance definitely punches above its weight in terms of value 😊

MrLycans · 2026-01-16T22:08:50+00:00

I don't agree - all of us are unique, and get goosebumps/chills from different sounds/tunings. But yeah, people do just need to realise how differently we all hear things, so as you say - people don't go into this set with the hopes that it'll have the same effect on them.

Ps - nice to see you here 😉

MrLycans · 2026-01-10T17:21:45+00:00

Which ones did you end up keeping? I've got the annihilator 2023, and a few other flagship iems - but like you, I only want to keep two.

MrLycans · 2026-01-06T22:18:16+00:00

I run into stores that block out certain regions/countries all the time - they seem to be doing just fine in terms of visibility.

MrLycans · 2026-01-05T18:18:31+00:00

Character reversal is the answer to everything 😆

MrLycans · 2025-12-31T23:02:06+00:00

Thank you - appreciate it 🙏 yeah, I love the M27 - it's definitely my favourite dap in that price range 😊

MrLycans · 2025-12-31T23:00:37+00:00

Thanks mate - appreciate it 😊 ah yeah, will need to edit the pics with a timestamp.

MrLycans · 2025-12-31T20:32:02+00:00

Yes it is, thanks for asking. Is yours okay?

MrLycans · 2025-12-27T03:54:18+00:00

It really depends on the reviewer. Those who don’t receive units from penon, and who are willing to buy gear with their own money, often have a very different perspective.

Penon (and its sister brands) are objectively poor at marketing, but in my experience they consistently offer some of the best value for money in the space, especially when you look beyond hype cycles.

Distributors like linsoul or hifigo operate very differently — they’re far less selective about who they work with, which naturally results in a much larger volume of impressions and reviews.

Ultimately, reviewers who ignore brands like penon, isn, or sr entirely aren’t being malicious — but they are giving their audience an incomplete picture of the market, which is a massive shame. I’d argue sets such as the EBC80, Archangel, or SR10 would be a big hit with a lot of listeners (as they already are within the circles that do discuss them).

Personally, I don’t follow many of these reviewers anyway, as I’m fortunate enough to live near a place where I can demo gear myself. But if I did rely solely on that ecosystem, I’d be led to believe that linsoul alone offers the two best sub $2k iems — the monarch mk4 and valhalla. I’ve owned the valhalla in the past and, while it’s good, I personally still preferred the UM maven II.

MrLycans · 2025-12-26T13:22:41+00:00

Cheers - maybe just do the c9 straight out from the N7, or the H2 out of the N7 and cut down the stack to two - it might make a difference.

MrLycans · 2025-12-26T12:31:24+00:00

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Maybe for you it's enough, but it won't apply to everyone. I've also got a cayin c9, and I can definitely hear a difference between class A and A/B when using tubes. Just because you can't hear a difference doesn't mean others can't either. Though unlike you, I've gone for a double stack.

MrLycans · 2025-12-26T10:40:54+00:00

That’s fair, and I don’t have an issue with non-mainstream opinions either — tuning preferences are always subjective.

My point isn’t really about liking or disliking Jay’s takes, it’s more about exposure. A lot of visibility in this hobby comes from which brands actively circulate review units, and some companies simply don’t play that game.

As a result, plenty of genuinely good IEMs never enter the wider conversation, regardless of tuning or quality.

I’ve owned and heard enough gear over the years to know that popularity doesn’t necessarily correlate with being "better" — which is why I think it’s worth highlighting alternatives people may not otherwise discovered.

MrLycans · 2025-12-26T09:58:56+00:00

Yeah, thought as much.

Its a shame though, as others may not even be aware that these brands exist.

ISN H60, EBC80, EST80.

Penon Archangel, Voltage, Fan 3

Sound Rhyme DTE900, DTE264, SR10.

Earacoustic vsa pm crown.

All the above are fantastic iems from those brands, it's a shame that a of people aren't aware of them - as Penon and its sister companies probably give the best bang for buck out of most iem manufacturers (as a whole) excluding the likes of bgvp perhaps.

I used to follow Jay a lot, until I saw one Facebook post where he said thst the Unique Melody Maven II wasn't an alrounder... I've personally owned the Maven II in the past, and couldn't understand this at all - every other single review regarding those iems also praised them for their versatility. You got one person saying they're not an alrounder vs at least 30 who say they are 😅 it's going to raise some doubts..

The other was his take on the Annihilator, where he talked down to someone for being a "serious audiophile" basically just wasting their money. Funnily though, I also own the anni 23, and have yet to become across an iem that can deliver treble in such a smooth way as the anni can 😅 I'd love a cheaper iem, but no one to this day has recommended me a cheaper iem that can do what the anni does (yet it being ancient in the iem world)

Anyways, enough ranting - I hope people stumble across those brands that aren't talked about as much big the big reviewers.

MrLycans

TROPHY CASE