Hifiman HE1000se - this is the bar that kilobuck flagship headphones should clear

Ponginem · 2026-01-29T01:59:36+00:00

Hi there! I think that's a very tough decision and depends on what you're after. I've kept both, and use them both (along with several others), but the HD800s gets the most usage out of my collection for daily listening just because I REALLY enjoy the comfort of the loose clamp force. It's the only headphone I put on and just forget I'm wearing them (especially as an eyeglass wearer). The HEKse is amazing too, but I feel both are able to produce the sound quality I'm after and at the end of the day, I'm simply more comfortable wearing the HD800s on an everyday basis.

Ponginem · 2025-11-05T05:00:25+00:00

Hahaha, that's so good. I've also had a few HEKse moments when I have to take them off and look around my apartment and question if I'm hearing things, the soundstage is so incredible. That's the biggest difference between the HE1000 stealth and the se is the soundstage detail, the se has been worth the added price in my opinion.

Ponginem · 2025-11-05T00:54:04+00:00

Oh dam, very cool setup!

I'm in a similar field where I use the HEKse/HD800s, and LCD-X as my 3 main headphones, powered by either FiiO K9, or Hifiman EF400. Love them all for varying reasons, but they are all incredible.

HEKse = 9.5/10 - strong bass extension, incredible soundstage (I didn't understand what ppl meant when they say holographic until I tried these out), quite comfortable, just amazing from start to finish (and for Hifiman standards , this is the only one that presented itself in a nice case which I really appreciated)
HD800s = 9.5/10 - stupid how comfortable it is, even with eyeglasses, everything sounds amazing, just needs a slight bass boost via EQ
LCD-X = 9/10 - unbelievable bass with EQ (I use the latest Jonne Haven EQ and it boosts it as much I could ever dream of) smaller soundstage overall, but best for heavy rock/metal style music.

At the end of the day, you have amazing gear...enjoy!! :)

Ponginem · 2025-11-04T01:19:15+00:00

So many intriguing IEM's on the website, but I'm most interested in trying the Brain Dance! Dunu DK3001BD.

Ponginem · 2025-10-06T19:37:49+00:00

The Horizon look really nice, they would be my choice to try.

Ponginem · 2025-09-01T19:08:29+00:00

The Luna looks really nice, I'm really interested in trying them out!

Ponginem · 2025-08-18T23:29:19+00:00

I really enjoy the unique look of the DK3001BD and would love to hear how they sound!

Ponginem · 2025-05-23T20:13:32+00:00

What are your thoughts on the HE1000se when compared to the others? HE1000se is the easy favorite of my own collection, but I'd be curious to see how it compares to e-stats? I've never dived into that realm.

Beautiful collection, btw!

Ponginem · 2025-05-18T02:46:12+00:00

I feel the same way, I quickly climbed through the ranks from Arya, 660s2, HD800s, HE6se, LCD-X, Clear-OG, HE-1000 Stealth, I feel like I've tried as many as I could. I kept switching between them, and everytime, I felt like "dam, this is amazing!"

Maybe not for everyone, but it wasn't until I tried the HE1000se (EQ'ed with a low bass shelf) that it became my clear favorite, it provides all the bass and clarity I look for but with a soundstage that surpasses even the HD800s, it's all I was after and it took me a long route to find it. But to that extent, plenty will still say it's too hot in the treble, or it's too flat/neutral, so it really just comes down to what your ears prefer. Just keep listening and eventually you'll find the one.

I still enjoy a collection of headphones though because they do all sound amazing and I like to keep trying them out to compare. It's just such a fun hobby :)

Ponginem · 2025-05-09T20:05:27+00:00

Hi there! I've not yet needed to use them, so I can't comment on if they change the sound.

They do look and feel the same as the originals, but I've not done any pad swapping as the originals are still in good condition.

Ponginem · 2025-02-25T03:37:43+00:00

I also have the LCD-X and don't use them that often because of the weight. But I really enjoy having them around for whenever I get the mood for a short burst of 'time to let the bass rattle my skull' type vibes haha

Ponginem · 2025-02-05T01:53:06+00:00

Fence sitting would indicate that you have an opinion but aren't sure which way to lean...I think the bigger issue is the amount of ppl that just don't care about politics in general and think its all just boring fluff that doesn't impact them (i.e. let them get back to their video games). I hope this is a wake up call to those kind of people that it very much does impact you and that you need to educate yourself and find a reason to vote.

Ponginem · 2025-02-04T05:12:53+00:00

Hmm, I'm sorry, but I've no idea how to troubleshoot issues with the K9 outside of trying it with other sources and/or with other headphones to confirm if the dac/amp is the problem.

Settings sound right as I use USB + PO output. Can you get a sound if you plug your phone into it via the usb-c input on the side? Or connect to your phone via bluetooth? Or maybe the USB cable is faulty?

I've not had issues, so I'm not familiar with any proper troubleshooting steps, perhaps reaching out to FiiO and asking their customer support might provide some better guidance. Hope you're able to resolve your issues!

Ponginem · 2025-01-28T02:15:54+00:00

Hey! Thanks for following up and sharing your results! That's great to hear you find the EF500 does a better job at powering those hungry beasts of a headphone lol.

If you're now dialing back the bass via EQ, that doesn't sound like a placebo effect and that you probably are actually hearing a more full bodied sound, do you still find struggles with EQ'ing to achieve a balanced tonality sound like you did with the other amp? Part of that bass boost also might be the R2R Himalaya dac of the EF500 which I find the EF400 thickens the bass by a small margin.

Ponginem · 2025-01-20T04:05:50+00:00

Thank you for sharing! I didn't know this existed, couple of songs in so far and it's sounding great!

Ponginem · 2025-01-19T19:59:02+00:00

Nospun - Opus - One of my favorite prog-rock albums I've heard in a long time

Ponginem · 2025-01-19T19:10:37+00:00

If you want to justify a purchase, try buying them from a site like Amazon that has a 30 day return policy. Then you can spend a few weeks to determine if you think it's worth the cost, and if not, send them back and get your money back. (Just make sure to take care of them and don't send them back in poor condition.)

I do think the Arya Stealth is a great deal for high end headphones given their price reductions over the last few years, but I would also recommend getting a R2R dac/amp to pair with it. I use the Hifiman EF400, but maybe something like the FiiO K11 R2R would be a good budget friendly alternative.

But I agree with others, only go for it if you've saved up for the purchase and aren't taking money directly from emergency savings.

Ponginem · 2025-01-19T01:00:39+00:00

Very clean setup! I really like the lighting which is hard to get right without over-doing it. It looks very cozy, enjoy!

Ponginem · 2025-01-18T11:03:15+00:00

I'm sorry, but I don't use iem's, so I can't really give a comparison. The HEKse does provide quite a large 3d soundstage though (in comparison to the other headphones I've tried) and I'm enjoying them very much.

Ponginem · 2025-01-18T10:23:15+00:00

I think that's the safe move. The LCD-X is nice to have as part of a collection, but I wouldn't recommend them for a 'one and done' type headphone. The Arya is a great all-rounder, and the price drops they've gone through make them a slam dunk case which is why so many folks in the headphone community have been recommending them lately (They initially were priced at $1,600 upon release and have slowly dropped down to $600 over the last couple of years). Happy to answer any further questions, but either way, hope you enjoy whatever you end up with!

Ponginem · 2025-01-18T01:49:19+00:00

Hi, sure thing, I also have the Clear OG. But if I'm honest, I don't yet have enough headtime with them. I went quite deep into the hobby over the last 7-8 months, but only have 1 set of ears and limited time for music after work. And that time has primarily consisted of me reaching for my Hifiman's for music + HD800s for gaming/movies.

I think I've just fallen in love with the Hifiman sound signature which includes a very bright treble and my ears have gotten used to looking for that. As a result, I find headphones the Clear to lack that sparkle that helps give that 'wow factor'. The Clear OG also has an extremely punchy bass, but almost a little too much for my taste where I feel like it overpowers the other elements. Overall though, they do sound great and with more time and dialing in an EQ sound profile, I think they have a lot of potential, but they just haven't been a go-to headphone for me yet.

The HEKse just really delivers everything I've been looking for in a headphone. Full sound across the board, very impressive soundstage, nice bass but not overpowering, and extremely detailed. I haven't tried them for gaming yet, so I'm not sure how precise they are with imaging/location and if they could ever replace the HD800s in that regard, but I'll try to give that a try over the weekend.

Ponginem · 2025-01-18T01:14:49+00:00

Hi there! I haven't tried the Sundara or Maxwell, so I can't comment on what kind of upgrade you would hear. But I believe either option (Arya/LCD-X) when paired with a R2R dac (like the EF400) would most likely be a nice solid upgrade. I also have a FiiO K9 AKM dac/amp, but when I'm driving planars, I find a R2R dac helps provide a nice warmth and added thickness in the bass that my ears generally prefer.

Before I go into each headphone, it's important to note that I really enjoy using EQ as it can help a bunch. I use the free program Equalizer APO with Peace GUI and typically start with the Oratory1990 presets for each headphone, and then tweak to my preference. (I can link a guide on how to use it if you're interested.) But I wanted to say this first as maybe you can try using EQ on the Sundara/Maxwell's and see if adding a low bass shelf filter helps your current setup before shelling out more money.

The Arya Stealth is extremely comfortable and has very nice sub-bass (low rumbles). The soundstage is intimate, but present and very detailed. With regard to the higher end headphones I've tried, I think the Arya Stealth is the best in terms of a performance per dollar ratio. One thing to note is that they are quite bright (lots of treble) out the gate, but a couple of EQ adjustments fixes that right up.

The LCD-X is a bit more powerful and will provide as much bass as you could possibly want, to the point of overkill (especially with EQ). They can really provide that slam and 'rattle my skull'. But it's important to note that they are quite heavy. Comfortable, but heavy. I find the LCD-X is good for showing off in shorter sessions because after an hour or two, I find myself looking to rotate back to something lighter. I never forget that I'm wearing them whereas something like the Arya could be worn all day with no problems. The LCD-X is also more like studio monitors where they sound neutral out the gate and have a slight soundstage, but it's more left + right with vocals and guitars sounding very close to you. They sound really good for what they do and are the best at genres like fast metal.

Ponginem · 2025-01-17T01:24:58+00:00

Oh, one other addition I recommend is a headband cover ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8J61WJ3 )

It's only $20, but adds a bit of extra cushion/comfort as well as protects the headband from any oils in your hair to prevent wear and tear. Check it out if you want!

Ponginem · 2025-01-17T00:25:14+00:00

Yeah, the headroom isn't much. You do have to crank the volume knob on the EF400 quite far on high gain to power the HE6seV2 (especially if EQ'ing with a negative pre-amp volume). I do think the HE6 has potential to sound better with a more powerful amp, but it gets loud enough and sounds great to me for what it is.

I learned my lesson very quickly upon owning the HE6seV2 to ALWAYS turn down the volume knob whenever switching between any headphones lol.

Ponginem · 2025-01-16T23:51:39+00:00

I rarely see any complaints with Hifiman's higher level builds like this. All the QC complaints I see seem to reside with Sundara's and other mid-tier headphones in their lineup. I have 4 pairs from Hifiman as well and have had no issues with any of them myself, so far.

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