Review: Hifiman He560 V1 – Plot Twist

The out-of-production first revision of the HE560 heralded a new sound for HiFiMan however lacked the refinement of later fashions.

language planar specialist HiFiMan can rightfully be known as some of the present leaders of the high-end headphone marketplace. The Susvara are well known as some of the best possible pairs of headphones on this planet, whilst their funds merchandise, together with the Sundara, the HE-400i, and the Deva, are one of the hottest mid-fi merchandise in the marketplace.

Nowadays, HiFiMan has completed some extent of steadiness. However at one time, HiFiMan used to be a new pressure in the marketplace, a rogue competitor, production planar-dynamic headphones that had been utterly other from anything else any individual had ever observed.

Those early headphones continuously sounded slightly unrefined however tough and detailed nevertheless. The HE6, whilst having some treble problems, set a new usual for bass efficiency and macrodynamics.

Backside Line

Of HiFiMan’s strong of mid-fi headphones, the HE560 are one of the most flexible however the least particular. This actual rendition of the vintage HiFiMan tuning is really easy to get along side, suiting plenty of genres and musical types. Technically, the HE560 constitute a transition level between two sonic visions. They lack the facility and dynamism of previous fashions, favoring a way of spaciousness and grandiosity as a substitute. In go back for the ones sacrifices, you get a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none pair of headphones with nice (if fairly comfortable) timbre. They might very simply be your day by day drivers – equipped you’re prepared to stick attached to a formidable amplifier, after all.

What We Like

• Superb symbol separation
• Even-keeled, ethereal and subtle sound signature
• Just right instrumental timbre, particularly for a planar
• Mild and relaxed
• Inexpensively bought within the used marketplace

What We Do not Like

• Loss of dynamic engagement and affect
• Brilliant treble that may be hashy
• Impractically tough to force

At a undeniable level, despite the fact that, HiFiMan prioritized a clean, balanced, ethereal sound over the uncooked energy in their previous efforts. The HE560 V1 are some of the first pairs of HiFiMan headphones to suit into this new class of HiFiMan product.

Some seen the new sound as an simple certain: larger refinement and extra obviously audible micro-detail? Sure, please! Others weren’t as satisfied, mentioning a loss of dynamic pleasure because the downfall of the new HE560.

The marketplace has additionally made up our minds at the costs of those outdated HiFiMan fashions. The HE560, as soon as status proud at USD$899, have now fallen to round USD$200, whilst the HE-6 have shot up in price to close USD$2,000 ranges.

However most likely used dealers overcorrected in reducing the cost of the HE560, and those headphones at the moment are some of the biggest price propositions within the headphone global.

Technical Specs

Design

The HE560 V1 additionally signaled a new path in headphone styling for HiFiMan. Till the discharge of the HE560, their headphones most commonly used a headscarf that consisted of a unmarried arc, a plastic construct (with the notable exception of the HE5), and a heavy double-sided magnet construction for his or her drivers.

The HE560 V1 presented a metamorphosis with a new suspension scarf, wooden veneer earcups, and a lighter single-sided magnet construction. Consequently, this is without doubt one of the maximum relaxed pairs of headphones HiFiMan has ever produced.

HiFiMan’s early screw-on coaxial connectors are attention-grabbing, to mention the least.

They enable for an overly protected connection, however getting them at the headphone is sort of inconceivable with out twisting the cable. I will surely see why HiFiMan later switched to three.5mm connectors.

Construct

The construct high quality of the HE560 isn’t as terrible as some HiFiMan merchandise I’ve skilled, however it’s no longer excellent.

The HE560 V1 nonetheless shipped with the bleak authentic HiFiMan plastic grill, which many of us switch out for one thing extra palatable. Thankfully, taking away or exchanging the plastic grill doesn’t appear to switch the sound of the HE560, however it nonetheless appears lovely unhealthy and flexes so much in the event you simply contact it.

The plastic rings across the grill additionally appear slightly unfastened and will spin round or shift in position.

However, the wooden veneer appears strangely great, particularly when compared with different picket headphones just like the lately reviewed Sivga Luan. There may be visual wooden grain, which is sweet, and the wooden well catches the sunshine.

Convenience

The HE560 carry out rather effectively on the subject of convenience. The now discontinued suspension-style scarf, with its relaxed and huge strap and reasonably versatile arch, applies simply the correct amount of clamp pressure.

The headscarf integrated with the HE560 is the most productive HiFiMan has ever made.

The pads also are relatively just right, with comfortable velvet in opposition to the face and pleather for the edges. The sunshine weight of the magnet construction additionally does wonders for the relaxation of those headphones.

HE560 V1 Sound

As a former proprietor of the unique HiFiMan Sundara, the sound signature of the HE560 V1 used to be in an instant acquainted to me: the laid-back 1-2kHz house, the fairly spiky treble, the flat FR within the bass, the relative loss of dynamic distinction, and the total ethereal, laid-back really feel are all there.

Those headphones make a fairly other influence, with an general hotter sound, much less treble, and a extra “customary” presentation.

I’m no longer going to agree with my aural reminiscence to the level of constructing comparative judgments at the respective technical skill of those headphones. Nonetheless, the HE560 V1 are reasonably technically competent – with some caveats.

Technicalities

At their best possible, planar-magnetic drivers permit headphones to say one of the advantages of extra conventional dynamic drivers and unique electrostatic era.

Early HiFiMan headphones had been recognized for his or her blistering pace and punishing dynamic vary, however most likely no longer such a lot for tonal refinement or solution (even if some had been very resolving). The HE560 represented a flip towards prioritizing solution.

And certainly, impressions from the time of unlock praised the HE560 solution and staging. I will surely listen why: for a couple of headphones that lately prices round USD$200, those are very resolving.

Relative to the mid-fi darling Sennheiser HD600, I don’t listen the HE560 as extra resolving, precisely – if anything else, the entire “grit” of a recording comes via higher with the HD600. On the other hand, the HE560 are sooner and cleaner-sounding, with a “blacker background,” much less grain during the mid-band, and a way of smoothness.

The higher driving force pace additionally supplies awesome symbol separation – you’ll be able to extra simply inform other instrumental strains aside.

That sense of smoothness generally is a downside, despite the fact that, whilst you imagine dynamic skill and determination. Similar to their successor, the Sundara, the HE560 are very well mannered – too well mannered, in some instances. They’ve a comfortable, yielding sound this is very delightful however missing in realism.

Happily, getting the considered necessary energy is more straightforward now than ever prior to, and a Schiit Magni, JDS Atom, or some other budget-friendly headphone amplifiers gets the task carried out. However that is under no circumstances a couple of headphones supposed for on-the-go use.

Bass

Planar-magnetic headphones are recognized for “planar bass” – a flat and tight bass reaction that reaches the entire manner all the way down to subsonics and not using a noticeable lower in quantity. That is the case with the HE560, however they’re no longer bassy headphones. Whilst well-extended, they’ve a slightly light-weight bass reaction.

Whilst dynamic headphones at this value level most often characteristic a mid-bass hump and roll-off under that, the HE560 boast a fully flat bass reaction into infrasonics.

On the other hand, when taking note of those headphones, one is reminded why one can’t at all times agree with graphs, as qualitatively, the HE560 don’t produce an overly viscerally tough bass reaction.

Subbass is audibly provide however susceptible in comparison to the remainder of the frequency reaction. In different phrases, the guidelines continues to be there however isn’t strongly represented throughout the combine and loses maximum of its hitting energy.

More moderen HiFiMan fashions fortify slightly at the HE560s’ bass reaction, with a extra attractive and dynamic sound profile.

The bass reaction demonstrates just right extension however lacks realism, dynamism, and tightness. HiFiMan makes numerous headphones with nice bass, however the HE560 bass reaction may use growth.

Midrange

On the subject of midrange, the HE560 are unmistakably HiFiMan. They’re flat from infrasonics to about 1 kHz.

Above that, there’s a slight dip focused at round 2 kHz. The results of this dip, mixed with the flat decrease midrange, is an general cool, laidback sound. The two kHz dip additionally introduces a way of house into the sound, pushing vocals additional again within the combine.

Then, within the higher midrange, there’s an emphasis round 4 kHz. A minimum of, on paper – however in my enjoy, those headphones aren’t specifically shouty on this area. Moderately, this spice up is helping the headphones take care of a way of presence whilst sounding at ease and laid-back.

I’m no longer positive the way it works, however the general result’s that the midrange tuning of the HE560 V1 moves me as relatively impartial, even supposing there’s very demonstrably an higher midrange emphasis.

General, I believe the HE560 does a greater task of replicating instrumental timbre than maximum different HiFiMan headphones – even together with some considerably dearer pairs, just like the HE6SE or Arya.

On the other hand, it does that on the expense of solution. Make no mistake – the ones different headphones are a lot better (and dearer) than the HE560, which merely lack some element. Nevertheless, for a used value of round USD$200, the HE560 ship very good midrange efficiency.

Treble

HiFiMan merchandise have no longer at all times delivered my favourite treble – usually, their headphones have a tendency to skew to the intense aspect, with treble that may appear overly emphasised or piercing.

The HE560 V1 are at the tamer aspect of HiFiMan merchandise, however they’re nonetheless shiny, with a pronounced height across the 10 kHz mark.

It’s uncommon for the treble to be painfully shiny with those headphones – those that like to listen to a way of element will most probably benefit from the airiness of those headphones. Against this, those that favor darker headphones will most probably need to steer clear of HiFiMan merchandise.

Referring to treble solution, the HE560 endure fairly from the type of hashiness and ringing discovered in lots of mid-fi planar magnetic merchandise. This leads to treble that, for lack of a higher phrase, feels “highly spiced” in some way that fairly obscures solution and extension.

That is essentially an issue on the 10 kHz height discussed above. It may motive cymbals and sibilant consonants to sound synthetic and steely. The impact is unsightly, however it’s no longer too exaggerated.

The treble of the HE560 wishes growth, however it’s general serviceable and doesn’t damage the listening enjoy.

The place to Purchase

The HE560 V1 at the moment are discontinued, however they may be able to be discovered used for your used headphone categorized list of selection. I were given my pair at the AVExchange subreddit.

Conclusion

Of HiFiMan’s strong of mid-fi headphones, the HE560 are one of the most flexible however the least particular.

As with every HiFiMan headphones, their frequency reaction is a variation on a theme. However this actual rendition of the vintage HiFiMan tuning is really easy to get along side, suiting plenty of genres and musical types.

Technically, the HE560 constitute a transition level between two sonic visions. They lack the facility and dynamism of previous fashions, favoring a way of spaciousness and grandiosity as a substitute.

In go back for the ones sacrifices, you get a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none pair of headphones with nice (if fairly comfortable) timbre. They might very simply be your day by day drivers – equipped you’re prepared to stick attached to a formidable amplifier, after all.

On the subject of genres, those are an ideal fit with vaporwave, ambient, and digital song, however they may be able to take care of maximum genres – even if I wouldn’t counsel them for hip-hop enthusiasts.

In the end, the HE560s’ maximum direct festival is the Sundara – each are very technically succesful for his or her value. The Sundara are more straightforward to force, whilst the HE560 will have fairly cleaner imaging.

The HE560 V1 are a well-designed pair of headphones from HiFiMan, and I solidly counsel them for house table use, equipped you prioritize airiness and staging over visceral engagement. As for me, I’ll persist with my HD600s.