HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth vs HIFIMAN HE6se V2

Short answer: the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth. It ranks #30 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $949. The HIFIMAN HE6se V2 ranks #48, rated 4.1/5, at $792.24, $156.76 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.

Why pick the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth: Planar magnetic drivers deliver a preference score of 87 with bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 1 dB above target and sub-bass only about 2 dB light, so low end has solid weight and extension. The tradeoff: The treble is uneven, with an 8 dB dip near 9.4 kHz followed by a 7 dB peak near 11.9 kHz and air above 10 kHz about 5 dB over target.

Why pick the HIFIMAN HE6se V2: A preference score of 84 with a deviation of only 2.19 dB shows a smooth, well-controlled response, and low mids sit within 2 dB of target. The tradeoff: Sub-bass is roughly 4 dB under target below 60 Hz, so the lowest rumble is missing.

Buy the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $156.76 saving on the HIFIMAN HE6se V2 is not enough to make up the difference.

Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.

Specifications Side By Side

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• Focal Hadenys vs HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth
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Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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The Two Headphones In Full

HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth: $949.00 Amazon eBay

Pros: Planar magnetic drivers deliver a preference score of 87 with bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 1 dB above target and sub-bass only about 2 dB light, so low end has solid weight and extension. A 32 ohm impedance is easy to drive, although the 93 dB sensitivity still rewards a capable amp. Its rating matches the Sennheiser HD 800 S at a lower price.

Cons: The treble is uneven, with an 8 dB dip near 9.4 kHz followed by a 7 dB peak near 11.9 kHz and air above 10 kHz about 5 dB over target. That gives a sparkly, somewhat bright top end that can sound splashy or sibilant on certain recordings. At 458 g it is heavy for long sessions, and the open back leaks sound.

Full HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth review and specifications →

Back	Open
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	2.10 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Planar magnetic
Form Factor	Over-ear
Frequency Response	8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	87 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	32 ohms
Sensitivity	93 dB
Sub-bass Extension	Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.0 dB at 30 Hz)
Tonal Tilt	+0.04 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)
Weight	1 lbs (458 g)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -5.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	+5.7 dB	0.70
Peak	1,887 Hz	+5.8 dB	2.36
Peak	74 Hz	-2.9 dB	0.36
Peak	2,903 Hz	-4.1 dB	3.38
Peak	5,261 Hz	-2.4 dB	4.29
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-5.5 dB	0.70
Peak	994 Hz	-1.1 dB	2.91
Peak	646 Hz	+0.7 dB	2.43
Peak	244 Hz	-0.4 dB	1.71
Peak	135 Hz	+0.3 dB	1.72

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth vs Focal Hadenys
  • HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth vs HEDD Audio D1
  • HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth vs Audeze LCD-XC
  • HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth vs Dan Clark Audio Noire X

HIFIMAN HE6se V2: $792.24 Amazon eBay

Pros: A preference score of 84 with a deviation of only 2.19 dB shows a smooth, well-controlled response, and low mids sit within 2 dB of target. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz is within 1 dB of target, so bass notes keep their body. It costs noticeably less than the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth, though that model carries a higher rating.

Cons: Sub-bass is roughly 4 dB under target below 60 Hz, so the lowest rumble is missing. Presence is about 2.5 dB hot with a 3.7 dB peak near 3.75 kHz, and a 5 dB dip near 9.6 kHz softens cymbals. At 83.5 dB sensitivity it needs a dedicated headphone amp, and the open back leaks sound. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.

Full HIFIMAN HE6se V2 review and specifications →

Back	Open
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	2.19 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Planar magnetic
Form Factor	Over-ear
Frequency Response	8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	84 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	50 ohms
Sensitivity	83.5 dB
Sub-bass Extension	Falls 6 dB below target at 32 Hz (-6.1 dB at 30 Hz)
Tonal Tilt	+0.18 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)
Weight	1 lbs (470 g)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -5.0 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	+5.2 dB	0.70
Peak	340 Hz	-1.5 dB	0.18
Peak	1,902 Hz	+6.8 dB	1.60
Peak	3,470 Hz	-3.7 dB	1.05
Peak	9,114 Hz	+3.4 dB	2.07
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-3.3 dB	0.70
Peak	970 Hz	-1.0 dB	4.33
Peak	62 Hz	-0.4 dB	1.81
Peak	119 Hz	+0.3 dB	1.64
Peak	1,386 Hz	+0.6 dB	3.74

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the HIFIMAN HE6se V2 (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • HIFIMAN HE6se V2 vs Focal Hadenys
  • HIFIMAN HE6se V2 vs HEDD Audio D1
  • HIFIMAN HE6se V2 vs HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La