HIFIMAN HE6 vs HIFIMAN HE1000se

Short answer: the HIFIMAN HE6. It ranks #42 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $1,899. The HIFIMAN HE1000se ranks #71, rated 4.0/5, at $1,699, $200 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.

The case for the HIFIMAN HE6: A preference score of 85 and a smooth deviation of 2.2 dB around the target show a well-controlled response, with low mids within 0.5 dB of target for natural male vocals and guitars. The tradeoff: Sub-bass falls about 5 dB short under 60 Hz and the bass region is nearly 2 dB light, so kick drums and bass synths lack weight.

What the HIFIMAN HE1000se does well: In oratory1990’s measurement the planar drivers land close to the Harman target, with a preference score of 81 and bass and midrange within about 2 dB of target. The catch: A 9 dB dip near 9.5 kHz sits right beside an 11 dB peak near 11.9 kHz, so cymbals and sibilants can sound uneven and sparkly rather than smooth.

Buy the HIFIMAN HE6. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $200 saving on the HIFIMAN HE1000se is not enough to make up the difference.

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

Specifications Side By Side

Related Headphone Comparisons

How HIFIMAN HE6 compares with other leading options:

• Sennheiser HD 800 S vs HIFIMAN HE6
• AKG K812 vs HIFIMAN HE6
• HIFIMAN HE6 vs Warwick Acoustics Bravura
• HIFIMAN HE6 vs Aune AR9000
• Sennheiser HD 800 S vs HIFIMAN HE1000se

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The Two Headphones In Full

HIFIMAN HE6: $1,899.00 Amazon eBay

Pros: A preference score of 85 and a smooth deviation of 2.2 dB around the target show a well-controlled response, with low mids within 0.5 dB of target for natural male vocals and guitars. Presence and air sit about 1.5 dB above target, adding some openness. Its tilt is almost perfectly neutral at 0.14.

Cons: Sub-bass falls about 5 dB short under 60 Hz and the bass region is nearly 2 dB light, so kick drums and bass synths lack weight. Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is around 3.5 dB low, with a 6 dB dip near 9.8 kHz and a 6 dB peak near 11.9 kHz. At 50 ohms and 83.5 dB sensitivity it is hard to drive and needs a powerful dedicated headphone amp, and the open back leaks sound. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.

Full HIFIMAN HE6 review and specifications →

Released	2010 (16 years ago)
Back	Open
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	2.20 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Planar magnetic
Form Factor	Over-ear
Frequency Response	8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	85 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	50 ohms
Sensitivity	83.5 dB
Sub-bass Extension	Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.8 dB at 30 Hz)
Tonal Tilt	+0.14 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -4.3 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	+4.3 dB	0.70
Peak	2,082 Hz	+6.7 dB	1.71
Peak	1,368 Hz	-2.7 dB	0.46
Peak	4,783 Hz	-5.9 dB	2.45
Peak	6,698 Hz	+4.7 dB	1.96
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-3.4 dB	0.70
Peak	185 Hz	-0.9 dB	0.85
Peak	698 Hz	+0.8 dB	0.87
Peak	1,027 Hz	-1.0 dB	2.16
Peak	71 Hz	-0.4 dB	1.83

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the HIFIMAN HE6 (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • HIFIMAN HE6 vs AKG K812
  • HIFIMAN HE6 vs Warwick Acoustics Bravura
  • HIFIMAN HE6 vs Sennheiser HD 800 S
  • HIFIMAN HE6 vs Aune AR9000

HIFIMAN HE1000se: $1,699.00 Amazon eBay

Pros: In oratory1990’s measurement the planar drivers land close to the Harman target, with a preference score of 81 and bass and midrange within about 2 dB of target. That keeps vocals and instruments natural, and the bass from 60 to 200 Hz is essentially on target, so kick and bass guitar have the right weight. At 35 ohms and 96 dB sensitivity it is easier to drive than many flagship planars, though it still benefits from a proper headphone amp. At 440 g it is moderately light for a planar.

Cons: A 9 dB dip near 9.5 kHz sits right beside an 11 dB peak near 11.9 kHz, so cymbals and sibilants can sound uneven and sparkly rather than smooth. The top octave runs about 6 dB hot and the 3 to 6 kHz presence region about 3.6 dB above target, which can sound edgy on bright recordings. Sub-bass is about 3.6 dB light under 60 Hz, and the open back leaks sound and offers no isolation.

Full HIFIMAN HE1000se review and specifications →

Back	Open
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	2.31 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Planar magnetic
Form Factor	Over-ear
Frequency Response	8Hz - 65kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	81 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	35 ohms
Sensitivity	96 dB
Sub-bass Extension	Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.4 dB at 30 Hz)
Tonal Tilt	+0.29 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)
Weight	1 lbs (440 g)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -6.6 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	+8.5 dB	0.70
Peak	1,847 Hz	+6.2 dB	1.59
Peak	58 Hz	-4.7 dB	0.49
Peak	2,978 Hz	-4.6 dB	0.69
Peak	2,077 Hz	+2.3 dB	2.21
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-5.8 dB	0.70
Peak	4,160 Hz	+1.4 dB	5.48
Peak	692 Hz	+1.2 dB	5.75
Peak	294 Hz	-0.3 dB	2.04
Peak	3,110 Hz	-0.7 dB	4.39

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the HIFIMAN HE1000se (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • HIFIMAN HE1000se vs Aune AR9000
  • HIFIMAN HE1000se vs Sennheiser HD 800 S