The HIFIMAN HE-R9 ranks #159 out of 165 total Over-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: HIFIMAN
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#159 HIFIMAN HE-R9: $79.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Listeners who want a big bass boost get one, with the 60 to 200 Hz range about 8 dB above target and sub-bass extending to 20 Hz with no roll-off. The closed back keeps sound in and outside noise out. At 32 ohms it runs straight from a phone or laptop.
Cons: A preference score of 28 in oratory1990’s measurement reflects a heavily skewed tuning, with bass and low mids swelling over the midrange so voices sound muffled and boomy. A 7.6 dB peak near 8 kHz next to a 4.8 dB dip near 10 kHz makes treble uneven. At 328 g it is heavy for a closed headphone, and the Logitech G Pro X carries a higher rating.
| Released | Feb 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.30 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.05 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (328 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.1 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 | +5.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 127 Hz | -7.4 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 1,761 Hz | +6.8 dB | 0.80 |
| Peak | 448 Hz | +6.6 dB | 1.69 |
| Peak | 57 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.69 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,215 Hz | +3.4 dB | 1.24 |
| Peak | 3,235 Hz | -5.0 dB | 3.16 |
| Peak | 258 Hz | -1.6 dB | 4.22 |
| Peak | 205 Hz | +1.2 dB | 3.57 |
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