HIFIMAN HE600 Planar Magnetic Headphones – Retelling Of A Classic 

HIFIMAN HE600 Planar Magnetic Headphones – Retelling Of A Classic 

HIFIMAN HE600 is a $799 USD pair of over-the-ear planar magnetic headphones, being a re-telling and reinvention of the original HIFIMAN HE6se with a large number of improvements in the comfort and drivers. Today we will review the new HE-600  and also compare them with multiple headphones we have reviewed recently including Fosi Audio i5 (549 USD), Sivga Peng (495 USD) and HarmonicDyne Baroque (559 USD). 

Introduction

HIFIMAN is currently one of the most popular headphone manufacturers, best known for their HIFIMAN Susvara flagship headphones, and Sundara entry-level headphones, having offered exceptional performance both for their priciest and for their most affordable models alike. HIFIMAN headphones are available for purchase on Amazon, Aliexpress as well as most HIFI dedicated shops, having many selling points in each country, and nowadays are known for their stellar build quality and high-end support. I personally recommend purchasing their products from Amazon, as they have usually the lowest prices and the best availability with the lowest waiting time, or using the HIFIMAN shopping page as they have their own shop as well.  

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Product Link

Amazon – https://amzn.to/4sZt4JT

Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4UHGyKP

Build Quality And Design

HIFIMAN HE600 is a completely new headphone if you really take a closer look, but they will continue the tradition of HE6SE. This is a new take using a similar technology to what HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled does, having a much higher sensitivity, delivering a performance that is comparable to much harder to drive headphones and powerful AMPs, but using a smaller AMP. 

HIFIMAN HE6 and He6SE are some of the most popular headphones from the past, having received countless awards, including praise from us ages ago, back when I started reviewing. HE6SE used a lightweight design, but a wide dynamic range and high resolution. At that time it was considered one of the most expensive headphones in the whole world, so HE600 is an interesting one to explore if you’re a fan of high-end headphones. 

Starting from the comfort, HE600 uses a new composite headband that is much lighter than older HIFIMAN headphones. This is a slightly tighter headband, and for my medium head it is a bit tight, as I have to use HE600 at the largest size available. The driver inside of the HE600 is using the new Neo Supernano Diaphragm Gen.2 and relies on Enhanced magnets. This enhanced magnet uses no rare earth elements and it is a permanent magnet with an optimally designed structure that will deliver an experience similar to those using rare earth elements.

Combined with the better magnets we have the Neo Supernano Diaphragm Gen.2 which has a 60% thickness compared to the original, a welcome improvement as lighter diaphragms offer a faster impulse response. HIFIMAN offers a comprehensive graph comparison between HE6 and HE600, and you can notice the almost 20 dB of difference in loudness they each render when the same signal is applied, and the much more natural and cohesive response of HE600, which has less of a drop-off above 10 kHz. 

To improve on your comfort, HIFIMAN also lowered the weight of the HE600, which is now 389 grams instead of the 502 grams weight of the HE6. You will find the HIFIMAN proprietary FocusPad Earpads with memory foam surrounded by pleather and soft velour outer layers to match with your ears. HE600 has 3.5mm connectors at a 10 degrees angle for reduced pressure on the jack connectors. 

Technically, HE600 has an impedance of 28 OHMs, which is excellent, not quite low enough for hissing to be an issue, but it does allow for the current to push through the drivers. We also have a much higher SPL than most HIFIMAN headphones, and at 94 dB, HE600 will still be somewhat hard to drive, but not disastrously so, and we will explore down below how well it matches with multiple sources. 

Subjective Usage

Subjectively, HE-600 is a bit tight, and feels smaller than most of the HIFIMAN Headphones from the previous year. This is similar to Edition XV and all of the new models using the new headband are at the max limit of how much they can extend for me, so it is important to try them before if you have a large head. This headband offers a tighter clamping force and HE600 is rather secured on my head, Because this forces the headphones to often fall into the same position, it would theoretically lead to a more consistent listening experience for most listeners. 

Passive noise isolation is non-existent, it is between 2 dB and 3 dB, and HE600 leaks everything you’re enjoying to the room. Default cables are basic, but work alright, although I usually rely on ddHIFI BC150 for an improved ergonomic. This being said, the long version of those ddHIFI cables can be pushed beyond the max point with HE600, so I would recommend something different for them, like Aune AR3 Balanced Cable. 

Sound Quality

Pairings – To test and drive the HIFIMAN Ananda Unveiled, I have paired it with a large number of sources including FiiO K17, Audioengine HXL, Shanling Onix Beta XI2, Surfans F35 Music Player DAP, iBasso D17 Atheris, Burson Playmate 3, Rose Technics RT-5000, and Luxsin X9

HIFIMAN Made HE600 hard to drive, but not quite as hard to drive as HE6SE which we reviewed in the past. He600 requires both voltage and power and seems to prefer a bit of extra power over having too much voltage. It will change a bit with each source, and the low impedance can be felt, as it gives them a different sound with each source. At 94 dB, it is not the most sensitive of headphones, you will not hear hissing and background noise easily. The more power with less voltage your source can drive, the better the sound will be, similar to how harder to drive planar magnetic headphones behave. I can confirm this with Luxsin X9 as I can adjust the expected impedance, and HE600 sounds better driven with a lower impedance setting, where the voltage delivered is lower and more power is delivered early on. This basically indicates that HE600 will prefer low gain, and it is sensitive to source induced distortion, as it is a revealing pair of headphones. 

Overall Signature – Each one of the new HIFIMAN Headphones has a unique signature, somewhat influenced by the new Unveiled revolution, but as each one of them comes with a unique tuning, HE600 is also different from He6SE, it is much closer to the original HIFIMAN house sound, more mid centric, more vocal, less bright and less aggressive than HE6se, more natural, smoother, relaxed and more musical. Detail and resolution is very similar to He6SE, but HE600 is far less fatiguing and less bright. While not dark, and just a bit warm, He600 is enjoyable with all music styles, without feeling bound to musical critique, it is open, pleasing, and emphasizes both male and female voices equally. 

Bass – Starting from the bottom, HE600 can reach a depth of about 20 Hz, but it starts having power, kick and strength at around 50 Hz, where the peaking range in the lows is present for them, with a hold range up to 80 Hz, above which it rolls off in presence and power completely until about 200 Hz. This creates an anti veil type of sound that sounds quite open, warm and has punch, kick without sounding one bit dark or heavy, or even thick. In fact, the signature is unique, kept jumpy and bumpy without becoming brooding or bloomy. 

Midrange – HE600 is a vocal pair of headphones, it creates pure magic, unadulterated emotion and a direct connection between you and the song. This includes a sweet, fluid voicing, expressive dynamics, and an emphasis on the lower midrange, different from the HIFIMAN brighter tuning for other headphones, as HE600 draws closer to the Stealth style, warmer, darker, more personal, more intimate. Everything is lush and pleasing, as HE 600 sounds full and gives music body, with a bit of extra bloom. 

Treble – Top end is still extended, airy and crisp, but HE600 is not a bright headphone, it is smoother and silkier sounding than most of the other HIFIMAN models, and most certainly much smoother and more relaxed, laid-back sounding than HE6SE which was a rather analytical, sharp and bright pair of headphones. 

Dynamics And Textures – HIFIMAN gave He600 a wide dynamic range, a colorful, vivid and realistic sound, but paired with a shallower bottom end, it paints a rather vocal image of each song. Textures are relaxed, smooth and silky, creating a listening experience that is enjoyable and easygoing, perfect for most music styles if you want to chill and enjoy some music. 

Loudness Saturation Gradient – HE600 gets heavier, more dynamic, more detailed and more crisp the louder you go. It does not necessarily prefer a loud listening volume, as it can sound very sweet and enjoyable even at medium volumes, but it most certainly can handle extreme volumes well. You can push over 120 dB at the ear level with no audible distortion, but it does reveal song and recorded distortion, especially in the bass, so if your song has a dirty bass, you will hear it. In fact, at all volumes, it makes an excellent monitoring and work mixing / mastering pair of headphones, it reveals all micro details in the midrange really easily, helping with fine tuning for vocals and instruments as well. 

Soundstage – Although most HIFIMAN Headphones are known for their huge soundstage size, HE600 is an intimate sounding pair of headphones, it brings the lead voices personal up and close with you, it gives them emotion and keeps everything playing in close reach to the listener. It is a nice overall experience, very engaging despite being laid back and relaxing.  

Comparisons 

HIFIMAN HE600 vs Fosi Audio i5 (799 USD vs 549 USD) – Fosi i5 is heavier, but looser on my head. HE600 is a bit harder to drive, but also less sensitive to source quality, so it can sound better with a more affordable source. Sonically, they are somewhat similar in the sense that both are laid-back and relaxed, smoother and silkier sounding, but HE600 is vocal and mic centric, while i5 is much darker, warmer, with more bass and sub bass quantity, less treble, and this gives he600 the opportunity to have a much better resolution and clarity. Overall, i5 is a basshead smooth sounding headphone and delivers a looser fit, while HE600 is a more detailed, crisp, more dynamic listening experience. 

HIFIMAN HE600 vs Sivga Peng (799 USD vs 495 USD) – Sivga Peng is closed-back and will offer both isolation, and less leakage. The overall comfort is comparable, peng has smaller earcups, which touch your ears slightly, while HE600 is much tighter and clamps your head much more. Both are easier to drive than expected, but Peng can be a bit harder to drive and control properly than HE600. Sonically, peng is natural, smooth and relaxed, even slightly soft. While he600 is similar in theory, he600 is engaging and not soft, it has a harder sound, and it is far more intimate, while peng sounds wider, deeper and more holographic. Peng can even become quite lively if taken loud, becoming more vivid above 100 dB, while he600 has a more stable sound regardless of the volume. Both are great choices for a wide selection of music, one closed back and sounding wide, the other open back but sounding personal and vocal. 

HIFIMAN HE600 vs HarmonicDyne Baroque (799 USD vs 559 USD) – Baroque has long been a favorite of mine, and overall it has similarities compared to he600, especially in the sound, as in the comfort Baroque is a larger headphone, with a looser fit and can work with larger heads. Baroque is harder to drive and to control properly, and it leaks about as much, isolating just as little as he600. Sonically, HE600 is more vocal, more forward and more personal, while baroque sounds warmer, darker, smoother, but also a bit more distorted loud, with the bass in particular having a higher distortion. He600 is more detailed and reveals more in music, but both are versatile if you want a more laid-back presentation. Baroque can be much brighter, sharper and more open sounding, resembling a budget Susvara Unveiled in tuning, while HE600 is more revealing, but also a far more relaxed and silkier sounding pair of headphones. 

Value and Conclusion

Considering the price point of 799 USD, HE600 has an excellent value considering its technical performance, overall resolution and sonic signature. While HIFIMAN made them reliable and all new headphones they make are super well made, you should keep in mind that it is not a large headphone at the headband side, it is at max for my head, so if you have a very large head, it might be a tight fit. 

At the end of the day, if you’re looking for an extremely detailed, but silky sounding pair of headphones, with a mid centric, vocal tuning, and an intimate soundstage that puts your right into the song, for the ultimate revealer without fatigue pair, HIFIMAN HE600 is an excellent choice and will bring you countless hours of fun. 

PROs

• Lightweight and very well made 
• Modern design and easy to replace cables 
• Personal and intimate signature with a mid centric tuning 
• Relaxed and laid-back overall texture, makes all music easygoing 
• Perfect especially for male voices, also great for mixing and mastering 
• Easier to drive than HE6SE and most planar headphones from the company 
• Excellent value, unmatched performance 

Cons

• Quite tight on my head even at max size 
• Still not easy to drive 

Product Link

Amazon – https://amzn.to/4sZt4JT

Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4UHGyKP

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Full Playlist used for this review

We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature.  I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5

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