The HiFiMan HE600 is the latest evolution of the HE series headphones from the well-known Chinese company founded in 2007 by Dr. Fang Bian, which has gained great popularity with its line of advanced planar magnetic headphones. These have won numerous awards in recent years and are considered among the best in their respective price ranges. In addition to headphones, HiFiMan also produces other high-end audio electronics: DACs, headphone amplifiers, and portable music players.
The HE headphone line began in 2009 with the HE-5, a revolutionary headphone for its time that introduced planar magnetic technology into the hi-end hi-fi headphone market, which at the time was completely dominated by dynamic models from major companies in the sector.
Shortly after, the HE-6, released between 2010 and 2011, made waves throughout the audiophile community and became one of the major successes that helped make the HiFiMan brand famous worldwide. This was despite being sold at a price (nearly €1300) well above the average for high-end headphones of that period. Moreover, the HE-6 quickly became famous not only for its extraordinary sound quality but also for how difficult it was to drive: with an efficiency of just 83 dB per watt, it required an extremely powerful and expensive headphone amplifier to perform at its best.
Over time, the HE headphone line expanded in many directions, further into the high-end market with exceptional headphones like the HE-1000 released in 2015—the first to feature the characteristic large egg-shaped earcups and so-called “stealth magnets” with extremely low distortion—but also toward more affordable price segments. In particular, with the Sundara, released in 2017, HiFiMan reached a wider audience thanks to the low price and extraordinary performance of this headphone, gaining great popularity among both enthusiasts and professionals.
We had the opportunity to try the very latest headphone in the HE series: the HE600.
The HE600 is described by HiFiMan as a renewed and improved version of the HE6. According to HiFiMan, the HE600 manages to retain the resolution, detail, and dynamics that made the HE6 popular, while at the same time being lighter and more sensitive, therefore less tiring to wear and easier to drive. Again according to HiFiMan, the sound signature of the HE600 is almost identical to that of a properly driven HE6.
Inside the HE600 we find cutting-edge planar magnetic technology. Great care has also been taken to reduce weight and size. The diaphragm used, called second-generation “Neo Supernano,” is just over half as thick as that used in previous generations of headphones, and the newly designed magnets guarantee high performance, lower weight, and greater sensitivity. The new perforated ergonomic headband, also found in the Ananda Unveiled, promises increased comfort and allows for a further slight reduction in weight.
Technical specifications:
- Frequency response: 8Hz – 65KHz
- Impedance: 28 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 94dB
- Weight: 389g
The HE600 is easily available via Amazon at a price of around €800.
The HE600 arrives in a standard cardboard box, identical in design to most HiFiMan headphones, protected by a foam damping material that can also be used as a stand for the headphones if desired. The only accessory included is a relatively short unbalanced cable with a mini-jack termination, along with an adapter for connection to a 6.35 mm headphone output.
Out of the box, the HE600 surprises with its relatively small size and low weight. Aesthetically, it closely resembles a more luxurious and robust version of the well-known Sundara. Once worn, the difference in weight compared to planar headphones weighing half a kilo or more is immediately noticeable. However, the new ergonomic headband combined with the HE600 earcups does not seem to be a particularly successful choice. In our case (about 1.80 meters tall), maximum comfort is achieved by extending the headband to its maximum length, and even then the pressure on the ears remains medium to high.
Thanks to the moderate weight and soft ear pads, we found the overall comfort of the headphones to be more than good. However, for particularly tall people, those with very large heads, or those with thick hair, the HE600 may not fit at all, or at least be quite uncomfortable. Not a trivial issue! We did, however, allow listening tests to people with smaller heads, who confirmed that the fit in those cases does not present problems.
Let’s now move on to the listening tests: we had the opportunity to test the HE600 for weeks, paired with HiFiMan DAC/headphone amplifiers such as the EF400, EF500, and EF600, as well as the Fosi Audio ZH3 and ZD3, and compare it with other HiFiMan planar headphones and the Fosi Audio i5.
Having listened to numerous HiFiMan headphones in the past, the first thing we noticed when listening to music with the HE600 is its tonal accuracy: the sound appears well balanced, never harsh even with less-than-perfect recordings, and with high frequencies that are always well controlled and never excessively sharp.
The characteristic HiFiMan sound, which tends toward brightness, with rather pronounced upper mids and slightly recessed vocals, is less evident here, and the headphones are, in our opinion, very pleasant to listen to.
The sound is quite airy, and the bass is agile and well articulated, capable of reaching truly surprising levels of depth, with good detail and the right “tightness.”
For these reasons, we see a good pairing with neutral or slightly warm-sounding DAC/headphone amplifiers, such as the HiFiMan EF400 and EF600. The soundstage is stable and believable, though not as wide as that of other HiFiMan headphones. However, in the style of other HE series headphones, the not-so-wide soundstage is compensated by a raw realism and truly fantastic detail retrieval, along with proximity and detail in vocals that really shine in tracks with prominent singing.
The level of detail is such that in certain recordings it is possible to perceive something previously unheard, such as the echo in a studio recording by Branduardi—something that rarely happens with headphones that are not extremely expensive.
The HE600 makes listening interesting with virtually any genre: whether following the warm voice of Johnny Cash accompanied by gritty guitars, capturing the vividness in John Lennon’s voice, or testing your ears with hard rock or fast, effect-rich electronic music.
The sensitivity of the headphones is good, in line with many other modern planar magnetics—an important detail considering the previous model. Any modern desktop headphone amplifier should be able to drive them without difficulty.
Let’s make a brief comparison with other HiFiMan headphones we own.
HE6SE v2
HiFiMan presents the HE600 as an upgrade to its historic HE6, capable of replicating its sonic characteristics without its drawbacks, such as extreme difficulty in driving and considerable weight. We were able to compare the HE600 with the HE6SE v2, the latest version released a few years ago, which features changes in physical characteristics (headband and accessories) but not in the drivers used.
Honestly, in our opinion, it is difficult to consider the HE600 similar to the HE6SE v2, both aesthetically and in sound reproduction. The HE6SE v2 is a large, solid, and heavy headphone made unique by its particular drivers (double-sided magnets with a gold-plated diaphragm). The HE600, on the other hand, is relatively small and light (for a planar magnetic), using an ultra-thin diaphragm and new magnets, making it much more sensitive and easier to drive.
The HE6SE v2 requires a high-end, extremely powerful headphone amplifier to perform at its best, or it can be connected directly to the outputs of a speaker amplifier (a solution quite popular among experienced audiophiles). The HE600 sounds more balanced compared to the HE6SE v2, which is slightly brighter.
On the other hand, when properly driven, the HE6SE v2 is capable of greater dynamics, detail, a larger soundstage, and a clean, rock-solid bass, which can be further enhanced with some equalization if it feels too recessed. The HE6SE v2 can also be further customized by removing the grilles, changing the headband and pads, and performing numerous other mods described online.
All these characteristics have increased its reputation among audiophiles over the years. However, unlike the HE600, which is much more user-friendly, the HE6SE v2 remains quite difficult to fully exploit, and for this reason we recommend it only to more experienced users and tinkerers. For further details on this headphone, we refer you to our review.
Arya Organic
The Arya Organic, currently sold at a similar price to the HE600 (just under €800), is a headphone with very different characteristics. Equipped with large egg-shaped earcups that almost completely cover the sides of the head, it features a particularly detailed and “airy” sound, capable of recreating a much wider virtual soundstage than the HE600. However, its rather particular sound signature can sometimes make it sound a bit harsher in the treble, especially with less-than-ideal recordings.
Overall, we find the HE600 more neutral and balanced. On the other hand, the Organic is significantly more comfortable, despite its greater weight, and is capable of delivering a truly “immersive” sound.
Sundara
The Sundara, while very good, cannot compete with the HE600 in terms of detail and “fullness” of sound. Moreover, its frequency response in the lowest frequencies, below 50Hz, is limited. On the other hand, it also delivers a very neutral and well-balanced sound.
The Sundara’s headband, the older ergonomic HiFiMan design for round earcup headphones, is much more comfortable and adapts perfectly to any head size. In our opinion, it would have been a good idea to use it on the HE600 as well.
Considering its current price of just €190, the Sundara remains an absolutely exceptional headphone in terms of value for money even years after its release—but we are talking about devices that belong to completely different leagues.
Conclusion
The HE600 is a headphone we liked very much: well-balanced, dynamic, with a lot of detail and a raw vividness that provides great satisfaction. It is lightweight, easy to drive, and enjoyable to listen to. We did have some concerns regarding comfort for taller users, probably due to the new ergonomic headband, but considering its price and cutting-edge sound performance, we can only highly recommend it to anyone looking for a planar magnetic headphone in this price range.
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