HiFiMAN HE-500 Planar Magnetic Headphones (Playback 47)

Delivering the Full 'Wish List'

On the Decemberists’ “The Crane Wife 3” from The Crane Wife [Capitol] the HE-500s put in a virtuoso performance. How ‘bout delivering a stunningly natural top to bottom balance along with the best instrumental separation I’ve ever heard on this track (a track that often sounds muddled)? Then add bass power and definition that makes the track come alive. And if that’s not enough, then notice the tonal delicacy and detail on the acoustic guitar.

After being impressed with the bass on the discs above, I checked the bass definition on the all-bass album Dos Y Dos [Clenched Wrench] by the band Dos. The HE-500 is impressive because you hear so much of what is going on here, with minimal blurring, bloat or dropouts. The only thing that may be missing is the full sense of air around the instruments.

It is also good to know that the HE-500 can deliver a sense of delicacy when that’s called for. On Gillian Welch’s The Harrow and The Harvest [Acony], the track “Down Along The Dixie Line” shows off acoustic guitar and vocals in a spare, raw form that makes you feel like you are there. A little more sense of the acoustic environment wouldn’t hurt, but you might not miss it if I didn’t point it out.

COMPETITIVE COMPARISONS

To give readers some idea of where the HE-500 fits within the broader price/performance spectrum, I compare it below to two competing modes at or near its price: the HiFiMAN HE-5LE and the Sennheiser HD800.

HiFiMAN HE-500 vs. HiFiMAN HE-5LE ($699)

• The HE-5LE is $200 less expensive than the HE-500.
• The HE-5LE weighs about 100 grams (or roughly 20%) less than the HE-500.
• The HE-5LE is 1.5 dB less sensitive than the HE-500.
• The HE-500 has a more evenly balanced octave-to-octave sound, and thus sounds more coherent and natural on a wide variety of material. This difference isn’t that obvious when you hear the headphones in isolation from one another, but once you hear both models side by side you can’t miss it.
• The HE-500 has better bass extension and definition. This is not a weakness of the HE-5LE, but the pitch definition and articulation of bass instruments isn’t on the same plane as the HE-500.

HiFiMAN HE-500 vs. Sennheiser HD-800 ($1595)

• The Sennheiser HD800 costs $696 more than the HE-500, based on list prices.
• The HD800 is lighter and more comfortable over long periods than the HE-500.
• The HD800 is easier to drive than the HE-500, though both headphones require high quality amplifiers for optimal performance. Even so, the more sensitive Sennheiser will arguably work with a broader range of amps than will the low-sensitivity HE-500. At the same time, the HD-800 really doesn’t sound its best until you get just the right amp, and I’d say the HE-500 is more forgiving.
• The HE-500 sounds more harmonically coherent and all-of-one-piece on both human and instrument voices. Good though the HD800 is, it occasionally exhibits very small yet audible discontinuities that the HE-500 doesn’t have to the same degree.
• The HE-500 offers noticeably better low frequency extension and pitch definition than the HD800, which is saying something because bass performance is a relative strength of the HD800 compared to most competing headphones.

COMFORT FACTOR/ACCESSORIES

The HE-500 is basically comfortable, though it is a relatively heavy headphone, with noticeable clamping force, which some may find problematic. The ear cups are well padded and have comfortable surfaces, but they don’t conform to the shape of your head as comfortably as some other headphones do. Fortunately, I don’t think the sound of the HE-500 relies on an exact coupling between the pads and your head.

The HE-500 ships in a padded presentation case. Included in the case is a detachable signal-cable harness featuring very high-quality signal wires terminated with a phone plug.

BOTTOM LINE:

HiFiMAN’s HE-500 is a world-class headphone that provides almost all of the benefits high-end headphone listeners focused on accuracy could want. This is particularly true for listeners looking for a headphone that delivers much of what you would hear on an audiophile-grade stereo system. Listeners who want a headphone experience that differs from in-room audio by delivering maximum resolving power, however, may prefer headphones like HiFiMAN’s HE-6.

SPECS & PRICING

HiFiMAN HE-500 Planar Magnetic Headphones
Accessories: Hard-sided storage case
Frequency response: 15Hz – 50kHz
Weight: 502 grams (without cables) 
Sensitivity: 89 dB (1 mW input)

Impedance: 38 ohms

Price: $899