General purchase advice: Ask your questions/for advice here!

  • The HD6xx is a great example of amp-dependent ‘scalable’ headphones. They change and improve with the right equipment. The 1000XM3s are a great example of non-scalable headphones that are about the same from any source.

  • HiFiMan – beware reliability issues. Beware. Beware. Beware. Some models break routinely, and I am highly skeptical of the durability of their driver technology. They can sound great…but beware.

  • I have the Elex and it’s very clean and punchy. However, it’ll stab clean through your brain with its glare and needle-like brassy treble. In full agreement with @ProfFalkin, I’d skip the Elex and save for the Clear myself. I like the Clear more than the $4K Utopia for routine use. I addressed the Focal line and HD600 in my recent Utopia review.

  • Used is a good idea for many products, but beware HiFiMan. You’ve been warned.

  • As @Tchoupitoulas mentioned below, the HD600 is a fine alternative to the HD6xx and doesn’t cost much more. I demoed the HD650 before the 6XX was available but chose the 600. That was because I prefer a neutral profile rather than a warmish/thick 650/6XX profile, and it’s otherwise about the same.

I still have the HD600 and use it regularly even with my Clear.

3 Likes