I really want to try the HE-6 someday; it really is a major shame Hifiman won’t develop that same driver anymore. I am very curious how the HE-500 would compare on a technical level, I have one and it’s already amazing. Supposedly, the HE-500 was a retuned and more efficient version of the HE-6, just with aluminum traces instead. But people keep saying that the HE-6 is harder hitting and more dynamic. I wonder how much of that has to do with the gold vs aluminum tracing, or if it’s the huge voltage swings of more powerful amps driving the HE-6, or a combination of both. I heard at one point the HE-500 was the same price as the HE-6, but then Hifiman decided to keep the HE-6 as the flagship. But this is just speculation, I don’t know for sure if the HE-500 is actually using the same exact magnet structure and diaphragm as the HE-6, even though they look basically the same. All I can say is the HE-500 hits very hard, almost as much as the Focal Clear MG. And with the Pali Pads (Sundara Pads) and 400S VelPads, the tonal balance is really good, nearly as natural as a Sennheiser.
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