This is the place to discuss all things to do with the HiFiMAN HE600.
Specs:
| Frequency Response | 8 Hz – 65 kHz |
|---|---|
| Impedance | 28 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB |
| Weight | 389 g |
| Driver Type | Planar Magnetic with 2nd Gen NEO Supernano Diaphragm |
| Magnet Design | Rare-Earth-Free permanent magnet materials |
| Headband | Composite with rotatable hinges (2nd generation) |
| Ear Pads | FocusPad (memory foam wrapped in pleather and velour) |
| Connectors | Dual 3.5mm angled at 10° |
HiFiMAN was kinda enough to send this one in for review, along with the other new ones like the Edition XV, Ananda Unveiled, and Audivina LE.
Here are the measurements:
HE600 Frequency Response HpTF:
What is this? This indicates the headphone’s behavior variation across different heads and ears, providing a better indication of how they are likely to vary across human heads as well - absent other factors like leakage effects from glasses for example.
Why is this? We have a video on the channel explaining why this type of visualization is likely necessary for headphone measurements. This should ideally evolve the more heads and ears we can test these products on, but the older paradigm of showing a single line on a graph to indicate headphone performance is insufficient.
HE600 Frequency Response Raw:
Comparisons
We’re in the process of revamping the visual design of our datasets, so we’re using this export for now to increase axis legibility. We’ll have larger visuals again shortly.
HE600 vs HE-6
HE600 vs Edition XV
HE600 vs Sundara 2020
HE600 vs Ananda Unveiled
LESS IMPORTANT METRICS BELOW 
Driver damping and air gap behavior (GRAS)
Driver Fs behave similarly to Sundara, not as low as HE-6. But with the HE600, you don’t get the same air-gap behavior between the gasket ring and the side of the cup as you do on the Sundara, so there’s a bit more bass extension at the cost of less bass boost.
Harmonic Distortion
Look at all those fun colors - the clustering here is likely impacted by noise floor and only 2nd and 3rd harmonic products are relevant here. No excursion limiting at 110dB, Harmonic distortion below 2% at 110dB is totally fine. Most of it shows to be below 0.2%. There’s nothing to worry about here when it comes to EQing, and this does behave better than the larger diaphragm models like the Edition XS.
Notes:
- Measurements show the HE600 to be very good, but more like a Sundara in its behavior than an original HE-6 or HE-6SE V2 - though perhaps not as treble focused as the Sundara.
- Sound is very clear, balanced, tonally appropriate. Ear gain is right on the edge for me, any more an it would sound too hot. Really good for music with instruments, slightly less versatile for more upbeat/intense styles of music or poor recordings because it can be a bit unforgiving.
- Comfort is acceptable - I wish the headband strap had a bit more give to it. But it is more comfortable than a Sundara, and the strap at least provides a wider surface area on top for better weight distribution. It’s also quite lightweight for a planar magnetic.
Overall I think it’s a good headphone and I’d recommend it. But I feel the price could be closer to the Edition XV, since at half the price. Moreover, I consider the HE600 to be more like an evolution of the Sundara rather than the HE-6 or HE-6SE V2. But that’s also kind of a good thing, since it has several advantages over the HE-6, namely better tone and timbre and better long-term comfort.
Full review:
