Sennheiser HE 1 - Official Thread

[Eskamobob1]

@Torq

*Reducing the number of choices I make when listening to music has been a very welcome thing. Pretty much, at this point, the choice is “headphones or speakers”. Previously, it was first choosing a source (analog or digital), then the DAC if digital, then what sort of headphones I was going to use (electrostatic, ribbon, dynamic). Then what amplification I wanted. If that was tubes, then it was what power tubes to use (2A3, 45, 300B), and possibly also what rectifier and signal tubes. Anymore? If the listening mode is “headphones” then it’s “HE1” or “AirPods Pro 2” … depending on if I’m home or not.

I feel this so much. I went down from like 3 or 4 chains to just 1 a while back (starting to expand out again and need to narrow it back down) and its so much nicer IMO. Just throw on the cans and put on music. No need for faffing about.

[Torq]

@Eskamobob1

Would be currious to hear what your “peak headphone bass” refrence is if you have kne thiugh.

Quantitively … either an Abyss AB-1266 Phi CC (not the TC) off a Neothoriator, or ZMF Eikon off my WA234 w/ 1937 era WE300B tubes.

Qualitatively … HE1 (fed from my Linn Klimax DSM) or HM1 (Servo Mode) into LCD-5, with appropriate EQ.

…

I’m the wrong person to discuss Susvara with …

If I’m listening to a string quartet, there’s probably nothing tonally nor timbrally better. For almost everything else I think they’re extremely limp, massively under built, overhyped and staggeringly overpriced. And … if they weren’t $6,000 MSRP I don’t think anyone would truly look at them twice.

Beyond that … the build is embarrassing.

But that’s just me!

[Torq]

Oh … and congrats on your HE1!

[Eskamobob1]

@Torq

Quantitively … either an Abyss AB-1266 Phi CC (not the TC) off a Neothoriator, or ZMF Eikon off my WA234 w/ 1937 era WE300B tubes.

Qualitatively … HE1 (fed from my Linn Klimax DSM) or HM1 (Servo Mode) into LCD-5, with appropriate EQ.

I think i should be able to try a couple of those chains (especially curious about the linn tbh). Ill see what i can hunt down

@Torq

I’m the wrong person to discuss Susvara with …

If I’m listening to a string quartet, there’s probably nothing tonally nor timbrally better. For almost everything else I think they’re extremely limp, massively under built, overhyped and staggeringly overpriced. And … if they weren’t $6,000 MSRP I don’t think anyone would truly look at them twice.

Beyond that … the build is embarrassing.

But that’s just me!

Oh, youre totaly good. I know you dont like them. Just always nice to have some refeence points to try ajd underatand where people arw comming from.

@Torq

Oh … and congrats on your HE1!

Tyvm! I ended up finding a used one at a deal that was easy to yolo. Unfortunately, it is out of commission due to a UPS mishap pending them paying out the claim. Luckily it looks like only the marble was damaged so I’m hopeful it will still work otherwise (waiting for claim to be paid before I really dig into it) cause I really want to hear it with my most recent dac given how much it scaled with WD Sig

[chrisnyc75]

Oh snap! A SECOND damaged marble HE-1? It’s almost like we’ve uncovered a weakness in the “best headphone in the world”. LOL j/k…sorta

[Eskamobob1]

Rofl, yuuuup. This one was packed as specified in the manual too. Best I can figure out is UPS opened it and dropped the unit its self, but obviously cant be certain. Currently just waiting on a “proof of value” from senn for UPS to pay out, so hopefully not too much longer before I can figure out the actual state of the unit.

[chrisnyc75]

That’s crazy! I can’t imagine any UPS employee would recognize a HE-1 and open it, though I suppose if they saw the insurance value they may have gotten curious enough to see what was inside? Do let us know if you find out more - I think this is of interest to all of us who buy multi-kilobuck audio gear online and have it shipped to us.

On a somewhat related note, I’ve never been quite as nervous as during the pandemic lockdown when I had an AD ship me my brand new Rolex via FedEx. I literally went down to my lobby and waited for the delivery to arrive so I could take possession of it in my own hands. lol

[Torq]

I’ve tried to get a used unit … just so I could have a second set … without the wait (and I don’t really care what color the stone is for a 2nd unit) … and I’ve not been able to find one.

Notably, @taronlissimore didn’t ping me on being able to sell the unit he/they had in …

I should probably take it as some kind of cosmic message and just be content with what I have …

[chrisnyc75]

Coveting TWO HE-1’s is just greedy. LOL

[Torq]

I’m fundamentally lazy.

I could move the one I have between locations/house/boat … but that’s too much work …

It’s why I had two sets of the Utopia … one for home, one for the office … so I didn’t have to carry them back and forth.

Besides … apparently … the marble can SNAP!

So … I think mine is staying put …

[orrman]

@Torq

I can’t name a better one-stop all-in-one solution for headphone listening

Neither can I, but I haven’t heard the Aperio.

@Torq

For me, it’s mostly about the convenience, and simplicity (lack of choice*), vs. having multiple boxes and cans to deal with.

I absolutely respect that. It’s hard to beat for its balance of simplicity of use, aesthetics and sound quality as a single unit.

@Torq

I’ve had (still do, just don’t use … and am in the process of selling) a combination of sources, amps and headphones that, in aggregate, have advantages over the HE1 … but they take up a lot more mental and physical space to do it.

That makes sense to me. I think about my system more time than I’d like to admit, and for me part of the fun is changing switching trying and figuring out what would I like and prefer and improve over what I have at any given moment. I realize for some it’s not part of the hobby at all and for others they’re just past that phase.

@chrisnyc75

I’m convinced that Holo May>DNA Stellaris>Utopia is a worth competitor for HE-1 as an all-in system. Likewise, I would consider Chord Dave>Holo Bliss/Enleum>Susvara worthy competition.

I heard all of those components except for the Stellaris but I’m not sure those would compete with HE1 on most aspects. They are certainly very good sounding systems and a lot of fun.

@Torq

it depends heavily on what musical genres we’re talking about

This is the critical element for me personally. I’d pick many systems for large orchestras over the HE1 for instance, or if I really want to analyze separation. It makes an all in one system like that, even for its used pricing, not attractive to me. I can replace my current gear for a new HE1, probably save a couple dollars along the way, but I’ll lose too much of the things I care about.

@Torq

I can’t take the Susvara seriously anytime bass is a factor in the music. It’s just limp and unsatisfying. I don’t care how they’re driven

I know you don’t like Susvara. It is my favorite headphone. That’s part of the beauty in the hobby. I don’t think either of us is wrong.

@Torq

they just don’t rock.

I switch to Utopia for that.

@chrisnyc75

Having owned Arya for a couple of years I do agree there’s something about the Hifiman signature that despite all its technical prowess just comes across limp

Come hear a real Sus chain and let’s have a talk! Arya is great value but nowhere close to Sus in capabilities.

[andris]

@orrman

Internal DAC is not great, improved significantly with the Wavedream

I’m so glad someone else had this take. I only got 5 minutes with the HE-1 at CanJam (albeit in a quiet, separate room), and I was blown away by the headphone’s technicalities, while still coming away thinking “I think this thing is being held back by its DAC…”

@chrisnyc75

I’m convinced that Holo May>DNA Stellaris>Utopia is a worth competitor for HE-1 as an all-in system. Likewise, I would consider Chord Dave>Holo Bliss/Enleum>Susvara worthy competition.

This type of thing is obviously highly personal, but I literally came home after CanJam (having heard the HE-1 and being deeply impressed), firing up my rig (Utopia, Stellaris, Dave, M-Scaler, etc), and thinking “I’ll be damned, but I’d take this over the HE-1”. Again, all the usual caveats on different environments, etc, but I’m with you that it’s not necessarily everyone’s slam-dunk end game. I also think we’re in a similar boat on placing massive priority on Utopia’s macrodynamics and tactility.

However, to @Torq’s point, if I had to pick an all-in-one, I definitely haven’t heard anything better than the HE-1. Building my chain has been a long, complicated, expensive, thoroughly annoying process, and there are definitely days I look at stuff like the Bravura or Aperio and wonder if I should just do that…

[Eskamobob1]

@chrisnyc75

That’s crazy! I can’t imagine any UPS employee would recognize a HE-1 and open it, though I suppose if they saw the insurance value they may have gotten curious enough to see what was inside?

I packed it in the wooden crate alone (not in the pelican case). My guess is that the latches and box made them curious more than anything else, but again, thats just totaly guessing.

@chrisnyc75

Do let us know if you find out more - I think this is of interest to all of us who buy multi-kilobuck audio gear online and have it shipped to us.

Frankly, I dont worry about shipping on most stuff. For sending stuff like HE1 going forward I will be pallet shipping though. Apparently thats the only way senn ships it themselves, so would have been kinda nice to have that heads up in the manual considering they talk about basically everything else in there.

@Torq

I’ve tried to get a used unit … just so I could have a second set … without the wait (and I don’t really care what color the stone is for a 2nd unit) … and I’ve not been able to find one.

I honestly just got massively lucky. Posted a WTB ad on HF while drunk and someone actualy reached out. Went out to pick it up in person and it was an awesome experience overall.

As for Senn selling demo units, I was told in no uncertain terms that was not on the table when I asked

@Torq

I should probably take it as some kind of cosmic message and just be content with what I have …

Just get yourself an HE90 set as a compliment instead

@Torq

Besides … apparently … the marble can SNAP!

yah… so apparently its not an issue if you pallet ship, but I wasnt aware of that before hand…

@orrman

@Torq

I can’t name a better one-stop all-in-one solution for headphone listening

Neither can I, but I haven’t heard the Aperio.

Yah, I agree with this point. I think im just too much of a tweaker to not at least use a better dac with HE1 though tbh.

@orrman

This is the critical element for me personally. I’d pick many systems for large orchestras over the HE1 for instance, or if I really want to analyze separation. It makes an all in one system like that, even for its used pricing, not attractive to me. I can replace my current gear for a new HE1, probably save a couple dollars along the way, but I’ll lose too much of the things I care about.

Absolutely. I think the fact that I dont find HE1 suitable as an all-arounder is actually one of my biggest let downs with it. Anything that needs real good depth and/or separation just ends up being quite held back by it (stock at least). Im realy hoping tubes and dac fix that but I am fairly doubtfull tbh.

@andris

I’m so glad someone else had this take. I only got 5 minutes with the HE-1 at CanJam (albeit in a quiet, separate room), and I was blown away by the headphone’s technicalities, while still coming away thinking “I think this thing is being held back by its DAC…”

yah, while I did expect it, I am fairly sad at the tier of dac in it. Given the price of the system the fact that it isnt even weiss tier is a bit a travesty IMO.

@andris

This type of thing is obviously highly personal, but I literally came home after CanJam (having heard the HE-1 and being deeply impressed), firing up my rig (Utopia, Stellaris, Dave, M-Scaler, etc), and thinking “I’ll be damned, but I’d take this over the HE-1”.

Thats the beauty of it. Ive been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with shang sr on a number of chains recently and the honest truth is that only a single chain (the RSA b22 amp thats not even out yet) made me actually itch to upgrade from sus dispite the fairly substantial technical step up shang is. Ultimately technicalities dont matter if your foot isnt tapping IMO.

[Torq]

@Eskamobob1

Just get yourself an HE90 set as a compliment instead

I had an HE90/HEV90 set when I was back in Seattle. Was in superb condition, with a bunch of spare parts. I received an unsolicited-offer-I-couldn’t-refuse … and since I was about to go for the HE1 anyway, I let it go.

In hindsight, that was a mistake … it’d have been a great complement to the HE1 … but at this point, I just want to be down to the one set and call it done. A second HE1, if acquired at a sensible price and without a long wait is tempting, but otherwise … it’ll just be the one.

[Eskamobob1]

@Torq

I had an HE90/HEV90 set when I was back in Seattle.

Honestly, I was mega impressed by HE90. If I had heard it first IDK I would have gotten an HE1. That said, if senn ever gives us enough info to make a custom HE1 amp (or adaptor box given HE1 “amp” appears to just be a pre from talking to jermo) HE1 may easily surpass it. Im not super sure on that one.

[taronlissimore]

For anyone in the Pacific North West and looking to do a trip to Vancouver this weekend, we will have the HE-1 from our office at Linus Tech Expo this weekend! @Resolve , DMS, @andrew , myself and @Mad_Economist will all be there so feel free to drop by, have a cry and say hi!

[Eskamobob1]

Absalutely awesome yall will be there! Would love to see more.cross over between yall and LTT

[pritster5]

@orrman

Single ended and balanced sounded similar when tested with the same cables, afterwards Danacable was much nicer than Prion4S

… is this serious?

[orrman]

@pritster5

… is this serious?

Yes. I’m not going to start a do cables matter discussion here.

[pritster5]

Good, no need to discuss a topic that’s already settled (they have not and will not ever matter in terms of sound, given shielding)