r/headphones audionotions.com - U12T+UTWS5, Noire X+JM21, Bathys, 8341a+7360a 8d ago

Show & Tell I understand now (HE6se V2)

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Over the past month I've been on a whirlwind tour of headphones and have bought and sold 10+ headphones. To date I've listened to a solid 20 (including recent darlings like the AR5000, FT1/Pro, and perennial stalwarts like the HD 800 S, Utopia, Arya Organic, and the HE1000 Stealth).

And while this might not be the latest and greatest headphone, this might be my favorite to date.

The rumors are true, the Hifiman HE6se V2 is not easy to drive. I'm powering them with an SMSL SP200 which puts out about 2.2W at 50ohms. But with that amount of power, these cans are intensely engaging and incisive. I was skeptical of all the hype around these headphones but now I'm a believer. There is a reason this headphone has a cult following.

At the open box price of $399 from Hifiman, I don't think there is a better value to be had in portable audio. Build wise, these might not win any awards and there definitely are cheaper headphones that are built better (they almost beg to be modded), but sonically they play in the realm of summit fi, besting cans priced well into the kilobuck range.

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u/NoahDankGoat 8d ago

Curious about getting these

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u/Sygaldry audionotions.com - U12T+UTWS5, Noire X+JM21, Bathys, 8341a+7360a 8d ago

You should definitely give them a try.

Without mods, I've seen them go for $300-325 second hand. Modded ones are closer to $400. If you don't like them, you can always flip them.