HiFiMan HE1000 Stealth & HE1000SE: Which version is best for you?

I finally got my hands on the HE1000 Stealth, and I’ve been able to do a direct comparison between the HE1000SE, the Arya Stealth and the Edition XS, which I already own. I’ve only auditioned them for a half day, but I mostly agree with your assessments—especially in comparison to the HEKSE. I do think they’re the most impeccably tuned headphone HFM has produced to date—certainly the most Harman-compliant. The most notable improvement I’ve heard thus far compared to the others, and a characteristic I’ve never found in any of the prior HFM offerings, is the bass response. The published FRCs show a 5-6 dB increase in the low shelf starting around 30hz, and boy can I hear it—for my other headphones I always fully engage the analog xBass feature on my Pro iCAN Signature, but for these I encountered a few tracks where I had to dial it back. The headphones were literally producing a physical bass response on rock tracks that is immeasurably exciting, and a clear advantage over my HEKSE and Arya SE. Interestingly, the Edition XS produces something close to this deep, clean and stable bass response as well, and a very fine Harman signature which reinforces my belief that these are very underrated cans, and the best you can buy under $500 (perhaps under $1,000). The other notable difference I notice when comparing the HE1000 Stealth to the HE1000se is a considerably reduced fatigue factor. I know you found these new HEK Stealths to be brighter than the SEs, but I’m experiencing something unexpected—the high mids, around the 6,500 to 8,500 hz range, are noticeably attenuated compared to the SE, both on the FRCs and subjectively, and thus I experience none of the bitingly intense accents that have caused listening fatigue for me in the past with the SEs—the same fatigue factor that has also differentiated the HEK V2 and SE enough for Crinacle to rate the V2s in the Superior range (fourth from the top) compared to the lower A+ rating given to the more costly SEs. The higher frequencies (over 9,000 hz) may be more prominent in the HEK Stealth, but I don’t experience that as fatigue—perhaps my 54 year old ears aren’t able to discern the excess brightness you reported in these compared to the SE, but I think this just calls attention to how broad “brightness” can be defined and experienced along differing ranges of the audible spectrum and between different ears. The only characteristic I have yet to define between the HEK Stealth and the SE is resolution and detail retrieval. Frankly I’ve never heard another headphone that is as resolving as the HEKSE—and I’m sure that is a factor both of their inherent design and their bright tuning. On these initial listenings, I make up that the SEs may still have an advantage in this regard (albeit a slight one), but I’d need to level out their tunings with PEQ to fully determine whether the HEK Stealth resolves detail as divinely as the SE. Given that the two are using essentially identical magnets and the same neodymium driver, along with identical grilles and ear cup form factors, if the SEs are an improvement in this quality I’d sure like to know why. Finally the build quality of these new HEK Stealths is extraordinary, and in my view as equally fine as the HEKSE. I suppose some might quibble with the wood veneers around the pad housing, but I actually like that look, and in terms of comfort I don’t think you could ask for a lighter weight, more comfortable form factor in any flagship headphone. I’ve owned my SE for over a year and have put them through the paces for sure, and they still look unblemished and as good as new. I fear that the $1,999 price point is going to omit this HEK Stealth from serious consideration amongst the other outlandishly priced flagships out there—the Susvara still enjoys the reputation as the sole major player in the Stereophile set, and I think HFM’s later iterations such as the HEKSE and this new HEK Stealth offer considerable innovations and advantages over the seven year old Susvara. Personally I can’t appreciate any ways in which the Susvara outdoes the HEKSE (for instance) in resolution, soundstage or timbre, and in fact I think the HEKSE is considerably superior to the Susvara in tuning, efficiency (that sensitivity of 83 is a technological relic in my view), and bass response. Similarly, if I had never heard the HEKSE (and paid $3,500 for it), I would consider this HEK Stealth as an endgame headphone—and I’m still not convinced that the HEKSE earns its $1,500 higher price point in any way. Those who claim the soundstage isn’t as wide and the detail retrieval isn’t as exacting may fail to recognize how much tuning influences both of these factors—and I’d lay odds that if the HEKSE and HEK Stealth were leveled with PEQ, they’d sound near identical. Assessing them both out of the box, I still consider the elevated bass shelf and the tamed high mids I’m enjoying in these HEK Stealths advantages over the HEKSE, despite their lower price point—and given their near-identical presentations in all other categories, I’m left to conclude that the HEK Stealth is priced lower simply as a reflection of the lower costs of technological improvements, along with a strategic decision to leave the SEs priced higher to maintain their “flagship” status. I think these new HEK Stealths now represent the best headphones you can buy (at least for the rock, electronica, EDM and similar genres I enjoy) for under $2,000, if not overall. For comfort, build, versatility, tuning, soundstage and “fun” factor I haven’t found their peer. I’m baffled by how unheralded they have been and still are, and given how quietly HFM launched them (barely at all), I think that’s a indicator of how marketing hype can tempt folks to part ways with three times their cost with quite specious returns on their investment.

I just received the HE 1000 stealth and man they are definitely a worthy upgrade over the Arya stealth, just everything perfect that I look for in a headphone. And they are a perfect with the ef 400 and also the chord mojo 2. Extremely happy with my purchase.

Great review and you did a good job of covering up for not having the other v2 to compare. But, I still wish you did.

Really good to know that you are a musician that plays viola and violin. That instantly adds to the credibility of your ear and listening sensibilities. I'd have liked to know that a long time ago. Of course I've always trusted and enjoyed your reviews but being a musician, that's another level. Throw that information around more often.

Really appreciated this thorough review. I thought I got screwed when the Arya Organic came out after I got the Arya Stealth last year. But after listening to your explanation from your video of Arya Organic and now this video on the HE1000SE vs HE1000 V2 Stealth, I realize the HE1000SE is just the right addition to my headphone collection. The Arya SE is really the maximum brightness I want to experience and I would love to have a headphone that could provide better intimacy, better tonal balance, that could provide better enjoyment in listening to Jazz music. Right now I'm using LCD-X for smooth jazz and Focal Clear for crossover jazz. The Arya rarely gets used for these because it's not intimate enough or too aggressive in the treble for enjoyment. I'm hoping the HE1000SE will be the solution of providing a bigger and more enjoyable sound stage for crossover jazz and better timbre and nice smoothed out detail in smooth jazz when paired with the Hifiman EF400

What a coincidence, I'll be at a shop tomorrow to take a 2nd listen to the HE1000 Stealth (and probably the Arya 2021 as well).

28:06 Excellent review Lachlan, I really enjoyed it. I thought your comments comparing the Arya, V2 stealth and the SE were strong and very accurate. I owned the V2 non stealth for 4 years before upgrading to the SE, which I’ve owned for 2 years now. Although I absolutely loved my V2’s, I quickly realized they were no match for the SE’s lightning speed and absolutely smooth presentation. The SE’s, although ruthlessly visceral, are also smooth as butter and have one of the best centre images I have ever heard. You’re totally right, the V2 stealth is way more “Out there” left and right wise, but the SE’s ability to reign everything in and provide a cohesive, smooth yet totally enjoyable wall of sound around my head is nothing short of intoxicating. My original non stealth V2’s were actually brighter in my opinion than the SE’s are! Great video, I thought your comments were spot on. Keep up the great work, I really enjoy your reviews!!

Thanks Lachlan, I’m going to wait for the HE1000SE invisible magnet edition V81 ; )

I purchased both the HE1000SE and HE1000v2 Stealth at the same time two months ago, for the sale prices of $1999 and $1399 respectively. I kept the SE. They are extremely open to EQ. And the only thing i needed to do to get a touch more staging is reduce the upper mids a touch. The detail retrieval and the "realism" is uncontested on the SE. I EQ'd my SE to the tuning of the Meze Elite, essentially, which means I now have the staging and separation of the Elite (and the HE1000v2 Stealth for that matter), along with the uncontested detail and realism of the SE. EQ'd, I cannot imagine there is a better headphone, especially at the $1999 price point. I do not believe there is a better end game headphones value than the Hifiman HE1000SE for $1999 in the world.

Great review ❤ I had the HE1000SE for almost two years but then sold it. I appreciate the large and spatial representation, the price of the HE1000SE has fallen significantly in Europe, maybe I'll get it again.

Thanks for this great review. I got my HE1000se 1.5 months ago and love it so much.The sound stage is so amazing!

After being captivated by this review, I'm considering the Hifiman HE1000 Stealth and HE1000SE. I've gathered that the HE1000SE has sonic similarities with the Susvara, and the HE1000 Stealth might lean towards the brighter side in treble. Given my current gear, I'm leaning towards the HE1000SE. I've been deeply immersed in high-fidelity audio and am cherishing the pairing of my Hifiman Edition XS with the Chord Mojo 2. The Edition XS punches above its price point, delivering a sonic experience that's hard to match. While they can be a tad bright for certain genres, I've fine-tuned them with EQ, adding a touch of bass warmth to achieve my desired sound signature. I'd love to hear recommendations from the community on this. Your insights are highly sought after. 🎶🎧

Thank you for the detailed review. I'm waiting after ordering He 1000 se.

HEKse is a good time. Very likely to please many people especially if you listen to a lot of different genres and have a preference for vocals and strings. You'd be in for a treat and I would say.. it would be worth the extra spend over the Arya SE. The Arya Organic might throw a wrench into that evaluation when it's released but the HEKse is a very, very easy recommendation if you don't mind the spend. Very balanced, I'd agree with your evaluation of its general characteristics and your assessment of its tonal strength. I recall being confused by what HiFiMan was trying to accomplish with these various offerings at similar price points but I think it's a bit simplified for me now: if you can afford the HEKse ---> just get it

I’ve had the opposite experience with the SE compared to the original V2–I find my SE somewhat fatiguing on certain tracks, although far more detailed and resolving. I’m surprised to hear about this treble excess in the HE1000 Stealth, because Crinacle ranks the original V2 above the SE only due to the latter’s excess brightness. The original V2 and Susvaras are two out of the four options that Crinacle gives an “S” rating, with the SE listed at the top of the table offerings in the “A+” range—again only due to tuning differences. From what I’ve heard, the original V2 differs from the Stealth model only in terms of the Stealth magnet, and I’m perplexed that this would change the FRC to such an extent. I’ve auditioned the original V2s compared to the SE and the Arya Stealth, and I find the V2s and the Aryas to be almost identical in their tuning—the V2s are much harder to drive, but they share the wide soundstage and very Harman-compliant tuning with the Aryas. For that reason I consider the original V2 to be the “step-up” from the Arya Stealth, differing almost exclusively in resolution and imaging quality—and I consider the SE to be in another category altogether. I also consider the Edition XS to be the entry level option in this line of three HFM options with the original V2 and the Arya Stealths—they also have similar tuning and soundstage, and honestly I think they only differ from the Aryas in the premium aspects of the build. I don’t think one could ask for a finer-sounding headphone under $1,000 (under $500!). One thing you didn’t mention was the extra bass extension shown in your own FRCs in the HE1000 Stealth compared to the SE—it looks like there’s a 5db increase in the bass shelf in the former, and I’m curious if the new HE1000 Stealth has more bass slam out of the box compared to the SE. I also don’t agree with the Susvara/SE comparison—the Susvara (from 2016) is pre-Harman, and it is substantially lacking as a result in the bass compared with the SE. Consequently, at least for rock or similar genres, I find the Susvara to be incredibly dull and anemic, and far less physical and exciting than the SE—from my perspective I still consider the SE to be HFM’s definitive all-rounder flagship for that reason. To me the Susvara is a prototype of what HFM achieved with their Stealth magnet technology, and its oval pad successors took its merits many steps further—and I think its price point is justified only in the service of recouping their original R&D costs for their step up in the game in the industry. Their subsequent offerings have been far more efficient and modern-sounding, while retaining all of the Susvara’s speed and detail—even with the larger driver. When I received the Susvara along with the Arya Stealth, original V2 and SE for a definitive audition (using a Topping d90se and a 14 watt balanced iFi Pro iCAN Signature amp to drive the hell out of them), the Susvaras were the first to go back in the box—it continues to elude me why folks still speak with such reverence about that thing (I think they’re being biased by price). HFM’s oval pad innovations improve on the Susvara in just about every category. I had a very hard time deciding between the original V2 and the SE, because I loved the former’s tuning—but in the end I couldn’t part ways with the SE’s level of detail. So I kept the SE and added the Arya Stealth to give me a similar experience to the V2. It was my hope that the V2 Stealth would offer the perfect combination of the V2’s tuning and soundstage along with the SE’s impeccable detail. Based on your review and FRC specs it sounds like that was a folly. I also own the Meze Elites, and they are far and away more muted and less detailed to my ears than the SE—with both pad options I find the Elites seriously wanting in the high end. I do think that all the HE1000 options belie any claims of poor build quality in the HFM line—my set is impeccably and seamlessly assembled and I have zero worries about their durability. I have heard that the Dekoni Hybrid pads on the SE potentiate their bass response and tame their treble and fatigue to some extent, although I’ve been afraid to try the pad roll because I’ve heard of many folks who have cracked the frames on the stock pads when attempting to remove them. Would be curious about your own experience with this. But overall I applaud you for another thoughtful review!

Thanks Lachlan for a great and helpful review. I purchased the Meze Elites and the Burson Soloist 3X largely on your reviews and I have been VERY happy! The Elites will almost certainly be my endgame cans. However, I am also thinking about purchasing the HE1000se headphones as a second option and as a 'contrast' to the Elites, so your comparison to the HE1000se was very helpful. May I ask if you think the Burson Soloist 3X might help tame any potential treble sharpness/brightness which is sometimes associated with the HE1000se? Unfortunately, where I live I won't get a chance to demo personally the HE1000se. Thanks again and keep up the great content!

awesome review mate! is the note decay of the two similar to that of the verite open?

I have probably watched this review 3 times now. So helpful! I have enjoyed the Arya Stealth quite a bit but if I can get more out of the HEK line I’d rather upgrade now. I’m using an EF400 - can you provide me any info of how the HEK Stealth vs HEKSE performed on the EF400? I know I’ll need to try them to know for sure but I’m hoping to learn as much as I can before spending more money 😊

It's especially confusing when the HE1000 V2 and HE1000 V2 Stealth have absolutely NO differentiator externally. You might be able to see the magnet difference if you look closely at the earcups but that's about it. And yes the non stealth is quite a bit different, the stealth version adds quite a bit more bass compared to the non stealth which is more neutral and leaner sounding.

Thanks for sharing. To realize the full potential of a headphone, the FR should be personalized. In addition, the EQ can be used to correct construction and principle-related unevenness in the FR. I recently did an a/b comparison between the HE-1000 Stealth and the Susvara. Both were set to the same volume and FR. So I was able to check the headphones for their technical performance. For me, the HE-1000 Stealth was clearly the winner. The Sus has the higher transparency, and higher resolution. The HE-1000V2 Stealth has significantly more energy and punch in the low frequencies, and a more authentic timbre. The Susvara has a different character than the HE-1000 Stealth. The Sus is extremely airy and high-res. Which are very positive characteristics to the next. However, as is well known, the coin has two sides. Due to its airiness, it lacks a "stable foundation" in the low frequency range. At least in direct comparison with the Stealth, the bass seems relatively powerless and gentle (it reminds me of the typical DCA sound).With the Susvara, it was already clear at medium volume and some drums, or a bass guitar, that it has significantly less impact, and punch, than the Stealth.Incidentally, I've already had the experience with the LCD 5 that at some point a point is reached where even more resolution somehow has a negative effect. Nobody needs more resolution than Stealth delivers. I suspect that out of 100 people the preference would be split 50/50. For gentle classical music or very smooth jazz, I would also prefer the Sus. For the rest clearly the Stealth. I had almost every TOTL headphone you can buy. The HE-1000 Stealth is the best I've ever heard. PS. The Lyr+ is a perfect match for the HE-1000 Stealth.