HIFIMAN HE600 REVIEW

BUILD AND COMFORT 

At 389 g, the HE600 is unusually light and very compact for a full-sized planar magnetic headphone. Combined with the new arc-and-strap Gen.2 headband, it makes for a very comfortable headphone.

The HE600 has circular cups like the original HE6, and the cups are compatible with all pads made for previous circular Hifiman headphones. It has 3.5 mm connector sockets for the cable on the headphone, like all current Hifiman headphones.

HEADBAND – The “Gen.2 headband” features an arc-and-strap design, and it is very comfortable. There is more swivel action than in both the Sundara-type headband and the Edition XS-type headband. The Gen.2 headband is also used with the Edition XV, Ananda Unveiled, and the HE6 Remastered. There is a downside, though: people with larger heads might find the strap a bit short. Hopefully Hifiman can offer longer straps.

CABLE – The cable is not impressive for a headphone in this price class. It is a simple 1.5 m black plasticky cable terminated in an angled 3.5 mm plug, with a 6.35 mm adapter included. It connects to the headphone with 3.5 mm connectors, like all current Hifiman headphones, so luckily it is easy to find replacement cables.

LISTENING IMPRESSIONS

Associated equipment: 

• Amp: Bryston BHA-1 
• DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS 

In the Mountains by Espen Eriksen Trio 

Starting out with some smooth jazz. There is nice, warm bass, punchy drums, and a delicate, present piano. Things sound very smooth and enveloping.

Pops by Nolatet 

More jazz. Again, things sound smooth and refined. Well balanced and delicate. The imaging is good, but the soundstage is not especially expansive.

Alt e bra by Building Instrument 

Smooth and organic. Clean but not sharp treble. 

Maggi by Hvalfugl 

Very musical in a nice, slightly laid back manner.

Maple Noise by Greene Serene 

This is a very dynamic jazz improv piece. The HE600 sounds explosive enough, and there’s plenty of detail. The space between instruments isn’t pitch black, but everything is very engaging and dynamically smooth.

Katerina by Bill Laurence 

Very musical, natural, and slightly laid-back. 

The Hidden Camera by Photek 

Time for some electronic music: The bass is warm and tight, powerful but not overwhelming in quantity. The percussion is very textured and quite crisp. With some headphones it can sound very dry, but the HE600 isn’t among them.

Seven Nation Army (Live) by The White Stripes

The guitar riff is meaty, the bass-drum is full and rich. Things are generally musical and smooth.

Take on Me – MTV Unplugged by a-ha

Morten Harket’s vocals are smooth and buttery – but rich in detail, with a great balanced presence.

Come Away With Me by Norah Jones 

Excellent vocals. With many headphones, they can sound a bit intense – too warm, or too crisp, but the HE600 strikes a very natural-sounding balance.

Don’t Stay by Linkin Park 

The guitars are crisp and energetic, the bass is polite in quantity. Vocals are clear. 

Limit to Your Love by James Blake 

Clean, clear vocals, very snappy percussion. The bass is moderate in presence but of good quality. 

Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo 

The string timbre is not especially laid back, rather nicely crisp and energetic, textured and detailed.

Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter 

Great instrument separation. The strings have bite and attack, with lots of texture and crispness without becoming too sharp.

WRAPPING IT UP 

Sound Signature

The HE600 is a quite neutral-sounding headphone, often with slightly dark mids, a somewhat smooth character, and great linear-sounding bass.

Treble

The treble has a really nice presence and great detail. It feels smooth and natural.

Midrange

The midrange is nicely present but often a touch dark. However, it depends on the music and varies from track to track and the dominant frequencies. With string instruments it’s quite upfront and crisp – with most vocals it’s a bit laid-back but not recessed.

Bass

The bass has some warmth but sounds very linear. It’s neutral and tight, typical for good planar magnetics.

Soundstage and Imaging 

The soundstage size is nice but not overwhelmingly large; it is a bit intimate compared to the most expansive sounding headphones. Imaging is quite good, but I am not super impressed by the instrument separation. 

That said, it all feels very cohesive and natural. The HE600 is a great-sounding headphone but not the most technical-sounding one I’ve heard at this price level.

Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre

The detail level is very good across the frequency range. The HE600 typically delivers detail in a nice, smooth way – but it depends on the track and the dominant frequencies: it can also be quite crisp and textured.

Dynamics are good for a planar magnetic headphone of this type, and I find the general timbre to be very natural and musical, in a very enjoyable and slightly laid-back manner.