FullBright1
Headphoneus Supremus
So, have any of your compared the Utopia and the Hifiman He1000SE , just regarding the details that each deliver?
Here is what i hear when i compare them for resolution, detail retrieval, and micro dynamics.
Now, if you want soundstage, then the HEKse, is much better.
If you are looking for Euphoric, then the HEKse, is better.
If you need, more bass punch, then that depends on what you prefer, as the Utopia is more mannered yet perfect, while the HEKSE, is deeper and fantastic.
Both have a nice low end.
The HEKSE is more comfortable, by about 15%.
Both are comfy.
If you are looking for midrange, then the Utopia has a more forward midrange, because it's soundstage is more intimate.
When listening to headphones, the soundstage can produce the effect of how the FR feels to you.
So, with an intimate soundstage, you perceive the mids as more.
Some who hear the HD800S, feel that the mids are lacking, but this is really the way the wide soundstage presents them, as the HD800S's mids are very good.
The Utopia provides more low midrange richness.
So, does the Utopia present more DETAIL or does the HEKSE present more detail. ???
A.) The Hifiman.
It presents more music revelation, all the way around. There is more treble detail, more midrange detail, and more bass detail.
This means you can hear more of the details in the music, using the HEKSE.
Now how does it achieve this?
Well, similar to the way Abyss uses strong midrange forwardness to present detail, the HEKSE uses "airy Treble" extension, to ramp up its detail retrieval.
Apparently Hifiman spent a lot of time dialing this in, as the the headphones capture and present so much detail, using High FR.
This does not cause the overall sound of the Hifiman to become annoyingly Bright., or "SSSSSSSSSSSS"
It's tonality definitely leans toward a more bright sound, but, that is the Hifiman House Sound.
Dont buy this gear hoping for a lush round honey tone, as you wont find it in the HEKSE's cups.. But its also not a treble etched ear burner.
What does it sound like? The HEKSE sounds like the HE1000 with a lot more detail and extended dynamics.
The HE1000 was usually described as being "soft sounding", but detailed. And the HEKSE isn't particularly soft sounding, and its sound is certainly much more detailed. It does not have better treble than the HE1000, tonally...... but it does have a lot more detailed treble, and it certainly sounds as good.
So, what about that Utopia?
Well, its detail retrieval is light years ahead of the LCD4. So, the reality is, the Utopia has a smaller more intimate soundstage than the HEKSE, and due to this, everything is more up front, and this is perceived as warmer, thicker, and more sweet.
Both the Utopia and the HEKSE are very good.
There is no "best" between these 2.
If you buy them both to compare, planning on selling the one that isn't as good, then you're stuck.
If you want the Hifiman Sound, and all the inner musical details revealed, and you dont want to spend $6000, then buy the HEKSE.
Your music collection will be REVEALED to you, like never before.
However, If you prefer to hear everything, and the sound be "FOCAL", and the best they've ever created, then you'll love the Utopia.
Both of these sound so good, that you'll get lost in the listening, and isn't that why we do it?
The Utopia's sound feels more dense in your headspace, while the Hifiman HE1000SE's sound feels more layered and "floating in the air"
=
Here is what i hear when i compare them for resolution, detail retrieval, and micro dynamics.
Now, if you want soundstage, then the HEKse, is much better.
If you are looking for Euphoric, then the HEKse, is better.
If you need, more bass punch, then that depends on what you prefer, as the Utopia is more mannered yet perfect, while the HEKSE, is deeper and fantastic.
Both have a nice low end.
The HEKSE is more comfortable, by about 15%.
Both are comfy.
If you are looking for midrange, then the Utopia has a more forward midrange, because it's soundstage is more intimate.
When listening to headphones, the soundstage can produce the effect of how the FR feels to you.
So, with an intimate soundstage, you perceive the mids as more.
Some who hear the HD800S, feel that the mids are lacking, but this is really the way the wide soundstage presents them, as the HD800S's mids are very good.
The Utopia provides more low midrange richness.
So, does the Utopia present more DETAIL or does the HEKSE present more detail. ???
A.) The Hifiman.
It presents more music revelation, all the way around. There is more treble detail, more midrange detail, and more bass detail.
This means you can hear more of the details in the music, using the HEKSE.
Now how does it achieve this?
Well, similar to the way Abyss uses strong midrange forwardness to present detail, the HEKSE uses "airy Treble" extension, to ramp up its detail retrieval.
Apparently Hifiman spent a lot of time dialing this in, as the the headphones capture and present so much detail, using High FR.
This does not cause the overall sound of the Hifiman to become annoyingly Bright., or "SSSSSSSSSSSS"
It's tonality definitely leans toward a more bright sound, but, that is the Hifiman House Sound.
Dont buy this gear hoping for a lush round honey tone, as you wont find it in the HEKSE's cups.. But its also not a treble etched ear burner.
What does it sound like? The HEKSE sounds like the HE1000 with a lot more detail and extended dynamics.
The HE1000 was usually described as being "soft sounding", but detailed. And the HEKSE isn't particularly soft sounding, and its sound is certainly much more detailed. It does not have better treble than the HE1000, tonally...... but it does have a lot more detailed treble, and it certainly sounds as good.
So, what about that Utopia?
Well, its detail retrieval is light years ahead of the LCD4. So, the reality is, the Utopia has a smaller more intimate soundstage than the HEKSE, and due to this, everything is more up front, and this is perceived as warmer, thicker, and more sweet.
Both the Utopia and the HEKSE are very good.
There is no "best" between these 2.
If you buy them both to compare, planning on selling the one that isn't as good, then you're stuck.
If you want the Hifiman Sound, and all the inner musical details revealed, and you dont want to spend $6000, then buy the HEKSE.
Your music collection will be REVEALED to you, like never before.
However, If you prefer to hear everything, and the sound be "FOCAL", and the best they've ever created, then you'll love the Utopia.
Both of these sound so good, that you'll get lost in the listening, and isn't that why we do it?
The Utopia's sound feels more dense in your headspace, while the Hifiman HE1000SE's sound feels more layered and "floating in the air"
=
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