Hifiman HE6SE V2

V2 of the classic planar magnetic that might have inspired a new trend

The Hifiman HE6SE V2 was/is a modern reimagining of one of the most iconic headphones in the audiophile world: the original HE6. Known for its incredible detail retrieval, natural timbre, and an open-back design that provides an expansive soundstage, the HE6SE V2 brings these characteristics into a refined, more accessible package, though arguably not as good as the original.

However, make no mistake: this headphone like its more famous predecessor still requires proper amplification to unlock its full potential, so I thought I should cover power before getting in the subjective and objective qualities of this headphone:

Power requirements

The HE6SE V2 is not a headphone for casual listening. Its 50Ω impedance and incredibly low sensitivity of 83.5dB/mW mean it needs significant power to truly shine. But for those willing to invest in a proper amplifier. I would recommend at least 1W of power, the HE6SE V2 can offer a fantastic listening experience.

To give you an idea if we leave say 10dB/mW “headroom” for either EQ (and I feel the V2 does need EQ or specifically the modified version I was loaded does need some EQ ) and/or tracks that with large dynamic range, for example, I always play the start of Pink Floyd “Wish you were hear” at much louder SPL than the rest of that album to get that spine tingling effect when the guitars start, but that needs power.

So using a power calculator and putting in 73dBmw (instead of 83dB/mw) in we get the following power recommendation for 85dB output, which is really the minimum requirement to allow for some headroom:

Some Initial thoughts

After using this modded HE6SE V2 for a few months, I have lots of thoughts, specifically on how the mods affect my sound impressions and how the various modded backs of the earpads on this headphone may have inspired Hifiman to go full unveiled with the various official ‘Unveiled’ versions of some of their classic headphones over the past few months.

Well I will get into the details later but first let’s get into the unboxing experience first:

Unboxing Experience

Since this HD6SE V2 was both customised and loaned to me for a few months it retail box obviously was previously opened:

The back of the box has those hard to drive specifications I mentioned earlier:

Once you open the box you do more premium experience:

• The HE6SE V2 headphones normally comes with: • A 1.5m detachable cable with 3.5mm terminations • A 6.35mm adapter • Owner’s manual and warranty card

While the unboxing experience is straightforward, it’s worth noting that Hifiman has focused on the essentials, ensuring the headphones and accessories are well-protected.

Design, Build Quality, and Comfort

The Hifiman HE6SE V2 retains the iconic design of its predecessor, with some modern updates for improved comfort and usability. Since I am using a modded version for this review I thought before I get into the look of the modded grills, it was only fair to remind you of what the “stock” grills look like:

But with the modded version, it completely opens up the back:

I do remember about 4 years ago there was a huge trend for modding the grills on this specific Hifiman headphone, and possible that trend gave Hifiman the idea to do the research and development which lead to their recent highly acclaimed headphones the Susvara Unveiled, HE1000 Unveiled and the Arya Unveiled.

Here is the Susvara unveiled:

I will get into what this “unveiling” concept does for the sound later with some references to the original “modders” but the typical benefits of removing or in the case of this modded HE6SE V2 minimizing the grill is to remove internal reflections and so have a much more consistent treble experience, basically your ears should hear just the driver and not the extra reflections of sound bouncing back of each earcup.

Zooming into the customised grills on this specific model of HE6SE V2 reveals some interesting details:

Build Quality and Comfort

The earcups are constructed from high-quality aluminum, giving the HE6SE V2 a lightweight yet durable frame.

The suspension-style headband style is probably a bit old school now having been used in many other HifiMan headphones, but it was a redesign for better weight distribution, and the yokes feel sturdy and reliable.

Comfort was significantly improved over the original HE6. The new headband is well-padded, and the hybrid earpads ( combining velour and pleather) are plush and breathable, allowing for extended listening sessions without fatigue.

However, the clamping force may feel a bit tight for some users, especially during the first few uses, my model was well-used and exceptional comfortable.

Sound Quality

The Hifiman HE6SE V2 delivers a highly resolving and dynamic sound signature that excels in transparency and detail. It’s a headphone that rewards careful listening and excels with well-recorded material.

Bass

The bass on the HE6SE V2 is tight, well-controlled, and extends deep into the sub-bass region. Tracks like “Angel” by Massive Attack reveal the headphone’s ability to reproduce clean, impactful bass without any bloat or muddiness.

Midrange

The midrange is neutral and highly detailed, making vocals and instruments sound lifelike and engaging. Listening to “Adele – Hello” showcases the headphone’s ability to present vocals with clarity and warmth, capturing every nuance of her performance. Compared to say the Edition XS and the Sundara the V2 is much closer to the Sundara as far as midrange.

Treble

The treble is detailed and extended, with just a touch of brightness that adds air and sparkle to the presentation. Tracks like “Hotel California” by The Eagles (Live Version) highlight the HE6SE V2’s ability to resolve fine details in cymbals and high-pitched instruments without sounding harsh or fatiguing. I believe the ‘unveling’ modification with the grills has greatly enhanced the consistently of the treble and brought some magic to the V2 that you cannot see in measurements. Together with the Mod house Tungsten that recently reviewed the treble was some of the best that I have heard.

Soundstage and Imaging

The open-back design provides an expansive soundstage with excellent depth and width. Imaging is pinpoint accurate, allowing you to easily place instruments and vocals within the soundstage. This makes the HE6SE V2 an excellent choice for orchestral and live recordings.

Specifications and Measurements

With a sensitivity of just 83.5dB/mW, the HE6SE V2 is one of the most power-hungry headphones on the market, though I found the Mod house Tungsten (which I was reviewing at the same time) to be more demanding.

It pairs best with high-powered amplifiers especially as I mentioned earlier if you want good dynamic range and to use some EQ. I used it with various decent power amplfiers like the Schiit Midgard and the new FiiO K17:

Measurements

Note: Measurements were taken with my KB501X soft ear Pinna and a 711 clone coupler. Data is available on my measurement database here.

Before I get into my measurements, since this is a modded version, I have also used some measurements from this original post over at Audio Discourse which may have inspired many modifications of this headphone:

So first the changes between the original and ’no grill’:

And these are the changes with some alternative earpads:

Frequency Response

The Modded HE6SE V2 has a mostly balanced frequency response, but you can see that slightly elevated 1K-2K from the Dekoni pads, but in every other way this is an exceptional frequency response with a lovely linear bass and great treble: Note: I labelled them as Stock pads above but they are the Dekoni Leather pads as in the previous set of graphs.

I actually tried some different earpads (in this case some perforated Angled earpads), but while the increased the bass response they did change the midrange for the worse:

Here is also a little comparison with my Edition XS and the Mod house tungsten:

You can see all 3 have exceptional bass and the V3 and Tungsten have similar treble with the XS having some peaks.

Distortion

Distortion is impressively low, even at high listening levels:

And similarly as a percentage it has very low distortion:

EQ Recommendation

While the HE6SE V2 sounds excellent out of the box especially at the open box price of $400. I do feel the some of
the modifications made while they changed the treble for the better, gave the midrange a little bit too much energy and therefore some EQ can restore that balance.

• -2dB at 6kHz
• +1dB at 30Hz for a touch more bass weight

Rating

The Hifiman HE6SE V2 earns a pragmatic 4-star rating for its exceptional sound quality, improved comfort, and premium build. The Grill modification almost certainly opened up the treble but the earpads did cause the tonality to be less ideal than some of the other Hifiman headphones like the Sundara that excel in that region. While its demanding power requirements may deter casual users, those with the proper setup will be rewarded with one of the finest listening experiences available especially at the openbox price of $400.

Conclusion

The Hifiman HE6SE V2 is a headphone that demands respect. With these modifications you get a combination of incredible resolution and expansive soundstage makes it a standout choice for audiophiles seeking the ultimate in performance. While it requires significant amplification to reach its potential, the effort is well worth it for those willing to invest. But with Hifiman recently Unveiled line of headphones the need for this specific headphone especially with easy modifications might have caused Hifiman to discontinue the line. Still if you can get that open box deal it a classic headphone to add to your collection.