Introduction to the HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled Review
I am writing this review to let you know that boundaries are being pushed once again by Hifiman, both when it comes to technology used and sonic performance. Despite my love for the HE1000SE, I admit that the reviewed HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled now takes the throne as the best HE1000 model so far. Nearly everything I love about the HE1000SE has been improved with the release of the Unveiled. The versatility in terms of the source pairing is still there and so is the comfort. Users can still enjoy a natural, neutral and technically proficient sound signature, but this time it comes with some significant refinements that make it one of the best open-back offerings in the price category.
Hifiman has been catching some flak recently when it comes to the pricing of its products. The latest Aryas and HE1000s cost more than their predecessors nowadays, because the predecessors’ prices have taken a huge nosedive. There have been reductions after reductions, and nowadays something like the HE1000SE costs 2000 USD – the price has almost been halved, as they used to cost 3500 USD originally. This is a double-edged sword. On one hand, we have been blessed with some insane deals, like the Edition XS being listed for 269 USD, or the ridiculously cheap Arya Stealth, coming in at 600 USD – they used to cost 1500 bucks. Mid-range Hifiman planars are dubbed the best deals in audio, bar absolutely none. Rightfully so.
On the other hand, people who already own Hifiman headphones are complaining about their gear losing value. While I don’t consider headphones to be the best way to allocate your funds if you’re looking for actual ROI, other than time well-spent with music, I can understand why it sparks frustration. Selling my headphones to gather funds for a newer, better pair used to be my bread and butter during my beginnings in audio – I simply couldn’t afford to keep more than one pair at a time.
This whole pricing situation harms the reception of new Hifiman products, no matter what kind of value they bring to the table. Any YouTube video regarding the Unveiled series is bombarded with comments saying something along the lines of “I’ll just buy those in a year when they cost 1000 bucks”. It’s justified, but it’s also a bit of a shame. I consider the HE1000 Unveiled to be the best Hifiman release in recent years, even including things like the Susvara Unveiled. In my opinion, the HEK Unveiled is worthy of the same reputation that the Meze Empyrean II had at its release! Let’s talk some more about that.
Packaging
Before I got to see the actual packaging, I was afraid that we would be hit with the same solution as most of the recent Hifiman releases – a basic cardboard box, maybe with a headphone stand inside. I was glad to see that that was not the case, as I began missing those older Hifiman “leather” boxes. While I’m all for allocating the company’s budget towards R&D instead of fancy packaging, this time I wanted to see something more special – after all, a new HE1000 series headphone is not a small release by any means.
The unboxing experience here is nearly identical to the OG Susvara. Inside the black eco-leather box is a whole hard-cover book (!) with information about the product. I checked it out, and one funny thing inside was that the headphones’ sensitivity and impedance have been mixed up – a headphone with 95 ohms and sensitivity of 28 decibels per milliwatt would be an absolute nightmare to drive and this review probably couldn’t take place if that was the case, as I currently don’t have any power amplifiers laying around in my flat.
Apart from that, there are also the veils for the cups in little brown baggies, identical to those packed with the Susvara Unveiled. I was afraid to see those things get scratched up, so it’s nice to see some consideration from Hifiman there. The famous rubber Hifiman cables have been a thing of the past for quite some time now, but it always feels refreshing to see the improved black cables in the box. Those are not the best stock cables I’ve ever seen, but they represent a small improvement over the heinous translucent cables included in the past. In their top-of-the-line creations, it would be nice for Hifiman to pull a similar move as some IEM companies do – collaborate with a high-end cable manufacturer to make some good stock cables. At a price point this high, I feel like we deserve it!
Design, Build Quality and Comfort of reviewed HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled
The design of the reviewed HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled is mostly similar to the previous HE1000 iterations. This time, however, there is no grill (of course), and Hifiman has ditched the wooden/veneer inserts and instead opted for a sleek, full-metal construction. It’s just as sturdy as before, and apart from the obviously delicate drivers, everything feels tight and secure with nothing sticking out, no manufacturing defects or misfitted parts. I’m not going to talk much about comfort here because the sensation is literally identical to any other HE1000 – the weight distribution is the strong suit here, and the pads are shaped faithfully to the human ear, so there’s nothing to complain about. The sensation of the pair disappearing on your head is still very much there, as it was before.
What about the design of the Unveiled aspect of the headphones? Well, there’s an important difference between the HE1000 and the Susvara when it comes to that aspect. This time, the magnets are spaced more tightly than in the Susvara, scoring an extra small point for the mental comfort department, as it is now harder to push a finger between the rounded magnets. That being said, the coverage isn’t full, of course, so don’t push your luck. The veils themselves are different as well – the HE1000 veils are covered with a carbon-fiber-like material on the inside, while the Susvara Unveiled keeps a blank white interior. I also feel that the strength of the magnets in the veils has been improved, fitting a bit more securely this time around.
AN IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER – please try to avoid lifting your Unveiled headphones in a manner where you keep hold only of the veils. The magnet strength is slightly improved, but the headphones may slip out from between the veils and plummet to the ground. It’s stupid, I know, but it’s something to keep an eye on and something that kept me close to a heart attack quite a few times when lifting Unveiled headphones less carefully than usual.
Disclaimer #2 – no, the HE1000 isn’t a good closed-back headphone if you keep the veils on during the listening session.
Tech
The Unveiled technology is quite controversial, because the safety concerns have been quite significant, with some painful-to-watch pictures of pierced drivers circling the internet. The improvement of the sonic performance between the Unveiled models and their predecessors is undeniable, and for most people, it should be worth the hassle of extreme care when handling your headphones. But for some, it won’t, because it ever-so-slightly harms the effortlessness of the listening session.
Now you have to look out for the veils and where to put them when they’re not on the headphones, as well as being mindful of the way you take off and put on your headphones. I had quite a few guests over since I received the HE1000 Unveiled, and many of them were dangerously close to accidentally sticking their fingers into the magnets, with some of them being reluctant to touch the headphones at all, in fear of a wrong move that would spell the pair’s demise.
Thankfully, the improvements to the sound are monumental, and I would likely pick the reviewed HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled over 99% of the headphones out there, except the ultra-summit-fi behemoths. Removing the grill entirely is a crazy move on behalf of Hifiman, but they’ve done it, and achieved exactly what they wanted – a clear improvement over the still-beloved previous generations. I’m curious to see what further advancements in this area are going to look like. For now, the Unveiled technology is already quite extraordinary, and I am left wondering whether other headphone manufacturers will adopt similar measures in the future.
Sound of the reviewed HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled
The overall sound signature of the HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled is quite faithful to the sound signature seen in other HE1000 models – the clarity, impact, and large, airy staging – but some areas have changed. It seems like the note weight is now more significant, the sound is smoother and thus friendlier to treble-sensitive folks who may have had a bone to pick with the HE1000SE. Everything feels more natural as well, thanks to the overall balance of the tones. Another area with significant similarities to other HE1000SE models is the ease with which they can be driven. Even mobile devices like dongles and Bluetooth adapters can get those pretty loud and impactful, so you don’t have to spend your days overthinking whether your low-end/mid-range amplifier makes the reviewed HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled not worth it. It doesn’t, they don’t mind lower power outputs.
That being said, these HE1000s benefit greatly from an increase in the quality of amplification in your system. I have noted very clear improvements going from a FiiO BTR17 to the Hifiman Prelude with them. So, bad news – you may ultimately be required to go even deeper down the rabbit hole… As is usually the case, my full Hifiman stack proved to be a good match for the tested HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled. The headphones will appreciate the usual warmth and smoothness of an R2R DAC, as well as the hefty amounts of power spat out by the Prelude. Well, it would be pretty weird to see that Hifiman makes DACs and amplifiers that don’t match their headphones. Obviously, they do, but no matter the brand you pick, I recommend picking some tubes or R2Rs to bless the whole system with some warmth and lushness.
BASS
The bass of the HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled is very fast and plentiful, though not the most plentiful when compared to some of its competitors. The speed itself, however, is very impressive. When listening to “Arid” by YokoO, it instantly becomes noticeable that the dynamics are definitely not an issue here, as the attack and decay on the opening drum hits make it clear that it doesn’t get much faster than this in the headphone world. That, to some extent, makes up for the slightly lower amount of bass than something like the HE1000 Stealth. That being said, I prefer this kind of bass response to something like the Empyrean II, where there was more bass, but it was not as quick as it is here, with the HE1000 Unveiled.
The HE1000 Unveiled’s prowess in the bass department doesn’t end there. The bass’s texture is another strong suit of the pair, in tracks like “Buena” by Morphine specifically. The song’s strong character and instant recognizability rely quite heavily on the bass guitar. It’s very easy to appreciate the tactility of those textures, boosting the overall naturalism of the presentation, which instantly leads me to the next point – despite the impressiveness of the overall bass presentation, it still ties in very well with the entirety of the sound signature for a balanced, easy-to-listen-to performance.
Extension of the bass is another area where the reviewed HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled’s power is nothing to scoff at. In sub bass-heavy electronic music, the slam and rumble are prominent and decisive, but not overly so – to be completely honest, I wouldn’t mind some extra power in the bass, but having to choose between that and an overpowering low registry presence, I’d rather keep things light. The bass’ strongest suits, when served by the HE1000 Unveiled, are tactility, cohesion, speed, and cleanliness, instead of huge, bombastic power that blows the listener away.
MIDRANGE
The vocals, as presented by the HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled, come across as gentle and very natural – Caroline King in “Bitter with the Sweet” sounds like a morning coffee on a sunny day. That is in part due to how well-balanced the entire presentation is. There’s richness and lushness to be found, but without a significant dose of warmth, which is good news for those who want to keep things closer to neutral instead of a midrange-dominated signature. Personally, I think it would be nice to have ever-so-slightly more warmth, as I think it would tie in very well with the overall smoothness and balance of the sound.
That, however, doesn’t mean that things can’t get lively on the HE1000 Unveiled. Let’s take a look at The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas’s vocal performance. At times, it can get quite intense, loud, and lively – and that’s an area in which the HE1000 Unveiled seems to do quite well too – the midrange shows its teeth in the dynamics department, reproducing textures faithfully and pouring life into the performance. So, worry not – despite the lack of warmth, the midrange is still lively, dynamic, and sparkly, speaking volumes about the HE1000 Unveiled’s versatility.
It’s hard to speak of the reviewed HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled’s midrange reproduction without mentioning the detail retrieval. As was the case with the previous HE1000 models, it gets more and more amazing the more complicated a music piece you throw at it. In multi-layered arrangements, like the second part of “Gdybym” by Voo Voo, there are multiple different instruments, sounds, and choir arrangements going on at once, and it seems like each and every one of them has its own space, beginning and end, and a full package of information to be conveyed as the piece goes on. Example? Try focusing on the knock at the door – such a simple addition, yet adds so much complexity, both on the micro and macro scale. Once again, a higher-end Hifiman model doesn’t fail to amaze with how much detail is being put on display, while maintaining a focus on a natural presentation.
TREBLE
The reproduction of the treble is a very interesting aspect in this particular iteration of the HE1000 Unveiled because so far, it seems like the most balanced way to handle it that has been implemented in the HE1000 series. But the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – the usual aspects of the treble have been maintained, and the HE1000 Unveiled is still a very lively, sparkly, and dynamic headphone as far as the treble is concerned. It’s one of the aspects of the sound that puts on display how fast things can get, with hi-hats seemingly appearing and fading away into nothingness in a split second.
Just like the midrange, there is a lot of information and detail to be extracted from the treble performance of the HE1000 Unveiled, and it becomes apparent even in recordings that haven’t been mixed and mastered as well. While the flaws are put on full display (understandably so), there are still aspects of the black metal classic “Exercises in Futility V” by Mgła that deserve special attention. The slight differences in the tones of cymbals, especially near the end of the track, tell a whole story of their own. Paired with the impressive dynamics, it’s a captivating, confusing, and amazing performance all at the same time, courtesy of the HE1000 Unveiled.
The word “balance” has been thrown around quite a lot in this review, I know, I know. However, there are lots of things about the HE1000 Unveiled that make my use of the word reasonable. Another one is the balance between how plentiful and well-extended the treble is, while simultaneously avoiding the possibility of sibilance, bite, or unpleasantness, even if you’re listening to the badly mixed track. The HE1000 Unveiled is a great example of how prominent the upper registries can get while being far from wreaking havoc at the same time – that is not something that, for many people, can be said about other HE1000 models.
SOUNDSTAGE
I think there’s a pretty huge “wow” factor in the staging of this headphone thanks to the three-dimensionality of its soundstage. Tracks like “As” by Stevie Wonder, dubbed by some as the greatest piece of music in history, are a great example. The instruments are placed on the right and left of the listener, while the vocals are kept in the middle. The vocals seem to be a little bit further away, contributing to the sense that the soundstage wraps around the user’s head instead of being a straight line in front of the listener. This aspect contributes greatly to the sense of immersion in the performance.
The three-dimensionality is served on a pretty huge stage – comparable to headphones like the HE1000SE, and noticeably larger than things like the HE1000 Stealth. The HE1000 series has always been quite amazing as far as the size of the stage goes, and this iteration is no exception, easily competing with things like the Erzetich Charybdis – another headphone at a similar price range, renowned for its reproduction of the sense of space. The spaciousness is also fueled by the completely black background and amazing separation of instruments, especially in live recordings. Everything is in its right place, with its own 5 minutes, its own spotlight. I consider the soundstage reproduction to be one of the strongest points of the HE1000 Unveiled.
Comparisons
HiFiMAN HE1000se
My favorite headphone has been dethroned – it must make space for the HE1000 Unveiled. The SE version is still a great deal as far as audio goes, with its price decreasing steadily for a while now. But dollar for dollar, pound for pound, the HE1000 Unveiled reigns superior thanks to a substantial increase in how full-bodied the sound is, and how the note weight has been increased as well – it is now easier to squeeze the satisfying punch out of the headphones. While it was certainly possible with the HE1000SE, I feel like the Unveiled is more lively as far as the dynamics go, even with a lesser power output.
The Unveiled version also has a more forgiving treble – something that the HE1000SE had some issues within certain environments. For many, the treble of the HE1000SE has been quite a mixed bag; for some, it was perfectly bright yet smooth, while being a difficult listen for others. I believe the issues have been ironed out here – the highest registries are smoother and more forgiving towards badly mixed tracks, ensuring a “safer” listen with no unpleasant surprises inbound.
That being said, what the HE1000SE may lack in refinement in comparison to the HE1000 Unveiled, it makes up for in value. The price decreases have been quite substantial, and the aforementioned Edition XS and Arya Stealth are not the only headphones that amaze with their bang-for-buck factor, making the HE1000SE a worthy contender to this day.
The Empyrean II is an amazing headphone – it has to be, after all, it won last year’s Battle of the Flagships, beating even the venerable Susvara! In comparison to the HE1000 Unveiled, it also fares very well – both pairs are redefining the price bracket, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. It’s difficult to choose between those two, and your choice shall ultimately depend on what traits of the sound you value most, as both go toe to toe in terms of raw performance.
What I like about the Empyrean II is its full-bodied warmth in the midrange – it is something that the HE1000 Unveiled lacks. Both are great when it comes to dynamics and detail in the mids. The Empyrean II is slightly more forward as far as bass goes – quantity and the strength of the punch are more prominent than what the HE1000 Unveiled shows. They are, however, more recessed in the upper registries – the Unveiled is more lively and dynamic, with its treble more pronounced and well-extended. The Unveiled also boasts quite a large soundstage, which hasn’t exactly been the Empyrean II’s strongest suit.
Both of those models have their own strengths and weaknesses, but in some departments, Meze is very difficult to beat when it comes to the quality of the accessories and the build, as well as the materials used. Meze is the definitive market leader in this category, pushing the boundaries of how much you can get per dollar spent. It’s a significant factor to take into account when deciding upon your choice, but ultimately, the sound is the most important, and I favor the HE1000 Unveiled here. Not by a huge margin, as both of those models represent a great level of performance, but it suits my needs and preferences better.
Pairings
HIFIMAN SERENADE + HIFIMAN PRELUDE
This is the stack that I use daily and conduct the most testing with. It provides a great mix of immense power, as provided by the Prelude, and gentle warmth of the HYMALAYA DAC inside the Serenade. It’s a very good pairing with the Unveiled, as mentioned before – the R2R warmth is just what the doctor ordered to complete the midrange, and the monstrous power of the Prelude provides a boost to the dynamics that makes the sound appear even faster and more pronounced.
Something like this would be my ultimate choice for the HE1000 Unveiled – pair it with a powerful amplifier to boost the dynamics, get some tubes or an R2R to provide the warmth, sit back, and enjoy the show. I’d stay away from amplifiers and DACs that contribute to an analytical, shrill presentation – the HE1000 Unveiled is resolving enough as is, no need to push it too far. Instead, like with other HE1000 iterations, go for something to boost the fun factor and the warmth, and you won’t be disappointed.
FIIO BTR17
It’s quite amazing that such a small, wireless device can output enough power to drive such a high-performing headphone. As far as practicality goes, it doesn’t get much better than that, but the idea of using the HE1000 Unveiled with a mobile device kind of clashes with the whole “Unveiled” shtick, as I don’t see anyone in the galaxy using those outside. Nevertheless, I wanted to see how it pairs with lower power outputs, so I did some listening.
While the performance is satisfying, as expected from such an easy-to-power headphone, you can’t help but think that something may be missing here. Despite the BTR17 outputting crazy amounts of power for its size, the HE1000 Unveiled yearns for some extra punch and slam, as well as a boost in separation and cohesion. Overall, it fares well, maintaining its smooth, balanced yet detailed and dynamic character, but once you try them with something more powerful, you’re not very likely to go back to a low-power source, as enticing as the portability may sound.
HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled Review – Summary
Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled is a headphone that contributes greatly to pushing the boundaries of its price range. It’s the best HE1000 model to date, thanks to its balanced sound signature with plenty of dynamics, detail, and textures to be found. And don’t get me started on the soundstage – its three-dimensionality, size, and separation are a sound to behold, pushing the HE1000 Unveiled to the top of the class. The smoothness of the sound makes every listening session easy and pleasant, with no need to be afraid of sibilance or spikes on your way. While it could use some extra warmth and punch in the bass, it still provides a rich and enthralling experience with each listen.
The competition at its price range is quite fierce, with models like the Meze Empyrean II and Erzetich Charybdis as competition. But the HE1000 Unveiled can match that energy, bringing a new kind of performance to the table, offering its own definition of amazing value for money. It remains to be seen what refinements are made to the Unveiled technology – right now it’s a bold and risky move, but so far, the tradeoff has been worth it, and the amazing performance of the HE1000 Unveiled makes it a very easy recommendation, with potential to become my next daily driver.
Highly Recommended!
Big thanks to HiFiMAN for providing us with the HE1000 Unveiled for this review. I wasn’t paid or asked to say anything good or bad about this product, all of the above is just my personal, unbiased opinion.
How does this headphone compare to the OG Susvara? I’m wondering if the technical gap has been bridged sufficiently (and in light of neither headphone being a bass quantity king) so that the HEK Unveiled’s big soundstage could actually make it a more interesting headphone overall.