HiFiMAN HE-500 headphone test

HiFiMAN HE-500 is one of the older models of full-size headphones from the actively growing Chinese brand. The model is built on the basis of isodynamic radiators, and ideologically, is a qualitative development of headphones HiFiMAN HE-400. As we were able to see during our listening experience, HE-400 and HE-500 sound similar, but HE-500 has significantly increased resolution.

Ergonomics

The speakers in the HiFiMAN HE-500 are larger than in the HE-400. And large isodynamic drivers always weigh a lot – considerably more than conventional “speakers”. That is why HE-500 also turned out rather heavy – its weight is more than half a kilogram! In contrast to dynamic opponents, such a huge weight is felt very keenly. However, after just a couple of minutes of using HiFiMAN HE-500, you get used to it and don’t feel any discomfort.

Cup pressure force HiFiMAN HE-500 is not very great, it is better not perform with these headphones sudden movements of the head – can fly off. Cushions are made of tactile-feeling fabric. In terms of depth they are medium, such freedom as with Sennheiser HD800 and Beyerdynamic T1, your ears will not feel in them, but still they will be comfortable.

Sound

If HiFiMAN HE-400 could be called “an inexpensive ticket to the world of isodynamics”, then HE-500 is “a luxury ticket”. The advantages of isodynamic transducers are widely spread in these headphones, if not in full then to a greater extent than in their smaller brothers.

HiFiMAN HE-500 sound wants to be called “great”: the headphones play music with a titanic scale and with a literally avalanche-like thrust.

The source of this enormity and pressure is the headphone’s powerful, earthy bass. There is a lot of it in the sound, and at the same time it is perfectly worked out: fast, collected, clear. It is true that it may slightly “hum” on over-saturated low-frequency compositions. If it were not for this unfortunate drawback, HiFiMAN HE-500 could be considered the owner of the best bass quality in its category, and so – first place “goes” Alessandro Music Series Pro.

But HiFiMAN HE-500 literally “trumps all” in the quality of the middle frequencies. In this range they have even more resolution than the HE-400. If HE-400 can compete with the headphones from HE-500 category in intelligibility and abundance of nuances in the “middle”, the HE-500 leaves the opponents far behind and almost catches up with one-driver “armature.

No other full-size headphone in our test can boast the same detailed timbres of vocals and most instruments, the same distinct reproduction of the bulk of reverb and fading, and, in the end, the same convincing sense of realism of the reproduced musical action. What can I say, here it is, the “top” isodynamics in action!

Of course, as it always happens, in a large and sweet vat of honey, which presents the sound of HiFiMAN HE-500, is not without a spoon… some not very pleasant to taste substance. It lies in the high frequencies.

On the whole, the high frequencies of HiFiMAN HE-500 are somewhat muffled, at the same time they are detailed and quite natural. However, somewhere near the beginning of the high-frequency range, you can hear a “bump” of the AFR. This splash makes the high frequencies sound a little rougher – it is especially noticeable on the records, where the amount of high frequencies is initially overstated – it may not be felt at all on more “calm” phonograms. Here it is, the very “spoon. Some of the listeners will probably be able to “swallow” it and not notice, but someone will be constantly tormented by the “bitter aftertaste.