So, finally here are my thoughts on the HE-500 that I had before I shipped it to Italy (jazzy76). A big thank you again to Jan, for making this possible (and for the reminder to get on with the review), albeit you might not like what I have to say... sorry...
My playback system includes a hoer-wege modified Kenwood DP-8020 cd-player which outputs via coax-digital to a Meier Audio StageDAC that feeds my Peter-Rill-crafted AMB M³. Other headphones I currently own (but I had lots of others before
) are Beyerdynamic DT880 600Ohm and Fischer Audio FA-003 non-woodies.
I will not comment on the box or accessoires or anything because..., well I mean hey, who gives a damn what I think about the box...?
So, let's get straight to the conclusion - yes, my verdict in its ultra-shortened-triple-destilled-version is: The HE-500 has its merits, but I do not think it is the right headphone for me.
And here's why:
One of my major concerns with many past headphones was that they did not fit my head and ears very well. Several phones I appreciated sound-wise had to go because I could just not stand wearing them for extended periods of time (i.e. AKG K701/2, Shure SRH840, Grado SR80 etc.). On the other hand I considered my Audio Technica ATH-AD700 to be super-comfy, but they have virtually no bass at all, and - being a classical educated doublebass-player - that is kind of a problem and they had to go as well.
Now, the HE-500 is the heaviest headphone I have encountered so far and even though the weight is fairly well distributed with the padded headband and nice cushions, I still find it annoying after, say, half an hour. I also regard the clamping force as being a bit too much, but that statement has to be taken with caution, as I wear glasses and it might not be an issue at all for people who do not.
So, the comfort is probably more of a personal preference than a technical flaw, but still it crosses the headphones off my
wishlist.
Having a look at a topic more interesting for the general public, I will give some comments on the sound.
First of all, I am very sensitive to "too much" at both ends of the frequency spectrum, bass and highs. Now, while the bass quantity and texture on the HE-500 were quite enjoyable, I was missing a bit of definition and the perceived extension was also not reaching down to the lowest octaves with the authority I had expected. At the other end of the spectrum I had the impression of a slightly edgy high-end, which contributed its own part to the feeling of fatigue I already had due to the comfort issues. The mid resolution was very good, though I cannot report anything that has struck me as being particularily noticecable - but that may be the very definition of a well integrated, smooth midrange!
All in all I find the headphones only suitable for short listening sessions due to the slightly fatiguing top-end and comfort-issues. Unfortunately, also during these short session the headphones never made my feet tap, and although the sound is far from bad, I just did not warm up to it. If this was a 300,- $ headphone I would still wholeheartedly recommend it, but at the actual sellprice I do not recommend myself to buy it - but I explicitly ask everybody else to make up his/her own ears, as we all hear differently and what means everything to my ears may mean nothing to yours...
That's it from my end,
out.
)
