The Hifiman HE600 is an open-back, full-sized planar magnetic headphone released in 2025. The drivers feature dual-sided magnets and use the second generation of the Neo Supernano Diaphragm, which is 60% thinner than the previous generation.
The name suggests a connection to the legendary HE6, and although it is not a true successor, the HE600’s tuning is heavily inspired by the old legend. It is, however, much easier to drive, with an impedance of 28 ohms and a sensitivity of 94 dB/mW.
The HE600 is currently priced at around 799 USD.
RECREATING THE ORIGINAL HE6
The HE600 is not Hifiman’s first attempt at bringing back the HE6 sound. In 2018, the company released the HE6SE, which turned out to be a huge hit. The price was gradually lowered to a point where it became a real audiophile bargain.
Even though the HE6SE was just as hard to drive as the original HE6, its driver was not identical, and fans kept asking for a true remake of the original. Hifiman listened and recently launched the HE6 Remastered (2026), which is a true attempt to recreate the original HE6.
HIFIMAN HE600 SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: full-size open-back
- Driver: Planar magnetic (97x76mm)
- Driver magnets: double sided
- Diaphragm: Neo Supernano Gen.2 (<600nm)
- Impedance: 28 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 94dB
- Frequency response: 8Hz-65kHz
- Cable connectors: 3.5mm on headphone
- Cable: 1.5m black
- Cable termination: 3.5mm with 6.35mm adapter
- Pads: FocusPad (hybrid)
- Weight: 389g
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Hifiman HE600
- AliExpress: Hifiman HE600
BUILD AND COMFORT
At 389 g, the HE600 is unusually light and very compact for a full-sized planar magnetic headphone. Combined with the new arc-and-strap Gen.2 headband, it makes for a very comfortable headphone.
The HE600 has circular cups like the original HE6, and the cups are compatible with all pads made for previous circular Hifiman headphones. It has 3.5 mm connector sockets for the cable on the headphone, like all current Hifiman headphones.
HEADBAND – The “Gen.2 headband” features an arc-and-strap design, and it is very comfortable. There is more swivel action than in both the Sundara-type headband and the Edition XS-type headband. The Gen.2 headband is also used with the Edition XV, Ananda Unveiled, and the HE6 Remastered. There is a downside, though: people with larger heads might find the strap a bit short. Hopefully Hifiman can offer longer straps.
PADS – The HE600 includes Hifiman’s FocusPads. They’re made of memory foam with full pleather on the outside, fenestrated pleather on the inside, and soft fabric on the face (the part that touches your skin).
CABLE – The cable is not impressive for a headphone in this price class. It is a simple 1.5 m black plasticky cable terminated in an angled 3.5 mm plug, with a 6.35 mm adapter included. It connects to the headphone with 3.5 mm connectors, like all current Hifiman headphones, so luckily it is easy to find replacement cables.
LISTENING IMPRESSIONS
Associated equipment:
- Amp: Bryston BHA-1
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
In the Mountains by Espen Eriksen Trio
Starting out with some smooth jazz. There is nice, warm bass, punchy drums, and a delicate, present piano. Things sound very smooth and enveloping.
Pops by Nolatet
More jazz. Again, things sound smooth and refined. Well balanced and delicate. The imaging is good, but the soundstage is not especially expansive.
Alt e bra by Building Instrument
Smooth and organic. Clean but not sharp treble.
Maggi by Hvalfugl
Very musical in a nice, slightly laid back manner.
Maple Noise by Greene Serene
This is a very dynamic jazz improv piece. The HE600 sounds explosive enough, and there’s plenty of detail. The space between instruments isn’t pitch black, but everything is very engaging and dynamically smooth.
Katerina by Bill Laurence
Very musical, natural, and slightly laid-back.
The Hidden Camera by Photek
Time for some electronic music: The bass is warm and tight, powerful but not overwhelming in quantity. The percussion is very textured and quite crisp. With some headphones it can sound very dry, but the HE600 isn’t among them.
Seven Nation Army (Live) by The White Stripes
The guitar riff is meaty, the bass-drum is full and rich. Things are generally musical and smooth.
Take on Me – MTV Unplugged by a-ha
Morten Harket’s vocals are smooth and buttery – but rich in detail, with a great balanced presence.
Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
Excellent vocals. With many headphones, they can sound a bit intense – too warm, or too crisp, but the HE600 strikes a very natural-sounding balance.
Don’t Stay by Linkin Park
The guitars are crisp and energetic, the bass is polite in quantity. Vocals are clear.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake
Clean, clear vocals, very snappy percussion. The bass is moderate in presence but of good quality.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
The string timbre is not especially laid back, rather nicely crisp and energetic, textured and detailed.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
Great instrument separation. The strings have bite and attack, with lots of texture and crispness without becoming too sharp.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The HE600 is a quite neutral-sounding headphone, often with slightly dark mids, a somewhat smooth character, and great linear-sounding bass.
Treble
The treble has a really nice presence and great detail. It feels smooth and natural.
Midrange
The midrange is nicely present but often a touch dark. However, it depends on the music and varies from track to track and the dominant frequencies. With string instruments it’s quite upfront and crisp – with most vocals it’s a bit laid-back but not recessed.
Bass
The bass has some warmth but sounds very linear. It’s neutral and tight, typical for good planar magnetics.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage size is nice but not overwhelmingly large; it is a bit intimate compared to the most expansive sounding headphones. Imaging is quite good, but I am not super impressed by the instrument separation.
That said, it all feels very cohesive and natural. The HE600 is a great-sounding headphone but not the most technical-sounding one I’ve heard at this price level.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The detail level is very good across the frequency range. The HE600 typically delivers detail in a nice, smooth way – but it depends on the track and the dominant frequencies: it can also be quite crisp and textured.
Dynamics are good for a planar magnetic headphone of this type, and I find the general timbre to be very natural and musical, in a very enjoyable and slightly laid-back manner.
COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC/Amp: Ferrum Erco mk2
HIFIMAN EDITION XV vs HE600
The Edition XV shares the HE600’s headband, diaphragm material and grill design. Both have dual-magnet planar drivers, but they’re not identical. The Edition XV currently costs 399 USD.
Sonically, they are not radically different, however the XV has leaner, darker mids and a brighter, more diffuse treble. To me, the HE600 sounds more natural. The XV has a larger soundstage, while the HE600 has more precise imaging and sounds a bit more detailed and refined.
Read my full comparison here:
Hifiman HE600 vs Edition XV Comparison Review
- Amazon: Hifiman XV
- AliExpress: Hifiman XV
HIFIMAN ANANDA UNVEILED vs HE600
The Ananda Unveiled shares the HE600’s headband and diaphragm material. Both have dual-magnet planar drivers. The main visual differences are the larger oval-shaped cups and the exposed drivers of the Ananda Unveiled, which require more careful handling. The Ananda Unveiled currently costs 549 USD.
Sonically, they are not vastly different, but far from identical. The Ananda Unveiled is airier and a bit brighter, the HE600 generally sounds more intimate, slightly fuller and meatier. With regards to technical performance they’re quite close, but I generally find the HE600 a bit cleaner and smoother.
Read my full comparison here:
Hifiman HE600 vs Ananda Unveiled Comparison Review
- Amazon: Ananda Unveiled
- AliExpress: Ananda Unveiled
FIIO FT7 vs HE600
The FT7 is a full-size planar magnetic headphone from FiiO and their current flagship, priced at 699 USD. It comes with two sets of pads. I compared it to the HE600 using the FT7’s sheepskin pads.
Sonically, I find the FT7 a bit more technical, with a larger soundstage, more precise imaging, and sharper detail retrieval. It also has a brighter, more energetic tonality. In my setup, the HE600 sounds darker, smoother, and more laid-back, with slightly richer bass.
Read my full comparison here:
Hifiman HE600 vs FIIO FT7 Comparison Review
- Amazon: FiiO FT7
SENDY AUDIO EGRET vs HE600
Sendy Audio Egret is also a full size planar magnetic driver headphone. It has real wood cups and is very well built but is larger and heavier than the HE600. Typical price is 799 USD, the same as the HE600.
Comparing the two headphones, I find them to be on a similar technical level. The Egret is tuned to be more intimate and energetic; the HE600 is more neutral.
Read my full comparison here:
Sendy Audio Egret vs Hifiman HE600 Comparison
- AliExpress: Sendy Egret
HIFIMAN HE6SE vs HE600
I spent some time comparing the HE600 to my HE6SE, using the same pads on each. They aren’t very far apart, and the sound signature is pretty similar. When amped with a stereo amplifier, the HE6E slams a bit harder, but overall, they’re in the same ballpark as a total package. I like both — they’re just different flavors.
Read my full comparison here:
Hifiman HE600 vs HE6SE Comparison Review
- Amazon: HE6SE
CONCLUSION
The HiFiMan HE600 is a worthy addition to the HE6 lineage, even if it’s not a direct successor. It offers a smooth, natural, and musical sound signature with warm, linear bass, slightly dark but engaging mids, and a treble that is detailed without ever becoming harsh. The soundstage is intimate rather than expansive, and instrument separation is good but not class-leading, yet the overall presentation remains cohesive and enjoyable across genres.
Comfort is always personal, and people with larger heads might not be equally enthusiastic, but for me the HE600 is very comfortable thanks to the slim and light build and the new strap headband.
All in all I can recommend the HE600.
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- Amazon: Hifiman HE600
- AliExpress: Hifiman HE600
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