The Hifiman HE600 and Edition XV are full-size planar magnetic headphones. The HE600 is currently priced at 799 USD, the Edition XV costs 399 USD.
The HE600 builds on the legacy of the highly successful and now legendary HE-6, seeking to imitate the sound signature while also being a lot easier to drive. The XV is the 4th generation of Hifiman’s “Edition X” series.
Both headphones use dual magnet planar magnetic drivers and the latest, 2nd generation “NEO Supernano Diaphragm,” which is less than 600 nm thick.
While both use the same headband and have a similar new style grille design, they’re differently shaped. The HE600 has circular cups like the HE6, XV is oval / egg-shaped. The pads are of course different in shape, but similar in material. Both have Hifiman’s hybrid pads with fabric on the face, fenestrated pleather on the inside, and full pleather on the outside.
They are very similar in comfort and the difference in cup shape is the only main difference. Both have dual entry 3.5 mm cable connectors on the headphones. This has become the main industry standard and it is thus very easy to swap cables to whatever you might need.
HIFIMAN HE600 SPECIFICATIONS
- Open-back full-size headphones.
- Driver: planar magnetic
- Impedance: 28 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 94dB
- Dual-sided magnet driver
- NEO Supernano Diaphragm gen. 2
- Effective Diaphragm Area: appr. 80 mm diameter
- Frequency response: 8Hz-65kHz
- Cable: Detachable 1.5 mm
- Cable connectors: dual 3.5 mm
- Cable termination: 3.5 mm with 6.35 mm adapter
- Headband: strap design
- Pads: hybrid
- Weight: 389g
Current price and availability:
HIFIMAN EDITION XV SPECIFICATIONS
- Open-back full-size headphones.
- Driver: planar magnetic
- Impedance: 12 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 92 dB/mW
- Dual-sided magnet driver
- NEO Supernano Diaphragm gen. 2
- Effective Diaphragm Area: appr. 80 x 50 mm
- Diaphragm thickness:
- Frequency response: 8Hz-50kHz
- Cable: Detachable 1.5 mm
- Cable connectors: dual 3.5 mm
- Cable termination: 3.5 mm with 6.35 mm adapter
- Headband: strap design
- Pads: hybrid
- Weight: 452g
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Hifiman XV
- AliExpress: Hifiman XV
LISTENING COMPARISON
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: Ferrum Erco mk2
Labyrint by Tingvall Trio
The HE600 sounds great, very well balanced and focused. The XV is good too; it’s more open and wider sounding, but less precise.
Sandermosen by Maridalen
They’re quite similar, but again, the HE600 feels more precise, while the XV is more airy.
Re-Melt by Tord Gustavsen Trio
Again, they’re quite similarly tuned, but the XV has a somewhat brighter presence, resulting in a more airy feeling. However, the HE600 has better detail and precision.
Eye of The Day by Marta del Grandi
Once again, tuning is quite similar, but the HE600 is more precise with better articulation. The XV is good, but the HE600 feels even better; the tonal balance is spot on, and things just sound a bit cleaner all around.
Dancing in the Dark by Jørgen Dahl
Both are very good. The XV has leaner mids and again sounds a bit more diffuse in comparison to the HE600. The XV also has a bit more energy in the highs.
Spontaneous Compositorius by Thomas Agergard
The saxophone is a tad leaner and darker with the XV, and the bright percussion is a tad splashier.
The Hidden Camera by Photek
They sound quite similar, but the HE600 is a bit tighter, while the XV is a bit more airy.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake
They’re very similar. Vocals are a tad warmer with the HE600, but the massive bass line is pretty much the same.
Vicarious by Tool
Again, the difference is quite small. The HE600 is slightly tighter in general, with slightly richer mids, while the XV has leaner vocals and feels a bit more diffuse.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
Both are good. They’re very similar here.
II. Allegro – de la Guerre – Destinées by Sophie de Bardonnèche Destinées
The HE600 is a bit warmer, with slightly more upfront-sounding string instruments.
As I continue through my playlist, the pattern continues. They’re often very similar, but the HE600 tends to sound more precise, slightly warmer, and more focused.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The sound signature is very similar between the two. The mid-range is a bit warmer and more upfront with the HE600, but not by much. The treble area is more pronounced with the XV, giving it an airier feel but also making it a bit less focused when compared directly.
Treble
As mentioned, the treble is slightly brighter in general with the XV. It often sounds more airy, and there is a slight increase in the perceived brightness. The HE600 is relatively close though; it feels a tad less airy but more precise.
Midrange
The midrange is slightly more upfront, warmer and richer with the HE600. The XV is a tad darker and leaner.
Bass
The bass is very similar.
Soundstage and Imaging
The XV has that added airiness, which makes the soundstage feel a bit larger, but the HE600 has a bit better imaging and feels more precise.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
In general, the HE600 sounds more precise, while the XV is a bit more diffuse when compared directly, especially in the highs and mids. The difference is not very large but noticeable enough for me to consistently prefer the HE600.
Dynamics are very close, but the HE600 feels more energetic.
Since the tuning is so similar, the timbre isn’t generally very different, but they’re not identical. I tend to find both the mid-range and the treble more natural and truer to life with the HE600. The bass is very similar.
CONCLUSION
In terms of physical build and design, the HE600 and Edition XV are almost identical, with the exception of the cup design. They share the same headband, grill design, and pad materials.
When it comes to their sound signature, they are also very similar, but the XV has leaner, darker mids and a brighter, more diffuse treble.
Even though the differences can be quite small, I basically always prefer the HE600 by a smaller or larger margin. It sounds more focused to me, with a more natural timbre and a slightly higher level of detail.
However, at the time of writing, the HE600 costs twice as much as the XV. Whether that price difference is justified is difficult to say, but after giving serious listening time to both individually, as well as comparing them systematically in this side-by-side session, I consistently find the HE600 to be the better-sounding headphone.
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