Best compact headphone listening solution?

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

My Hexi's I could live with those without buying another headphone. Unless I overdo my karma and my guardian angel, hands me down a Meze empyrean or Hifiman Susvara unveiled. Cha.....Ching

If a pair of Focal Stellias come your way and, you don’t want them, you’re welcome to send them to me. 😁

 

[Jasonovich]

If a pair of Focal Stellias come your way and, you don’t want them, you’re welcome to send them to me. 😁

Duly noted!
I still miss those Focal Elegia's.

 

[Jasonovich]

I agree. I'm kind of having the same sentiments.

Since upgrading to Hifiman He1000V2 Stealth, I'm toying in my head to replace the SingXer SA1 headphone with either Gustard H26 or Yulong Da'art A39 both pure class A. The Yulong has R2R volume resisters, which is far more linearity than the best volume mechanical potentiometers.
Looking at the Gustard innards is like a work of art, twin toroidal PS.

I know from the many reviews, these are great headphone amps but is it worth twice the price, is it twice as good? Am I too weak, I should resist, do cold turkey, stop looking at YouTube. Temptation is such a b1tch!

Gustard H26

View attachment 10311

Yulong DAART A39
View attachment 10312

I'm getting about 6w into 32 Ohms from the SingXer, so they're not short on power. I suspect I'm going to get either the Gustard or the lesser know Yulong

The SingXer is probably one of the smoothest class A headamp you can buy - the replacement SA2 is on the market now with better power delivery: SA1 certainly a favourite with some of the reviewers. Love Z's honesty and colourful choice of words. 🙂

View: https://youtu.be/qLEqPv3m2WE?si=CsVCiAZKD2kRVSv2

Another week for my Gustard H26's to arrive, fingers crossed!

Its seems to be some kind of a ripple effect, I've upgraded my headphones to the He1000V2 and now I've upgraded my headphone amp because I want to hear them closest to their potential. These Gustard's will make them sing!

 

[RTHerringbone]

The nomenclature of Hifiman headphones is a bloody nightmare! So many "HE" something-or-another products.

This is the pair in question, isn't it @Jasonovich ?:

Amazon.co.uk

 

[Jasonovich]

The nomenclature of Hifiman headphones is a bloody nightmare! So many "HE" something-or-another products.

This is the pair in question, isn't it @Jasonovich ?:

Amazon.co.uk

Yes, you are correct.
Indeed, most confusing.

Hifiman actually explained why they had omitted V# at the end of HE1000 on the Amazon site, due to the body of positive reviews accumulated over the years, if they called it HE1000V1 (original not stealth magnetic version), V2 Stealth and V3 Stealth, Amazon would have listed it as a new product, and they wanted to keep rave reviews associated with the original product, rather than start from a clean slate.

If you go to Audio Affairs or any vender selling the HE1000 it will include Version tag at the end.

There's also the newer HE1000SE (special edition) and premium model HE1000 Unveiled!

Also note, the Stealth Magnet Design (V2 and V3) is an improved version of the original HE version.


The He1000 Unveiled comes with a removable magnetic cover, exposing the drivers.


You can spot the special edition version, it has a black leather band instead of a brown one 🙂

 

[RTHerringbone]

Yeah, I looked at the price of the Unveiled and moved on quickly. I was half-tempted by the Arya Unveiled but really, it's nerve-wracking enough having to handle expensive headphones, let alone ones where the drivers are fully exposed and open to the elements.

So.....I've got the Stealth's arriving tomorrow 🥳

The plan will be to put the FT7s in the "main" setup downstairs and then I can have the Stealth's up on the headphone setup and use the bespoke balanced cable with those, and the FT7s can go back onto their massive stock cable, which is a more sensible length for the downstairs setup.

 

[Jasonovich]

Yeah, I looked at the price of the Unveiled and moved on quickly. I was half-tempted by the Arya Unveiled but really, it's nerve-wracking enough having to handle expensive headphones, let alone ones where the drivers are fully exposed and open to the elements.

So.....I've got the Stealth's arriving tomorrow 🥳

The plan will be to put the FT7s in the "main" setup downstairs and then I can have the Stealth's up on the headphone setup and use the bespoke balanced cable with those, and the FT7s can go back onto their massive stock cable, which is a more sensible length for the downstairs setup.

No?
I thought you were looking for a pair of dynamics? 🤣
You cheeky boy!!

The Arya's come close to the Hexi's but have a more aggressive treble.
You'll going to love it 🙂

When my Gustard H26 arrive, going to provide my commentary after lengthy listening sessions, important to scrape off the placebo. 😎

 

[Jasonovich]

No?
I thought you were looking for a pair of dynamics? 🤣
You cheeky boy!!

The Arya's come close to the Hexi's but have a more aggressive treble.
You'll going to love it 🙂

When my Gustard H26 arrive, going to provide my commentary after lengthy listening sessions, important to scrape off the placebo. 😎

Ah I may have got it wrong, do you mean the Arya Stealths or He1000 Stealths ?

 

[RTHerringbone]

Ah I may have got it wrong, do you mean the Arya Stealths or He1000 Stealths ?

Nope, I've got the HE1000 Stealth's on the way. It's a fast-moving world with me, tough to keep track of what's going on 😆 I was considering the Arya Unveiled but I just don't want that never-ending concern about accidentally poking a hole in an exposed driver.

I figure that if you enjoy a hobby then you may as well enjoy it to the max. Dynamics were part of Plan A but the FT7s changed my mind; I love what Planars give and it makes sense to have a set upstairs and downstairs, it was just a question of what that second pair should be.

I think this sort of price bracket is the absolute limit of what I'm prepared to go to so I'll hopefully be a happy chap with these HE1000s. I love the headphone setup I've got and the downstairs system is great too, with perhaps the speakers being the only thing I'd want to change in 2026/27. Then I'll be done.....

 

[Jasonovich]

Nope, I've got the HE1000 Stealth's on the way. It's a fast-moving world with me, tough to keep track of what's going on 😆 I was considering the Arya Unveiled but I just don't want that never-ending concern about accidentally poking a hole in an exposed driver.

I figure that if you enjoy a hobby then you may as well enjoy it. Dynamics were part of Plan A but the FT7s changed my mind; I love what Planars give and it makes sense to have a set upstairs and downstairs, it was just a question of what that second pair should be.

I think this sort of price bracket is the absolute limit of what I'm prepared to go to so I'll hopefully be a happy chap with these HE1000s. I love the headphone setup I've got and the downstairs system is great too, with perhaps the speakers being the only thing I'd want to change in 2026/27. Then I'll be done.....

It makes sense, hopefully you'll enjoy the He1000's as much as FT7's. They may be planars but you'll find both are different with their own set of strengths and weakness's.

Good choice, you'll love the Hexi's and these babies love a bit of juice, the K13 will drive them nicely.
Love to hear your feedback when you receive them 🙂

 

[jjbomber]

Then I'll be done.....

🤣🤣🤣
Er, no.

 

[RTHerringbone]

🤣🤣🤣
Er, no.

Well..... 😆

You can never really say never, but as things stand, the speakers on the main system are the only things I can legitimately "target" as a potential area for improvement. In my head, the instant the Neat Petite Classics come down by a few quid, then I'll be onto them, But it hasn't happened in the 3+ years since they came out.

Ironically I've spent about the same amount on headphones recently as it would cost me to trade in my KEFs and get the Classics 🤣