The Hifiman HE1000 series has long held a special place among audiophiles.
It has been regarded as the pinnacle of Hifiman’s signature wide and immersive sound, realized into a more refined and luxurious audio experience.
For many listeners, the HE1000 has served as a bridge connecting the Arya series with the realm of high-end headphones.
Design and Build Quality
The design of the Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled is largely similar to previous HE1000 models. However, the grille has been removed (naturally), and Hifiman has used a sleek full-metal material instead of the traditional wood or veneer.
The robustness is excellent, just as before; with the exception of the delicate drivers, every part is solidly and stably secured, with absolutely no protrusions, manufacturing defects, or misaligned components.
This is where there is a significant difference between the HE1000 and the Susvara.
This time, the magnets are spaced more closely together than on the Susvara, making it much more difficult to insert your fingers between the round magnets.
This is a small difference in terms of psychological comfort. Of course, since it does not completely cover the earbuds, please do not force your fingers in.
The earphone cover itself is also different. While the inside of the HE1000’s cover is lined with a material similar to carbon fiber, the interior of the Susvara Unveiled is a clean white.
Additionally, the magnetic strength of the cover has been improved, giving it a more secure and stable feel this time.
Drivers
The drivers of the HIFIMAN HE1000 UNVEILED incorporate all of HIFIMAN’s patented technologies, including Stealth Magnet processing, Core technology, Nano Thickness Diaphragm, and Window Shade design.
Looking only at the specifications and features, one might think it is a standard driver, but a look at the magnetic structure reveals otherwise.
The large driver is a double-sided Stealth Magnet planar driver, and its size appears to be identical to the previous model. At approximately 160mm in length, it ranks among the largest headphone drivers currently on the market.
Tech
Unveiled technology has been controversial due to safety concerns. Photos showing holes in the drivers have circulated on the internet, causing discomfort to viewers.
However, the improvement in sound quality between the Unveiled model and the previous one is undeniable, and for most people, the inconvenience of having to handle the headphones with extreme caution will likely be worth enduring.
However, for some people, this might not be the case, as it slightly compromises the comfort of the listening experience.
Now, you need to be careful about where to place the protective cover attached to the headphones, and also when putting them on and taking them off.
After receiving the HE1000 Unveiled, several guests came over; many nearly accidentally put their fingers into the magnetic parts, while others were reluctant to even touch them for fear of damaging the headphones.
Fortunately, the improvement in sound quality is tremendous, so I would likely choose the HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled over 99% of the headphones on the market, excluding top-tier models.
Sound Quality
The overall sound characteristics of the HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled have been inherited directly from other HE1000 models. It is characterized by clarity, impact, and a wide, open soundstage.
However, there are a few changes. The weight of the tone has been further emphasized, and the sound has become smoother, which will satisfy even HE1000SE users who were sensitive to high frequencies.
The headphones allow you to fully enjoy both the warm, smooth tone characteristic of R2R DACs and the powerful output of the Prelude.
Bass
The bass of the HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled is very fast and rich, though it is not the richest compared to some competitors.
However, the speed itself is very impressive. Listening to YokoO’s “Arid,” you can immediately tell that there is absolutely no lack of dynamics, thanks to the fast attack and decay at the beginning and end of the drum beats. It is hard to find a faster response than this in the headphone world.
This somewhat compensates for the slightly lower bass volume compared to products like the HE1000 Stealth. Personally, I prefer the bass response of the HE1000 Unveiled to products like the Empyrean II, which offer richer bass but slower response speeds.
The bass performance of the HE1000 Unveiled does not stop there. As particularly evident in tracks like Morphine’s “Buena,” the texture of the bass is also a strength of this product.
The song’s intense character and immediate recognizability rely heavily on the bass guitar. The textured bass sound enhances the overall naturalness, leading directly to the next point.
Despite the impressive bass sound, it blends harmoniously with the overall sound signature to create a comfortable listening experience.
Midrange
The vocals heard on the HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled are soft and very natural. Caroline King’s “Bitter with the Sweet” sounds like a cup of coffee on a sunny morning.
This is because the overall sound balance is excellent. You can feel a rich and sweet timbre, but without excessive warmth, making it suitable for those who prefer a neutral sound rather than one that emphasizes the midrange.
Personally, I think it would have blended even better with the overall soft and balanced sound if it had just a little bit more warmth.
However, that does not mean the HE1000 Unveiled cannot produce a vibrant sound. Let us take the vocals of Julian Casablancas of The Strokes as an example.
His vocals are sometimes very intense, loud, and full of life, and the HE1000 Unveiled demonstrates outstanding performance in precisely this aspect.
The midrange exhibits dynamic expressiveness, faithfully reproducing texture and breathing life into the sound. Therefore, while it may lack a warm tone somewhat, the HE1000 Unveiled clearly demonstrates its versatility in that the midrange remains lively, dynamic, and sparkling.
Treble
The treble reproduction of the HE1000 Unveiled is a particularly interesting aspect. It appears to deliver the most balanced treble implemented in the HE1000 series to date.
However, the HE1000 Unveiled retains the existing treble characteristics, delivering vibrant, sparkling, and dynamic highs.
In particular, it effectively captures the fast-paced sensation of the hi-hat sound appearing and disappearing in an instant.
Much like the midrange, the HE1000 Unveiled’s highs are packed with rich information and detail, and this characteristic stands out even on tracks with somewhat inadequate mixing and mastering.
Soundstage and Dynamics
HIFIMAN’s asymmetrical earcup design creates a soundstage much wider than reality, delivering an accurate 3D panorama, with the exception of a few early Stealth Magnet models.
Those models felt like they slightly reduced the size of the soundstage for a smaller and more precise soundstage.
The HE1000 UNVEILLED delivers the ultimate sound experience by providing both a wide soundstage and precise spatial awareness.
The 3D panoramic sound, conveying delicate and precise spatiality, immerses the listener and boasts balanced and rich musical characteristics.
It clearly renders vocals through a properly placed virtual center channel, expressing a wide width, height, and even subtle spatiality along the front and sides. It delivers a highly focused sound.
Stock Cable
The HIFIMAN HE1000 UNVEILLED comes with three cables that are of improved quality compared to most HIFIMAN cables I have used previously. The cables are covered in rayon cloth and offer excellent flexibility.
Internally, it features a dual-core structure. At each connection point, two parallel wires—crystalline copper and crystalline silver—are used.
HIFIMAN appears to have used Neutrik connectors, known to be among the best in the country, for this cable set.
All three cables are finished with 4-pin XLR connectors, 6.35mm connectors, or 3.5mm connectors at a 45-degree angle. However, it is disappointing that the 4.4mm connector, which is very popular these days, is missing.
HIFIMAN HE1000 UNVEILED Features
Outwardly, the HIFIMAN HE1000 UNVEILLED is a premium open-back planar headphone that adopts the same teardrop design as previous HE models.
The biggest difference lies in the completely open rear and the grille-less planar magnetic driver design.
By removing the rear mesh guard and grille, HIFIMAN has achieved a ‘hidden‘ tonality by allowing the HE1000 UNVEILLED’s driver membrane to ventilate freely.
The fact that the planar magnetic diaphragm is exposed to the external environment might feel somewhat unsettling.
Fortunately, however, the magnetic structure provides some degree of protection by positioning the magnetic strips close together.
Improved ventilation is theoretically expected to enhance responsiveness and transient response, providing faster, sharper attack and decay.
Conclusion
Whether it is minimalist ECM jazz recordings, orchestral works recorded on Decca Tris, or dense studio productions, the HE1000 UNVEILLED lets you feel not only the sound but also the place where it was created.
In addition to Hifiman’s signature wide and open sound, it delivers a more powerful midrange, enhanced dynamics, strong bass, and a more harmonious overall sound.
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