Packaging and Accessories

HIFIMAN operates a web shop, and this sample shipped directly from the company, so we begin with the shipping packaging since this is how paying customers would receive the HE1000se. The shipping box is appropriately sized, although with HIFIMAN stickers on multiple sides and another mentioning the contents inside. I would have rather seen a stealthier approach, especially as these are expensive headphones. Inside is the product box, which comes in a shaped-to-fit bubble wrap and foam sheets on all sides for further protection from overzealous couriers. Given this is a flagship-class set of headphones, we see HIFIMAN using a leather-wrapped storage box that looks and feels far better than the cheap-but-functional cardboard boxes we have seen for HIFIMAN headphones thus far. There is a brushed steel inlay on the front with the company logo and product name, and very good stitching all around the box. A latch at the front keeps the contents in place during transit. In the absence of a carry handle and since it is less durable than what we saw with Audeze and HarmonicDyne, it is more of a box for storage than transportation.


Opening the box, we are greeted to a familiar unboxing experience with a warranty card with the serial numbers for both drivers of this headphone, which is an interesting move I can get behind. The QR code takes you to this page, where you can access FAQs, find applicable drivers for other products, and the owner's guide for the HE1000se (online copy here). The latter is included as a printed booklet, in color and on high bond glossy paper, which makes it feel like the premium product it is. A foam sheet underneath separates these from other items of interest for further protection. As seen above, HIFIMAN provides a soft cloth-wrapped foam piece with a cutout to hold the headphones. Notice the section in the middle with a note alerting customers that the headphone cables are below.


Given this storage case is not the most practical for transportation—let's face it, these are too expensive to move around anyway—I did have a storage case that worked better for taking these to trade shows and get-togethers. There is of course the excellent Dekoni x SKB Hero we saw before, but for those who thought it was too expensive, there is a far more budget-friendly option from Lykus which works well enough with the same cloth-wrapped foam piece inside and plenty of room on the side for the cables.