Closer Examination

In the past, I have used headphones which come with two cables to distinguish them from the vast majority which ship with a single cable, but this is the first time to date I have a product that ships with three separate cables. I suppose it further solidifies the HE1000se as a flagship set, and knowing the three cables collectively cost a whopping $827 by themselves only reinforces it. The HE1000se is rated to be more easily driven than the average planar magnetic set of headphones, which is why a more portable 1.5 m cable terminated in a 90° angled 3.5 mm TRS single-ended connector is included on top of more prosumer class, 3 m long cables terminated in balanced full-size XLR and single-ended 6.35 mm (1/4") plugs. The connectors are high-quality Neutrik plugs, and it's all fine and dandy until we get to the wiring, which unfortunately follows HIFIMAN's tradition of just not being good enough. Look at those thin tubes that seem more at home attached to a saline IV bag! These have crystalline copper and crystalline silver wires as conductors for a "wide frequency range, low signal loss, and enhanced emphasis on the low end for quality audio reproduction," but are prone to kinking and memory retention on top of suffering from occasional microphonics against the desk. They look, feel, and sound cheap, so much so that this is the perfect use case for an upgrade cable, such as the Hapa KnØt we will examine in more detail later on. The splitter is also a case of function over form, and two thinner sections lead to the 3.5 mm TRS connectors marked "L" or "R" for the two channels. The rings on the TRS connectors are green, and the connectors are gold-plated for oxidation resistance.


I don't know about you, but I think the HIFIMAN HE1000se is a gorgeous looking set of headphones with the aluminium and steel contrasting against the black on the support band and pads, and the wood on the ear cups adding that extra je ne sais quoi. So aesthetically at least, the HIFIMAN HE1000se does well in my books, which is only lessened by the uncommonly long ear cups. The HE1000se is effectively the HIFIMAN Arya on some decorative and functional steroids! It's not very lightweight at 440 g, but does not feel like it given the larger form factor. There are also multiple articulating points to where the second it is removed from the box, there are several moving parts that might have you think the HE1000se is not solidly built. Knowing that the wood on the ear cups is veneer might strengthen that belief, but let me assure you that the veneer with multiple layers of wood actually absorbs more impact than solid wood while keeping things light for what is ultimately just decorative. Built well in general, I didn't see any need to baby the HIFIMAN HE1000se.

The headband is similar to what we saw on the Arya as it is a thin piece of sheet metal bent twice and used as a flexible brace the ear cups are attached to, with a cutout in the center reducing mass. This is accompanied by a relatively long support band—synthetic leather, it is certainly of better quality than most leather bands—stretching with the headband to support your head. There are holes in the support band, which helps prevent hot spots on the top of your head. The stitching is well executed, and the support band does its job by providing ample support. This is also where storing the headphones correctly is important, and having the ear cups not touch each other lowers wear on the support band. I also recommend using a stand that holds these headbands from the steel brace instead of the support headband. Going back to the outside, we see the HIFIMAN logo and "HE1000se" above the ear cups, and L/R markings on the inside indicate the left and right channels. Notice how the entire headband assembly is held in place with screws, making this an easy set to disassemble and maintain with provided spare parts.


The support band on either side terminates in two sliders, and the slider of the height-adjustment mechanism simply clicks into several punched-out holes in the steel headband. It's not the most elegant solution for on-the-fly adjustment, and I certainly found myself inadvertently shifting one side more than the other the first couple of times, but once set up, there is little reason to change it.

Importantly, the set height remains in place even when moving the headphones around, and headband flex automatically adjusts to any head contours. It's a one size fits all approach that works well enough, which has the yoke system from a few others seem less adaptive to different head sizes and shapes.


A durable pivot point on each side for the ear cups rotates nearly 360° horizontally, with the C-clamps attaching the ear cups for further pivoting on the third axis to where you can tilt and rotate the ear pads in almost every which way. This and ample vertical sizing mean the HIFIMAN HE1000se has plenty of fit options to ensure a comfortable, secure seal.


HIFIMAN has used this teardrop-shaped ear cup with a few other models, including the Arya and Edition XS, with this design following ear shapes and head contours. These are thus open-back, over-ear headphones. The outer grille has 11 horizontal bars, with the entire grille made of CNC-machined aluminium that is then hand polished. Underneath is where we see the patented "Window Shade" technology, but more on it later. The ear pads are also slightly contoured and a composite of a polyester and pleather cover and medium-density foam filling. The polyester is perforated and provides support to the sides of the head, but there is no denying that these extend below the ears and down to the jawline for most, which feels weird the first few times you wear the HE1000se, almost as if you have horse blinders on. Clamp force isn't too high, so it is not uncomfortable as much as a matter of getting used to feeling as though turning your head may break the seal, which it won't. The ear pads are deep enough for most ears not to touch the inner fabric lining separating the magnets and diaphragm, but some have managed to make a strand of hair poke through the fabric, which you should remove right away lest it touch the diaphragm and create artificial crinkling noises in use. The ear pads are held in place by clips, which provides a good balance of a seal and easy replacement of worn-out pads. This has also resulted in third-party options, although I recommend trying out the stock pads first, of course.


This latest-generation ear pad is called the HIFIMAN SerenityPad, a revision to the previous UltraPad, which in itself wasn't the best name for SEO, either! The difference is that the protective inner cover is now integrated on the driver of the ear cup, so we have a hollow ear pad. This easier replacement system has also led to several third-party replacement ear pads with different material choices, including velour, sheepskin, and full leather. Removing the ear pads, we get a closer look at the driver assembly, albeit still with the "Window Shades" and stealth magnets on either side of the diaphragm, which sheds a green tint on the drivers.


The plastic plate inside the ear cups has the serial number of each driver engraved; it should match those listed on the warranty card. A small cutout shows more of the cable connector, which faces forward on the bottom of the ear cups such that the cable plugs in and naturally shifts away from your neck. As opposed to 2.5 mm at launch, the HIFIMAN HE1000se now uses 3.5 mm on the ear cups, which increases compatibility with aftermarket cables and HIFIMAN acknowledges as a positive since it introduces the ability to swap cables. With the two wires meeting at the splitter on your chest and moving to the source, weight balance is still centrally placed. Use the cable of your choice thus, based not only on length but also the source connector. Shown is the HE1000se paired with the 3.5 mm cable, which is handy for use with a capable DAPs, such as the HiBy R5 Gen 2. The 1/4" or XLR cables are longer and better for more prosumer gear. Most of my listening was done at home with the likes of the JDS Labs Element II, as well as the Hapa KnØt upgrade cable paired with the Topping E50/L50 stack.