2024 was a pivotal year for Hifimanwith the arrival and then democratization of its acoustic principle Unveiled on its home audio headsets. A very high-end model, integrating said technology, the new HE1000 Unveiled is an opportunity to check whether the manufacturer keeps its promises.
HIfiman HE1000 Unveiled
Type: open Hifi headphones
ON-mag’s opinion: 
(5/5)
Prix : 2960 euros
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Metallic beauty faces fierce competition
A little more original or even radical than that of the previous versions of the HE1000, the shape of this HE1000 Unveiled nevertheless remains in line with the brand’s high-end Hifi headphones. Obviously not reaching the degree of perfection of Meze’s Empyrean II, a small miracle of industrial design, the Hifiman formula nevertheless displays a very good degree of maturity.
Entirely made of metal, the structure is made up of imposing earcup supports with an ovoid profile, thin temples and a double steel arch system. Without being really innovative, this headset stands out for its robustness and its finesse (especially that of the earpiece supports). Although its premium orientation is undeniable, it is clear that the use of carbon or magnesium fibers would have allowed it to really stand out, while being significantly lighter. However, its weight remains contained since it weighs around 450 g, which remains reasonable.
In fact, the Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled is a well-known headphone in terms of comfort. Its headrest is very wide, resulting in a total absence of pressure on the top of the head, and its pads are both flexible and disproportionately large. It is this last character trait, as well as the fairly limited adjustment range of the temples, which imply that the helmet is not perfectly cut for very small heads. Other than that, the comfort is simply excellent.
Fully open load transducers
It’s difficult to talk about the shape without mentioning the main particularity of the HE1000 Unveiled: its architecture, more open than open. To achieve this, the manufacturer simply removed the usual central grille protecting the rear of the transducer, leaving the latter – of the orthoplanar type – exposed, fatally vulnerable. To protect this weak point, the HE1000 Unveiled comes with strange magnetic protective shields, allowing the back of each transducer to be covered when the headset is not in use. These elements, although well finished, unfortunately seem like a makeshift solution. Not completely cut to the right dimensions and leaving gaps, they tend to only stay in place if the helmet is completely stationary. In practice, the transducer is sufficiently set back from its support, and its magnets are tightened enough to limit possible problems. However, since zero risk does not exist, this product more than any other requires a certain amount of care.
Finally, Hifiman has the elegance of not being stingy with the contents of the packaging. This includes a short cable with 3.5mm jack termination, a long cable with 6.35mm jack and a long cable with 4-pin XLR termination. If the addition of a cable with 4.4 mm jack termination would have been perfect, the fairly standard termination on the headphone side, namely the 3.5 mm mono jack (one per earpiece), allows you to find numerous references among other manufacturers.
A very great experience while being open
In line with previous models in the series, this new Hifiman HE1000 headphone adopts, in addition to the Unveiled principle, the manufacturer’s most advanced technologies: Stealth magnetic structure with magnets with optimized geometry and in-house Nanometer Thickness Diaphragm membrane, which like its the name indicates it shines with its finesse.
Anything but demonstrative, the sound of the HE1000 Unveiled can be described as natural, with a very slight accentuation at the top of the spectrum. The brand thus favors neutrality and linearity in the bass and midrange as much as possible, while maintaining enough restraint in the high end of the spectrum so that the sound does not appear colorful or emphatic.
When listening, this notion of balance jumps out at you, without ever being synonymous with boredom or coldness. The small dip encountered in the high-mids, as well as the slight oscillations around 6 to 10 kHz, respectively make it possible to soften the most aggressive sounds and to optimize the sensation of clarity as well as aeration, this with a lot of nuances.
This sense of nuance, which constitutes one of the great strengths of this headset, allows it to adapt to all styles of music without difficulty. Of course, an element of subjectivity remains. A model like the Meze Empyrean II is in a way more “mainstream” in that it offers a rounder sound, slightly more present bass and softer treble. With a little EQ work in the bass at the source level, the Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled can adopt this type of profile without losing its superb quality.
But more than the sound personality, it is the technicality of this headset that seduces us. Whether or not this is the result of Unveiled technology, it excels in all sonic compartments. The bass is very responsive and full, the midrange is natural and controlled, while the treble manages to develop an enormous amount of richness without ever being artificial.
Generally speaking, it is through its dynamics that this Hifi headset stands out. The smallest nuance is perfectly reproduced, the tiniest inflection finds a place, even at low volume, resulting in a swarm of details that never seems forced. The soundstage, very wide and of great depth, perfectly exploits this level of detail which it coats with an excellent degree of separation between the instruments. In many ways, the HE1000 Unveiled reminds us of the best electrostatic headphones, like the Warwick Bravia. A bit less detailed and technical than the latter, it is nonetheless a real sound demonstration.
Without being the most demanding headphone regarding amplification, being as convincing on a good old tube amp as with a modern class D device, the Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled still requires a little power to express itself. Its ability not to lose its superb sound at high volume inevitably requires connecting it to a robust and technical amplifier.
In summary
Atypical and expensive, the Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled is a successful Hifi headset in more than one way. Well designed and comfortable, it shines with its impressive fusion between tonal balance and technicality. A headset of great versatility and rare sound richness.
The Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled on the measuring bench
Above is the (compensated) frequency response of the Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled headphones. We notice the impressive linearity of the response.
L’Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled par ON-mag
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Specifications
- Type: open Hifi headphones
- Planar transducer with Stealth magnet magnetic structure and Nanometer Thickness Diaphragm
- Technology Unveiled
- Frequency response: 8 Hz – 65 kHz
- Sensitivity: 95 dB/mW (at 1 kHz)
- Nominal impedance: 28 ohms
- Weight: 450 g (without cable)
- Included: 1 x 1.5m cable with 3.5mm jack termination, 1 x 3m cable with 6.35mm jack termination, 1 x 3m cable with 4-pin XLR termination
- Prix : 2960 euros
