Hifiman HE6 Remastered

HIFIMAN HE6 Remastered: the return of an open-back planar headphone

Sixteen years after its initial release, a long-discontinued planar headphone was still flying off the second-hand market. HIFIMAN has finally responded to demand and brought back the exact transducer that made its former flagship’s reputation. The diaphragm and sound signature are identical, with the same appetite for power as the original; only the headband has changed, redesigned for hours of listening without weighing on the neck.

An original transducer reissued unchanged

HIFIMAN has reproduced the planar magnetic transducer from the first HE6 edition without altering it. The diaphragm, around a nanometer thick and gold-coated, remains the centerpiece. Such a thin membrane starts and stops very quickly, resulting in fast transient response that reproduces attacks—such as a drumstick strike on a snare drum—with great clarity. The frequency response extends up to 65 kHz and down to 8 Hz, a range that far exceeds the limits of hearing and demonstrates the planar driver’s headroom with the widest signals.

Keeping this driver strictly identical is a deliberate choice. Where most reissues take the opportunity to revise the tuning, HIFIMAN aims for sonic continuity with the 2010 original, even if this disappoints those expecting a more modern sound. The open-back, over-ear design widens the soundstage and gives the bass more air, at the cost of zero isolation from the outside world.

Efficiency that demands serious amplification

This is the trade-off that built the HE6’s reputation, carried over unchanged. Its 83.5 dB sensitivity places it among the least efficient headphones on the market: at the same listening volume, it requires far more power than a typical model. Its 50-ohm impedance remains moderate and does not explain this requirement; low sensitivity is the sole cause. A smartphone headphone output or a small portable DAC/amp will run out of steam before reaching a proper level. To hear what these headphones are capable of, they need a desktop headphone amplifier with ample current delivery—one that controls the bass and lets dynamics breathe.

A lighter headband and rotating hinges

All the update work is focused on the frame. The new Gen.2 composite headband reduces total weight from 550 to 522 g, or 28 g less than the first edition. The part itself loses 20 to 30 g compared with the old one, and its rotating hinges allow the earpads to conform to the shape of the head. During extended listening sessions, these fewer grams and improved support make a difference to how the temples and neck feel. An open-back over-ear headphone of this size remains a stationary item, meant to sit on a desk or near a hi-fi system, not to be carried on public transport.

Two cables to cover every output

The HE6 Remastered comes with two 3-meter cables. The first ends in a balanced 4-pin XLR connector, suitable for amplifiers fitted with this type of output, which is often more powerful and offers better channel separation. The second, with a 6.35 mm jack, connects to the standard headphone output found on most home amplifiers and DACs. These 3 meters confirm the headphones’ stationary purpose: enough length to remain set up at the listening position without fighting the cable.

Technical Specifications

Overview

• Reissue of the first-edition HE6 planar magnetic transducer, former HIFIMAN flagship
• Type: open-back circumaural headphones
• Weight: 522 g, a reduction of 28 g compared with the 550 g of the first-edition HE6

Transducer and acoustics

• Planar magnetic transducer
• Nanometer-thick, gold-metallized diaphragm
  • Fast transient response
  • Wide frequency range
• Frequency response: 8 Hz to 65 kHz
• Impedance: 50 Ω
• Sensitivity: 83.5 dB, requiring a headphone amplifier with ample current delivery

Structure and ergonomics

• Gen.2 composite headband with rotating hinges
  • 20 to 30 g lighter than the previous headband
  • Improved long-term comfort

Included cables and accessories

• 4-pin XLR balanced headphone cable, 3 m
• 6.35 mm jack headphone cable, 3 m