Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled Review

November 15, 2024 4:21 pm

We’ve gotten used to Hifiman pushing technological boundaries with each of their releases. Earlier this year, the esteemed audio company made the unconventional move of removing the grills from the back of Susvara’s ear cups. They called it Susvara Unveiled. This headphone is a masterclass on top of the line sound. But unsatisfied with pushing the boundaries of TOTL audio, Hifiman they now look to push that very same boundary downward through the rest of their product line. That brings us to today’s headphone, the HE1000 Unveiled. Priced at $2,699, it brings similar design and tech to the Susvara, but does retain the character of the previous iteration, the HE1000se. How does Hifiman pull this off in practice? Find out in this review.

What’s in the Box:

HE1000 Unveiled
Magnetic Veils
1.5m single-ended 3.5mm headphone cable
3m XLR balanced cable
3m single-ended 6.35mm headphone cable
HIFIMAN Warranty

Build

The HE1000 Unveiled has some rather obvious build features. For one, the unveiled nature of the headphone means that the drivers of the headphone are completely open for the world to see. This has many sonic benefits, as we’ll get into when we discuss design and sound impressions. But in terms of build, it leaves the headphones feeling a bit vulnerable. That’s why Hifiman has provided “magnetic veils” that cover up each ear cup when not in use. It’s a strategy cut from the same cloth as Susvara Unveiled, and it gives a sense of relief for your delicate headphones.

But even though the driver is exposed, this feels like a brawny headphone overall. Its leather ear pads, suede headband, and metal frame make this feel every bit like the premium headphone it is. While it looks up to the Susvara for technical trickle-down, it continues its lineage as an HE1000 family member with its ergonomic ear cup shape and suspension headband. I should also mention that they are just 450 grams so they’re quite light and comfortable to wear as a result.

As far as build quality goes, Hifiman maintains its build style and technique while innovating with materials and design.

Design

Under the hood, the HE1000 Unveiled uses Hifiman’s proprietary stealth magnets. To refresh, Hifiman says, “These magnets have an innovative shape that minimizes turbulence and sound wave reflection, allowing sound to pass through the magnetic gaps without degradation. This advanced design ensures superior sound clarity by eliminating the distortion typically caused by traditional magnetic designs.” The headphones employ Hifman’s nanometer-thick diaphragm, an ultra-lightweight membrane that helps with transient response due to its thin and rapidly moving nature.

And then of course, there’s the design background of the fully open back concept. With this, Hifiman looks to reduce or remove all instances of sound reflection or obstacles. The goal here is to make for a more natural and open feeling headphone.

But does the HE1000 Unveiled live up to all of this detail in the build and design? In a word, yes. So let’s just get into it.

Sound Impressions

Low End:

The sound of the HE1000 Unveiled can be described as smooth but meticulous at the same time. And this all starts in the bass response. I do think this is a slightly mid-forward headphone, but the bass provides a root sound that informs the rest of the frequency response. It’s fast but smooth with accurate but natural attack and decay. It’s not too punchy or too soft, it’s just right. There’s plenty of subbass information that is well separated, yet the midbass is warm and expressive, creating a great combination of detail and musicality. Blending these elements is paramount to why the sound signature of the HE1000 Unveiled works.

Mid Range:

While the low end has characteristics that set the headphone up to be special, it’s in its midrange that the greatness of the HE1000 Unveiled became apparent to me. It’s highly detailed, a tad pushed forward, and extremely natural and realistic. The midrange has a real sense of space to it, with instruments appearing as tactile and independent from each other. Every note has its own unique texture that you can hear and feel through the headphones. Whether it’s the delicate plucks of violins or the crushed waveforms behind a synth track, it’s clear that Hifiman intends for a compelling and resolving listening experience.

Top End:

The treble response is also quite impressive. Its refinement in presentation is key to its performance. There’s a nice sense of sparkle without any hit of glare or sheen. It’s highly detailed but also remarkably smooth. This is exactly what a resolving headphone should be able to produce: a sound that has the energy and brilliance of a bright headphone, but matched with a refinement that polishes the edges and brushes off sibilance. Overall the headphone has an extremely coherent sound across its entire frequency range.

Soundstage:

We can’t forget about soundstage, which in its own right is the star of the show here. The sound field is expansive and natural. Imaging and localization of sound is downright fantastic. Everything has its place. Each sound has texture and tactility, and every piece of information feels like it has space to breathe. Without a physical outer limit to what the HE1000 Unveiled can do, the sound attacks, expands, and dissipates naturally. What results is a wonderful auditory experience, one that I think every audiophile should be excited about.

Final Thoughts

All told, the HE1000 Unveiled is a fantastic release from Hifiman. They continue their run of putting out headphones that push technical boundaries and providing wonderful audio experiences. It’s a headphone I recommend hearing for yourself, because it might just give you a taste of that audiophile magic you’ve been missing. With that, we’re giving the HE1000 Unveiled MajorHifi Gold.