These headphones were $3,000 back in 2015 – at $949 today, they're my 'value' high-end cans of choice

There's been a recent push for neutral tunings in budget and mid-range headphones, and it's been a long time coming. The Harman audio research might have discovered that most people find 'neutral' and 'good' to be one and the same back in 2012, but legacy tunings and the allure of exciting V-shape sound signatures meant that most brands have been slow to nail neutral.

• Buy the HiFiMan HE1000 Stealth for $949 / £839 at Amazon

The recent un-coloured tuning trend has been a great thing for affordable personal audio. Headphones like the closed-back Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Plus and IEMs such as the Crinear Reference have committed to a balanced, neutral-sounding profile, and all around the $400 mark. They sound exceptional in their clarity, and they are hands down some of the best audio releases I've heard in recent years.

Yet none of this has caught on in the world of high-end headphones. And the HiFiMan HE1000 Stealth – the 2023 iteration of a line that dates back to the $3,000, 2015 original – is no exception.

After all, the best-sounding wired high-end headphones are about specialisation – bold, sometimes risky tunings that don't need to be liked by everyone, just a few wealthy enthusiasts. Each pair of eye-wateringly expensive headphones is like a piece of modern art: the perfect mix of colour and form for some, a derisory mess that a child could replicate for others.

Now, the HiFiMan HE1000 may not be for everyone, but it is certainly for me.

In this review I dig into what exactly the HE1000 is trying to achieve with its specific tuning, and I'll do my best to help you decide whether this $949 high-end headphone is the End Game set for you.

Sound profile

Overall, there are a few things that jump out at me when I first put on the HE1000 Stealth (just HE1000 from now).

First, the expansive sense of space – these open-back headphones feel and sound really open. If you like an intimate, vocal-forward tuning, look elsewhere. And it's not just because of the scooped upper mids that present a sense of space – the ear cups are huge and let a lot of air through. Combined, the HE1000 gives me the most grandest sense of space of any headphone I've tried.

Second, the bass response is satisfyingly extended, measured and void of bloat. Then there's the fresh, bright-leaning presentation that brings a sense of detail. And finally, there's the correct-sounding timbre, despite its upper midrange colouration. For me, everything works together in harmony. Though I'd never call the HE1000 neutral, it offers a coloured sound that remains balanced.

The HE1000 makes an event of listening to music – it's as satisfying as it is impressive.

Bass: As with all HiFiMan planar magnetic driver headphones, the HE1000 delivers a refined bass response, which extends deep into the sub-bass region, though it drops off a cliff below 20Hz. It's linear without massive peaks, or tactically placed dips, so you get a textured, well-articulated bass that isn't over-done, isn't bloomy or overbearing, yet it's impressive for such an open-back set.

I don't want to overstate, as I've heard open-back headphones with more mid-bass slam and sub-bass rumble (like the Sony MDR-MV1), but for an exceptionally open-back headphone such as the HE1000, its bass extension and sense of body is really impressive.

Many reviewers have reported that it's the HE1000 Stealth's planar magnet design which provides extra tactile punch and lightning-fast speed... I don't know about that, and I'd much rather focus on my personal take on the tuning of a headphone than what the tech might be doing to the sound.

Bottom line: I get a textured, impactful bass from the HE1000, and there's precision there too. This is top quality stuff, and the bass is balanced with the rest of the frequency response really well.

If you're reading this review, the chances are that you're aware of HiFiMan's house sound, and the reason why many believe HiFiMan headphones provide the most expansive 'soundstage' of all headphones. Here's a quick recap, just in case...

HiFiMan open-back headphones feature a deliberate dip in the upper midrange frequencies (roughly 1.25–2.5kHz), which psychoacoustically pushes parts of vocals and lead instruments further back in the sound presentation. This tuning, which is very much present in the HE1000, can translate into an expansive, non-fatiguing, spatial presentation, giving listeners a sense of depth and width to their music, while also allowing more complex tracks to breathe with a sense of airy separation.

Now, full disclosure: This recession will strip many vocals and instruments of some of their natural intimacy, body, and presence, and that can be a solid turn-off for some. When this type of tuning is too extreme, the sound can feel slightly hollow. And though some of the body of vocals and lead instruments are definitely put on a diet with the HE1000, I never get a sense that I'm missing out; that HiFiMan went too far and took out something of the soul of the music. I just enjoy a different presentation of the sound.

This is because the overall balance of the frequency response remains cohesive. The genius of the HE1000 is that although it scoops out a chunk of the upper midrange (from 1.25kHz to 2.5kHz) to give that sense of space, the timbre of instruments and vocals is never compromised.

Of course, this is all relative, and when comparing the HE1000 to a much more neutral headphone, such as the HEDD D1, the latter's timbre is more correct. Yet the smidge of accuracy you lose in the HE1000 is easily made up for by its inviting, exciting and embracing presentation.

Ultimately, this spaciousness effect is exactly that – an effect. But it's expertly done, and a great deal of fun.

The only thing that bugs me about the midrange is that because of this fun dip, the following peak – around 3.4kHz – does provide a level of spice that some may find too much. It's fine for me, but if this is a known trouble spot for you – and let's be honest, the ear gain region is a trouble spot for many – then it's definitely worth keeping this in mind.

Some people may find the HE1000's treble off-putting (as treble so often is). For me, it isn't a problem... until it is.

After listening to my whole library un-critically, then my 'headphones' playlist critically, it wasn't until I got to two tracks that I felt the HE1000's treble reached my limits of spice.

The static squeaks and squelches of K-Lone's slk started to grate towards the end of the track, and the immediate high hat bursts of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean verged on too much... still, two out of 631 tracks isn't bad!

Casting a spotlight on it, there are hot spots around 6.5–7.3kHz, then there's a dip around 7.6kHz followed by a noticeable peak around 9kHz. Of course, you may hear the HE1000 differently to me – especially the treble frequencies – so that's more of a guide than a prescription. But the point to take away from this is that there definitely are peaks in the HE1000's treble. For me, they largely serve to sculpt sharp dimensions to the music, giving it texture and clarity.

Price, value & gear

Evaluating the value of a pair of excellent-yet-expensive headphones has to be nuanced, and I'm doing this from the perspective of someone to whom the HE1000's price tag is a considerable investment. So, can a pair of headphones that cost $950 ever offer good value? I think they can.

Tuning gets bold, singular, daring and divisive in the high end of audio. That means many people are not going to like the sound of the HE1000. For other listeners, I can see the HE1000 being their perfect end game headphone, being far more appealing than a neutral-leaning pair of headphones like the HEDD D1, or a slightly darker, warmer set like the HiFiMan Edition XV.

The HE1000 offers an audio experience that no other headphone does. Because I'm not overly sensitive to its specific colourations, and because I really enjoy the spatial effect it offers, I think it represents good value.

It's also worth noting that the HE1000 headphones come with a pretty standard 2-year manufacturer warranty, alongside a 30-day return policy for a refund when purchased from official channels. However, if there is something faulty with your HE1000, you'll have to pay for the postage when sending them back to be repaired (which HiFiMan will cover). It's a small yet annoying detail that many audiophiles have bemoaned over the years.

DAC/Amp requirements

The majority of people who buy the HiFiMan HE1000 Stealth will already have a dedicated headphone DAC/Amp set up. However, if you don't, fear not! The HE1000 is incredibly easy to drive, and you won't need to spend an additional arm and a leg to get the best out of them.

Thanks to its high 93 dB/mW efficiency, driving the HE1000 Stealth is a breeze. Any clean, solid-state DAC and amplifier providing roughly 200 mW to 500 mW into 32 ohms will achieve 115 dB dynamic peaks without distortion or clipping. That's lots of volume, zero noise.

Most boutique, multi-thousand-dollar pieces of gear are only 'better' than affordable modern desktop units in their value as pieces of art. If you love the look of them, and the features that they offer, that's great! Acoustically, they're indistinguishable.

Although I played the HE1000 through my $650 Luxsin X8, you just don't need to spend that money to get the most out of these headphones. You'll get all the power you need from a $220 FiiO K7 DAC/Amp, or a $199 Topping DX3 Pro+. Now, that will still bring the overall cost to North of $1,000, so it's worth considering. But again, I'd be surprised if anyone buying the HE1000 is building their personal audio setup from scratch.

Build & comfort

I can imagine that the look of the HE1000 isn't for everyone, but I think generally the build quality stands up to its kilobuck price tag. The comfort of the HE1000 is certainly top notch.

I love the retro, 70s-tinged, wooden trimmed vibe it's got going on, though I'm the first to admit that for $950, we really should be getting real wood trims! Instead we get a wood-printed vinyl veneer.

It would be enough to take half a star off, if I didn't find this weirdly charming.

What stands up to any scrutiny is the real suede headband which further sells the retro vibe and ramps up the comfort. Add to that subtle, light and comfy earpads, and very large earcups that will never irritate you by rubbing against your ears (no-one's ears are that big), and brushed aluminium, and you've got an incredibly comfortable set that feels solid in your hands.

I've read that the HE1000's massive ear cups can create seal issues on smaller heads, though I experienced no such issue. What I will say is that the supplied cable felt a bit stiff and prone to tangling, so I ended up using my trusty Custom Cans' ultra-low capacitance balanced litz cable.

Should you buy it?

I don't think we need to over-complicate things here. The HE1000's $949 price does a good job of answering the question 'should you buy it?', after all.

I would buy a pair of HE1000 because I find the experience I have with them to be amongst the most enjoyable I've experienced in audio to date. The specialist tuning is spacious and welcoming, seemingly sculpting music with added dimensions.

Also, in the fantasy world where I can afford the HE1000, I could probably also get the more neutral HEDD D1 headphones, so I'd have the best of both worlds. Out of the two, I think the $799 D1 is a better choice for the majority of people. But there will be a few of you out there that will find the HE1000 as special as I do.

But let me be clear – this is absolutely a pair of headphones that you need to get on your head and try out before buying, because there's a fair chance that the spacious effect and bright higher end is not your cup of tea, or you might just hear them differently to me – such is the nature of personal audio.

I'm excited about the current trend towards neutral that's occurring in budget and mid-range headphones, and I love how many of those new headphones sound. And at the same time, I equally love it when some old-school high-end cans, like the HE1000, utterly ignore the trends, and plough on with their bold, daring tuning.