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GeneralYu
20
Oct 4, 2018
Locked
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HEM6 Review with Updates and Audio Reviews Channels Recommendation Linus Tech Tips has reviews of these on YouTube. I got them because of that. They are comfortable. It has 2 cables that you can swap. The nicer looking cable (chain looking one) does NOT have microphone, and the boring looking DOES. Volume is LOUD even at low setting on my laptop or phone. I was not an audiophile and had not tried many high end headphones before. So I cannot say for the sound quality. Go to see Linus' review, that is much more professional. Edit: I got into the audio and learned a lot. Now I believe NuForce HEM6 is NOT worth even $160 soundwise; I don't know the current exact price. There are many IEMs much cheaper and sound better than HEM6. They are still very comfortable, and I give them that. The Comet from campfire audio (better if worn over ear), DGVP-DM6, QDC nepture, ikko oh1, are around the same price and much better. Budget IEMs like the Tin T2 from Linsoul for $50 (even cheaper on massdrop) and some other brands are getting so good this days, and they also look ok and have decent to good build quality and have swappable cable, which HEM6 sort of does not. Their 2 pin connector on the cable side is recessed so buying other cables might not be secure enough and would be aesthetically unpleasant. Last bits of tips:
  1. change ear tips until it fit perfectly with a good seal and use ear tips from other earphone you have if necessary, the sound can change DRAMATICALLY. To learn more search difference among different types of ear tips. BUY sony tips (some are not officially sold in the US), final e series tips, spinfit tips and more if necessary. I personally recommend trying all major tips on the market.
  2. Impedance is a number that tells you how difficult to drive the headphone. 32 ohms is a suitable number from smartphones and laptops. If impedance is high, max volume is going to be small on smartphones unless you use a decent bluetooth receiver (really a dac+amp) from earstudio, Fiio, ifi, portable (dac +) amplifiers like audioquest black dragonfly v1.5 or red v1.0 or nextdrive spectra dongles (like an iphone headphone jack dongle). Digital to the analog device makes the sound, and an amp amplifies it, You cannot drive a 65w light bulb fully with a 25w outlet, it will be dim. DAC are so good these days, you don't need one unless you are REALLY serious about audio, and you can see why you need an amp from the analogy I made.
  3. You buy cables for aesthetics, durability, a different length and NOT for better audio quality so don't buy expensive cables; their tuning effect on audio quality is marginal and require a HEAVY investment if you know little about it. (See the link below)
  4. If you need upgrades, get better headphones and amplifiers first. DAC is one of the last thing you need to worry.
New Update: In regards to IEM (in-ear monitor) and headphones cables' burn-in: I still sort of standby my opinion that you buy cables for aesthetics, durability, a different length. If you are new to the audio game, cables and DAC are still some of the last things to upgrade (unless the cable is uncomfortable then you can get a replacement cable under $30 USD). Amp and IEM and headphone itself are more important. There are some websites that make custom cables and searching for the cables by connector types shows many affordable results on Amazon. After reading many articles, I have not come to a conclusion to (braided specifically) audio cables can "improve" or change sound signature slightly since there is a strong aspect of psychological influences, so to some people, some good audio cables actually do something for them. Braided cables are generally more comfortable and have less microphonics. If you are interested in good looking cables to test the water, here is a Google-translated, 50k words, extremely informative cable guide on a forum that I hunted down after a year of searching: (link failed) Just paste the link yourself. This is the translate page for convenience: https://translate.google.com/
ORIGINAL link in Chinese (in case the Google link fails): http://www.erji.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=2132808&extra=&page=1 Its has to be the most comprehensive cables guide, even though it did not cover every brand. I have not tried them since most of the cables mentioned are expensive and even some respective audio reviewers on YouTube and forums have not tried a number of them to say for sure that they do something differently, I cannot recommend anyone to buy expensive cables without listening with them first. If you are just a bit skeptical and willing to try some cable, Plussound audio, which is mentioned in the forum above, has the exo series cable that can be considered as upgrade cables for a relatively affordable price, they are a good choice to experiment with. Choose a cable type (material) with the guide. If the cable does nothing, at least you are still getting a sturdy cable that looks very good. One thing I can say for sure, cables or adapter with extra impedance DOES change the sound and reduce small hissing and is very REAL, and frequency respond graphs generally don't show a difference with lower impedance. You will have to conduct other tests. Frequency response graphs are not sufficient in showing differences made by a cable or a burn-in process (playing pink noise at listening volume, there are also other ways), MAYBE a cumulative spectral decay graph can represent the differences better. All headphones and IEM companies do some sound checking and a few hours of burn-in before shipping them to the customers. I believe burn-in is real because I actually experienced it in a bass boosted headphone with a very stiff metal plated diaphragm, maybe diaphragm loosen up and the sound changed for the better. At least good companies tune their drivers that had been burned in, so the sound after burn-in is what the companies want you to hear. However, every other headphone I own sounds the same after burn-in. I still have not listened enough to be able to say burn-in is important. From the audio gear articles and reviews, I find people say burn-in on dynamic drivers' IEMs apparently make much bigger differences when they do than balanced armature drivers' IEM like these HEM6&8. Are burn-in and upgrade cable audiophile shenanigans? I don't know, I need to see reports done differently and scientifically by believable universities and other facilities but that is not gonna happen. Just you know, if you decide to go down that path, that mentioned guide and getting reviews from multiple specific people for consistency (so you know their preference and standards) can save you some money. YouTube channels on audio: DMS3TV, Currawong, Resolve Reviews, John Darko, Joshua Valour, metal571, z reviews, bad guy good audio reviews and more. YouTube recommendation will probably show you more channels. It is normal that you will read and see many conflicting reviews and can be both true since everyone's ear shape and hearing are different.
(Edited)
carliber
31
Mar 29, 2019
GeneralYu"You buy cables for aesthetics, durability, a different length and NOT for better audio quality..." I don't know what cables you've dabbled with, but you owe it to yourself to give HiFiHear 16-core (either 2-pin Or MMCX) a listen before making such an assertion --just be sure that your other components are AT Or BEYOND that cable's quality. It can be had on AliExpress for as low as $24.75 'til Mon. Apr. 1st during their Anniversary Promotion sale. Know that audio cables are audio components in a sound 'system' just like any other audio component, i.e., IEMs, amplifiers, earphone tips (type/kind/material), and so on. At the very least, know that the braiding of the wire of an audio cable, oxygen content of the copper and its purity (4N/5N/6N...), and a number of other factors can impact the sonic signature of a cable or wire. Of course, you'll be wasting your time if components in the audio chain are yoked unequally.
carliber
31
Apr 22, 2019
Solderboy23Ignorance is bliss (it is more comfortable not to know certain things).
Solderboy23
297
Apr 22, 2019
carliberWell at least you admit you know your ignorant. That's good.
Clemulus
32
Nov 12, 2019
Solderboy23Disagree
Clemulus
32
Nov 12, 2019
ClemulusIgnorant on cables - so learn your ****
TheCollorful
0
Dec 23, 2019
Solderboy23I have some experience with swapping cables. I once repaired my Audio Technica Headphones with a new shielded cable. The difference was actually very noticeable, but there was no better or worse, they just sounded different and that's it. You have to decide on your own if these cables change the Sound of your headphones or not. The only thing I can totally agree on is that the material used is not important in this diameters with this power. All a fiber cable does is to reduce resistance, and this has no effect on the sound.
Motorrad
2900
Apr 7, 2020
Solderboy23you have much less of an understanding of the subject than you think you do. different frequencies move at different speeds through different materials. this is not something that can be displayed by a weighted frequency response; it can, however, be heard. the changes are very subtle, but the changes are real.
audible
602
Apr 8, 2020
MotorradDo you really think this imbicile is old enough to vote?
Motorrad
2900
Apr 8, 2020
audiblehaha good point!
jaffe
272
Apr 8, 2020
Motorradwhoa. Your talent for trolling up the angriest of the angry dumdums has not diminished. bravo.
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