Just sent the Edition X to the next loaner several days ago. I really appreciate this program and this listening experience. I would definitely attend again if there's a chance.
There are many reviews of this headphone on the forum now so my review would not be very comprehensive. I personally own the HD800s and have listened to several flagship headphones several times such as the HEK, SR009, SE-master 1, etc. Mainly I compared the HEXs to the HD800s on my system and most of my impressions would be based on that. My system is Macbook Pro- Chord Hugo- MicroZOTL2. I also tried the HEXs along with my Fiio X7 and Fiio X7- Chord Hugo.
Build, box and some general stuff: there are many reviews talked thoroughly about the this so I will just talk about the problems I found here. The box feels solid outside but cheap inside. To my knowledge the inside is the same as the HE560s, which is a shame for a $1800 headphone. The built of this headphone feels better than the HEKs, much more solid and has a more sense of beauty. I was worrying about dropping the HEKs on the ground and it will break apart but I don't have this feeling on the HEXs. The shape of the HEXs and the HEKs are very similar. But the HEK's headband is larger and more flexible, which is better than the HEX's. The HEXs used the same headband as the HE560s. I don't feel very comfortable with this headband myself due to my large head. Also my ears are always touching the drivers. This design really should be reconsidered by the Hifiman in the future.
Sound: My music genres are classic, pop and acg music. Basically, the HEXs feel very musical, with very relaxed lows, lush mids and somewhat laid- back highs. The bass feels solid but does not extend very low. The speed of bass is rather low so I guess on certain music they may feel disordered, though I don't have this feeling on my music styles. The mids is quite good and very Hifiman sounding. I strongly doubt if the HEKs have better mids than the HEXs (almost the same when driven well). It just feels lush and beautiful. The highs would be a complain since I personally feel it's pretty dark and lack some detail that should be in the music. The highs lack the energy when it should have as well.
Compared to the HD800s, the HEXs have better musicality but lack transparency and the accuracy of sounding (imaging). Bass are different styles, the HEXs feel more relaxed but HD800s have better speed. The HEXs win on the mids definitely. For the highs, HD800s provide better details and imaging. I switched the HD800's original cable to Siltech cables so the highs are not too harsh. HD800s also have better soundstage, larger and more structured.
On different gears: surprisingly the HEXs didn't sound better on the MZOTL2 than with Hugo along. I can hear some distortion in the middle of the sounding, though bass slam much harder and the overall picture is larger. With X7- Hugo the sound feels more like a whole and the distortion is gone. It's the best sounding I found. With X7 itself it sounds good as well. But you can't get a nice sounding with just a phone, though I would describe it as listenable.
Last I want to say is that IMO the HEX is priced higher than it's performance, a price around $1200 would fit the market better since it cannot beat flagship headphones above $1500 like HD800s when you do have some better gears. But if you want a headphone for travel and to listen in a hotel, then getting these at a cheaper price can be really nice.
There are many reviews of this headphone on the forum now so my review would not be very comprehensive. I personally own the HD800s and have listened to several flagship headphones several times such as the HEK, SR009, SE-master 1, etc. Mainly I compared the HEXs to the HD800s on my system and most of my impressions would be based on that. My system is Macbook Pro- Chord Hugo- MicroZOTL2. I also tried the HEXs along with my Fiio X7 and Fiio X7- Chord Hugo.
Build, box and some general stuff: there are many reviews talked thoroughly about the this so I will just talk about the problems I found here. The box feels solid outside but cheap inside. To my knowledge the inside is the same as the HE560s, which is a shame for a $1800 headphone. The built of this headphone feels better than the HEKs, much more solid and has a more sense of beauty. I was worrying about dropping the HEKs on the ground and it will break apart but I don't have this feeling on the HEXs. The shape of the HEXs and the HEKs are very similar. But the HEK's headband is larger and more flexible, which is better than the HEX's. The HEXs used the same headband as the HE560s. I don't feel very comfortable with this headband myself due to my large head. Also my ears are always touching the drivers. This design really should be reconsidered by the Hifiman in the future.
Sound: My music genres are classic, pop and acg music. Basically, the HEXs feel very musical, with very relaxed lows, lush mids and somewhat laid- back highs. The bass feels solid but does not extend very low. The speed of bass is rather low so I guess on certain music they may feel disordered, though I don't have this feeling on my music styles. The mids is quite good and very Hifiman sounding. I strongly doubt if the HEKs have better mids than the HEXs (almost the same when driven well). It just feels lush and beautiful. The highs would be a complain since I personally feel it's pretty dark and lack some detail that should be in the music. The highs lack the energy when it should have as well.
Compared to the HD800s, the HEXs have better musicality but lack transparency and the accuracy of sounding (imaging). Bass are different styles, the HEXs feel more relaxed but HD800s have better speed. The HEXs win on the mids definitely. For the highs, HD800s provide better details and imaging. I switched the HD800's original cable to Siltech cables so the highs are not too harsh. HD800s also have better soundstage, larger and more structured.
On different gears: surprisingly the HEXs didn't sound better on the MZOTL2 than with Hugo along. I can hear some distortion in the middle of the sounding, though bass slam much harder and the overall picture is larger. With X7- Hugo the sound feels more like a whole and the distortion is gone. It's the best sounding I found. With X7 itself it sounds good as well. But you can't get a nice sounding with just a phone, though I would describe it as listenable.
Last I want to say is that IMO the HEX is priced higher than it's performance, a price around $1200 would fit the market better since it cannot beat flagship headphones above $1500 like HD800s when you do have some better gears. But if you want a headphone for travel and to listen in a hotel, then getting these at a cheaper price can be really nice.
