goropeza
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2011
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I'm in a deep listening mood tonight and I always wanted to do a compare and contrast against these two very amazing headphones, so what better time than the present? While both of these headphones are very good in their own respect, each have their own unique pros and cons I will attempt to put into words. So without further ado, I will start with the one that people are most familiar with and work from there.
HIFIMAN HE-500
Oh yes, the HE-500! Not only is it largely considered by the Head-Fi community one of the best headphones on the market, but it also comes with a friendly price tag. I got mine about 8 months ago (just off the top of my head) from another generous Head-Fi member for about $600 with a complimentary home made stand for it. It ended up being one of the best bargains I ever made!
Sound
The very first thing I noticed about the headphone on the first track listened to were those famous planar magnetic mids! The mids were way more forward than my beloved LA 7000's and it was a welcome change. I quickly noticed acoustic tracks were much more enjoyable to listen to on my HE-500's than on my LA 7000 Lite. Rock tracks in general with more focus on the guitars and mid range were just so darn impressive...it was truly addicting. While I did not appreciate the bass as much as I did the LA 7000's, I did acknowledge that it extends deep, maybe even deeper than the LA 7000's. It just did not have that power and muscle I was used to hearing, but I accepted it as a different sound signature, which is what I was looking for to begin with. I also immediately noticed how 'small' the music sounded. There was very little sense of space, but it seemed like the sound stage was more 'accurate'. The music from the LA-7000 sounds so open and cavernous....but it also has a very rugged sense of direction when trying to pin point where each sound is coming from. The HE-500 has no such issues. Despite the smaller sound, instruments separate noticeably better.
Now that my ears have grown more accustomed to it's sound, I no longer consider some of the initial concerns valid. I have come to conclude the HE-500 is a VERY good all rounder, and performs well with a large variety of music. I also now appreciate the less boomy bass in it's own respect and I like how little it seeps into the mid range. Most of all I really like how polite of a headphone it is. There really is a reason it's so popular! It basically tries to please everyone, but actually succeeds. There's a small mid bass hump that sounds great with pop music and crystal clear treble that is slightly rolled off to avoid harshness. The HE-500 also has an amazingly natural tone to it. Instruments sound very 'true' to real live performances and it's probably my favorite part about this headphone. Combined with some of the best mids I have ever heard, there is hardly anything this headphone does wrong. The rolled off treble is most appreciated actually, since the treble from the LA 7000 can still sound a bit harsh, even after extensive mods.
LA 7000 LITE
As I first entered the audiophile community, I heard many great things about last generation's Denons. Hell, I got into this hobby by putting $400 into the AH-D 5000's! The full, rich, all encompassing bass....the crystal sparkling treble...but above all, the most fun you would ever have listening to a headphone. Rockers and ravers alike praise the AH-DX000's for the exceptional dynamics that gave their music the rumble it needs to be fully 'felt'. For all the headbanging, some complained that the U shaped sound curve was too dramatic, and the sound felt too 'caged in'. But now with the famous MarkL mods you can have it all. So after upgrading from the D-5000's to the D-7000's, I decided to give them a shot...
Sound
Immediately, I recognize the bass to be much tighter, but still has that same tremendous impact the original AH-D X0000's are famous for. The impact is just much more localized now, and it doesnt rattle the entire headphone assembly like it used to. My specific pair (each LA 7000 can sound a bit different depending on how you customize it) still shakes a bit since I decided I wanted a bit less dampening, but not anywhere close to as much as the AH-D 5k and 7k's. Now I get to hear the mids that are so repressed in the original models. It is still concedes the stage to the treble and bass, but I can definitely hear them more now. Another big improvement from the stock Denon models is the Lawton angle pad. Backing the driver off the ear makes a huge difference, as it really opened up the sound, like the music had been let free. "Cavernous" is still a good word I like to describe just how open it truly sounds. That combined with the luscious, full bodied bass, some tracks can really just take your breath away. Backing the driver off the ear also helped alleviate some of the discomfort from the hot treble, which to my ears could be quite piercing on the stock Denons.
All in all, I would describe the LA 7000 as dynamic, engaging, and punchy. As much as the mods do change the sound, it's still a very 'in your face' headphone. This headphone does not make music so you can sit down to consider and analyze it. This music is meant to be FELT! The LA 7000 does everything it can to try to 'wow' you. The treble shoots for the sky and the bass has a weighty liquid-like feel to it. Songs feel alive in ways I haven't experienced in any other headphone. The drums really pop and electric guitars scream with power! It's important to remember that the D7000 was actually a pretty detailed headphone and the LA 7000 Lite is even more so. Since adding dampening materials into the wood cups, the bass doesn't over power the details in other frequencies as much, letting you hear more than you ever could with the D7000. Electronic in particular sounds absolutely perfect, and I cannot imagine any other headphone performing better than the LA 7000 for this genre, it's just pure ecstasy. For rock it's sort of a mixed bag, anything with drums or heavy bass I like the LA 7000's but anything that is really vocal/guitar centered I like to use the HE 500's for.
If I have any sort of complaint about this headphone, it would definitely be the treble. Perhaps I am a bit sensitive to treble, but all the Denons have seemed too shrill in that area, and the LA 7000 Lite is no different. It's not a huge problem most of the time, since backing the driver away from the ear alleviates some of the discomfort, but on certain tracks it can be distracting. Also, compared to the HE-500, the LA 7000 Lite can't reproduce natural sounds as truthfully. Perhaps it's not very fair to compare a closed headphone to an open one in this regard, but I thought it would be worth mentioning. Generally speaking, an open headphone will almost always sound more natural than a closed one.
Other Considerations
The HE-500 is super easy to mod. I myself have performed a grill mod on them that was so easy a caveman could do it, and it did open the sound stage marginally. The stock ear pads on the HE 500 could not get a good seal for me, and it seems to be a common complaint. Once again, mods can fix this problem if you are even experiencing it. I had Jergpads made for me and now I finally have a good seal. It really made a difference fleshing out the bass and the HE-500 sounds "fuller" now and more filled in. It even has detachable cables! Why every headphone doesn't have this....I have no idea. But not only is this super convenient for packing/traveling, but it also makes getting new cables a piece of cake. You can even own multiple cables for it if you so choose. Comfort can also be an issue for some people but it was never an issue for me. It clamps down more than the LA 7000 Lite, but I wouldn't say it's really tight or anything. I have a large head too.
The LA 7000 lite is the 2nd most comfortable headphone I have ever worn, number 1 being the HD 598 (tough to beat that one). Not only that, but they are absolutely gorgeous! Just take a look if you haven't seen them yet http://www.lawtonaudio.com/page66.html. The LA 7000 is also very easy to drive, even for a portable amp. Not saying I would ever use these while walking around, but I just mean it can be driven by literally anything. That being said, it is generally accepted by most that Denons sound the best when driven by solid state amps. The fact that this generation of headphone is no longer being supported by Denon (I will never understand why) is also something to consider. There is a screw that is known to break on the old Denons and it is very tough to replace, as it is a peculiar size.
Edit: Both headphones were amped by a Burson HA-160D for this review.
Conclusion
Each of these headphones are tremendous efforts by both parties. The best way I can summarize the HE-500 is that it does a few things well, but also doesn't do anything wrong. By contrast, the best way I can summarize the LA 7000 Lite is that it has a couple of weaknesses, but it's soooo good in the other areas that it over compensates. If I could only keep one though, I would have to keep the LA 7000 Lite. In the end, it just comes to down to what you enjoy as a music lover. I can personally over look some things as long as I'm having fun with my music, and the LA 7000 Lite has to be one of the most engaging headphones ever. My favorite genre is also electronic, and these headphones are just incredible for listening to it. They are also pretty good all rounders in their own right, just not quite so much as the HE-500's. Needless to say, I would still be sad to give up the HE-500's. The mids and naturalness are so addicting, and go great with other favorite genres of mine...jazz and blues. Well that about does it for me, as I think I have covered just about everything I can think of. I really hope this review helped some of you make a purchasing decision, as this review did take me a few days to type out (between work and social commitments). Hope you enjoyed and happy listening!
HIFIMAN HE-500
Oh yes, the HE-500! Not only is it largely considered by the Head-Fi community one of the best headphones on the market, but it also comes with a friendly price tag. I got mine about 8 months ago (just off the top of my head) from another generous Head-Fi member for about $600 with a complimentary home made stand for it. It ended up being one of the best bargains I ever made!
Sound
The very first thing I noticed about the headphone on the first track listened to were those famous planar magnetic mids! The mids were way more forward than my beloved LA 7000's and it was a welcome change. I quickly noticed acoustic tracks were much more enjoyable to listen to on my HE-500's than on my LA 7000 Lite. Rock tracks in general with more focus on the guitars and mid range were just so darn impressive...it was truly addicting. While I did not appreciate the bass as much as I did the LA 7000's, I did acknowledge that it extends deep, maybe even deeper than the LA 7000's. It just did not have that power and muscle I was used to hearing, but I accepted it as a different sound signature, which is what I was looking for to begin with. I also immediately noticed how 'small' the music sounded. There was very little sense of space, but it seemed like the sound stage was more 'accurate'. The music from the LA-7000 sounds so open and cavernous....but it also has a very rugged sense of direction when trying to pin point where each sound is coming from. The HE-500 has no such issues. Despite the smaller sound, instruments separate noticeably better.
Now that my ears have grown more accustomed to it's sound, I no longer consider some of the initial concerns valid. I have come to conclude the HE-500 is a VERY good all rounder, and performs well with a large variety of music. I also now appreciate the less boomy bass in it's own respect and I like how little it seeps into the mid range. Most of all I really like how polite of a headphone it is. There really is a reason it's so popular! It basically tries to please everyone, but actually succeeds. There's a small mid bass hump that sounds great with pop music and crystal clear treble that is slightly rolled off to avoid harshness. The HE-500 also has an amazingly natural tone to it. Instruments sound very 'true' to real live performances and it's probably my favorite part about this headphone. Combined with some of the best mids I have ever heard, there is hardly anything this headphone does wrong. The rolled off treble is most appreciated actually, since the treble from the LA 7000 can still sound a bit harsh, even after extensive mods.
LA 7000 LITE
As I first entered the audiophile community, I heard many great things about last generation's Denons. Hell, I got into this hobby by putting $400 into the AH-D 5000's! The full, rich, all encompassing bass....the crystal sparkling treble...but above all, the most fun you would ever have listening to a headphone. Rockers and ravers alike praise the AH-DX000's for the exceptional dynamics that gave their music the rumble it needs to be fully 'felt'. For all the headbanging, some complained that the U shaped sound curve was too dramatic, and the sound felt too 'caged in'. But now with the famous MarkL mods you can have it all. So after upgrading from the D-5000's to the D-7000's, I decided to give them a shot...
Sound
Immediately, I recognize the bass to be much tighter, but still has that same tremendous impact the original AH-D X0000's are famous for. The impact is just much more localized now, and it doesnt rattle the entire headphone assembly like it used to. My specific pair (each LA 7000 can sound a bit different depending on how you customize it) still shakes a bit since I decided I wanted a bit less dampening, but not anywhere close to as much as the AH-D 5k and 7k's. Now I get to hear the mids that are so repressed in the original models. It is still concedes the stage to the treble and bass, but I can definitely hear them more now. Another big improvement from the stock Denon models is the Lawton angle pad. Backing the driver off the ear makes a huge difference, as it really opened up the sound, like the music had been let free. "Cavernous" is still a good word I like to describe just how open it truly sounds. That combined with the luscious, full bodied bass, some tracks can really just take your breath away. Backing the driver off the ear also helped alleviate some of the discomfort from the hot treble, which to my ears could be quite piercing on the stock Denons.
All in all, I would describe the LA 7000 as dynamic, engaging, and punchy. As much as the mods do change the sound, it's still a very 'in your face' headphone. This headphone does not make music so you can sit down to consider and analyze it. This music is meant to be FELT! The LA 7000 does everything it can to try to 'wow' you. The treble shoots for the sky and the bass has a weighty liquid-like feel to it. Songs feel alive in ways I haven't experienced in any other headphone. The drums really pop and electric guitars scream with power! It's important to remember that the D7000 was actually a pretty detailed headphone and the LA 7000 Lite is even more so. Since adding dampening materials into the wood cups, the bass doesn't over power the details in other frequencies as much, letting you hear more than you ever could with the D7000. Electronic in particular sounds absolutely perfect, and I cannot imagine any other headphone performing better than the LA 7000 for this genre, it's just pure ecstasy. For rock it's sort of a mixed bag, anything with drums or heavy bass I like the LA 7000's but anything that is really vocal/guitar centered I like to use the HE 500's for.
If I have any sort of complaint about this headphone, it would definitely be the treble. Perhaps I am a bit sensitive to treble, but all the Denons have seemed too shrill in that area, and the LA 7000 Lite is no different. It's not a huge problem most of the time, since backing the driver away from the ear alleviates some of the discomfort, but on certain tracks it can be distracting. Also, compared to the HE-500, the LA 7000 Lite can't reproduce natural sounds as truthfully. Perhaps it's not very fair to compare a closed headphone to an open one in this regard, but I thought it would be worth mentioning. Generally speaking, an open headphone will almost always sound more natural than a closed one.
Other Considerations
The HE-500 is super easy to mod. I myself have performed a grill mod on them that was so easy a caveman could do it, and it did open the sound stage marginally. The stock ear pads on the HE 500 could not get a good seal for me, and it seems to be a common complaint. Once again, mods can fix this problem if you are even experiencing it. I had Jergpads made for me and now I finally have a good seal. It really made a difference fleshing out the bass and the HE-500 sounds "fuller" now and more filled in. It even has detachable cables! Why every headphone doesn't have this....I have no idea. But not only is this super convenient for packing/traveling, but it also makes getting new cables a piece of cake. You can even own multiple cables for it if you so choose. Comfort can also be an issue for some people but it was never an issue for me. It clamps down more than the LA 7000 Lite, but I wouldn't say it's really tight or anything. I have a large head too.
The LA 7000 lite is the 2nd most comfortable headphone I have ever worn, number 1 being the HD 598 (tough to beat that one). Not only that, but they are absolutely gorgeous! Just take a look if you haven't seen them yet http://www.lawtonaudio.com/page66.html. The LA 7000 is also very easy to drive, even for a portable amp. Not saying I would ever use these while walking around, but I just mean it can be driven by literally anything. That being said, it is generally accepted by most that Denons sound the best when driven by solid state amps. The fact that this generation of headphone is no longer being supported by Denon (I will never understand why) is also something to consider. There is a screw that is known to break on the old Denons and it is very tough to replace, as it is a peculiar size.
Edit: Both headphones were amped by a Burson HA-160D for this review.
Conclusion
Each of these headphones are tremendous efforts by both parties. The best way I can summarize the HE-500 is that it does a few things well, but also doesn't do anything wrong. By contrast, the best way I can summarize the LA 7000 Lite is that it has a couple of weaknesses, but it's soooo good in the other areas that it over compensates. If I could only keep one though, I would have to keep the LA 7000 Lite. In the end, it just comes to down to what you enjoy as a music lover. I can personally over look some things as long as I'm having fun with my music, and the LA 7000 Lite has to be one of the most engaging headphones ever. My favorite genre is also electronic, and these headphones are just incredible for listening to it. They are also pretty good all rounders in their own right, just not quite so much as the HE-500's. Needless to say, I would still be sad to give up the HE-500's. The mids and naturalness are so addicting, and go great with other favorite genres of mine...jazz and blues. Well that about does it for me, as I think I have covered just about everything I can think of. I really hope this review helped some of you make a purchasing decision, as this review did take me a few days to type out (between work and social commitments). Hope you enjoyed and happy listening!
