Performance

With all the new parts on the HE-1000 V2, one would expect quite significant performance gains, and there are a few. The most noticeable is the weight which has come down a lot, and that leads to a huge boost in long-term wearing comfort.

Despite the change to pads that angle the drivers even more, there is only a slight change in sound-stage perception, which is most likely due to the change in the top-end. Like its predecessor, the HE-1000 V2 has exceptional linearity straight from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

Compared to the V1, the V2 has a little higher response in the upper midrange and what seems to be a little boost in the 70 Hz area, giving you the sensation of more punch and a slightly crispier high-end. The rise in energy around 3 kHz is still pretty gentle and the hump extends all the way up to around 7 kHz.

The change from the V1 is probably in the 3-5 dB. It is clearly noticeable when changing back and forth between the two versions. Normally, I am a bit treble shy and quite sensitive to harshness in the upper midrange, but despite the extra sensitivity up there, it is not noticeably more sibilant than the V1. This is probably because the peak in the upper midrange is around 3 kHz, maybe 3.5 kHz.

The bass performance is incredible (full stop). There is real sub-bass to be felt here, without it being soft. This is what makes the HE-1000s (both the V1 and V2) so special to my ears. HiFiMAN has definitely played around with the tuning on the V2, and it seems all efforts have gone into making the V2 sound a bit more mainstream. The upper bass hump (at around 70 Hz) is new for the V2. It is only a little higher, but has a great impact on how it sounds with contemporary music. The bump is noticeable and gives the V2 greater bass impact. Still not as intense as that of the HD800, or HD650 for that matter, you do feel the change coming form the V1. The V2 could be described as the V1's more natural-sounding brother (with the V1 being neutral).

Imaging on the V2 is slightly better than on the V1, but it is still not quite as enveloping as with the Sennheiser HD800. In terms of layering and definition, the V2 has a lead, but the sense of space on the HD800 is still unique.