Over-Ear
Focal Celestee
82Great
$875
Full review dataFocal Celestee vs HiFiMAN HE 1000se: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN HE 1000se comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: HiFiMAN HE 1000se - Outstanding overall at around $1699.
Over-Ear
HiFiMAN HE 1000se
88Outstanding
$1699
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Focal Celestee
Sound8.5
Value6.5
HiFiMAN HE 1000se
Sound9.5
Value6.5
Specifications
| Spec | Focal Celestee | HiFiMAN HE 1000se |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $875 | $1699 |
| HearWiki score | 82 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2021 | 2018 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | planar |
| Driver size | 40 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 2 | - |
| Frequency response | 5Hz-23kHz | 8Hz-65kHz |
| Sound signature | - | Bright neutral |
| Impedance | 35 Ω | 35 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/mW | 96 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | none | - |
| Bluetooth version | none | - |
| Codecs | SBC | - |
| Multipoint pairing | No | - |
| Battery | ||
| Wireless charging | No | - |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 430 g | 440 g |
| Water resistance | none | - |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| Balanced connection | Yes | Yes |
What reviewers said
Focal Celestee
The Focal Celestee is a premium closed-back headphone that pairs a refined, warm-neutral sound with a luxurious build and easy-to-drive nature. It delivers strong detail and impact for intimate listening, though its soundstage is on the narrower side and the included cable is quite short. Overall, it's a high-end wired option that prioritizes polished performance over versatility.
- Pro:Refined, smooth tuning with strong detail
- Pro:Premium materials and comfortable fit
- Pro:Easy to drive from most sources
- Con:Soundstage feels narrow and intimate
- Con:Short included cable limits placement
- Con:Pricey for the feature set offered
HiFiMAN HE 1000se
The HiFiMAN HE1000se is a high-end planar magnetic headphone that delivers exceptional detail retrieval and a spacious, airy soundstage. Its bright-neutral tuning offers strong bass and treble extension, though the prominent treble can become harsh with lower-quality recordings. While its 35-ohm impedance and 96 dB sensitivity make it moderately easy to drive, it still benefits from quality amplification to perform at its best.
- Pro:Outstanding resolution and micro-detail clarity
- Pro:Wide, airy soundstage with excellent instrument separation
- Pro:Strong extension at both frequency extremes
- Con:Bright, peaky treble can fatigue on poorly mastered tracks
- Con:Requires a decent amp despite moderate sensitivity
- Con:Midrange lacks warmth and body for some tastes
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.