HiFiMAN Edition X V1 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 $1999.

Over-Ear

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

HiFiMAN HE 1000se leads on 2 of 4 measures.

HiFiMAN Edition X V1
HiFiMAN HE 1000se

HearWiki score

Sound

8.5

9.5

Value

6.5

Price (USD)

$1,800

$2,000

Specifications

Edition X V1HE 1000se

Type: Over-Ear; Over-Ear
Price (USD): $1,800; $2,000
HearWiki score: 78; 88
Released: 2016; 2018
Availability: Discontinued; Discontinued
Driver: 131.2 mm planar magnetic; planar magnetic
Driver type: planar; planar
Driver size: 131.2 mm; -
Drivers per side: 1; -
Frequency response: 8 Hz - 50 kHz; 8 Hz - 65 kHz
Sound signature: -; neutral-bright
Impedance: 25 Ω; 35 Ω
Sensitivity: 103 dB/mW; 96 dB/mW
Active noise cancelling: No; -
Weight: 399 g; 440 g
Detachable cable: Yes; -
Connector: -; 3.5 mm
Balanced connection: Yes; Yes

Specification comparison of HiFiMAN Edition X V1 vs HiFiMAN HE 1000se
Spec	HiFiMAN Edition X V1	HiFiMAN HE 1000se
Type	Over-Ear	Over-Ear
Price (USD)	$1,800	$2,000
HearWiki score	78 / 100 Great	88 / 100 Outstanding
Released	2016	2018
Audio
Driver	131.2 mm planar magnetic	planar magnetic
Driver type	planar	planar
Driver size	131.2 mm	-
Drivers per side	1	-
Frequency response	8 Hz - 50 kHz	8 Hz - 65 kHz
Sound signature	-	neutral-bright
Impedance	25 Ω	35 Ω
Sensitivity	103 dB/mW	96 dB/mW
Features
Active noise cancelling	No	-
Design
Weight	399 g	440 g
Detachable cable	Yes	-
Connector	-	3.5 mm
Balanced connection	Yes	Yes

What reviewers said

HiFiMAN Edition X V1

The HiFiMAN Edition X V1 is a premium open-back planar magnetic headphone designed for serious home listening, offering a spacious and balanced sound with a slight warmth. Its low 25-ohm impedance makes it easy to drive from portable sources, while its comfortable build and included accessories add to its appeal, though its design is not suited for noisy or on-the-go environments. The headphone delivers a refined, smooth tonal character that suits critical listening sessions in quiet spaces.

Pro:Easy to drive from portable devices
Pro:Spacious and balanced soundstage
Pro:Comfortable for extended listening

Con:Strong sound leakage
Con:Poor isolation for noisy environments
Con:Large and bulky for travel

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.

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