Over-Ear
HiFiMAN HE 1000 Unveiled
88Outstanding
$2299
Full review dataHiFiMAN HE 1000 Unveiled vs Sennheiser HD 820: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN HE 1000 Unveiled 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 1000 Unveiled - Outstanding overall at around $2299.
Over-Ear
Sennheiser HD 820
82Great
$1949
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
HiFiMAN HE 1000 Unveiled
Sound9.5
Value7.5
Sennheiser HD 820
Sound9.0
Value5.0
Specifications
| Spec | HiFiMAN HE 1000 Unveiled | Sennheiser HD 820 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $2299 | $1949 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 82 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2024 | 2018 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | planar | dynamic |
| Driver size | - | 56 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 8Hz-65kHz | 6Hz-48kHz |
| Impedance | 28 Ω | 300 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 95 dB/mW | 103 dB/mW |
| Sensitivity (dB/Vrms) | - | 103 |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | No |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 450 g | 360 g |
| Detachable cable | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C | - | No |
| Balanced connection | Yes | Yes |
What reviewers said
HiFiMAN HE 1000 Unveiled
The HE1000 Unveiled is a premium open-back planar headphone that elevates high-end performance with a remarkably expansive, precise soundstage and detailed, engaging vocals. It delivers top-tier resolution and dynamics for its price, though its exposed driver cups demand careful handling and it lacks a 4.4mm cable in the box. Overall, it stands as a highly accomplished flagship for discerning listeners.
- Pro:Outstanding resolution and dynamics
- Pro:Very large, precise soundstage
- Pro:Engaging vocal presentation
- Con:Exposed cups require careful handling
- Con:No 4.4mm cable included
- Con:High price point
Sennheiser HD 820
The Sennheiser HD 820 is a premium closed-back flagship that uses a ring-radiator dynamic driver to deliver a wide, airy soundstage unusual for this design. It excels in detail retrieval, controlled bass, and solid build quality, but demands a high-quality amplifier and carries a steep price that may not justify itself for everyone.
- Pro:Wide, open-sounding stage for closed-back headphones
- Pro:Excellent detail and clarity across the frequency range
- Pro:Tight, well-controlled bass response
- Con:Very expensive for the performance offered
- Con:Requires a powerful dedicated amplifier to sound its best
- Con:Closed-back tuning may not match the openness of the HD 800 S
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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