Is the HiFiMAN HE 600 worth the upgrade from the HiFiMAN HE 6?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The HiFiMAN HE 600 scores 5.4 points above the HiFiMAN HE 6. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in value (6.0 to 7.5). You do give up ground on sound (8.5 to 8.0). On paper: weight 502 g to 389 g and driver size 60 mm to 100 mm. Worth checking: active noise cancelling goes No to No. It's also $500 cheaper, which makes this an easy call. Worth doing if you're replacing anyway; harder to justify as a pure upgrade if what you have still works.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.58.0
- Value6.07.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | HE 6 | HE 600 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | No | No | |
| Weight | 502 g | 389 g | |
| Driver size | 60 mm | 100 mm | |
| Driver | 60 mm planar magnetic | 100 mm planar magnetic |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "HE 6 to HE 600". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.