Today, Louis reviews the HIFIMAN HE1000 UNVEILED, the company’s second open-back planar headphones using a unique fully open driver design. They are priced at $2699.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank the team at HIFIMAN for their support.
Click here to read more about the HIFIMAN products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics.
This article follows our current scoring guidelines which you can read in more detail here.
In this year’s Black Friday review, I will assess HIFIMAN’s second set of headphones featuring its radical UNVEILED concept. This time, they expanded the concept into their HE1000 lineup of open-back planar headphones.
HIFIMAN’s UNVEILED technology was first launched some months back with the introduction of the flagship SUSVARA UNVEILED which received a very high score from Marcus in the 2024 Top Gear award race.
It seems they’re working their way from the top to the bottom with this platform. I already received news that the ARYA line will also receive the UNVEILED treatment so stay tuned.
In the meantime let’s talk about the $2699 HIFIMAN HE1000 UNVEILED and how it compares to the company’s more ‘regular’ headphone designs such as the HE1000 Stealth and the ARYA Organic in my full review below.
Features
On paper, the HIFIMAN HE1000 UNVEILED is a set of high-end open-back planar headphones using the classic teardrop design of its predecessors with the same HE number.
The main difference is the fully open back and grillless Planar magnetic driver concept. HIFIMAN ditched the rear mesh protection and grille, allowing the HE1000 UNVEILED driver membrane to breathe freely to obtain an ‘unveiled’ tonality.
It’s a scary thought to have a planar magnetic diaphragm open to the elements. Fortunately, the magnet structure places the magnetic strips close together, enough to provide some protection.
The added breathability should also improve, in theory, responsiveness, improve transient response and provide faster-perceived attack and decay.
Concept
I’ve said many times before that the higher you go within the HIFIMAN headphone lineup, the less veil there will be, and perhaps that word influenced HIFIMAN.
However, to give the credit where credit is due, HIFIMAN has been tinkering with improvements in driver venting for a long time now.
A perfect example is the ARYA line first release which used a tightly knit, restrictive rear metal mesh that also reacted with the driver’s multi-magnetic structure.
On the second run, HIFIMAN switched to a less restrictive cloth mesh. That introduced some benefits. For one, the cloth didn’t affect the magnetic field of the magnet structure plus it also improved driver breathability. The third version incorporated the stealth magnet design, reducing refractions.
This UNVEILED design idea did rear its head from within the modding community. Many owners have posted their HIFIMAN cans with custom open grills to increase venting.
I know. I modded a pair of HE4xx myself and the mod did make a positive difference on this model but not so on others, for example, on the HE400se.
HIFIMAN seems to have taken this concept to the next level by designing a free-air driver from the ground up because you can’t throw any driver in any shell and expect good results. This dish comes with a special sauce.
Driver
The HIFIMAN HE1000 UNVEILED driver has all of HIFIMAN’s patented designs, including the Stealth Magnet treatment, the Core technology, the Nano Thickness Diaphragm, and the Window Shade design.
Just on specs and features alone, one would assume these drivers are off the shelf, but the magnetic structure alone should prove otherwise.
The large driver is a dual-sided stealth magnet Planar magnetic driver and seems to be the same size as their past iterations within this line. It measures around 160mm long and is perhaps one of the largest headphone driver sizes commercially available today.
Design
Cups
The Asymmetrical cup design carried over and I’m happy about that. Just as other Asymmetrical cup HIFIMAN cans, the HE1000 UNVEILED is also sensitive to the position it sits on the side of your head.
I found them to sound best when up high or when the ear sits at the dead center of the driver. A change in position can decrease the size of the soundstage and is the only negative trait that takes place.
The fully open-back design is a scary design implementation because the membranes are fully exposed. However, HIFIMAN throws in the box backplates to use as protective covers. But these seem large and are not fitted.
I have a feeling these are the same covers that come with the SUSVARA UNVEILED. The cups seem to be made from lightweight Aluminum and it is recommended to keep them on while the headphones are not in use which is a small inconvenience I’m not used to.
Headband
HIFIMAN is sticking with what works on this headphone using the same headband assembly design they’ve always used on the HE1000, the ARYA series, and the recent Audivina.
The metal headband itself seems to be made from cold-rolled stainless steel. The yokes are also metal but seem to be made from aluminum. So are the sliders that also hold the head strap which is made from a perforated thick cloth that assimilates a suede texture.
I wished these straps were easy to replace. HIFIMAN could capitalize on the desire for replacements, and customization, and the market is empty of manufacturers fulfilling this market.
Comfort
I find that the clamping force is just right on this set. The headband strap conforms to your head and is barely felt. You mostly feel the pads, barely.
The pads are softer compared to other Asymmetrical design headphones, not excluding any model. The foam used inside these pads seems to be memory foam but one that compresses easily. This also helps to obtain a better seal around the ear.
Stock Pads
One of the best characteristics of the HIFIMAN line of Asymmetrical cup design headphones is the extra-large pads. I like that they stuck with the black color and the 9-point clip-on system because it makes these pads easy to find and replace.
The pad is a hybrid type with a perforated inner strip and they are super comfy. I wish that HIFIMAN improved the quality of these and most of their pads as they seem to come apart at the seams too quickly.
I recall the first HE1000 and the ARYA had a similar, but stiffer pad. These seem like HIFIMAN’s UltraPads but these are softer and use a foam with less resistance. In time they flatten out a bit allowing the driver to sit closer to the ear which is something I believe is purposefully designed that way.
There is a thin cloth between the ear and the driver’s diaphragm that is part of the pad. This is a good thing because the magnets on the front and the part closest to the ear are spaced wider apart and need that extra protection.
Stock Cables
The HIFIMAN HE1000 UNVEILED comes with three cables that are an improvement in quality over most other HIFIMAN cables I have previously used. The cable assembly seems to be Rayon cloth-covered and flexible enough.
The innards are composed of a two-core implementation. There are two parallel wires, a crystalline copper wire, and a crystalline silver wire for each connection point.
It seems HIFIMAN went with Neutrik connectors on this cable set which are commonly known to be some of the best around, domestically speaking.
The three cables are terminated in a 4-pin XLR connector, a 6.35mm connector, or a 45-degree angled 3.5mm connector. My only desire that wasn’t fulfilled was a lack of 4.4mm connectivity which is a highly popular connector nowadays.
Packaging & Accessories
The HE1000 UNVEILED comes in a lavish HIFIMAN hardcase box with metal hinges, a metal flip lock, and a badge up front.
The innards are filled with a custom foam mold and lined with a Charmeuse-like fabric. The center stealthily houses the three cables under a T-shaped foam piece.
The headphone cups come without the covers installed and instead come individually wrapped in cloth sacks. The magnetic backplates come separately within smaller cloth sacks.
You get the three cable assemblies and one of the nicest owner’s manuals I’ve seen. It’s a hard-cover book with lots of information about HIFIMAN and the origin of their design concepts, including the UNVEILED technology.
When you open the box for the first time, you will find a printout of your set’s measurements, further personalizing the overall package. That, and the book add value to this set.
Sound Impressions
I like to do comparisons using the house sound whenever possible, so I pulled out my two favorite HIFIMAN DAC amplifier units; the EF400 and the EF600, with a surprising EF400 preference. I also used SMSL’s SU-X and SH-X combo.
Summary
Anyone who has listened to the HE1000 series headphones will recognize the bright aspects of their presentation. However, the HE1000 UNVEILED produces a more balanced sound signature with a flatter frequency response in certain regions compared to past iterations within this series.
I rarely get a set of headphones that once I have heard them I cannot put them down. The HIFIMAN HE1000 UNVEILED did exactly that to me. It seems that the uncovered driver implementation allows the driver to breathe freely and this in turn produces a natural timbre that’s sonically accurate.
Timbre
The overall characteristic you get with the HE1000 UNVEILED is a clean, fast, and natural timbre that is well-extended both ways, especially in the upper regions. It’s a well-balanced signature that efforts itself mostly in the midrange and upper frequencies.
If I were to put it within a musical and analytical chart it would sit very close to the center line and a sliver within the musical category. Lots of detail is produced in this presentation which is one of the highlights of this headphone’s sonic abilities.
The HE1000 UNVEILED produces a forward, bright presentation with a realistic-sounding midrange section, clean, fast bass, and treble response that seems to have no end as far as their high-frequency extension.
Bass
The HIFIMAN HE1000 UNVEILED bass response has a small dip that shelves the lower portion below the 40Hz mark, but the dip drops at a very slow and gradual descent and is not a perceived one until you look for it and start exploring the bass region.
The bass is clinical in the sense that it will let you hear every bass note distinctly but will not impress you with head-slamming visceral bass.
The HE1000 UNVEILED produces deep notes with energy but less so in terms of impactfulness. I would still rate the bass response of the HE1000 UNVEILED to be one of HIFIMAN’s best attempts at bass tuning outside of the Susvara range.
The bass is taut, and well-controlled, with some wiggle room for boosting. However, the monitor-like presentation of the bass response doesn’t respond well after a certain amount of user-defined bass elevation. However, most times modding is not needed.
The speed of the driver allows this headphone to produce bass with a high level of technicality, producing a clean interpretation of the input signal without losing control, even with complex recordings or musical passages.
Midrange
The mids are where the magic happens because the overall HE1000 UNVEILED tonality is pleasantly smooth, tuned to sound natural, and highlights most of what’s in a recording without sounding too sterile.
A high amount of nuanced details are produced within the mids in this set that reveal a lot of what’s behind the common headphone veil.
There is an area around 4kHz that is a few decibels above the flat line, and if the volume levels are set high, this peak can show itself not with irksome, shriek tones, but as a forward tone that demands your attention.
On various occasions, I attempted to provoke the HE1000 UNVEILED to produce harsh tones with certain recordings that commonly present issues on inferior cans, and on every occasion, it performed formidably maintaining composure and coherence.
I like the HE1000 UNVEILED vocal presentation. I consider the timbre, and realism to be top-shelf with instrument presentation following suit. Vocals are to die for on this set.
Treble
The HE1000 UNVEILED highs are well-pronounced, accurately tuned, and offer a ton of headroom. The high-frequency extension here is off-the-charts.
It is not shy about producing high frequencies that like to strut their stuff as they say. Each note is delivered with weight and presence. Anyone looking for a headphone that produces excellent highs need look no further.
What amazes me is the perceived speed from the highs. Even though most will consider the HE1000 UNVEILED bright sounding, they remain well controlled with any overt harsh or shrill characteristics. I love these highs.
Staging & Dynamics
The entire HIFIMAN Asymmetrical cup designs produce a larger-than-life soundstage that paints an accurate 3D panorama except for a couple of their early Stealth Magnet models that shrank in their soundstage size production a bit in favor of a smaller, more precise one.
The HE1000 UNVEILED gives you the best of both worlds with a huge soundstage and accurate placement. It delivers a lot of precise or nuanced spatial cues within a sonic 3D panorama that keeps you drawn in alongside the balanced, modestly-musical sonic characteristics.
It can produce vocals in a properly placed phantom center channel, alongside lots of width, height, and micro staging along the frontal plane and sides. This is a focused presentation.
Alongside that, add a dynamic character that while short with a little impactfulness, doesn’t lack any perceived potency or intensity when low notes have to be produced. Transients are off the charts as well.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
