If you’ve been in the personal audio world for more than five minutes, you already know HiFiMAN. Founded in 2007 by Dr. Fang Bian in New York, the company has spent nearly two decades cranking out high-end gear for audiophiles who want it all—from DAPs and planar magnetic headphones to amps, electrostatics, IEMs, and enough accessories to drain your PayPal account. HiFiMAN is one of the few brands where you can actually build an entire listening chain—desktop or portable—without stepping outside the ecosystem. Whether that’s a blessing or a trap depends on how far down the rabbit hole you’re willing to go.
The HE1000 is one of the brand’s milestone products. When it first landed in 2015, it was HiFiMAN’s flagship planar magnetic headphone and represented the bleeding edge of what the company could do. Since then, we’ve seen the HE1000 V2, the stealth-magnet SE version, and now—because HiFiMAN never met a revision it didn’t like—the HE1000 Unveiled, part of the newly launched Unveiled series for 2025.
No longer the flagship thanks to the Susvara looming large at the top of the lineup, the HE1000 has slipped into “sub-flagship” territory. The price has followed suit, with the Unveiled version landing at $2,699 USD. If that sounds high, welcome to 2025, where that price point now qualifies as “moderate” in the planar game.
To HiFiMAN’s credit, they’ve actually dropped the price since the original HE1000 launched in 2015—it retailed for about $2,999 back then. Adjusted for inflation, the HE1000 Unveiled is effectively $400 cheaper today. In an industry where most brands are charging more for less, that’s a rare move. Let’s not pretend it’s charity—this is still a $2,700 headphone—but in context, it’s a restrained bit of pricing. Of course, if you’ve seen the new Susvara Unveiled, you already know they didn’t extend that goodwill to the whole lineup.
Never one to leave a headphone design alone for too long, HiFiMAN’s latest innovation comes in the form of the Unveiled series. The name isn’t just marketing fluff—this time, they’ve literally ripped off the rear grill. The goal? Better airflow and reduced reflections. In theory, it’s a move toward a more open, transparent sound. In practice? Well, we’ll get there.
The real upgrade, though, is in the magnet structure. HiFiMAN has gone with a hybrid approach that blends elements of both single-sided and dual-sided magnet designs. On the rear side of the diaphragm, magnets are tightly packed and equipped with integrated waveguides—essentially Stealth Magnets—that channel sound outward without bouncing it back toward the diaphragm, which would add distortion. On the front side, the magnets are spaced farther apart, letting more of the signal hit your ears directly instead of forcing it to detour around magnetic obstructions.
The Susvara was the first to get this treatment, and while its price tag caused mild cardiac arrest, the engineering behind it was solid. The HE1000 Unveiled follows that same formula—same concept, slightly less wallet-destroying. Whether that hybrid magnet design truly walks the line between delicacy and drive better than its predecessors? We’ll see.
Unboxing & Build: Accessories, Armor, and All the Extras
The HE1000 Unveiled shows up in HiFiMAN’s familiar black presentation box, dressed in faux leather and lined like it’s auditioning for a boutique hotel gig. Compared to earlier generations, the packaging is noticeably more crowded—but not without reason.
This time around, HiFiMAN includes a pair of magnetic mesh covers meant to snap over the exposed rear of each driver when the headphones are off your head. Whether that’s for dust protection or simply to calm your nerves about accidentally jabbing a $2,699 diaphragm with a pencil, it’s a thoughtful touch. You also get four protective fabric bags—two for the earcups, two for the new covers—because apparently even the accessories now need accessories.
Inside, you’ll find three cables, all made from HiFiMAN’s hybrid mono-crystalline copper and silver wire. Two of them are full-length 3-meter (10-foot) cables terminated with 6.35mm and 4-pin XLR connectors respectively—your standard single-ended and balanced options. The third is a 1.8-meter (roughly 6-foot) cable terminated with a 3.5mm TRS plug, for when you absolutely must pair $2,700 headphones with a phone jack or a DAP. All three cables use 3.5mm TRS plugs on the headphone end, continuing HiFiMAN’s standard connector choice across much of the current lineup.
The rest of the box includes the usual HiFiMAN ephemera: individual driver frequency response cards (which may or may not tell you anything useful), a warranty booklet, a card explaining the Stealth Magnet design, and a printed manual that you’ll glance at once before shoving it back in the box forever.
Design & Build: Familiar Form, Subtle Tweaks, and a Few Missing Trees
Visually, the HE1000 Unveiled doesn’t stray far from the HiFiMAN playbook—and that’s not a bad thing. The proven stainless steel headband with its perforated leather suspension strap returns, offering the same mix of industrial aesthetic and long-wear comfort. The suspension strap and earpads are both finished in black, while the rest of the build leans heavily into brushed metal tones, with bright stainless steel accents on the headband and driver housing giving it a slick, modern feel.
One noticeable change: there’s no wood veneer on the cups this time around. That design flourish is gone, replaced by a full brushed metal finish that wraps around the outer edge, giving the Unveiled a more utilitarian, all-metal look. Whether that’s a win or a loss depends on how nostalgic you are for the original’s wood trim.
Also new is the updated faceplate design. The outer grill is considerably larger, now featuring a central rectangular cut-out that exposes the driver itself—subtle it is not. The rest of the grill is perforated with small circular vents arranged in a radial pattern, covering nearly the entire faceplate except for two defined ridges: one framing the driver itself, the other circling the outermost edge of the cup. It’s a more open and aggressive design, clearly meant to signal this isn’t just another revision.
The Unveiled series also introduces magnetic covers designed specifically for the exposed driver grill. While covers from models like the Arya and original HE1000 will physically fit, these are color-matched to each model. The ones included here match the brushed stainless finish of the HE1000 Unveiled, so at least your driver guards won’t clash with the rest of the design.
Beyond those updates, it’s classic HiFiMAN construction: 3.5mm TRS jacks at the base of each egg-shaped cup for cable connections, and the familiar 8-step click adjustments on either side of the headband provide enough range to accommodate everything from smaller heads to full-on audiophile domes.
Under the Hood: Same Size, Smarter Tech
Inside, the HE1000 Unveiled sticks with the same driver dimensions as previous generations, but don’t mistake that for a simple parts-bin refresh. HiFiMAN has crammed in every technological upgrade it’s developed over the past decade, turning what was already a high-performance platform into something far more refined.
You get the full suite: Stealth Magnets for reduced turbulence and distortion, a nanometer-thick diaphragm for faster transients and better detail retrieval, and the signature “window blind” magnet structure on the front face—still one of the more unintentionally hilarious (and accurate) names in audio. Around back, the magnet array has been reworked with greater airflow in mind, allowing sound to exit more cleanly and with fewer reflective artifacts.
Specs-wise, the HE1000 Unveiled is rated at 28Ω nominal impedance with a sensitivity of 95dB, which puts it squarely in the “yes, you still need a real amplifier” category. The claimed frequency response runs from a subterranean 8Hz up to a completely theoretical 65kHz—because apparently someone, somewhere is listening to cymbals on Jupiter.
Comfort & Fit: All-Day Wear Without the Skull Vice
At just under one pound (roughly 450 grams), the HE1000 Unveiled lands firmly in the “not exactly lightweight, but not a neck workout either” category. Thankfully, HiFiMAN’s tried-and-true suspension headband continues to earn its keep, distributing that weight evenly across the top of your dome without any hot spots or pressure ridges.
Clamping force is moderate—firm enough to keep the headphones in place without making you feel like your head’s being gently crushed by a designer nutcracker. The pads are generously sized, asymmetrical to better follow the jawline, and soft enough to conform without flattening like a pancake after an hour of listening. Ears sit inside the cup without pressing against the inner baffle, and unless you’re rocking Dumbo-sized lobes, you’ll be floating comfortably in the ear cavity sweet spot.
One welcome bonus: glasses wearers can rejoice. The low clamp combined with plush pads means you won’t have temple pain after a few albums, which is more than can be said for some “flagship” designs that turn eyewear into a vice grip.
Ergonomically, not much has changed from earlier HE1000 models—which, in this case, is a good thing. The basic headband and frame design has stood the test of time, and compatibility with previous-gen and third-party pads means you’ve got options. If you want to swap the stock hybrid pads for pure lambskin or velour to tweak comfort or dial in the bass response, knock yourself out. It’s a painless mod path that won’t break the fit or the aesthetics.
Listening Notes: Power Required, Magic Optional
I usually wait until the end to lay down verdicts, but with the HE1000 Unveiled, it’s worth stating right up front: what you hear will live or die by the amp you feed it. These aren’t your casual plug-into-a-laptop headphones—not unless your idea of high fidelity is flat, uninspired, and vaguely sad.
On paper, the 28Ω impedance and 95dB sensitivity figures suggest something relatively easy to drive. In practice? Not so much. Sure, you can get them loud with a modest amp, but volume isn’t the issue—authority is. These headphones demand current and control. Without it, they lose their edge and come off dull, like someone threw a weighted blanket over the soundstage. Detail softens, bass gets sluggish, and the overall presentation feels reined in.
Once I plugged them into a beefier setup, they came alive. The transient snap returned, dynamics opened up, and that wide-open planar soundstage started to stretch its legs. In short: don’t cheap out on the backend. The HE1000 Unveiled will expose every weakness in your chain with surgical precision—and then politely decline to impress you until you fix it.
Bass: Quality Over Quantity, No Subwoofer Included
The HE1000 Unveiled isn’t here to shake your walls with seismic sub-bass rumble. There’s a noticeable roll-off starting around 40Hz, where sub-bass volume and impact gradually fade into more of a tactile sensation than something you actually hear. Below the mid-teens, the bass becomes more a suggestion than a presence, so if you’re chasing earth-shattering low end, this isn’t your headphone.
As with most large planar magnetics, sub-bass isn’t their strong suit—and the HE1000 Unveiled is no exception. Where it really shines is in the mid-bass region, delivering solid impact with quickness and clarity that keeps the bass from ever getting muddy or bloated. Even when assaulting your ears with speed metal or rapid-fire kick drums, it maintains texture and tightness, avoiding the flabby bass trap that plagues many dynamic driver headphones.
Amplification again plays a role here. Low-powered sources like budget dongles or petite DAPs (I’m looking at you, Activo P1 and Cayin N3Pro) leave the sub-bass barely whispering, while more capable amps coax a bit more body and presence. Still, no matter how much juice you throw at it, the HE1000 Unveiled isn’t going to moonlight as a bass cannon.
For those in pursuit of a reference headphone, the bass is a welcome reprieve: natural, neutral, and uncolored. If you’re after visceral slam or chest-thumping theatrics, this is not your headphone. Even EQ tweaks won’t turn it into a low-frequency powerhouse—planar magnetics tend to play by different rules.
Midrange: The Heartbeat of the HE1000 Unveiled
The mids are where the HE1000 Unveiled really stakes its claim. They strike a smart balance between weight and speed, delivering a sound that’s detailed and nuanced without tipping into clinical or sterile territory. Lower vocals don’t get lost in the mix — they cut through cleanly and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with higher voices, making these headphones a fantastic choice for choral music or vocal ensembles where every voice matters.
String instruments come alive with plenty of energy. The violin, in particular, nails that lifelike timbre—sometimes even to the point of being slightly abrasive, just like the real thing when the bow hits a rough patch. This isn’t a flaw; it’s proof the HE1000 Unveiled doesn’t sugarcoat mistakes. If the musician or engineer slips up, you’ll hear it here—no hiding behind a veil of artificial warmth.
Piano tones get the respect they deserve, too. Capturing the tonal shifts across octaves is tricky for any headphone, but the HE1000 Unveiled handles it with finesse, preserving the character of each note without blending them into a mushy sameness.
Upper vocals come through clear and clean, with zero sibilance or nasal edge to make you wince. It’s a well-rounded presentation that rewards careful listening and punishes sloppy production without ever feeling harsh.
Treble: Energized and Airy, But Not for the Treble-Shy
The lower treble on the HE1000 Unveiled gets a noticeable lift around 4kHz, giving percussion a sharp snap and vocals an added presence without diving headfirst into the usual territory of listener fatigue. Above that peak, the treble gently recedes, letting cymbals shimmer with energy and the upper frequencies breathe with plenty of air and sparkle.
Honestly, I can’t even say where the treble tops out because it clearly extends beyond the limits of my ears—well past what most mere mortals can detect. That said, if you tend to flinch at bright headphones, the HE1000 Unveiled’s lower-mid treble boost might get under your skin. It cuts through the mix and refuses to be ignored, which keeps the sound realistic and lively, but attempts to dial it back with EQ quickly veil the crucial upper-mids and vocals, resulting in a duller, less engaging presentation.
For those who don’t shy away from a bit of brightness, this treble tuning hits a sweet spot: plenty of detail, impressive openness, and a sparkle that adds life rather than fatigue. It’s a treble that demands attention but rewards it.
Soundstage: Wide, Deep, and Surgical in Precision
The HE1000 Unveiled serves up a soundstage that’s impressively large, balancing width, depth, and height without any of that artificial stretching or pinching. It’s like having front-row tickets with an unobstructed view—you get a natural sense of space that’s neither exaggerated nor claustrophobic.
Seating an orchestra is almost embarrassingly straightforward here. The spatial placement mirrors the actual seating chart with uncanny accuracy—no overlaps, no phantom gaps, and zero positional weirdness. This is partly thanks to the open, airy top-end signature, but mostly due to the driver’s lightning-fast attack and decay, which give instruments razor-sharp separation.
Tracking movements across the stage is effortless, too. Even subtle shifts in instrument position are clearly defined, making it easy to follow the ebb and flow of the performance. I’m a sucker for closing my eyes and mentally picturing the band laid out in front of me—and the HE1000 Unveiled nails that experience every time.
The Bottom Line: Great Tech, Natural Tone — But Handle with Care
The HE1000 Unveiled leans a bit more on your source gear than I’d like, but with the right amplifier and DAC, it delivers a well-balanced, near-neutral signature. There’s enough life and energy to keep it from sounding like a sterile lab rat, yet it stays grounded and realistic across most of the frequency range. Sure, the sub-bass is on the light side, but unless you’re living in EDM-land, that’s pretty par for the planar course—and far from unrealistic.
Now, a quick gripe: these exposed drivers are basically dust magnets with zero user-friendly cleaning options. The magnetic covers help, sure, but in a real-world environment—where toner spills and dust storms happen—you’ll find yourself holding your breath, praying your HE1000 doesn’t become an expensive science experiment. Fragility isn’t exactly what I’d call convenient.
That said, the HE1000 has always been a technical powerhouse, and the Unveiled takes that further with superb refinement, natural tonality, and effortless delivery. If you want booming bass or need to avoid anything remotely bright, look elsewhere. But if you fall somewhere between those extremes and want a headphone that blends performance with a somewhat reasonable price for this class, the HE1000 Unveiled earns its place.
Pros:
- Well-balanced, near-neutral sound signature with natural tonality and enough energy to avoid sounding clinical
- Excellent midrange detail and nuance—vocals and strings are lifelike and clear
- Impressive technical prowess with quick attack/decay and exceptional instrument separation
- Large, accurate soundstage with precise instrument placement and good depth, width, and height
- Comfortable fit and moderate clamping force—wearable for long sessions, even with glasses
- Reasonably priced for flagship-level planar magnetic headphones (lower MSRP than original 2015 model, adjusted for inflation)
- Includes magnetic protective covers unique to the Unveiled series
Cons:
- Fragility concerns due to open driver design and delicate diaphragm
- Highly source dependent—needs a potent amplifier to avoid sounding dull despite moderate impedance and sensitivity
- Sub-bass response is light and rolls off below 40Hz, which might disappoint bass lovers
- Exposed drivers attract dust easily with no easy or safe cleaning method for users
- Treble can be bright or fatiguing for those sensitive to the lower treble region (around 4kHz)
- No wood veneer on cups anymore, which may disappoint fans of the previous aesthetic
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