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HIFIMAN HE-R9 Review: You can’t win them all

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Hifiman HE-R9

Disclaimer:

Hifiman provided me with a review sample of the Hifiman HE-R9, for which I am grateful!

I’ve been extremely slow in reviewing them this time. Lately, there have been a lot of commitments and tiredness is making itself felt. I also had to upgrade the desk a bit with some newer DAC/AMPs.
After testing some of HIFIMAN TWS, in-ears, He400se and DEVA Pro, it’s finally time for the HE-R9.

I’m going to be as objective as possible, and being a common audio enthusiast, I will use simple words in this review.

I will highlight what I liked and what I didn’t, without any fear. 

My review won’t be the most technical you will find online, but I hope you like it.

Tech Specs:

HE- R9:

Bluemini R2R:

Packaging:

Front Box
Back Box
Unboxing
High quality manual
first look

The packaging of the Hifiman HE-R9 is like the one we have already seen on the Deva Pro. It is more refined but identical in shape and layout. We find the headphones well nestled in the packaging, lying on the velvet-like fabric. Significantly more premium presentation. 

We also find:

I must admit that the standard equipment is correct for the actual price, although on similar products, I would like to see at least a case or bag included. Being a wireless product, it can easily be used outside the home, and once you stop using it, a rigid case in which to store it safely would be extremely necessary. I think anyone planning to use them outside will definitely need a hard case. Given their size, I think you can avoid the Bluetooth module and get them for 109 USD.

Design/Build Quality:

If I were to tell you about the starting price of 599 USD, I would have expected a much higher quality headphone. If we compare it in terms of build quality to a Philips Fidelio X2HR, it cannot keep up with it. It all feels very light to the touch, with a certain cheap feel.

The band that rests on the head is identical to that of the HE400SE or Deva Pro. The pavilions are similar to something already seen on the He400se, if not identical. The domes of the pavilions have a nice color but are made of fairly thin plastic. As a general presentation, you absolutely cannot think that they were a 600 USD product. I think it’s normal to think that a product at this price is qualitatively superior to a HE400SE but honestly, the Hifiman HE-R9 is at the same construction level.

Built-in Technology:

This part is the same one I wrote for the Deva Pro.

Let’s start with the Bluetooth adapter but also the dongle, namely the Bluemini R2R. The highlight is him; this small object contains an R2R Himalaya DAC. I bring you what Hifiman said about it

“The Bluemini R2R Bluetooth Dongle is an update of the original Bluemini that enhances detail and overall performance through the HIMALAYA DAC, which features an R2R architecture. A chip composed of an array of resistors with a new algorithm reduces power usage between the chip and peripheral components. As a result, signal-to-noise ratio, total harmonic distortion, and energy consumption are at their most efficient and cost-effective.

Currently compatible with HIFIMAN’s DEVA Pro and R10D headphones – with additional models to be introduced in Q4 ‘21 — the Bluemini R2R combines true hi-res. audio, out-of-band noise, and low energy consumption to create a high-performance match for in-ear monitors at any price point. The internal HIMALAYA DAC module supports the common PCM signal transmitted by the most common IIS (Integrated Interface of Sound) audio interface, with a maximum 24Bit resolution.”

Hifiman

I’ll tell you right away that it costs at least 160 USD or more just for him. Aesthetically, I think it is a successful product, even if it is unfortunately not universal. The connection and shape are specific to the HE-R9; with an adapter, it could be made with a female output and used on other headphones or IEMs but the connection must be kept balanced.

Codecs:

Front Bluemini
Back Bluemini

If you use LDAC, I have to admit that the difference is audible; the higher compression affects the quality.

The Bluemini has only a very slight background noise, audible only for a few seconds when you stop a song.

The battery lasts a maximum of 6 hours but if you turn up the volume, it could even last less.

In any case, I am surprised by this small adapter capable of making full-size planars play almost at their maximum potential. They have an 18-ohm impedance and a relatively high sensitivity of 93.5 db.

The Bluemini is put to the test more with the Hifiman HE-R9, as they have a 60-ohm impedance. He does well anyway.

LDAC also demonstrated some stability problems on my Redmi Note 7 (an older phone), which does not happen if you remove the possibility of LDAC. There is some improvement if you remove the adaptive bit rate and switch to the balanced one.

While with my POCO M4 Pro (more recent but not top of the range), it behaves decidedly better with LDAC, and it seems to me to sound even better.

It should support several codecs: LDAC, aptX-HD, aptX, AAC, and SBC, but I only see a few with my devices, namely LDAC, AAC, and SBC. I can’t say if the others are present but my phones run either with the best or the poorest codec available.

There are no buttons for volume or track change. The single button available works as on/off, pair, and play/pause.

The volume achieved via Bluemini is very high, which is decidedly surprising. The soundstage and the dynamics of the drivers are maintained very well and do not make you regret the presence of a cable (at least not completely). Honestly, the loss of quality isn’t earth-shattering but you are free from cables. Is fantastic!

USB Mode

Honestly, here comes the second sore point. The internal DAC connected via USB reaches a maximum of 16 bits and 48 kHz, which for a similar product is not enough. It definitely sounds fuller due to the extra current it has but I would have liked to see at least 24 bits at 96 kHz.

However, if, by chance, the battery runs out, you can continue to use it by connecting it via USB.

Fit & Comfort:

The shape and comfort are more or less similar to the Hifiman HE400SE. It doesn’t give me any discomfort or heaviness, even after several hours.

The pavilions are quite cool but in the summer, if you suffer from the heat, they will certainly cause you some annoyance.

TTRS
Pads
Adjustable
Same as other Hifimans
Details
Bluemini attachment

Practical Consideration:

I doubt I will take them outside, as for reasons of comfort, I would choose an IEM or a TWS. They are not heavy but storing them somewhere without damaging them is difficult. A rigid case would be needed and in any case, they would take up significant space in a backpack. However, they are excellent if you want to use them at home, perhaps connected to a smart TV, to watch a film without disturbing anyone.

Equipment was used for the testing above.

Device:

Software:

Dac:

Sound impressions with cable:

If many were to consider purchasing, they would certainly be attracted to the cable version, which costs less. At first listen, I found it very warm, very veiled, and not at all what I expected. I was expecting HIFIMAN style tuning but not so low range oriented. They used a topology diaphragm driver, which in theory should give a better frequency response but they didn’t use it properly at all. The sensation is of a muffled sound; in some tracks, it is even pleasant but in others, it makes you feel like something is missing. The highs are practically inoffensive even at very high volume, and the mids are intimidated by the bass region, which fires its frequencies like a cannon. I honestly can’t understand how it’s possible. They’re really loud; at high volumes, your ears literally vibrate and the bass isn’t even totally free of distortion. They remind me a lot of the House of Marley I bought years ago when I was a beginner.

Sound impressions with Bluemini:

The Bluemini is not only a Bluetooth DAC but also works as a sort of DSP and colors the sound to which it is connected. Above all expectations, the Bluemini enriches and overturns the experience you have with the Hifiman HE-R9. Two different reviews should be made. The Bluemini is not the most neutral Bluetooth dongle; in fact, judging from what I hear, it acts just like a DSP. From slightly veiled and bassy headphones, it becomes something rich in bass but also other frequencies. The mids come to life, the voices are richer, livelier, and more pleasant, and the highs, although still super quiet, finally do justice. If I initially thought that they could be bought without the bluemini, I am now convinced that they were designed to be used with it. It was better to give this tuning directly to the HE-R9 and ensure that the Bluemini was free of sound coloration.

I can say that the difference with the cable is truly notable. In terms of power and maximum volume, the Bluemini reaches truly very high volumes. Even the distortions, although present at extreme volumes, are much more controlled.

The following evaluation is made taking into account the wired headset.

Treble

I’ll be honest; if you are sensitive to high frequencies, you won’t have any problems with them. The treble has an extreme roll off, it’s practically impossible for it to bother you. On some tracks, it gets by but most seem to have lost detail and airiness. The bright touch is missing, there are no sparks. Some instruments and female voices sound muffled.

Mids

The mids don’t stand out, as they aren’t helped by the other frequencies. The bass pumps brutally over slightly tired high frequencies. The mids struggle; they appear dull and not very lively, have a warm tone and above all, fade into the background. It has a timbre that is not absolutely natural; both voices and musical instruments sound very warm.

Bass

As for the bass, there are so many! So many that at high volume, the bass begins to vibrate the skin and ear. However, if you turn the volume up a lot, you will also encounter some random distortion. If on some tracks it excites in terms of quantity (often on their openback planars, it is a bit weak), on others it doesn’t allow the other frequencies to stand out.

Soundstage & Imaging:

In my opinion, both are poor. The soundstage is not at all wide but dark and dull, while the image is not clear at all; it lacks definition and therefore you struggle to perceive all the details. In my opinion, they did something wrong in the tuning or in the choice of materials. I don’t think this was the outcome they wanted to achieve. In some ways, they vaguely resemble the Topology driver IEMs they made but are much more emphasized in the mid/low range. The bass is thus enhanced a lot to the detriment of every other frequency.

Shall we equalize?

Fortunately, the brand new Creative X5 allows me to quickly equalize and finally find a way to try to give the most objective evaluation.

This was the first time I had to resort to an equalizer. Without it I wouldn’t have known how to evaluate it using a cable.I tried with the brightest DAC/DONGLEs I have without much improvement.

Removing 1/2dB from the bass, instead maximizing the high frequencies to a good +9dB (an absurd value that did not add even the slightest trace of harshness or sibilance) and raising the mids by a few dB, finally giving them a bit of glory. I must say that they are extremely more enjoyable this way, almost unrecognizable.

Fast Comparison:

Vs Hifiman He400Se

The Hifiman He400Se remains a miracle for what it costs. They are slightly flatter, and the bass is much less full-bodied unless you use a balanced cable; but they are still quieter than the Deva Pro. In terms of performance, we are a step below; the comfort of the earcups is also slightly lower but for less than 100 USD, they are perfect.

Vs Hifiman Deva Pro

The Deva Pro is much more balanced, both via cable and Bluemini. There isn’t a huge difference between the two modes and perhaps the cable was the one I preferred. The build quality is similar but the weight is slightly higher, and the planar obviously returns more details. The planar OpenBack headphones are certainly superior at the moment. I had very high expectations given the cost of the HE-R9 but they absolutely require the Bluemini or an equalizer.

Conclusion:

The conclusions this time are not extremely positive. Many may be attracted by positive reviews given when they were at full price; this is not good. Many will have purchased the version without Bluemini and will have found themselves with an extremely dark/hollow pair of headphones. Even trying them with the brightest source available, I didn’t notice huge changes. If you consider that I gave +9DB on the trebles and, in any case, they are still not enough, it means that there is some problem. The only one that makes them play correctly is the Bluemini, which evidently incorporates a correction and therefore acts as a DSP. So what is the best way to use them? Use the Bluemini! I don’t deny that for a film or some music in this mode, I would use them in a more than satisfactory way. Using the Creative X5, I created a preset for them and I can use them without problems even wired. I believe that for a product with a starting price of 599 USD, it is normal to expect at least superior construction quality and of course sound performances.

If I had to give a rating for how smooth they sound wired, I don’t think it would be sufficient. If we consider the Bluemini, which also has something to improve on, we can arrive at a slightly better score.

6.0/10

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Pros: 

Cons: 

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