This Hifiman headphone may be the world's best 2016

This Hifiman headphone may be the world's best 2016

It was in 2009 when I reviewed my first Hifiman  headphone, the HE-5, and that headphone in some ways outshined the very best and much  more expensive Denon, Grado, Sennheiser and Ultrasone headphones of the time.

The Hifiman HE-5 also sounded different, probably  because its planar magnetic drivers were lower in distortion and much larger than the conventional drivers in the competitors' headphones, and that's still true today. Fun fact: the HE1000 V2's drivers aren't round or rectangular as they are in other headphones, the HE1000 V2's drivers are ear shaped.

The Hifiman HE1000 V2 headphones.

Steve Guttenberg/CNET

The HE1000 V2 is a reboot of the HE1000 from just a few years ago. They look similar, but there are significant differences between the two. First, the headband adjustments have been redesigned to allow the HE1000 V2 to accommodate a wider variety of head shapes and sizes, so the 'V2 feels more comfortable to me. It's also a little lighter, now weighing in at 14.8 ounces (420 grams). The original was 16.9 ounces (480 grams). The new headphone's ear cups are thinner, while the ear pads have become thicker. The headphone's cables are user-replaceable, and impedance is rated at 35 ohms.

The 'V2's look and feel are downright luxurious, but the price remains unchanged from the original HE1000, it's $2,999 in the US, £2,599 in the UK and AU$4,399 in Australia. The  headphone is available on Amazon.