Headphones · Side-by-side
HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth vs OLLO Audio X1
The OLLO Audio X1 scores 0.4 higher and costs $570 less - on the data, it just wins.
See which one to buy
HIFIMAN
HE1000 Stealth
A years-old HIFIMAN flagship, cheaper than ever: Stealth Magnets, a nanometer diaphragm, a wide open soundstage, and a fun, bright tuning - mind the treble peaks and the large fit.
Higher score
OLLO Audio
X1
An open-back studio reference headphone with AI-assisted per-unit calibration (±1dB), modular design, real wood cups, and a flat tuning that works for both mixing and music.
Which one to buy
Short version: the rubric leans OLLO Audio X1 - but what's upstream, what you listen for, and what your budget allows can each flip it. Here's the case for each.
The case for the HE1000 Stealth
HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth
- Excellent comfort despite 458g - the wide suspension band spreads the weight
- Spacious, deep, breathable three-material hybrid pads; user-replaceable
- That $570 premium buys character and build, not a higher score
The case for the X1
OLLO Audio X1
- USC II per-unit calibration to ±1dB tolerance
- Real wood machined earcups, no veneer
- Cheaper by $570, and it gives up nothing on the score
- Higher score, plainly - Highly Recommended, 8.9/10, 0.4 clear of the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth
Sound signature, overlaid
Both are plotted by the same model, reading each review's own wording, so the two are directly comparable rather than separately eyeballed.
| Axis | HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth | OLLO Audio X1 |
|---|---|---|
| Warm to Bright | leans bright | leans bright |
| Relaxed to Analytical | leans analytical | sits near neutral |
| Polite to Aggressive | leans aggressive | leans aggressive |
| Lean to Bass-heavy | sits near neutral | leans lean |
| Intimate to Wide stage | leans wide stage | leans wide stage |
Specs, side by side
The 5 specs both reviews record come first, so the rows you can actually compare are at the top. Manufacturer figures unless a measured value is noted; N/A means we haven't recorded that spec yet.
| Spec | HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth | OLLO Audio X1 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 101 dB |
| Frequency response | 8 Hz - 65 kHz | 5 Hz - 22 kHz |
| Connector | Dual 3.5 mm | Dual 2.5 mm (locking) |
| Weight | 458 g | N/A |
Pros & cons, side by side
HE1000 Stealth
Pros
- Dual 3.5mm connectors; includes an extra balanced cable
- Wide, open, out-of-your-head soundstage with strong imaging
- Tight, well-textured bass with more weight than most HIFIMANs
- Fun, engaging, slightly bright reference tuning with natural timbre
- Excellent comfort despite 458g - the wide suspension band spreads the weight
Cons
- Genuinely large - may not fit smaller heads; cups can press the jaw
- Peaky, uneven treble with sharp spots - too much on hot recordings
- Revealing - unforgiving of poor recordings or cheap sources
- On the heavier side at 458g
- Less transparent and detailed than the pricier HE1000se
- Upper-mid lift over a lower dip won't suit thick, forward-vocal lovers
X1
Pros
- USC II per-unit calibration to ±1dB tolerance
- Real wood machined earcups, no veneer
- Modular, repairable, service-friendly design
- Hybrid velour + perforated leather pads, user-replaceable
- Locking dual 2.5mm cable with forward-angled entry
Cons
- Tight clamp force - takes adjustment if you're used to looser cans
- Soundstage is realistic, not impressively wide
- Tuning is intentionally flat - some will call it boring
- Packaging is minimal - not premium-feeling
- Pads are functional, not luxurious
- Not the cheapest at this price point
How they were tested head-to-head
Both the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth and the OLLO Audio X1 ran on the same chain, driven from the same HIFIMAN Serenade amp/DAC (Himalaya Pro R2R), fed bit-perfect from the Hermes 12th digital transport over USB. Both were volume-matched at the output, then run through one unchanging set of reference tracks - acoustic, vocal-led, dense modern, and large-scale orchestral - so nothing in the comparison moved except the hardware. Everything below comes out of that, measured against the published headphones reference list at the matching price tier rather than against marketing copy.
What the 0.4-point score gap actually means
A 0.4-point gap is roughly where most listeners pick the higher-scored piece blind on any reference track. The OLLO Audio X1 is the cleaner performer here - more resolution, tighter bass, or a more even tonal balance, depending on the category. The lower-scored piece is the budget or character pick, not the equal-but-different one.
What would flip the verdict
Score is not the only input. Buy the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth instead if your chain flatters it, if something in the OLLO Audio X1's cons list is disqualifying for how you actually listen, or if budget decides it for you - the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth costs more than the higher-scored piece, which is unusual, and only earns it with a specific synergy. If none of those apply to you, there is no argument left for the lower-scored piece.
Common questions about this comparison
What's the real-world difference between the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth and the OLLO Audio X1?
The OLLO Audio X1 edges it where it's measured, 8.9 to 8.5. Where they really split is voicing: the HE1000 Stealth runs noticeably wider-staged, the X1 more intimate. Each review flags something different - the HE1000 Stealth's "Dual 3.5mm connectors; includes an extra balanced cable" against the X1's "Locking dual 2.5mm cable with forward-angled entry". Choose on that, not the score column.
Which should you buy, the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth or the OLLO Audio X1?
Most listeners pick the OLLO Audio X1 blind here - a 0.4-point gap is where the cleaner performer shows up on any reference track. The HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth earns the nod only for a reason you can name: budget, a character you prefer, or a chain it pairs with better.
Is the HE1000 Stealth's $570 premium worth it?
Not on the numbers - $570 more for 0.4 less on the rubric. You're paying for what's specific to the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth - "Wide, open, out-of-your-head soundstage with strong imaging" - not for measured performance, so it's worth it only if that solves a problem the OLLO Audio X1 leaves open.
Where they rank
This page is the head-to-head - the buying guides put both of these up against the whole field.