HIFIMAN HE-R9 Review: A Closed-Back Bass Monster Headphone
Both terrible and amazing at the same time - the HE-R9 is a closed-back bass monster at $199 with a tuning that's either perfect for you, or completely wrong.
Lowest price now
$79 at Audio46 and Bloom Audio on
60% below the $199 list price.
In stock at all 3 US stores we check daily. Price tracking began on Oct 6, 2026. Compare all 3 stores
- Standout
- Massive, punchy bass that doesn't bleed into the mids
- Watch out for
- Pads are too shallow
- Better alternative
- Sivga Luan: $100 more, scores 1.2 higher.
Corrections
- - Impedance corrected from 32 to 60 ohms, to match HIFIMAN's published specifications; frequency response, weight and connector added from HIFIMAN's specifications.
Score history
- - Score lowered from 7.4 to 6.9; the verdict stayed Mixed. On a re-read, the review's own cons (shallow pads, recessed upper mids, an all-plastic build, weak separation) did not support 7.4, which sat above headphones scored 7.0 that carry the higher Recommended verdict.
For the wider field, our Best Open-Back Headphones guide ranks 14 rivals in this class. This one is not among them.
HIFIMAN HE-R9 headphones are both terrible and amazing at the same time. Let me explain why that's the case.
First of all, the HE-R9 is a closed-back dynamic driver headphone from HIFIMAN. You can get it for $200 directly from HIFIMAN's website, and there's also a wireless version available for $440. They use the "topology diaphragm" technology, which features a special nanoparticle coating applied to its surface, supposedly resulting in a more natural and detailed sound.
Price note: $200 was HIFIMAN's own price when this review was published in June 2023. What US stores charge today is in the price section after the review.
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Comfortable, apart from the shallow pads
Let's begin with their build. I'm going to say it's... interesting.
They feature the solid headband, which I was not a fan of on the Edition XS, as it was causing some hotspots on top of my head. But here's the thing: the HE-R9s are much lighter - really lightweight - so at least in my case, there are no uncomfortable hotspots. The headband has some swivel and a little bit of tilt.
The pads are very soft, but not deep enough. My ears touch the drivers, and it's a little bit uncomfortable. You have to keep that in mind and simply get used to it.
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A huge, all-plastic design that feels cheap
The design aspect of this headphone is... weird.
They're huge and can look really dumb on your head. I've heard mixed opinions on their aesthetics - some people think they look cool, others don't. But it has a reason to be so huge, which I'll discuss later.
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The headphone generally feels cheap. It's all made of plastic, and really light - which makes them more comfortable, but on the other hand makes them feel cheap. I don't necessarily have a feeling of them being fragile or anything like that, so I wouldn't be worried about their longevity.
Massive bass and stepped-back upper mids
They're extremely easy to drive, being a dynamic driver with an impedance of 60 ohms and a high sensitivity of 100dB. You don't need to worry about their amplification at all.
Now the tonality - haha, that's the fun part. Just take a look at the frequency response graph.
There's a massive, enormous boost to the bass and low mids - I'm pretty sure that the big size of the earcups has an effect on the bass, as it has room to reflect. That's paired with stepped-back upper mids and somewhat peaky highs. That combination has one downside, which I found really noticeable: it makes many female vocals sound boring and lacking in energy.
The HE-R9 specializes in bass. There's a lot of it, and it's really punchy. I'm not sure what they did, but the bass doesn't bleed into the mids most of the time. With that crazy amount of bass boost, it's unexpected. What's also unexpected is that it doesn't sound muddy - at least most of the time. There are songs where it can get a tiny bit muddy.
A wide soundstage but weak separation
For a closed-back dynamic headphone, you'd think it's going to have an extremely intimate sound, but you couldn't be more wrong. Fine, it doesn't sound the most open - because it's not an open back - but the massive space behind the driver makes them sound significantly wider.
The sound separation is not the greatest. It's not quite what this headphone is trying to achieve, but it can get easily overwhelmed by a lot of sounds at once, so you won't be able to catch every sound and instrument in the mix. This effect is even more amplified by the lack of higher frequencies, which often lead to a sense of detail in sound.
Worth it for bass heads or as a second pair
Should you buy the HIFIMAN HE-R9? It depends on what you're looking for. If you're a bass head, then sure - it's pretty cheap for the bass quality and quantity it offers. If you're in the market for some unique-looking and sounding headphones, and it's not your only pair, then probably it would be a good buy. But if you're in the market for a headphone with a really wide soundstage, image separation, sound clarity, or the ability to hear every single detail, it's definitely not a headphone for you - look elsewhere.
HE-R9 sound signature
The review describes the HIFIMAN HE-R9 as energetic, with a wide stage.
Charted from the review's own words, quoted under each line.
Soundstage: Wide stage
Also wide stage, nearest in price: OneOdio Max 1, HarmonicDyne Eris and HIFIMAN Edition XS.
- “Surprisingly wide soundstage for a closed-back design” (from the pros)
- “A wide soundstage but weak separation” (a section heading)
Energy: Energetic
Also energetic, nearest in price: Sivga Anser, OneOdio Max 1 and Sivga SV021 Pro.
- “Massive, punchy bass that doesn't bleed into the mids” (from the pros)
- “There's a lot of it, and it's really punchy” (in Massive bass and stepped-back upper mids)
HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-back: Energetic. Read the Sundara Closed-back review
Sivga SV021 Pro: Energetic. Read the SV021 Pro review
HarmonicDyne Eris: Bass-heavy, wide stage, energetic. Read the Eris review
Sivga Robin SV021: Intimate, energetic. Read the Robin SV021 review
Hear what "wide stage, energetic" means: a short synthesized loop, flat and then with those leanings. An illustration of the words, not a recording of the HE-R9.
Not sure which signature suits you? Find yours with a blind A/B test
HE-R9 price history
$79 at Audio46 and Bloom Audio is the lowest current new price at US stores, 60% below the $199 list price.
In stock at all 3 stores. Checked .
| Store | Price | Stock | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio46 | $79 | In stock | |
| Bloom Audio | $79 | In stock | |
| Apos Audio | $109 | In stock |
US prices are before sales tax and shipping.
Tracking began on Oct 6, 2026. Before that, archived copies of these store pages show it between $79 and $109 since Mar 2025, and the current lowest is at or below every one of them.
- Tracked
- 33 days, read on 23
Earlier prices from archived store pages
Read from the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, one copy of a store page a month at most, each checked like a daily reading and linked to the copy it came from. They are the dots on the chart above.
Archived copies of these store pages in the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine go back to Mar 2025. The lowest price they show is $79 at Bloom Audio (Apr 2026), the highest $109 (Mar 2025). They are one copy a month at most, so a price can have changed between them.
| Store | Price | Archived copy |
|---|---|---|
| Bloom Audio | $79 | Apr 2026 |
| Apos Audio | $109 | Apr 2025 to Dec 2025 |
| Audio46 | $109 | Mar 2025 to Aug 2025 |
New units only, at the price each store listed on the day shown. Every store is read once a day and a price can change at any time. No link here is an affiliate link, and no store pays to be listed. How prices are tracked
Watch the video review
Subscribe on YouTube (opens in new tab)
Prefer to read? The written review above covers everything in the video.
- 0:00 A Closed-Back HiFiMan That Should Not Be This Fun (opens in new tab)
- 0:31 Build Quality, Design & Comfort (Extra-Large Earcups, Materials, Weight) (opens in new tab)
- 1:37 Amplification, Tonality & Sound Characteristics (Topology Diaphragm, Bass, Treble) (opens in new tab)
- 3:26 Is It Worth It? Conclusion (opens in new tab)
Common questions about the HE-R9
Is the HE-R9 worth $199?
For bass lovers, it can be. It scored 6.9/10, a Mixed verdict, and rates steep on value because better value exists among the headphones reviewed here. The $199 buys massive, punchy bass that mostly stays clear of the mids. Shallow pads, cheap-feeling plastic and boring-sounding female vocals keep it from being an easy pick.
Who is the HE-R9 for?
Bass heads, plus anyone who wants a unique-looking and unique-sounding headphone that won't be their only pair. Look elsewhere if vocals, clarity or hearing every detail come first: the upper mids are stepped back, and separation suffers when a lot happens at once.
Can a phone drive the HE-R9?
Yes. It's a dynamic headphone at 60 ohms with a high 100 dB sensitivity, which makes it extremely easy to drive. The review found no reason to worry about amplification at all, so a phone, a laptop or a basic USB dongle will do. At most 167 mW to reach 110 dB peaks, and as little as 10 mW: a phone jack or any dongle at the low end, a desktop headphone amplifier at the high end. The review records 100 dB without saying against what, and the two conventions differ by a factor of 17 at this impedance, so which end applies depends on the one it uses.
What alternatives to the HIFIMAN HE-R9 at a similar price have been tested?
There is no comparison page for it. Reviewed here in the same price bracket: the Sivga Anser at 8.0/10, the OneOdio Max 1 at 7.0/10, and the Sivga SV021 Pro at 7.6/10.
Will your ears touch the HE-R9's drivers?
Quite possibly. The pads are very soft but not deep enough, and in testing the ears touched the drivers, which is a little uncomfortable and takes getting used to. The headband is kinder: it's solid like the Edition XS's, but the HE-R9 is light enough that it causes no hotspots.
Does the HE-R9's bass get muddy?
A little, on some bass-heavy songs. The boost to the bass and low mids is enormous, yet most of the time the low end stays punchy, doesn't bleed into the midrange and doesn't sound muddy. With that much bass on tap, the control comes as a surprise.
Why are the HE-R9's earcups so big?
The size seems to help the sound. The reviewer suspects the large cups give the bass room to reflect, and the big space behind each driver makes the HE-R9 sound far wider than a closed-back usually does. Opinion on the looks is split: some people think the cups look cool, others that they look dumb on the head.
Sources
- IEC 60268-7: Headphones and earphones
Standard International Electrotechnical Commission Paid full text
How the impedance, sensitivity and frequency response that headphone makers publish are defined. The figures quoted here are published ones; nothing is bench-measured in-house.
- NYU perception lecture notes: Auditory pathways and sound localization
Lecture notes New York University
How the ear places a sound from the timing and level differences between the two ears, the cues behind soundstage and imaging.
Discussed in A wide soundstage but weak separation
Alternatives to the HE-R9
All 30 headphone reviewsSimilar type and price
OneOdio Max 1 a near-tie on score 7.0
HarmonicDyne Eris $50 more, a near-tie on score 6.8
Step up
- Sivga SV021 Pro $20 less, scores 0.7 higher 7.6