Measurements of NAN-6 (DIY planar magnetic headphones) – Updated GRAS 43AG measurement

~ sai
NAN-6 headphones frequency response measurement – both channels at 84db

Full review: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/nan-6-planar-headphone.959216/page-3#post-16708185

10 thoughts on “Measurements of NAN-6 (DIY planar magnetic headphones) – Updated GRAS 43AG measurement”

  1. Hello! Do you have the contact information of Mr. Nan himself? I’d like to ask him a few details about this particular unit and perhaps the one slated to be released after CNY. Any leads, much appreciated.

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    1. Hi there! Sorry for the delay in reply as I just got back from holiday. Let me ask some of my Chinese headfier friends see if they have any clue, and get back to you.

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  2. Hi! Thanks for the reply. I managed to get into contact with him via a forwarder whilst ordering the Nan-6. I am still waiting for a reply though. I guess we’ll just see what’s next for Nan.

    BTW, I read your excellent review for the Nan-6 and got a question. Have you finished burning it in prior to the review? I raised this question because my HE6SE exhibited a more relaxed low end after 50 hours or so of use. It’s just not as punchy/tight as before (also noticed a severe channel imbalance around the upper mids). This is one of the main reasons why I ordered the Nan-6.

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    1. That’s great to hear. I am also excited to see what he has to offer next. Competition is really heating up in the planar headphone scene!

      Thanks for reading my review. Great observations. I have been playing music through them on and off for about two weeks or so before the review was written. Personally I do not believe burn-in plays such a large role, especially for dynamic headphones. But for some planars it does seem to be a thing. My guess is something to do with initial diaphragm stress/tension. But then if I compare the NAN-6 and my HE6SE V2 again now I’ll still say the NAN-6 got more slam in the bass. Aside from burn-in I believe it’s also contributed by the material and structural differences. Maybe it’s the diaphragm excursion, or clamp force, or coupling, etc., I can’t say for sure.

      To me it’s part of the whole tuning though, where Nan strikes for a fuller, more intimate and impactful presentation while still maintaining the level of technical performance on par with the HE6SE. And IMO that’s the value of the NAN-6. As such the NAN-6 is more suited for modern genres and vocal-oriented music while the HE6SE is better with accoustic classical music.

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  3. What you said solidified my purchase for the Nan-6. I love what the HE6SE brought to the table but this is my 2nd pair and it is still riddled with issues. Figured I can’t throw money at HiFiMan forever just to chase what I like so I’m excited to try Nan’s offering based on your review.

    I don’t think burn-in does wonders too with dynamic drivers – based on my experience. I once thought it was the case with my HD600 but it’s the pad wear all along. For planar magnetics though, it sure is different.

    I saw Nan’s bilibili account and I’ve been following him since. Looks like he’s really devoted to his craft and is not reserved to criticize flagship models from well known brands. Goes to show he really knows what he’s doing.

    Thank you very much for recommending this headphone. Sure can’t wait to receive mine!

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  4. Hi! Already got my Nan-6. Really like it so far but my unit appears be tuned a bit differently compared to yours. From 20Hz-3KHz, measurements are on spot vs the HE6SE V2 but between 3KHz-9KHz, everything sounds a bit brighter on the Nan-6. I also noticed that my unit comes with softer velour pads compared to what I’ve seen online.

    Anyway, I don’t find these changes as a deal breaker. It’s definitely a more engaging HE6SE V2 to me – especially with the added slam factor.

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    1. Cheers for that! I’m glad you like them. Do you mean round velour pads (more like velvet)? If so that may be the case, as those are defintely brighter than the hifiman-like hybrid pads. You can also try swapping the he6se pads on the NAN6, a combination I think also makes for enjoyable listen.

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  5. Pingback: NAN-6 and HE6SE V2 planar headphones: pad-rolling and look-back – the unheard of audio lab

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