Shanling HW600 Open-Backed Headphones Launched
Shanling's HW600 planar headphones promise "the ultimate audiophile experience" thanks to a mix of flagship high-tech and retro looks.
Chinese audio brand Shanling's HW600 headphones have been "designed to meet the expectations of the most discerning audiophiles". Moreover, the HW600 promises cutting-edge acoustic tech with retro aesthetics with an aim to "set a new benchmark in the audio industry." Strong words.
At the Shanling HW600's heart sits a high-performance planar driver with an "oversized" 86x110 mm diaphragm constructed from ultra-thin 8μm polymer materials. The company says this gives it the necessary skills to cover a quote frequency range of 12-40000Hz. The rigid driver design also strives for a widened soundstage and detailed reproduction, aided by the 7xxx "aircraft-grade" aluminium earcups.
We're told that 14 neodymium-iron-boron magnets in a dual-sided magnet assembly reach a magnetic flux density of 1.8T, making the HW600 relatively easy to drive with a listed 30Ω impedance and 104±3dB sensitivity.
That open-backed design boasts optimised airflow through the HW600's dual acoustic chambers, which Shanling claims results in the new headphones offering a sound that blends spaciousness with intimacy across a wide range of musical genres while enabling "a natural and expansive sound." Furthermore, the design promises comfortable and fatigue-free listening.
To that end, a high-density memory foam headband and earcups promote a soft yet secure fit, while the earcups offer a three-axis swivel mechanism. Interestingly, the design of the HW600 was based upon the traditional way of creating bamboo joints and Shanling has integrated the look into the unique triangular geometry of the earcups.
The Shanling HW600 is bundled with an "audiophile-grade" four-core single-crystal copper cable designed to secure an unblemished signal path for maximum audio fidelity. The detachable cable allows you to switch between single-ended and balanced audio connections, and the HW600 comes with 4.4mm balanced and 6.35mm single-ended adapters.
The Shanling HW600 are now available with an MSRP of $1,099 USD.
Jay Garrett
StereoNET’s resident rock star, bass player, and gadget junkie. His passion for gadgets and Hi-Fi is second only to being a touring musician.
Posted in: Headphones
JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION
Want to share your opinion or get advice from other enthusiasts? Then head into the Message
Forums where thousands of other enthusiasts are communicating on a daily basis.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP
Trending
applause awards
Each time StereoNET reviews a product, it is considered for an Applause Award. Winning one marks it out as a design of great quality and distinction – a special product in its class, on the grounds of either performance, value for money, or usually both.
Applause Awards are personally issued by StereoNET’s global Editor-in-Chief, David Price – who has over three decades of experience reviewing hi-fi products at the highest level – after consulting with our senior editorial team. They are not automatically given with all reviews, nor can manufacturers purchase them.
The StereoNET editorial team includes some of the world’s most experienced and respected hi-fi journalists with a vast wealth of knowledge. Some have edited popular English language hi-fi magazines, and others have been senior contributors to famous audio journals stretching back to the late 1970s. And we also employ professional IT and home theatre specialists who work at the cutting edge of today’s technology.
We believe that no other online hi-fi and home cinema resource offers such expert knowledge, so when StereoNET gives an Applause Award, it is a trustworthy hallmark of quality. Receiving such an award is the prerequisite to becoming eligible for our annual Product of the Year awards, awarded only to the finest designs in their respective categories. Buyers of hi-fi, home cinema, and headphones can be sure that a StereoNET Applause Award winner is worthy of your most serious attention.