General sound descriptions

“Bright V-shape” would be the simplest, most straightforward description of the Helios. It has a slightly emphasised mid-bass response with a sub-bass roll-off, and a much greater treble emphasis.

Imaging is alright but nothing outstanding, and it has relatively closed-in soundstage relative to other open-backed headphones. Detailing and resolution is middling, being neither exceptional nor subpar.

The Competition

The Helios may have that dreaded V-shaped signature that all the cool kids love to hate, but in my opinion it’s a V-shape that’s tastefully done. Yes, there is a treble emphasis, but it’s not the kind of bright tuning that’s overly sharp or piercing like the HD800 or most Beyerdynamics.

The closest competitors to the Helios right now would be the Sennheiser HD599, the Philips Fidelio X2HR, the Beyerdynamic DT990 and the Hifiman HE4XX, all of which retail for roughly $150 on the street. Out of the four, the Fidelio X2HR and the HD599 are the closest to the Helios both in signature and technicalities, and thus I’d consider the Helios as a “viable alternative” in the entry-level space rather than an outright upgrade or even a price bracket leader. It’s an alright choice for $150 and it’s what you can reasonably expect for the price, though the $200 retail price would be pushing its value proposition a tad if you were, at any point in time, expected to pay full retail for a Helios.