Hifiman HE400

I've come to really enjoy my HE400 since purchasing it a few months ago. With some simple mods it steps up in sound quality and is pretty competitive in the sub-flagship category. I'm sure there are others on here that appreciate it as much as I do. Gotta love that ultra linear sub bass!

 

I find the HE400's bottom end very unique. Yes, it's pretty artificial, but it's hella fun. It digs deeper than anything else that I've heard. Love the sparkly highs too, though they might be too sharp for some. Yeah it has its issues, but if I want to be awake and need an adrenaline rush, those are my go to.

 

Do you have any mods on them? I have angled velour pads, rug liner on the driver, and the sorbothane mod. Kind of changes the character to have less of a treble spike, but I absolutely love mine for hip hop and electronic. Vocals still need work though!

 

No, mine is as stock as they come. I did get focus pads included with them (thanks eBay seller). The sorbothane mod has really tickled my interest though and I might consider doing them. The focus pads do tame the highs for me somewhat, but I wouldn't know what they sound like without them since I've used them since day one.

What are you powering them with?

 

Haha uhh...a vintage receiver. Swear I'm not Richard51! I have a Pioneer SX 990 from 1969. Warm and full bodied, I listen no further than 12 o clock and that's out of the headphone jack. I've only compared the receiver with one other headphone amp, the Schiit Magni 2, but I must say it sounded considerably better to my ears.

 

I miss my HE-400's bass. Best bass I've hard.

 

LOL okay Richard! Jk

I am actually looking for a good deal on a vintage receiver. Currently using an Asgard 2 with a bifrost uber (hopefully MB soon).

 

I think I'm going to try my luck at trading the 990 for an SA 8500 I I integrated. Fully restored they are worth about the same, with the 8500 maybe costing about $20 more according to EBay. The 990 I have is apparently somewhat rare as it predates the SX x50 and x80 series. The best thing about vintage receivers and integrated amps is that you get a ton of good power to drive both headphones and speakers for often much cheaper than a good headamp. I'm not saying a receiver is better than a totl headamp, but when spending say $200 on a vintage receiver you'd be hard pressed to find a headamp that can match it in performance. Even if I can't make the trade, I am more than happy with the combo I have now for my 400's.

 

i think someone here summons me ...

 

Oh hi Richard

 

do you ever get a feeling of boxiness with the 400s after having listened to more conventional phones i.e. akg K240?
if so, is there a way around this?

 

What do you mean? I can't say I know what you are saying by boxiness.

 

I think he's referring to the notorious "planar wall" that most planars have. I don't really experience it, but most people can pick it out, especially when they switch from dynamics.

 

Ahh I see. Never heard it either but it certainly makes sense. As to getting rid of it, I don't have the slightest Idea.

 

Perhaps it is this. I call it boxiness because I feel there is an empty volume of air significantly bigger than that of an akg 240 or similar

 

Hmm... Are you sure it isn't you just adjusting to a larger driver/area? It did take me some getting used to going from my D5000 to my HE500 but I loved the upgrade. Planars to me, especially the 400, have a physicality that dynamics can't touch. Well except for the Alpha Dog...that sounded like the driver was in a plastic tube...

 

Bumping this to see if anyone still has an HE-400 in their chain. Reallllly close to grabbing one again and modding it. Would something like an HE5XX be a better buy? Already have HD6XX, and that’s going nowhere.

 

I still keep mine around for modding. Even modded a pair for someone else who heard mine and loved them so much they had to have a pair.

 

They’re just so damn fun! Extremely punchy and spacious, especially modded. Have you had any problems with drivers or build quality? They’re getting to be a bit older now.