HiFiMan HE400S with Focus Pad Measurements

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by purr1n, Oct 9, 2015.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    HiFiMan HE400S with Focus Pad Measurements

    The stock pads of the HE400S are leaky and don't have a good deal. They look like this:
    DSC_0279.JPG

    With the stock pads, there's a bit of upper bass warmth but with a slow roll-off toward the bass extremes. See below.

    Figure 1: Frequency Response of HE400S with Stock Pads.
    HE400S frd.gif

    The Focus pads (below) are absolutely crucial for getting the best from the HE400S.
    [​IMG]

    With the Focus pads in place, we get much better bass extension and accuracy.

    Figure 2: Frequency Response of HE400S with the Focus Pads.
    lookmabass.png
     
  2. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    ugh. Huge difference indeed.
     
  3. k3oxkjo

    k3oxkjo Friend

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    With the Focus pads in place, we get much better bass extension and accuracy.

    But perhaps at a bit of a cost to the overall response smoothness, maybe?
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Perceptually, it wasn't any rougher sounding with the Focus pads in place.
     
  5. Sylafari

    Sylafari Acquaintance

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    I think you mean seal instead of deal (or maybe the stock pads aren't a good deal as well). :)
     
  6. HitmanFluffy

    HitmanFluffy Hoping to see real genitals someday!

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    Great stuff Marv. Might I ask if you thought the focuspads made the upper mid recess more prominent?
     
  7. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

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    Will the Hifiman Leather Earpads work as well as these? I know they will not be as comfortable but will the better bass be present with them? Unfortunately, they don't sell Focus pads in my country
    [​IMG]
     
  8. Pyruvate

    Pyruvate Friend

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    Yes. Leather = bass. Pleather = comfort. It's why the Focus Pads are the best of both worlds. If you can stand the leathers, you'll be fine.
     
  9. TheFighter

    TheFighter New

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  10. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    Do the Focus pads seal better due to using better velour? The biggest fault with the HE400s is the sealing problem similar to the Oppo PM-3 and NAD Visio HP50. The bass roll off is bad for a planar but not as annoying as the 8kHz spike.
     
  11. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    Finally , the 8khz does not bother me . I'm still evaluating this HE400S for reviewing purpose so maybe several hours of daily use helped for brain burn in. That's a good point thought. I never achieved to get used to any Beyer I owned or borrowed.

    My feelings are more positive right now than during the first listenings.
     
  12. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    Well the spike is more AKG than Beyerdynamic treble Mount Doom. I guess that makes the HD 800's 6 kHz resonance Barad-dur before Mount Doom.
     
  13. Thujone

    Thujone Friend

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    The HE-400S's treble peak doesn't bother me, which is odd considering the measurements. The HE-4, HE-400, and HE-6 are much hotter, to my ears.
     
  14. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I heard the HE400S as having a slight bit of brightness and rough character, but not at all bothersome. Much more warm and laid back than not.
     
  15. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    @Hands : this ^ . it"s both rough and and somewhat Relax/laid-back. In some ways it reminds a Beyer T90 but far more listenable. it's straight but not agressive. funny but not too much. Not very refined but very lively as well . kinda balanced fun headphone. it's like acid drops kids love to eat if that makes sense.

    Compared to what I remember from the HE400 , the HE400S trades the bass extension and quality for a more balanced mid/treble articulation and a less Zingy treble. I much prefer the 400S. Good all rounder as well. Works for all music I tried.
     
  16. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Indeed, I hope to pick up a pair down the road and try some mods and different pads on it.
     
  17. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    If we do another mini meet, you can hear mine. I have a pair on order with the Focus A pads. Replacing the Mad Dogs with them. They sounded quite nice with the Asgard2.
     
  18. Thujone

    Thujone Friend

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    Now that I have a more consistent measuring rig, I plan on doing pad measurements for these this week. I have the stock 400S angled velour, 4/400/500/6 velour, pleather, Focus, Focus A, Alpha, and Shure 1540 at my disposal. Maybe some more that I'm missing...
     
  19. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I would be curious how the HE400S sounds and measures with one of the Focus Pads + a bit of pad venting on the back, like the jergpad mod.
     
  20. Thujone

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    It might be a little difficult to simulate the vent based on the orientation of the clips underneath (don't have the privilege of orienting the clips in an "X" unless you were to remove the adhesive around the rim and spin the pad). I'm sure I could get a measurement, securing the pad may be a different story.
     

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