HIfiman HE400S

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by sorrodje, Oct 7, 2015.

  1. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

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    That makes sense, guess I didn't look at the dip there enough.
     
  2. Thujone

    Thujone Friend

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    I believe I agree with @Psalmanazar. It's been a long time since I listened to the 400i, and it was only under meet conditions, but I was comparing it directly to the HE-4 and initially found them to be quite good. Treble wasn't glaring (like the HE-4) and bass was pretty well extended and prominent. It wasn't a couple tracks later when I switched from electronic to Pink Floyd and immediately found just how wonky they sound. Vocals sounded like they were coming from a tunnel. Then again, I didn't like the result of the FocusPad on the 400S as much as the stock angled velour or FocusA for the same reason.

    Either way, all stock, I'd prefer the balance and bass roll-off on the 400S over the extension and wonkiness of the 400i.
     
  3. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    Here is Tyll's HE400S FR graph:
    Tyll-he400S.png

    I'm not seeing the "flat as a crab". Rolls off starting at 100hz, yes? Although I wouldn't call these v-shaped, that's for sure.
     
  4. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

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    I was talking about the 'i' in respect to the crustacean analogy. :p
     
  5. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    Ahh yeah, I see. Yeah, 400i is super flat in the bass.

    NB: edited
     
  6. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    I noticed that too. The midrange sounded kind of hollow on the 400i.
    Despite the warmer tone, it didn't sound quite as full as the 560.
     
  7. keanex

    keanex Martian Bounty Hunter - Friend

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    Focus pads seem to fix the bass roll off.
     
  8. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    Remember Marv's rule, higher price does not necessarily equate to sounding better, eg. Senn 650 vs 700 for example.
     
  9. imackler

    imackler Key Lime Pie Infected Aberdeen Wings Spy

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    As I consider a new headphone for classical music, the easy to drive nature makes the HE400s really tempting. I haven't heard it yet, though I know someone who can sell me one for under $250 new. That being said the HD600 is so good with classical music, especially strings. But there is more cost involved with the HD600 (at least a Magni 2, Vali 2, GO V2 w/ the cost of balanced cable, etc). Does anyone w/ experience of both think the HE400s holds its own or should go back the HD6XX path? Open to any advice.
     
  10. keanex

    keanex Martian Bounty Hunter - Friend

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    I have both in my possession and would take the HD600 over it. The HD600 is built better, has a better warranty, and overall sounds more refined.
     
  11. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Exit stage left....
    sorry, no HD6x0 experience myself but wanted to chime in on HE-400S:
    IMO the expense of some DAC+Amp should be considered with both headphones, not just HD6x0.

    office setup has been GOV2+Infinity (balanced) for HE-400S and it's been a great pairing.
    next up is modi2uber + Vali 2 + HE-400S as a more fixed desk rig.

    while HE-400S might need the as much power - it still greatly benefits from a real DAC+Amp.
    (ie. no way HE-400S is "great" via a headphone jack on a laptop.)
     
  12. Thujone

    Thujone Friend

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    I love the HD600 but it sounds blah out of most things. The DAC/amp is critical here. Even a modest Modi+Vali combo is a great step forward.

    The HE-400S sounds pretty great out of my iPod shuffle.
     
  13. logscool

    logscool Friend

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    I have been enjoying my HE-400s alot recently but for classical the HD600 has it beat no question for me. The thing that I like about the HE-400s is the very natural vocals it delivers.For classical though the HD600 is more detailed and more well extended.
     
  14. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    I just got Focus Pads for my 400S today. The only previous mod I had done to mine were to take the dust screens off the covers, which gave a slight improvement to airiness and soundstage. Nothing monumental. Changing the pads is a different story. The bass has more slam, and while I heard the Focus Pads tend to recess the mids further, I found the opposite, the whole sonic spectrum feels much more realized and defined than they did with the stock pads. It's possible that the previous removal to the dust covers are adding a small but noticeable improvement, little changes adding up.

    Anyway I'd say the Focus Pads make the 400S a significantly better headphone, although they do raise the price by another $40 or so. Still worth it, IMO.
     
  15. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    It's a five-year old thread...and yeah....

    A generous friend gave me their HE400S if I paid for shipping, which I did. A added bonus was the Focus Pads...so I was on the right footing. I won't blab about this too much..but I must say HE400S is not bad at all.

    First all, "classic" HifiMan build quality. The left grill of the headphone moves a little bit, the stock cable is busted on the inside so I ordered a replacement from Amazon (2.5mm connectors on mine). These are super efficient, and I can get them super load on both the SW51+ and the DNA Starlett.

    First thing first, bad on micro/marco stuff. Never will be a detail whore, always feels like you aren't getting all the details in a song. Bass is flat and can almost get enough slam/heft if the song calls for it, but still on the very so-so end. Upper Treble have that "sine" thingy that I'm hearing (the 8k issue). It doesn't brother me at all, but I'm too lazy to mod it since once again "classic" HifiMan the screws to remove the inner grill are cheap and they strip pretty easy.

    I really hate how you are suppose to swap pads on on this thing. Took me almost 20 minutes to get one pad back on the unit.

    Comfort is good for what it is, but maybe too much head clamp for some. Good points, the tone is super solid. Mids to me are flat and not too upfront, treble is solid except for what I stated the 8k "sine." Bass...well you know.

    The lack of micro/marco stuff is super helpful when I'm working from home for my job. The music is there but I don't need it to pull me. It works when I'm doing my stuff and I don't take the sound seriously.

    This is super not bad at all...would still be a decent buy if you get one for super cheap and you either leave it alone or mod it. Then again, there's the HE4XX and now the HE5XX to deal with so may not even be worth it to get the HE400S at this point. If it wasn't for a generous friend who gave me their pair, I would never consider listening to the HE400S.
     
  16. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    [​IMG]

    400s NEW focus-a pads.jpg

    @YMO sent these to me for super cheap. I was planning to use as parts but now don't want to strip because look at those sexy curves. Less grainy FM radio-fi from what I remember of 5XX, perhaps a little more dynamic vs 400se. Unforunately has some of that 8kHz sizzle like 4XX. From what I remember I prefer bassiness of 4XX of all these.

    I don't like Hifiman's new headbands on 5XX and 400se - they're a little stiff. 400s hanger style has lots of articulation and even pressure, but too much clamp for me. The 4XX old school HFM style is still my favorite, and the all metal enclosure of 4XX is sweet. This 400s all plastic enclosure is a cheap instrument - will add some damplifier pro for the next lucky owner.

    These came from YMO with focus-a pads. I thought the brand new set I recently bought had maybe different foam because it felt a little softer, but the difference is just wear on the old pads. Frequency response measurements of old pads attached.

    See the felt ring in the picture? I don't know if HFM still does that on their lower tier products anymore. I don't recall it on the 5XX or 400se but I may be misremembering. Negligible cost design choices (felt, magnets, pads, and enclosure materials) for marketing massive price differences of hundreds or thousands of dollars between models. I should stop whining and try the 6se.
     

    Attached Files:

  17. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Thank @ext1 for these.
     
  18. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    Thank you @ext1

    [​IMG]
    ^Between felt and lid ring is a foam gasket (on right).

    [​IMG]
    ^ Driver sandwich glued together.

    [​IMG]
    ^ Driver upgrade (at top) from an old Fostex T30.
     
  19. ext1

    ext1 MOT: Jupiter Audio Research

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    I have @Jinxy245 to thank for these! Glad you’re enjoying them!!
     
  20. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    It's been a few years since I've heard a 4XX. Listening now I'd say they are way brighter than I remember. These are as I recall: technically more adept vs the other three HFM I've had since then: 400s w/ focus-a pads, 400se, and 5XX. More authoritative bass and less grey is what's immediately noticeable.

    I had previously owned the 4XX for a year or so and used with eq and cutting at 8kHz area. After getting 6XX I decided 4XX (even with eq) had bad timbre, plasticky, with less detailed mids and highs. 6XX I owned for a similar duration but spent most of the time modding because I wanted better bass. My preference now might be 4XX with eq. I think I find 6XX's wooly bass more aggravating than 4XX's flaws (with eq).* If without EQ, I'd have to a/b between 6XX and 400s to decide which I'd prefer as my only headphone.

    These are going to get disassembled now for NAD RP-18 driver transplant.

    HIFIMAN COMPARISON.jpg

    HIFIMAN COMPARISON (2).jpg
    [​IMG]

    * My chain: Eitr > ModiMB > Vali2
     

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