Massdrop x HIFIMAN HE4XX Measurements and Impressions

I'm very treble sensitive and I'm not much into modding.
I rather just sell them and get a good pair of IEMs with the money, instead.

 

I'll admit that Hand's impressions were a bit of a bubble burster to me as well. Far as I can tell, they're the first pretty negative impressions from anyone I trust I've seen up to this point. And I already bought them knowing I couldn't return them, so if I get them and they really aren't good, that sucks.

However, here's a few things to consider:

-from what I can tell, and I don't mean to be presumptuous, but Hands is evidently about as treble sensitive as they come. Which is fine! I'm just saying that deserves to be taken into consideration when forming an opinion based on his opinion

-this is the first review this negative we've seen among Marvey, Bill-p, Brencho, Tylls Hertsens, and several others, some of whom's preferences run fairly dark. Isn't that saying something in and of itself?

-even Hands himself says the bass, midrange tonality, price, etc. are all appealing characteristics--and that there's many people who would probably disagree with what he might call intolerable treble anyway--and that's without a simple pad swap!

-speaking of, looking back at this thread, swapping the pads alone with say some dekoni's or the like seems to really help smooth over whatever problems it does have with the treble if you're so inclined, without necessarily needing to perform invasive mods--a quick fix, if you will, that I also might add was not attempted by the distinguished person in question

Here's what I'm gonna do. I can't cancel the order anyway, so when they come I might as well give them a chance from stock, right? Give them some time, and in the meanwhile let the community do it's work on suggestions and "fixes" when they get into everyone else's grubby little hands. Bill-p already seems to have made a good amount of progress from the dekoni's to now the ZMF's, who knows where that'll be months after the thing comes out from ideal amps to who knows what else. I remain stubbornly optimistic!

 

BTW, thx for the impressions Hands! I respect your opinion and don't mean to step on anyone's toes around here or come off as some upstart rando. I'm just grateful to have access to a site with so many well-informed posters such as yourself to point me in the right direction in my quest for audio nirvana (or mid-fi purgatory!). Cheers!

 

I'm like you in that respect... those "treble nasties" ruin the musical experience completely for me... I hear a spike--and that's it--headphones off... it's stabbing unpleasantness.

 

Yeah, just to add to Hands' impressions, if you read back at what I wrote, you'll see "some" of it as well:

Not gonna advertise mods or pad swap or whatever because I'm not gonna try to "sell" something here. Just saying that what Hands is hearing is somewhat in line with what I heard as well. I may be a bit less sensitive/tolerant toward treble nastiness as compared to Hands, but I could hear the peak and some sibilance/splashiness with stock HE-4XX all the same.

^ that might be something to consider for those who would like to get this headphone and keep it at stock.

If you're sensitive to treble nastiness, as I am and as Hands is even more so, then I honestly would agree with Hands and tell you to go grab the HD6XX or HD650. Those headphones should be in your stable if you have treble-litis (yes, not a word but I'm inclined to term it as such).

Also...

I actually would advise against this, or else in general, I find IEMs to be typically pretty zingy/sharp/sibilant sounding in the same price range as the HD6XX. But then again, maybe it's just me. Aside from Andromeda (which still does have some treble nastiness, mind), and maybe one or two other IEMs that I modded (again, not gonna advertise or push mods here), I honestly can't stand the majority of IEMs on the market. They're either too zingy/sharp or too dark/bassy/stuffy, and in the worst case, both of those.

P.S.: ^ that means if you can stand IEMs, you have higher treble nastiness tolerance than I do. It's all relative.

 

I don't have much experience with IEMs, honestly.

I only have one pair--the Nuforce EDC--and I actually like them a lot. However, although they have been described as "warm", "bassy", and "polite" by IEM-users, to me, not accustomed to this type of sonic reproduction, they do sound a bit zingy and not at all bass-heavy.

I'll give the HE4XX a chance, and consider simple mods, to take off the edge, if needed.

Thanks, Bill!

 

Do the pads that these come with have a removable plastic ring to use with different pads or will I have to buy one separate?

 

I'm very treble sensitive just like Hands - my headphone collection should go for showing, HD650s, rev1 LCD-2s, ZMF Atticus, etc. I wrote down a few impressions on the 4XX a couple pages back and as said, I also found them to be a little tizzy and sharp up top but that's only when compared to the remainder of my collection. They're not HD800-esque in their treble to my ears, at least not with the pads I got them with (which are not the ones that the production units will have as mine were sent with the wrong version); I didn't find them particularly fatiguing and I've used them for 8+ hours at a time (obviously without music blaring the entire time) for like a week but I also don't really listen to poorly recorded/mastered stuff so my experience may be biased.

I abhor treble spikes and I don't have the time nor patience to mod for the better part so I understand your stance, I'm usually a believer in that either the headphones sound good or they don't, I'd rather get ones I do like than spend time and money fixing ones I don't. That said, I do think the 4XX benefits from different pads - the Brainwavz Hybrids which are the ones I've found to be the most balanced and pleasant are like 30 bucks on Amazon (or used to be when I got them).

I guess the point I'm trying to get across here is that unless you already have owned much smoother headphones over the years I really don't think you'll be too bothered by their slight sharpness unless you actively look for it since you now know it is there. Give them a chance, if you do like their overall character but actually find them fatiguing maybe try (p)leather pads or hybrids if you can snag them for a sane price.

 

That’s my approach to this hobby, too. I recently got a Fostex T-X0 (a T50rp MK II mod by Massdrop), and it was one worse headphones, above $100, that I’ve ever heard—they were just too dark and murky. Several people told me that they have a lot of potential but need additional modifications. Well,.. no thank you; I shouldn’t have to do that to get good sound. So, I sold them and put the money toward the purchase of a high-end portable amp to use with my beloved HD650.

I was thinking of selling the HE4XX to get the iBasso IT01 IEM, but, yes, I’m going to give them a chance— treble aside, everything else about them seems pretty good. And I’ll def consider getting the Brainwavz Hybrids if they don't adversely affect the sound signature.

 

I just got the HE4XX and they're...... they're...


...... outstanding!

And that zinginess... I don't detect it... could be because my source smooths it out... or the custom cable by Impact Audio that I'm using..

Regardless, based on this first listen, it sounds great.. and the build quality is exceptional.

 

Haha, that's great. Congrats!

I guess this was somewhat true after all:

So now you know where my preference lies, too. If you mod (or pad swap) the HE-4XX based on my instructions, then you'll find them even darker/smoother.

I do know very well that what I like is still basically in the ballpark of the darker/smoother side of neutral.

 

me too, that's my preference..

I used to have the Fidelio X2, when I first got into this hobby, and although it has a very warm sound, the treble spikes were just unbearable (and the vocals too distant). (But I do like the Fidelio L1, which has like no treble--a very bizarre sound signature.. the bizarrest.. I imagine like the Nighthawks.)

But If there is treble nastiness with the HE4XX, I think it's the class A amp I use that could be taming them.. Or maybe I just have a defective product and that's why they now sound good.. ¯\_(シ)_/¯

 

Really? That's awesome!

I'm going to be pairing them (hopefully) with my V20 smartphone which tends to accentuate "trebliness", so any furthering in the other direction of that is nothing but a good thing. And if they're still too bright I'll try a pad swap. Probably wind up doing that at some point anyways just to see what else I can get out of 'em. Anyways, I think my hype's back up now. Just another few more days...

 

Actually, paired with the Fostex HP-V1 Hybrid Tube Amp, the HE4XX is sublime, especially when you factor in the price.

 

Mine just arrived!

This is heresy but I'm going to use them mostly with my Switch and my gaming PC.

Will I be able to get adequate volume? The HD650s are just barely loud enough, I want something louder.

Luckily bright treble doesn't bother me that much, I have no hearing above 15.4khz and at low volumes find I prefer a bit of it to provide the illusion of greater detail. When listening loud, I find it unbearable though, but it sounds like I'll struggle to get these to the volume needed.

 

Just got mine today. Promptly swapped the pads to Dekoni sheepskins. Listening through my NFB-11.28, it's actually quite difficult to drive. My volume knob is about a quarter turn, which is where I listen with my HD650.

It actually sounds nice. I'm still A/Bing with my other headphones, but compared to the M1060 (my other planar), it has better left-right separation and imaging, a bit less bass/warmth, more sparkle and air. Bass is just a tad less defined and present, and midrange tonality seems be more realistic / dimensional. Overall a bit less dynamic, but also more dynamic in some parts of some songs (like the starting attack on Infected Mushroom's Artillery).

 

I received my HE 4XX 'phones today. My hearing is 10dB down at 8kHz according to a test performed this August. I've been listening over Spotify at 320kbps (and using a Marantz HD AMP1 for amplification). Which, to my soon to be 55 year old ears, is virtual Redbook CD as far as I'm concerned. At any rate, I listened to The Lark Ascending with Talisman Little backed by the BBC Philharmonic, Sir Andrew Davis conducting through both the HE 4XX and my M1060. I found the M1060 to be more lush, spacious, fatiguing and harsh on the high end. I don't think I'll ever bother with my stock M1060 again.

If picking headphones is analogous to picking ties, take the HE4XX if you prefer primary colors and the M1060 if you're looking for something in dayglows.

 

Initial impressions are strong. However, the stock pads are pretty bad; very stiff, poor seal, bright treble. I ordered some ZMF Ori lambskin pads and extra rings based on @Bill-P's measurements and recommendations. I am so glad I did. The ZMF pads completely transform these headphones. They are also much more comfortable. Soundstage and imaging is better than HD650s, making these my new go-to headphone for gaming. More impressions to come with further listening to music, movies and gaming.