Massdrop x HIFIMAN HE4XX Measurements and Impressions

I just asked Will on the drop page which focus pads version will be included. Hopefully he will know and answer tomorrow. I imagine it will be the regular Focus Pad not the A version but it would be good to know for sure.

 

The difference in perforations is pretty obvious, and the difference in sound seems to be significant. Rather large oversight IMO as it would affect the impressions published by those lucky enough to get an early taste of these moist babies. I posted the question to @Tyll Hertsens at IF.

 

Let me know I am on the fence about getting the massdrop ones. My biggest issue with the 400i was comfort level being low =/

 

I complain about the Massdrop long lead times to receive items, but this time it saved me. I was ready to buy the HE-4XX because it was cheap despite not really liking a version of the HE-400 I had previously. I have to resist buying headphones just to have another mid-priced back up around. Anyway, waiting several months to receive them was the deal breaker. With HD-650 and Fostex TH-X00, I have things covered pretty well and I enjoy both a lot.

I like @Torq idea of putting the money saved towards a new Schiit Gen 5 USB board for the Yggdrasil.

 

Yeah, Brencho reassured me that not buying these is not a bad move since I have the 650. Also, I wasn't crazy about the 400i or 400s, either. I'm kind of surprised, though, by some of Tyll's remarks in his short review of the 4XX, especially in reference to the 600. [/URL]

 

Good news, everyone!
Will replied to my question about the Focus Pads. His reply:

"Hey Folks, replying here for visibility. The HE4XX uses Focus A pads. It looks like the sample we were provided for photography had the standard Focus pads. The difference in sound is small, with most measurements I've seen showing a difference around 4k, with Focus A pads coming in ~1-2db lower than standard Focus pads. Thanks for your patience with this unnecessary confusion."

So it looks like that solves that and final production units will be getting the less strident Focus Pads-A. Hooray!

 

These do have me thinking because they are a good deal, I have no planars and I want some. However the money just doesn't seem to be there this month and I ware of a buy once sort of thing.

Are you saying you didn't like the element? Not to get off topic but its just Ive had one for a while and even since I have its just been sort of meh and I got it over a schiit stack becasue everyone said it would be too bright with my k7xxs....I just always thought it was just because its very neutral though.

 

Gents,

Can anyone that has listened to the Monolith M1060 and the HE4X0 give me an idea of the sound signature difference? Soundstage width and imaging being of great concern for its main use. Thanks

 

Thanks for the info. Yes, if I got for the M1060 is with the full intention of using them as a modding toy, kinda like a really expensive fidget spinner.
then again, I should put that money towards my Stax and get an actual fidget spinner until then. lol

 

If you want a low-risk modding toy, Sennheiser wins again. They have such a good parts supply, you can hack away with a clear conscience. If you screw up, spares are easily available.

 

You are correct about Sennheiser, but I have already modded my HD650M's to nearly perfect status. I do have something I am working on. Just got to get it to where others can easily replicate it. Also considering just making a few modded parts and send them out to get measurements.

Now that I think about it, you talked me out of it, no point throwing money away on random toys I am not going to use. As much as I want to try the HE4XX and M1060, I have a suspicion that they won't replace my HD650M out of my Valhalla 2 or Jotunheim. So what is the point?

Ill just save the money, make a SBAF donation and put the rest in my STAX savings account.

going to finish my work on the modded 650 parts and get those out.

Edit: Paypal Donation Sent!

 

I have a pair of HD650s that I find too "relaxed" even with a good OTL tube amp. I think they sound great but not to my taste. I prefer a clearer sound, less relaxed. I do love their bass, however, and think they improved massively with a good amp. Just still not to my taste (most would prefer them to everything else I don't but I don't). Headphones that are more to my taste include the Koss ESP-950 (excepting a lack of bass slam), and for closed headphones the DT1350. I like Stax Lambdas, too, but find them a little too far in the opposite direction.

Will I like these? Mostly for watching TV in my bedroom and using with my PC in my bedroom. I'm probably going to sell my HD650s and Lambdas and use these or whatever else I end up with (Creative Aurvana Live is the other option) with a cheap amp/dac while my main computer and projector get the Koss (which I really love). Will these be a good set for me? The measurements are good. I'm pretty much broke hence me being really attracted by the price tag...

Fittingly, it's a Panasonic 3 LCD projector with the Koss and a Panasonic Plasma (ST60) that I want these for. Those displays seem to be popular in this thread.

 

I found cheap solid state amps to sound bad (more wooly without any pleasant warmth) with the HD650, but that makes sense. I know the HD650s are the agreed upon budget champion and my friends love them and can't stand what I like (electrostats, mostly, which they find thin and tinny). But hey, my tastes are my tastes. That's interesting, though. I like using a tube pre-amp with the Koss because they do sound thin to me without it.

I guess I'll just find out. I won't be using these with an amp most of the time and I found the HD650s really need one so there's that.

 

Then you might very well like the Hifiman sound, especially this one as it seems to be tuned well.

 

400i's are pretty great once you pad swap ... just too damn much clamp and sorta heavy. Tyll's is right on his impression on them is right on I do think in a lot of areas they sounded better then the 600's. But then again I thin that Audio-Technica ATH-R70x also sound better maybe not as much detail hard to tell but more neutral just a little tiny bit warmer then neutral.

 

Just got back from having coffee with @brencho.

We were enjoying our cuppa's while talking about how we were both official members of the SBAF's warmfag society (tm). Then I suddenly realized I brought a warmfag trophy with me: the HE-4XX! And brencho brought his non-warmfag Code-X along as well, so we sat there and plugged them into our MacBooks to listen to poorly recorded super shouty/raspy/aggressive/loud rap music.

Anyway, Code-X is definitely not warmfag. HE-4XX is totally warmfag to me, though. It definitely deserves to be a trophy, and one I'd like to keep very much, but alas, I gotta share the warmth per our traditions!

TL;DR: I don't have HE-4XX anymore. Will miss it. My brother Brencho will hopefully keep the spirit of warmfaggotry going!