A community for discussion around all topics related to headphones and personal audio.
EQ'ing that bass in is effortless. Got a 4.4mm cable for them with a nice braid.
I do gaming with them and it just feels so freaking wide.
I'm a percussion guy. Drums and intricate percussive ellements, in music, sound blissful.
Try listening to Dinossaur - OTR Remix, close your eyes and have fun.
Been wearing mine out for over 2 years now. Use them for gaming and music alike. Run Tool through them? Smashes you in the skull. Run a shitty blues recording from the 30s? It's like you're there. Live recordings are a beast on these things... Absolutely magical. And I saved 100 bucks on a "refurbished" (brand effing new) model π€
Because you haven't heard anything better, yet.
I have ... I've heard the HD600 at a studio while having classes.
I don't like those as much as my HE400se.
I've also listened to the DT770s 80 ohm version.
It's a true testament. This set is really that good.
Uh. I was speaking about headphones above the price brackets of the headphones you've referred to.
That's the point ... it's not comparing to higher brackets, that will obviously be better.
I'm talking in this price range and slightly above.
I'm pretty sure I was reading a thread just a day or two where people were discussing how headphones haven't really gotten that much better value for money in the last 10-20 years, and only IEMs have.
I'd have to completely disagree with that and I think headphones like the HE400SE are a great example of how we're getting a lot more for the same amount of money now. $109 for a planar with the same overall signature as most of Hifiman's higher end offerings, or closer to $90 if you go refurbished/open box, is a pretty nutty deal.
At that price even the usual concern of Hifiman's QC issues becomes not much of an issue because in the $110 and below range lots of offerings are very limited in terms of QC, build quality, whether or not they have removable cables, etc.
I read a lot about this set, and the sentiment you have is unanimous almost. I was afraid to get a bad cable version, or get unlucky with the QC. But everything came working well and I did get the sweet leather cable.
It feels like it should cost more (hopefully doesn't!!)
They're great!
However, mine would occasionally have a loose side (one or the other) and would cause a wooshing/extra vibrating noise with every hit of bass. A good smack or bang would fix it (mostly accidental ones that actually fixed it), but it would come back after a while. The QC is certainly wanting, but for the price and what you get, something has to give. It's the QC that gives with this product. Great entry level headphone! I loved mine, and even gave them to my father to use with my old amp.
Just know it's not a long term product unless you've won the lottery, or you'll be taking them apart and manually retightening everything to fix the bad QC and assembly.
I had those are they are so mid it hurts ..
He400se gang πͺ
I currently have the AKG K240 MK1, and when I bought them they were a ton better than any other headphones I've previously owned. Rtings doesn't have my model but they do have the MK2 which is slightly different. Comparing that to the HE400se, I saw the HE400se is slightly more EQ accurate and has better build quality, but in terms of other aspects like their openness and soundstage is fairly similar.
As someone at an entry level in this hobby, would it be a worthwhile upgrade or not necessarily? Would I be better off considering a different choice at a similar price point? At the end of the day I'm fairly satisfied with my original budget friendly choice, but I have had them for about 4 years now, and I can definitely feel the poorer build quality failing after time.
I have the MKII. Sweet gorgeous mids. The bass is poor tho ...
EQ'ing them was a battle but I finally got something I like.
I love my AKGs for the mids.
But the HE400se does everything else better, in my opinion.
If you have a good source, it's a worth while purchase.
As a fellow HE400SE user, I absolutely love them too!
I was looking at this one because the price is so low right now, but I saw a Joshua velour review and he said it has no sound staging? That put me off completely
Is he wrong?
How does this compare to the drop 4xx, which I've heard
I think joshua is spoiled by all the high end gear he has.
The soundstage in the HE400SE is pretty open and wide.
There are other sets that may do it better (at a higher price point) but to say this one doesn't have soundstage is bonkers.
I still like his content tho ...
Haha the power of china lol
Improves a lot with nice pads I find as well. I use brainwavz micro side brings out more slam from the bass and warms up the sound slightly
Been thinking about pads. Getting some soon!! Thank you!
Wait till you hear the philips fidelio X3
Iβve had my pair for almost a year and theyβve been amazing, especially after eq. Theyβre my first βhi-fiβ pair and I feel no need to upgrade. I did a grill mod too which really opened up the sound stage even more. The he400se are a great buy!
I'm nearing on 6 months and I've only been thinking of sidegrades instead of upgrades thanks to this set.
It is saving me money by just how good it is!
Can you show ur eq
Preamp: -5db
LSF on 100 hz, gain: 3.5 db, Q: 0.7
PK on 800 hz, gain: -1.5 db, Q: 0.5
PK on 1.2 khz, gain: 2 db, Q: 2
PK on 1.5 khz, gain: -1.5 db, Q: 2
PK on 2.1 khz, gain: 5 db, Q: 1.5
PK on 2.6 khz, gain: 3 db, Q: 2
PK on 3 khz, gain: -2.5 db, Q: 2
I had the 4xx and was trash
Found this post, read comments and bought a pair, less than 10 minutes in between haha, thanks for posting!
LOL SO FAST!!! Hope you like your set!! cheers!
is there a chance i would like the he400s if i didnt really like any other hifiman headphones?
The Hifiman headphones are know to have a very specific signature.
Down to the dip at around 1.5 khz.
If you didn't like the other Hifimans, you'll not like this one!
should I buy these or hd560s??
If you have a good Amp/Dac, but the HE400se.
If your source isn't that good, get the hd560s.