Hifiman HE400SE Review (Headphone)

[Azathoth]

I have the HE400SE and the Anandas, the HE400SE sounds similar enough but just a tad less clear in the mid range? The Anandas are much clearer, and the soundstage is larger. I like the Anandas more than the HE400SE.

 

[GeekyBastard]

Ordered it yesterday, it came in delivery today, so quick! Upon first try, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that it's just a 99 USD headphone, it could easily beat up so many overpriced headphones, even when driving it with a Tempotec Sonata HD Pro (Gotta cheat it into high gain mode using a 3.5 to 3.5 adapter though), it sounds rich and full, definitely a bargain.

 

[Pugsly]

For anyone ordering this headphone, by the way, it is worth getting a replacement cable at the same time, as the one that comes with it (unless this has changed) is terrible. While it will undoubtedly work fine, it looks and feels like a thin, ugly plastic iem cable...

 

[Deleted member 27694]

I was curious. Bought it today from my local arms supplier together with a MEZE balanced cable. So far so good. I would say build quality is better than my K371.

 

[GeekyBastard]

Can someone confirm the the V2.0 and V1.0 situation? I'm about to pull the plug but i'm afraid i will recieve V1.0

Check the metal frame against the left ear cup, if there's a line of laser graving text says “Stealth Magnets”, that's the V2 edition.

 

[Fritz-Kola_Enthusiast]

Dont do it. Its like crack. Soon, you will be like me and on to the much harder stuff ... susvara.
You have been warned

Dunno about that. Hifiman headphones all have a similar frequency response and cup design, so I do not think that the susvara is any better than a sundara. They basically try and sell you the same thing for a higher price. Just have a look at the Ananda, Arya and HE 1000. They are all basically the exact same headphone. Do not get me wrong, the FR target Hifiman uses SLAPS, but anything other than their cheapest headphones smell like rip off to me, especially considering that built quality does not get much better with an increase in price.
Well, it might be that the Arya for example offers better spatial qualities than the Ananda, but then again a 300€ pair of studio monitors is better still, which makes spending that much only for a little bit of simulated space seem like a bad deal, imho.

 

[LTig]

Just ordered one. (€ 149.-)
I suppose it is the V1 though (not rounded-off silver colour magnets).

edit: Seller told me it is the latest version.

Where? In Germany I could only find the recommended price of € 169.-

 

[RHO]

Where? In Germany I could only find the recommended price of € 169.-

Tweakers.net indicated the €149 on Bol.com, but when I visited the site the price was indicated at €169.
@solderdude : Did you get it from Bol? Is there some discount code to get it for €149? Usually the price indications on Tweakers are correct.

 

[abdo123]

Tweakers.net indicated the €149 on Bol.com, but when I visited the site the price was indicated at €169.
@solderdude : Did you get it from Bol? Is there some discount code to get it for €149? Usually the price indications on Tweakers are correct.

bol.com does not ship the 400SE to belgium I ordered from amazon.fr

 

[RHO]

bol.com does not ship the 400SE to belgium

Whut? That's a first.

 

[abdo123]

Whut? That's a first.

I thought so too but my partner says there has always been certain items that are only shipped to Nederland.

 

[solderdude]

Tweakers.net indicated the €149 on Bol.com, but when I visited the site the price was indicated at €169.
@solderdude : Did you get it from Bol? Is there some discount code to get it for €149? Usually the price indications on Tweakers are correct.

Hifiman HE400se - Hifi Koptelefoon | bol

Hifiman HE400se - Hifi Koptelefoon. HiFiMAN HE400se De HiFiMAN HE400se is een planar hoofdtelefoon met een tijdloze vormgeving, een hoogwaardige...

www.bol.com

 

[muslhead]

Dunno about that. Hifiman headphones all have a similar frequency response and cup design, so I do not think that the susvara is any better than a sundara. They basically try and sell you the same thing for a higher price. Just have a look at the Ananda, Arya and HE 1000. They are all basically the exact same headphone. Do not get me wrong, the FR target Hifiman uses SLAPS, but anything other than their cheapest headphones smell like rip off to me, especially considering that built quality does not get much better with an increase in price.
Well, it might be that the Arya for example offers better spatial qualities than the Ananda, but then again a 300€ pair of studio monitors is better still, which makes spending that much only for a little bit of simulated space seem like a bad deal, imho.

Thank you for your subjective response to a post that was not asking for a response. Subjectivity rules here at ASR.

 

[_thelaughingman]

Thank you for your subjective response to a post that was not asking for a response. Subjectivity rules here at ASR.

 

[abdo123]

Thank you for your subjective response to a post that was not asking for a response. Subjectivity rules here at ASR.

Actually that’s quite an objective response since most Hifiman headphones measure the same (Frequency response).

 

[Deleted member 27694]

@amirm “The included cord is this thin, horribly coiled wire.”

They have changed that. The included cable that came with my model is neither thin nor horribly coiled. For those who like it loud. With my Shanling UA2 on single ended it gets quite loud. With the balanced cable of course really loud…

 

[GaryH]

Actually that’s quite an objective response since most Hifiman headphones measure the same (Frequency response).

I wouldn't say the same, but some models are very similar, with little to no objective justification for the large differences in cost e.g.:

 

[abdo123]

I wouldn't say the same, but some models are very similar, with little to no objective justification for the large differences in cost e.g.:

View attachment 170899

there are differences in harmonic distortion, and some models have nasty resonances or cancelations that are removed with smoothing. Also the high-end models have often great L and R matching. All these are important factors, just less important.

 

[RHO]

Hifiman HE400se - Hifi Koptelefoon | bol

Hifiman HE400se - Hifi Koptelefoon. HiFiMAN HE400se De HiFiMAN HE400se is een planar hoofdtelefoon met een tijdloze vormgeving, een hoogwaardige...

www.bol.com

View attachment 170882

Sooooooooooooooo tempting .... but I really don't need an other headphone right now (typing while enjoying my Sundaras ).

 

[_thelaughingman]

Sooooooooooooooo tempting .... but I really don't need an other headphone right now (typing while enjoying my Sundaras ).

Yea just enjoy those Sundaras, definitely don’t need an entry level pair.