Hifiman HE400SE Review (Headphone)

[phoenixsong]

Do you think I would notice an improvement over my Drop HD58x? I notice the sensitivity is lower HE400SE. I use MOTU M4 and with the HD58x the headphone knob is typically set to about1 o'clock.

I have the HE400i, HE4XX and HD58X, I think you will be better off upgrading to something better than the HE400SE if at all. My M2 clips at 3 o'clock, so I'm not sure I would risk it if I were you as well

 

[Cahudson42]

Finally, the long awaited HE400SE review. I have had mine since May, and always thought they were a fantastic buy at $149. I suspected that low distortion might be a factor in my liking them so much, and that does appear to be the case.

You have to ask yourself - why pay more? How much more enjoyment will a headphone $1000, $2000, or more likely bring?

My setup for them includes a $25 Rebel 4 TracFone using WiFi and Amazon music, and a three wire OTG always powered USB cable to a $109 Qudelix 5k. And the Qudelix great PEQ facility allows tweaking the fr as I like.

I did spend $42 for a balanced cable for the extra oomph. Definitely worth it.
So, for:
$25 TracFone
$149 HE400SE
$109 Qudelix 5k
$42 balanced cable

Or $300 some odd, I have IMO, a great armchair, desktop, and portable very enjoyable system. What's not to like?

Typed as listening to Masaaki Suzuki Bach Organ Works...

 

[_thelaughingman]

Finally, the long awaited HE400SE review. I have had mine since May, and always thought they were a fantastic buy at $149. I suspected that low distortion might be a factor in my liking them so much, and that does appear to be the case.

You have to ask yourself - why pay more? How much more enjoyment will a headphone $1000, $2000, or more likely bring?

My setup for them includes a $25 Rebel 4 TracFone using WiFi and Amazon music, and a three wire OTG always powered USB cable to a $109 Qudelix 5k. And the Qudelix great PEQ facility allows tweaking the fr as I like.

I did spend $42 for a balanced cable for the extra oomph. Definitely worth it.
So, for:
$25 TracFone
$149 HE400SE
$109 Qudelix 5k
$42 balanced cable

Or $300 some odd, I have IMO, a great armchair, desktop, and portable very enjoyable system. What's not to like?

That aftermarket balanced headphone cable does make a good difference compared to the factory one. I have a pair of balanced cables and a pair of Tripowin GrandVia unbalanced 3.5mm which are used with different amps.

 

[Aperiodic]

yah, i hope he doesnt as it will really ruin the high if they dont test well. He can be a real buzzkill sometimes.

"The truth will set you free but first it will piss you off."

 

[Raindog123]

$129 on Amazon at the moment

 

[HammerSandwich]

While we're all moaning about the "sensitivity" chart, I'll complain that the labels & numbers are out of phase.

 

[half_dog]

@amirm Can you tell which version is this HE400se? There are 2 versions, a stealth and non-stealth magnets. Usually the stealth version has a sticker on the box displaying this detail.

 

[amirm]

Updated the review with correct sensitivity graph.

 

[amirm]

@amirm Can you tell which version is this HE400se? There are 2 version, a stealth and non-stealth magnets. Usually the stealth version has a sticker on the box displaying this detail.

It does have a sticker saying stealth magnet design. Does it make it "V2?"

 

[amirm]

While we're all moaning about the "sensitivity" chart, I'll complain that the labels & numbers are out of phase.

Which labels and numbers?

 

[DanTheMan]

$129 on Amazon at the moment

Are those the V2?

 

[_thelaughingman]

Are those the V2?

Those are V2 aka stealth magnets.

 

[half_dog]

Does it make it "V2?"

I can't tell that means a version 2. What I recall when it was released there was two versions: stealth and non-stealth. The first was suposed to be for international market and the last only for chinese market - I am not complety sure about this information.
BTW, thanks as always for your reviews!

 

[HammerSandwich]

Which labels and numbers?

Headphone name versus weight. You have to keep flipping your head from left to right to read them.

 

[Gatordaddy]

These look like a good buy from a SQ perspective. Can anyone weigh in on comfort? My only experience with hifiman were the drop non planar magnetic headphones which i thought sounded really bad and had the most uncomfortable pads and ergonomics i've ever encountered.

 

[carsknivesbeer]

I've always wanted to try a planar and HiFiman makes a "few" and this seems like it could be it but this headphone do anything exceptional that would make it stand out against other headphones in the price range (even up to 300ish USD)? I have been leary about their QC and not willing to gamble on anything too expensive.

 

[brandonhall]

This is a prime example of the beauty of this site. The occasional diamond in the rough which is an absolute slam dunk for the money. Granted, this is a popular item but so is a lot of junk that gets tested.

 

[Pugsly]

I have these along with the Sennheiser HD6xx on my bedside table, and love them both. It is interesting to compare them, however, as even with eq they have a very different flavour so that I will prefer one on a day, another on the other. Anyone else have these and willing to suggest (a) what kind of difference they hear, and (b) why we would hear them? @amirm since I know you have and appreciate both (or rather 650, but supposed to be the same...) what is your experience and/or explanation (if it matches mine, or do you hear no diff once eq'd?)

 

[Vladetz]

Very good results for the price. Enjoying mine for 2 weeks. Also I can say that they feel very comfortable on head.

 

[amirm]

@amirm since I know you have and appreciate both (or rather 650, but supposed to be the same...) what is your experience and/or explanation (if it matches mine, or do you hear no diff once eq'd?)

I need to compare them side by side which I have not done. So nothing specific to share right now.