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Hifiman HE400SE Review (Headphone)

Rate this headphone:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 4 1.1%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 15 4.0%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 118 31.8%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 234 63.1%

  • Total voters
    371

Stilgar

Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2022
Messages
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Likes
34
Location
Istanbul
I use them 2 version of k5 pro ( ess and akm dac chip ), both of capable to drive he400se without problem on medium or high gain settings.
 

Harrycol501

Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2022
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2
So got the K5 Pro to compare against the Sabaj A10h to see which one was better with the he400se. It was my intention to replace the A10h as I felt it was nice sounding, but lacked the power for the 400se.

I'll need to give my ears some adjusting to the FIIO before giving my verdict, but I do prefer it to the the A10h. It is slightly more powerful, but the main difference is I think it pairs better with the 400se sonically as it's slightly airier, thinner and a touch brighter. This helps bring out detail and soundstage in these cans.

Where it really improves is in the gain increases. On the the 10h the low setting is pretty useless for most headphones and power hungry IEMs, whereas the basic setting on the FIIO is very good. On highest gain the FIIO is slightly louder at full gain (still not comfortably listenable like the A10h), but the volume from 0-100% increases more accurately, in the A10h there is a big step up quite high on volume.

BUT the A10h is a fuller sound. It is smoother and a lot nicer with vocals. They're also a little more weighty in the sound. Sooo, they're actually a nice companion set with the k5 pro. I think I'll keep both .

Some questions...

When I hooked them both to my SMSL Sanskrit 10th ii to compare, there was a noticeable difference in sound from my 400se when I used Composite In (from my TV), than when in USB mode (from my PC)? Is this normal?

Even tho both are very silent, the k5 pro has this ever so low electrical, buzzing sound which I hear when no music is playing. This buzzing goes away when I touch the housing. From reading it sounds like something to do with 'grounding'?? The two plug sockets in the wall are pretty heavily used (TV, Xbox, SMSL DAC, laptop, and charges devices from the USB slots). I connected the FIIO into its own socket on the wall but made no difference. Is there a fix?
 

Harrycol501

Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2022
Messages
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2
I should add, the k5 pro used as a DAC/AMP is nicer with the 400se. The ESS DAC seems to pair better than the AK4993 in the SMSL. This will be down to preference. Slightly thinner, airier sound of the ESS Vs slightly bolder, but still detailed sound of the AK.

Both combos are great to test and use with other IEMs and HPs
 

_thelaughingman

Major Contributor
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Jan 1, 2020
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1,943
Even tho both are very silent, the k5 pro has this ever so low electrical, buzzing sound which I hear when no music is playing. This buzzing goes away when I touch the housing. From reading it sounds like something to do with 'grounding'?? The two plug sockets in the wall are pretty heavily used (TV, Xbox, SMSL DAC, laptop, and charges devices from the USB slots). I connected the FIIO into its own socket on the wall but made no difference. Is there a fix?
You might be hearing the Power supply noise from the K5.


 

Yoyo35

New Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2022
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0
Compared to my AKG K712:s they sound ''lifeless'' and too sharp, hurts my ears.. Would any EQ settings help with this?
 

DUKE-DUKE

Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2019
Messages
40
Likes
15
Location
Europe
En comparación con mi AKG K712:s suenan ''sin vida'' y demasiado agudos, me duelen los oídos. ¿Alguna configuración de ecualización ayudaría con esto?
Try this on:

Preamp: -6.2 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 15 Hz Gain 4.9 dB Q 0.60
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 39 Hz Gain 1.7 dB Q 0.61
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 242 Hz Gain -1.7 dB Q 0.75
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 883 Hz Gain -2.8 dB Q 2.05
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1888 Hz Gain 6.2 dB Q 2.14
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 1304 Hz Gain 0.2 dB Q 2.14
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3158 Hz Gain -0.8 dB Q 5.28
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 6596 Hz Gain 0.2 dB Q 1.48
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 11278 Hz Gain 0.9 dB Q 1.62
Filter 10: ON PK Fc 20143 Hz Gain -5.6 dB Q 0.28
 
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192kbps

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Apr 3, 2019
Messages
534
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614
Compared to my AKG K712:s they sound ''lifeless'' and too sharp, hurts my ears.. Would any EQ settings help with this?
# HE400SE 2022.07 Prec.
Preamp: -4 dB
Filter: ON PK Fc 180 Hz Gain -2 dB Q 1
Filter: ON PK Fc 1150 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 3.5
Filter: ON PK Fc 1750 Hz Gain 3.3 dB Q 3
Filter: ON PK Fc 7600 Hz Gain -7.5 dB Q 2.6
Filter: ON PK Fc 8500 Hz Gain 5 dB Q 5
 

Bam!

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2022
Messages
64
Likes
73
Rtings review:
 

bracko

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2020
Messages
33
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37
Location
Sweden
Great review. These seem to perform much better than Sundara And Ananda at the fraction of the price.
 

okok

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2020
Messages
377
Likes
161
this is really fishy, chinese version he400se got 32 ohm? how come, doesn't look like typo

can anyone actually measure these 32 ohm he400se to prove that's a variant

O1CN01E0gwl71ogNgPyeuwq_!!0-tbbala.jpg
 

solderdude

Grand Contributor
Joined
Jul 21, 2018
Messages
15,891
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35,912
Location
The Neitherlands
Mine (EU version bought in 2021) was 28Ω and sits between 25Ω and 32Ω
 

okok

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2020
Messages
377
Likes
161
Here's the GEQ to simulate a Sundara 2020 using an HE400se.

can you create he400se EQ to mimic susvara, edition xs and hekse and he6se? that ratory1990 site went into abyss, none of the graphs can load for months, maybe you've saved all the data files thanks
 

staticV3

Master Contributor
Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
7,530
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11,995
oratory1990 site went into abyss
The graphs load, but you have to refresh the page a bunch of times before they do. See here.
I've already told the dev about this bug, but have not received a response yet.
 

Neutronman

Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2021
Messages
52
Likes
5
Just ordered a set of these cans. My first set of Open headphones and my first set of planars, so interested to see how they compare with my Momentums and Meze Neo's. I just sent back a set of AKG 271's (I hated them, harsh sound even with EQ)....
Hopefully my Fiio K5 Pro will have enough juice to drive them nicely. I have the stealth magnet version, not sure if it comes with the crappy twisted cables, so I ordered set of Neomusica. If my 400SE's come with the black rubber cable I'll send the Neomusica's back. Amazon price $109 for the 400SE's!!!! Same price as the AKG 371 and $20 cheaper than the terrible K271's.... Apart from Amir's EQ what EQ settings are you guys using?
 

_thelaughingman

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 1, 2020
Messages
1,324
Likes
1,943
Just ordered a set of these cans. My first set of Open headphones and my first set of planars, so interested to see how they compare with my Momentums and Meze Neo's. I just sent back a set of AKG 271's (I hated them, harsh sound even with EQ)....
Hopefully my Fiio K5 Pro will have enough juice to drive them nicely. I have the stealth magnet version, not sure if it comes with the crappy twisted cables, so I ordered set of Neomusica. If my 400SE's come with the black rubber cable I'll send the Neomusica's back. Amazon price $109 for the 400SE's!!!! Same price as the AKG 371 and $20 cheaper than the terrible K271's.... Apart from Amir's EQ what EQ settings are you guys using?
There's an EQ by Oratory that is Harman curve, whilst crinacle has one for his inhouse curve known as IEF and Harman curve. I use oratory's personally and it is to me very well balanced.

Crinacle' EQ*(Harman Curve)
Preamp: -10.7 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 10.6 dB Q 0.500
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 43 Hz Gain 0.7 dB Q 2.000
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 210 Hz Gain -1.4 dB Q 1.700
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 440 Hz Gain 0.3 dB Q 1.000
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 820 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 0.500
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 1300 Hz Gain -2.4 dB Q 1.100
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 1800 Hz Gain 8.7 dB Q 1.800
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 3300 Hz Gain -0.9 dB Q 2.000
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 9100 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 0.700
Filter 10: ON PK Fc 13000 Hz Gain -4.9 dB Q 2.000
 
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