Is Hifiman HE400i better than Sennhaiser HD598

[snake3276120]

Hi Guys,

Currently I have an HD598. My wifi really likes it and want it as hers, so I need to get something else. I wonder is Hifiman HE400i better than HD598, or if there's anything else you guys can recommend around ~$200 (USD) value range. I use it at home so I prefer open back big headphones. Stuffs that I listen to are pretty old school: Symphonies, Concertos, instrument solos, vocals, etc. I do watch videos and play games etc but those are less demanding on sound quality to me.

My DAC/AMP is Topping DX3 pro. I listen to Tidal or my own CDs from my PC.

Thanks!

 

[Doodski]

You might like the website @solderdude has.
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/

 

[snake3276120]

You might like the website @solderdude has.
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/

Really good website! Thanks!

 

[Hugo9000]

If you can try out a Sennheiser HD 650 and like it, you could buy the Drop version, HD 6XX. It's on sale for $195 US, regular price is $220. Or you could try the less expensive HD 58X (it's $150 currently, regular price is $160). The problem is that you can't audition it first unless you know someone who has it, whereas there may be local stores where you can try out the 650. From casual searching, I see some Canadians stating that they paid $40 or more for Customs and fees to Canada.

I have the HD 58X and enjoy it very much with opera, symphonies, solo violin/cello/piano/etc. It doesn't do well with artillery fire (1812 haha!), but other than that it does very well with 'classical' music.

@solderdude has measured these Sennheiser models, and the HIFIMan HE400i, so you might want to compare his FR measurements and other data to get an idea if any of these might be worth checking out for you. I don't see the HD 598 that you own, but there is the HD 599, and in his review of that, he compares it directly to the Drop/Sennheiser HD 58X.

https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/brands-s-se/hd599/
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/brands-s-se/hd650/
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/hifiman/he400i/
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/brands-s-se/hd58x-jubilee-massdrop/

 

[snake3276120]

If you can try out a Sennheiser HD 650 and like it, you could buy the Drop version, HD 6XX. It's on sale for $195 US, regular price is $220. Or you could try the less expensive HD 58X (it's $150 currently, regular price is $160). The problem is that you can't audition it first unless you know someone who has it, whereas there may be local stores where you can try out the 650. From casual searching, I see some Canadians stating that they paid $40 or more for Customs and fees to Canada.

I have the HD 58X and enjoy it very much with opera, symphonies, solo violin/cello/piano/etc. It doesn't do well with artillery fire (1812 haha!), but other than that it does very well with 'classical' music.

@solderdude has measured these Sennheiser models, and the HIFIMan HE400i, so you might want to compare his FR measurements and other data to get an idea if any of these might be worth checking out for you. I don't see the HD 598 that you own, but there is the HD 599, and in his review of that, he compares it directly to the Drop/Sennheiser HD 58X.

https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/brands-s-se/hd599/
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/brands-s-se/hd650/
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/hifiman/he400i/
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/brands-s-se/hd58x-jubilee-massdrop/

Yes I got my 598 a few years ago, which is discontinued. I'd use my subwoofer for 1812 cannons lol. Thanks for the info.

 

[Blur]

I own the 400i and it has been my reference and end-game headphone for a couple of years. I have since moved onto the Aeon Flow Open as it has a more up-front sound a better bass slam, but the 400i holds its own. The best thing is you can buy 10 of them at the cost of one headphone like the LCD-2,LCD-3, or even Stax.

Things I like about the 400i:
Super comfortable and light
Large ear cups
Replaceable pads that easily come off
Detachable cable
Planar sound signature ( flat bass response and quick driver response )
Low impedance so no amp will color its sound ( dynamic drivers can have issues here due to bass bloom )
Measurements are spectacular:
HiFiMAN HE-400i 2014

Compare that against the much more expensive LCD-3:
Audeze LCD-3 sn2312454

Or even a Stax SR-009
Stax SR-009 SZ9-1278 after burn-in

The frequency response is super flat and the square wave responses are both excellent. The 400i is my highest recommendation for affordable high-end listening and I've compared it to so many other more expensive headphones.

The biggest cons for the 400i:
Cheaply made so you need to be a little careful with how you handle them. I've had mine for years and have had no issues.
The bass slam is lacking due to the open design so don't expect head-rattling bass response.
The treble can have some bite to it which was solved by moving the pads to have the thickest part in the front rather than in the back. This dropped the treble response just enough to not make the 400i bright.
The default cable is a little unruly and it comes with a terrible 90 degree jack plug. Replace the cable right away!
Having low sensitivity means you will need a decent amp to get the most out of it. ( I'm sure your DX3 Pro will do fine for now )

 

[Blur]

The 400i replacement cable I went with and love:

$18.90 new
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MT7Y90R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[sweetchaos]

The 400i replacement cable I went with and love:

$18.90 new
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MT7Y90R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I was going to ask about this. You read my mind. Thanks.

 

[Blur]

It's a super basic SE cable, but I've had zero issues with mine and for $20 can you go wrong?

 

[Cahudson42]

+1 on the HE400i. As long as you have a clean 1/2w or more at +/-32ohms. (Per @amirm - DX3 Pro should be fine). However, with power-comprimised dongles (es100, BTR3 etc) - not so much. I tried mine with both, and returned both.

Work great with my 1w Liquid Spark (LS is underrated here IMO).

I am toying with getting a miniDSP IL-DSP to bring down the 7k peak (?) - but for me, bass, low distortion, everything else, etc. - is great.

I have no complaints at all on build quality btw..

 

[VMAT4]

I have both the HE 4XX and the HD 6XX. I can't say I like one over the other. I like to own more than one tie as well. But, the HE 4XX can be driven by a smart phone or tablet. It doesn't absolutely require an amp.

 

[Cahudson42]

But, the HE 4XX can be driven by a smart phone

Ok for vocals etc. But listen to, say, the DG Ultra HD Kleiber Beethoven 7th with your HE400i - and anything less than a clean 1w will be really, really apparent...

(Was it the 7th where one critic called it 'One step from the madhouse'?)

 

[snake3276120]

3 different websites has 3 quiet different measurements... which one should I trust lol
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/HiFiMANHE4002014.pdf
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/hifiman/he400i/
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/hifiman/he-400i

For the cable, seems the 2018 version has it fixed by looking at Amazon's description, but that's not a big deal.

 

[Hugo9000]

3 different websites has 3 quiet different measurements... which one should I trust lol
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/HiFiMANHE4002014.pdf
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/hifiman/he400i/
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/hifiman/he-400i

For the cable, seems the 2018 version has it fixed by looking at Amazon's description, but that's not a big deal.

You can compare a particular site's measurements of a headphone you're familiar with to another headphone they measured to get an idea of what to expect.

So RTINGS has measured the HD 598 you own, and also the HE400i, so use their comparison feature for example:
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/t...iman-he-400i/246/353?usage=8866&threshold=0.1

 

[Blur]

+1 on the HE400i. As long as you have a clean 1/2w or more at +/-32ohms. (Per @amirm - DX3 Pro should be fine). However, with power-comprimised dongles (es100, BTR3 etc) - not so much. I tried mine with both, and returned both.

Work great with my 1w Liquid Spark (LS is underrated here IMO).

I am toying with getting a miniDSP IL-DSP to bring down the 7k peak (?) - but for me, bass, low distortion, everything else, etc. - is great.

I have no complaints at all on build quality btw..

You gotta try my pad mod where you take the pads off and place them back on with the thick park of the pad forward. Really helps that treble peak.

 

[VMAT4]

Ok for vocals etc. But listen to, say, the DG Ultra HD Kleiber Beethoven 7th with your HE400i - and anything less than a clean 1w will be really, really apparent...

(Was it the 7th where one critic called it 'One step from the madhouse'?)

The HE 4XX has a sensitivity of 93 dB. I'm guessing that's for 1 milliwatt input.

 

[Blumlein 88]

3 different websites has 3 quiet different measurements... which one should I trust lol
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/HiFiMANHE4002014.pdf
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/hifiman/he400i/
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/hifiman/he-400i

For the cable, seems the 2018 version has it fixed by looking at Amazon's description, but that's not a big deal.

I like the last two sites in your list. Innerfidelity isn't what it used to be.

BTW, diyaudioheaven is Solderdude's work. He is a member here.

 

[ViperScythe]

I own HD599 and He400i, i don't think that HD589 & HD599 is that much different, so i'll say that hifiman he400i is just a better headphone in almost all aspect, HD 599 is just more portable, although still wouldn't wear it outside.

 

[Sgt. Ear Ache]

I have a few different sets of headphones, but I often get goosebumps from the 400i's. The detail and clarity just blows me away.

 

[solderdude]

another HE400i measurement

and Sonarworks:

Do not that all measurements show the 2 weak points. Bass roll-off and the 6-10kHz peak. For the last 'issue' (sibilance) there is a fix when it bothers an owner (some actually like the extra detail the peak adds in some recordings).