[Makiah S]

  DT880 produce very nice bass and mids for the price... but their low to mid treble balance is very very off. And the overall timbre is for sure quite metallic.

I never felt it was metallic, but low mids and treble were not perfect
 
point being, the HE 4 is a clear upgrade to the DT 880! I LOVE the HE 4 mids xD most pefect for me! As I HATE warm cans [but ironically love Warm daps?] 

 

[Rinx7]

I don't think the HE-4 has a metallic signature at all. Its treble while elevated sounds normal.

 

[Soundsgoodtome]

No one said he4, DT880 have a metallic treble

I don't think the HE-4 has a metallic signature at all. Its treble while elevated sounds normal.

 

[cute]

Initially I thought the HE-4 treble was a little off, and didn't sound natural.  Burn in may have helped a little, I've had them about a week.  I am using Beyerdynamic velour, VB, black pads.  I also cut down the foam disk that comes with new pads, about 1/8" so they fit inside the HE-4 driver, and I use a small foam "dot" from Mr. Speakers, (he has a kit designed to tune the treble on the Alpha Dogs).  This works great for me to take the edge off of the treble.  I also made a cable change, detachable ALO DIY wire, and I run off speaker taps either off my tube amp, or one of my Denon AVR's.  The HE-4 imo, was good enough for me to sell both my DT990 and T1, 600 ohm headphones.  IMO, they replaced my T1, and are doing a very good job keeping happy with the replacement!

 

[Soundsgoodtome]

I've always wondered which would come out on top since the t1s were considered super DT880s as well.

Maybe you're missing out on some treble resolution with your mods? I kinda want to try it..

 

[Thujone]

Why are you selling your HE-4's?? @Soundsgoodtome
 

 

[Soundsgoodtome]

Funding another hobby (my avatar has a hint). It's only an interest check, it'd be nice if someone wanted to buy it but if not that's fine too.

 

[cute]

I've always wondered which would come out on top since the t1s were considered super DT880s as well.

Maybe you're missing out on some treble resolution with your mods? I kinda want to try it..

 
Not missing any treble resolution.....of course imo cables make a difference, and I have 8 different flavors that include pure silver, silver plated copper, pure copper, and a few combinations (ALO DIY Reference 8).  Actually of the ALO high purity copper, and their SXC, silver plated copper, the SXC is smoother.  Rolling cables, much like rolling tubes!

 

[cute]

I had the Hifiman HE-6 here for the last few days doing an A/B listening test against the HE-4.  I used all of the cables I have doing the comparison.  With the ALO 8 wire copper braid that I am using, the HE-4 had better instrument placement and separation, and a bigger soundstage than the HE-6, imo.  The HE-6 had a meatier sound, the tradeoff was I lost the airy sound that the HE-4 has.  I also think the HE-4 has better detail, there were things I could hear with the HE-4 that I couldn't hear with the HE-6.  I have about 40 test tracks that I use when comparing headphones and cables, with various combinations of both.  To me the HE-4 has a more real sound!  Speaker taps really give me more resolution than using HP out, that has less power!  I retuned the HE-6 for refund, I'll be getting the HE-560 when it comes out next month!

 

[Ron12]

My friend prefers HE-4 to HE-6 and all the other Hifiman headphones so far...

 

[cute]

I also had the HE-500 here last weekend. got a good deal on it too.  The HE-4 vs the HE-500, HE-4 won that one two.  Besides the sound they are much more comfortable.  I think the heaphones with one sided magnets, like the new HE-400i and HE-560 are really going to be a hit, if the HE-4 sound is any indication.  Between the HE-4 open back, and the Alpha Dog that I have had for about three weeks, I am really enjoying my music.  I would like to hear the Paradox Slants at some point, but they aren't readily available...up to three months for special paint.  But what @LFF touches usually sounds very good from what I have found here on headfi!

 

[Voohoo]

Seems that I might have a channel imbalance with my HE-4. Annoying. I swapped the L and R cords to test. It's not a source or amp component. One of the drivers is a bit louder than the other.
 
Any ideas on how to deal with this?

 

[Soundsgoodtome]

Not much you can do but send it back for warranty repair. If it's out of warranty they'llgive you a repair price. Contact head direct

 

[hemipowered007]

Not really on topic, as usual for me, but just got the MD's. Full test vs the he4 tonight, unfortunately on a somewhat sub par setup still. Someone donate me a beefroast and a nice beefy tube amp.

 

[hemipowered007]

I just put the alphas on them, im missing some low mids, bass impact is GONE. Man, i wish these pads worked they are so so comfy, but they almost kill the he4 sig, drums dont have impact, vocals stay mostly the same,highs seem a little "smeared". Everything seems pushed back, maybe the pads are too deep to work for the 4. I really really cant tell you how dissapointed i am that these pads dont work, if there was ever going to be expectation bias, itd be now for me. But these just, make my he4 sound, so inferior. I am using Black label society - blessed hellride, A song ive heard-30x times on the he4 with velours, i use it for testing alot.