New Hifiman Headphone HE-400 is out

I love that glossed blue

At the upcoming CES in Las Vegas in January, HiFiMAN will be introducing an exciting new planar magnetic model, HE-400. Until CES close on January 13, we are offering HE-400 at special pre-order pricing of $349. Save $50 by ordering by Monday January 13. We will do shipping on Jan 15th, 2012.

What makes HE-400 special is:
1) it is 92.5DB efficient so it can be driven by virtually anything including an iPod.

2) It has the familiar HiFiMAN sonic signature which means it is very detailed yet warm

3) It is only $399 MSRP. We price it at such a price because we finally figure out a way to mass produce hi-end sound quality planar driver headphones in a much easier way than before.

Most interested in the bold section, and wondering if this will lead to price reductions on existing models.  I have not yet bought any planar phones but this  "may" just tempt me if prices are starting to become a little more reasonable.  I was severely tempted to blow my budget on the HE-500 when I last bought some cans but decided against it as my current set up is mid-fi at best.  Maybe this can go on next years xmas list :p

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tablix 

1) it is 92.5DB efficient

That's not actually very efficient at all 

Quote:

That's not actually very efficient at all 

Yep, its very low, ll require a good amp.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVDRey 

Yep, its very low, ll require a good amp.

Not necessarily, but it might not get loud from an iPod as claimed. It's a little more efficient than an LCD-2 if the impedances are similar, and the LCD-2 gets loud enough for me from an iPod, but I listen quiet.

Simply put, "driven by virtually anything" is not a label I would put on a 93 dB sensitivity.

Its true, but even with a low impedances headphone, 93dB its very low for to be used by an iphone/ipod headphone. Ok if you listen quiet, but concerning all dynamic... If i take as an exemple LCD-2 60ohm + 91 dB its must be very horrible from an ipod/iphone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVDRey 

Its true, but even with a low impedances headphone, 93dB its very low for to be used by an iphone/ipod headphone. Ok if you listen quiet, but concerning all dynamic... If i take as an exemple LCD-2 60ohm + 91 dB its must be very horrible from an ipod/iphone.

I'm not going to get into a big amp discussion here. But no, if the peaks aren't clipping the dynamics will be intact. And since many portable players use digital attenuation to decrease volume (probably including the iPod, not sure), you can't turn it up too much to the point the amp can't handle it. The voltage is constant and peaks will be intact. What matters is how loud it is.

I have never heard the LCD-2, but i stay skeptical with an ipod/iphone. Have sound, yes, but good sound...

Even my less efficient headphone is more efficient than LC-2 and sound horrible from an iphone/ipod in comparison of a good amp.

Anyone know if these will be available in black, silver, gray or any color other than gaudy blue?

Let's crunch a few numbers. 

Typically, a portable device will have about 0.6V of output.

Power = (0.6V * 0.6V) / 35 ohm impedance = 10.28mW

Total dB = (92.5dB/mW) + 10 * log (10.28) = 102.6 peak SPL dB

You'd definitely want an amp for that. It's certainly loud enough for some people, but you run the risk of clipping if the source ruins out of juice. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Head Injury 

That's not actually very efficient at all 

Yeah, it seems like they’re just comparing them to their other hifiman cans, which are all between 83 and 88 dB. (HE-300 is 93, but not a planar)

Hopefully they sound much better than the HE-300.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelotonjon 

Hopefully they sound much better than the HE-300.  

With their planar magnetic drivers, they should. 

Yeah, that blue color is just unbelievably hideous, but other than that this is very intriguing.