New Hifiman Headphone HE-400 is out - Page 290

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chawanwit 

Have been wearing them for almost 2 hours and no more pressure in one area. Much more comfortable.

Also the headband can be gently stretched to get a lighter clamp. The first day that I got mine, I had them on for about 30 minutes and I was really feeling the clamp. I remembered someone talking about stretching the headband, so I gave them a good stretch and they were perfect!! I have not touched them since that day...

gL!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biscuitz 

I recently ordered a pair of HE-400. They'll arrive Wednesday, and I'll try to post some brief impressions in this thread when I have a couple hours on 'em!

I have my suspicions as to whether I'll like the HE-400 though, seeing as I'm a Grado fan. I love the immediacy, forward mids, and energetic highs of Grados. From what I've read, the HE-400 may be quite the deviation from that type of sound.

 

Any other Grado lovers enjoying the HE-400?

What Grados would you be talking about?  I've sold 'em all off and have the planer headphones (HE-400, Fostex T50) as well as the dynamic driver, Audio Technica ATH-A900x.  I love all three of them.  About 1.5 years ago, I really loved Grado.  But, they were costly to get a custom set by procuring the components and then performing the assembly work.  For once, I was glad to have the HE-400, where I didn't have to change out the ear cups, the headband was leather and fine, and I was happy with the cable.  I just wanted to put them on and listen.  I didn't really oppose Jerg's grill update, but to me personally, I didn't want to touch the HE-400 in a sense that it would make me obsess a bit and keep trying to mod it in different way.  Just keeping the HE-400 "as-is" has made me happy.

Does anyone else here want to set up a wager with me?  I've sold and purchased plenty of headphones, as well as Matt, too.  Maybe, 4 or 5 of us could create a pact and then determine the longest owner of the HE-400 the winner.  We already figure Matt has hinted a bit about moving along, which I thought would never happen, given his love for the HE-400s.  So, there's one down --- well, almost.  

I will be getting the HE-500/Lyr combo. How would it compare to the HE-400/Lyr combo?

I listen to a lot of modern genres which would suit the LCD-2s but I really dig the HE-500 design and bang for the buck :)

A different thread but this one is still very active :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by IcedTea 

Does anyone have any experience with the EF-2A with the HE-400?

Yes.  I'd rate the experience a "meh".  Not such a good combination.  Then again, as another member told me, the EF-2A was out well before the HE-400, so HifiMAN probably never intended it to power any of their planer-based headphones.  I'd easily go for the Little Dot I+ if you're looking to get into a tube-hybrid amp.  It is a much better option.  The Little Dot I+ will mean you still have to get a DAC, but the DAC built into the EF-2A isn't too impressive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wje 

 

What Grados would you be talking about?  I've sold 'em all off and have the planer headphones (HE-400, Fostex T50) as well as the dynamic driver, Audio Technica ATH-A900x.  I love all three of them.  About 1.5 years ago, I really loved Grado.  But, they were costly to get a custom set by procuring the components and then performing the assembly work.  For once, I was glad to have the HE-400, where I didn't have to change out the ear cups, the headband was leather and fine, and I was happy with the cable.  I just wanted to put them on and listen.  I didn't really oppose Jerg's grill update, but to me personally, I didn't want to touch the HE-400 in a sense that it would make me obsess a bit and keep trying to mod it in different way.  Just keeping the HE-400 "as-is" has made me happy.

 

Does anyone else here want to set up a wager with me?  I've sold and purchased plenty of headphones, as well as Matt, too.  Maybe, 4 or 5 of us could create a pact and then determine the longest owner of the HE-400 the winner.  We already figure Matt has hinted a bit about moving along, which I thought would never happen, given his love for the HE-400s.  So, there's one down --- well, almost.  

Nobody has moved on yet. It's really a cat fight b/w the hd650 and the he400. They are both splendid hp's each in their own right. When you finish auditioning them closely it could come down to something very simple like comfort. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTCG 

 

Nobody has moved on yet. It's really a cat fight b/w the hd650 and the he400. They are both splendid hp's each in their own right. When you finish auditioning them closely it could come down to something very simple like comfort. 

Hi Matt

Would you ever consider the HE-500?

Why and why not?

Im currently looking to purchase my first orthos yet I dont know which...

The whole HIFIman lineus is very tempting (except for HE-6) plus there is the LCD-2

As I said I listen to "mainstream" (hiphop,pop,rap,rock,etc but also a few other genres) music mostly but I really wouldnt want to spend a thousand for the LCD-2s...

Best regards, Luke

Luke,

I've purchased the he500, sold them and then borrowed them again recently. For me, it's no question...he400 all the way. The he500 gets a somewhat modest victory with regard to mids, but the he400 has a more satisfying bass presence. They actually sound somewhat similar without the differences as noted. The he500 is heavier. I don't really like anything heavier than the he400.

So I'd go with the 400 all the way!!

gL!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTCG 

Luke,

 

I've purchased the he500, sold them and then borrowed them again recently. For me, it's no question...he400 all the way. The he500 gets a somewhat modest victory with regard to mids, but the he400 has a more satisfying bass presence. They actually sound somewhat similar without the differences as noted. The he500 is heavier. I don't really like anything heavier than the he400.

 

So I'd go with the 400 all the way!!

 

gL!!

Hmm... Beats me I guess. I thought the bass of the HE-500 is decent... I mean it was supposed to be a bit lighter than HE-400 but hits a little lower.

With the Lyr the bass should be pretty good...

Im coming off the Pro 900 so I might get the HE-500 to complement them.

I was told they are both great cans, perhaps the HE-500 being a bit more even sounding...

Could you perhaps elaborate a little more about the differences between the two, bass mainly, also other factors which you think are worth mentioning?

I really love nice deep bass so in contrast the differences between the bass handling of these two. Pretty please

PM me or just post it here if you d like

Thanks! Best regards, Luke

Interesting Matt.. when I chose between the HE400 and HD650, the HE400 won out.  There was something about the HD650 that didn't sit right with me and eventually sold them.  That was before I had the Bifrost/Lyr combo.  Would love to hear the HD650 now.  I'm sure that I'd have a different opinion. Oh, well. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTCG 

 

Nobody has moved on yet. It's really a cat fight b/w the hd650 and the he400. They are both splendid hp's each in their own right. When you finish auditioning them closely it could come down to something very simple like comfort. 

I think that may be the biggest difference between the two hp's is scaleability with amps. The he400 doesn't require a powerhouse amp and sound pretty damn good all the way down to the e17. The hd650 scales incredibly well but doesn't sound good at all with something like the e17.  They are similar in price, but if you don't plan to at least get into a mid-fi amp then the he400 is the way to go. 

But with the lyr and bifrost the hd650 is truly special. It will be interesting to see how much better the he400 will be with the same combo. 

Crazy to see you turn back to the 650's, but such is the nature of the hobby (can't count how many times I've gone back and forth between various models). 

I've never had a really nice amp set up for my 650's, so it's hard to believe they scale up so well. But literally everyone says this, so it must be true. Going back and forth between my 650 and my HE-400 now, I'm finding myself loving both headphones. But lately I've been also digging the 650's, sigh. The 650's just lacks the punch and energy of the HE-400 (but I low how it presents each instrument). Then again, I'm running both on an e17 which for all the reasons you described above, is why the HE-400 sounds great compared to the 650.

Really considering getting the Lyr>BiFrost now. 

Although ****, maybe I'll just go away for 4 months, and just buy the LCD-2 + a really nice amp to back that up (just save up). :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTCG 

I think that may be the biggest difference between the two hp's is scaleability with amps. The he400 doesn't require a powerhouse amp and sound pretty damn good all the way down to the e17. The hd650 scales incredibly well but doesn't sound good at all with something like the e17.  They are similar in price, but if you don't plan to at least get into a mid-fi amp then the he400 is the way to go. 

 

But with the lyr and bifrost the hd650 is truly special. It will be interesting to see how much better the he400 will be with the same combo.