New Hifiman Headphone HE-400 is out - Page 317

For my tastes, HD800s sound way too bright and weightless in terms of bottom end, it's the poster-child of the "more treble tilt = more balanced" trend started by German headphone companies 10 years ago. In terms of technicalities it is a marvel, but that is pointless to my enjoyment when the sound signature and voicing is so off.

Have you heard the HE-6 yet? If you have, would you say that it's more substantial/fuller-bodied than the HD800? Interested in either one, but I've only heard the HD800s several times, not the HE-6.

More HE-400 related, does anyone with velours have a problem with the pads picking up crazy amounts of lint? Any ways to get them off?

Man, you are really asking for it from those guys.  Well honestly I have never heard the hd800s but from reviews I had gathered that the treble was a little too bright.  However, from reading only, I see that they have an excellent soundstage.  For 1k though I think I would wish for some better sound.  I really like the sound signature from my hd650s, but the hd800s are supposed to stray from that.  Still cannot part with he400s or the hd650s even though i find them somewhat comparable.  They have just enough uniquness that I can still appreciate them seperately.

Interesting. I just got a pair of HE-400s from Crutchfield. The date on the box shows 09/17/12. But when I look at the drivers it looks like I have rev2 versions (yesssssssssss). I can't read the card insert because it's in Chinese, but there looks to be serial #s for both L and R drivers, 2060686 & 2060687; both are handwritten.

They sound ok but I can't push the volume up enough. Both my Hot-Audio DAC Extasy and ASUS DG sound cards are @ 100% volume but the volume is still so low. So now time to order an amp. 

1) Yes and 2) yes. To me, a well-driven HE6 sounds way better than HD800s in every respect, including soundstage (it's more of a realistic open soundstage rather than the Senn's unnatural expansive holographic soundstage).

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I consider the HD800 the best non Stax headphone. Some people agree with me and some don't. 

^This. If stating an opinion is enough to draw flaming and trolling from those who disagree, then Head-fi might as well be Reddit. 

Hey now, Uncle Erik's on /r/headphones. I know he hasn't been on here since last year, but you trying to pick a fight with an Uncle Erik fan? 

Well, can't justify the LCD-3s when you have the LCD-2s. So I guess HE-6/HD800s are the only way left to go. Got any idea where the brightness in the HE-6 is and how it might interfere with some music? (from listening, I've see the really good looking graphs on changstar already)

r/headphones is in infant stages with regards to its audiophile maturity; most peeps there are still dwelling on the superior fidelity of their M-fiddies to have much of a concrete view of their real sonic preferences, or opinions on mid / high-end headphones and systems.

Hm... HE6s just sounded somewhat bright but not sibilant to me, which is reflected by its measurements where the everything 5kHz onwards is on average about 5dB more elevated than <5khz. If those elevations are just shaved off by 3 or 4 dBs then it would be within the narrow bracket of "balanced" voicing for me.

7kHz doesn't look too bad, I'm only really sensitive in that area. Everywhere beyond that actually doesn't look too far from the HE-400s. Guess I'll have to buy them to find out....sigh

And I just heard the M50s for the first time today. Wow. Really good. Would have bought one on the spot if I remembered to bring money in my wallet. 

If you think M50s sound good then modded KSC75s will blow you out of the water 

Can you drive these headphones with an E10?

Interesting. I just got a pair of HE-400s from Crutchfield. The date on the box shows 09/17/12. But when I look at the drivers it looks like I have rev2 versions (yesssssssssss). I can't read the card insert because it's in Chinese, but there looks to be serial #s for both L and R drivers, 2060686 & 2060687; both are handwritten.

They sound ok but I can't push the volume up enough. Both my Hot-Audio DAC Extasy and ASUS DG sound cards are @ 100% volume but the volume is still so low. So now time to order an amp. 

Actually, I'm making a batch for Christmas presents this year. KSC75/Monoprice 8320 + Sansa Clip x10 for every friend = cheapskate me 

I use them all day, every day as a bedside rig with the E10s. Very nice sounding, lightweight setup. The starting point IMO for proper amping for the HE-400s.