New Hifiman Headphone HE-400 is out - Page 374

It's not a night-and-day difference, but rather it squeezes out the last bit of air and holographic openness out of the drivers. If you can't hear the difference then there is no point to it for you. For others it might be a very apparent improvement and the mod becomes one of the cheapest ways of boosting the SQ.

It basically boosts soundstage by like 5% or something. Not a major necessity to me, TBH. The quality of the sound is still the same. I was expecting something else, lol.

Still it is an improvement. I just rather protect the drivers completely.
Edited by Mad Lust Envy - 11/25/12 at 10:54pm

I thought it bumped the upper mids up a bit. Or maybe that's just expectation bias. 

It may have. I didn't leave it off that long, but the change wasn't too drastic, IMHO, so I decided on just going back to stock. It is improved so, anyone wanting too eek out more out of their HE400 should try it. I just don't wanna leave the drivers exposed like that.

After exactly one month of waiting (buying it from a fellow member here who had it replaced for the good version), I'm finally going to get it today. I've ordered the HD 600 headband, and I also plan to do the grill mod.

 

I've also ordered the materials to make a custom cable. I think you guys will like what I have planned . As a preview, here's what I'm sleeving it in.

 

 

Ooo that looks nice, that would fit nicely. Also looking forward to your impressions on the headband mod, im still on the fence about that one.

 

I won't get the headband until Thursday. But that should give me time to have a feel for the stock headband first.

How do you plan to attach that headband. Very curious as to how it work out for you.

 

Something like this i'd imagine.

I just got my HE-400 in from HeadAmp.

 

Holy crap these headphones sound good, and I'm only running them out of my computer! (Because I don't own a dynamic amp right now to use them with my CD player.) I'm actually impressed, and they seriously might be keepers for me. Will have to wait and see how they sound on the Burson Soloist that I have coming though.

 

They're really inefficient though, which is kinda annoying. A lot less efficient than my usual computer headphone, the Audio-Technica ES7.

Edited by Asr - 11/26/12 at 11:48am

Welcome to the HE400 club Asr. 

 

Yeah, surprisingly it is only moderately more efficient compared to HE500. Then again, it is still orthodynamic and with all things considered it's pretty dang efficient in relative terms.

In your opinion, how does it stack up against more expensive/summit-fi headphones?

 

I'd say it blurs the line between my "average" (K70x, HD6xx, etc) and "above-average" rankings (HD800, T1, LCD-x, etc). Essentially, I think it's better than the mid-level AKGs & Senns, almost as good as the HD800 and Audeze headphones. Will have to withhold final judgment until I hear it proper on my CD player setup and not my computer. Probably shouldn't comment further on it until then. That said, it sounds pretty dang good overall on my computer. Strong bass and good clarity were the immediate standout aspects.

 

I can't say I completely like it though, particularly on Massive Attack's "Inertia Creeps" where the belly drums practically vanish into obscurity.

I shot Head-Direct customer service an email on why their Silver filled copper cables were 16ft and 25 ft long, and I got an email saying, "We previously had a shorter cable for our headphones after sending our headphones out for reviews using avid electronic enthusiasts they all sent a request for a longer cable this was unanimous, therefore we lengthened our cables." 

 

Can I get some opinions on the length of the cables?

 

And thanks @Asr for the response, I love hearing input from people that have had insanely awesome gear. 

i couldn't imagine buying less than 15' for a fancy aftermarket cable, and i definitely have use for a 25' cable.  for really portable set ups it doesn't make much sense of course, but for a really portable set up i don't need a silver fancy cable either.  

i make all my own cables and while i haven't had the energy or absoulte necessity to change my stock HE400 cable yet, i've been thinking about making a 30' so i can listen to computer based music while sitting on my home theatre couch