**Hifiman HE-400 Impressions and Discussion Thread** - Page 204

Like a big dummy, I sold off my HE-series balanced Canare cable.  I have the supplies to make a new one, with the exception of the sleeving that I've ordered and is supposed to arrive on or before this Saturday.  However, we have a headphone meet on that day and want to pack my HE-400s, but fret I may have to use a jury rigged cable as I don't want to assemble a cable, then rip it apart to install the jacket material.  Grumble ...

While I do miss my HE-400s, since they've essentially been on the headphone rack for a bit more than a week, I do have the AKG K167 Tiesto to keep me occupied.   Though, I want to get my HE-400s back up and running so I can make a decent comparison, the K167s are a great, closed bass-producing headphone.  The bass isn't just a "one note" bass maker either.  It is detailed and makes my ears happy.  I'm still breaking in the K167s, too, so until they've had a few weeks of burn-in time, I'm reluctant to provide a real critical review at this point in time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTCG 

You're not the first person to have this same experience and realization about the pads. The beyer pads will not fit. There is a third party company working on new pads for the he400. You'll have to wait it out like the rest of us. 

Oh man looking forward to it. Any ETA on the third party pads?

Everyone's impressions of the HE-400's have been a joy to read.  Keep up the good work.

Has anyone tried the HE-400's w/ the V200?  I found the V200 to have a closed in sound which might help with bringing the mids/vocals forward.  At the same time, having a 1000$ amp powering a 400$ headphone is unusual?

Their mids are already forward.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMRaven 

Their mids are already forward.

Using the D7000's as a reference as I found them to have a recessed midrange, the HE-400's seem to exhibit the same behavior in the FR.  What am I missing?

Yes, you are.  Frequency response charts are trash when determining if mids are forward/recessed or not.

Not to be used as the last word on how a headphone will sound, I agree.  That's where one's ears come in.  Using a FR as a ballpark as to what to expect in terms of presentation does come in handy when purchasing headphones one might not ever have a chance to audition before purchase.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry S 

Do you mean a jury-rigged balanced cable? Sure would love to hear your HE-400 with the Mjolnir and Gungnir on Saturday. Maybe Justin has a balanced HE cable--is that a stock item?

I was planning on just building a standard SET cable with the SMC connectors at the other end.  However, I do already have an XLR cable with speaker taps that I plan on packing.  If time permits on Friday evening, I might be able to install a 4-pin Neutrik XLR cable as a temporary solution prior to Saturday's meet.

Edit: I kind of like these "triple threat" cables from Double Helix Cables, which would allow one to run virtually any cable with their HifiMAN headphones.

Link: http://www.doublehelixcables.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=37

Quote:

Originally Posted by cssarrow 


Kind of weird to compare open to closed headphones.
 

How so?  I'll have to admit that the K167 is a pretty "open" sounding headphone with bass comparable to the HE-400s and highs more akin to the detail of a Grado.

But, I'll digress ... this is a HifiMAN HE-400 appreciation thread, and I don't plan on selling them anytime soon.  

So, I spent 1 hour listening to vocals with the HE-400 yesterday.

I stand by my first impression: the sound is dull with male vocals (especially lower registers like Leonard Cohen). The recess in the mids (right after the lower-mids region, I suppose) make the overall voice lack clarity.

I also listened to female voice (Norah Jones' - Not too late & Wish I could). This is better, it doesn't fall in the lower-mids so does not exhibit the aforementioned "flaw". The clarity is good but it sounds a bit "thin" (due to its dark signature).

One thing I also noticed is a bit of "distortion" along with Norah Jones' voice. I don't know if the mids actually distort or if the treble emphasis brings out some sort of recording artifact? I notices this with Led Zeppelin as well.

I don't hear such things on the Norah Jones case with the HE-500. However, the 500s brings out all the recording flaws in the 3 albums of Led Zeppelin (more so than the 400s, which are less resolving).

I also stand by my first conclusion: the HE-500 easily outclass the HE-400 in all aspects, except maybe the bass (that's more a matter of taste than pure performance difference though). It is more musical (the sound is lush & full), performs delightfully with any genre and is a better all-rounder (due to its more neutral signature).

I will try to play with EQing a bit, which is hardly (if at all) a concern for me, if it can fix the issue.

To be continued ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clemmaster 

So, I spent 1 hour listening to vocals with the HE-400 yesterday.

 

I stand by my first impression: the sound is dull with male vocals (especially lower registers like Leonard Cohen). The recess in the mids (right after the lower-mids region, I suppose) make the overall voice lack clarity.

 

I also listened to female voice (Norah Jones' - Not too late & Wish I could). This is better, it doesn't fall in the lower-mids so does not exhibit the aforementioned "flaw". The clarity is good but it sounds a bit "thin" (due to its dark signature).

 

One thing I also noticed is a bit of "distortion" along with Norah Jones' voice. I don't know if the mids actually distort or if the treble emphasis brings out some sort of recording artifact? I notices this with Led Zeppelin as well.

I don't hear such things on the Norah Jones case with the HE-500. However, the 500s brings out all the recording flaws in the 3 albums of Led Zeppelin (more so than the 400s, which are less resolving).

 

I also stand by my first conclusion: the HE-500 easily outclass the HE-400 in all aspects, except maybe the bass (that's more a matter of taste than pure performance difference though). It is more musical (the sound is lush & full), performs delightfully with any genre and is a better all-rounder (due to its more neutral signature).

 

I will try to play with EQing a bit, which is hardly (if at all) a concern for me, if it can fix the issue.

 

To be continued ;)

I don't think anyone disputes with that.