**Hifiman HE-400 Impressions and Discussion Thread** - Page 484

Am seriously considering adding mass to the headband of some of my other headphones to add extra weight to make them more like the HE-400 on my head.

Is that weird of me?

Also, plugged in my Schiit Modi to my Little Dot MKIII and it works really well with the HE-400. I think those that believe the Modi to be the weak link in the M&M stack should try it with something relatively warm or intimate like a tube amp. Shocked with how well it pairs, really. Might buy another Modi to use with the LDMKIII for the HE-300 for my fiancee's rig.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninjames 

Am seriously considering adding mass to the headband of some of my other headphones to add extra weight to make them more like the HE-400 on my head.

 

Is that weird of me?

 

Also, plugged in my Schiit Modi to my Little Dot MKIII and it works really well with the HE-400. I think those that believe the Modi to be the weak link in the M&M stack should try it with something relatively warm or intimate like a tube amp. Shocked with how well it pairs, really. Might buy another Modi to use with the LDMKIII for the HE-300 for my fiancee's rig.

Yes, it's very weird. I can't imagine anyone wanting HE-400-like weight (it's not bad, just can't imagine it being desirable). Hopefully your head doesn't roll off. 

JK. Hopefully you enjoy the MKIIIs, they were a pleasure when I still had my own. 

I currently have a rare opportunity to spring for HE-4s, HE5-LEs AND HE-6s. Should I trade the 400s for the 4s, then move up to the 6 later on? Or just wait until I can afford the HE-6? The 4s are often touted as being similar to the 6, so my plans would be to grab a taste, see if I like them, and if not go for the HE-5LE (which I did get to hear, and unequivalently destroys the 500s hands down (yay hyperbole)) 

So the e17 is good for the he-400?    would it drive preety much any heaphone properly? Can it play while chargimg?

Oh and is the dac better the the ipod touch 4g one? Othwise i wont really need the dac, can i get a stronger amp for arpund the same price?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xprime4 

So the e17 is good for the he-400?    would it drive preety much any heaphone properly? Can it play while chargimg?

yes, mostly, and yes

and yes the output is better than the ipod...maybe not so much because of the DAC but the ipod has some built in roll-off (AFAIK). anyways, i notice a difference.  the e17 gets plenty loud with the 400's, although when i use my old sony amp it does sound better enough that i'm saving for a proper desktop

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTCG 

For those who would like to hear some SERIOUS bass licks on the he400 do this:

 

Go to this link: http://archive.org/details/ryanadams2006-10-17.sbd.flac16

 

Look on the upper left by download/play.

 

Click the "new lossless."

 

Download the flac files and listen to Ryan Adams lay down some serious tunes live. Completely free and legit. I saw this over this the music forum here.

 

Enjoy!!

Im following that thread also. Some great free stuff going on there.

This is my second visit.

I had chance to attend Magnetics13 conference in Orlando, and learned that Neo magnet of planar magnetic driver (?) is dominated by China 97%. The issues at the conference were how to overcome this barrier in terms of technological and geopolitical solution... kind of things.

By this simple reason of abundant Neo magnet availability allows Hifiman's planar driver based headphone price is almost 50% of that of USA made.

I am listening "the rite of spring" of Stravinsky and some Wagner's Siegfried, through Matrix mini->Little dot mkvii+ at 11 oclock position on balanced cable.

The sound is amazing (especially for Stravinsky), which is far contrast to HD650 in balance cable that produced to rough or grainy and too high frequency dominated sound. This experience made me to sell Hd650.

Is this due to my set-up of machines or He-400 is toleranct to recording?

I should mention that when I changed from SE to balanced cable for HE 400, tonal balance has been greatly improved almost as good as HD 650. Prior to the change my HE400 seems there is so weak high that I returned always back to HE-5LE or HD 650.

Another thing is that my HE-5LE at 1 oclock has good sounding with same set-up, and I do not feel some upgrade for amplifier output.

This is some contradicting fact to what I have read in this thread.

As I sell off some surplus gear and mentally prepare myself for less time here on the forums, I wanted to share a little "send-off" of my HE-400s before they get all packed up for their trip to the new owner.  I made up a new, snazzy cable of Mogami Quad Neglex with Techflex and a Neutrik 1/4" connector.

I don't think I'm leaving the HifiMAN entirely.  I may go back to where it all started for me - the HE-5LE.  It takes a bit more juice, but I'm not afraid, and that's not a real issue for me.

A send-off? Like send it to people to try them? I'd LOVE to.

Cables on the HE-400 have pretty much come apart completely at the strain relief. Sigh, will have to find the time to go into the store and swap them (I think I'm still on warranty). And since the Audezes are in the my friend's office, I've been stuck with the HD428 as movie cans the whole weekend. Dang, the mids are clear on these. It's a different kind of clarity from the not-so-planar mids of the 400s, but still pretty nice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwinQY 

Cables on the HE-400 have pretty much come apart completely at the strain relief. Sigh, will have to find the time to go into the store and swap them (I think I'm still on warranty). And since the Audezes are in the my friend's office, I've been stuck with the HD428 as movie cans the whole weekend. Dang, the mids are clear on these. It's a different kind of clarity from the not-so-planar mids of the 400s, but still pretty nice.

I've noticed over the past few years, the HifiMAN factory cables are getting cheaper.  Instead of using good quality connectors, they are having the cables mass produced and the connectors are molded onto the cables themselves.  The strain relief that they provide is short lived.  If you can get your hands on some shrink-tube, I'd put some of that on over the current strain relief pieces, then heat it a bit with a hair drying to tighten things up.  This will provide a longer life for your cables.

Best of luck,

Quote:

Originally Posted by wje 

I've noticed over the past few years, the HifiMAN factory cables are getting cheaper.  Instead of using good quality connectors, they are having the cables mass produced and the connectors are molded onto the cables themselves.  The strain relief that they provide is short lived.  If you can get your hands on some shrink-tube, I'd put some of that on over the current strain relief pieces, then heat it a bit with a hair drying to tighten things up.  This will provide a longer life for your cables.

 

Best of luck,

I'll most likely have to do it to the replacement cable. Sadly it's gotten to the point where the cable itself is damaged, causing an imbalance. Heck, everything I've bought recently has had abysmal strain relief. Must be a trend. Thanks for the tip

Well, about fifteen hours till I have a pair of HE-400's myself. Already got a schiit magni/modi for them, which have also been great with my current cans. My wife asked to listen to them on the schiit stack before I get home so I guess they'll get a bit of break in before I get to them.

Planning to throw on the velours after spending some time with the stock pads as well. I'll post some early impressions here tomorrow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDReaper 

 

Planning to throw on the velours after spending some time with the stock pads as well. I'll post some early impressions here tomorrow.

I really couldn't listen to the stock pads for very long.  When you pull the ear cups away from your head a little bit and hear what the HE-400 is really capable of, it's hard to live with.  Listen for yourself, but I will testify that switching to the velours improves things immensely =P