**Hifiman HE-400 Impressions and Discussion Thread** - Page 501

Quote:

Originally Posted by bareyb 

 

 

E17 has enough power to drive HE500 loudly, but that's about it. There is indeed a pretty major gap in staging/dynamics/impact between E17 and much better amps I've tried HE500 with. That's not to say you won't appreciate HE500s when they are powered out of an E17 though, just that there is still a lot of headroom for HE500 to flex if and when you upgrade the upstream setup.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerg 

E17 has enough power to drive HE500 loudly, but that's about it. There is indeed a pretty major gap in staging/dynamics/impact between E17 and much better amps I've tried HE500 with. That's not to say you won't appreciate HE500s when they are powered out of an E17 though, just that there is still a lot of headroom for HE500 to flex if and when you upgrade the upstream setup.

That's kind of what I thought. Unfortunately for me, I need a portable rig so I can move it from my workshop, to my house, to my car, etc. So I'm kind of stuck with headphones that can run off of portable Amps. The best solution I've come up with is the E17 paired with the HE400s. The E17 can definitely drive the HE400s with no problem. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bareyb 

That's kind of what I thought. Unfortunately for me, I need a portable rig so I can move it from my workshop, to my house, to my car, etc. So I'm kind of stuck with headphones that can run off of portable Amps. The best solution I've come up with is the E17 paired with the HE400s. The E17 can definitely drive the HE400s with no problem. 

Oh HE500 out of E17 still sounds quite a ways better than HE400. I was just stating that HE500 has a lot of headroom past entry-level amps, while HE400 has very little such headroom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerg 

Oh HE500 out of E17 still sounds quite a ways better than HE400. I was just stating that HE500 has a lot of headroom past entry-level amps, while HE400 has very little such headroom.

Interesting. This would make a good thread.... The ultimate portable system... That's what I'm after. 

Well, I've had my HE-400's on my head for a few days since my minor medical emergency.  They are everything as advertised and more.  Quite nice with female vocals and nothing missing in the bass dept.

One concern though, and maybe it has been discussed, so forgive me, but I think my head might be too big to wear these headphones comfortably.  Either that, or they're a bit clampy.  I've worn them comfortably for hours, but I feel them on the bottom of my earlobe.  More noticeable with the J$ pads.  Less so with the velours, which are the ones I have been using.

Does anyone else find this? My hat size is 7 3/4, if that's any help. I wish the metal slides were a half inch longer. Even thought of using a small washer (or three) on the screw to increase the length.

Quote:

Originally Posted by etys rule 

Well, I've had my HE-400's on my head for a few days since my minor medical emergency.  They are everything as advertised and more.  Quite nice with female vocals and nothing missing in the bass dept.

 

One concern though, and maybe it has been discussed, so forgive me, but I think my head might be too big to wear these headphones comfortably.  Either that, or they're a bit clampy.  I've worn them comfortably for hours, but I feel them on the bottom of my earlobe.  More noticeable with the J$ pads.  Less so with the velours, which are the ones I have been using.

 

Does anyone else find this? My hat size is 7 3/4, if that's any help. I wish the metal slides were a half inch longer. Even thought of using a small washer (or three) on the screw to increase the length.

Stretch the headband so that it loosens up, that's the best advise I can give.

Thanks, I have done that.  After making that post I noticed, in a mirror, they have more than enough room to clear my earlobe. Guess I am feeling the clampiness. Doesn't bother me.  Rather it be too tight than too loose.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Lust Envy 

If anyone is interested, in a few weeks (like 2 weeks), I'll be putting up my HE-400 for sale for $300 total. Caveat being that the Hifiman branding and L/R markers on the headphone labeling are gone (still smooth, just no labels). The cables still have their markers, and the headphone looks prototype-ish now.

Have to wait two weeks since they are currently on loan. PM me if interested.

Selling because I MIGHT just spring for the LCD2, or probably another D7000 with leather pads. Not ideal, but they do feel better than pleather.

Try out HE500 and/or HE5LE before you dip straight into getting a LCD2! You might be pleasantly surprised!

I must say, I was worried about getting this headphone. However, I listened to it. My mind changed.

(using Schiit stack Magni/Modi through my desktop using velour pads).

I used to listen to Grado SR80i and Sennheiser HD518s.
 

Overall - very strong! I love the bass, midrange, as well as the mids. The clarity and 'detail' is incredible.

I love this headphone, and have a feeling it'll only get better with more usage. My only concern is that certain vocalists, typically associated with screamo, seem VERY recessed. Examples - Red Hot Chili Peppers sounds amazing, while Tool's vocalist barely gets above the harmony guitars and percussion. Maybe it's just those tracks, but it seems like it's a hit-or-miss with artists.

Evening everyone. So I've been listening to the HE-400 almost constantly since earlier this week. Initially I found the sound signature to be quite strange at first but they are definitely growing on me  very much. Came off the first listening session quite skeptical because I was so use to the Sennheiser sound style and their strong mids. These headphones definitely have a very crisp and open sound that I really appreciate. Tried my HD650 for a bit earlier today and it did sound a bit weird after using the he400 because the HD650 can't do instrument/sound separation nearly as well and their stage seems much less open. These two headphones do seem like very nice compliments because the HD650 has great mids whereas the HE-400 mids always seem a bit further away. The bass is very clean and very nice to listen to but there are some songs on my EDM track lists that I felt the HD600 provided a stronger punch for the deep bass (although he-400 was definitely much faster). Maybe I'm just crazy. 

I'd say the crispness and open style of the sound match more closely to the HD600 than the HD650. HE-400 just seem so different from the HD650 to me. It is like comparing fast vs smooth/slow, crisp vs lush, open vs tight sound stage.  What does everyone else think? 

Overall I am enjoying these headphones and I definitely have Hifiman on my list of great companies to rely on. Quite curious to see what their other headphones have to offer (but maybe later in the future...my wallet doesn't want any more abuse please)

Anyways thanks a lot to everyone for all the recommendations. 

totally with you totoro, 

My He-400 are mainly EDM while most of my other music is with the 650. The 650s are just a lot more comfortable for me. 

I have yet to try to watch Inception with my He-400s however. I wonder how that will be like lol