[markm1]

Quote:

It's great for all rock music, where the imaging / instrument separation of these cans REALLY shines. You get a stunningly realistic 3D sense of how the band is physically set up and playing in-studio or live, and in well-mastered / recorded tracks, you could even distinguish where individual drums / different plucks of guitar strings are individually coming from. The vocals are dead-center and nicely forward, and with all the instruments going off all around, it's quite an experience.
 
Listening to Moonchild - King Crimson, right now. The cymbal hits are just so nice and real, gives me goosebumps.
 
For modern pop, it's very good also, especially with that tight deep bass. Mids aren't too lush so pop songs have great clarity, and treble is just smooth/dark enough that vocals aren't sibilant (pop music tends to be more sibilant due to poorer mastering) but aren't dull either.
 
In fact, there's not a genre that these do poorly on (edit: the only songs I don't quite enjoy these on are those of certain female Jpop singers...Hikaru Utada for example, something off about their vocals out of HE400's). Great all-rounder cans IMO.

 
I'm wondering if you guys can help me...I have a pair of Grado 225i's and I'm thinking of either adding the HE 400 or 500. I have a Asgard 2 amp.
 
 I live in the Washington/Baltimore area and I cannot find a place to audition.
 
Would you say that the 400 is better for rock music?
 
I listen to a lot of heavy/psychedelic rock and metal. The Grados are great for these genres.
 
But I also enjoy laid back folk, blues, indie, new age/ambient electronic, and some jazz and classical. I like symphonic soundtracks.
 
So,  I'm looking for something different...ideally something that reproduces guitar oriented rock but also that I will use for everything else.
 
Or, I might go all out and get an upper end Grado....but, for the 25% of the time that I'm not rocking out hard and heavy, I'm looking for something for my more reflective moods.
 
Much Thanks!

 

[Okamoto]

Quote:

I'll eventually ask someone with an HE-500 to trade with me for a week or so, just to see...

HE-500 wasn't part of Justin testing program?
 
I'll confess that i didn't understand very well why you didn't go with the HE-500s at first place. By what you were saying, they were exactly the headphones you were looking: A more neutral HE-400.

 

[MattTCG]

Hmm...the Asgard 2 would be enough for the he500. Are you looking for more of a fun sound or more serious with lush mids? The he400 with velour or jergpads is just about impossible to beat in it's price range. The visceral textured bass will wow you coming from the grados. The he500 is more talented especially with it's ability to flesh out beautiful mid. It's not a light hp though. 
 
Just depends on what you're after and if you're willing to pay the extra for the he500. 
 
gL!!

 

[ninjames]

Re: dropping headphones: I have a pair of Phillips O'Neil "The Stretch" that I take and drop 10-15 times purposely per month to get all my headphone dropping out of the way. Those things will never, ever break.
 
Re: treble: I've stayed on the sidelines about this for the most part but I gotta say, I felt like the LCD-2 had much more of a harsh/tinny treble with most of my music than the HE-400. Which is why I've never understood what people refer to as a "treble spike." I get zero harshness with HE-400, but a hint of it with the LCD-2.
 
I dunno. I'm weird. Either way, Stax on their way to me right now!

 

[Okamoto]

Quote:

Re: dropping headphones: I have a pair of Phillips O'Neil "The Stretch" that I take and drop 10-15 times purposely per month to get all my headphone dropping out of the way. Those things will never, ever break.
 
Re: treble: I've stayed on the sidelines about this for the most part but I gotta say, I felt like the LCD-2 had much more of a harsh/tinny treble with most of my music than the HE-400. Which is why I've never understood what people refer to as a "treble spike." I get zero harshness with HE-400, but a hint of it with the LCD-2.
 
I dunno. I'm weird. Either way, Stax on their way to me right now!

Which one?

 

[bradbort]

OK, this is weird, I have the Asgard 2, and the Grado 325si's. I just got the he-400's and started burning them in, after consulting with the Audiophile at CNET. So far, they sound great, although the instructions call for 150 hour of burn in! Zikes. I'd say they will handle rock really well, as well as classical. Love the Asgard, by the way, especially when I want to cook an egg!

 

[Marleybob217]

Quote:

Re: dropping headphones: I have a pair of Phillips O'Neil "The Stretch" that I take and drop 10-15 times purposely per month to get all my headphone dropping out of the way. Those things will never, ever break.
 

Hahahaha XD 

 

[chewy4]

Quote:

OK, this is weird, I have the Asgard 2, and the Grado 325si's. I just got the he-400's and started burning them in, after consulting with the Audiophile at CNET. So far, they sound great, although the instructions call for 150 hour of burn in! Zikes. I'd say they will handle rock really well, as well as classical. Love the Asgard, by the way, especially when I want to cook an egg!

 
 
They bumped it up to 150 hours now? Did they extend their return policy or something?
 
I really wouldn't worry about burn in. They sound just as good out of the box as they do 500 hours later. Although by then your ears may have adjusted better to the sound signature.

 

[modulor]

Quote:

 
I'm wondering if you guys can help me...I have a pair of Grado 225i's and I'm thinking of either adding the HE 400 or 500. I have a Asgard 2 amp.
 
 I live in the Washington/Baltimore area and I cannot find a place to audition.
 
Would you say that the 400 is better for rock music?
 
I listen to a lot of heavy/psychedelic rock and metal. The Grados are great for these genres.
 
But I also enjoy laid back folk, blues, indie, new age/ambient electronic, and some jazz and classical. I like symphonic soundtracks.
 
So,  I'm looking for something different...ideally something that reproduces guitar oriented rock but also that I will use for everything else.
 
Or, I might go all out and get an upper end Grado....but, for the 25% of the time that I'm not rocking out hard and heavy, I'm looking for something for my more reflective moods.
 
Much Thanks!

It seems like we have similar tastes in music.  I find the HE-400 performs very well as an all-arounder, and I am more than satisfied with it for my eclectic collection (and for movies/gaming).  It excels in most genres and is adequate in the rest, though it really depends on the recording itself - they definitely will expose some albums poor recording quality.  It's certainly a heavy hitter in it's price range, and your Asgard 2 should provide plenty of power for it or the HE-500.  I've not heard the HE-500 yet but it's on my interest list.  The consensus seems to lean towards the HE-500 between the two if you can afford it, otherwise I think you'd still be satisfied with the HE-400.  Both of their signatures are likely going to be quite different from the Grados.
 
I don't know of any DC area meetups as I'm still kinda new, but I'd be interested if one were organized.  I'd bring my rig along!

 

[modulor]

Quote:

 
 
They bumped it up to 150 hours now? Did they extend their return policy or something?
 
I really wouldn't worry about burn in. They sound just as good out of the box as they do 500 hours later. Although by then your ears may have adjusted better to the sound signature.

There is definitely more 'ear burn-in' than anything because they have a unique signature.  As far as I know, this is just something HiFiMan has been listing in all their products - makes more sense with their dynamic IEMs and the HE-300 than their planars, but most will say there is no physical burn in required.

 

[markm1]

Quote:

OK, this is weird, I have the Asgard 2, and the Grado 325si's. I just got the he-400's and started burning them in, after consulting with the Audiophile at CNET. So far, they sound great, although the instructions call for 150 hour of burn in! Zikes. I'd say they will handle rock really well, as well as classical. Love the Asgard, by the way, especially when I want to cook an egg!

 Well, you're the righ person to talk to! It's hard for me to answer serious vs fun in the abstract-they both sound attractive!
 
So far, do you feel your 325 and 400s are a good compliment to each other?

 

[wje]

Quote:

 
I live in the Washington/Baltimore area and I cannot find a place to audition.
 

 
Quote:

I don't know of any DC area meetups as I'm still kinda new, but I'd be interested if one were organized.  I'd bring my rig along!

 
Here's what might be of assistance (Saturday May 25th, 2013):  http://www.head-fi.org/t/653546/va-md-dc-meet-saturday-may-25-2013

 

[markm1]

Quote:

 
 
Here's what might be of assistance (Saturday May 25th, 2013):  http://www.head-fi.org/t/653546/va-md-dc-meet-saturday-may-25-2013

Terrific. I'm in....thanks a bundle for the heads-up!
 
Modular, did you see this post?

 

[bradbort]

I'm thinking that the 400's have more dynamic range, The 325si's are fine, and easier to drive, but I'll likely mostly stick with the 400's for my home stereo now. We'll see. Just got them....

 

[steveting99]

Has anyone tried this cool mod from BTG Audio on their HE-400?
 

 
I'm really tempted to get rid of those tiny ear ring connectors and have the mini-XLR. A lighter and more flexible cable would be a bonus.
 
Steve