**Hifiman HE-400 Impressions and Discussion Thread** - Page 588

Originally Posted by amigomatt 

Being a professional trumpet player who's played the instrument for 25 years and plays regularly in orchestras, big bands, studios and other brass sections, I can confirm that the HE-400s add an unnatural emphasis to the very top end of brass sounds that is not realistic.

Originally Posted by Okamoto 

No, the connectors on the cable. One of them is now silver colored. I though they were gold, that's why I didn't understand how could this be possible.

Originally Posted by Okamoto 

Realistic or not, I much prefer these for brass instruments over any other headphone i've ever heard.

Originally Posted by amigomatt 

I think I need to experiment with the pad mods and EQing before I can be happy with them.  It's not like that on every recording, just certain ones I've noticed.

Originally Posted by wje 

 

 

It is this plug, correct?  The female SMC connector at the ends of the cable that connect to the headphone cups.

 

Originally Posted by wje 

 

If I could suggest, don't use just the HifiMAN HE-400 as a basis towards all orthos or HifiMAN headphones.  Based upon your one sentence, I could direct you towards the HE-4 and you'd be quite surprised.  The HE-4 is lighter, but has a different, detailed high end when compared to the HE-4.  I've been a major Grado fan in the past.  However, I've heard and owned so many other headphones since then, I can no longer put a Grado on and enjoy them.  I never thought I'd ever be in that position because Grado used to mean so much to me.

 

[crap: this is post 4,001 - so much for retaining my post count at a nice, even number.]

Originally Posted by Okamoto 

I just noticed one of my connectors went from gold to silver colored. Is that even possible? Aren't the connectors gold plated?

Originally Posted by Joong 

Guys, could you tell me that there is any SQ difference between the gold and nickle plated TRS jacks?

I need to choose one of TRS jack with different platings.

 

Gold plating has no being tarnished nor oxidized, while nickle can be oxidized.

However the oxidized surface is so thin in nickle plating that it could not be problematic; when it is inserted into female jack the oxidized surface is broken.

 

I am not sure this fact in real situations that might deviate the expectation like one stated above.

Originally Posted by khaine1711 

No. Even Rhodium plated connector makes no difference whatsoever. Just choose a good looking gold plated trs (oxidized nickel looks bad).

I recommend Viablue T6s





Furutech Fp 704





or Neutrik Np3x-b




These are the best looking (IMO) and easiest to solder/use

Originally Posted by Joong 

Gold molecule or atom can move with current direction, so that some high current carrying connector should avoid a gold plating.

Usually less than 1 amp under 5 volt  is generally considered ok with gold plating.

 

Your connector became from gold to silver color?

Gold plating is usually done upon nickle layer, so that what you observe is not silver but nickle surface color.

 

It is interesting even headphone current quantity swept the gold metal away with current...