Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphones (full-size) › Sennheiesr HD 650 Vs Hifiman He-400
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Sennheiesr HD 650 Vs Hifiman He-400 - Page 4

post #46 of 85
12/28/12 at 4:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by trujunglist View Post

Don't mean to dig up an old thread but i think this is the newest on this subject that I am looking for.  I am on the fence with these two, (and the mad dog t50rps).  I would normally just pull the trigger on the he400, but I have a major concern about comfort.  I wear headphones for hours at a time and I am finding that comfort is right up there with sound quality.  I am thinking that the comfort of the senns is higher than the he400 from all i read, im wondering how much sound I am giving up by choosing one over the other? I wonder if i would even know what I am missing, probably the nicest cans I have heard to date are the denon d2k's which are nice, but I find them a bit heavy, and can afford to get something a bit better. 

 

I use my hp's mainly for League of Legends while i am gaming and music listening in the background.  When I do listen to music, it is primarily from online sources and most of the stuff i listen to is not available in lossless formats, (it is usually EDM mixes).  I love a cinematic experience while gaming, and I know the he400 has superior bass, but can the senn's deliver punch and impact? I am reading they can, but wont have much rumble.  I have the hd25s and love the sound but comfort is terrible.  I am running all this through a schiit magni + modi stack.  Tried to read all I could, but maybe i can get a bit more clarification from those who have owned both. Thanks!

 

Senns are really quite comfortable due to their light weight and relative ergonometry out of the box. However IMO HE400 (and all Hifiman cans by extension) are easily modifiable/malleable to increase the comfort level to very high levels.

 

Things to do:

 

- flex the headband (it's just a spring steel core wrapped in leather and foam) to reduce clamp to your liking

- use a cheap headband wrap cushion ($12 or something on ebay) to better cushion the head, more even weight distribution

- use Hifiman's official velour pads / pleather pads with / without foam spacers based on personal comfort preferences

 

If you do all three, the comfort level skyrockets. The only thing that is always a factor though is the weight. If you have a weak neck / problematic upper body spine issues then I wouldn't suggest any large planar magnetic headphones due to their heavier masses. If you are relatively fit / built then it's absolutely no issue.

Reply

Gear mentioned in this thread:

post #47 of 85
1/1/13 at 11:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by trujunglist View Post

Don't mean to dig up an old thread but i think this is the newest on this subject that I am looking for.  I am on the fence with these two, (and the mad dog t50rps).  I would normally just pull the trigger on the he400, but I have a major concern about comfort.  I wear headphones for hours at a time and I am finding that comfort is right up there with sound quality.  I am thinking that the comfort of the senns is higher than the he400 from all i read, im wondering how much sound I am giving up by choosing one over the other? I wonder if i would even know what I am missing, probably the nicest cans I have heard to date are the denon d2k's which are nice, but I find them a bit heavy, and can afford to get something a bit better. 

 

I use my hp's mainly for League of Legends while i am gaming and music listening in the background.  When I do listen to music, it is primarily from online sources and most of the stuff i listen to is not available in lossless formats, (it is usually EDM mixes).  I love a cinematic experience while gaming, and I know the he400 has superior bass, but can the senn's deliver punch and impact? I am reading they can, but wont have much rumble.  I have the hd25s and love the sound but comfort is terrible.  I am running all this through a schiit magni + modi stack.  Tried to read all I could, but maybe i can get a bit more clarification from those who have owned both. Thanks!

The HD650s have no bass impact/punch/rumble. Unless you can up the bass bij 10 db maybe. But I doubt you're able to do that from online sources.

I often use the HE-400 to play smite and listen to music in the background. And I can easily wear them for hours in a row without any modifications regarding comfort.

 

If you get the HE-400, please buy the velour pads with them, the pleathers sound pretty much awful. 

Reply
post #48 of 85
1/2/13 at 5:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marleybob217 View Post

The HD650s have no bass impact/punch/rumble.

Lies.

 

HE-400 may be faster and rumble a little deeper, but the above statement I find to be a gross miscalculation. I don't EQ my HD650 and it does all of those things. And quite well. 


Edited by dxanex - 1/2/13 at 5:37am
Reply
post #49 of 85
1/2/13 at 5:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marleybob217 View Post

The HD650s have no bass impact/punch/rumble.

 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by dxanex View Post

Lies.

 

HE-400 may be faster and rumble a little deeper, but the above statement I find to be a gross miscalculation. I don't EQ my HD650 and it does all of those things. And quite well. 

 

 

 

The 650 has no bass impact????  I'm with you dxanex.  Lies.  Not more than the 400s maybe but they still have it's fair share.  

Reply
post #50 of 85
1/2/13 at 8:50am

Maybe they don't have from a very bad source..

Reply
post #51 of 85
1/2/13 at 9:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dxanex View Post

Lies.

HE-400 may be faster and rumble a little deeper, but the above statement I find to be a gross miscalculation. I don't EQ my HD650 and it does all of those things. And quite well. 
I have to agree with this. The 650s are no he-400s,but they have plenty of bass impact for me, and this is coming from a pair of ultrasone pro 900s.
Reply
post #52 of 85
1/2/13 at 9:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by davidsh View Post

Maybe they don't have from a very bad source..

 

I've hooked the HD-650 up to my wife's iPod touch and DIY CMoy amp listening to 128kbps MP3's and it still sounded decent. The bass wasn't as tight and controlled as it is on my desktop, but there was plenty of bass.

 

To make a statement like "they have NO bass impact/punch/rumble" is just ***** absurd. Not to mention completely misleading. angry_face.gif

 

As Peter Griffin would say, that really grinds my gears.

400

Reply
post #53 of 85
1/2/13 at 6:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by preproman View Post

 

 

 

 

The 650 has no bass impact????  I'm with you dxanex.  Lies.  Not more than the 400s maybe but they still have it's fair share.  

I used a fiio e7-e9 setup, and the bass impact was very little.

 

To say they have no bass impact at all is an exaggeration but it had the littlest bass impact of any headphone I have ever owned (excluding the apple earbuds).

 

All I tried to say was, don't get these if you want great rumbling explosions in your ears, the HD650s are quite mid-centric.  

Reply
post #54 of 85
1/2/13 at 6:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dxanex View Post

 

I've hooked the HD-650 up to my wife's iPod touch and DIY CMoy amp listening to 128kbps MP3's and it still sounded decent. The bass wasn't as tight and controlled as it is on my desktop, but there was plenty of bass.

 

To make a statement like "they have NO bass impact/punch/rumble" is just ***** absurd. Not to mention completely misleading. angry_face.gif

 

As Peter Griffin would say, that really grinds my gears.

400

Calm down?

 

No need to lynch me...

Reply
post #55 of 85
1/2/13 at 8:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marleybob217 View Post

Calm down?

 

No need to lynch me...

 

Maybe say things that people can agree on? redface.gif

Reply
post #56 of 85
1/2/13 at 9:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marleybob217 View Post

Calm down?

 

No need to lynch me...


That was me being calm. Just try to explain things in a way that helps, don't make statements that are outright wrong and could potentially confuse/detract a new listener.

 

Let's just move along..... I'd also like to add that HD-650 and HE-400 are both fantastic headphones. I think we can all agree on that. beerchug.gif

Reply
post #57 of 85
1/3/13 at 5:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dxanex View Post


That was me being calm. Just try to explain things in a way that helps, don't make statements that are outright wrong and could potentially confuse/detract a new listener.

 

Let's just move along..... I'd also like to add that HD-650 and HE-400 are both fantastic headphones. I think we can all agree on that. beerchug.gif

Yup :P

Reply
post #58 of 85
1/14/13 at 1:56pm

I've been reading about the HE-400s intently the past couple of weeks while listening to my HD650s before I sell my tube amplifier, and it's gotten my fingers itching on ordering a pair. I have initially preferred the signature of the Sennheisers going from bright headphones, but after a while I feel I'd like to experience more of the lower-end spectrum. I don't find the HD650 dull, but they become more and more neutral to me. The dark nature of the 650s is something I haven't experienced since I have the latest model (if this now is true, many here seem to exaggerate on most things so I take everything with a pinch of salt).

 

Undoubtedly I will audition the HE-400, but I'm wondering as to how much difference the velour pads make? The headphones are available to order in my country, but not the velour pads. Would I notice the true characteristics and difference of HE-400 over HD650 with stock pads? If so, I wont order the velour from the US and just go ahead and order+audition the HE-400 here in my own country. If I fall in love with them I'll order the HE-400 + the velour pads from direct-head. The retail price for the HE-400 in my country is $620 which is even more than what I paid for my HD650! I can understand that the pads make a difference - changing pads on my PRO900 makes a discernable difference at least. But I would like to know what effect the velour pads have on the HE-400 and if I should order them first separately, after all it's only $10 for something that is potentially to my liking.

 

Also, reading from somewhere I found this: "compared to the HE-500s and Sennheiser HD-650s the HE-400s are darker, and their sound stage gives you the perception of being further from the music."

 

This would be a huge factor weighing in on me buying them because I do find the HD650 slightly bright at times, and I want a greater transition from one headphone to the other (ie going to and fro the brightness of the PRO900 to something darker) but of course not to something like Fidelio L1 (if they are truly as dark as I've heard them to be).

 

In the brief review it also states that the treble is more lacking than on the HD650. I'd like to see if anyone has a response to this since I've read elsewhere that they can get bright with a little sparkle in the treble. Of course this is something I will have to find out eventually myself, but primarily I'm more focused on the effect of the velour pads.

Reply
post #59 of 85
1/14/13 at 2:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monir View Post

I've been reading about the HE-400s intently the past couple of weeks while listening to my HD650s before I sell my tube amplifier, and it's gotten my fingers itching on ordering a pair. I have initially preferred the signature of the Sennheisers going from bright headphones, but after a while I feel I'd like to experience more of the lower-end spectrum. I don't find the HD650 dull, but they become more and more neutral to me. The dark nature of the 650s is something I haven't experienced since I have the latest model (if this now is true, many here seem to exaggerate on most things so I take everything with a pinch of salt).

 

Undoubtedly I will audition the HE-400, but I'm wondering as to how much difference the velour pads make? The headphones are available to order in my country, but not the velour pads. Would I notice the true characteristics and difference of HE-400 over HD650 with stock pads? If so, I wont order the velour from the US and just go ahead and order+audition the HE-400 here in my own country. If I fall in love with them I'll order the HE-400 + the velour pads from direct-head. The retail price for the HE-400 in my country is $620 which is even more than what I paid for my HD650! I can understand that the pads make a difference - changing pads on my PRO900 makes a discernable difference at least. But I would like to know what effect the velour pads have on the HE-400 and if I should order them first separately, after all it's only $10 for something that is potentially to my liking.

 

Also, reading from somewhere I found this: "compared to the HE-500s and Sennheiser HD-650s the HE-400s are darker, and their sound stage gives you the perception of being further from the music."

 

This would be a huge factor weighing in on me buying them because I do find the HD650 slightly bright at times, and I want a greater transition from one headphone to the other (ie going to and fro the brightness of the PRO900 to something darker) but of course not to something like Fidelio L1 (if they are truly as dark as I've heard them to be).

 

In the brief review it also states that the treble is more lacking than on the HD650. I'd like to see if anyone has a response to this since I've read elsewhere that they can get bright with a little sparkle in the treble. Of course this is something I will have to find out eventually myself, but primarily I'm more focused on the effect of the velour pads.

HE400's tonality is very special (in good or bad ways? The listener has to decide). It dips in the upper midrange (thus it sounds laid-back and eliminates any of the intimacy aka forwardness and aggressiveness / glare in the midrange, so it has less brightness/forwardness fatigue) and then swings back up big time in the mid~upper treble (thus giving it a huge amount of treble sparkle, which gives the perception of treble clarity at the expense of possibly some treble fatigue).

 

Everything before upper midrange is more or less flat though. Bass is exceptionally accurate and tactile.

 

The velour pads bring out the upper mids and fill up the treble more, so the upper end sounds less dark and more complete but at the same time the overall tonality will of course shift more to the upper mids~ treble, so there'd be an increase in brightness. Pleathers make these sound overall darker, but I find that the treble sparkle still shines through in oodles. Best thing to do is to get both types of pads and just pick your poison.


Edited by jerg - 1/14/13 at 2:07pm
Reply
post #60 of 85
1/14/13 at 3:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jerg View Post

HE400's tonality is very special (in good or bad ways? The listener has to decide). It dips in the upper midrange (thus it sounds laid-back and eliminates any of the intimacy aka forwardness and aggressiveness / glare in the midrange, so it has less brightness/forwardness fatigue) and then swings back up big time in the mid~upper treble (thus giving it a huge amount of treble sparkle, which gives the perception of treble clarity at the expense of possibly some treble fatigue).

 

Everything before upper midrange is more or less flat though. Bass is exceptionally accurate and tactile.

 

The velour pads bring out the upper mids and fill up the treble more, so the upper end sounds less dark and more complete but at the same time the overall tonality will of course shift more to the upper mids~ treble, so there'd be an increase in brightness. Pleathers make these sound overall darker, but I find that the treble sparkle still shines through in oodles. Best thing to do is to get both types of pads and just pick your poison.


Thanks, that's the detailed description I was looking for. I'll go ahead and try them out from my local store then without putting any extra time into getting the velour pads separately (obviously I'll buy them together with the headphones from the US if they are to my liking, 10 bucks for pads without extra shipping is well worth it). Now I just have to wait for them to arrive and see how my ears are liking them. It will be interesting whatever the outcome as it will be my first time trying out planar magnetic headphones.

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headphones (full-size)

Gear mentioned in this thread:

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphones (full-size) › Sennheiesr HD 650 Vs Hifiman He-400