From Senn HD 555 to Hifiman HE400... not impressed - Page 5

Then why does it sound great out of the Sansa Clip+?

People have always said it was hard to drive but it just isn't. The Clip+ can get earsplitting volumes out of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by takato14 

Then why does it sound great out of the Sansa Clip+?

 

People have always said it was hard to drive but it just isn't. The Clip+ can get earsplitting volumes out of it.

I hope you aren't suggesting its all about volume and mW's of output

The thing that makes the E17 "lowly" is that it only outputs about 250 mW into 16 ohms (Same as the $60 E7). The E17 is an absolutely wonderful device but the point is the amp section is not very powerful, and orthodynamics are HARD to drive. You want more than what the E17 can push. Orthodynamics don't sound their best without a good high current home amp. Portable amplifiers simply cannot get all the performance out of them.

The Fostex T50RP is plently loud out of an iPhone or other portable device, but doesn't sound worth a ****, especially when compared to how it sounds out of an Asgard. Orthos are a different technology; despite the fact that their specifications imply they don't need an amp, they really, truly do. 

Additionally, I was NOT being condescending in any way. I was stating facts. This hobby is not for everyone, not by any means. Watch it.

i tried out the he-400s with e17 and if i put it full volume with 0 gain, it would probably hurt my ears, with 6 or 12 gain, it would definitely be VERY! loud

ive read many reviews where people with high end amps compare it to e17 and they said they'd be perfectly happy if they only used it with the e17... some say there is like a 5-10% improvement but imo most of it is just placebo

sure, the sound signature might change.. some amps are bassier than others etc, but that doesn't make them "better" that's just preference and e17 comes with an EQ so you really can't go wrong

Underpowered or not, I just can't enjoy my music with it. I'd compare the experience of stepping up to the Musical Fidelity X-can V8P coming from my e17 to going from iphone/laptop to the e17 in the first place. The sound out of the e17 seems technically all-right. It just isn't involving for me, the headbanging/toe-tapping factor is just considerably lower

And still, this amp is not the best. I payed some 300-340 dollars, used. It has some not so good stock tubes and just a standard wall power cord, and I do think there is room for improvement. But it is so much more musical than the e17. And then with the HE-500 as icing on the cake

I'm not off to heaven, but it is something that I really enjoy.

with the he-400s? did you try out the EQ, if not.. that may be your problem

Hello to all, new here but ill get straight into it

Lerked these forums for a bit because i was interested in an upgrade from my HD555 (had them for around 3-4 years) and was looking for something with a bit more bass and grunt.

Did the "upgrade" from a 555 to a 595, wasnt tooooooo impressed but i was still surprised at how much louder my headphones were. I was originally going to get a set of Denon 2K's but stock finished and i wasnt really up for someones hand me downs so i thought ill get a set of HE400's. Ive been using them for around 3 hours now and i have to say despite the reviews.... these headphones arent much "IN COMPARISON" to the HD555 (or 95)

Let me put it this way, if i went straight from just your average in ear hp's to the 400s i would be impressed but i paid 150 for the sennys, i just paid 420 for the HE400s and the difference... especially in treble is almost negligible.

Admittingly i dont have an amp, but due to its low impedance i thought that it wouldnt matter that much, especially seeing as though my research has told me that it only increases volume not quality.

WHAT AM I MISSING GUYS?!?! ok it sounds better, but not $270 better. Are my 555s good or are my 400s ****? Or do i need an amp?

Thankyou

no amp/dac and no burn in... no wonder... it takes atleast one full week of long listening sessions to get used to a headphone... and the difference from a 20$ headphone is always subtle when upgrading from good to better than pathetic to great etc... you need both and amp and a dac... a dac more importantly as the he400 is not that hard to drive... get something like a fiio e17... it will drive them very well and have a good dac for the price... the trick to notice a great amount of difference from your previous gear is pretty simple... use the e17 and he400 combo for a month(let them burn in properly and let yourself get used to the sound)... after that change back to your old headphones with your original laptop source... you will hear the difference as night and day which are aren't hearing right now... sometimes downgrading can have an effect rather than upgrading to understand the difference properly... it happened to me when i started watching movies on blurays and i thought it was an overrated format as a solid dvdrip is almost as as good... but after a while when i switched back to dvd viewing or a while, it was mind boggling, the dvdrip looked like pixelated pile of crap...