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Apple to Oranges HiFiMan HE-400, HiFiMan HE-500, or Denon AH-D600. What would you go with?

post #1 of 13
12/21/12 at 3:03pm
Thread Starter 

I have narrowed down my next pair of cans to the following 3

HiFiMan HE-400

HiFiMan HE-500

V-MODA M-100

Denon AH-D600

 

Being a noob to the headphone scene (I have a dedicated theater/listening room) I need some help.

I currently have the Audio Technica ATHM50, I just got them from Amazon on sale at $104.41. I am also waiting on my

FiiO E17 to arrive. I listen to (in order) Hip Hop, Alternative, Techno, Rock, and Classical. I'm not a bass head, although I was the kid in high school with a camero with two MTX 15" Terminators in the back seat:) 20 years ago. I love strong tight bass but not to the point where it bleeds over into the mids. I will probably use the ATHM50's around the house with the E17 but the cans in looking at will stay in the theater room with possibly the E17 and a FiiO E9K. The sorce is an Oppo Blu Ray SACD DVD-Audio player. Most listening will be with SACD's and DVD-A's.

What do you recommend. I am open to other suggestions as well.

Thanks


Edited by ghostchili - 12/24/12 at 5:33pm
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post #2 of 13
12/21/12 at 4:26pm

Either the HE400 or the D600 will be great. They're both good all-rounders, from experience I can only speak for the D600, have not heard the HE400 yet, but they seem to be a good bang for the price. The D600's treble may be lacking and sound stage a bit small for classical, but those are about the only nitpicks I can find. I don't listen to classical though. If you can get the D600 for less than 400 bucks then go for it, otherwise go with the HE400.

 

The M-100 seems like a mixed bag. There was a lot of hype for them but some of the reviews have not showed them favorably. I have not tried the M-100, seems like another bass monster consumer headphone, but if it is anything like the M-80 it will fail miserably for rock, metal, or anything that needs treble extension. 

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post #3 of 13
12/21/12 at 7:23pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks LinkPro, I guess the M100's went from 1st a few days ago to 3rd. Am I missing any other good choices based on my genre?

Does anyone have or have had both the D600 or the HE400/HE500? Since I'm keeping the ATHM50's is the HE400/HE500 the way to go with then having one open one closed? Is the E17 enough or would I benefit from the E17 E9K combo.

Thanks


Edited by ghostchili - 12/24/12 at 5:34pm
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post #4 of 13
12/22/12 at 7:05pm
Thread Starter 

Still cant decide..Denon or HiFiMan? Please help...must spend money!

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post #5 of 13
12/22/12 at 7:08pm

If you already have the M50, I'd get the Hifiman.  M50 is such a great little headphone.  I miss it the more and more each time I listen to it at my brother's.

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post #6 of 13
12/22/12 at 7:11pm

Keep the M50s as your closed cans, and get HE400s if you ultimately care about maximum sound quality per dollar spent, and don't mind leakage (since you'd have the M50s still for certain situations).

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post #7 of 13
12/23/12 at 7:47pm
Thread Starter 
Jerg, now the HE500s have entered my radar..Any thoughts??
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post #8 of 13
12/23/12 at 8:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghostchili View Post

Jerg, now the HE500s have entered my radar..Any thoughts??

HE500 is more well-rounded and smoother than the vast majority of headphones. It has tiptop midrange, and exceptional performance in every other regard. The only reasons why you might still consider HE400s are 1) they are lighter, and 2) their bass has a tad more kick so they are more fun-sounding. HE500s are much more refined and transparent,on the other hand.

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post #9 of 13
12/24/12 at 4:47am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jerg View Post

HE500 is more well-rounded and smoother than the vast majority of headphones. It has tiptop midrange, and exceptional performance in every other regard. The only reasons why you might still consider HE400s are 1) they are lighter, and 2) their bass has a tad more kick so they are more fun-sounding. HE500s are much more refined and transparent,on the other hand.

This is the review that made me consider the HE500's. They never said it but almost made it sound as if the 500's had better bass.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/blog/2012/02/08/review-hifiman-he-400-and-he-500-headphones?page=0,1

 

The bass of the HE-400 sounds tight and well-defined. “I like it, but it could go deeper,” Geoff noted. Bass freaks won’t hate this headphone, but they won’t like it either.

I guess im a basshead from the teen years but an audiophile in my 30's as I have tons of classical SACD's and DVD-A's in my collection.

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post #10 of 13
12/24/12 at 5:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jerg View Post

HE500 is more well-rounded and smoother than the vast majority of headphones. It has tiptop midrange, and exceptional performance in every other regard. The only reasons why you might still consider HE400s are 1) they are lighter, and 2) their bass has a tad more kick so they are more fun-sounding. HE500s are much more refined and transparent,on the other hand.

Jerg, What amp do you use with your HE-500's, is the E17 and a FiiO E9K decent enough?

Thanks

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post #11 of 13
12/24/12 at 5:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghostchili View Post

This is the review that made me consider the HE500's. They never said it but almost made it sound as if the 500's had better bass.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/blog/2012/02/08/review-hifiman-he-400-and-he-500-headphones?page=0,1

 

The bass of the HE-400 sounds tight and well-defined. “I like it, but it could go deeper,” Geoff noted. Bass freaks won’t hate this headphone, but they won’t like it either.

I guess im a basshead from the teen years but an audiophile in my 30's as I have tons of classical SACD's and DVD-A's in my collection.

HE500s definitely extend more in bass than HE400s, but both extend very well as open headphones. I'd say HE400s are strong down to about 23Hz, while HE500s have a good rumble even at 18 Hz. The difference is not huge. On the other hand, HE400s' bass does sound a bit more articulate and tight than HE500s.

 

 

 

 


Quote:
Originally Posted by ghostchili View Post

Jerg, What amp do you use with your HE-500's, is the E17 and a FiiO E9K decent enough?

Thanks

 

HE500s will be driven to good volume out of your setup, it wouldn't be optimal though. With more upgrades upstream  you'll get better dynamics, imaging/soundstage, and more articulate bass. I'm currently in a bind right now with regards to spending so I'm stuck with E17 driving my HE500s for the moment, they still sound like HE500s (smooth, extremely transparent, very pleasing comforting sound signature with great technicalities), just not like HE500s with its biceps flexed.


Edited by jerg - 12/24/12 at 5:51pm
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post #12 of 13
12/24/12 at 8:05pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Jerg. I'm a headphone noob and just started this new hobby last week:-). Given a choice then Jerg would you go with the 400 or 500..based on my genre?
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post #13 of 13
12/24/12 at 11:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghostchili View Post

Thanks Jerg. I'm a headphone noob and just started this new hobby last week:-). Given a choice then Jerg would you go with the 400 or 500..based on my genre?

HE400s definitely, based on the majority of your genres.

 

Also, check out DavidMahler's HE400 review that he posted today, he was able to describe its sound more clearly than anything else I've seen:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/634201/battle-of-the-flagships-57-headphones-compared-update-hifiman-he-400-added-12-24-12#user_HE400

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Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphones (full-size) › Apple to Oranges HiFiMan HE-400, HiFiMan HE-500, or Denon AH-D600. What would you go with?