This may be VERY difficult to answer (I know its an odd question) but if anyone here has heard both the Westone 4R Quad-Driver IEM and the HifiMan HE-400's, which did you find more enjoyable to use? Is one more musically accurate or fun than the other?
 
I understand that we're talking apples and oranges here yet I've been wanting a new pair of HE-400's for awhile now and just bought the Schiit Audio Lyr a couple months ago to drive them (currently using AKG K701's and Grado 325i's) BUT I just a won a new pair of Westone 4R's and I've never heard them before. I've never won anything in my life so this was a nice way to start.
 
Can you even drive the Westone 4R's the Lyr or does it have FAR too much gain for the 4R's? 
 
The only IEM's I own are the Klipsch X-10's, X-5's (I prefer the X-5's) and some lower end sets. I could use the headphone amp that's built into my Parasound Zdac rather than the Lyr IF needed. My only portable amps are the FiiO E11 and E6. 
 
Are the Westone 4R's a nice step up from the Klipsch X-10's and X-5's? (important to know)
 
Thanks in advance for any insight you can give regarding the the near impossible comparison of the 4R's and HE-400's. 

Is there a set/brand of full-sized headphones that have a signature sound similar to the Westone 4R's? 

kljtech said:

This may be VERY difficult to answer (I know its an odd question) but if anyone here has heard both the Westone 4R Quad-Driver IEM and the HifiMan HE-400's, which did you find more enjoyable to use? Is one more musically accurate or fun than the other?

I understand that we're talking apples and oranges here yet I've been wanting a new pair of HE-400's for awhile now and just bought the Schiit Audio Lyr a couple months ago to drive them (currently using AKG K701's and Grado 325i's) BUT I just a won a new pair of Westone 4R's and I've never heard them before. I've never won anything in my life so this was a nice way to start.


Can you even drive the Westone 4R's the Lyr or does it have FAR too much gain for the 4R's? 


The only IEM's I own are the Klipsch X-10's, X-5's (I prefer the X-5's) and some lower end sets. I could use the headphone amp that's built into my Parasound Zdac rather than the Lyr IF needed. My only portable amps are the FiiO E11 and E6. 


Are the Westone 4R's a nice step up from the Klipsch X-10's and X-5's? (important to know)


Thanks in advance for any insight you can give regarding the the near impossible comparison of the 4R's and HE-400's. 

Click to expand...

You might check my review of the upcoming RE-600 HERE. I personally like them much better than my 4R which is now up for sale.

Thanks, I'm not really looking for an alternative to the Westone 4R's, I guess what I'd really like to know (if its possible to compare) is how they compare sound quality wise to a full-size headphone like the HiFiMan HE-400's. 
 
I won the Westone 4R's and I've never heard them before AND I just bought a headphone amp (Schiit Audio Lyr) that's more geared towards the harder to drive planar style headphones. IF the Westone 4R's are great, on par with higher end full size can's then I may just have to change headphone amps and forget about the HE-440's.
 
Thanks.