garunamodi said:

A full comparison would be greatly appreciated, especially as the HD6x0s and the HE400i are big competitors in their price range.

Click to expand...

Yes, I plan to comment in more depth, I have the 400i for 30 day loaner trial, and I'm just at day 4 now. Who knows what may happen?!?

.sup said:

In Europe HD600 is half the price of the HE-400i.

Click to expand...

I just checked and think it is roughly 250 Euros/400$, that's not too much of a difference.

billheiser said:

Yes, I plan to comment in more depth, I have the 400i for 30 day loaner trial, and I'm just at day 4 now. Who knows what may happen?!?

Click to expand...

Bill, would love to read your thoughts regarding a comparison between your 650 and the 400i?!?!?

Will do. There's a small chance I'll be in Nashville in September. When is that meet? I could bring 400i...

conquerator2 said:

I just checked and think it is roughly 250 Euros/400$, that's not too much of a difference.

Click to expand...

Maybe you have different tax %. For me with shipping, taxes and customs fees 500$ always becomes 500€, its almost a rule. I shouldn't have generalized the whole of Europe but for me these two headphones are not in the same price bracket.

billheiser said:

Will do. There's a small chance I'll be in Nashville in September. When is that meet? I could bring 400i...

Click to expand...

Bill, the meet is Sept. 20th in Franklin, hope you can make it Matt will also be there!

garunamodi said:

  A full comparison would be greatly appreciated, especially as the HD6x0s and the HE400i are big competitors in their price range.

Click to expand...

I have the HD580 with 600 grills cables, The HD600, and HD650, and HE-400. At some point I will try to write something up comparing all of them to the 400i.
For now I am getting some time on the 400i so no one thinks that I did not burn them in enough before doing a comparison.
 
I wish I had some HE-560s to compare, but that is not happening for now.
Just a few initial thoughts. I put the 400i on and listened for awhile. I had lots of things to be doing so I connected them directly so my Sansa Fuze. I know you folks will gag at that, but I like the Fuze for what it is.
Normally when I change phones (I have been listening most to the HD 600 and the Fidelio X1 recently, but also quite a bit to the RE-400 IEMs) It takes a while for me to adjust to a new sound signature. I put the 400i on and just thought... I like these, I like them quite well !! Later I put the Fuze LOD into my C5D to the 400i. Yes it had more authority, but not so much change that I would not enjoy  listening straight out of the Fuze for casual portable listening from time to time.
 
I spent a little time this morning comparing my HE 400 to the 400i. The 400 has Jergpads and a grill mod like what thurstonX did. The two really have significantly different sound signatures. With the gill mod and pads, the 400 is more airy for sure. The bass is biased lower than the 400i. Maybe this is the basis of some comments about the 400i having less bass. I think the 400i is much more neutral than the 400. Voices are closer and, to me, more real sounding.  the same with piano, strings, guitar and horns... basically everything. I, after listening to some well recorded bass, do not think that they are at all bass shy. Bass sounds, again, more like what I hear at a concert, or through my (pretty well optimized and tuned) 7.1 system in a 40 by 30 foot room. I would call the 400i just a tiny bit on the warm side of neutral. A very pleasing sound for my taste !
 
BTW all of my listening recently has been foobar>ODAC> My new Polaris> into whatever phones. Mostly FLAC 44/16, with some 24/96 thrown in. 
 
I have a few other DACs and amps to try...
Darn, so many combinations, so little time.
 
So far I am really liking the HE-400i. I will try to get more analytical and throw more phones into the mix as I have time. For now I am just having fun listening. That is what this is all about... Yes?

.sup said:

Maybe you have different tax %. For me with shipping, taxes and customs fees 500$ always becomes 500€, its almost a rule. I shouldn't have generalized the whole of Europe but for me these two headphones are not in the same price bracket.

Click to expand...

 
Yes, HE-400i is going to cost 500EUR in Europe... Everywhere unless Hifiman will do some sort of magic to lower prices for us, Europeans. And yes - HD600 is like 2x cheaper than HE-400i is going to be.

ron12 said:

Yes, HE-400i is going to cost 500EUR in Europe... Everywhere unless Hifiman will do some sort of magic to lower prices for us, Europeans. And yes - HD600 is like 2x cheaper than HE-400i is going to be.

Click to expand...

In that case, buy 400i. OR buy hd600, AND a nice closed portable 'phone, AND pick up the tab for an epic night at the pub. I know what I'd pick.

Has anyone compared the stock HE-400 or HE-4 to the stock HE-400i on movies?

michaeljames99 said:

 
Has anyone compared the stock HE-400 or HE-4 to the stock HE-400i on movies?

Click to expand...

 
I would honestly pick HE-4 over HE-400 for anything due to better soundstaging, less weird tonality... and finally, better sound. HE-400's driver is not on par with HE-4, it's easy to hear it in side by side comparison. It's not like HE-400 are leagues worse... There is just less refinement, more grain... More mid-fi sound in case of HE-400. I really think it is a no-brainer decision as I even find HE-4's bass to be completely on par with the famous bass of HE-400, if not better for the slight subbass emphasis. Just to add -I found bass of HE-400 and HE-4 equally good technically while both were superior to HE-500's bass.
 
Now, HE-400i is a completely different headphone it seems... So I cannot tell.

Yes Ron, i agree about HE-500 bass, while it has more quantity of it compared to HE-4 it is quite flabby or loose.

.sup said:

Maybe you have different tax %. For me with shipping, taxes and customs fees 500$ always becomes 500€, its almost a rule. I shouldn't have generalized the whole of Europe but for me these two headphones are not in the same price bracket.

Click to expand...

In Europe they are definitely more expensive, but it's true in the US that they are similar. I have cousins there so I wonder if it's worth it to get from them.
 

mandrake50 said:

 
I have the HD580 with 600 grills cables, The HD600, and HD650, and HE-400. At some point I will try to write something up comparing all of them to the 400i.
For now I am getting some time on the 400i so no one thinks that I did not burn them in enough before doing a comparison.
 
I would call the 400i just a tiny bit on the warm side of neutral. A very pleasing sound for my taste !
 
So far I am really liking the HE-400i. I will try to get more analytical and throw more phones into the mix as I have time. For now I am just having fun listening. That is what this is all about... Yes?

Click to expand...

Sounds good! Really looking forward to comparisons, but from the sounds of it it will be a tough choice. I think I may go for the HE400i based purely on the fact that it's faster, but I'll have to trial both (and wait for some *measurements* ) to tell.
 

ron12 said:

   
Yes, HE-400i is going to cost 500EUR in Europe... Everywhere unless Hifiman will do some sort of magic to lower prices for us, Europeans. And yes - HD600 is like 2x cheaper than HE-400i is going to be.

Click to expand...

It's £350 in the UK, which is significantly more than the £250 for the HD650 and £220 for the HD600. But not as much as 500 euros, though most stuff does get translated 1USD->1EUR. So it's better than most.

info about cable
 
HE-400i Newly-designed cable of Crystalline metal featuring Oxygen-free copper and Oxygen-free silver

HE-560 Newly-designed cable comprised of crystalling copper and crystalline silver

I like the new cable at least compared to the HE 400 cable, from the physical standpoint. The diameter is less and the sheath is non-grippy. Much nicer in many ways than the 400 factory cables!
 
I have several cables for the 400. I got some short (1.5 meter/ 4 feet) , some 3 meter, and one 4 meter). I got those to use for the 400 in different scenarios.
 
The problems with the 400i cable that I have is... it is too long for portable use and too short for my desktop use. The 90 degree connector that is on mine can be either a blessing or a curse. It sucks for desktop use in most cases.  have not had enough time to really listen, let alone play with cable swapping among the 5 sets that I have.
I likely will not hear much difference in any case... but the physical considerations  for an intended use can be a consideration for some.