Rynsin
100+ Head-Fier
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- Aug 8, 2014
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Would you consider the HP50's a comparable replacement for the HE-400? I am considering the HP50 as a closed back for use at the office since my HE-400s let in too much office chatter.
I've got both the HE-400s and the HP50s, and I think they sound substantially different (although both excellent). I wrote about it in a previous HP50s thread, so I'll just go ahead and quote myself:
Got mine a few days ago, and I've managed to listen to them for about 15 hours since. Not sure if that's enough to burn them in (or if these phones are even especially sensitive to burn in), but my overall impression has been quite positive.
I'm comparing them to HiFIMAN HE-400s, using a Maverick Audio TubeMagic D1 driven via optical from my MacBook Pro. All the source files I've been listening to are 24-bit FLACs (or ALACs). I've also been listening to vinyls on what has been called a "toy" turntable, the AT-LP60.
Both sound dark to me, which I like. The HP50s seem to exaggerate the upper mid-range more than I'd like them to, which makes me like songs like Learning to Fly by Tom Petty much more on the HE-400s. I had similar results with Addicted to You by Avicii. My "staple" audition songs -- Take the Power Back by Rage Against the Machine and Crumbs from your Table by U2 -- sound excellent on both the HP50s and the HE-400s.
For me, the HP50s really shined with the vinyls. After listening to Invented by Jimmy Eat World all the way through on both the HP50s and the HE-400s, I have to say I greatly prefer the HP50s. I think the warm sound signature of vinyl (my setup, at least) goes very well with the HP50s and brings out some of the more subtle aspects of the music.
Everyone seems to be talking about the sound stage on these things, probably as a result of the "RoomFeel" advertisement. While these things certainly have great sound stage, I don't think it is significantly better than the HE-400s, but it is definitely different. For me, the HE-400s sound much more spread out (distance between instruments), and the HP50s feels narrower but deeper (variable distance from instruments). I'm still not used to the lingo, but I believe one would describe the HP50s as more "intimate" than the HE-400s.
A note on aesthetics -- these things look ridiculous. They actually look pretty cool when you're holding them, or resting them on a stand, but when you wear them you'll look like you have a handle on your head.
In terms of isolation, I found the HP50s to be way better than the HE-400s, which is to be expected, since the HP50s are closed and the HE-400s are open. I have the velour pads on the HE-400s and stock pads on the HP50s.
The HP50s are absolutely more portable than the HE-400s. I personally think that the HE-400s require an amp, and I laugh whenever I plug them directly into my iPhone. The HP50s, however, do pretty well being powered from my iPhone, and don't seem to gain much quality from my amp.
The cables that come with the HP50s leave something to be desired. They're incredibly short, although you can plug them into either side of the headphones, which gives you a bit of extra distance. This is fine if your using a mobile device that's on your person (in fact, the cable with the iOS remote on it is slightly longer than the one without), but pretty inconvenient otherwise, especially compared to the excellent cable length on the HE-400s.
Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase of the HP50s as my second set of "stay at home" headphones. If I can figure out what kind of cable it uses (it looks like a male-to-male 3.5mm, but I can't be certain by visual inspection alone), I'll just buy a longer and thicker one and I'll have no complaints aside from looking like a teapot when I wear them.
Original thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/697753/review-nad-viso-hp50/120#post_10789896
I want to reiterate that these really do look kind of ridiculous when you are wearing them. I don't really care, since my HP50s rarely leave home, but you might, if you're looking for something portable.
Edit: oh yeah, I bought the VModa cable to replace the stock cable and I'm very happy with it: https://v-moda.com/audio-only-cable/