Here's what I'd like to see: An HE500S. Put the old HE-500 drivers in one of these new headband contraptions. But not with the Focus Pads; too itchy. Perhaps some of those sloped Kennerton pads. That's something that would get me very excited.
That would be interesting for sure, but where do you think it slot in in terms of price point? between the HE-400i and HE-560 or above the HE-560? Hifiman will most likely plan a HE-6 successor (probably named HE-7 or HE-600) which will go above the HE-560 to at least $1.2k (though I personally suspect a bit higher pricing) since that was the launch price of their previous HE-6.
But omg, for the love of god. Hifiman really has to rethink their naming strategy!!! There should be no confusion over model names. Using an "s" attachment to an old model name is guaranteed confusion as people already refer to the older generation model in the plural form. How would someone know if you are referring to the two old HE-500s or one new HE-500s??
Their product line-up should be named as follows IMO. HE-300 > HE-4 > HE-400 > HE-400s (change name to either HE-400LE, HE-400p, HE-420, HE-440) > HE-400i (should have been named HE-450) > HE-5 > HE-5LE > HE-500 > slot for any future cosmetic upgrade to the old HE-500 tuned drivers (can be called the HE-500LE or HE-550) > HE-560 > HE-6 > slots here for HE-600, HE-700, or HE-7 > HE-1000. I would have also preferred to see the the HE-400i named as HE-450 instead.
Adding random single alphabets to the current model name is a recipe for confusion. You can only have one another superior model with a different alphabet suffix before things get too confusing for the general consumer. Options of better naming choices for the "HE-400s" will be the HE-400LE (LE for limited edition, Hifiman has a historical precedent for doing this) or HE-400p (for portable - naming means something to the consumer). Both superior naming choices over "HE-400s." Hard to use the HE-4## name with a change in numbers as that would imply a superior model over the HE-400i. I think they mis-stepped with the HE-400i's naming choice, HE-450 would have been much more appropriate and have given them room to update the old HE-400 as the HE-430 without overstepping the higher up models in numbering.
Clues that the HE-400s will be sold underneath the HE-400i is that an HE-450 naming would be more appropriate for a product that is more sonically capable than the HE-400i. Also, the usage of their old velour earpads rather than the new hybrid focus earpads found on all their newer products.
