Reviews by conquerator2

Big things come from small enclosures – The iFi Audio iCAN SE
 
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with iFi Audio in any way nor am I being paid for this review.
 

 
While not as established as some of the front-runner audiophile brands, iFi Audio is perhaps best known for their small yet affordable range of products, including the popular Nano line, spanning products like the iCAN and iDSD, serving as tiny portable amplifiers and DACs respectively. Further on offer is a range of useful accessories, such as the iPurifier and iPower, which both serve to isolate circuits from external negative influences of dirty power. The iCAN SE, hails from the “largest” Micro line, which offers small desktop solutions that promise to bring excellent performance in compact sizes at low prices. iFi also make sure they are buzzword packed by coining up bold, exotic features such as Class-A TubeState, DirectDrive or 3D HolographicSound. Boasting some of these and retailing for a relatively modest 299$, this Special Edition iCAN promises a lot for less. Intrigued with my eyebrow raised, I asked iFi for a review opportunity and they complied. So with my thanks and without further ado, let’s hear the truth!  
 
The packaging was standard business as I discovered when a smaller-than-expected shipping box graciously landed on my door step, kindly sent by one of iFi’s local dealers. Slightly reminiscent of Apple-style packaging, I slid the box out of its paper shell and lifted the top lid to see what’s inside. Underneath the compartment hosting the amplifier, I was greeted by a plethora of accessories not expected at this price, spanning nice looking sets of RCA and 3.5mm interconnect cables, the taunted linear power supply, manual and warranty cards, a fine adjustment tool, a ¼ headphone adapter as well as four small rubber feet! Now, this is what I call accessories! It’s literally everything to set you up and then some. In a time where including a power cord is slowly becoming a novelty and everything comes at an extra, this array of accessories from a budget product I consider very impressive to say the least.
 

 


Overall design & build quality is pretty outstanding. The first thing that positively stands out are its miniature dimensions. This is the smallest desktop amplifier that I have ever tested, measuring less than 16 x 7cm (6 x 3") across, so you would be forgiven for mistaking it for a portable unit. Also weighting just over 200g (0.4lb), this practically weightless, all-aluminum pipsqueak takes the lightest footprint of all my audio devices. From left to right, on the slightly curved front plate, sits a smooth volume pot, with two HolographicSound and XBass (more on those later) switches facilitated next to it, with a traditional ¼ headphone output awaiting us by the end of the right edge. On top we have the signature iFi logo engraved, along with three green status LEDs, each for power, DirectDrive and signal. On the back we get two sets of inputs, RCA and ¹/₈, and a power input for the proprietary iPOWER external power supply. The gain is adjusted via dip switches, which are located on the bottom of the unit and even though a schematic is printed right next to them, it took me a bit to figure it all out. Although slightly inconvenient, the adjustment range is solid providing a gain selection of 0, 12 and 24dBs. Coupled with watts of class-A power on tap, it pretty much guarantees enough swing for all but the hungriest of headphones.  


 


For music listening, I used my newest headphone addition, Mr. Speakers Ether 1.1, which offers an extraordinarily balanced presentation and a signature I enjoy quite a lot. As I will discuss in more detail, this amplifier should work well with most headphones and sources and contrary to its size, provides as much power as some many times bigger, more expensive offerings. One thing to point out is that iFi’s solution to keep the footprint smaller is a proprietary linear power supply, which lacks standard grounding, introducing a constant hum into the chain which I was unable to remedy. Curiously, it only introduced noise to other amplifiers in the circuit, while the iFi itself remained dead silent.
 
As for what kind of sound to expect was a bit of an enigma for me as I read through iFi’s exotic list of features. On one hand DirectDrive promises amazing transparency, while on the other TubeState technology claims to replicate the way tubes amplify audio to create a warm and spacious sound. I do agree with the former and the iCAN indeed is the most transparent amplifier that I ever had here, revealing minute details that others failed to show with the same clarity. With regards to TubeState, I will simply say that the Liquid Carbon is the most tube-like amp that I’ve had in house and that the TS does not sound anything tube-like at all. While on the same page, let’s discuss the effects of HolographicSound and XBass. They both offer 3 settings, bypass, + and -, where + adds the desired effect and – reduces it to less than bypassed. According to iFi, they should enhance / shrink the soundstage or add / subtract the right amount of bass, by means of a sophisticated circuitry built within. However, in practice they turned out to be mere convenience extras, sounding like average treble and bass boosts respectively. The issue I take here is that most of these features are touted as technical marvels that in reality never actually happen and represent something that does not justify the grand words put behind them. So, in the future, I would appreciate if iFi cut back on fancy-smanshy marketing descriptors on their website to be a bit more reasonable in managing expectations. In my opinion, the iCAN does not need a dozen of features to be perceived more appealing and there is a point where some of these could be taken as somewhat deceptive or misleading.
 
With that off my chest, let’s go back to juicy-soundy stuff. The iCAN proves a solid performer from top to bottom, where words like neutral, even and reference sprang instantly to my mind. The overall bass is very linear with excellent differentiation and extension. The mid-bass and upper kick also sounds very adequate, not lacking in any way compared to bigger amplifiers. Lower midrange is a bit less grippy, smooth all the way to upper midrange, with tiny hints of compression here and there, manifesting in slightly digital sounding cymbal crashes. Treble is smooth, but extends naturally almost as far as my treble-happy Audio-gd. The iFi offers an incredibly layered and spacious presentation, where every sound cue is easily picked and located. In its detail retrieving capabilities the iCAN goes beyond its competitors. The one undesirable trade-off that I perceive is a slight constraint of dynamic range and what I would describe as lean sounding, where nothing ever quite gets spotlighted. The areas where the other amplifiers bring hints of extra punch or air, the cool and collected iFi does not, producing a sound slightly less engaging. Regardless, the iFi stays far from embarrassing itself in any way and these are just minor shortcomings in an otherwise exquisite performance. Though as should be clear by now, those hoping to find any added richness of tubes in this solid TubeState offering will have to look elsewhere. Probably to real tubes.
 


Now, to compare to my favorite amplifiers:
 
Head to head with the Cavalli Audio Liquid Carbon (599$ original, 799$ second run) – The Cavalli Liquid Carbon is what I was initially expecting the iCAN to sound like. However, these two amps can’t practically sound further apart. The LC gives a dynamically rich sound with potent oozing bass, encapsulated in an intimate soundstage. It also happens to be one of the less revealing and detailed offerings I have had the opportunity to hear, with its greatest weapon being rich, natural and warm sound that teases at what the bigger and pricier Cavalli models have to offer. The vocal presentation is amazing, with bass hitting as hard and deep as anything. It is a joy to rock out to, but those looking for a detailed and neutral sound, the iCAN gets my nod. It offers better separation, is much better at revealing micro details, offers a more neutral and realistic soundscape where instruments evenly pan across a spacious, holographic stage. The treble extends noticeably further and reveals more information. The Carbon is the go-to amp for many Sennheiser HD800 lovers and others who like spacious, neutral to bright sounding headphones, as it provides any extra desirable warmth and intimacy and complements their traits perfectly. And although something like my Ether works great with both, for the wider range of headphones the iCAN shows to be the preferable partner. Unless you just love to rock out and want to bang that head all day. Then by all means get the Carbon, or save for a Cavalli LAu. The iCAN is about half the size of the Carbon, for inquiring minds.
 
Versus the Jazz (325$ standard / 405$ for ff version) – For the differences between the ff and non-ff versions I go into more detail in my review at Headphone.Guru (http://headphone.guru/a-budget-blast-from-germany-meier-audio-corda-jazz-and-jazz-ff), where I compared them side by side. For the purpose of this review, either model will do as the sound signature does not deviate much. They also do happen to be the closest match for the iCAN, where there is relatively little that separates them in terms of signature. The iCAN has an edge in detail retrieval and instrument placement but it lacks a bit in dynamic reproduction, where the Jazz sounds just a tiny bit more engaging and snappy. As extra, the Jazz does offer a surprisingly well implemented cross-feed function, which is useful with hard left-right panned music. In terms of value, these go as close as any other pairing here. One offers better detail retrieval and a third smaller form factor while the other sounds just a hair more lively, with a useful CF function. Given their price, I could happily stack either on the top of my desk next to the bigger boys as they both punch high above their price tag. It really just boils down to which of their traits are more important to you.
 
Pitted against the Audio-gd SA31SE (525$, discontinued) – And here in comes the amplifier that has been with me the longest. This now discontinued Audio-gd product which I hope to finally formally review in the near future, has been a reference level amplifier for me since the wee days of dipping my toes in this audiophile ocean. It’s a big and bulky amplifier, stuffed to the brim with parts and a huge R-core transformer and which to me represents one of the Chinese company’s best for its price. How does the iCAN fare? Well, it depends. Just like with all the other amplifiers it competes in most things and doesn’t really do badly anywhere else. Its consistently top performing area has been the way it evenly places and pans all instruments and other cues in its vast soundstage and just how remarkably well balanced, clear and present they all remain all the time. The Audio-gd gets close but it doesn’t quite match the spaciousness. In vocal reproduction, the SA31SE shows added clarity and extension, making voice stand out every time in a mix. Whether that is accurate or true I leave for interpretation but I do like it as it also adds an airy quality to instruments, while highlighting the different styles and presentations of those who sing. Bass is just a bit tighter too, with a bit more impact and oomph down low. The one attribute this Audio-gd has unlike any other amplifier is a bigger sense of dynamic scale and swing. The immediacy of a violin plucked through the air. The impact as double bass cuts through the mix. It has the ability to make sudden dynamic changes stand out more than any other amplifier, consistently giving more boldness to instruments that lead. This coloration does bring some drawbacks, such as minor detail loss in lead instrument busy passages, resulting in a slightly constrained image, which the iCAN never develops.
 

 


Now, with all comparisons out of the way, a note, as just like any other reviewer, I am just a guy who likes a particular sound. It is sometimes difficult to put into words the emotions and feelings a particular piece of gear elicits within me. As although technical specifications and distortion charts make all these amplifiers look remarkably similar, I hear a distinct difference between them. Be it iCAN’s detail-revealing prowess, Liquid Carbon’s musical panache, Jazz’s neutral finesse, SA31’s vocal brilliance, or the different sound of tubes all-together, these are all distinguishing traits that usually make me buy one particular audio product over another and where individual perception and taste makes all the difference. As the golden Head-Fi saying goes, “we all hear differently” but I do think that all the amplifiers I have tested here have demonstrated their solid price to performance ratio, allowing for everyone to find their favorite pick. From the warmer LC, over the neutral iCAN/Jazz, to the brighter SA31SE, these all represent outstanding value some of the budget-friendly hidden gems have to offer and while they ain’t perfect, they all strive for greatness in different ways.
 
The iFi ICAN SE retails for 299$, so realistically I only expected it to compete with the Meier Audio Corda Jazz. Where this little gem proved itself and more was the ability to extract as much information from a recording as possible, without sacrificing much in the way of musicality or dynamics and throwing it all into an impressively cohesive sonic image. What’s more, it also comes in the smallest form factor of all these amplifiers, while having the power to drive virtually any headphone. In the end, it managed to compete with twice as expensive offerings without selling itself short and making itself the first choice for those who move regularly or need a modern, inexpensive yet capable device for most any home or studio use. And while the still excellent Corda Jazz holds the rank for the first amplifier to do that, iCAN now also put the SE right up there as one of the most impressive all-round budget devices that I had the pleasure to hear. Now my sole wish remains for iFi to cut back on their marketing jargon just a teeny bit…
 
Technical specifications:
Gain: 0dB, 12dB and 24dB (user-selectable via dip switches)
Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR): >123dB (A)
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): <0.003% (400mV/150R)
Frequency Response: 0.5Hz to 500KHz (-3dB)
Output Impedance: <1 ohm
Output Power: >4000mW (16Ω)
Output Voltage:  >10V (>600Ω)
Input Voltage: AC 100 – 240V, 50/60Hz
Power Consumption: < 5W idle, 12W max.
Dimensions: 158(l) x 68(w) x 28(h) mm
Weight: 216g (0.48 lbs)
Warranty: 12 months 

EDIT - Half a star dropped. The Edition X gets very close in performance and the HE1000 is not perfect, pointing out the 4-5K peak and only decent vocal performance, hence 4.5/5.
DISCLAIMER: Please note this review was officially written for and is property of Headphone.Guru and was published on January 25th, 2016. It is pasted here on behalf of Headphone.Guru as well as the manufacturer. Hope you enjoy it!

   
 
Read the original review here: http://headphone.guru/best-of-both-worlds-the-one-of-a-kind-hifiman-he1000/#sthash.qw7U3wdH.dpuf  
 
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS – THE ONE OF A KIND HiFiMAN HE1000
                                                                                            
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HiFiMAN has always had a special place in my heart. My audiophile journey began back in 2012 with their former mighty flagship, the HE-6, which is notoriously known for not only being very demanding of power  but also for its pickiness about what it is paired with. While my setup was far from ideal at that point [a cheap DAC and speaker amplifier], I still enjoyed listening to it quite a bit. Even today, many consider it one of the best headphones available. Time has passed since and I moved on, owning many different headphones, from the excellent AKG K7XX to the beautiful Audio Technica ATH-W1000X, as I fleshed out my sonic preferences and experimented with different gear.
 
Since last July, my favorite headphone has once again been one of HiFiMAN’s own – the HE560. This headphone performed better than the HE-6 on my budget-conscious setup and scaled higher when I upgraded later. This new-born planar-magnetic headphone performed admirably and I found myself in a temporary state of bliss. However, I knew there were still many headphones out there that was yet to hear.
 
This was about to change the upcoming August, when I flew to London for the first annual Europe-held Canjam. There, I finally tried some of the current and past world-class headphones, which I wanted to hear for so long. There was one in particular, however, that in my view managed to steal more of the spotlight than the rest. One that made me really eager to hear and review it on a gear of my own. Which brings me to HiFiMAN’s newest flagship, the HE1000.
 
The HEK – what the HE1000 is often called – got to me earlier this month, delivered by DHL. The packaging is designed so that the HEK box rests securely, fixed in place by six clear protective pieces, one for each side. Removing the top piece reveals the beautiful headphone box. While all next generation HiFiMAN offerings come in all-new, improved and fancier packages, this one tops the others with its luxuriousness factor. The rigid wooden box is fully coated in grained leather, with a squared aluminum middle section, where the letters ‘’HIFIMAN HE1000’’ are imbued, along with company’s logo, giving it a clean yet classy look. The cover slowly opened as I lifted the metallic buckle, revealing the owner’s guide as well as additional paperwork. Underneath this layer laid the headphones, nested in a soft cutout, with cables hidden under a removable compartment in the middle.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Speaking of accessories, the HEK comes with 3 sets of cables. The first one is 3 meters long, terminated by an XLR connector, the second, also 3 meters, ends with a 6.35mm plug and the last one is 1.5 meters with a 3.5mm end. All are made from crystalline silver & copper, sleeved in a fabric jacket and terminated into the headphone with 2.5mm mini plugs. The cables are fairly unwieldy and stiff but they are quite long and as far as I can tell, fairly well made as I’ve been using the 6.35mm cable without issues. If you were to buy them separately, they together retail for over 500$. Adding the warranty and owner’s manual, there are no other accessories in the box. I think a nice stand or case would be welcome given the price but with headphones like these that will be kept at home and pampered, this is less of an issue than it would be with a pair of closed back portables. The stand depicted is HiFiMAN’s own, which sells for 20$ and gets the job done.
 
Holding the HEK in my hands, they feel like a product of decent craftsmanship. The materials used are all of premium quality. The headband frame is made from stainless steel, the suspension strap that rests on your head is premium leather. The yokes, grilles and ear-cup rims are all steel. A big part of the headphone is occupied by two chunky wooden veneer strips. The newly developed 2.5mm metal sockets sit at an angle near the bottom of the cups, preventing the cables from rubbing on your shoulders whenever you put the headphone on. HiFiMAN made sure there would be no obstacles in the way of sonic reproduction, by utilizing a new back cover system – shades, which improve upon the previous grille design. At the back of each ear-cup are 11 horizontal ‘shades’ with a thin grill layer underneath, combining for a more transparent solution with the added benefit of protection.
 
Previously, avid audiophiles would have to modify the headphone by replacing the sound-obtrusive stock grilles with something more transparent, to attain the most faithful sonic reproduction, but with this aspect now remediedthere is no need for any modifications. The UltraPads, HiFiMAN’s newest ear-pads exclusively developed for the super-sized HE1000, are made from protein leather, with velour sewn on top for added comfort. These headphones are indeed physically the largest I’ve ever owned and they do feel a bit flimsy when held. This is mainly because the ear-cups rotate and swivel freely and when rotated, produce a squeak-like sound. Despite this, the overall finish looks great without any rough edges or imperfections and I cannot see any reasons for long term durability concerns.
 
The reason for their gargantuan size is a valid one as inside the cups live some very special drivers. These measure 131x100mm across and their thickness is calculated in nanometers, making them the world’s thinnest and possibly largest planar-magnetic drivers ever made. I am not quite sure what material they utilized, but there is a video on the internet where it is dropped on the ground. As the feather-light nano-grade substance slowly spirals and dances in the air, I found myself wondering at just how far technology has progressed in recent years.
 
Putting the headphones on feels great. They are twenty grams shy of being 500g, but they don’t feel heavy and I can wear them for hours on end without fatigue. This is due to the reworked headband system, which distributes weight evenly across my whole cranium, making these newest planars one of the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn, with ideal clamp right out of the box. The pads themselves are cavernous and my large ears fit inside very comfortably, instantly forming a perfect seal. I do wish they were stylized slightly more akin to the Focus pads, meaning even thicker and more cushioned, but the UltraPads still make for very fine pads with good depth and softness. The velour topped protein leather allows for excellent heat management, mitigating any issues that a leather contact area could create. The stainless headband is adjusted by tactile ‘clicks’ and feels secure, but I wish it were a bit smaller. To fit me comfortably, it has to be set to its lowest possible setting, meaning there is practically no leeway whatsoever for adjustment. Now, I do have a smaller head, but this was not an issue with the HE560, where I was on the second or third ‘click’. These still do rank up among the most comfortable headphones, if a tiny step below the pillow-like comfort of the 560/400i/400S.
 
With other necessities out of the way, what does this expensive pair of oversized headphones sound like? Initial Canjam impressions were positive, but show conditions can notably affect perception. I made sure I gave the HE1000 at least 200 hours of recommended burn-in before listening critically. My music taste spreads across a broad range of genres including 90s electronic pop, chamber jazz, large instrumental pieces and alternative rock music, with varying degree of mastering quality, which made sure the headphones were certainly put through their paces. In addition I also played games and watched movies. My current setup is an Audio-gd SA31SE amplifier, a vintage Theta Digital DS Pro Basic II R2R DAC, coupled with a Breeze Audio DX-U8 USB DDC and a USB isolator. Thousands of files flow through JRiver MC20 from my PC.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The first track I listened to with the HEK was ‘A Scattered Moment’ by Hidenori Shoji. This is a simpler instrumental piece, but it carries incredible emotional impact for me and I have heard it countless times before with different headphones. But what an impression it left! The piano starts off shy, delicate, moving from right to center and right again. The timbre and tone is pitch perfect. Individual key strokes echo through the air and fill the whole space. Then a synth roars through the air, rising up, disappearing slowly until the last tone melts into space. A drum kicks through, intertwined with a cymbal crash. The cymbal is not harsh and decays naturally with excellent timbral accuracy, while the definition of the drum is simply stunning as the impact is also felt and the vibration disappears to the far right. Other instruments start filling the stage, throwing an image so big, natural and real I am completely taken aback. A knock-on-the-door-like synth hits a few times through the song. It was always difficult to hear but now it is oh so clear. The balance is perfect throughout. The track ends. I open my eyes… Wow! That was my first home experience.
 
Now to describe the sonic characteristics more meticulously. The bass is very impressive. The sub-bass is tuneful and deep, while never bleeding into other frequencies without any trace of sounding boomy and also  produced  a tight yet tactile feeling. The mid-bass punches well with moderate impact that never overbears and kicks decently. There are songs where it might seem a bit on the soft side, but then there are tracks where it feels very adequate and recording dependent. Acoustic bass does show less variability than synthetic. The transition into upper bass – lower midrange is seamless. I am quite amazed by the overall bass response as the sub-bass is integrated expertly into the mix and the whole low range just sounds so clean, textured and tight with zero bleed as if it were produced by a separate woofer. Believe me when I say the bass surprised me on more than one occasion.
 
Midrange is likewise stellar, smooth, even and musically rich. It sounds very coherent throughout and gives great presence to most instruments from lower to upper, including guitars, pianos and violins. Sometimes I only wish vocals had a bit more heft to them. It is not that they sound recessed, rather they sound ever-so-slightly  small at times. This again depends on the mastering to a substantial degree although  it is something I noticed recurring. Midrange registers do sound enveloping, cohesive and natural, and like the bass was well incorporated into the encompassing mix.
 
It is fair to preface this by saying that I am more sensitive to lower treble than most other people and it should be taken into consideration as it is very relevant here. The treble area is slightly different to the smooth bass & midrange  in that it is boosted from 4 through 7KH and then dips a bit and later rises again, extending up to 15K. As one of my few criticisms, this enhances presence and sometimes gives some recordings some  sibilance in male and female vocals. As such, this also has the butterfly effect of injecting a pleasant boost of energy into recordings that need it and would otherwise sound dull or muffled. Also, because essentially the whole lower treble area is boosted it is less problematic than if there was only a single peak, causing less trouble. Minding this raise, the treble sounds accurate, delicate and extended. Lots of air surrounds instruments and voices, helping to create a more convincing and realistic presentation. All secondary harmonics, like air, timbre and decay are preserved to their fullest. A very clear and open treble presentation, which, as with most neutral headphones, I would not pair with dead-neutral or bright gear.
 
Detail retrieval is amazing. Simply phenomenal. Now, I thought I’ve heard everything there was to hear in my favorite tracks but the HEK proves me wrong again and again with its subtle cues, extraordinary layering and clarity. All the minute details are not forced on you but are instead presented in a very natural manner, without ever sounding strident or artificially enhanced. This makes it easier to follow any instrument at will. The dynamic range is virtually infinite, allowing for both very fine and nuanced cues and grand and explosive impact. The HEK manages to reveal all the details without ever losing musicality.
 
Soundstage is the most realistic and convincing I have heard yet. It almost makes regular stereo recordings sound binaural. Sounds come from all directions and spread wide and deep, filling the stage evenly with musical bliss. Never did anything sound congested, too distant or mushed. As someone who also likes using headphone surround for games & movies, this attribute is very crucial for me and the HE1000 delivers here on all counts. It simply allows me to just get immersed completely in whatever I am currently doing.
 
Now this wouldn’t be possible without exquisite imaging & instrument separation and while all recent HiFiMAN planars do admirably in these areas, the HEK simply takes it to another level. Instruments just pop up and disappear, locked in their own little airy bubble, never smeared. Locating them within space is easy, with multi-vocal tracks deserving special mention as this is where I found many headphones to struggle.
 
To briefly compare, I would like to throw in my previous favorite headphone, the HiFiMAN HE-560 as in many ways, the HE1000 sounds like an evolution of sorts. On the HEK, the bass digs deeper, the midrange is more articulate and the treble is more even in its presentation. The vocals sound more like real voices, though the way the HE560 does vocals is also very special. The soundstage is one of the most apparent improvements as it is bigger, more dimensional and projects more evenly from all directions. Imaging was already excellent on the HE560 but the HE1000 outclasses it still with even more accuracy. The HEK always manages to straddle the line between analytical and musicality perfectly, revealing all the details yet keeping the experience musical and while the HE560 comes close, it does not quite reach that line. Price is an entirely different matter of course and it is the one area where I feel the HE1000 is squarely beat.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retailing for 2999$, the latest HiFiMAN flagship finds itself priced in the top tiers of the headphone pricing echelon. With many great offerings for significantly less, starting with the AKG K7XX and HiFiMAN’s own HE400S and going all the way to the Mr. Speakers Ether, Audeze LCD-X and Sennheiser HD800. These established themselves as excellent sounding headphones and represent a contextually incredible value for about half the money. But they did not wow me to the same extent and I believe that indeed at this price point, it becomes a matter of personal enjoyment rather than technical prowess. Preferences have always played a major part in decision making, especially this high up and the HE1000 simply comes closest to my idea of ‘perfection’ that I have heard in any headphone yet. I will continue to enjoy this HEK of a headphone, while playing with my setup to hear just what else the astonishingly-analytic-yet-marvelously-musical HiFiMAN HE1000 has to offer. For those looking to spend less, the just released HiFiMAN Edition X is worthy of consideration.
 
Headphone Specifications:
Type: Planar-magnetic driver, full-size, open-back design
Frequency Response: 8Hz – 65KHz
Impedance: 35 +-3 Ω
Efficiency: 90dB/mW
Weight: ~480g
MSRP: 2999$
 
 

HiFiMAN HE400S Review with HE-560 tidbits
 
Disclaimer: The following review/comparison is my subjective assessment of the HiFiMAN HE400S, which I was kindly sent as a review sample by HiFiMAN. I am in no way affiliated with HiFiMAN nor am I being paid for this review. I kindly hope you will enjoy the read ^_^
 
Introduction
I received the HE400S earlier this month. They represent the beginning of an evolution – being what I believe is the cheapest open-back planarmagnetic full-size HFM headphone. In fact, I am not aware of any other open planar retailing for this price. The Oppo PM-2 and Audeze EL-8 start at 699$. Hifiman’s own HE-400i is 499$. The price alone is not what makes the 400S special, however. They also sound pretty darn good. More on that later! Let’s start with the specs.
 
Specifications:
 
HiFiMAN HE-400S
 


Type: Planar-magnetic driver, full-size, open-back design
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 35KHz
Impedance: 22Ω
Efficiency: 98dB/mW
Weight: 350g
MSRP: 299$
 
Equipment:
 
Media: JRiver Media player 20, using ASIO KS direct connection mode
Source: USB output of a desktop-PC into a Gustard U12
DAC: Theta Digital DS Pro Basic II via AES/EBU
Amplifier: Audio-gd SA-31SE via single-ended RCA input
Headphones:  HiFiMAN HE-400S via a 1/4 TRS plug
Files: FLAC, 128-320kbps MP3, 256kbps AAC,
Cables: stock power cables, decent RCA/USB/AES/… cables
 
Packaging/Accessories
The 400S comes in a sturdy thick silver cardboard box, with a Hifiman logo on each side, as well as the model name. Underneath the lid is a foam blanket and when that is removed, the headphone comes into view, facilitated in a foam cutout. The cable comes in a small papery box, found underneath the headphone in its own little compartment. Also in the box, is the owner’s guide, Hifiman invitation and warranty card. The box is rather simple, but it is functional and I definitely prefer that to the fancier offerings if it keeps the price down. For the money, there is little to complain about. Solid packaging.
 
10/10
 

 

 

 

 

 
Build Quality
This headphone seems well built. With Hifiman’s not exactly stellar track record, I was worried the low asking price might cause some issues in QC. So, I was glad to be proven wrong. Everything on the outside as well as on the inside seems hunky dory and well made! In fact, it feels as good as my own HE-560, if not better. The silver polished plastic cups feel durable and look decent, the headband is metal and the suspension leather strap is as comfy as ever, if using slightly lower quality leatherette than the higher models. The clamp was perfect out of the box and the swivels swivel like they should. The switch to the 2.5mm connectors is a god send and a remarkable improvement from the previous SMC connectors. The earpads also feel surprisingly good, given the low asking price and are about equal to Focus pads in structure, if slightly less thick. The new direction with Hifiman seems to be that of increased build quality for less, such as the super cheap RE-300h, which also was remarkably built. Hopefully then, the QC issues have finally become a thing of the past. A big thumps up to HFM for that.
 
10/10

 

 

 

Comfort/Fit
The included VelPads are very good pads. Just the right softness and sturdiness to not decompress too much or too little. They are essentially an all velour version of the Focus pads. The velour feels plush, pillowy, does not itch and is a big step up from the old generation velour/pleather earpads. That said, I still opted to use the Focus pads instead, as they are my all-time favorite earpad. The Vel pad is pretty great still. I also opted for a more open grill mesh to improve the openness a bit. These are rather minor things that don’t affect the tonality too much. They do improve the sound a bit though and since they are fully reversible and on the cheap side, I recommend them. [All mods at your own risk!]
 
9/10 [stock] + 10/10 [Focus pad]

 

 

 

 
Bass

While sharing their name with the bass monster that was the original HE-400, these are not bass canons and instead have a very similar bass response to the HE-400i. The bass has good impact and punch, but definitely close to neutral, with no extra emphasis. It is even down to 70Hz, where it starts to roll-off slowly, losing some energy at 50Hz and rolling off completely at 30Hz. These have very little sub-bass presence and won’t rattle your skull. The bass is fast with good definition, not muddy or flabby. Excellent tightness. In comparison the HE-560 digs deeper, hits a bit harder and does not start to roll-off much until 30Hz, producing better sub-bass frequencies. But it is still not a sub-bass monster by any stretch. So, while the lowest of the lows are not very present, I still like the overall tight and nice HFM-style bass performance of the 400S.
 
8/10  
 
Midrange
This headphone has magical mids. The 400i again comes to mind, but the 400S isn’t as forward. The midrange is very smooth and relatively more forward than the thinner 560. Everything from vocals to violins and guitars shines through with good quality, great presence and heft, good thickness and quality. They are also fairly detailed mids! I could listen to this midrange for hours [and in fact I have!]. If I have one quibble, it is that the midrange can steal the spotlight off the rest of the frequency spectrum, leaving bass and treble slightly behind. This midrange is definitely the best part of this headphone and if you are a midrange head, you won’t be disappointed! The 560 is a more technically capable headphone overall, with a slightly more laid-back midrange but the overall midrange performance is quite similar still.  
 
9/10
 
Treble
The treble here is superbly smooth and fairly well extended, up to 13KHz, then dropping off completely at 15. This means that the headphone lacks the upmost extension and air, not quite capturing the realism and micro detail that more trebley headphones have, but it is not dark by any stretch and has good energy. Treble heads won’t be fully satisfied but they won’t be yanking their hair out either. I find the treble to be better rounded and smoother than both the 400i/560, but overall more similar to the 400i, with the 560 having more energy in the lower treble and extending up further, with better air. In all, an inoffensive treble, which absolutely won’t fatigue. Given the price, it is very good.
 
8/10
 
Vocals 
 
a]Male
The male vocals sound right. The ratio of delicacy and body is good, accommodating for lots of different singers and corresponding genres, from hip-hop types to MJ and beyond. Presence is very good, while lacking just the bit of air. Sibilance is hardly ever an issue. Clarity is excellent. Definitely similar to the pricier HFM models here, for less.
 
9/10
 
b]Female
A well balanced headphone usually performs well with both sexes. The 400S is no exception and it once again does well. The lack of air shows a bit more here but it does not make females sound canned, veiled or the sort. Just lacking a bit of delicacy and breathiness. Presence is great and there are no significant dips or peaks, resulting in very even vocal response. Sibilance is not a problem here either.
 
8/10
 
Sibilance
These headphones are sibilance free for the most part, save for super bright recordings. [Nothing can help those…]. There’s slightly more energy in the 5 and 7KHz area but that has very little effect on sibilance, which most often happens in the 4 – 5KHz range. The 400i had a peak in the lower treble and so has the 560. The 400S has no such peak, which reduces the leading edge presence a bit, but also reduces sibilance even further. None of the newer HFM is overly prone to sibilance but the 400S is the least still.
 
9/10  
  
Soundstage
The soundstage is slightly smaller than the HE-560 and similar to 400i, which means quite decent for a planar, but not quite AKG/Sennheiser/Stax level. The shape is certainly oval, with more width than depth, thus not circular. It can extend out of the head a bit, but won’t project out completely. It certainly does not feel closed-in or claustrophobic like a closed headphone and the ‘open’ intimacy actually helps the overall musicality, which the 400S has plenty of.
 
8/10
 
Imaging  
The imaging is also a bit less precise than the 560/400i. It does image well, with great center stage, good layering and nice spread, filling the stage evenly. Some headphones can image unevenly or pan instruments extremely left/right and I am glad to say that this cheapest Hifiman does not have this issue.
 
8/10
 
Instrument separation
The instrument separation also falls close to the 400i level. The 560 edges out both with lighting fast response and amazing clarity, while the 400s still remains excellent. Not quite as crystal clear, but there’s little in the lack of clarity. It also has to do with the midrange being slightly more pronounced, resulting in a bit less energy with more bass/treble focused instruments. But there is no siginificant recession at any one point of the spectrum.
 
8/10
 
Detail/Resolution/Finesse    
The 400S is a fairly detailed headphone. It does not quite have the finesse and technical prowess of the 560 but that is not expected. Due to less clarity, some micro detail does get smeared in busy passages and there is a tiny bit of air missing. However, being the musical headphone that it is, it still conveys most detail very well thanks to its balanced nature and smoothness. It will not shove it into your face, but it will present it well. The lack of absolute detail does not bother me, as this is much preferred to throwing gobs of detail at you, while being abrasive and harsh in the process. This is the type of headphone that you’ll listen to for hours instead. And for that, the level of detail it extracts is great.
 
8/10
 
Air
Not the airiest of the bunch, but there’s some air to be had. Does not quite touch the 560, but it is decent. It still does sound like an open back headphone and using a more open grill mesh also helps this aspect a bit. It is about as airy as the 400i to my ears, perhaps a hair more.
 
7/10 
 
Timbre/Realism/Decay
There is a certain coloration in the way this headphone presents the sounds to the listener. Meaning it does not quite give the most natural and realistic timbre, but manages to still sound very nice nonetheless. The timbre is not much off and it only cuts some of the air, making the HE-560’s timbre more realistic. Without side-by-side comparisons, the timbre is fairly fine and close to the 400i, but I might prefer the way the 400S handles things because it is smoother and more natural to my ears. So a slightly colored, yet present and pleasant timbre.
 
8/10
 
Overall Cohesiveness/Balance
The 400S is a very balanced headphone to my ears, if not the most even sounding I have heard. It lacks a bit at both extremes, but it doesn’t do much wrong beside that. I’ve been listening to the 400S while writing this review, for about 4 hours straight today and I feel no fatigue or ringing in my ears. The 560 does sound more airy but with the lower treble peak, it can get a bit fatiguing over time. Listening to the 400S, I am really starting to appreciate all the things it doesn’t do wrong. It will not rattle your skull, it will not make you melt listening to that female vocal or instrument piece but it will let you just enjoy the music, for as long as you’d like. And that is something quite special on its own.
 
9/10
 
Subjective value for money
The 400S costs 299$. Yet, it does many of the things its more expensive brothers do. It may not be technically better at any one thing when taken separately, but when taken as a whole, it performs admirably, given the price. It is not a HE-560 killer. I still think that headphone is better at most things, but it is not too far off, for much less. The HE-400i sits in the middle with a similar signature to my ears. I would personally pick the ‘S’ over the ‘I’ for the price as I do not think the 400i is that much better. The 560 is still the best of the bunch, but the 400S is going in a different direction – a capable and well-built planar headphone for the masses, packing a lot of sound for the asking price. I consider it the K7XX of planars. Right now, it is the first of its kind of orthodynamics, priced at the sweet spot of diminishing returns, and the competition will certainly have to try hard to beat it at that price…
 
10/10 [at 299$]
 
 
More Pictures
 
HE-400S


 

 

 

 

 

 


Thank you for reading! -_^

Dunu TITAN 1 Review

Disclaimer: The following review is my subjective assessment of this earphone, which was kindly provided to me by Vivian of Dunu as a review sample. I am in no way affiliated with Dunu and I receive no monetary income for my reviews. The sound, build and comfort descriptions come from my subjective impressions of said product. I thank Dunu for this opportunity. I hope you enjoy the read ^_^

Introduction
- I received the Titan 1 in mid-April. My initial thoughts were that the Titan 1 is quite an aggressive and detailed earphone, surpassing my current favorite, the RE-400, in some ways. That said, it has a very different signature, so it would not be fair to compare them directly. While the two complement each other nicely, the Dunu can work quite well on its own and I imagine it could potentially become a favorite for many, as a well-priced travel companion.

Specifications:
Dunu Titan 1

Type: 13mm titanium dynamic driver, in-ear monitor
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 30KHz
Impedance: 16Ω
Efficiency: 90dB/mW [+-2dB]
Weight: 19g [with cable]
MSRP: ~129$

Equipment:
Media: HiFiMAN HM-601LE Digital Audio Player
Source: HiFiMAN HM-601LE DAP
DAC: HM-601LE integrated [TDA1543 chip]
Amplifier: HM-601LE integrated [OPA2104]
Headphones: Dunu Titan 1 via a 1/8 plug to the HM-601LE
Files: FLAC, 128-320kbps MP3, 256kbps AAC
Cables: N/A [Stock earphone cable]

Packaging/Accessories
- The Titan 1 comes in an exquisite packaging. The box itself is made from all-black and sturdy plastic, giving it a rugged and reinforced feel. It has a picture of the earphone in front and the specifications & contents list on the back. A flap on the right side is used to open up the box, revealing more information about the earphone on the left and a display-esque window on the right, showcasing the earphone and revealing some information about Max Barsky, bringing into sight a second flap. Pulling it finally showcases the beautiful earphones themselves, as well as additional ear tips and a very nice carrying case. This high quality case houses more tips and a ¼ adaptor plug. Finally, underneath the plastic mold that held the earphone and case, are the service and warranty cards. This is one of the most intuitive and classy packaging I’ve ever had the pleasure to unbox. There is no excessive bling, but the whole thing feels very luxurious and effective, containing all the essentials from the carry case to a plethora of plugs in a well thought out package. The quality it radiates is amazing and would no doubt satisfy many, regardless of price. Other headphone manufacturers should definitely take note of just how much packaging potential can be squeezed into a consciously priced product.
10/10















Build Quality & Design
- The Titan is exceptionally well built, while also being visually stunning. The housings are all metal with a nice heft to them. They are clearly marked with a blue circle for left and a red circle for right. Both shells and the cable have chunky strain reliefs to maximize durability. The cable itself feels very nice and does not tangle. It also has a patented coiling mechanism, which ensures the cable, when coiled, is always securely held in place and does not unwind. The splitter is metal as well and the adjustable piece stays securely wherever it is moved. The ¹/₈ headphone jack is angled and feels as great as the rest. Overall, I have had no quibbles with the build quality so far and there is little doubt that this exceptionally crafted earphone is built to last, while looking luxurious and feeling as solid as anything, no matter what price range.
10/10











Comfort/Fit/Isolation
- Due to the chunkiness and sheer size of the shells, they are not the most comfortable earphones and some adjusting had to be made to get them to sit well in my ears. That said, after some fidgeting I managed to get a comfortable and secure fit, in no small part thanks to the large and generous selection of included tips, varying from small to medium and large. I’ve settled on the stock smaller tips. The isolation on these is average due to their semi-open design. As you can see above, the Titan has some vents and while their sound leakage is minimal, they allow some external noises to leak in. I’ve used them for public transportation regularly and while I did not find it too bothersome, the closed RE-400, for example, offers superior isolation and comfort.
7.5/10





Bass
- This earphone has a very deep and punchy bass, with good tightness. This is probably the best bass response of all earphones that I had the pleasure to hear. The sub-bass is potent down to 30Hz, extending linearly to the mid and upper bass frequencies. The overall bass response is slightly elevated from what I consider neutral but it is not bass-heavy and there is no leakage to the midrange. Thanks to its even bass presence every bass instrument, as well as synthetic bass feels grand, sounds good and is just very enjoyable to listen to in general. The best thing is certainly the fact that despite this presence and nice impact, it really still remains pleasantly tight, without any mud or boom to mar the clarity. This is hands down my favorite mix of extension, impact and tightness and for accomplishing that the Titan gets full points in the bass department.
10/10

Midrange
- The midrange is smooth, slightly recessed even, but only compared to the potent bass and forward treble. The details still come through very well, even surprisingly so, considering the slight U-tilt of the Titan. It is mostly due to the linearity that the Titan displays all the way to 2KHz, which gives everything in that range a nice, smooth and rounded sound, without any abrasive peaks or subtracting dips. The first emphasis, albeit slight, is from 2 to 4KHz, which gives instruments and vocals in the upper midrange quite nice energy and rawness with especially guitar riffs sounding amazing. It might cause a slight abrasiveness or steeliness at times, however, and as such is not always welcome. Overall, the instruments come in surprisingly clear throughout, with those in the emphasized range having an extra sheen of energy and clarity.
8/10

Treble
- In the treble, things get a bit rocky as additional peaks and dips are introduced. There are peaks in the 5, 7 and 8KHz regions as well as a mild dip in the 6 – 7KHz area. At 8 KHz the treble starts to roll-off slowly, rolling off completely at around 15KHz. The series of peaks introduces a few negative elements, first being the way cymbals are presented. The cymbals have an unnatural tizziness to them, resulting in their steely presentation, which sounds more like a ‘tssss’ than a cymbal crash, followed by a decay that sounds artificial as the ‘tssss’ slowly disappears. Another being increased tendency to sound harsh with sibilants, where any emphasis on that particular range makes them sound harsh and unpleasant. The mild dip is not a problem on its own, though it might highlight some of the issues caused by the peaks. The treble has very good presence overall, with good extension and a fair amount of air, partially owing to the semi-open design as well. The treble is not bad, but it is certainly a bit rough and peaky and I would prefer a smoother, less aggressive and more rounded presentation. External noises also tend to drown out the lower frequencies somewhat, which does not do this issue any favors. I would say the peaks give the treble slightly too much presence overall, but the issue is mostly isolated to vocals and cymbals and dependent on mastering as well.
6/10

Vocals
A] Male
- Male vocals have good presence and heft, with decent clarity throughout. They never sound recessed or veiled, and voices have quite good air. The only complaint is with the sibilance, where ‘s’ and ‘t’ can sound too prominent and harsh. It is not always an issue but when the mastering is brighter, you will hear it. From my experience, female vocals tend to be more problematic with regards to sibilance.
8/10

B] Female
- Female vocals sound delicate with nice presence and come through very clearly. Again, there is no recession or veils and the sound is quite airy too. Once again, the only problem is sibilance with less than stellar mastering. I have quite a collection of female vocal music and most of it is listenable through the Titan. These are not always as enjoyable as I’d like, however, resulting in general harshness.
7/10

Sibilance
- Sibilance can be an issue with the Titans. I would say they are below average at coping with sibilance. They will not absolutely murder your ears but they won’t smooth it either. This should be attributable to the treble and presence peaks that are located in the upper midrange and lower and mid treble.
4/10

Soundstage
- The soundstage is excellent on these and is hands down one of the strong points of the Titan. Instruments sound very spacious and spread nicely across a large virtual space, evenly from left to center to right. Especially instrumental pieces can sound stunning, where the instruments appear and disappear in a vast plane. This is clearly a significant step up from my RE-400 IEMs where the soundstage is quite decent, but nowhere near this spacious. It is in part due to the enhanced treble, which improves soundstaging properties. This is certainly a very impressive display for any IEM, though the soundstage will always be a bit different and more diffuse sounding than that of a full-size headphone. Note that this is not necessarily a drawback and I, for instance, find this effect quite enjoyable. Certainly not bothersome in the slightest and the Dunu shines here.
10/10

Imaging
- Imaging capabilities are likewise great, with instruments being fairly easy to pick up. The peaks and dips in the frequency response do make certain instruments a bit more prominent in the mix and easier to pick up, while others are a bit more laid-back and slightly more difficult to pin down accurately. It is not a significant issue though and I think the Titan images exceptionally well, where all the instruments and voices pop up in their little locked spaces, without ever missing any important details. The slight variance in presence is not of much significance here as it has minimal influence on imaging prowess.
8.5/10

Instrument separation
- Instrument separation is likewise excellent, superseding the imaging capabilities. Airy instruments are well separated and locked in the stage, popping and disappearing as the track progresses. Congestion or instrument overlapping is never a problem with the large soundstage and stellar imaging, with no weird abnormalities in placement to be found. No part of the stage ever feels empty either, with even coverage, good presence and decent amounts of air whirling through the virtual scape. There is no denying the Titan packs a big sound, but it never falls short in the technicality department either.
9/10

Detail/Resolution/Finesse
- The Titan 1 always reveals all the important nuances and micro details that are present in the recording. In fact, doe to the aggressive treble they sometimes reveal too much. At times, I find such treble presentations to detract from detail perception, but the Titan rarely ever reached those levels in my setup. It offers detail and resolution in spades, with finesse falling slightly behind at times due to the occasional abrasiveness in the midrange andtreble but overall this earphone is very capable in all these areas.
9/10

Air
- The Titan is quite capable in terms of air reproduction, though I believe a more balanced treble would allow it to shine through even more. Still, there is never any lack of air. The instruments never feel congested, veiled or smoothed over. The semi-open design makes sure there is always enough breath. Overall, though air comes through nicely, I feel there is even more potential here and that some amount is indeed masked by the aggressiveness of the treble.
8/10

Timbre, Realism & Decay
- As touched upon, the cymbals are the most problematic and do sound off most of the time, at least to my ears. Other instruments like violins and guitars can also have a steely edge to them, but to a much more tolerable degree. The instruments do not sound as natural and real as I would like, sounding a bit forced and tinny instead. They do always have enough energy, which is advantageous, but I would trade a bit of that extra energy for a more realistic tone and decay. Not the worst offender, but not top of the class either. Fairly enjoyable presentation, if not completely accurate and lifelike.
6/10

Overall Cohesiveness/Balance
- The TITAN 1 is a slightly U shaped and colored earphone. There is very good presence and heft to the bass, with the midrange being smooth, while retaining the necessary amount of presence to avoid sounding recessed. The treble has some peaks and dips, which puts it on the aggressive and forward side, with an energetic and engaging presentation. With excellent soundstage dimensions, imaging capabilities and instrument placement, there is no doubt the drivers are capable of producing good music, though the tuning and the treble integration leaves some room for improvement. It does shine with many genres, especially instrumental music, but I would not classify it as a true all-rounder due to its energetic and aggressive signature. As is, it is not the most cohesive and balanced headphone, but it does surprisingly well when all the ingredients are mixed together to result in a spicy and generally tasty dish.
7.5/10

Subjective value for money/Conclusion
The aggressive and exciting signature is not for everyone, as some might prefer a smoother and overall mellower experience for travelling. Furthermore, there is stiff competition around the $100 range and below, spanning many good earphones. However, where the Dunu clearly pulls ahead is attention to detail and build quality, which are both exquisite for the price. The sound is also very good, especially bass response, soundstage and instrument separation, but it is not as uniformly excellent as the rest and preferences will undoubtedly play a part. If you prefer an energetic, slightly U-shaped but fairly balanced sound that is high on technicalities, wrapped in a visually stunning and well-built package, then the Dunu is the earphone for you. If you prefer mellow and smooth sounding earphones instead, then the Titan might not be the best bet. Disregarding preferences and taken for what it is, the Dunu TITAN 1 is a great earphone for the price, retailing for around 130$ and mostly sounding and certainly looking the part.
Overall Value 8/10

More Pictures
Titan 1

HiFiMAN RE-300h Review with RE-400 comparisons and comments
 
Disclaimer: The following review is my subjective assessment of the headphone. I am in no way affiliated with HiFiMAN nor am I getting paid for this. The sound/build/comfort descriptions come from my subjective assessment of this product. If you have any other questions or if you want to point something out, please do let me know. Hope you enjoy the read ^_^
 
Introduction
- I received the HE-300h in early December. Initially, I did not find the headphone to my liking in some ways as it is a clear deviation from my preferred signature – the RE-400 is my current reference earphone and the two sound quite different, but over time, I’ve assessed it more carefully and started to like it for what it was. Listening to different songs of various genres, I dug deeper into this signature so I could write this review as objectively as possible. Granted, there’s always a bit of one’s subjective touch in his work. Without further ado, here it is.
 
Specifications:
 
HiFiMAN RE-300h
 

 
Type: 8.5mm dynamic driver, in-ear monitor
Frequency Response: 15Hz - 22KHz
Impedance: 16Ω +/- 3.2Ω
Efficiency: 108dB/mW
Weight: 14g [with cable]
MSRP: 49$ 
Equipment:
 
Media: HiFiMAN HM-601LE Digital Audio Player / JRiver Media player 20, using ASIO/WASAPI direct connection output to a PCM1794 based DAC.
Source: HiFiMAN HM-601LE / USB output of a desktop-PC, through the Schiit Wyrd.
DAC: HM-601LE [TDA1543 chip] / Creative SB X7 [PCM1794 chip]
Amplifier: HM-601LE [OPA2104] / Audio-gd SA-31SE [discreet, no op-amps] via single-ended RCA input
Headphones: HiFiMAN RE300h via a 1/8 plug [HM-601LE] / 1/4 TRS adapter [SA31SE]
Files: FLAC, 128-320kbps MP3, 256kbps AAC,
Cables: stock power cables, decent RCA/USB/TOSLINK/Interconnect cables
 
Packaging/Accessories
- The -300h comes in a nice white showcase-style package. The plastic packaging has a plastic, transparent mold that holds the headphone in place, serves as a showcase window and should also protect it from damage during transit. Inside the package are the earphones, the owner’s manual, the warranty card, a pair of large tips, some filters to swap if needed and a clip. I feel that the packaging itself is rather simple and clear, which is quite nice. You might use it as a storage for the earphones if needed, since there is no carrying pouch or hard-case or anything else to store them in or protect them when not in use. Things are fairly easy to take out and you won’t tear the packaging apart in the process. The accessories are few, but for the price it’ll do. I think it is superior to the prettier ‘case’ the more expensive RE-400 comes in because that thing simply falls apart. The only thing I miss here is the said pouch and perhaps more tips, but given the price, it is understandable. Still, it is a solid and functional package, without any additional bling added to it to inflate the price.
 
9/10
 

 

 

 

 
Build Quality/Design
- I think this is the best in-ear HiFiMAN has produced yet! As far as build quality goes, there’s little to criticize – the molded shells are plastic but are very well put together, the cable is improved from the RE-400 and is similar to the RE-600, which is a noticeable improvement in this case, as it doesn’t only mean much better structural integrity throughout, but also a much lesser tendency to tangle. This headphone is easily better built than any other HiFiMAN’s monitor – much better than the RE-400 and on par or better than the RE-600. If this is the new trend that HiFiMAN will follow from now on, then that’s certainly good news to anyone who’s ever had any problems with their previous products. In the limited time that I’ve owned the RE-300h, I’ve certainly put it through its paces and there hasn’t been a single problem yet.
As far as looks, I find the RE-400’s aluminum shells to be the prettier of the two but that’s a personal thing. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Structurally, the RE-400 is clearly inferior.
 
10/10
 

 

 
Comfort/Fit
- Let me start by saying that I’ve always had fit issues with in-ear earphones. This is because my right ear’s outer portion is different than my left ear. The RE-400 and RE-600 with the while tips were the first earphones where I managed to achieve a perfect or nearly perfect fit on both sides. With the RE-300h, it is not as great but still very good.
Bear in mind that this issue is exclusive to me and I think with the way these earphones are molded, 90 – 95% of people shouldn’t find any trouble with the fitment. The shell molding is well thought out and definitely will fit most ears. It does fit mine too, but my right ear’s seal is not perfect because it’s a weird ear. In conclusion, there should be no issues with the fit and even if there is, rolling different tips is something that is always helpful and potentially instrumental in achieving a better fit.
 
8.5/10
 

 
Bass
- This earphone has a very nice and potent bass, with good impact and weight. It starts to roll off slowly at 60Hz but easily extends down to 30 -35Hz before it drops completely. These are certainly not bass light but neither are they bass heavy, though I’d say these have a bit more bass than what I consider neutral, which is not necessarily a bad thing of course. They have noticeably more bass than the RE-400, granted it is not as tight, but there’s more quantity at a slight expense of quality. Still, it does not bleed into the midrange, making it suitable in this regard for most genres. Bass is one category that depends a lot on good seal and fit. When either is less than ideal, then the bass presence will be less or lost. I think I achieved a good enough seal to say that overall, the bass is very well extended, reasonably clear, nicely defined and certainly present and I was definitely not left wanting for more, making the overall bass response quite satisfying. Still, if you are a bass-head and need gobs of bass regardless of track or genre, you might want to look elsewhere.  
 
9/10
 
Midrange
- The midrange is forward and very present on this earphone. There is slightly more presence than with the RE-400, but those are already quite midrange oriented to begin with. As someone who likes neutral-forward mids and hates recessed ones, I find this quite pleasant and euphonic even. Lots of people say that ‘midrange is where the magic happens’ and I’d agree to a point – one needs a well-integrated bass and treble as well. The midrange has good clarity, but the RE-400 is better in this aspect. Still, you’ll be able to hear every instrument nice and clear, if not with the finesse its more expensive siblings provide. At times, I thought the mids were just a bit too shouty and forward with some tracks, but that was more because of the track’s mastering, rather than the headphone itself.  For the price again, there’s little to fault here – a well-presented midrange, with forwardness that, coupled with the punchy bass, makes for a very dynamic and exciting listen. Particularly this is because of the nice bass-midrange integrity and their integration. Still, there’s a coloration to the sound and this is a colored headphone. Mostly in the treble presentation.
 
9/10
 
Treble
- In the treble, the integrity starts to fall apart a bit. This is mainly because of a large 10 – 12 KHz dip, which is followed by another 15 – 16 KHz one. This mostly does not affect primary harmonics directly, save for a few selected ones, like certain cymbal crashes or some ruffling electric guitars. It does, however, affect almost all secondary harmonics, that is vocal’s/instrument’s decay, air and timbre, to a point. That means that the core tone is still there – vocals, guitars, violins, … - the problem is that instead of a particular instrument/voice naturally decaying away as it’s been struck/sung, it is cut off right after it’s been presented. So a voice is not carried through the air, the string does not vibrate through the air, the cymbal crash is not carried through the air. No instrument or voice is, because the large dips take this away. Instead they simply vanish in place, with a very short and unnatural decay. In return, however, this makes for a very smooth and fatigue-free treble, but nonetheless for a treble that is a bit uneven in its energy, making also some instruments or vocals sound more distant than others, depending on the frequency at which they are recorded. The extension, correlating with air presence to a point, is also poor as a result. It is a far cry from the RE-400’s light and airy presentation – one that I personally find more accurate. I am not saying the treble is destroyed because of it – not at all. It is simply important to point out that if you like a presentation that is airy and extended, this is not the right earphone for you. However, if you want a headphone that has a very smooth, non-fatiguing treble, accompanied by a very competent and sweet midrange and potent bass, conveying an all dynamic sound, then this might be the earphone for you! It is certainly the preferred signature for traveling, as opposed to a bright and harsh one. I can’t stand a harsh sounding IEM on the go, can you? Dark ones, such as this, still are the preferred and better choice in my opinion.
 
6/10
 
Vocals
 
a]Male
- Male vocals have good presence overall, with strong body and weight, but not overly so – they don’t sound bloated or overly heavy. I’d say male vocalists sound a bit more present than on the RE-400, but they aren’t conveyed with the same detail and finesse. The extension is again not too great because of the lack of air but compensating for that, the presence is more than adequate and there’s nothing inherently missing in that aspect, especially for the money.
 
8/10
 
b]Female
- The female vocals have decent presence, but this time I feel the RE-400 has more of it. To a point, this is affected by the frequency they occupy – if a female vocalist’s voice is conveyed in one of the dipped points of the RE-300h’s frequency response, then her presence will be greatly reduced. Regardless of where a vocalist is, the extension and ‘power’ of her voice is still not going to be great as the air needed to convey it is simply not there. For the price, the female vocals are good but not great, as while the presence is not an issue most of the time, they don’t extend too far, which I find fundamental for proper female vocal reproduction. If you really like female vocals more than anything, the RE-400 does them better.
 
6/10   
 
Sibilance
- Sibilance is not an issue with these. There’s minimal sibilance even with the brightest of tracks. Granted, the RE-400 fares just as well in most cases and, at the same time, can convey more air and information. But looking strictly at the sibilant aspects, both earphones pass with flying colors and certainly don’t disappoint here. As someone who is very, very sensitive to sibilance, I approve of this.
 
10/10
  
Soundstage
- These have a decently sized soundstage, though in comparison to the RE-400 it is a bit smaller and the instruments sound a bit less distinctive and slightly congested. The difference is pretty small though and I took no issues with the RE-300h’s soundstage per se. Instruments had a very decent and rather precise left and right spacing, while the vocals mostly stayed in the middle. Most IEMs lack the depth of full-size headphones so that is not something to criticize, but the panning from left to right of various instruments and vocals was very good. I imagine a bit more air would help with the staging, but such is not the tuning of these earbuds.
 
8/10
     
Imaging
- The imaging is likewise mostly stellar, but again a slight step down from the RE-400. Instruments and vocals are locked into their position and there’s no center-stage issue that I could detect. For the price, there’s little to criticize, though I think a bit more air would again help and as a result the RE-400 does image with better precision. If you just want to immerse yourself in the music for cheap, then the -300h is certainly the right place to start for sure.  
 
8/10
 
Instrument separation
- I talked a bit about this in the ‘soundstage’ and ‘imaging’ sections and basically the same applies here. The -300h, as a consequence of having more impact and weight to its sound overall and having a shelved treble region, has a bit worse separation than the -400. You’ll be able to separate things just fine though, but not to the same degree of accuracy of the RE-400. But what you lose in accuracy, you do gain in enjoyment and this indeed rings true here. Not that the RE-400 isn’t enjoyable, of course.
 
8/10
 
Detail/Resolution/Finesse
- There’s enough of it to keep you interested in your music. This earphone certainly doesn’t sound like a muddied mess - on the contrary, even though the treble is shelved, which often makes matters worse - it is still very decent in those aspects. Decent as in ‘most $50 dollar earphones with similar signature won’t give me that’ and ‘maybe the RE-400 is better because it costs a bit more and has a different tuning’. You can just buy the 300h and reap the benefits of spending a bit less, hearing a bit less but enjoying a bit more, if this is your cup of tea. Or don’t. I should say the two have a very different tuning, if that hasn’t been obvious until now. One targets detail and finesse, the other has musicality and dynamics. One is also better built.
 
7/10
    
Air
- There’s not much going on in terms of air here… The RE-400 has it, the RE-300h doesn’t, or just a tiny little bit. It reminds me of my previous HE-560/HE-400i and RE-400/RE-600 comparisons, where I criticized the RE-600/HE-400i for a relative lack of air and openness. Well, they still have more of both than the RE-300h. That’s because of the severe dips in the treble, obviously. I guess you can’t have both a completely fatigue-free headphone and lots of air, because air requires lots of treble energy, which will almost always bring at least a hint of fatigue. Though the RE-400 and HE-560 do come to mind as examples of just that done right. But they’re more expensive. They also again target different tonalities and tunings. For what this earphone is, I don’t blame its lack of air – it is tuned that way - but it is a fact and it is something that should be noted. If you are an air lover, this earphone is not meant for you. But you probably already know that! Or you do now. Nevertheless, there’s more that makes a headphone than just air.
 
2/10
 
Timbre/Realism/Decay
- Very much connected with the lack of air, I found the decay to be simply off. To me, decay is a combination of timbre and the subsequent air, which contributes to the realism. So basically timbre + air = decay => realism. So in this case, the RE-300h has a good timbre but lacks air, so the decay is off and so is the realism and overall transient response. What this means that the instruments might sound good, but they’re colored and thereby don’t sound very realistic. The -300h has a pleasing tonality to it but simply sounds ‘canned’ compared to my other headphones. Is it more engaging or better that way? Yes and no. Depends. You decide. The rating does not tell the whole story and it is what it is.
 
4/10
 
Overall Cohesiveness/Balance
- The RE-300h’s signature makes it a dark sounding headphone – the bass is very active and punchy, the midrange is forward and dynamic and the treble is… shelved and veiled. It makes for a very forgiving and dynamic headphone, with good musicality, presence and PRaT throughout lows and mids. The treble is undeniably its weakest link, especially compared to the RE-400, which clearly outclasses it there. The RE-400 is not dark, it is slightly on the warm side, but it is extended and isn’t dark. These two headphones target two very different audiences and have two very different sound signatures, midrange being the one aspect where these headphones are relatively similar. As for balance, the RE-300h is balanced about 2/3 through and some, so 7 is about right.
 
7/10
 
Subjective value for money/Conclusion
- Judging a headphone is hard. While it might be obvious that I’d reach for the RE-400 in a heartbeat, any day of the week, a friend of mine might do the exact opposite. Headphone signature is an acquired taste then and a personal preference that might change over time. 3 years ago, I would reach for the RE-300h myself, because that was my sound preference then, but since I joined head-fi, my sonic priorities have changed significantly and they will probably change again over time.
The RE-300h is a well-built earphone, versatile in all aspects, with great fit and ergonomic properties and a sound quality that is a rare find in its price category, regardless of tuning or signature. At 49$ it is a great value – a headphone that will probably last for years with an enjoyable tonality to boot, that one can savor at any time.
The RE-400 at 79$ is more pricey, yet possibly close enough to directly compete, but should it? It is nowhere near as rigid and requires care if it is to last for some time. As far as sound quality goes, this earphone is a perfect match for me. It has all the things I like – tight bass, air, finesse, mostly smooth and extended treble and it pretty much nails every aspect for me. Despite this, all the build quality issues I and others have had with it are real. But I still don’t regret buying it for the sound quality alone and how well it fits my taste.  But that’s my taste and the build quality can be a substantial sacrifice for many. You might like things the other way around, prefer different things or have different priorities.
To be honest, I am not sure these two should compete the same way I made them to, but they are not priced too far apart – within ~30$ off each other with the current RE-400 price - and I decided to compare the two a bit as such. Simply put, both sound great and have their strengths and weaknesses. Your taste should ultimately determine which one you choose. You honestly can’t go wrong with either one. Or the RE-600, which lies somewhere in between, if that’s more to your taste. Yep, I reviewed that too! There’s also the upcoming and mysterious RE-1000…
In conclusion, the RE-300h is a solid product that’s certainly worth a good shot if you like similarly tuned headphones, or simply want to try something different for cheap. Or just, you know, are curios. Thank you for reading.
 
Overall Value 8/10 [at 49$]
 
More Pictures
 
RE-300h 
 

 

 
  


 

Fiio X1
 

 
HiFiMAN's RE-400 makes a great pairing!
 

 
The X1 is an amazing little unit. In fact, that is an understatement. It's been a very long time since last time I was this overwhelmingly impressed by a $100 unit. The UI is excellent. Very intuitive, rather snappy and easy to navigate. Honestly, I was not expecting an in-house developed UI to be this good, but it every bit is, and it also reads all the formats that I've tried without any hiccups, including associated CUE files. The DAC is absolutely stellar, using an impressive Texas-Instruments PCM5142 DAC chip. The amp section is also pretty good, utilizing an Intersil ISL28291 amplifier buffer. The 2.4" TFT display is plenty big and easy to read, providing all the necessary information even in direct sunlight. It is slightly washed but still plenty good for the price. Among other things the player offers a 7-band equalizer [from -6 to +6 each], gapless playback, sleep timer, usable buttons when screen's off or volume limiting. There's no date and time yet though, which I find a bit strange though not all that important.
The build quality is perhaps the most spectacular aspect - holding the unit in your hand boasts confidence and there's good heft to the unit. The X1 features a fully-aluminium body with very tactile buttons and quality that's hard to find on products costing much more. The Fiio also comes with a screen protector and a rubber protective case, along with a charging cable. The battery life is around 12 hours a run, for a 4 hour's full charge.
There's also the line-out function using the headphone jack, which offers the possibility to use just the player's DAC with a more beefy portable amp. Although I already found the X1's amplifier to perform favorably with reasonable headphones from IEMs to full-sized cans.
I am really struggling to find anything to criticize here... Did I mention it was a hundred bucks?! In a long time, I am left with only fuzzy and completely positive feelings, while using the unit feels just as enjoyable. I really don't understand how Fiio did this, but currently I consider the Fiio X1 a jack-of-all-trades and wouldn't hesitate recommending it to anyone looking for a lovely little DAP and as someone coming from the pretty good, very-happy-with and tried-and-proved Sansa Clip+, I think this is some very high praise.
There's more competition on the way, however 

 
Pros
+ build quality
+ performance
+ User Interface
+ price, price, price!
+ line-out function
 
Cons
- no time & date, slightly washed-out display
 
Overall 9.5/10

HiFiMAN RE-400 Waterline - Ultimate Review w/ pictures
 
1)Equipment and cabling
 
a)Headphones
 
HiFiMAN RE-400 Waterline
 
Type: Closed, tiny, in-ear, dynamic driver monitor
Frequency response: 15 - 22.000 Hz
Impedance: 32 Ω (may vary by up to 10%)
Efficiency: 102 dB
Weight: 16 g (with cable)
 

 
This was my first in-ear-monitor purchase. Also the very first IEM made by HiFiMAN. Their cheapest headphone yet, priced at 100 USD. How will these compare? They share the general HiFiMAN house sound and neutrality and offer good build quality as well. There is a dedicated RE-400 review below where all will be discussed and compared.
 
b)Amplifiers, Digital to Analog Converters, Preamplifiers and more
 
Fiio X1
 

 
The X1 is an amazing little unit. In fact, that is an understatement. It's been a very long time since last time I was this overwhelmingly impressed by a $100 unit. The UI is excellent. Very intuitive, rather snappy and easy to navigate. Honestly, I was not expecting an in-house developed UI to be this good, but it every bit is, and it also reads all the formats that I've tried without any hiccups, including associated CUE files. The DAC is absolutely stellar, using an impressive Texas-Instruments PCM5142 DAC chip. The amp section is also pretty good, utilizing an Intersil ISL28291 amplifier buffer. The 2.4" TFT display is plenty big and easy to read, providing all the necessary information even in direct sunlight. It is slightly washed but still plenty good for the price. Among other things the player offers a 7-band equalizer [from -6 to +6 each], gapless playback, sleep timer, usable buttons when screen's off or volume limiting. There's no date and time yet though, which I find a bit strange though not all that important.
The build quality is perhaps the most spectacular aspect - holding the unit in your hand boasts confidence and there's good heft to the unit. The X1 features a fully-aluminium body with very tactile buttons and quality that's hard to find on products costing much more. The Fiio also comes with a screen protector and a rubber protective case, along with a charging cable. The battery life is around 12 hours a run, for a 4 hour's full charge.
There's also the line-out function using the headphone jack, which offers the possibility to use just the player's DAC with a more beefy portable amp. Although I already found the X1's amplifier to perform favorably with reasonable headphones from IEMs to full-sized cans.
I am really struggling to find anything to criticize here... Did I mention it was a hundred bucks?! In a long time, I am left with only fuzzy and completely positive feelings, while using the unit feels just as enjoyable. I really don't understand how Fiio did this, but currently I consider the Fiio X1 a jack-of-all-trades and wouldn't hesitate recommending it to anyone looking for a lovely little DAP and as someone coming from the pretty good, very-happy-with and tried-and-proved Sansa Clip+, I think this is some very high praise.
There's more competition on the way, however 
 
Pros
+ build quality
+ performance
+ User Interface
+ price, price, price!
+ line-out function
 
Cons
- no time & date, slightly washed-out display
 
Overall 9.5/10
 
Fiio E11
 

 
A very versatile little amp.
Slightly warmer tonality with smooth highs. Decent instrument separation and soundstage. Ideal for most portable headphones. Fits your pocket nicely. The stock battery lasts about 8 hours.
Packs lots of power. For 60 bucks it is hard to beat. Fully aluminium casing (like all amps here). Has a bass boost switch as well as a low/high gain one. Fiio is getting very popular among audiophiles these days because it offers good quality throughout for the price. The E11 is no exception
 
Pros
+ Small
+ Decent battery life
+ Price
+ Works with most headphones
 
Cons
- Cannot charge while playing
 
Overall 9/10
 
[A/N - The amplifier was not tested with this IEM and this was only meant as an informative review. An amplifier is not needed for these if you already own a decent DAP]
 
c)Cables
 
The RE-400 cable (not removable)
 

 
2)Unboxing and accessories
 
 
The RE-400 comes in a rectangular shaped glass-like box. The inside of the box is cut for the individual pieces found inside, that is the headphone, 6 different tips (one comes pre-installed) a clip and that’s about it. The box itself is made from two pieces and these like to fall apart a lot. It doesn’t really hold together well and it really contains only the most basic things. Although they come cheap, a better box would be nice.
 
Update: Now comes with a nice hard-shell carrying case, more ear-tips and even two pairs of foam tips [all reflected in comfort/fit]. Packaging rating improved.
 
Package overall 8.5/10
 

 

 
3)Design, build quality and comfort
 
a)Design/Build quality
 
I am glad I can say that the build quality of the RE-400 is the best yet of all the HiFiMAN headphones. The headphones look finished and sturdy and could definitely take some abuse. The only issue I had was with the jack of the cable, which snapped, but this was mainly my fault and was briskly replaced with a different jack by my local dealer.
The cable is a bit kinky and likes to get stuck on clothing but is in turn rubberized and of nice quality.
I am definitely happy with the overall feel of these headphones, from top to bottom they feel like a well-made product.
The shells are made of aluminium and feel great in the hand. The cable, on the other hand, ...
 
Update: The [cable's] build quality unfortunately did not hold up to initial expectations. The shells are not to blame, they are made from aluminium and feel very sturdy the cable, however, is a different story. I had the jack break once and the internals of the cable [meaning the thin wires that are underneath the sleeves] are probably significantly damaged. I need to stress that I took very good care of the IEM, but the cable has a will of its own and it coils down all the town, which is probably the culprit of it. Still it is a thing worth mentioning and a nominal design flaw. I'll bump the build quality down by 3. 
 
Update 2: Since my inititial issue many months back, these headphones have been holding rather well, though the cable is still microphonic and tangly... I will boost the build quality up for now, assuming the teething problems have been fixed by now.
 
Build overall 8.5/10 (Build quality 8/10 Design 9/10)
 

 

 

 
b)Comfort
 
Only one of the 4 stock tips fit me. They came preinstalled on the monitors. Changing the tips is not that hard but since I don’t have any other tips available right now, the stocks will have to do. They isolate quite well. Medium insertion seems best for sound quality and comfort, isolation. They fit in nicely so I can wear them for hours, adjusting here and there. I was worried about the fit a little, but everything seems ok. Decent comfort and fit.
 
Update: It now comes with more tips, including a two pairs of foam ones.
With them, the white middle-sized tips [pictures further down] currently offer the best comfort/fit ratio. I want to stress out that fit is really important for the overall balance and bass presence. Luckily, there're many tips included now, so finding the ones that fit shouldn't be a problem anymore.
 
Comfort/Fit overall 9/10
 
White Tips
 

 

 
Stock tips
 

 

 
4)First and further impressions
 
There wasn’t much burn-in with this IEM so to speak. Back then I still used my trusty Samsung Wave I (S8500). For now, there is no external amplifier to speak of. I am considering one for the future, as I will probably need one for the RE-600, which I’ll be buying (and subsequently reviewing) most likely. Initially, I was really surprised by how good the sound was. The vocals were butter smooth, midrange was full and lush, bass was nicely detailed, slightly lacking in depth and punch, but very nice. Highs were very smooth but still didn’t lack excitement. Soundstage width was great, extending even out of my head slightly. Instrument separation was still top notch like with all other HiFiMAN. I didn’t perceive any burn-in with these, really, other than changing my phone for a Galaxy Ace II.
They certainly didn’t disappoint.
 
First impressions overall 9/10
 
5)Sound
 
Update: I am now using a Sansa Clip+ and the RE-400 are great with it!
Update 2: I've now purchased the Fiio X1 and the RE-400 is simply stupendously great with it. I will change the review scores and corresponding sections slightly to reflect this marked perceived improvement. I am also using a different set of ear-tips, which come with them now [see pictures] and those give me nearly perfect seal. This, coupled with the X1
makes the RE-400 a seriously amazing pair of IEMs for the asking price.
 

 
a)Low-end/bass
 
Pros
+ Tight
+ Lots of detail
+ Non-intrusive
 
Cons
- Can be a bit soft at times
 
Overall 8.5/10 – The low-end of this headphone is pretty good, sounding pretty much tight and punchy, very much in line with the bigger HiFiMAN headphones. As such, it also bears the same relative shortcomings - coming off a bit soft in weight and punch at times, with a bit less oomph than I'd like. But the reward is that the bass always remains tight and in line with the other frequencies, never sounding overbearing but not sounding deficient either. The IEM is certainly potent and depending on the recording it can drop some serious bass, punchy and extended, but still controlled, mind you. Now that I've achieved a proper seal, I don't think the bass is lacking or weak anymore. Instead, it is just the traditional HiFiMAN signature bass I learn to really appreciate.
 
b)Midrange
 
Pros
+ Balanced across
+ Natural and sweet
+ Instruments have their space
+ Pretty great detail retrieval
 
Cons
- None
 
Overall 9.5/10 – I don’t personally take any issues with the midrange. In many aspects, it is like a full-sized HiFiMAN lite. It lacks the ultimate spaciousness and air of the full-sizes, but it still offers an absolutely even instrument reproduction across, with a balanced but still dynamic sound. The midrange is slightly forward, just enough to keep its bite but smooth enough to not be fatiguing and providing hours on end of enjoyment. This is the area where this headphone definitely shines. 
 
c)Vocals
 
Pros
+ Nicely extended
+ Sufficient presence
+ Absolutely non-sibilant
+ Clean
 
Cons
- Lacks some air
 
Overall 9/10 – The vocals work rather well for my tastes. They are present at all times, without ever sounding muted or constrained and still very much smooth and sweet. There is not a massive amount air but there is a enough to make this IEM sound more airy than most sealed headphones. They have a fair amount of extension, but not overly so and this contributes well to the smooth signature of the RE-400. These IEMs are not bright by any means, but they aren't dark either. Still, they play nice with everything I've thrown at them, producing a slightly warmer but still fairly neutral sound.
 
d)Highs/treble
 
Pros
+ Natural
+ No added presence
+ Just enough extension
+ No harsh moments
 
Cons
- Lacks the last bit of extension and air
 
Overall 9/10 – The highs work the same way as the vocals and midrange. They are sufficiently extended with some slight roll-off to prevent them from ever sounding harsh with cymbals for instance but there is enough presence there to carry all the necessary information without overdoing it. Electric guitars never sound edgy either. Together with the rest of the frequencies they offer a smooth, balanced and forgiving experience ideal for traveling or relaxing at home or work. They do many things right without doing any obvious wrongs and as such they are hard to put down.
 
e)Soundstage/Instrument separation/Imaging
 
Pros
+ Great width
+ Stellar instrument separation
+ Smooth and even tonality
+ Plays nice with everything
+ Detailed
 
Cons
- Lacks depth and height
 
Overall 9/10 – As I said, the tonality of the RE-400 is very smooth, while offering great detail retrieval and musicality. Due to the tight bass, I wouldn’t recommend them solely for hip-hop or rap, though they still perform reasonably. These offer just a sibilance-free, engaging but relaxing experience. Basically a toned down full-size HiFiMAN in all aspects with some slight roll-off at both ends. The instrument separation is excellent and the soundstage width is likewise great. Center stage is very coherent and does not exhibit any oddities or unevenness and nor does the rest of the stage. The imaging is likewise excellent. 
 
f)Recordings sensitivity
 
Overall 10/10 – These belong among the more forgiving headphones for sure, and they're probably  the most forgiving “audiophile” headphone I have heard so far. I never had to turn the volume down with these because of harshness or sibilance. The interesting thing is that it still extracts a very fair amount of details and it does it really well without any obvious peaks or recesses, which usually isn’t the case with other headphones. HiFiMAN has managed to master the balancing act with these, offering great detail retrieval with a smooth tonality - something that is very hard to achieve.
 
Overall Sound
 
As such the RE-400 belongs among my favorite headphones - with tight and punchy bass, present mids and smooth and extended highs. Coupled with good detail retrieval, good soundstaging and remarkable imaging and separation, these fit right into my favorite sound signature, with very few minor imperfections that are easily forgivable based on the price/performance ratio these little puppies offer.
 
Sound overall 9/10
 
6)Gaming
 
RE-400 – N/A (I wouldn’t consider an IEM for gaming, really. Feel free to give it a try if you want though and report back :})
 
[HE-6 and Pro 900 have been reviewed for gaming, to see the games that I've tested and how those did, check their individual reviews on pages 1 & 6]
 
7)Portability
 
The RE-400 would be my top pick for portable headphones. It doesn’t really need any sort of amplifier to sound top notch. The signature also works really well when you want to focus on other things or just relax. Every song works here so you don’t have to worry too much about quality and specific playlists and as such it could very well be your perfect travelling companion.
 
Portability overall 10/10
 
8)Unique trait
 
Smoothness
 
The tonality of the RE-400 is one of smooth nature and rich detail. This tonality is particularly inviting to me because there are not all that many headphones with such traits. There is a bit less highs and vocals presence and bass than with the HE-6, making it similar enough in tonality but different enough in presentation. If you want a totally smooth pair of in-ear monitors this is the right one to choose. The RE-600 should offer similar tonality as well with more body and less roll-off at either end. W will soon find out 
 

 
9)Songs and genres
 
[see HE-6 Ultimate Review, page 1]
 
10)Value
 
This was my very first serious IEM purchase. I was a bit skeptical about just how good such a tiny driverlike this one can sound. I was quickly reminded that at HiFiMAN they simply know what they are doing and how to produce top notch sounding products. Even in direct comparison with full-size offerings, this little fellow muscles up and certainly holds its own ground. It is not as extended or airy or spacious as its higher brethren but the price is much more feasible and honestly, an IEM just cannot sound that way. Still, for just around 100 USD you get a sneak-peak into the HiIFiMAN house sound. The performance was smooth throughout coupled with a highly enjoyable signature straight off your DAP's jack. I've tried an amplifier to see how much difference it would make, and there was none - the X1 just sounds phenomenal with these. As is, this headphone is simply too good to resist at the price point and everyone who is looking for a very decently priced, neutral-warmish IEM to get, you might as well pick this one up. You certainly won’t regret it.
 
Overall value 9.5/10
 

 
The joint point
 

 
11)Conclusion
 
This is a seriously good IEM, absolutely suitable for portable use. I am not a huge fan of IEM due to their inherent shortcomings [lacks the soundstage of full-sized headphones, etc].
I am one of the few who don't mind carrying around full-sized headphones, provided they are not difficult to amplify well.
Still the RE-400, being a bit of my IEM premiere, did not disappoint me and I sometimes prefer it to full-sized headphones when I want that smooth, detailed yet non-fatiguing sound.
For a hundred bucks, this is a great, great IEM, even though the cable could have definitely been better made, at least initially.
 
RE-400 final score 9/10
 
12)Special thanks: 
 
[See HE-6 Ultimate Review, page 1] 
 
Kindest regards and thanks to anyone reading this. Hope you liked it!
Luke, the reviewer

HiFiMAN HE-400i and HE-560 review & comparison - w/ stock grilles and Focus pads
 
Disclaimer: The following review/comparison is my subjective assessment of the two headphones. The differences between the two are not night and day quantity-wise, but represent a difference I was able to hear. Both headphones are great sounding devices and this review and comparison should serve to highlight or point out the differences. If you have any questions or if you want to point something out, please do let me know. Hope you enjoy the read ^_^
 
Introduction
- I received the HE-560 in early July and the 400i last Monday. When I wasn't doing critical listening or direct comparisons, both headphones were being burned-in using pink noise or playing music. Initially, I did not find them very different - it was with time, precise volume matching, listening to many different songs of various genres and most importantly lots and lots of swapping headphones, comparing short segments of different songs, movies or games. After this exhaustive process, the differences finally became clear. I am confident that these comparisons represent my current [and hopefully final] opinion on these two headphones. One thing I very much want to point out - at their respective retail prices, both headphones represent tremendous value. If I only owned one or the other, I would most certainly not find any of either headphone's relative shortcomings troublesome enough to not live with. Also, please do keep in mind my particular setup as well. I will first evaluate each headphone based on its own merits and only then compare it to the other, mentioning where the differences lie, to keep it organized and easy to navigate. Without further ado, here's the comparison.
 
Equipment:
Media: JRiver Media player 19, using ASIO KS direct connection output
Source: USB output of a desktop-PC
DAC: Audio-gd NFB-7 via USB input
Amplifier: Audio-gd SA-31SE via single-ended RCA input
Headphones: HiFiMAN HE-560 & HiFiMAN HE-400i via a 1/4 TRS plug
Files: FLAC, 128-320kbps MP3, 256kbps AAC, AC3/DTS [JRiver upmixing - movies], Dolby Headphone/ SBX Pro Studio [via external DSPs - gaming]
Cables: stock power cables, decent RCA/USB/TOSLINK cables
 
Bass
 
HE-400i
- The 400i has a very good bass response. The mid-bass has a good punch to it and is slightly emphasized, which helps with tracks where the impact is less than desired. The sub-bass is quite good too but rolls off just a bit sooner than I'd like. As far as bass definition, timbre and clarity goes, the 400i keeps a good balance of things. The slight emphasis of the mid-bass does mean that a slight portion of clarity and definition gets lost in the “punch”. It also makes certain instruments sound just a bit boomy [like a timpani or toms] at times, while also having a bit less than perfect control. The bass overall has more punch than it has extension and depth. In terms of tonality still, don't expect it to stray too far away from neutral, just a slight, enveloping bass warmth-tilt. When all's said and done, the bass is very exceptional and capable of sounding phenomenal with the flaws being pretty small.
 
HE-560
- The 560 has likewise excellent bass. The mid-bass to sub-bass transition is perfectly linear, which means the bass stays neutral, with equal presence. That means, that it will not help with any bass deficiency in recordings but nor will it add any emphasis. The sub-bass is very impressive and goes very deep, giving bass instruments a very realistic tone. Timbre, definition and clarity is as good as I've heard. The punch might be perceived as slightly softer at times, but it is for the sake of preserving all the details in the recording - any more and you'd lose a tint of definition or texture or make that instrument a bit less natural. Nonetheless, it is something to consider. All, in all, if you seek a perfectly neutral bass response that can sound terrifyingly real, this is the one.
 
Differences
- The bass of the two is more similar than different. The 400i trades a slight mid-bass emphasis for a slight loss in texture and detail, while the 560 remains equal, give or take, in all of them. The sub-bass presence and extension goes to the 560 and so does the timbre and realness, more on that later. Both can hit hard, the 400i slightly more so, and sound equally impressive with the 560 just being more tonally correct overall, with better sub-bass, while the 400i bass retains more spotlight and presence in the mid-section and upper-bass.
 
Midrange
 
HE-400i
- The 400i has a midrange that is more forward and up-front than what would be considered neutral. All instruments in the midrange always have their place, with very equal presence. Everything is very easy to distinguish, thanks to exquisite separation. This makes up for a very euphonic, bigger-than-real midrage, which ends up sounding pleasant more often than not. However, this can bring a certain shoutiness to instruments as well. For example, an instrument playing solo [say a piano or a violin], which means there's already a spotlight shining on it, and when you double that, it might just become too much, blending strikes and keys together in a slightly harsh forwardness. The upper midrange-lower treble transition is an area that is a lot less forward in comparison and can sound a bit muted in relation to the rest of the midrange, but nothing too troublesome. Overall, the midrange is more or less forward and coherent, with just a few slight dips and peaks preventing it from being completely perfect as is.
 
HE-560
- The 560 has again a very coherent sounding midrange, not forward or laid back, with just enough presence to sound true. That does mean, that some instruments [like triangles or xylophones] can blend in just a bit at times, but the midrange is in no way recessed. The good thing is there's no harshness to be heard and instrument solos sound just lovely, be it pianos or guitars. In general, the more spotlight an instrument steals in the recording, the more it will get and even as its presence increases and disappears, the instrument always appears and decays with finesse. Much like bass, the midrange is the most realistic I've heard, bringing tears in breath-taking solos or just going with the flow among other instruments, while never sounding thin and retaining good dynamics.
 
Differences
- The key difference here is obviously that the 400i midrange is more forward and just brings attention to itself and every instrument there is, thus creating a more often than not, very pleasant coloration. The 560's midrange is just there and lets the recording [or the conductor] to bring the attention to a particular instrument, or not. As a result, the 560 is more natural and delicate, while the 400i presents midrange in a more euphonic and iconic fashion. Midrange, like bass, is where both headphones are competent enough, without any significantly detracting factors.
 
Treble
 
HE-400i
- The 400i's treble is a bit more complicated. As has been pointed out, the upper midrange-lower treble region is a bit less present, or to put it more simply, the treble is there but it is slightly overshadowed by the relative forwardness of midrange and bass, while the upper treble region is more present. The treble is smooth and well extended overall, without any major peaks but it just does not carry the airy presence I like, and what I assume is the side-effect of this - a noticeable lack of air to instruments that extend to the treble and female vocals. This negatively affects their timbre and accuracy, among other things. It is still a coloration, however, that might be desirable, especially for those people who don't want much treble energy and seek just that warm-tilt with a slight upper-treble sparkle this provides. This is thus a very subjective flaw. It does not affect other things as much, but it is definitely something to consider if you want a completely even and open treble. Other than the air issue, the treble is pretty great and smooth, and if you don't need lots of air in your music, you'll certainly like it. It also varies from genre to genre and track to track, depending on many a factors. Some tracks also add an artificial layer of air to vocals - this is not what I mean. This is natural and is present in each on to a degree.
 
HE-560:
- The 560 presents treble in an effortless and convincing manner. Much like midrange, the treble is just there. It isn't harsh or deficient but always present, contributing to an airy presentation. There's no emphasis on cymbals, like the HE-6 used to make. Female vocals sound especially lovely and energetic, with just the right presence. The treble region is an area that is said to be the hardest to do right without either artificially overdoing it or making compromises and cutting back. The treble is again the best I've heard. It is not always incredibly airy [the HE-6 is more so] but it has the power to be just as and more often than not it is and certainly to a point of sounding convincing and not artificial. It always straddles the line of being too smooth and too forward and thus ends right where it should - in the middle.
 
Differences
- What separates these two trebles is more than anything, the air. The 400i treble is handled in such a way that it allows very little room for air while the 560 allows for much more. This does mostly affect the decay, timbre and just the way how real and authentic things sound. Best way to demonstrate is with an example. As voices or instruments travel through the air and eventually disappear, they leave a trail around them, a faint presence of sound and movement, what is best described as air, as well as a part of timbre or decay. This air, produced by each instrument or vocal, moves with said instrument or vocal, until it eventually disappears. On the 560, this presence is more and it rises up or moves outside of the field of said instrument/vocal as it decays, almost as if it moved beyond the boundaries of the headphone and their drivers, in a natural and convincing way. If the bow of a violin is moving from left to right and disappears, so does the airy presence. The 400i has less and does not do it nearly as convincingly - you never feel the air 'leaving' the headphone, it stays inside, trapped in the cups and just stops, with a less convincing and shorter decay. This is for me subjectively the most notable deficiency in the 400i's treble, but a very subjective thing indeed. Air is obviously not limited to treble - it manifests itself in the midrange and bass as well, but is not as apparent there as it is here.
 
Vocals
 
Male
 
HE-400i
- The 400i handles male vocals beautifully. As they are part of the “Magical Midtange”, they are put more forward than female vocals and have great body and presence. The sibilance is never an issue as there's a noticeable dip in the region where major sibilance occurs. At the same time, this dip can have a negative impact, producing vocals that sound a bit muted in the 'S' region and slightly forced in the 'T' and 'F' regions. I suspect the lack of air is partially the cause for the hardness or roughness. This is a very minor issue, however, and is rarely present and hard to focus on without a direct comparison. Still a pleasantly natural vocal performance!
 
HE-560
- The 560 does male vocals the same way it does it's midrange. No extra body or forwardness, though certainly enough to appreciate the delicacy and realistic nature, but without any extra magic. The “S” region is slightly more pronounced and as a bonus sound more natural and relaxed. The trade-off is that sibilance is more likely to show and it does - so far it was an issue with one track, which the 400i handled better. I again praise the way how vocals vanish into the air and I suspect this naturalness does take away some of the sibilance or hardness there could have been.
 
Differences
- Both headphones handle male vocals exceptionally well. The 400i takes the “more forward and smoother” approach, with more body and presence but an easier tonality on the ears, while the 560 picks the “natural and present” approach, with less body but more nuanced. Both approaches are very enjoyable.
 
Female
 
HE-400i
- The female vocals have good presence and definition. They sound quite natural and without any sibilance. There's again slight mutedness in the sibilance region, and minor emphasis on the 'T's and 'F's at times, coupled with the lack of air, and consequently realistic timbre, does hurt it a bit. That's mostly treble vocals of course, so it is specific to singers in that range. If you listen to female singers with vocals that fall to the midrange more, then those will sound even better. There's definitely noticeably more presence to midrange bound vocals. Still, midramge, or not, the 400i does very good with female vocals too, with good body and presence, eliminating any sibilance there is, unless it is brutally present. It is still a midrange monster however, so it does best there.
 
HE-560
- The 560 puts treble female vocals more forward, giving their voice more presence. Coupled with great timbre, air and decay, treble bound vocals sound energetic and beautiful. There's less compensation for sibilance, still enough for vocals to not highlight it, but not enough to mute their transition through that range.
 
Differences
- Again, air makes the most difference here, contributing to a more contoured, and realistic listen on the 560, along with slightly better resolution and finesse. Consequently, the 400i is hurt much more by it's lack of any substantial airy quality than by anything else and should we ignore the differences in air, the two are surprisingly close, with the more expensive headphone having just a more even treble response, but which is to be expected at almost twice the price.
 
Sibilance
 
HE-400i
- The 400i has absolutely no issues with sibilance. There's that slight mutedness in this range but nothing major. A great accomplishment with regards to sibilance!
 
HE-560
- The 560 fares much the same in the sibilance range. The mute is slightly less and theoretically the susceptibility is a bit higher but not enough to be an issue, and it certainly does not take away from the beauty of the vocals.
 
Differences
- Both headphones deserve praise for the way they are tuned with regards to vocals as both fight sibilance equally well. The HE-6 struggled with it at times, the AKGs do too but the new HiFiMAN set an example in the way sibilance should be tackled. On my setup, obviously. Big thank you for this, team HiFiMAN!
 
Soundstage
 
HE-400i
- The 400i has a soundstage that is definitely on the smaller, intimate size. Width is just okay, while depth is quite good and so is height. As far as soundstage expansiveness goes, it is quite average. The sounds do not feel like they are coming from outside the headphone. I also believe this directly correlates and is connected with the lack of air, and consequently openness as well. However, while the soundstage is still well-integrated and feels natural. It might feel slightly claustrophobic where there are many instruments at play, but then soundstage separation always remains excellent. Detail retrieval is good too. It also does rather well with regards to imaging!
 
HE-560
- The 560 has a moderately wide soundstage, where instruments evenly spread across believably, with good stage depth and pretty spectacular height placement, thanks to great imaging capabilities. The stage is pretty expansive, which I again believe directly correlates with the amount of air and the way it opens up the stage and gives more space and room for instruments to breathe. It still probably won't win many awards either, at least not in terms of sheer size, but it is likewise very natural feeling and well integrated. It is just big enough to allow enough room for instruments to not feel compressed and coupled with brilliant instrument separation it works pretty well. Detail retrieval is likewise great.
 
Differences
- The differences lie mostly in width and openness, where the 560 clearly has the upper hand. Instrument separation is excellent on both headphones. Imaging also goes to the 560, though the 400i also images well. The 560 and 400i both have well-defined and respectable soundstages in the world of planarmagnetic headphones but there's still some catching-up to do to rival those headphones that are renowned in this category.
 
Imaging
 
HE-400i
- The HE-400i images pretty well. It might not be the most distinct, and vocalists that are close to each might blend in just a bit, but it still does it respectably and without any major hiccups - an imaging well done, where things are still not difficult to pick up and follow.
 
HE-560
- The 560's imaging is even greater. It is very precise, with great definition and makes locating various instruments and vocals in the soundstage even easier. Very accurate!
 
Differences
- The 560 has a slight advantage here but the difference is not too big. Yes, sounds are a bit easier to locate and follow but the 400i is not too far behind and certainly not as far as the price difference would suggest. Both imaging capabilities are certainly above average and better.
 
Instrument separation
 
HE-400i
- Excellent. Separating instruments is a breeze.
 
HE-560
- Excellent. Instrument separation is an easy-peasy task.
 
Differences
- A complete tie. Maybe that guitar has a bit more presence because of the 400i's forward midrange or that female vocal is a bit more distinct on the 560 because of its more uniform treble.
Both are exceptional. Both trade blows. An honest tie.
 
Overall Sound Openness
 
HE-400i
- In case you haven't noticed already, the 400i is not a very open-sounding headphone. It tries to be and at times it sounds quite open but it has too much going against it. The lack of air, the average soundstage size and openness, the bass/midrange X treble slight discrepancy. It is warm and it sounds the part. The 400i is a closed-in headphone. It still sounds like an 'open' headphone and covering the grills still produces the same effect as on the 560 but it is certainly one of the less open sounding cans.
 
HE-560
- The 560, on the other hand, sounds pretty open. Instrumental pieces especially come to life. I've been listening to a certain piano and violin duet and the resulting emotion was simply phenomenal. Amazing leading edge on the violin, great delicacy and definition on each key as the piano played and the amount of air each made. Yep, this sounds pretty open to me.
 
Differences
- HE-400i sounds closed-in, HE-560 sounds open. I think everything that needed to be said was said.
 
Air
 
HE-400i
- The 400i has little air. There's some air to male and female vocals in the midrange but vocals located in the treble and most instruments get very little air. It's all connected with the closed-in nature of the headphone. Openness, air and timbre/realism simply suffers for it and not much can be done.
 
HE-560
- Again, the polar opposite. A lot more air to all vocals and instruments. The most impressive thing, however, is how bass instruments [NOT synthetic bass] sound. Lots of air, deep, very tight bass with perfect texture and definition. String bass is just phenomenal, but any bass produced by a real instrument is like that with these.
 
Differences:
- Same as with openness. The 560 has it in much greater quantities. Thanks to overall openness, evenly integrated treble, etc.
 
Timbre/Realism/Decay
 
HE-400i
- To me timbre, realism, decay, openness, air... all these have to work on a certain level to create a headphone that is truly open and transparent. If one of them fails, then the rest can't be too great either. The 400i unfortunately does not perform too well in either of them, including timbre and realism. I find the instruments to sound slightly artificial [string bass instruments have wrong impact/texture ratio] or colored [the midrange forwardness] and the lack of air does not allow for realistic decay either. That, however, just means that the headphone isn't truly open and transparent, not that it isn't good! It is! And again, all just directly compared to the 560. They sound quite good on their own in timbre/realism, just colored.
 
HE-560
- The 560's timbre and realism is spot on and so is decay. Instruments and vocals appear and disappear realistically. Guitars, pianos, violins, tubes, horns, double basses, ... string, key, blow, percussion... male, female... The 560 is an open and transparent headphone. And it is also pretty good.
 
Differences
- The 560 once again wins in these categories. It is the 560's strong suit but not so much for the 400i. It gives instruments and vocals an artificial tone and/or coloration. It is still quite a pleasant sound, of course! You might even enjoy it more. It still sounds good, albeit less accurate.
 
Overall Cohesiveness/Balance
 
HE-400i
- The 400i certainly has a warmer tilt. Punchy bass, forward mids, smooth treble and good musicality and dynamics. Still, it is a rather coherent-sounding headphone with good detail retrieval, great instrument separation, decent imaging and an intimate soundstage and all that has been established. It is also a suitable all-rounder. Maybe not the best pick solely for instrumental or dub-step, but it does those genres likewise reasonably well, along with pop, rock, electronic, alternative and others.
 
HE-560
- The 560 is really a neutral sounding, balanced headphone, with excellent musicality and dynamics. Great bass, midrange, treble, imaging, soundstaging, separation, detail retrieval... Well, we already know that! It wouldn't be my pick if I only listened to hip-hop, rap or dance but they also perform well with the rest. I really love it with instrumental music. An extremely cohesive performer it is.
 
Differences
- A warmly tilt headphone and a neutral headphone. Both extremely good for the price. I am the first to admit that the differences were initially rather hard to discern until I trained my ears. I could honestly live with either of them but at the same time, I am glad I have the opportunity to extensively compare these and appreciate the things they do or don't. And then choose one.
 
Low-level listening
- Both headphones perform equally well in terms of low-level listening and do not lose anything from their qualities. The quieter you listen, the more their shortcomings come out but since none of them have any that'd noticeably affect your listening experience, you can pretty much listen as loud or quiet as you want without issues. I listen at listening volumes 35 and 31/100 respectively, then 30 and 25, 25 and 20 and finally 20 and 10 and they continued to sound just the way they did when they were louder... Just quieter.
 
Build Quality
Differences
- Both headphones are built better than their predecessors, no doubt. Though, the 400i had an extra month of polish and it shows. It looks noticeably more refined and made to a tighter standard than my one month old 560. The adjustment mechanism, the clamp ratio, the ear-cups swivel, the baffle and the pads-attaching mechanism look and feel more Swiss and precise. As far as aesthetics go, I like both - the more muted look of the HE-560 and the more bold appearance of the HE-400i, but build quality wise, with my two particular pairs, the 400i edges ahead.
 
Comfort
Differences
 
- Both get a 10/10 with the Focus pads from me! Easily the most comfy headphones I've had the pleasure to wear so far. The only difference is in clamp but that comes down to consistency and not a particular model. My 560 is a bit more clampy while the 400i is a bit looser, but ultimately nothing to detract from the ultimate experience. No itchy or sore ears. No pressure points on the top of my head. Nope. Nada. None. I am also not a fan of the Focus-A pads. Sorry ^_^
Gaming
Differences
- The 400i has the slight advantage in mid-bass thump. The 560 has a better sub-bass, more precise imaging and a bigger, more natural soundstage. along with a more focused treble and a bit better detail retrieval. Neither, provide an absolutely immerssive, head-rattling experience, obviously. I'd say they both work quite well for both competitive and immersive gaming if you don't require massive amounts of bass. For me, clarity, soundstage and separation are an integral part of my gaming experience and I'd give the slight nod to the 560 for that. Also, deeper bass ^_^
Movies/Series
Differences
- Same as with games. The better extension in the sub-bass along with extra clarity everywhere else comes in handy. Swords ring, guns fire, explosions explode, dialogues play out, all with an extra layer of resolution. Admittedly, the whole experience is a bit better for me with the 560, while the 400i still holds a pretty close second. Also, you can totally tell bad acting and fake sound effects with either... Eeeew.

 
And that's it. To recap, the most notable differences are by far the openness/air/timbre related ones, while the bass/midrange/treble are more subtle. That does not mean you should think of the one as a beefed-up version of the other. No! One is significantly warmer while the other is very neutral and balanced, These differences are real, just not to the point of being obvious from the very first listen. It took quite a bit more :] And I really like them both, though I have my preference, obviously.
Thanks for the read. Hope you like it! Feel free to ask, comment or point out.
Cheers!
Luke

HiFiMAN HE-400i and HE-560 review & comparison - w/ stock grilles and Focus pads
 
Disclaimer: The following review/comparison is my subjective assessment of the two headphones. The differences between the two are not night and day quantity-wise, but represent a difference I was able to hear. Both headphones are great sounding devices and this review and comparison should serve to highlight or point out the differences. If you have any questions or if you want to point something out, please do let me know. Hope you enjoy the read ^_^
 
Introduction
- I received the HE-560 in early July and the 400i last Monday. When I wasn't doing critical listening or direct comparisons, both headphones were being burned-in using pink noise or playing music. Initially, I did not find them very different - it was with time, precise volume matching, listening to many different songs of various genres and most importantly lots and lots of swapping headphones, comparing short segments of different songs, movies or games. After this exhaustive process, the differences finally became clear. I am confident that these comparisons represent my current [and hopefully final] opinion on these two headphones. One thing I very much want to point out - at their respective retail prices, both headphones represent tremendous value. If I only owned one or the other, I would most certainly not find any of either headphone's relative shortcomings troublesome enough to not live with. Also, please do keep in mind my particular setup as well. I will first evaluate each headphone based on its own merits and only then compare it to the other, mentioning where the differences lie, to keep it organized and easy to navigate. Without further ado, here's the comparison.
 
Equipment:
Media: JRiver Media player 19, using ASIO KS direct connection output
Source: USB output of a desktop-PC
DAC: Audio-gd NFB-7 via USB input
Amplifier: Audio-gd SA-31SE via single-ended RCA input
Headphones: HiFiMAN HE-560 & HiFiMAN HE-400i via a 1/4 TRS plug
Files: FLAC, 128-320kbps MP3, 256kbps AAC, AC3/DTS [JRiver upmixing - movies], Dolby Headphone/ SBX Pro Studio [via external DSPs - gaming]
Cables: stock power cables, decent RCA/USB/TOSLINK cables
 
Bass
 
HE-400i
- The 400i has a very good bass response. The mid-bass has a good punch to it and is slightly emphasized, which helps with tracks where the impact is less than desired. The sub-bass is quite good too but rolls off just a bit sooner than I'd like. As far as bass definition, timbre and clarity goes, the 400i keeps a good balance of things. The slight emphasis of the mid-bass does mean that a slight portion of clarity and definition gets lost in the “punch”. It also makes certain instruments sound just a bit boomy [like a timpani or toms] at times, while also having a bit less than perfect control. The bass overall has more punch than it has extension and depth. In terms of tonality still, don't expect it to stray too far away from neutral, just a slight, enveloping bass warmth-tilt. When all's said and done, the bass is very exceptional and capable of sounding phenomenal with the flaws being pretty small.
 
HE-560
- The 560 has likewise excellent bass. The mid-bass to sub-bass transition is perfectly linear, which means the bass stays neutral, with equal presence. That means, that it will not help with any bass deficiency in recordings but nor will it add any emphasis. The sub-bass is very impressive and goes very deep, giving bass instruments a very realistic tone. Timbre, definition and clarity is as good as I've heard. The punch might be perceived as slightly softer at times, but it is for the sake of preserving all the details in the recording - any more and you'd lose a tint of definition or texture or make that instrument a bit less natural. Nonetheless, it is something to consider. All, in all, if you seek a perfectly neutral bass response that can sound terrifyingly real, this is the one.
 
Differences
- The bass of the two is more similar than different. The 400i trades a slight mid-bass emphasis for a slight loss in texture and detail, while the 560 remains equal, give or take, in all of them. The sub-bass presence and extension goes to the 560 and so does the timbre and realness, more on that later. Both can hit hard, the 400i slightly more so, and sound equally impressive with the 560 just being more tonally correct overall, with better sub-bass, while the 400i bass retains more spotlight and presence in the mid-section and upper-bass.
 
Midrange
 
HE-400i
- The 400i has a midrange that is more forward and up-front than what would be considered neutral. All instruments in the midrange always have their place, with very equal presence. Everything is very easy to distinguish, thanks to exquisite separation. This makes up for a very euphonic, bigger-than-real midrage, which ends up sounding pleasant more often than not. However, this can bring a certain shoutiness to instruments as well. For example, an instrument playing solo [say a piano or a violin], which means there's already a spotlight shining on it, and when you double that, it might just become too much, blending strikes and keys together in a slightly harsh forwardness. The upper midrange-lower treble transition is an area that is a lot less forward in comparison and can sound a bit muted in relation to the rest of the midrange, but nothing too troublesome. Overall, the midrange is more or less forward and coherent, with just a few slight dips and peaks preventing it from being completely perfect as is.
 
HE-560
- The 560 has again a very coherent sounding midrange, not forward or laid back, with just enough presence to sound true. That does mean, that some instruments [like triangles or xylophones] can blend in just a bit at times, but the midrange is in no way recessed. The good thing is there's no harshness to be heard and instrument solos sound just lovely, be it pianos or guitars. In general, the more spotlight an instrument steals in the recording, the more it will get and even as its presence increases and disappears, the instrument always appears and decays with finesse. Much like bass, the midrange is the most realistic I've heard, bringing tears in breath-taking solos or just going with the flow among other instruments, while never sounding thin and retaining good dynamics.
 
Differences
- The key difference here is obviously that the 400i midrange is more forward and just brings attention to itself and every instrument there is, thus creating a more often than not, very pleasant coloration. The 560's midrange is just there and lets the recording [or the conductor] to bring the attention to a particular instrument, or not. As a result, the 560 is more natural and delicate, while the 400i presents midrange in a more euphonic and iconic fashion. Midrange, like bass, is where both headphones are competent enough, without any significantly detracting factors.
 
Treble
 
HE-400i
- The 400i's treble is a bit more complicated. As has been pointed out, the upper midrange-lower treble region is a bit less present, or to put it more simply, the treble is there but it is slightly overshadowed by the relative forwardness of midrange and bass, while the upper treble region is more present. The treble is smooth and well extended overall, without any major peaks but it just does not carry the airy presence I like, and what I assume is the side-effect of this - a noticeable lack of air to instruments that extend to the treble and female vocals. This negatively affects their timbre and accuracy, among other things. It is still a coloration, however, that might be desirable, especially for those people who don't want much treble energy and seek just that warm-tilt with a slight upper-treble sparkle this provides. This is thus a very subjective flaw. It does not affect other things as much, but it is definitely something to consider if you want a completely even and open treble. Other than the air issue, the treble is pretty great and smooth, and if you don't need lots of air in your music, you'll certainly like it. It also varies from genre to genre and track to track, depending on many a factors. Some tracks also add an artificial layer of air to vocals - this is not what I mean. This is natural and is present in each on to a degree.
 
HE-560:
- The 560 presents treble in an effortless and convincing manner. Much like midrange, the treble is just there. It isn't harsh or deficient but always present, contributing to an airy presentation. There's no emphasis on cymbals, like the HE-6 used to make. Female vocals sound especially lovely and energetic, with just the right presence. The treble region is an area that is said to be the hardest to do right without either artificially overdoing it or making compromises and cutting back. The treble is again the best I've heard. It is not always incredibly airy [the HE-6 is more so] but it has the power to be just as and more often than not it is and certainly to a point of sounding convincing and not artificial. It always straddles the line of being too smooth and too forward and thus ends right where it should - in the middle.
 
Differences
- What separates these two trebles is more than anything, the air. The 400i treble is handled in such a way that it allows very little room for air while the 560 allows for much more. This does mostly affect the decay, timbre and just the way how real and authentic things sound. Best way to demonstrate is with an example. As voices or instruments travel through the air and eventually disappear, they leave a trail around them, a faint presence of sound and movement, what is best described as air, as well as a part of timbre or decay. This air, produced by each instrument or vocal, moves with said instrument or vocal, until it eventually disappears. On the 560, this presence is more and it rises up or moves outside of the field of said instrument/vocal as it decays, almost as if it moved beyond the boundaries of the headphone and their drivers, in a natural and convincing way. If the bow of a violin is moving from left to right and disappears, so does the airy presence. The 400i has less and does not do it nearly as convincingly - you never feel the air 'leaving' the headphone, it stays inside, trapped in the cups and just stops, with a less convincing and shorter decay. This is for me subjectively the most notable deficiency in the 400i's treble, but a very subjective thing indeed. Air is obviously not limited to treble - it manifests itself in the midrange and bass as well, but is not as apparent there as it is here.
 
Vocals
 
Male
 
HE-400i
- The 400i handles male vocals beautifully. As they are part of the “Magical Midtange”, they are put more forward than female vocals and have great body and presence. The sibilance is never an issue as there's a noticeable dip in the region where major sibilance occurs. At the same time, this dip can have a negative impact, producing vocals that sound a bit muted in the 'S' region and slightly forced in the 'T' and 'F' regions. I suspect the lack of air is partially the cause for the hardness or roughness. This is a very minor issue, however, and is rarely present and hard to focus on without a direct comparison. Still a pleasantly natural vocal performance!
 
HE-560
- The 560 does male vocals the same way it does it's midrange. No extra body or forwardness, though certainly enough to appreciate the delicacy and realistic nature, but without any extra magic. The “S” region is slightly more pronounced and as a bonus sound more natural and relaxed. The trade-off is that sibilance is more likely to show and it does - so far it was an issue with one track, which the 400i handled better. I again praise the way how vocals vanish into the air and I suspect this naturalness does take away some of the sibilance or hardness there could have been.
 
Differences
- Both headphones handle male vocals exceptionally well. The 400i takes the “more forward and smoother” approach, with more body and presence but an easier tonality on the ears, while the 560 picks the “natural and present” approach, with less body but more nuanced. Both approaches are very enjoyable.
 
Female
 
HE-400i
- The female vocals have good presence and definition. They sound quite natural and without any sibilance. There's again slight mutedness in the sibilance region, and minor emphasis on the 'T's and 'F's at times, coupled with the lack of air, and consequently realistic timbre, does hurt it a bit. That's mostly treble vocals of course, so it is specific to singers in that range. If you listen to female singers with vocals that fall to the midrange more, then those will sound even better. There's definitely noticeably more presence to midrange bound vocals. Still, midramge, or not, the 400i does very good with female vocals too, with good body and presence, eliminating any sibilance there is, unless it is brutally present. It is still a midrange monster however, so it does best there.
 
HE-560
- The 560 puts treble female vocals more forward, giving their voice more presence. Coupled with great timbre, air and decay, treble bound vocals sound energetic and beautiful. There's less compensation for sibilance, still enough for vocals to not highlight it, but not enough to mute their transition through that range.
 
Differences
- Again, air makes the most difference here, contributing to a more contoured, and realistic listen on the 560, along with slightly better resolution and finesse. Consequently, the 400i is hurt much more by it's lack of any substantial airy quality than by anything else and should we ignore the differences in air, the two are surprisingly close, with the more expensive headphone having just a more even treble response, but which is to be expected at almost twice the price.
 
Sibilance
 
HE-400i
- The 400i has absolutely no issues with sibilance. There's that slight mutedness in this range but nothing major. A great accomplishment with regards to sibilance!
 
HE-560
- The 560 fares much the same in the sibilance range. The mute is slightly less and theoretically the susceptibility is a bit higher but not enough to be an issue, and it certainly does not take away from the beauty of the vocals.
 
Differences
- Both headphones deserve praise for the way they are tuned with regards to vocals as both fight sibilance equally well. The HE-6 struggled with it at times, the AKGs do too but the new HiFiMAN set an example in the way sibilance should be tackled. On my setup, obviously. Big thank you for this, team HiFiMAN!
 
Soundstage
 
HE-400i
- The 400i has a soundstage that is definitely on the smaller, intimate size. Width is just okay, while depth is quite good and so is height. As far as soundstage expansiveness goes, it is quite average. The sounds do not feel like they are coming from outside the headphone. I also believe this directly correlates and is connected with the lack of air, and consequently openness as well. However, while the soundstage is still well-integrated and feels natural. It might feel slightly claustrophobic where there are many instruments at play, but then soundstage separation always remains excellent. Detail retrieval is good too. It also does rather well with regards to imaging!
 
HE-560
- The 560 has a moderately wide soundstage, where instruments evenly spread across believably, with good stage depth and pretty spectacular height placement, thanks to great imaging capabilities. The stage is pretty expansive, which I again believe directly correlates with the amount of air and the way it opens up the stage and gives more space and room for instruments to breathe. It still probably won't win many awards either, at least not in terms of sheer size, but it is likewise very natural feeling and well integrated. It is just big enough to allow enough room for instruments to not feel compressed and coupled with brilliant instrument separation it works pretty well. Detail retrieval is likewise great.
 
Differences
- The differences lie mostly in width and openness, where the 560 clearly has the upper hand. Instrument separation is excellent on both headphones. Imaging also goes to the 560, though the 400i also images well. The 560 and 400i both have well-defined and respectable soundstages in the world of planarmagnetic headphones but there's still some catching-up to do to rival those headphones that are renowned in this category.
 
Imaging
 
HE-400i
- The HE-400i images pretty well. It might not be the most distinct, and vocalists that are close to each might blend in just a bit, but it still does it respectably and without any major hiccups - an imaging well done, where things are still not difficult to pick up and follow.
 
HE-560
- The 560's imaging is even greater. It is very precise, with great definition and makes locating various instruments and vocals in the soundstage even easier. Very accurate!
 
Differences
- The 560 has a slight advantage here but the difference is not too big. Yes, sounds are a bit easier to locate and follow but the 400i is not too far behind and certainly not as far as the price difference would suggest. Both imaging capabilities are certainly above average and better.
 
Instrument separation
 
HE-400i
- Excellent. Separating instruments is a breeze.
 
HE-560
- Excellent. Instrument separation is an easy-peasy task.
 
Differences
- A complete tie. Maybe that guitar has a bit more presence because of the 400i's forward midrange or that female vocal is a bit more distinct on the 560 because of its more uniform treble.
Both are exceptional. Both trade blows. An honest tie.
 
Overall Sound Openness
 
HE-400i
- In case you haven't noticed already, the 400i is not a very open-sounding headphone. It tries to be and at times it sounds quite open but it has too much going against it. The lack of air, the average soundstage size and openness, the bass/midrange X treble slight discrepancy. It is warm and it sounds the part. The 400i is a closed-in headphone. It still sounds like an 'open' headphone and covering the grills still produces the same effect as on the 560 but it is certainly one of the less open sounding cans.
 
HE-560
- The 560, on the other hand, sounds pretty open. Instrumental pieces especially come to life. I've been listening to a certain piano and violin duet and the resulting emotion was simply phenomenal. Amazing leading edge on the violin, great delicacy and definition on each key as the piano played and the amount of air each made. Yep, this sounds pretty open to me.
 
Differences
- HE-400i sounds closed-in, HE-560 sounds open. I think everything that needed to be said was said.
 
Air
 
HE-400i
- The 400i has little air. There's some air to male and female vocals in the midrange but vocals located in the treble and most instruments get very little air. It's all connected with the closed-in nature of the headphone. Openness, air and timbre/realism simply suffers for it and not much can be done.
 
HE-560
- Again, the polar opposite. A lot more air to all vocals and instruments. The most impressive thing, however, is how bass instruments [NOT synthetic bass] sound. Lots of air, deep, very tight bass with perfect texture and definition. String bass is just phenomenal, but any bass produced by a real instrument is like that with these.
 
Differences:
- Same as with openness. The 560 has it in much greater quantities. Thanks to overall openness, evenly integrated treble, etc.
 
Timbre/Realism/Decay
 
HE-400i
- To me timbre, realism, decay, openness, air... all these have to work on a certain level to create a headphone that is truly open and transparent. If one of them fails, then the rest can't be too great either. The 400i unfortunately does not perform too well in either of them, including timbre and realism. I find the instruments to sound slightly artificial [string bass instruments have wrong impact/texture ratio] or colored [the midrange forwardness] and the lack of air does not allow for realistic decay either. That, however, just means that the headphone isn't truly open and transparent, not that it isn't good! It is! And again, all just directly compared to the 560. They sound quite good on their own in timbre/realism, just colored.
 
HE-560
- The 560's timbre and realism is spot on and so is decay. Instruments and vocals appear and disappear realistically. Guitars, pianos, violins, tubes, horns, double basses, ... string, key, blow, percussion... male, female... The 560 is an open and transparent headphone. And it is also pretty good.
 
Differences
- The 560 once again wins in these categories. It is the 560's strong suit but not so much for the 400i. It gives instruments and vocals an artificial tone and/or coloration. It is still quite a pleasant sound, of course! You might even enjoy it more. It still sounds good, albeit less accurate.
 
Overall Cohesiveness/Balance
 
HE-400i
- The 400i certainly has a warmer tilt. Punchy bass, forward mids, smooth treble and good musicality and dynamics. Still, it is a rather coherent-sounding headphone with good detail retrieval, great instrument separation, decent imaging and an intimate soundstage and all that has been established. It is also a suitable all-rounder. Maybe not the best pick solely for instrumental or dub-step, but it does those genres likewise reasonably well, along with pop, rock, electronic, alternative and others.
 
HE-560
- The 560 is really a neutral sounding, balanced headphone, with excellent musicality and dynamics. Great bass, midrange, treble, imaging, soundstaging, separation, detail retrieval... Well, we already know that! It wouldn't be my pick if I only listened to hip-hop, rap or dance but they also perform well with the rest. I really love it with instrumental music. An extremely cohesive performer it is.
 
Differences
- A warmly tilt headphone and a neutral headphone. Both extremely good for the price. I am the first to admit that the differences were initially rather hard to discern until I trained my ears. I could honestly live with either of them but at the same time, I am glad I have the opportunity to extensively compare these and appreciate the things they do or don't. And then choose one.
 
Low-level listening
- Both headphones perform equally well in terms of low-level listening and do not lose anything from their qualities. The quieter you listen, the more their shortcomings come out but since none of them have any that'd noticeably affect your listening experience, you can pretty much listen as loud or quiet as you want without issues. I listen at listening volumes 35 and 31/100 respectively, then 30 and 25, 25 and 20 and finally 20 and 10 and they continued to sound just the way they did when they were louder... Just quieter.
 
Build Quality
Differences
- Both headphones are built better than their predecessors, no doubt. Though, the 400i had an extra month of polish and it shows. It looks noticeably more refined and made to a tighter standard than my one month old 560. The adjustment mechanism, the clamp ratio, the ear-cups swivel, the baffle and the pads-attaching mechanism look and feel more Swiss and precise. As far as aesthetics go, I like both - the more muted look of the HE-560 and the more bold appearance of the HE-400i, but build quality wise, with my two particular pairs, the 400i edges ahead.
 
Comfort
Differences
 
- Both get a 10/10 with the Focus pads from me! Easily the most comfy headphones I've had the pleasure to wear so far. The only difference is in clamp but that comes down to consistency and not a particular model. My 560 is a bit more clampy while the 400i is a bit looser, but ultimately nothing to detract from the ultimate experience. No itchy or sore ears. No pressure points on the top of my head. Nope. Nada. None. I am also not a fan of the Focus-A pads. Sorry ^_^
Gaming
Differences
- The 400i has the slight advantage in mid-bass thump. The 560 has a better sub-bass, more precise imaging and a bigger, more natural soundstage. along with a more focused treble and a bit better detail retrieval. Neither, provide an absolutely immerssive, head-rattling experience, obviously. I'd say they both work quite well for both competitive and immersive gaming if you don't require massive amounts of bass. For me, clarity, soundstage and separation are an integral part of my gaming experience and I'd give the slight nod to the 560 for that. Also, deeper bass ^_^
Movies/Series
Differences
- Same as with games. The better extension in the sub-bass along with extra clarity everywhere else comes in handy. Swords ring, guns fire, explosions explode, dialogues play out, all with an extra layer of resolution. Admittedly, the whole experience is a bit better for me with the 560, while the 400i still holds a pretty close second. Also, you can totally tell bad acting and fake sound effects with either... Eeeew.

 
And that's it. To recap, the most notable differences are by far the openness/air/timbre related ones, while the bass/midrange/treble are more subtle. That does not mean you should think of the one as a beefed-up version of the other. No! One is significantly warmer while the other is very neutral and balanced, These differences are real, just not to the point of being obvious from the very first listen. It took quite a bit more :] And I really like them both, though I have my preference, obviously.
Thanks for the read. Hope you like it! Feel free to ask, comment or point out.
Cheers!
Luke
 
Pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[size=10pt]Hi guys! This will be my 2nd review. You can read the first one, which was focused on the Ultrasone Pro 900 here- http://www.head-fi.org/t/635686/ultrasone-pro-900-review[/size]
[size=10pt]Hope ya'll all like it [/size]
 
[size=10pt]SPOILER - this one will be a little less critical. My rant is contained within the 1st review [/size]
 
So here comes  my most complete review write-up yet:
 
Please let me start with a proper introduction this time
 
 
[size=10pt]Table of contents:[/size]
 
0)Prologue
 
[size=10pt]1)Equipment[/size]
 
[size=10pt]2)Unboxing[/size]
 
[size=10pt]3)Build quality and design[/size]
 
[size=10pt]4)First impressions[/size]
 
[size=10pt]5)Sound characteristics[/size]
 
[size=10pt]6)Gaming[/size]
 
[size=10pt]7)Portability[/size]
 
[size=10pt]8)Unique trait[/size]
 
[size=10pt]9)Songs and genres[/size]
 
[size=10pt]10)Value [/size]
 
[size=10pt]11)Conclusion[/size]
 
[size=10pt]12)More pictures[/size]
 
[size=10pt]13)Special thanks[/size]
 
[size=10pt]14)Epilogue[/size]
 
 
1)Equipment and cabling
 
[size=10pt]Here I will list all the associated equipment with a few notes for each.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]First the headphones[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Hifiman HE-6[/size]
 
 

 
 
[size=10pt]Very neutral, natural, coherent, transparent, detailed, very extended, exciting and inviting. These are just a few words one can connect with the HE-6. Special airy sound.[/size]
[size=10pt]I don't wanna say too much as these will be analyzed much deeper further in the review.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Ultrasone Pro 900[/size]
 
 

 
 
[size=10pt]Fun, colored, bass heavy, unforgiving, aggressive, extended, V shaped.[/size]
[size=10pt]The midrange is recessed with very potent bass and extended aggressive highs. Prone to sibilance, but can provide a very special sound signature. Takes a lot of time to get used to and has a long burn in process. Add a bit of extra bass to everything. They complement the HE-6 really well.[/size]
[size=10pt]Works really well for gaming. Also really good when traveling even unamped but a slightly warm amp [ex. Fiiio E11 works really well] would be recommended.[/size]
[size=10pt]Doesn't cope well with neutral amps [ex. Audio GD NFB-16][/size]
[size=10pt]More in the comparison category.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Turtle Beach PX-5 [and the DSP converter that came with it][/size]
 

 
 
[size=10pt]Their sound is very mid-centric. Bass is very shy and lacking, prone to distortion or underperformance when stronger bass is required. The highs are too smooth, slightly muted. No extra excitement found here. In the end you have a HP centered around midrange with unimpressive bass and highs.[/size]
[size=10pt]They are bluetooth and require 2 AA batteries to work. Their build is solid. Headband is sufficiently paded. However, neoprene is used which is an odd choice. They aren't very comfortable either and they borrow the cons from each leather and velour respectively.[/size]
[size=10pt]They are sweaty as leathers and itchy as velours. Not a good choice either.[/size]
[size=10pt]For gaming, the spacial cues and sound are okay, but are easily beaten by the two more expensive headphones in all aspects.[/size]
[size=10pt]For the highest Turtle Beach model, I definitely expected them to be at least on par with the more expensive HPs at least as far as gaming goes, but nope.[/size]
[size=10pt]Listening to music is even worse and by a big margin. Not particularly detailed and boring. Not much on offer here.[/size]
[size=10pt]The one benefit I mentioned earlier is the DSP unit that came with it.[/size]
[size=10pt]Works really good with Pro 900 and HE-6. One of the better processors I'd say. Works with both PS3 and X360.[/size]
[size=10pt]So at least the DSP unit makes up a bit for the headphones. Definitely not worth the 250 asking price.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Sony XB-300[/size]
 

 
 
[size=10pt]The only HP which is on-ear rather than over-ear like the rest.[/size]
[size=10pt]They have a V shaped signature. Like the Pro 900, they also add bass to every song but more and it is boomy bass not tight at all.[/size]
[size=10pt]Their highs are smooth, but not very detailed. The mids are recessed but slightly less so than the Pro 900. The bass is very strong and hits deep, but as said is very boomy and can be bloated at times. For 40 bucks though, I'd say they were quite a value, if you like lots of bass that is. Exciting to listen to, good for traveling, doesn't need an amp like the Pro 900. Also nice for working out as they keep you going and are light weight.[/size]
[size=10pt]Now discontinued and replaced by the XB-400 which is slightly better so even bigger bargain as well.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Now associated Amplifiers and DACs[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Emotiva Mini-X a-100 speaker amp[/size]
 

 
 
[size=10pt]Now, let me start by saying this amplifier is something special. It costs 220 bucks, which is less than most headphone amplifiers.[/size]
[size=10pt]Of course this thing is for powering speakers, or is it?[/size]
[size=10pt]Well you could say the HE-6 is a little speaker. These two have great synergy, but is a speaker amp really necessary? In my opinion yes. There still is a little controversy about how much power Hifiman cans, especially the HE-6, really need. Well this amp works really good with HE-500 and HE-5LE as well.[/size]
[size=10pt]In my experience a conventional HP amp was not able to drive the HE-6 sufficiently.[/size]
[size=10pt]If there are still a few hardheaded guys who would like to use a HP amp, then yes there are those, but you are looking at no less than 400 dollars and yet the results are in most cases underwhelming.[/size]
[size=10pt]Mini-X and HE-6 is the real deal. it is transparent, quick, with decent soundstage depth and width, quite neutral and has nice extension on both sides. It is dead silent at all volumes.[/size]
[size=10pt]Did I mention it is only 220? It also runs very cool. You also have a nice volume knob and gold platted connectors.[/size]
[size=10pt]Long story short, there is no better entry level amp for the HE-6. It drives them effortlessly but it is easy to see that HE-6 benefits from extra power/current compared to HP amps. More on later.[/size]
[size=10pt]That saying there are more expensive speaker amps which can outperform the Mini-X, But those would be more expensive.[/size]
[size=10pt]In contrast wasting hundreds more on a HP amp with dubious results... Speaker amps seem to be the much safer choice in case of the HE-6.[/size]
[size=10pt]And of course there is always a chance that the receiver you have in your living room could have a nice synergy with this HP.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Audio GD NFB-3.32[/size]
 

 
 
[size=10pt]DAC stands for Digital to Analogue converter. To put it simply, it converts digital sound [1 and 0] to analogue [sound].[/size]
[size=10pt]The cheapest of the Audio GD DAC offerings [excluding the DAC/Amp combo units].[/size]
[size=10pt]This one uses two WM8741 chips as well as a WM8805 and the USB32 chip for various inputs. ["WM" stands for Wolfson Microelectronics][/size]
[size=10pt]This one costs 350 bucks + around 60 for shipping and I would say is priced nicely as well.[/size]
[size=10pt]The sound is very neutral but slightly smooth up top but still nicely detailed and extended. Also quite transparent.[/size]
[size=10pt]It has all the inputs you might need - USB [very nicely implemented, practically nullifies all differences that were there between coaxial and USB], coaxial and optical.[/size]
[size=10pt]I have a 2 RCA outputs version as the regular version, which has 1 RCA and 1 ACCS output, because I had no use for it.[/size]
[size=10pt]It runs slightly warmer than the Mini-X [which is practically cold][/size]
[size=10pt]Much like the Mini, it is dead silent and there is no hum or noise from the computer.[/size]
[size=10pt]For 350, it is a good deal too. Although I can see further improvements with more expensive DACs.[/size]
[size=10pt]However, much like the a-100, it is hard to beat as a starter. All the components mentioned have good synergy with each other.[/size]
 
Fiio E11
 

 
A very versatile little amp. Slightly warmer with smooth highs. Ideal for the Pros. Fits your pocket nicely. Mine has a twice stronger battery than the stock one so lasts twice longer [for 15 bucks].
Packs lots of power. For 60 bucks it is hard to beat. Fully aluminium casing [like all amps here]. Has a bass boost switch. Fiio is getting very popular among audiophiles these days.
 
[size=10pt]Audio GD NFB-16 [DAC and Amp combo][/size]
 
 

 
 
[size=10pt]This unit was only used shortly with both Pro 900 and HE-6.[/size]
[size=10pt]The amp is very neutral and thus had a somewhat bad synergy with the Pro 900 as it prefers a warmer one.[/size]
[size=10pt]On the other hand, it has a good synergy with the also neutral HE-6 but ultimately couldn't supply enough power for the HP which was apparent in comparison with the Mini.[/size]
[size=10pt]It works on rechargeable batteries so it is a transportable amp, while not exactly pocket sized.[/size]
[size=10pt]For 200 bucks [+ shipping] it is again a great value and should have enough power to power most HP [it powered the Pro 900 alright] and is both a DAC and an Amp.[/size]
[size=10pt]It has a USB input an RCA line-in and a 1/8 jack line in. It boasts a 1/8 and 1/4 HP outs as well as a coax out.[/size]
[size=10pt]So you can connect practically anything to it. Very flexible unit.[/size]
[size=10pt]Unfortunately, I have no use for it right now.[/size]
[size=10pt]It is discontinued now and a new model is supposedly in the works [albeit very similar to this one] but it was on sale only for a month or so [last September I think]so if anyone wants to buy [80 Euros shipped] let me know.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Might be updated in the future as newer gear is purchased.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Cables[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Stock power cables for all components[/size]
 

 
 
 
[size=10pt]insert generic connector here[/size]
 
 
[size=10pt]Die-Hard RCA/Optical cables[/size]
 

 
 
 
[size=10pt]Sturdy, good quality OFC cable, double shielding, gold platted, cheap.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Nuforce transient USB cable[/size]
 

 
 
 
[size=10pt]Nicely shielded, sturdy, gold platted OFC, less cheap[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Hifiman HE-5 stock cable[/size]
 

 

 
 
 
 
[size=10pt]The first Hifiman cable came with HE-5, claimed to be the best Hifiman stock cable, close to aftermarkets. Silver coated, has sleeving. I won't comment on the cable differences but sounds really good. Bought from a fellow headfier HiFlight [http://www.hiflightaudio.com/][/size]
[size=10pt]IMO better than the stock OCC cable [ which is probably starting to oxidize anyways]. All neutrik connectors[/size]
 
[size=10pt]+ Matching speaker tap extension[/size]
 

 
[size=10pt]Matched with the HE-5 cable. silver tinned. Neutrik XLR and banana plugs. sturdy, heavy but lies on the table anyways. Sonically good to me.[/size]
[size=10pt]Also made by HiFlight [[http://www.hiflightaudio.com/]][/size]
 
[size=10pt]Also have the same matched cable for XLR to 1/4 plug. Again all Neutriks and again courtesy of HiFlight [/size]
 
 
 

 
[size=10pt]There, among the stock copper cable.[/size]
 
Pro 900 stock 1/8 cable
 

 
Very sturdy stuff but also somewhat flexible
 
Also comes with a 1/4 cable
 

 
It is coiled. I also think those 1/4 could be used as a killing weapon one day...
 
[size=10pt]Will be updated later when I get either Q audio or Norse audio cabling.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Now let's get to[/size]
2)Unboxing and accessories
 
 
[size=10pt]A/N:[/size]
[size=10pt]I bought the HE-6 from Justin W. at HeadAmp. Justin is a nice guy, were easy to deal with and if you have any requests he is likely to fulfill them [for ex. I wanted the leathers swapped for velours]. He also offered international free shippingwith FedEx which was really cool. Either way, both Justin and Hifiman offer tremendous customer support and service and I can easily recommend them.[/size]
 
 

[size=10pt]Ok the headphones arrived in a big box, within a week after payment.[/size]
 
 
 
 

[size=10pt]The HP case was covered with while polystyrene.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
 
 
 

[size=10pt]And even further snugly protected by polystyrene and bubble wrapped[/size]
 
 
 
 

[size=10pt]After unwrapping you get a nice looking leather covered shoe box, which looks better than moost other shoe boxes HPs come in [HD800,T1,etc][/size]
 
[size=10pt]There wasn't any other box however.[/size]
 
 
 

[size=10pt]Upon opening the box, I was greeted by these[/size]
 
 
 
 

[size=10pt]I think they look very nice in these pictures, almost better than the real thing.[/size]
 
 
 
[size=10pt]What else will you get?[/size]
 
 
 

[size=10pt]A copper cable, valued at 150 bucks by Hifiman.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]I however, opted for a different cable,mentioned above[/size]
 
 

[size=10pt]A pouch in which the cable came as well as an extra pair of velours.[/size]
 
 
 

[size=10pt]Quality control/assurance card [probably new design, I know it used to look different][/size]
 
 
 

The old one
 
 
HE-6 overall 8.5/10
 
[size=10pt]In comparison to the Pro 900, the package is quite similar. In favor of the Pro 900 speaks the extra box [y'know the one all other headphone come with].[/size]
[size=10pt]There is also no manual for the HE-6 and you get only a single cable while the Pro 900 comes with two.[/size]
[size=10pt]In return you get a nicer leather box, a nicer quality cable [not necessarily more durable but possibly better sounding] and a leather pouch oh, and don't forget the quality assurance card. That one apparently matters a lot...[/size]
 
Pro 900 overall 9/10
 
[size=10pt]Right, this brings as to... [/size]
 
Read the rest of the review here - 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/650912/hifiman-he-6-ultimate-review-write-up

Ultrasone Pro 900 - Ultimate Review w/ pictures

1)Equipment and cabling
A)Headphones
Ultrasone PRO 900
Type: Closed, over-ear, big, dynamic driver monitor
Frequency response: 6 - 42.000 Hz
Impedance: 40 Ω
Efficiency: 96 dB
Weight: 295 g (without cable)



Fun, colored, bass heavy, unforgiving, aggressive, extended, V shaped.
The midrange is recessed with very potent bass and extended aggressive highs. Prone to sibilance, but can provide a very special sound signature. Takes a lot of time to get used to and has a long burn in process. Adds a bit of extra bass to everything. They complement neutral headphones very well.
Works really well for gaming. Also really good when traveling [even unamped] but a slightly warm amp [ex. Fiiio E11 works really well] would be recommended.
Doesn't cope well with neutral amps.

B)Amplifiers, Digital to Analog Converters, Preamplifiers and more
Fiio E11
A very versatile little amp.
Slightly warmer tonality with smooth highs. Decent instrument separation and soundstage. Ideal for most portable headphones. Fits your pocket nicely. The stock battery lasts about 8 hours.
Packs lots of power. For 60 bucks it is hard to beat. Fully aluminium casing (like all amps here). Has a bass boost switch as well as a low/high gain one. Fiio is getting very popular among audiophiles these days because it offers good quality throughout for the price. The E11 is no exception

Pros
+ Small
+ Decent battery life
+ Price
+ Works with most headphones
Cons
- Cannot charge while playing

Overall 9/10

[A/N - The amplifier was not tested with the IEM, though I imagine it'd work well together. Not that it is necessary though, as these are pretty sensitive and don't really require amping to sound great]

C)Cables
Pro 900 stock 1/8 cable



Very sturdy stuff but also somewhat flexible

Also comes with a 1/4 cable
It is coiled. I also think those huge 1/4s are really pretty [much more than the 1/8s] as they feel more audiophile.



You can also get a 1.2m straight cable for portable use if you want [sold separately]



2)Unboxing and accessories
It comes in your standard packaging. Card-box, manual, a sample CD, the two cables, an extra pair of earpads and of course the headphone.
Nothing fancy but all the accessories you need are included. The cables are good, the earpads are soft the CD is a nice touch too.
If all headphones came like that, I'd be happy.
But as we know, some headphones come in a more bare-bones package, so kudos to Ultrasone here!
Package overall 9/10









Fiio not included.



3)Design, build quality and comfort
a)Design/Build quality
The Pro 900 is build like a tank. I actually had an accidental crash test with these. I accidentally pulled them down from a counter [around 1m in height]. It was absolutely in tact afterwards, as if nothing happened.
Pros are made entirely of plastic and come in at 280g, very durable, they can certainly take a beating, though the aluminium plates on the cups are prone to scratches.
As far as looks go, they look quite intriguing, unique indeed. They are not what I'd call sexy, but interesting looking nonetheless. No mistaking these for other headphones.
Build overall 9/10 (Build quality 9/10 Design 9/10)



b)Comfort
It is a very comfy headphone. Their lighter nature makes for very comfortable listening. The headband's padding does extort a bit of pressure on the top of one's head. The pads, while a bit shallow, are soft and seal well, one of the better made velour materials. They are also interchangeable, though the Ultrasone's proprietary mounting mechanism makes using third party pads difficult.
Comfort overall 8/10





4)First and further impressions
First off, the burn-in/brain adjustment period is very long with these. It's important to keep this in mind.
The highs were initially very strident and metallic, even harsh. Yes they were detailed but at the same time aggressive and during the burn-in period it was really hard to listen to female vocals for instance as these were just very sibilant and unnatural [way too pronounced] and not inviting at all. They smoothed out a bit over time.
Mids,what mids? No just kidding but the midrange is definitely recessed. String guitars and basically any background instruments are pushed back a great deal. Now, that doesn't mean you can't hear them. Because you can. Just not clearly enough due to the highs and lows taking preference. These did not improve with burn-in unfortunately... But it's their signature after all... A big V-shape.
In the other hand, bass is the next best thing. Really, it is phenomenal. It can do anything and drop as low as ever. It can do subwoofer bass... somehow.
In general the bass is very deep, impactful, nicely defined and detailed. It can be very satisfying as it can make the earpads resonate, so no change there.
Great for movies and video games as it can reproduce every explosion to the deepest note, no roll-off.
Right, but one's biggest strength can also be its weakness. The bass is not tight and very intrusive. It is more than slightly overpowering.
It doesn't sound particularly real at times [with drums,etc]. It does the oomph, it is not very audiophile and the extra oomph masks some texture and definition. Where the bass wants more texture than oomph, you still get more oomph. Nonetheless, the satisfaction factor is great if you crave for the boom
More in Sound category.


First impressions overall 7/10

5)Sound
I will put a graph here, should anyone be interested :]



A)Low-end/bass
Pros
+ Incredibly punchy and deep bass
+ Detailed
+ Reproduces both rumble and sub-bass effortlessly
+ Incredibly fun and satisfying
+ Mini subwoofers in your ears
Cons
- Too much of it for certain genres

Overall 8.5/10 – The bass is very satisfying as stated earlier. There are times when you simply can’t have enough of it. It hits as hard and deep as anything. Perfect for hip hop and such but less so for different genres like rock and others as it can sound quite unnatural and overpowering. Nonetheless, this is a bass-head can and as such it delivers. No matter how much bass, it is reproduced with authority and with detail mostly in tact.

B)Midrange
Pros
+ Detailed
+ When it’s there it sounds quite nice
Cons
- Most of the time it’s not there
- Gone for vacation (recessed)
- Pondered by bass and treble
- Lots of detail is hidden, even instruments

Overall 2.5/10 – The midrange is only amazing if you can hear it. If you can’t, it’s hard to judge. It’s amazing just how much of it is missing here. You get plenty of drums and bass and lots of vocals and cymbals but you only hear hints of guitars and pianos.
It’s V-shaped at it’s finest. The headphone was made like this for the reason of it’s fun signature, but I have to rate the mids as well and because there is very little of them and thus you can only hear little of the overall information that lies there, the rating will be representative of that. A recessed 2 and something.

C)Vocals

Pros
+ Extended and detailed
+ A hint of air
+ Pleasant (to a certain volume level)
Cons
- Unnatural
- Too much presence
- Sibilant and harsh

Overall 6/10 – for a closed pair of cans, the vocals are nice. They are finely extended with a smidge of air. The problem is the balance between them sounding pleasant and harsh is rather delicate. It’s normal for the whole frequency spectrum to get stronger with volume but the vocals are somewhat pronounced by default due to the V shaped sig. Once you cross a certain level they become hard to tolerate and very tizzy. With most singers the sibilance is there but the amount varies depending on whether the song is bright or dark by default.

D)Highs/treble
Pros
+ Detailed
+ Aggressive/exciting
+ Extended
Cons
- Unnatural
- Fatiguing
- Cymbals

Overall 7/10 - The highs sound fine. However, they do are, much like vocals, unnatural and fatiguing. Some call it metallic. Cymbals are an issue of their own, they sound way too emphasized, to the point, where their echo goes through your ears, up to your brain, where it causes a mini sensation [as in seizure] and then darts through your skull. The highs are the vocals in black and white. Cross a certain volume or pair them with the wrong source and you'll be wishing to take them off.

E)Soundstage/Instrument separation
Pros
+ Good soundstage width and depth
+ Colored tonality }alters the soundstage in a "fun" way]
+ Okay instrument separation
+ S-Logic?
Cons
- Not coherent
- Isn't transparent
- Not a good all-rounder
- instrument separation suffers due to V shaped signature
- S-Logic?

Overall 7/10 - It would be really good for a closed can, but the V-shape always ends up ruining the soundstaging. It is really nice that the song has strong bass and prominent treble but too bad I can't hear that guitar in the background or the piano behind it.=. The headphone is not good with many genres where midrange is important. However, it excels in genres like hip hop, rap, electronica and dubstep, where midrange isn't very present. If you listen to these exclusively, perhaps this is the can for you. If you don't, then look elsewhere.
S-Logic does nothing for me. No enhancements anywhere, nothing different from other headphones... If it is some proprietary technology build into the driver, I sincerely hope it wasn't too expensive.

F)Recordings sensitivity
Overall 2/10 - Let me say that Pro 900 is much less forgiving of bad files than any other headphone I've tried. Well to be fair, all headphones with analytic treble do tend to be less forgiving by nature but headphones, where the treble is inherently flawed [like this one], certainly enhance the issue.
Bright recordings are a nightmare. Vocals are most problematic due to increased sibilance. A little sibilance is okay, this is not.
It is hard to listen at loud volumes to virtually anything, let alone less stellar songs. Your only hope for loud listening is a warm amp/source or dark recordings.
My ears did not fancy this. Not cool, Ultrasone, not cool!
Sound overall 6/10

6)Gaming
This HP provides surprisingly good spatial cues and soundstaging here, where the issues are much less prominent.
The V-shaped signature is much less apparent than with music.
The midrange is luckily not too important for immersive gaming.
Highs are nice and extended and detailed as well, albeit not as airy or natural but still very engaging and less fatiguing.
The bass is again phenomenal here. It can reproduce the deepest explosions, no matter how deep or rumbly it is, 900 will reproduce it effortlessly
Pros are definitely very fun sounding and some might actually prefer it to other cans here, like with music.
In conclusion, the Pro 900 definitely works better with games and movies than it does with music.
Substantially so
Gaming overall 8.5/10



7)Portability
The Pro 900 is also great for portable use. With the Fiio E11 for example [not that you ever have to use the bass boost... but you can :]], which is my go to amp for the Pros. They isolate quite well and if you don't mind their size, put them on and go. Don't mind the people staring at you, just enjoy the music!
I never really found full-size headphones to be too obtrusive for walking, travelling or commuting, as long as they are driven reasonably by portable sources.
Portability overall 8/10

My current portable player [Clip+] not tested with the PRO 900 [Back then it was Ace II -> E11]


8)Unique trait
Pro 900 - Bass

As a whole the bass is their strongest point, very punchy and strong. has nice definition and detail and it can reproduce subwoofer like tones and even give the feeling of pushed air. It can do anything bass. Faithfully or not, it always also adds some extra everywhere. I never had it distort and the balance between quality and quantity is more than fine for suitable applications.
I know this is somewhat reminiscent of all bass heavy cans but it is not always executed as well as it is here.




10)Value
Again if we evaluate the Pros as an entity, it can fill many gaps except for the all-rounder gap.
It is great for gaming and likewise nice for portable use. However with regards to music only,you can't listen to everything you have in your collection, without scratching you head. Certain instruments and genres just don't cut it and others might sound unnatural. You are left with a mixed bag in the end. Due to the titanium drivers, there is much longer burn-in than necessary and due to the aggressive sometimes even shrill presentation the brain adjustment is longer as well. You can't do one without the other.
Chances are, by the time you burn them in, you might be on the verge of selling them, like me, but if you persevere, you will be rewarded.
They have an edge in the build quality, while not necessarily in the design and looks. Nonetheless, their appearance is definitely unique and the headphone is quite functional.
For 500 bucks, you might want to have a HP that can do it all, or perhaps not... Either way, 7.5 is the value here. It is a very decent headphone for various kinds of music, be it at home or outside and they perform quite remarkably when used as a gaming can.
Overall value 7.5/10



Titanium drivers - very long burn-in...



11)Conclusion
I think the Pro900 is a good headphone of a bit overpriced for its original MSRP. The street price has gone much lower, however, and as such I think around 300$ it is a much better value than it originally was. It is great for gaming and suffices for portable use as well. It is of course U-shaped and as such it is quite restrictive in which genres it performs well. If you are an Electronica/EDM/Rap/Hip-Hop or a gaming fan, these are the great immersive and involiving headphones for you. If you want an all-rounder, neutral headphone though, I'd look elsewhere.
Pro 900 final score 7/10

Thanks for reading!