@zhibli06
BTW I think that now they include a better cable or two cables.
BTW I think that now they include a better cable or two cables.
Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
Ichos
@adhoclex
I am listening with it right now.
From a frequency response point of view this is maybe the best tuned headphone of HiFiMan up to 2K.
Treble is perfectly integrated with the rest of the frequencies.
Not bright , not fatiguing not sibilant , no annoying peaks.
I find it perfectly balanced and I prefer it to the 400i because it sounds more open and airy.
Bass is also more tight and the only way to prefer the 400i is if you want a slightly more mid centric headphone.
It is very difficult to get wrong with the 400se just feed it with current and enjoy.
I am listening with it right now.
From a frequency response point of view this is maybe the best tuned headphone of HiFiMan up to 2K.
Treble is perfectly integrated with the rest of the frequencies.
Not bright , not fatiguing not sibilant , no annoying peaks.
I find it perfectly balanced and I prefer it to the 400i because it sounds more open and airy.
Bass is also more tight and the only way to prefer the 400i is if you want a slightly more mid centric headphone.
It is very difficult to get wrong with the 400se just feed it with current and enjoy.
hevelaoak
nice review my friend. I find the comparisons help
Ichos
Thank you very much!
harry501501
Good review again ichos. I've only had a couple hours with it, no burn in. At the moment, I'll say it's good, maybe I expected more. In the UK we pay £150, I know on the Hifiman website it's under $100 right now (or was).
Their re800s is one of my favourite IEMs which improves massively after burn in, ESPECIALLY bass which at first sounded as weak as the he400se, my main gripe, tho I knew from reviews it wasn't going to be massive. In Queen's We Are The Champions those opening bass notes are very weak, no body or depth.
The he400se are detailed, but not overly so, that's where I expected better, maybe the fact the soundstage is pretty average, more like a closed back. The re800s IEMs are more detailed (tho IEM comparison not helpful).
Compared to the original he400S, they're more immediate and less soft sounding. Similar bass. The new one has more body and better treble.
They're more comfy than I expected and they come with a black cable and not that white one.
Their re800s is one of my favourite IEMs which improves massively after burn in, ESPECIALLY bass which at first sounded as weak as the he400se, my main gripe, tho I knew from reviews it wasn't going to be massive. In Queen's We Are The Champions those opening bass notes are very weak, no body or depth.
The he400se are detailed, but not overly so, that's where I expected better, maybe the fact the soundstage is pretty average, more like a closed back. The re800s IEMs are more detailed (tho IEM comparison not helpful).
Compared to the original he400S, they're more immediate and less soft sounding. Similar bass. The new one has more body and better treble.
They're more comfy than I expected and they come with a black cable and not that white one.
harry501501
Positives - they are clear and more musical than I expected. Mids and treble are lovely. Good speed, notes have good weight and are quite organic and life like. Mid bass is good and can make up for the lack of sub bass. Very nice stereo effect.
Negatives - sub bass as I said is weak. It may be quick and had decent enough speed, but that total lack of depth makes that redundant. Soundstage for an open back is sadly lacking depth. Width is okay, maybe just outside the head. If it wasn't for the great stereo imaging and weight of the sound, I'd be disappointed.
Comparison - they remind me of the akg k701, but more controlled up top, more fun, but they lack the depth and openness of the k701. They're less fatiguing. The k701 sound a lot thinner. Sub bass is similar in both. I prefer the he400se.
If you like the Hifiman house sound and wanted more microdetail and much better bass and don't mind earphones, the re800 silver is like the 400se but better... And the same price.
Negatives - sub bass as I said is weak. It may be quick and had decent enough speed, but that total lack of depth makes that redundant. Soundstage for an open back is sadly lacking depth. Width is okay, maybe just outside the head. If it wasn't for the great stereo imaging and weight of the sound, I'd be disappointed.
Comparison - they remind me of the akg k701, but more controlled up top, more fun, but they lack the depth and openness of the k701. They're less fatiguing. The k701 sound a lot thinner. Sub bass is similar in both. I prefer the he400se.
If you like the Hifiman house sound and wanted more microdetail and much better bass and don't mind earphones, the re800 silver is like the 400se but better... And the same price.
Ichos
@harry501501
Thank you very much for reading the review.
I mostly agree with your observations but the soundstage.
Like a closed back?
My observations are the opposite, I find it open sounding and wide.
May I ask about your source?
Thank you very much for reading the review.
I mostly agree with your observations but the soundstage.
Like a closed back?
My observations are the opposite, I find it open sounding and wide.
May I ask about your source?
Ichos
Bass is typical HiFiMan, lean but with good technicalities and treble is better than the predecessor.
BTW, how many hours do you have in them?
They do need burn, believe it or not.
BTW, how many hours do you have in them?
They do need burn, believe it or not.
harry501501
I've heard closed backs with similar soundstage width, but with more added depth. I expected better from the open back 400se. It's not bad tho, far from it. Height is decent. If it had more depth it would be a different animal.
It has similar sub bass to the re400 earphone and he400s, but the re800s IEM (which maybe is an exception to the house sound) if no contest. The bass on that IEM is just as quick too.
Yeah, burn in I reckon will make a big difference. At the moment they'll only have had 14 hours. The re800silver took about 40 hours for bass to improve.
The 400se are power hungry beasts. That is something that most reviews have got bang on, anyone playing from a phone WILL be disappointed. My FIIO M6 were at 110/120 volume lol.
It has similar sub bass to the re400 earphone and he400s, but the re800s IEM (which maybe is an exception to the house sound) if no contest. The bass on that IEM is just as quick too.
Yeah, burn in I reckon will make a big difference. At the moment they'll only have had 14 hours. The re800silver took about 40 hours for bass to improve.
The 400se are power hungry beasts. That is something that most reviews have got bang on, anyone playing from a phone WILL be disappointed. My FIIO M6 were at 110/120 volume lol.
harry501501
I'm aware I'm comparing an open back headphone with an IEM. They do share similar signatures tho.
I do agree the 400se is an upgrade to the original 400s treble wise, no contest. It's more extended, better clarity, body
I do agree the 400se is an upgrade to the original 400s treble wise, no contest. It's more extended, better clarity, body
Ichos
So please let me know what is your source and how many hours you have on them.
harry501501
As I mentioned, this was my initial OOTB views after only couple hours. I've had then burning in, but still only around 20 hours. I'll give them plenty time before making my final thoughts.
I'm using my desktop setup. SMSL Sanskrit 10th II which has an AK4493 fed into a decent Music Fidelity AMP which at around 40% volume gives them plenty juice. I've heard a balanced setup brings more out of them, but I'm not prepared as of yet to make that upgrade.
Again, I might be sounding overly negative, but I do like them. At the current price of $109 on the Hifiman website it's pretty insane value. In the UK we pay £150-170 which is still good value for the sound and build you get. On build, they aren't as tight as they may look, after an hour of wearing they loosen up with quickly.
I'm using my desktop setup. SMSL Sanskrit 10th II which has an AK4493 fed into a decent Music Fidelity AMP which at around 40% volume gives them plenty juice. I've heard a balanced setup brings more out of them, but I'm not prepared as of yet to make that upgrade.
Again, I might be sounding overly negative, but I do like them. At the current price of $109 on the Hifiman website it's pretty insane value. In the UK we pay £150-170 which is still good value for the sound and build you get. On build, they aren't as tight as they may look, after an hour of wearing they loosen up with quickly.
Ichos
Be patient and give them some more time.
For the price you paid I do think that they are great value, a very good entry level planar headphone but not a giant killer of course.
For the price you paid I do think that they are great value, a very good entry level planar headphone but not a giant killer of course.
harry501501
Yeah, the sub bass is coming thru with bit more weight already. Easily at least 24 hours burning in. The same bass lines I could barely hear on my test tracks are now markedly better and more audible. Anyone that still says burn in is placebo should buy some Hifiman products lol.
Weirdly enough, I used an old Topping Portable AMP with my FIIO M6, it's a pretty bass heavy amp and surprisingly powerful for it's size and age. It can't match my desktop setup for sheer openness, but it certainly helped the low end when using the DAP.
I'm not one for using EQ, but I reckon the he400se would react well if you boosted the low end.
Weirdly enough, I used an old Topping Portable AMP with my FIIO M6, it's a pretty bass heavy amp and surprisingly powerful for it's size and age. It can't match my desktop setup for sheer openness, but it certainly helped the low end when using the DAP.
I'm not one for using EQ, but I reckon the he400se would react well if you boosted the low end.
harry501501
Thinking I might get the Zen DAC 2 or the Chord Mojo soon (the old onesE selling cheap on eBay)
Ichos
The Zen DAC 2 alone is not sufficient.
I highly recommend the Zen Can which is very good with HiFiMan headphones.
I highly recommend the Zen Can which is very good with HiFiMan headphones.
harry501501
I did consider going for the Zen can, but wasn't sure how the unbalanced output compared to the balanced... Which most reviews gave feedback on. I would need a balanced DAC wouldn't I?
It is one of the best values of the headphone market.
Still liking it very much.