Bit disappointed with Hifi-man HE-4xx on drop
Sep 26, 2023 at 2:56 PM Post #16 of 90
Well the hifi man cans are relatively low impededance (forget, exactly 32 ohms or something), so shouldn't take a huge high-output amp to drive them. Hifi man HE-4xx on drop. Have to look it up though. Definetaly not 160 ohms or something though. Yepp looked it up and 35 ohms, but need an amp apparently. May be able to get away with using my tiny Fiio dac/amp. If I can find it again in mess of an apartment, bit bombed out here. Haha! found it! Drawer on left of my desk. All's well that ends well. Fiio Q1. Mother was here and did a clean, can't find anything anymore!
 
Sep 26, 2023 at 2:58 PM Post #17 of 90
squidman said:
Well the hifi man cans are relatively low impededance (forget, exactly 32 ohms or something), so shouldn't take a huge high-output amp to drive them.
Click to expand...

That's at most half, and usually quite a bit less than half of the equation. Sensitivity, which is how loud they get @ power is logarithmic, and has much greater influence on how hard something is to drive than impedance.
 
Sep 26, 2023 at 3:17 PM Post #18 of 90
Thanks for the tip. Still a newb here. Still looking for a desktop DAC/AMP to drive them via usb. The question is will regular studio USB interfaces do it or do I need some eye-wateringly expensive Hi-fi setup to do it? Of course if my ears can hear the difference, that's another question.
 
Sep 26, 2023 at 3:20 PM Post #19 of 90
Most studio DACS are just that though..plain DACS. Not good headphone amplifiers as well. Otherwise a dime a dozen, can be had for a hundred bucks or so or less.
 
Sep 26, 2023 at 7:11 PM Post #20 of 90
TWerk said:
It's an entry level headphone, probably not intended to really blow anyone away entirely.
Click to expand...
I get that But a used Sundara, HD-600, HD-650, and some others are not much more used and are more lucid.
 
Sep 26, 2023 at 10:03 PM Post #22 of 90
The HE-4XX does need an amp and mods to really bring out the sound and some bass impact, yet you can all of this for rather cheap. Just get a Douk U3 amp and universal power supply (use the M5 or Toshiba DC tip to fit onto the U3 amp) to bring out the sound much more and these sheepskin leather ear pads with hifiman mounting rings and cooling gel headband padding cover to keep the HE-4XX still and seal in the bass for longer periods of time:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005479915815.html

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Charger-Samsung-Notebook-Ultrabook/dp/B0953JFGW5/

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Basics-Adapter-Subwoofer-Gold-Plated/dp/B01D5H8JW0/

https://www.amazon.com/Cooling-Gel-Headband-Protector-Compatible-Headphones/dp/B094Y67C21/

(Get sheepskin leather for longer-term use)
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832854343529.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004456196179.html

Lastly, if you want to listen to DSD files or MQA for Tidal, then get this DAC/amp:

https://www.amazon.com/HiBy-Headphone-Replaceable-Hardware-Microphone/dp/B0C7TVC7SD/
 
Sep 26, 2023 at 10:33 PM Post #23 of 90
pbui44 said:
The HE-4XX does need an amp and mods to really bring out the sound and some bass impact, yet you can all of this for rather cheap. Just get a Douk U3 amp and universal power supply (use the M5 or Toshiba DC tip to fit onto the U3 amp) to bring out the sound much more and these sheepskin leather ear pads with hifiman mounting rings and cooling gel headband padding cover to keep the HE-4XX still and seal in the bass for longer periods of time:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005479915815.html

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Charger-Samsung-Notebook-Ultrabook/dp/B0953JFGW5/

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Basics-Adapter-Subwoofer-Gold-Plated/dp/B01D5H8JW0/

https://www.amazon.com/Cooling-Gel-Headband-Protector-Compatible-Headphones/dp/B094Y67C21/

(Get sheepskin leather for longer-term use)
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832854343529.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004456196179.html

Lastly, if you want to listen to DSD files or MQA for Tidal, then get this DAC/amp:

https://www.amazon.com/HiBy-Headphone-Replaceable-Hardware-Microphone/dp/B0C7TVC7SD/
Click to expand...
MQA is being quickly phased out by Tidal.
 
Sep 26, 2023 at 10:42 PM Post #25 of 90
MQA has been skewered in the audio press for the past couple of years. TIDAL went to true lossless hi-res in the Spring. It still has MQA files on its premium service but is moving to replace them.

If one has MQA capability fine but buying anything new - it’s not going to useful unless you’ve got some stashed away on a drive somewhere.
 
Sep 27, 2023 at 11:28 AM Post #26 of 90
pbui44 said:
The HE-4XX does need an amp and mods to really bring out the sound and some bass impact, yet you can all of this for rather cheap. Just get a Douk U3 amp and universal power supply (use the M5 or Toshiba DC tip to fit onto the U3 amp) to bring out the sound much more and these sheepskin leather ear pads with hifiman mounting rings and cooling gel headband padding cover to keep the HE-4XX still and seal in the bass for longer periods of time:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005479915815.html

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Charger-Samsung-Notebook-Ultrabook/dp/B0953JFGW5/

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Basics-Adapter-Subwoofer-Gold-Plated/dp/B01D5H8JW0/

https://www.amazon.com/Cooling-Gel-Headband-Protector-Compatible-Headphones/dp/B094Y67C21/

(Get sheepskin leather for longer-term use)
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832854343529.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004456196179.html

Lastly, if you want to listen to DSD files or MQA for Tidal, then get this DAC/amp:

https://www.amazon.com/HiBy-Headphone-Replaceable-Hardware-Microphone/dp/B0C7TVC7SD/
Click to expand...
Sheepskin leather? Upgrading my HE4XX sounds nice. Is there a way to get Dekoni Sheepskin onto them?
 
Sep 28, 2023 at 8:10 AM Post #28 of 90
Well pretty much decided on Schiit entry level combo of Magni+ and the other one, good enough for me. Will still cost 400 euro with cables, then 25% VAT on top of that and shipping. So a bit over budget. But keen to get the best out of planar magnetic headphones. Even if they're entry-level. Thanks for advice everyone!
 
Sep 28, 2023 at 8:28 AM Post #29 of 90
squidman said:
Well pretty much decided on Schiit entry level combo of Magni+ and the other one, good enough for me. Will still cost 400 euro with cables, then 25% VAT on top of that and shipping. So a bit over budget. But keen to get the best out of planar magnetic headphones. Even if they're entry-level. Thanks for advice everyone!
Click to expand...

Before you buy that Schiit stack, check out this stack with comparable power output in balanced mode, DSD playback, and very likely a cheaper overall cost, even with VAT included:

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Fanmusic-Truthear-Lossless-Portable-Amplifier-black/dp/B0BRSQFYM1/

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Youkamoo-Balanced-Silver-Headphone-Adapter/dp/B07WTQ9M9B/

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Desktop-Balanced-Headphone-Amplifier-Control/dp/B097BVP4S9/

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Compatible-Hifiman-HE-400I-Headphones-Replacement/dp/B07M64NPMS/

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Geekria-...patible-Headphones-Cooling-gel/dp/B094Y67C21/

If you must have the highest power output for its price, then just substitute the Sabaj A20h above with the Schiit Magnius here and get the rest of the stuff from Amazon DE above:

https://www.schiit-europe.com/product/magnius-balanced-headphone-amp-and-preamp/

Hopefully, those AE links from my last post will ship to your country as well. Either way, good luck on your listening ventures! :)
 
Last edited:
Sep 28, 2023 at 9:03 AM Post #30 of 90
Thanks, will check them out!
 
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