Okay, yikes. Things are getting crazy in here.
@abablitz I have listened to the HE-4 with the Vali and it sounds great. The problem is that the Vali on the borderline of being underpowered. If you have any quiet recordings, or if Modi isn't as loud as Bifrost (not sure, never tried Modi), you may have issues getting enough volume out of the Vali. The Asgard would probably be fine, though I would just recommend getting Project Ember for another $100.
@money4me247 I'm not sure what you have against the HE-4, but you have definitely made that much clear, lol. I understand where you are coming from though. There is a pretty big following for a headphone that is way under the radar, for a headphone that most would automatically assume is inferior to its brethren. What I think you're having a hard time realizing is that 95%+ of the people that have tried the HE-4 more than happy with it. Most of us (including myself) would say that it's the best headphone purchase they've made. Now as far as the HE-400i goes, here is how I would respond to your reasons to wait:
-Single ended.
Who cares, the HE-4 is already single ended. 350g.
-More comfortable.
I didn't realize there was a comfort issue in the first place.
-More efficient.
Yes, okay, it's nice that they are moving in this direction. But... it doesn't change the fact that I'll still be using Ember and that the HE-4 doesn't not struggle as much as people think with lesser amps.
-Need a $400 amp for the HE-4.
I'm not sure that this statement is worth countering. It's just bloody ignorant.
Now here are things that you should also consider:
-HiFiMan's revision history with the HE-400.
-The HE-4 is now discontinued, there won't be much stock left in the near future.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm tickled pink by these new HFM. I'm a major HFM fanboy, haha. That said, I'm just as excited as most people are (and who knows how long I'll be able to hold out before buying a pair). Still though, the HE-4 is a wonderful headphone, and truth be told, bottom line, we still know nothing about the HE-400i and HE-560. It's not really fair for you to not recommend a headphone you haven't listened to and also recommend a headphone nobody has listened to (this is also against the forum rules). Us HE-4 enthusiasts are biased for good reason. HFM produced a headphone that is easily twice as good as the HE-400 for only $50 more, yet the HE-400 thread is over 1000 pages long and the HE-4 thread is barely pushing 100. I think I speak for everyone who's had experience with both headphones when I say that this is a bit frustrating.
@raxx I'm really glad you are enjoying the setup. What output impedance are you enjoying the most? The amount of air you can achieve with the HE-4+Ember is amazing... never gets old.
