[hemipowered007]

This insane contraption is the first thing that came to my mind. For that ugly design alone I have no interest in the 400i, and for the price of the 560. Am I the only person who thinks the he4 is comfortable? Especially with the Beyer repl headband. I do wish the pads were deeper though.

 

[Thujone]

I thought of the Abyss as well. At least the grip on the new HFM is built into the headband, whereas the Abyss is adjustable at the top, making it a one-size-fits-one kind of headphone.
 
Between the look and the rumors of it being single ended, it definitely seems like the Abyss was a big influence here. I won't lie, I'm kinda scratching my neck like a HFM addict... No headphone company impresses me like they do.

 

[jerg]

  I thought of the Abyss as well. At least the grip on the new HFM is built into the headband, whereas the Abyss is adjustable at the top, making it a one-size-fits-one kind of headphone.
 
Between the look and the rumors of it being single ended, it definitely seems like the Abyss was a big influence here. I won't lie, I'm kinda scratching my neck like a HFM addict... No headphone company impresses me like they do.

The curious thing is that the Abyss's magnet array is on the ear-side, while the HE4 (and presumably the new HFMs)'s are on the outward-facing side of the drivers. Obviously this difference would impart drastically different sonics.

 

[kothganesh]

  ^^ Or you could look at it like this. It's a perfect time to get a good deal on a tried and true model. Given HFM history of several revisions this might be the safer route to go. 

I am not going to buy any more Hifiman cans that have not been approved by the triumvirate of Matt, MLE and Preproman 

. I already have the HE4 and the Emotiva based on their recommendations. 

 

[Thujone]

  The curious thing is that the Abyss's magnet array is on the ear-side, while the HE4 (and presumably the new HFMs)'s are on the outward-facing side of the drivers. Obviously this difference would impart drastically different sonics.

Oooooo, I wasn't aware of that. Bizarre...

 

[Rinx7]

 Am I the only person who thinks the he4 is comfortable?

 
No, you're not. They are some of the most comfortable headphones I have used.

 

[MattTCG]

^^ +1 
 
The lightest of the full sized planars. Perfectly comfy to me. 

 

[priler]

  The drivers are redesigned too, the HE400i and HE560 are not just new headbands.

 
 
  ...and don't forget he-4 = 38 ohms,86 DB,..he-400i = 35 ohms,about 93-94 DB.
 
  More info and time for reviews is needed.

 

[Rinx7]

Interesting. I wonder how they managed to make the designs so much more efficient than the earlier single ended ones.

 

[Thujone]

I don't think being single ended has anything to do with efficiency. The HE-6 for example. Least efficient, double ended.

 

[hemipowered007]

Look what showed up today. Now, listened to 3 tracks, and do not know where I stand yet. Vs the pioneer, the bass tightened up, but damn all my warmth went out the window! Need a few days to decide if this stays or I return and go tube instead, lyr or ember.

EDIT

A few albums in now, emotiva is a heavy contender here, for 170 shipped, this bad boy can generate some clean clean power for the he4. Cant run my mags or the shure 840s without hiss, would need resistors. The emotiva excels at bass control and detail vs my sx727, but the 727 has this ever forgiving warmth to it that i miss. Blacker background vs the pioneer, but that is likely due to me not replacing all caps and resistors during "rehab". I feel like im also losing some airyness for some reason. I really figured i would gain detail and imaging, which i have, but thought that airyness would stay on the same level. For some reason, the emotiva has left some behind, which isnt a huge deal but i do notice it. I feel, excited for some gains, but let down by others. I want to believe if i go back and finish m pioneer it would end up being the winner, if i can get the bass control on par. I need to see what this mini does with my klh model sixes, because with the pioneer they are absolutely outstanding, great mid forward speakers. Dont get me wrong, i like the emotiva so far, just dont know if it should be in permanent standing, afterall im in search of my "until im 40 endgame" HP rig.

 

[preproman]

Ummm, interesting.  For me the a-100 plus HE-4 was a bit to bright.  However, they didn't lack any air.  The air was better than any other pairing I had.  Bass response is really good as you pointed out.  Like you - I needed a bit more warmth.  The HE-4 is already a bright and airy headphone.
 
I was using a Ciunas DAC at the time.  That DAC is know to be on the arm side. 

 

[TooPoor]

 I'm very interested in getting HE-4's, but I was wondering if my (new) M Stage HPA-2 (USB) has enough juice for them? Or, rather, has anyone heard this setup yet?

 

[Rinx7]

   I'm very interested in getting HE-4's, but I was wondering if my (new) M Stage HPA-2 (USB) has enough juice for them? Or, rather, has anyone heard this setup yet?

It would be really tight with that amp. I think you would probably need to upgrade. I already am almost maxing my amp which is twice as powerful.

 

[TooPoor]

Project Ember it is!