MattTCG
Headphoneus Supremus
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I wish that I was able to attend meets and try out new stuff. Nothing ever around Atlanta.
**Hifiman HE-400 Impressions and Discussion Thread**
- Thread starter MattTCG
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Quote:
Well I read many times that the difference between the 400s & 500s was more a matter of sound signature than anything else.
The way I understood this is: the 400s are on par with the 500s in a technical standpoint. This is not what I hear but I must admit it's still very good for $400, tonal balanced aside.
Well I read many times that the difference between the 400s & 500s was more a matter of sound signature than anything else.
The way I understood this is: the 400s are on par with the 500s in a technical standpoint. This is not what I hear but I must admit it's still very good for $400, tonal balanced aside.
preproman
Headphoneus Supremus
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I'm not sure I understand this statement at all. Or should I say it's not unusual to me at all. Would it be better the other way around?
I have a few sub $500 headphones I just love on all my +$1000 amps..
I'm not sure I understand this statement at all. Or should I say it's not unusual to me at all. Would it be better the other way around?
I have a few sub $500 headphones I just love on all my +$1000 amps..
MattTCG
Headphoneus Supremus
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^^ You have too much gear. I offer to take some to help you declutter your home.
preproman
Headphoneus Supremus
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More coming in as some go out.
Quote:
I think what he means is that people that are on the early days of their Head-fi journey will try to match the prices of their gears. Those for which the HE-400 is the best (most expensive) headphone they've ever owned, might not already own +$1000 amps to pair it with.
You definitely don't belong to this category. According to your sig, you seem more advanced in your journey. In the present case, you're more the kind of Head-fier who would try the HE-400 "for fun" just to see how far $400 can get you compared to the +$1000 headphones you already own. In your point of view, you see no reason why you should not use the +$1000 amps you own with it (and you would be wrong not to use them
). I bought the HE-400 for the very same reason, though I didn't quite reach the same level of prices (my gears are more in the $500-700 range, each).
I think what he means is that people that are on the early days of their Head-fi journey will try to match the prices of their gears. Those for which the HE-400 is the best (most expensive) headphone they've ever owned, might not already own +$1000 amps to pair it with.
You definitely don't belong to this category. According to your sig, you seem more advanced in your journey. In the present case, you're more the kind of Head-fier who would try the HE-400 "for fun" just to see how far $400 can get you compared to the +$1000 headphones you already own. In your point of view, you see no reason why you should not use the +$1000 amps you own with it (and you would be wrong not to use them
). I bought the HE-400 for the very same reason, though I didn't quite reach the same level of prices (my gears are more in the $500-700 range, each).
preproman
Headphoneus Supremus
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Quote:
WOW - how did you get all of that out of that little statement
I think what he means is that people that are on the early days of their Head-fi journey will try to match the prices of their gears. Those for which the HE-400 is the best (most expensive) headphone they've ever owned, might not already own +$1000 amps to pair it with.
You definitely don't belong to this category. According to your sig, you seem more advanced in your journey. In the present case, you're more the kind of Head-fier who would try the HE-400 "for fun" just to see how far $400 can get you compared to the +$1000 headphones you already own. In your point of view, you see no reason why you should not use the +$1000 amps you own with it (and you would be wrong not to use them
WOW - how did you get all of that out of that little statement
bcpk
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Yeah I broke my own limits on this one
WOW - how did you get all of that out of that little statement
Yeah I broke my own limits on this one
Quote:
I don't know where the difference between "slam" and "dynamic" lies, but the 500s definitely has more of the former with the SA-31.
I mostly agree with the rest, except I wouldn't call the 400s "laid-back" due to their shinier treble, actually. Maybe the dark signature?
Originally Posted by jerg
HE400: more dynamic-sounding, laid-back, holographic, extremely clean tight bass, shinier treble
HE500: more extended, smoother, more neutral with a warm tilt, blacker background and more transparent
I don't know where the difference between "slam" and "dynamic" lies, but the 500s definitely has more of the former with the SA-31.
I mostly agree with the rest, except I wouldn't call the 400s "laid-back" due to their shinier treble, actually. Maybe the dark signature?
wje
Unmodified = Not worth listening to.
Quote:
Have you considered moving? While I'm probably only about 550 miles from you, it was 27(F) when I cleared the windows on my car. I'm sure the Atlanta climate might be more my speed.
On the other hand, if it came down to me choosing between headphone meets, or having those ultimate headphone stores like they have overseas, I'd take the headphone shop:
I wish that I was able to attend meets and try out new stuff. Nothing ever around Atlanta.
Have you considered moving? While I'm probably only about 550 miles from you, it was 27(F) when I cleared the windows on my car. I'm sure the Atlanta climate might be more my speed.
On the other hand, if it came down to me choosing between headphone meets, or having those ultimate headphone stores like they have overseas, I'd take the headphone shop:
Madmollusk
100+ Head-Fier
Quote:
Fascinating. My impressions (with male vocals in particular) are exactly the opposite of yours. I spent a few hours myself A/B ing the he-400 and he-500 and Lenard Cohen sounds absolutely, unequivocally amazing, and in no way does he or any other male with a commanding voice sound in the least bit dull. It's the same with Nick Cave, Beck, Brenden Parry (Dead Can Dance fame), Lou Reed, Danzig, Tom Waits, and even Andrew Bird and Tom Yorke. All these guys to varying degrees sound fully realized, alive, nuanced and crackling with energy--and that's a wide rage of male voices too. And yes, the he-400, to my ears at least, genuinely outperforms the he-500 with regard to most male vocalist but falls far short with female vocalist almost every time. Now maybe my gear isn't expensive enough to tease out the differences in the low and mid-low frequencies between theses headphones, but I do have 3 amps: the fiio e9, the Little Dot MkIII, and a vintage Kenwood receiver, and none of these amp choices can change the he-400's or he-500's low-end and low midrange reproduction, especially with male vocalist. Also, (I've mentioned this before) the he-400's sound-stage is more holographic and coherent to my ears. Now, I'm in no way saying the he-400 is better than the he-500 (it certainly is not), but to my ears, the he-400 excels in a few choice areas, while the he-500 does everything right at the expense of excelling in one or two focused areas. Different folks, different ears, I guess, but the disparity between our impressions is rather dramatic. Maybe I have a special he-400 after all. (I still have my rev 3 btw
) Or maybe this is just another headphone mystery.
Fascinating. My impressions (with male vocals in particular) are exactly the opposite of yours. I spent a few hours myself A/B ing the he-400 and he-500 and Lenard Cohen sounds absolutely, unequivocally amazing, and in no way does he or any other male with a commanding voice sound in the least bit dull. It's the same with Nick Cave, Beck, Brenden Parry (Dead Can Dance fame), Lou Reed, Danzig, Tom Waits, and even Andrew Bird and Tom Yorke. All these guys to varying degrees sound fully realized, alive, nuanced and crackling with energy--and that's a wide rage of male voices too. And yes, the he-400, to my ears at least, genuinely outperforms the he-500 with regard to most male vocalist but falls far short with female vocalist almost every time. Now maybe my gear isn't expensive enough to tease out the differences in the low and mid-low frequencies between theses headphones, but I do have 3 amps: the fiio e9, the Little Dot MkIII, and a vintage Kenwood receiver, and none of these amp choices can change the he-400's or he-500's low-end and low midrange reproduction, especially with male vocalist. Also, (I've mentioned this before) the he-400's sound-stage is more holographic and coherent to my ears. Now, I'm in no way saying the he-400 is better than the he-500 (it certainly is not), but to my ears, the he-400 excels in a few choice areas, while the he-500 does everything right at the expense of excelling in one or two focused areas. Different folks, different ears, I guess, but the disparity between our impressions is rather dramatic. Maybe I have a special he-400 after all. (I still have my rev 3 btw
IIRC, one fellow head-fier here owns (or owned) 3 pairs of this headphone, all 3 sounded different...
Madmollusk
100+ Head-Fier
Quote:
That's really too bad! I really hate the headphone lottery that some headphone companies force you to play (Cough--Beyerdynamic--cough), but it looks like HiFiman may have some quality control issues too. Oh well. Nice comparing notes with you though.
That's really too bad! I really hate the headphone lottery that some headphone companies force you to play (Cough--Beyerdynamic--cough), but it looks like HiFiman may have some quality control issues too. Oh well. Nice comparing notes with you though.
Quote:
I don't know if cost is important but power is, especially for the HE-500. Now that the Gugni is out, powerfull and cheap seem to be possible nowadays.
I don't know about the Kenwood but the Little Dot is too weak for the HE-500. The Fiio has more than adequate power but its output impedance might not be adequate for the low impedance orthos.
I don't know if cost is important but power is, especially for the HE-500. Now that the Gugni is out, powerfull and cheap seem to be possible nowadays.
I don't know about the Kenwood but the Little Dot is too weak for the HE-500. The Fiio has more than adequate power but its output impedance might not be adequate for the low impedance orthos.
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