[Billheiser]

Can we say the he400i is the best headphone under $500 ?

I wouldn't. Am happy to say it's a contender, and no sweat if u say it's the one. But in my opinion it's at best #2, and I haven't heard all of its competitors.

 

[Kozic]

Can we say the he400i is the best headphone under $500 ?

You have to be careful with the "best" you have open,closed,warm,fun,balanced all have very different sounds. Asking if its the best open warm sounding under $500 maybe a better question. I just picked up a pair of T90 for under $400 and love them but they are a different sound. Still may pick up a pair of HE-400i .......oh hell I will at some time.

 

[Ekul61]

Good price but kind of redundant in my view. I have the audition set and own the 400 and other than the 400 having better bass they are very similar to each other.

I thought the 400! Was considered quite a different sound. I like the 400 but do believe they lack midrange. Hope the 400i solves this

 

[wje]

Can we say the he400i is the best headphone under $500 ?

 
As others have mentioned, "Best" is very subjective regardless of what it is.  The HE-400i is a good value for the price and is, what I believe, a direct result of many of the contributions made through various comments, modifications and tweaks that were performed by many to the Hifiman headphones on this site.  It appears to me that Hifiman was carefully reading the posts and listening to what customers who owned their current products were saying.  Many of the gripes that I had, were resolved with the HE-400i.  To be honest, I didn't think the 400i would undergo so many changes.  As others say, the HE-400i is different beast than the HE-400.  I'm a bit surprised that Hifiman didn't label it the HE-460i. It would seem more fitting - in my view.

You have to be careful with the "best" you have open,closed,warm,fun,balanced all have very different sounds. Asking if its the best open warm sounding under $500 maybe a better question. I just picked up a pair of T90 for under $400 and love them but they are a different sound. Still may pick up a pair of HE-400i .......oh hell I will at some time.

 
I can agree with you.  I also happened to own the T90s for a short period of time.  I found a new pair right in the price range of where you purchased yours.  To me, it didn't offer enough of a jump over the Beyerdynamic DT-770.  Or rather, that was just how I perceived it.  Granted, they did use the Tesla technology with the T90 model. 
 
For nuts like me, to narrow down a top-5 on headphones would mean that the "5" would most likely transition on and off that list based on past purchase history.  But, that's just me and I'm trying to mend my addiction spending habits.

 

[jerg]

   
As others have mentioned, "Best" is very subjective regardless of what it is.  The HE-400i is a good value for the price and is, what I believe, a direct result of many of the contributions made through various comments, modifications and tweaks that were performed by many to the Hifiman headphones on this site.  It appears to me that Hifiman was carefully reading the posts and listening to what customers who owned their current products were saying.  Many of the gripes that I had, were resolved with the HE-400i.  To be honest, I didn't think the 400i would undergo so many changes.  As others say, the HE-400i is different beast than the HE-400.  I'm a bit surprised that Hifiman didn't label it the HE-460i. It would seem more fitting - in my view.
 
I can agree with you.  I also happened to own the T90s for a short period of time.  I found a new pair right in the price range of where you purchased yours.  To me, it didn't offer enough of a jump over the Beyerdynamic DT-770.  Or rather, that was just how I perceived it.  Granted, they did use the Tesla technology with the T90 model. 
 
For nuts like me, to narrow down a top-5 on headphones would mean that the "5" would most likely transition on and off that list based on past purchase history.  But, that's just me and I'm trying to mend my addiction spending habits.

Shoulda been named HE450.

 

[Ekul61]

Has anyone returned their 400i because they lacked base? Thx

 

[MattTCG]

Has anyone returned their 400i because they lacked base? Thx

 
Um...not me. 

 

[swspiers]

Has anyone returned their 400i because they lacked base?

These are not bass-head cans, so it wouldn't surprise me.  But the bass is deep, tight, controlled, and detailed. Anyone returning for a lack of it ignored the research and comments, assuming they read this thread or other reviews.

 

[Kozic]

 
I can agree with you.  I also happened to own the T90s for a short period of time.  I found a new pair right in the price range of where you purchased yours.  To me, it didn't offer enough of a jump over the Beyerdynamic DT-770.  Or rather, that was just how I perceived it.  Granted, they did use the Tesla technology with the T90 model. 
 
For nuts like me, to narrow down a top-5 on headphones would mean that the "5" would most likely transition on and off that list based on past purchase history.  But, that's just me and I'm trying to mend my addiction spending habits.

Hey Wje
would you say the difference between the T90 and the HE400i is worth having both? I have the HE400 now too I was going to sell them if I went for the HE400i.

 

[noobandroid]

comparing HE400i with my trust old Q701, this is my first day with the HE400i, and dang~ it's a big contrast compared to Q701

 

[ethan7000]

Can we say the he400i is the best headphone under $500 ?

Having heard or owned most of the favorites on head-fi, I can't think of a headphone I would prefer under $500. It depends heavily on the genres of music you listen to though. I listen to just about everything except hard rock/metal/country. Mostly EDM, indie, female vocals, jazz.

 

[Zoom25]

So are the HE-400i better than HE-500?

 

[MattTCG]

  So are the HE-400i better than HE-500?

 
They are more similar than anything else IMO. But the 400i is king of comfort and efficiency. 

 

[Zoom25]

   
They are more similar than anything else IMO. But the 400i is king of comfort and efficiency. 

I see. How are the 400i racking up to HD800?

 

[MattTCG]

  I see. How are the 400i racking up to HD800?

 
Completely different animal alltogether. The he560 would be a better comparison.