[swspiers]

modi/magni are a bit thin sounding.  Other amps and dacs will be a little thicker in the bass (although not to the point of transforming headphones.)

I just hear things so differently, and find the Magni as anything but 'thin' sounding. Seems perfectly flat and neutral to me. The 400i's sound like the 400i's no matter what amp/Dac I use.

 

[TMRaven]

Of course it will sound like the he-400i no matter what amp/dac you use.  However, there are thicker sounding amps that still measure flat from 20hz-20khz with distortion and noise below audible levels.

 

[fonesfones]

Could someone give me a basic idea of the difference between the i and non i?

 

[jerg]

Could someone give me a basic idea of the difference between the i and non i?

Completely different headphones in terms of sound. Even Hifiman admitted that the naming was mostly a mishap.

 

[money4me247]

  Here is my problem (and it is my problem, not the headphone's).  Tracks such as the Hans Zimmer only point out more starkly the difference in bass between the two headphones.  I can almost hear what you are describing, that the bass on the 400i is clearer, there may be some "muddiness" there with the HP150.
 
Harsh treble seems to bother me, so I am trying to stay away from a "V" shape response.  I'm wondering if what I want is something just slightly elevated at the low end, and slightly less on the high end.
 
I am using a Modi/Magni stack BTW.
 
This is fun!

hahah i don't think you have a 'problem.' it's just a preference type thing! If you really prefer a more rumbly bass, I would stick to closed headphones. You should try the V-Moda M100s and see if you prefer that over the HP150. If you do, you just like more basshead-y type headphones, and there's nothing wrong with that. Or if you are trying to find something at the $500ish level, there is the TH600 which has a pretty nice bass.

 

[money4me247]

Could someone give me a basic idea of the difference between the i and non i?

If you really like bass and are on a budget, I would go old HE-400. Otherwise, the HE-400i is tuned to be more neutral and 'audiophiley'

 

[Ekul61]

Here is my problem (and it is my problem, not the headphone's).  Tracks such as the Hans Zimmer only point out more starkly the difference in bass between the two headphones.  I can almost hear what you are describing, that the bass on the 400i is clearer, there may be some "muddiness" there with the HP150.

Harsh treble seems to bother me, so I am trying to stay away from a "V" shape response.  I'm wondering if what I want is something just slightly elevated at the low end, and slightly less on the high end.

I am using a Modi/Magni stack BTW.

This is fun!

what the 400i give u is more midrange clearity.and comfort. 400 make you feel like the bass player is right in your room and much larger sound stage.more seperation of instruments. But less comfort

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

I'm most likely going to go with the OG 400, for sure. As better, as more refined, as accurate as the 400i may be, they will never be what I want out of my sound.

 

[TMRaven]

I'm most likely going to go with the OG 400, for sure. As better, as more refined, as accurate as the 400i may be, they will never be what I want out of my sound.

 
I think you should get the 400i anyways.  With the 400 you're just going to sell it after a month or two like you've done with the rest of your headphones.  At least with the 400i you don't know whether or not you'll sell it due to comfort/sound reasons.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

I've had my current headphones for about half a year now, if not longer. I no longer buy headphones on a whim. This is why I want to go back to the 400 and stay there. Buyi g the 400i now would be stupid as it's not the type of sound I want, and $500 for a headphone with a signature that isn't to my preference makes no sense.

 

[TMRaven]

You don't know if it's the type of sound you don't want; you haven't heard it yet I presume?
 
With the 400 you might start complaining that you can't EQ it with all your audio interfaces and sell it for a 2nd or 3rd time or whatever.  It's also not like the the 400i is bass-lite either, and it isn't like you've loved headphones with less bass than the 400.
 
Anyways give it a chance.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

I know the faults of the 400 well enough, and I was quite content with it otherwise. Selling them back then was just me wanting to try new things. I no longer have that sort of desire.

And yes, I have loved headphones with less bass, yet not as main headphones. I want the 400 as my main and otherwise.

 

[Zoom25]

I don't know where the 400i falls with regards to amping, but HE-500 on some TOTL speaker amps seriously kicked ass. They moved air like no one's business.

 

[conquerator2]

I've had my current headphones for about half a year now, if not longer. I no longer buy headphones on a whim. This is why I want to go back to the 400 and stay there. Buyi g the 400i now would be stupid as it's not the type of sound I want, and $500 for a headphone with a signature that isn't to my preference makes no sense.

I am thinking the MDR-Z7 is looking very promising. By all accounts, it seems to be like a specced up MA900... It certainly piques my interest.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Its closed. Nothing like the MA900...