[money4me247]

I dunno Matt. Qhile it may be better, I still prefer the 400's bass over pretty much everything I have heard that was 'better' and more linear. I expect an actual improved 400, with the 400i. This isn't that. It's a different flavor of 500 with less weight. So...I dunno. I'm not denying it be a better can. Just wish it was a better 400, like it's name. Alpha Dog is better than the Mad Dog, yet I still prefer the Mad Dog's balance. DT880 is better than the 990, yet I still prefer the 990, etc, etc.

hey, if you prefer the older version, then you just save lots of money. that's a win. 
 

  Maybe you should still try it out.  Iirc you haven't tried out the HE-500, so how would you know if you like the HE-400i or not?  A major part of the reason that the HE-400's bass is very upfront is because its upper midrange is so laid-back.

+1. @Mad Lust Envy, you should really just try it out & see. reading that the bass quantity is less but quality is better doesn't really mean much until you hear it for yourself & see if it suits you. it's kind of unfair to be upset at a pair of headphones for not being xyz if you haven't gotten a chance to hear them. maybe you like the change better.
 
though interesting note, i feel like our brains get really accustomed to the sound signature of the headphones we use the most often & then anything else that sounds different really just throws us off. that happens to me every time I move to a new pair of headphones. you just have to give new gear a chance.

 

[MichaelJames99]

So I picked up a pair of HE-400's yesterday and have listened to them for about a day.  I am using these 100% for movies.
The HE-400 had what I think is a pretty large soundstage (especially against the Kef M500's I had here).  With Dolby Surround clips I get a pretty good enveloping effect with the panning around my head.  How does the HE-400i compare?  I have some time where I can return the 400's if the 400i is going to be better for movies.
 
Thoughts?

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Maybe you should still try it out.  Iirc you haven't tried out the HE-500, so how would you know if you like the HE-400i or not?  A major part of the reason that the HE-400's bass is very upfront is because its upper midrange is so laid-back.

I've been told I have apologist's ears. As in I can listen to basically any headphone, and like what it does despite its flaws. This is true, though certainly not for awful headphones.

I've heard enough headphones to know that I would like both the 500 and 400i based on all I have read. Certainly not going to find either horrible, lol.

I have also used enough headphones to know that if I spend 500 on a pair of headphones, I don't want a lesser bass presentation than what the 400 has. Remembering that my genres of music are mostly ambient, Chillstep and trip hop.

I have no doubt I would love the 400i. Hell, that kind of signature falls in line with what I'd want out of all rounders. However, my main can I'd like more specialized.

As for the 400. Its still imperfect, and I would've preferred the new weight and comfort. Ah well.

You guys make it sound like it's hard to understand what to expect when reading all the impressions. Some of you are INCREDIBLY good at letting us know what to expect, with other headphones, and they're dead on. Just like I know 100% that the HD800 wouldn't fall in line with my preferences, but the LCD2 did.

 

[MattTCG]

The naming of the models is deceiving. The 400i should be called the 500i based on its tuning.

MLE the offer on the loan for these is still good.

 

[jerg]

The naming of the models is deceiving. The 400i should be called the 500i based on its tuning.

MLE the offer on the loan for these is still good.

It's 400i because they are using a largely modified 400 driver with a new diaphragm substrate I think. Ditto with 560 (modified 500 driver with new diaphragm).

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Give me a little bit, I may take you up on your offer in like a month.

like I said, I KNOW I'll love the 400i. That's not the point here. The point here is that I want an actual improved 400, not 500 lite.

Raven, fully aware its the upper mid recession that makes the bass stand out. I'm 100% fine with that. What I'm not ok with is the sudden spike in treble after that. If they just lowered that spike to a more realistic level, they wouldn't even need to raise the upper mids any, for my taste.

I am half tempted to get a used 400 in the 200 range at some point.

 

[tinyman392]

  It's 400i because they are using a largely modified 400 driver with a new diaphragm substrate I think. Ditto with 560 (modified 500 driver with new diaphragm).

Wait, the 500 was single sided?  Or did they turn mode the driver to a single-sided design?  

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Only the HE4, 400i, and 560 are singled sided. The Abyss as well, though not Hifiman.

 

[MattTCG]

  It's 400i because they are using a largely modified 400 driver with a new diaphragm substrate I think. Ditto with 560 (modified 500 driver with new diaphragm).

 
I understand about the reasoning for the names. BUT it confuses people in terms of the signature. People think 400i means...sounds like an improved 400 when it actually sound like a 500.

 

[Ron12]

   
I understand about the reasoning for the names. BUT it confuses people in terms of the signature. People think 400i means...sounds like an improved 400 when it actually sound like a 500.

 
I don't even understand why HE-400i and HE-560... They could just name them HE-600 and HE-700. And release HE-7 afterwards (successor of HE-6).

 

[garunamodi]

   
I don't even understand why HE-400i and HE-560... They could just name them HE-600 and HE-700. And release HE-7 afterwards (successor of HE-6).

HE-560 was meant to imply between HE500 and HE6.
 
There was, before, a HiFiMan rep who said the HE400i was probably misnamed, as HE450 would have fit better, to imply between the HE400 and HE500.

 

[jerg]

  HE-560 was meant to imply between HE500 and HE6.
 
There was, before, a HiFiMan rep who said the HE400i was probably misnamed, as HE450 would have fit better, to imply between the HE400 and HE500.

Yep. HE450 is much more descriptive of a name than HE400i.

 

[money4me247]

lol what does the "i" stand for anyways? 

 

[Ron12]

  lol what does the "i" stand for anyways? 

 
iCompatible... I guess.

 

[Netforce]

he-400inbetween