[DavidA]

  Thank god they're using a new connector. I've had my pair for all of two weeks and I've gone through TWO cables -- one cable was DOA, and the sound would cut out in one speaker if I moved the 3.5mm connector the wrong way, and now the replacement cable just disconnected from the part where it screws on (the cable itself came apart, not where it connects to the headphone) after just less than two weeks of use. Guess I'm just unlucky...

You are really unlucky, I have the three original cables from my HE-400, 400i and 560, a sliver plated copper from head-direct, and none have given me any problems.  I've also built 6 additional cables of different lengths using Canare and Mogami wire for my 3 SennGrado's and TH-600 which I have installed the SMC connectors on.  When I tired my friends HE-400S in Japan last week the new connectors can get lose over time it they get accidently yanked a few times and will create some static, the screw on SMC connectors are a better solution IMO, or even the mini-XLR that Audeze and AKG use.

 

[Daveed84]

  You are really unlucky, I have the three original cables from my HE-400, 400i and 560, a sliver plated copper from head-direct, and none have given me any problems.  I've also built 6 additional cables of different lengths using Canare and Mogami wire for my 3 SennGrado's and TH-600 which I have installed the SMC connectors on.  When I tired my friends HE-400S in Japan last week the new connectors can get lose over time it they get accidently yanked a few times and will create some static, the screw on SMC connectors are a better solution IMO, or even the mini-XLR that Audeze and AKG use.

 
Well that sort of gives me pause, maybe I should invest in some custom cables with the screw connectors...

 

[DavidA]

   
Well that sort of gives me pause, maybe I should invest in some custom cables with the screw connectors...

I tried some of the cheaper ones on ebay and they were ok, they were made using Canare star-quad wire which I think is pretty good but for my SennGrado's I went with Mogmi wire, its a little more flexible and lighter.

 

[Daveed84]

  I tried some of the cheaper ones on ebay and they were ok, they were made using Canare star-quad wire which I think is pretty good but for my SennGrado's I went with Mogmi wire, its a little more flexible and lighter.

 
Any cheap ones you'd recommend? The stock cable is OK except for these quality control issues, so things like length, material, etc. aren't necessarily things I care about changing
 
EDIT: I should probably note that I'd prefer to keep the 3.5mm connector type

 

[DavidA]

   
Any cheap ones you'd recommend? The stock cable is OK except for these quality control issues, so things like length, material, etc. aren't necessarily things I care about changing
 
EDIT: I should probably note that I'd prefer to keep the 3.5mm connector type

take a look at these two, I got the longer one and its pretty good for the price.  If you can build your own it would cost about $40 it you DIY for the 10ft one and $34 for the 5ft.
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-HiFiMAN-HE-5-HE-6-HE-300-HE-400-HE-500-HE-560-HE-400i-Headphone-Cable-/121692535104?hash=item1c5570b940
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-HiFiMAN-HE-5-HE-6-HE-300-HE-400-HE-500-HE-560-Headphone-Neutrik-Canare-Cable/171502941211?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D32933%26meid%3D957ae1c4b0c84573931eb8c4919224d1%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D121692535104

 

[Sonic Defender]

I know I'm being lazy after joining this thread late so hopefully a few who have been following it for a while can answer my question. What is the consensus regarding whether or not the 400i is actually an improvement over the original 400? Am I reading correct and the 400i uses new connectors at the cups as opposed to the SMC type? I'm sure I can find pictures of the cups.

 

[coletrain104]

  I know I'm being lazy after joining this thread late so hopefully a few who have been following it for a while can answer my question. What is the consensus regarding whether or not the 400i is actually an improvement over the original 400? Am I reading correct and the 400i uses new connectors at the cups as opposed to the SMC type? I'm sure I can find pictures of the cups.

Owning both, I would say the sound of the 400i is an improvement, though some prefer the original 400. They definitely sound very different, so for some it may just be a preference game. Hifiman just started using the new connectors on newly produced 400i. If you don't buy directly from them, there is still a decent chance you'll get the SMC connectors, I believe.

 

[mandrake50]

  I know I'm being lazy after joining this thread late so hopefully a few who have been following it for a while can answer my question. What is the consensus regarding whether or not the 400i is actually an improvement over the original 400? Am I reading correct and the 400i uses new connectors at the cups as opposed to the SMC type? I'm sure I can find pictures of the cups.

This is a bit of a contentious subject. Some were really disappointed with the 400i because it was such a change from the 400. I greatly prefer the 400i. While the 400 had interesting bass response, it was quite wonky in the upper midrange through treble regions. I spent lots of time and money on mods, pads and amps trying to tame it. The 400i is a much more balanced and neutral sound signature. When I got mine and put them on for the first time (after listening to the 400 for a while), I just smiled... they sounded very nice to my ears. I don't miss much the accentuated bass on the 400. The sacrifice in the rest of the spectrum was just not worth it.  Perhaps for certain genres (that I seldom listen to) the bass response worked, but for general listening, give me the 400i any day.
 
I am sure that there are those that will disagree, but that is my take.

 

[bracko]

 
This is a bit of a contentious subject. Some were really disappointed with the 400i because it was such a change from the 400. I greatly prefer the 400i. While the 400 had interesting bass response, it was quite wonky in the upper midrange through treble regions. I spent lots of time and money on mods, pads and amps trying to tame it. The 400i is a much more balanced and neutral sound signature. When I got mine and put them on for the first time (after listening to the 400 for a while), I just smiled... they sounded very nice to my ears. I don't miss much the accentuated bass on the 400. The sacrifice in the rest of the spectrum was just not worth it.  Perhaps for certain genres (that I seldom listen to) the bass response worked, but for general listening, give me the 400i any day.
 
I am sure that there are those that will disagree, but that is my take.

HE-400i seems to be one of the most appreciated headphones around. Deserved. HE-400i is earning similar reputation to that of HD650/HD600 it seems, for its naturally balanced sound. And from what I have heard/read, both from the headfiers and from various reviewers, there is a consensus that HE-400i is a "better" headphone than HE-400. I can understand though that there are some people who still prefer the HE-400 (a great headphone in its own right). 

 

[mandrake50]

  HE-400i seems to be one of the most appreciated headphones around. Deserved. HE-400i is earning similar reputation to that of HD650/HD600 it seems, for its naturally balanced sound. And from what I have heard/read, both from the headfiers and from various reviewers, there is a consensus that HE-400i is a "better" headphone than HE-400. I can understand though that there are some people who still prefer the HE-400 (a great headphone in its own right).

Yes, the 400 can be impressive with certain genres. My system has changed since I first got them. Using the Jerg pads, grill replacements and damping per Jergs 560 mods, driven by the H10 out of the Pulse Infinity... playing such as EDM, Dubstep etc. They are impressive. They just don't match the 400i as all around, jack of all trades, headphones.

 

[bracko]

  Yes, the 400 can be impressive with certain genres. My system has changed since I first got them. Using the Jerg pads, grill replacements and damping per Jergs 560 mods, driven by the H10 out of the Pulse Infinity... playing such as EDM, Dubstep etc. They are impressive. They just don't match the 400i as all around, jack of all trades, headphones.

Agreed. HE-400i is superb with any kind of music. 

 

[gugman]

The Bass is absolute jaw dropping thing with teac ha 501 and yulong d 100 serving as a dac
 
unbelievable 
 

 

[Tuco1965]

Count me in as another happy 400i user. It's engaging with many genres of music.

 

[DavidA]

Started with HE-400 a few years ago, when the 400i and 560 came out decided to get both and listen to all three together with the intension of just keeping one, ended up keeping all three

, sound signatures are different enough that they provide options to how you want you music to sound.

 

[ChesterYonany]

So after about 2 weeks with the 400i i didnt notice any change in their sound.
the manual mention a 150 hours of burn in, so it might get better later on but i doubt i could tell.
 
still waiting for my Schiit stack