[Youth]

The issue with the HD650 is that it's ultra amp picky to sound truly great.

 

 
For once I agree with you 

 

[ChesterYonany]

Anyone bend the Headband to lessen the clamping force?

 
yea, quite a bit
i couldn't really use them before i did some stretching.
stock i felt like the headphones are trying to crush my skull, and i don't have a big head at all.
 
bend the steel band from the 90 degree angles on each side, use some force but still be gentle

 

[Nautrachkfriend]

Got my 400i's today. I am enjoying the comfort a lot compared to the LCD2's (they can get heavy at times). The sound right off the bat is surprisingly good, better than I expected, I have high hopes for these headphones.
 
Now I just can't wait to see how they sound after the 150 hour mark!

 

[bavinck]

yea, quite a bit
i couldn't really use them before i did some stretching.
stock i felt like the headphones are trying to crush my skull, and i don't have a big head at all.

bend the steel band from the 90 degree angles on each side, use some force but still be gentle

Oh ya.... Mm mm.... Much better

 

[chowmein83]

  What is your experience comparing the HD-700 with the HE-400i?

 
The HD700 and the 400i have noticeably different presentations. The HD700 in a sense sounds more like the HD800 - with a big soundstage (in terms of both width and depth), upper-mid and treble emphasis, and sounds a bit dry because it somewhat lacks "texture" (though I find that to be true for all dynamic driver headphones I have heard in comparison to planar magnetic headphones). The HE-400i overall sounds warmer, with a noticeably smaller soundstage (mostly in width) and has the texturing to all sounds that I really like.
 
For mids and highs, the HD700 has much more energy than the HE-400i. For bass, while the HD700 has a surprising amount of good quality and harder-hitting bass, I feel that the 400i still has the more solid-feeling, textured, and detailed bass.
 
Personally, while I really like the HD700, to me the 400i sounds more natural, mainly because the HD700 sometimes has too much treble. For example, with cymbals the HD700 sounds like somewhat of a mess because its too overdone. With the 400i, you don't get any of that.

 

[Doneko]

Thanks!
I agree, the HD-700 can sound a bit dry, this is why I wanted to try something different.

 

[Sonic Defender]

At our meet today most people were quite impressed by the 400i. An LCD 3f owner felt the bass on the 400i was bang on (he wasn't as crazy about the treble feeling it needed to be still more neutral). I don't agree myself on the treble, but my hearing perhaps isn't as sensitive as his so that might explain this. Anyway, the more I use the 400i the more I realize how much I like them.

 

[bavinck]

At our meet today most people were quite impressed by the 400i. An LCD 3f owner felt the bass on the 400i was bang on (he wasn't as crazy about the treble feeling it needed to be still more neutral). I don't agree myself on the treble, but my hearing perhaps isn't as sensitive as his so that might explain this. Anyway, the more I use the 400i the more I realize how much I like them.

Did he feel the treble was too dark or bright?

 

[mysticstryk]

OK, so regarding the hd650 vs 400i this guys describes if very well. Not everyone is into jazz, but jazz is very good for testing the sonic abilities of a headphone due to its inability to hide inperfection in the music.

Check it:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/762957/from-sennheiser-hd-650-to-hifiman-he-400i-theres-no-way-back

 
That was one of many comparisons that helped me decide on picking up the 400i!
 

Anyone bend the Headband to lessen the clamping force?

 
After the clamping force of my hd650, the 400i rests on my ears like pillows.
 
 
 
I'm really bummed that my cable wasn't functioning properly.  They are just looking pretty sitting on my desk, not able to listen to them while I wait for a replacement.

 

[Sonic Defender]

Did he feel the treble was too dark or bright?

Through his Schiit Rag and Yggy stack he felt it was too bright and that was using my Norne Audio Solv X cable. He didn't feel it was bad, but he did prefer treble like the HD 650 presents. Who knows, the 650 is too rolled off for me, but again, maybe his hearing acuity for higher frequencies is better than mine?

 

[chicaman]

Newbie in Headphones here

I just bought my HE400i and waiting for shipments arrival. Can anyone recommend any good amp for it with budget of below $80? Since it is a Planar I supposed a normal amps should be able to drive it well.

 

[bavinck]

Through his Schiit Rag and Yggy stack he felt it was too bright and that was using my Norne Audio Solv X cable. He didn't feel it was bad, but he did prefer treble like the HD 650 presents. Who knows, the 650 is too rolled off for me, but again, maybe his hearing acuity for higher frequencies is better than mine?

Nah, I think the 650 lacks extension (if that is what he was referring to) . I think the 400i is pretty darn neutral.

 

[fjrabon]

Newbie in Headphones here

I just bought my HE400i and waiting for shipments arrival. Can anyone recommend any good amp for it with budget of below $80? Since it is a Planar I supposed a normal amps should be able to drive it well.

Sounded good with my Millett SSHM. You can build them for~$50 or buy an already made one for around $80

 

[bracko]

Sounded good with my Millett SSHM. You can build them for~$50 or buy an already made one for around $80

Who sells them?

 

[sghound]

Anyone bend the Headband to lessen the clamping force?

 
the clamping force of the hd650 is epic fail.
 
u're gonna so love the 400i comfort. makes u listen for much longer.