[DavidA]

  Okay, now with that new avatar you're just bragging!! Damn, that is some good living my friend.

My GF (left) and her friend Mari who is staying with us for a few days, didn't think anyone would notice my avatar had changed

 

[Secone]

Yeah, all of these amps sound amazing, and definitely out of my current price range lol, my wallet needs a rest for a little while but I did like what i saw with the ember or a tube amp in that price range of some kind at any rate.

 

[DavidA]

Yeah, all of these amps sound amazing, and definitely out of my current price range lol, my wallet needs a rest for a little while but I had been eyeing the valhalla 2, or a tube amp in that price range of some kind at any rate.

wouldn't recommend the Valhalla2 for the HE-400i, its not a hybrid like the Ember and Lyr2.  The Valhalla2 was designed for high impedance headphones like the HD-600/650 and Bayers.  Does not mean it will not work but not an ideal pairing IMO

 

[Secone]

wouldn't recommend the Valhalla2 for the HE-400i, its not a hybrid like the Ember and Lyr2.  The Valhalla2 was designed for high impedance headphones like the HD-600/650 and Bayers.  Does not mean it will not work but not an ideal pairing IMO

Yeah, i had a brain fart and meant to say the ember but i have a bunch of tabs open on my phone looking at dozens of different amps and i got myself confused lol. Ember definitely interests me more than a schiit amp right now

 

[fjrabon]

wouldn't recommend the Valhalla2 for the HE-400i, its not a hybrid like the Ember and Lyr2.  The Valhalla2 was designed for high impedance headphones like the HD-600/650 and Bayers.  Does not mean it will not work but not an ideal pairing IMO

Yeah I think the HE400i is really strident out of the Valhalla. Especially if you've done the grill mod on the new design HE400i.

I like the HE400i out of the HiFIMan EF2C with either Mullard or Voshkod EF95 replacement tubes. Also as mentioned it's great with the m9XX as well.

 

[Crimguy]

OK - which pads come standard with the 400i?  FocusPad or FocusPad-A?  Looks like the "A" but I'm not sure.
 
My 6 year old apparently twisted my phones up, leaving them in some distorted position.  As a result one of the pads is practically folded in half, separated from the cup.

 

[Sonic Defender]

  My GF (left) and her friend Mari who is staying with us for a few days, didn't think anyone would notice my avatar had changed

I'm just observant where members of the feminine persuasion are concerned.

 

[DavidA]

  OK - which pads come standard with the 400i?  FocusPad or FocusPad-A?  Looks like the "A" but I'm not sure.
 
My 6 year old apparently twisted my phones up, leaving them in some distorted position.  As a result one of the pads is practically folded in half, separated from the cup.

They come with Focus pads

 

[pmronline]

Yeah I think the HE400i is really strident out of the Valhalla. Especially if you've done the grill mod on the new design HE400i.

I like the HE400i out of the HiFIMan EF2C with either Mullard or Voshkod EF95 replacement tubes. Also as mentioned it's great with the m9XX as well.

I love my HE400i + EF2A with Voskhod, sound output is musical and loud.
 
I get a much different experience with my HE400i + Audeze Deckard - sweet and clean sound

 

[HungryPanda]

Mine sound amazing from my Little Dot MKII with Voskhod tubes, I have tried them on a few solid state amps but none sound as good as this.

 

[Philimon]

  I love my HE400i + EF2A with Voskhod, sound output is musical and loud.
 
I get a much different experience with my HE400i + Audeze Deckard - sweet and clean sound

Could you explain what "musical" means? And "loud", are you saying it's louder compared to what?
 
And the other. Can you explain what "sweet" and "clean" is?
 
Thank you for the clarification. I am looking for an amp.

 

[DivineCurrent]

I know I asked before, but has anyone tried the HE-400i with the old pre-production Focus Pad-A's? My guess is those may smooth out the treble a bit, since thats what it did for the HE-560's. 

 

[DavidA]

  I know I asked before, but has anyone tried the HE-400i with the old pre-production Focus Pad-A's? My guess is those may smooth out the treble a bit, since thats what it did for the HE-560's. 

Is there a difference between the "pre-production" Focus-A and what's currently available?
 
I have one set of the current Focus-A pads, a bit more comfortable if your ears touch the edges.  As for sound, it does smooth out the highs a touch but not in a good way to me, the highs of the HE-400i are not as extended compared to the HE-560 so the highs get a little too smoothed out for me.

 

[cbl117]

I bought a pair of 400i yesterday, and noticed when placing them on my head (or if the earpads pushed against eachother) the left side planar diaphragm flexes enough (from the pressure change) to actually bottom out on the magnet bars.  I verified by removing the grills to see if anything was in there.  So the question is, is this normal?  The right side diaphragm flexes as well, but not enough to bottom out.  Its annoying because you can hear a slight crackle sound when it happens.
 
Also, I noticed my grills rotate freely, and are only sandwiched in there by the retaining ring on the outside.  Is this normal?
 
Neither of these issues affect the sound while playing, but seems a little rough around the edges for a $500 headphone.  I got them from Amazon and may be starting to wonder if they were B-stock or something of the like.  I may try another pair from an authorized dealer and compare.  
 
Lastly, I'm playing through a A&K AK100ii, and typical listening level is around 110-120/150.  So around 70-80% volume.  I picked up an Objective2 from JPS labs to see if that will improve dynamics.  I wanted to keep everything portable, so that was the best battery powered device I could find.  Any feedback is welcomed.

 

[cbl117]

I see audio advisor has the 400i + EF100 combo for $750.  Anyone have any experience with that setup?  
 
I'm also considering LCD-2 and Deckard combo, and being done (I can get the combo for $1550 OTD).  Is the LCD-2/deckard twice as good?