try them with thick angled leather pads, you will be surprised how much the stock pads are holding them back in bass and soundstage department
FWIW based on what I see in the pictures (there is one under 'Sound-Conclusion' that we can see clearly) that the 2020 version has the bar magnets visible from the outside, so it looks like the 2020 is the non-backplate version. The version that they originally reviewed was prior to the revisions so if they have the same pair, it should be the backplate version.
Hifiman has well and truly outdone themselves with the new HE400i...in fact so much so that I’ve sold off my Sundara.
Now I love the Sundara - don’t get me wrong - but the little cheapskate HE400i is the more refined version of the signature. Let’s face it, outside of the Deva, all new Hifimans are tuned the same..with small to minute differences.
Where the Sundara can come off a little bright at times, not as bright as the Arya though, the HE400i sounds smooth and about as natural as you’re going to get of a sound via a planar magnetic headphone.
The comfort is also superb and while not as insanely comfortable as the DEXX, it’s still close. Soundwise though it has the DEXX beat, hands down. The DEXX is an aggressive bugger whereas the HE400i is smooth and does not make minced meat out of less than stellar recordings.
For the price it is seriously hard to beat. This is without a doubt a new benchmark for planars imho and should please folks who find the Sundara and Arya too bright..and to those who, like me, feel the DEXX is a little too peaky in it’s presentation.
Edith: If you already know what most modern Hifimans sound like (Sundara, Amanda, Arya) you will almost immediately recognise the signature. The new HE400i is like a slightly bassier and warmer take on the Sundara. The upper-mids and low treble are wonderfully tuned and incidentally also the part of the presentation where it beats all of it’s pricier brethren.
Comes with a bit of zing up top but nowhere near alarming quantities. I rather dig it myself
Hi there!
Here's my take on the HE400i 2020
https://ear-fidelity.com/2020/11/18/hifiman-he-400i-2020/
Yeah this little coconut kicks some serious rump!
I am so surprised by this thing that when I saw it’s brother over Alis Libresse for next to nothing...well I just couldn’t help myself
In short, I’m currently waiting for the Orient Express to deliver the brandspanking new HE400se...which I am hoping comes with a similar linear frequency response as it’s older iteration....aaaaand I wouldn’t mind if they’ve done something to the bass extension which was rather poor before one swapped for some pali-pads...that again messed somewhat with the mids.
This should be interesting methinks
Edith: Yep I’m blind! Those are indeed hybrid pads just like the palis and should most likely provide me with deliciously deep bass. Odd that I didn’t pick up on that..I guess I was too mesmerised with the cheap price tag
Hifiman has well and truly outdone themselves with the new HE400i...in fact so much so that I’ve sold off my Sundara.
Now I love the Sundara - don’t get me wrong - but the little cheapskate HE400i is the more refined version of the signature. Let’s face it, outside of the Deva, all new Hifimans are tuned the same..with small to minute differences.
Where the Sundara can come off a little bright at times, not as bright as the Arya though, the HE400i sounds smooth and about as natural as you’re going to get of a sound via a planar magnetic headphone.
The comfort is also superb and while not as insanely comfortable as the DEXX, it’s still close. Soundwise though it has the DEXX beat, hands down. The DEXX is an aggressive bugger whereas the HE400i is smooth and does not make minced meat out of less than stellar recordings.
For the price it is seriously hard to beat. This is without a doubt a new benchmark for planars imho and should please folks who find the Sundara and Arya too bright..and to those who, like me, feel the DEXX is a little too peaky in it’s presentation.
Edith: If you already know what most modern Hifimans sound like (Sundara, Amanda, Arya) you will almost immediately recognise the signature. The new HE400i is like a slightly bassier and warmer take on the Sundara. The upper-mids and low treble are wonderfully tuned and incidentally also the part of the presentation where it beats all of it’s pricier brethren.
Comes with a bit of zing up top but nowhere near alarming quantities. I rather dig it myself
I sold my Sundaras some time ago..but this one is a keeper.Same here
Hifiman has well and truly outdone themselves with the new HE400i...in fact so much so that I’ve sold off my Sundara.
Now I love the Sundara - don’t get me wrong - but the little cheapskate HE400i is the more refined version of the signature. Let’s face it, outside of the Deva, all new Hifimans are tuned the same..with small to minute differences.
Where the Sundara can come off a little bright at times, not as bright as the Arya though, the HE400i sounds smooth and about as natural as you’re going to get of a sound via a planar magnetic headphone.
The comfort is also superb and while not as insanely comfortable as the DEXX, it’s still close. Soundwise though it has the DEXX beat, hands down. The DEXX is an aggressive bugger whereas the HE400i is smooth and does not make minced meat out of less than stellar recordings.
For the price it is seriously hard to beat. This is without a doubt a new benchmark for planars imho and should please folks who find the Sundara and Arya too bright..and to those who, like me, feel the DEXX is a little too peaky in it’s presentation.
Edith: If you already know what most modern Hifimans sound like (Sundara, Amanda, Arya) you will almost immediately recognise the signature. The new HE400i is like a slightly bassier and warmer take on the Sundara. The upper-mids and low treble are wonderfully tuned and incidentally also the part of the presentation where it beats all of it’s pricier brethren.
Comes with a bit of zing up top but nowhere near alarming quantities. I rather dig it myself
