[RetroE83]

They punch well above their price point.
For my own preferences they are the best tuned HE400 till now.
Unfortunately treble quality isn't as good as I would like but hey this is a $140 planar headphone!

I found 2 ply toilet paper, cut in the shape of the driver opening, works well for me to tame the steely treble. Cymbals and other related instruments sound less metallic to me but have a sizzle.

I initially tried shelf liner (one used for the HE-4XX mod mentioned on another forum) and 1 ply toilet paper. The steely treble remained but more at the level of an unmodded AKG K371.

Without the mods, I noticed “shhhh” sounds in the Yeah, Yeah Yeahs’s song Sacrilege, specifically in the female vocal, which I never noticed before.

 

[Ichos]

I don't have the time to mod headphones but it is very interesting to read about other users trying to improve them.
Well done great that it works for you.

 

[RetroE83]

Fair enough, modding can be time consuming from my experience and not always worthwhile.

With regards to modding the 400se, it doesn’t take much to improve in my opinion. My modded HE-400i and modded HE-4XX have better treble in my opinion but I had to line the circumference of the drivers with bluetac, remove the cloth from the grills, place shelf liner over the driver, use Brainwavz HM Pleather angle pads. No need for this with the HE-400SE

 

[Cricket4life247]

Hi guys. I have the Sennheiser HD 560s with a Fiio K3 and I love it. I want to get the Hifiman HE 400i 2020 version or the Hifiman HE 400se 2021 version as my first Planar Magnetic headphone. Which one do you guys recommend? Where I live they are both the same price.

 

[Ichos]

Hi guys. I have the Sennheiser HD 560s with a Fiio K3 and I love it. I want to get the Hifiman HE 400i 2020 version or the Hifiman HE 400se 2021 version as my first Planar Magnetic headphone. Which one do you guys recommend? Where I live they are both the same price.

This might help you decide

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/hifiman-he400se.25075/review/25756/

 

[Cricket4life247]

This might help you decide

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/hifiman-he400se.25075/review/25756/

Thanks Ichos. I think I'm going for the HE 400i. I also like the all black look Do you thino my Fiio K3 will be okay to drive these fine through unbalanced or will balanced be better?

 

[Ichos]

Thanks Ichos. I think I'm going for the HE 400i. I also like the all black look Do you thino my Fiio K3 will be okay to drive these fine through unbalanced or will balanced be better?

I have tested them with K5 Pro and is surely up to the task without any problems.

 

[Cricket4life247]

This might help you decide

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/hifiman-he400se.25075/review/25756/

Thanks Ichos. I think I'm going for the HE 400i. I also like the all black look Do you think my Fiio K3 will be okay to drive these fine through unbalanced or will balanced be better?

 

[Cricket4life247]

I have tested them with K5 Pro and is surely up to the task without any problems.

How does it compare to my HD560s's? I really like them so I think I will still keep them.

 

[RetroE83]

How does it compare to my HD560s's? I really like so I think I will still keep them.

Hi Cricket,

I have the HD560S as well, and use the Fiio BTR5 and HIDIZ S9 AMP-DACs for most of my headphones. In my opinion, the HE-400SE has more clarity in the midrange (vocals, guitars) , and is tighter and more articulate in the bass than the HD560. Stock, I prefer the upper treble of the HD560S; it has a less steely sound with some instruments than the HE-400SE. I like the imaging and soundstage more of the HE-400SE, but I think that might have something to do with the clarity.

 

[pk4425]

Hi Cricket,

I have the HD560S as well, and use the Fiio BTR5 and HIDIZ S9 AMP-DACs for most of my headphones. In my opinion, the HE-400SE has more clarity in the midrange (vocals, guitars) , and is tighter and more articulate in the bass than the HD560. Stock, I prefer the upper treble of the HD560S; it has a less steely sound with some instruments than the HE-400SE. I like the imaging and soundstage more of the HE-400SE, but I think that might have something to do with the clarity.

I own both of these headphones, too, and Retro nailed it with his assessment.

 

[Cricket4life247]

Hi Cricket,

I have the HD560S as well, and use the Fiio BTR5 and HIDIZ S9 AMP-DACs for most of my headphones. In my opinion, the HE-400SE has more clarity in the midrange (vocals, guitars) , and is tighter and more articulate in the bass than the HD560. Stock, I prefer the upper treble of the HD560S; it has a less steely sound with some instruments than the HE-400SE. I like the imaging and soundstage more of the HE-400SE, but I think that might have something to do with the clarity.

Thanks Retro for your assesment. I think from what I read till now is that the HE 400i 2020 is more of a warm sounding headphone than the Sennheiser HD 560s and the HE 400se 2021.

 

[RetroE83]

Thanks Retro for your assesment. I think from what I read till now is that the HE 400i 2020 is more of a warm sounding headphone than the Sennheiser HD 560s and the HE 400se 2021.

I can’t speak for the HE-400i 2020, but I do have the HE-400i 2016 and HE-4XX, and in stock and modded form they are warmer overall imo than my HE-400SE.

 

[Ichos]

Thanks Retro for your assesment. I think from what I read till now is that the HE 400i 2020 is more of a warm sounding headphone than the Sennheiser HD 560s and the HE 400se 2021.

Yes it is but differences are on the minimal side.

BTW , I prefer both HiFiMan treble response than the 560 but as you understand this is quite subjective.

 

[Ichos]

How does it compare to my HD560s's? I really like so I think I will still keep them.

They are different tunings and flavors so if you can afford both you should keep them.