HIFIMAN Sundara vs HE 400i 2020 - considering these prices

[headpmaniac]

Hi all.

I want to add a planar magnetic to my collection and my first choice when I was gathering some info on models was the Hifiman Sundara.

Now, I've found a respectable online store that has a promotion:

Sundara - 289 Euros (about 350 US)

AND the HE 400i 2020 - 164 Euros (199 US)!!!

The price on Sundara is "cheap" (usually sells for 350 Euros), but the HE 400i 2020, with this price, is very tempting!

But I don't want to "waste" money on the HE 400i 2020 just because they are at a great price...

So:

Is the HE 400i 2020 comparable to the Sundara, like a little brother, a respectable planar magnetic, and at this price a no-brainer for a first planar?

Or do you think that the extra 125 Euros (about 150 US) for the Sundara is well worth the difference?

I will be plugging the 400 or the Sundara to an iFi ZEN DAC.

Thanks all for the opinions!

 

[539465]

HE 400i has been going from $120-$140 USD on drop, just get the old version the driver is the same
Sundara's you can get for $270USD open box from hifimans store with a warranty or $320 brand new
I posted about it here
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/you-vote-i-buy-sundara-vs-argon-mk3.951737/#post-16096215

Sundara's are even better than 6XX, value per dollar at $350 is debatable but at $270 Sundara for many is probably best headphone under $500 and in my opinion better per dollar than even 6XX, buy with a credit card and you have a extra year of warranty (as long as your car doffers an extra year most here do) so you don't have to worry so much about hifiman quality control

HE-400i is a great deal at $120 but hardly noteworthy as Sundaras even at that price IMO

 

[539465]

Also op running a regular magni 3 dont have specs but 3+ is about the same here is what my AMP is pushing
Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 1.6W RMS per channel

here is your amp

Output Power (@1% THD)

4.4mm Pentaconn (BAL) 330mW@32 Ohm; 6.6V@600 Ohm; 16 Ohm - 600 Ohm Headphone 6.3mm S-BAL (SE) 230mW@32 Ohm; 3.3V@600 Ohm 16 Ohm - 600 Ohm Headphone Note: Using 5v power. If powered from USB, power output may vary.

It can max out my magni 3, infact I use it on my Bas X A-100 not to scare you away since volume knob is logarithmic

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/hif...aded-around-500.860413/page-203#post-16142659

"yeah I have a Bas X a-100
here are the unlocked ratings
47 Ohms: 8.5 watts / channel
600 Ohms: 0.6 watts / channel

my 600ohm DT990's goto around 1-2 o clock max, the sundaras are like 11-12 o clock max.... but thats with a max of 8.5 watts....
for reference it maxes out at 4 o clock "

you are going to want something closer to my Magni 3, you don't NEED a Bas X A-100 or something crazy but I use one over my Magni 3 for the extra volume, I would say the Magni 3 is 90-95% the volume I need all the time so if you can get a little more power at ~50ohms go for it but as of now it looks like you need a new AMP for Sundaras

(not sure about hooking an amp/dac direct to another AMP so be careful and do your homework if you get a dedicated AMP)

good luck

EDIT-you probably need a dedicated AMP for 400i too but I wouldn't know

 

[headpmaniac]

HE 400i has been going from $120-$140 USD on drop, just get the old version the driver is the same
Sundara's you can get for $270USD open box from hifimans store with a warranty or $320 brand new
I posted about it here
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/you-vote-i-buy-sundara-vs-argon-mk3.951737/#post-16096215

Sundara's are even better than 6XX, value per dollar at $350 is debatable but at $270 Sundara for many is probably best headphone under $500 and in my opinion better per dollar than even 6XX, buy with a credit card and you have a extra year of warranty (as long as your car doffers an extra year most here do) so you don't have to worry so much about hifiman quality control

HE-400i is a great deal at $120 but hardly noteworthy as Sundaras even at that price IMO

Thanks for the reply and all the info!

Unfortunately, I live in Europe, so Drop versions are not viable to me...

 

[539465]

Thanks for the reply and all the info!

Unfortunately, I live in Europe, so Drop versions are not viable to me...

yes but you live in a capitalist society so you could pay a forwarder and pay for overseas shipping and get it $40 cheaper than whoever has an ask price of $200, don't pay $200 USD for the 400i when Hifiman will sell you the Sundara for $270 open box, anyone here will tell you the same

You were ready to pay $350, get the open box sundara with the coupon code before it expires then get a cheap used or just cheap like Magni 3(not 3+) amp

you will be glad you got an ampy

 

[headpmaniac]

yes but you live in a capitalist society so you could pay a forwarder and pay for overseas shipping and get it $40 cheaper than whoever has an ask price of $200, don't pay $200 USD for the 400i when Hifiman will sell you the Sundara for $270 open box, anyone here will tell you the same

You were ready to pay $350, get the open box sundara with the coupon code before it expires then get a cheap used or just cheap like Magni 3(not 3+) amp

you will be glad you got an ampy

Thanks for the tip/suggestion!

Yes, I'm seeing the Sundara, open box, but $299... Is there any coupon code available that you can share or point me to?

Thanks!

 

[headpmaniac]

yes but you live in a capitalist society so you could pay a forwarder and pay for overseas shipping and get it $40 cheaper than whoever has an ask price of $200, don't pay $200 USD for the 400i when Hifiman will sell you the Sundara for $270 open box, anyone here will tell you the same

You were ready to pay $350, get the open box sundara with the coupon code before it expires then get a cheap used or just cheap like Magni 3(not 3+) amp

you will be glad you got an ampy

I forgot to ask, do you have any experience between the 400 and the Sundara? Do you consider the 400 a good first planar?

 

[539465]

I forgot to ask, do you have any experience between the 400 and the Sundara? Do you consider the 400 a good first planar?

https://hifiman.com/attachments/image/20210125/20210125094947_32321.jpg
"HIFIMAN29"
and no I don't but they are completely different sound signature and class of headphone.... rarely are they spoken of in the same sentence unless it's trashing build quality (everything is solid except the side plastic part and strap, the drivers are generally improved) The Sundara's are widely thought of as one of the top 5 under $500, period.
They are very natural sounding, neutral, but extremely clean and clear, super fast driver, soundstage is about an arms length away, and they do have bass and bump and subbass when you give em power as well as super comfy.

I am trying to help out newbies(no offense I am one too!) so let me just put it like this, if you buy the 400i's you will likely need an amp making the difference in actual purchase price becomes next to nothing and you will always regret and wonder what could have been, not that you won't be happy but unless you hate a neutral sound it's a nobrainer. Now if you love what the 400i does for the price there is probably something better if you have to have it.... Still having the Sundara's is like having a very useful and technically fun toolbox vs blowing your whole wad on a fancy high powered nailgun or something that will be very fun for a week/month but then you will find all the faults with your purchase as you realize it cannot do what the nice useful tool set can, reset assured if you buy Sundara you will only accept quality sound after that and if you buy something inferior you will instantly hate it, you can't go back to baby food after you grow up!

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/3-way-shootout-6xx-vs-sundara-vs-dt990-600ohm.953532/
here is my review vs another fun set and the 6XX -TLR it won, feel free to support me by the way by posting, sometimes it can be a struggle getting help here but there is always someone nice! Oh and I really don't even prefer neutral sounds but the Sundara is just so damn good.