[Music Path]

Listening to the 400S in balanced mode from the Violectric V281, this thing is seriously good for the money. Agreed, the amp is overkill for this unit but the clarity and speed is impressive. Just expected a bit more bass body and deeper bass (but I'm used to the HE-1000)

So it seems they do scale quite a bit.

 

[john57]

The more I listen to my 400S the more I am impressed with its speed and great clarity. In fact one of the best planar-magnetic headphone I heard in that regard and the treble remains quite smooth. The 400S treble is far smoother that the old 400. .  The vocals are outstanding. As far as bass goes, I am using my IFI Retro 50 to drive them and there is a small bit of a bass hump in the lower midbass that adds a bit of fun factor in some music. The midbass does not bled into the midrange.  I do not feel that I missing out from the bass as compared to other headphones that are more bass body focused. 

 

[Captain Morgan]

Can anyone compare the HE-400S to the HD600 and HD650? 

 

[Music Path]

  Can anyone compare the HE-400S to the HD600 and HD650? 

+1

 

[mejoshua]

Managed to listen to the HD600 and 650s. Some comparisons to the 400S in brief:

HD600 vs HE400S
Treble a little more peaky, mids a bit more forward, bass has less extension, slight midbass bump. Overall quite an energetic presentation.
Can't really decide on soundstage but probably very marginally smaller

HD650
Treble less peaky than 600, mids a little more laid back and smoother, much closer to the 400S presentation. Bass has marginally less quantity but more texture/rumble? Soundstage same size as 600

Made some brief impressions here. I personally feel the HE400S is superior to both, especially when driven well from a good source and amp.

 

[canthearyou]

Mine will be here tomorrow! Excited!

I'm loving the X2/Element combo. So this will have to be amazing to make me part with the X2.

 

[avitron142]

  Can anyone compare the HE-400S to the HD600 and HD650? 

Here's a bit of a rundown of what I heared yesterday between the HE-400S vs HD 600 (hooked up to a Shozy Alien and a Beyerdynamic A20):
 
1. The HE-400S had a stronger, as well as more detailed bass.
2. The HE-400S has more detail across the spectrum.
3. The HE-400S had a much larger soundstage.
4. The HD-600's soundstage, while a lot smaller, seemed more well-rounded. Think an evenly proportioned room rather than an "oval" shaped one.
5. The HE-400S seemed darker (think opposite of a "bright" headphone) than the HD-600, and takes a bit of time to get used to.
 
To me, the HE-400S is better by far, but YMMV

 

[proXimiX]

Mine will be here tomorrow! Excited!

I'm loving the X2/Element combo. So this will have to be amazing to make me part with the X2.

Please post your impressions between the two when you get a channce.  I am currently trying to decide between these and the X2.

 

[JPlaquia]

Mine will be here tomorrow! Excited!

I'm loving the X2/Element combo. So this will have to be amazing to make me part with the X2.

Me too. Please do post your impressions on those two (HE-400S and X2). As I am also choosing between these two.
 
Thanks!

 

[Captain Morgan]

Thanks for the comparisons! I'm even more excited now, except I will have to hold off ordering them until I have the extra dough.

 

[avitron142]

If anyone could try comparing the HE-400S to the AKG K7XX, that would be huge. I have both, but it's not a fair comparison, because the K7XX is a better match with the GO 1000 than the HE-400S. I'll try to work something out though.

 

[Ultrainferno]

  If anyone could try comparing the HE-400S to the AKG K7XX, that would be huge. I have both, but it's not a fair comparison, because the K7XX is a better match with the GO 1000 than the HE-400S. I'll try to work something out though.

 
K7XX is a completely different sounding headphone, I have been listening to both on the Violectric V281. The mids on the 400s have more body in example while the AKG has better bass layering. No surprise the GO1000 isn't the best amp for the HFM. I had it here for a while and I just couldn't get to like it at all and didn't review it. I bet your K7XX sounds better on a better amp as well (no offence). The 400S does scale up quite a bit

 

[Ultrainferno]

Also, I wouldn't say the 400S is better than the HD650. It's a different technology and a different sound. IT would be more logic to compare it to the HD600 (which is an absolute classic). I do think the 400s is a great sounding headphone, especially for its price but the HD600 well amped is still in another league. I personally also think people in 15 years will still be talking about the HD600 (and HD650 for that matter) but you won't hear a lot of people talking about the 400S. In the HFM 400 range, a well amped 400i is still my favorite. Just my opinion of course

 

[paulguru]

This 400s is more or less forgiving with low bitrates tracks compared to Sennheiser HD6xx ???

 

[obsidyen]

...