Hey everyone, I am a long time lurker and first time poster. I wanted to share and get feedback on my experience with the he-400s. To give you an idea of my experience with headphones, I own sennheiser hd 650s, hd25 1 - ii, ultrasone dj1 pro, and now the ultrasone pro 900s along with a slew of other cheaper phones and ear buds. In the past I have owned a pair of grado sr60s so I am accustomed to the hotter treble phones as well. I listen to headphones at work daily for up to 10 hours, and listen at very low volume levels. For example, with Koss Portapros and an ipod classic, I listen to music with the volume turned completely down, in fact that sometimes that volume level is too loud for me and have to listen to music on my computer with volume setting at 1 notch above minimum and further restriction of the volume from my media player. For higher resistance phones, I of course need to increase volume settings to obtain similar volume levels.
I love my hd 650s and was excited to hear favorable comparisons against the sound signature with the he-400s. I decided to purchase a pair (~ 2 months ago) as I enjoy the Senn's sound. Upon receiving my pair, I really enjoyed the he-400s sound and agreed with many others experience with more present sub base and more neutral (less recessed) highs compared to the hd 650s. I found the he-400s sounded very good. However after a couple of days, I noticed that these cans were extremely fatiguing to my ears. One day, after a rather long listening session of about 4-6 hours over the work day, I noticed that my ears were very fatigued with slight ringing in one ear. I must admit, my day to day listening habits vary, I may have been listening to the he-400s at levels slightly higher then other cans at work, but I work in a low noise environment and am always cognisant of sound levels and keep them at very low sound levels at all times. Overall in that day, I do not believe I treated the he-400s differently then any other pair of phones I have used while working. Other listening sessions I had the similar perception that something about the presentation of the sound of the he-400s fatigued my ears. The only way I can describe it is like an allergy to the sound presentation. In other words, the phones sounded good and nothing about the sound signature made me think the phones were defective. I also do not think it has to due with the fact that the he-400s have a hotter high end (compared to the hd 650s), as I am accustomed to energetic treble phones such as grados, hd25s, and now the ultrasone pro 900s. I have 2 questions. Is this even possible? Is there something in the presentation of sound that may be inaudible yet fatigue the ears, or am I crazy? Second, has anybody else had a similar experience with the cans?
After my experience with these phones, I ended up purchasing the ultrasone pro 900s and although I do not consider myself a basehead, enjoy their sound presentation at low volume listening. I also find them a good complement to the hd 650s as they present a very different yet enjoyable sound signature and do not find that they fatigue my ears like the he-400s.
