[Skycyclepilot]

I own a pair of HifiMan He400i headphones (JDS Element amp). They lack bass - especially bass punch. My Oppo PM-3 headphones are much better at that. Of course the HE400i headphones sound better in every other respect - soundstaging, air, transient response, etc...

I'm thinking about getting rid of both sets, and buying one set of headphones that have the best traits of both my current headphones. Just add a solid, punchy bass to the He400i headphones, and you know what I'm looking for. In the $500 price range, I'd like recommendations, in a pair of full-sized open headphones.

 

[serman005]

You might look into an HE-500 and see what you think.

 

[Scutey]

Beyerdynamic DT 1990, they come with two sets of pads, A, analytical and B, balanced, I use them with the B pads, bass is the best I've heard from an open back hp, however with the B pads the soundstage is rather narrow, A pads has bigger, wider soundstage with more air, there is a slight reduction in bass, but still pretty good.

 

[Rhamnetin]

You might look into an HE-500 and see what you think.

I too think the HE-500 is the best choice here. Never heard more bass punch from an open back headphone in this price range. Only downside is you have to buy used.

 

[Skycyclepilot]

You might look into an HE-500 and see what you think.

Thanks... Since the He-500 could be hard to find, I have to wonder about the He-560s and the new He-Sundara. I'm also wondering about the Audeze EL-8 open headphones...

 

[Trunks159]

Id go HE560 or DT1990
They definitely have more bass than the HE400i

 

[Rhamnetin]

Sundara bass punch is in the same league as the HE-560 but the Sundara is a far better headphone in pretty much every other way. Also a tonal balance 99.9% of people will prefer I believe. It's my #2 recommendation to you after the HE-500.

 

[Skycyclepilot]

Thanks. How do you feel about the Audeze EL-8s?

 

[Rhamnetin]

I can't really speak for the EL-8 in detail since I haven't listened to it since 2016 I believe. All I really remember is that I was not impressed by it, and the bass was a far cry from the Audeze LCD lineup.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

I own a pair of HifiMan He400i headphones (JDS Element amp). They lack bass - especially bass punch. My Oppo PM-3 headphones are much better at that. Of course the HE400i headphones sound better in every other respect - soundstaging, air, transient response, etc...

I'm thinking about getting rid of both sets, and buying one set of headphones that have the best traits of both my current headphones. Just add a solid, punchy bass to the He400i headphones, and you know what I'm looking for. In the $500 price range, I'd like recommendations, in a pair of full-sized open headphones.

HD650 but it might be a better idea to go up to the LCD-2C.

 

[snellemin]

I have the 400i and no complaints about lack of bass. But I am using EQ and a much more powerful amp.

 

[Skycyclepilot]

I have the 400i and no complaints about lack of bass. But I am using EQ and a much more powerful amp.

My amp has enough power to destroy your hearing, so that's not it, but I would be interested in your equalizer settings...

 

[snellemin]

My amp has enough power to destroy your hearing, so that's not it, but I would be interested in your equalizer settings...

But what can your amp put out at 20hz? That is where the difference comes in between amps and their power ratings. Can your amp put out high enough voltage for the planar drivers? I use speaker amps with the Hifiman. None of my portable amps can drive the hifiman to satisfactory bass and subbass levels. My only portable amp that can come close enough, is the Ray Samuels Intruder. My Ibasso PB2 doesn't do it justice, but this amp will drive and JVC SZ2000 to painful, nauseating subbass levels since is current driven.

So for the planar driver, I use both software and hardware parametric EQ's in series depending on which setup I'm using the headphone on. I don't have a current pic of the software EQ setting I use within foobar. I use Kjaerhus Audio GEQ-7 parametric EQ and Rescue MK2, along wiht DBX gorack in my small desktop setup.

This is my small desktop setup. My other setups are at home.

 

[Skycyclepilot]

But what can your amp put out at 20hz? That is where the difference comes in between amps and their power ratings. Can your amp put out high enough voltage for the planar drivers? I use speaker amps with the Hifiman. None of my portable amps can drive the hifiman to satisfactory bass and subbass levels. My only portable amp that can come close enough, is the Ray Samuels Intruder. My Ibasso PB2 doesn't do it justice, but this amp will drive and JVC SZ2000 to painful, nauseating subbass levels since is current driven.

So for the planar driver, I use both software and hardware parametric EQ's in series depending on which setup I'm using the headphone on. I don't have a current pic of the software EQ setting I use within foobar. I use Kjaerhus Audio GEQ-7 parametric EQ and Rescue MK2, along wiht DBX gorack in my small desktop setup.

This is my small desktop setup. My other setups are at home.

I'll have to do some experimenting to answer those questions. John at JDS might also have some insight. I have to work with what I have, though. I can't afford a setup like yours.