Mobilex
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2012
- Posts
- 17
- Likes
- 10
Hi everybody, right now I've both these headphones and I wanted to make
a simple comparison in case someone is still trying to decide which one
is better for his needs. At the moment I've owned the X2 for only 2 days so
bare in mind that I'll come back to post some updates if I thing that
anything changed (I need to get used to the sound)
I'll start with the sound since it's what matter most to me and than I'll
talk about comfort and build quality.
I need a headphone that is capable of doing everything good since I use
my headphone for everything I listen (movies, youtube, music, games,
etc.)
SOUND:
Bass
-X2: the bass of the fidelio is boosted, definitely not flat, still not
enough if you are looking for a very punchy bass. Detail wise is good but
not like the he-400. Sometimes it covers the other details in songs that
are not supposed to have this kind of base.
-HE-400: Flatter bass (if I'm not mistaken I've the 2nd revision and also
have velour pads on them).Someone finds the bass on the HE-400 boomy or
very energetic, I don't. Maybe they have a different revision or are
just not used to a powerful base. Detail are much better here, better
speed and texture, also I prefer this flatter response rather than the
one on the X2.
Mids
-X2: More natural, relatively flat response, good detail, more natural
representation of female voices compared to the HE-400, the same goes for
instruments that fall on this range. Good detail.
HE-400: Very particular sounding. If you are hearing them for the first
time you might be a little concerned about them but if you get used to
the sound they are not bad at all. They have a way of bringing up the
presence of vocals (I'm not talking about the positioning) in a very good
way but the price to pay is colder sound for both male and female
voices. Again better detail and separation over the X2.
Highs
-X2: They are very bad. Not very present, certain songs sound very weird
with "strident" highs. Medium detail quality. Not very natural.
-HE-400: Definitely bright. If you use to listen to songs with a high
volume I suggest you look somewhere else because they are very present
and not good for a smooth listening experience. Still they are not as
bright as a lot of people let you thing, so don't be troubled about them
if you listen to your music with a decent volume. Very good detail, good
extension, sometimes not very natural.
Some considerations:
The X2 sounded very nice with rap, songs that in general were not very
congested (not a lot of instruments or detail all at once) and that
didn't required much extension or picks. The sound is relaxing and very
likable with the right songs. To make you understand better their sound
imagine to EQ with a bass boost, than imagine that after you have done
that, your mids are not messed up. This is one of the reason a lot of
people seem to like this headphones so much in my opinion.
The HE-400 are more detailed in almost everything, especially in stuff
like dubstep they also have much more impact, better detail and pace.
Also songs where is required a big vocal extension and picks like in
Puccini's operas they are better.
Build quality
X2: They are better maybe only the "housing cups" that hold
the driver are less resistant than the one of the HE-400 (still not
sure). Read other reviews for more information.
HE-400: The metal pieces that hold the " housing cups" have a paint that removes
very easily, just pass your nails on them. Low padding on the headband.
Comfort
Both are "heavy headphones", the X2 a less heavy; 440 g against the 380 g
of the X2.
a simple comparison in case someone is still trying to decide which one
is better for his needs. At the moment I've owned the X2 for only 2 days so
bare in mind that I'll come back to post some updates if I thing that
anything changed (I need to get used to the sound)
I'll start with the sound since it's what matter most to me and than I'll
talk about comfort and build quality.
I need a headphone that is capable of doing everything good since I use
my headphone for everything I listen (movies, youtube, music, games,
etc.)
SOUND:
Bass
-X2: the bass of the fidelio is boosted, definitely not flat, still not
enough if you are looking for a very punchy bass. Detail wise is good but
not like the he-400. Sometimes it covers the other details in songs that
are not supposed to have this kind of base.
-HE-400: Flatter bass (if I'm not mistaken I've the 2nd revision and also
have velour pads on them).Someone finds the bass on the HE-400 boomy or
very energetic, I don't. Maybe they have a different revision or are
just not used to a powerful base. Detail are much better here, better
speed and texture, also I prefer this flatter response rather than the
one on the X2.
Mids
-X2: More natural, relatively flat response, good detail, more natural
representation of female voices compared to the HE-400, the same goes for
instruments that fall on this range. Good detail.
HE-400: Very particular sounding. If you are hearing them for the first
time you might be a little concerned about them but if you get used to
the sound they are not bad at all. They have a way of bringing up the
presence of vocals (I'm not talking about the positioning) in a very good
way but the price to pay is colder sound for both male and female
voices. Again better detail and separation over the X2.
Highs
-X2: They are very bad. Not very present, certain songs sound very weird
with "strident" highs. Medium detail quality. Not very natural.
-HE-400: Definitely bright. If you use to listen to songs with a high
volume I suggest you look somewhere else because they are very present
and not good for a smooth listening experience. Still they are not as
bright as a lot of people let you thing, so don't be troubled about them
if you listen to your music with a decent volume. Very good detail, good
extension, sometimes not very natural.
Some considerations:
The X2 sounded very nice with rap, songs that in general were not very
congested (not a lot of instruments or detail all at once) and that
didn't required much extension or picks. The sound is relaxing and very
likable with the right songs. To make you understand better their sound
imagine to EQ with a bass boost, than imagine that after you have done
that, your mids are not messed up. This is one of the reason a lot of
people seem to like this headphones so much in my opinion.
The HE-400 are more detailed in almost everything, especially in stuff
like dubstep they also have much more impact, better detail and pace.
Also songs where is required a big vocal extension and picks like in
Puccini's operas they are better.
Build quality
X2: They are better maybe only the "housing cups" that hold
the driver are less resistant than the one of the HE-400 (still not
sure). Read other reviews for more information.
HE-400: The metal pieces that hold the " housing cups" have a paint that removes
very easily, just pass your nails on them. Low padding on the headband.
Comfort
Both are "heavy headphones", the X2 a less heavy; 440 g against the 380 g
of the X2.
