Topping E30/L30 vs. iFi Zen CAN Signature 6XX, Tonor TC-777 USB Condenser Microphone Review & Shootout, FiiO BTR3K vs. BTR5 vs. DragonFly Red [Which Is Best For YOU?!]. Cable is not of a high quality/comes loose and/or breaks easily. However, some of you may wonder, which one is better? Kick drums are nice and defined, bass guitars are anything but muddy, and overall the bass sounds great. Pin It. It has known 2 variants : old models with SMC connectors, and last iterations who came with 2.5mm jack on the cups. HIFIMAN HE400S vs. HE400i [A Guide] 2,010 word post, approx. This just means all the outside sounds would be quite audible to you even when you are listening to something and likewise the people around you will be able to listen to what you’ll be playing. . The build quality is decent overall but not spectacular. Hifiman also has super high-end headphones like the Susvara and Shangri-La electrostatic. Hifiman Sundara vs 400I; Hifiman HE400S vs HE400I; About Author admin. Home Headphone Comparisons HIFIMAN HE400S vs. HE400i [A Guide] March 12, 2017. There is a lack of bass extension that can be remedied with the Brainwavz Focus Pads and/or the grill mod. CD or vinyl, the best-quality sources will benefit from the HE-400i, and those sources are clearly what this headphone should be reserved for That means longer hours of some good music without any issues or problems. You will definitely want to make sure your source files are good as mentioned in the Pros section. HiFiMAN HE-400. This feature has a slight effect on sound quality. The major point to take away here is that the HE400S is more abrasive and colder sounding, while the HE400i is smoother and warmer. Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro vs Sennheiser HD 650. Search. Planar magnetics!! The bass is not going to be very powerful or deep. The mentioned HIFIMAN products are inconvenient to carry as they come without a bag. About Deva. Most headsets start to make the ears ache. His sense of humour, coupled with a knack for excellence and strict attention to detail are what allow him to stand out in an crowded industry. However, when you are working with the Hifiman He400s you will realise that the presence is truly well defined and well detailed. The only differences you’ll notice are if you actually carry them. HE400i packaging update N.B. Before we get into the HIFIMAN HE400S vs. HE400i, grab a snack, sit back and relax because.. Today I will outline the HE400S and then compare it with the 400i towards the end. So if all else is equal, then one would say that HE400i 2020 is the winner as far as price. Another difference that you may want to note is in the earpads and the comfort that each pair provides. Both Hifiman HE-400i and Sennheiser HD650 headphones are excellent, delivering one of a kind sound quality. Because a right-angle 3.5mm jack terminates these headphones, and the cable is also removable, which is nice to see. I wouldn’t purchase a 400i without an amp. Lack of sub bass and bass extension in general. The Good The HiFiMan HE-400i is a large, full-size headphone that uses planar-magnetic drivers for exceptional sound quality highlighted by first-rate clarity, detail and well-defined bass. (HiFiMan recently began supplying a silver-colored twisted cable with the HE-500; our sample has the older version.) The new HE4xx supposedly have upgraded to dual 3.5mm connectors as have the new versions of the 400i, but you have to be sure you are getting new stock in both cases to get them. Hifiman is a company hot on the pursuit of perfecting headphone playback and they are highly regarded for impressive fine-tuning philosophy and high quality product line. First, we will look at the Hifiman HE400S. Frequently compared against the ubiquitous Schiit Modi/Magni stack. Well, these little monsters definitely have something we’d both love to know about. We have recently updated the packaging for the HE400i to make it more environmentally sensitive, if you get a box that doesn’t look the same as you see in pictures there is no need to worry. You’re not going to be blown away by it. Just checking the price your pockets may shake, then you’ll soon realise that the pricing as determined by the competition is quite alright. What is the difference of each and what is worth the money? I absolutely love these straight out of my phone though. Anyways your review is really informative and useful. Categories. window.dojoRequire(["mojo/signup-forms/Loader"], function(L) { L.start({"baseUrl":"mc.us19.list-manage.com","uuid":"0573ad2c5093a15ee16bc49c5","lid":"f49b0eb597","uniqueMethods":true}) }). In this article I am going to compare hifiman HE-400i and HE-400S to give you a general feeling about the two headphones. This simply is an affordable open-back planar magnetic headphone from Hifiman. So you’re an audiophile, or you’re looking to get your pal who is a birthday present? Great mid-range. Unfortunately, customer services solution to bad cables, and ones that break down over a short period of time is for you to buy new ones. And is the price is worth it for the quality of the headphone because reading from the cons I think its too expensive. Being closed back, these have zero noise isolation. Would beyer’s dt770 earpads fit the he400s . 6/19/19: Added Video Comparison of the Element vs. The bad chord is unanimous, and while the Focuspads help the overall sound, they should have come with the headphones. Related: How to choose a headphone amp! With the 400S you can get away with it although a great Amp/DAC will help the sound in both cases regardless. In short, I’m just going to say that I would highly recommend. The shrill audios cut through the mix well and don’t dominate the overall sound at all. It’s still just as comfortable and you can wear it for a couple of hours before you start experiencing any form of discomfort. I guess we have the magnetic drives to thank for that. The history of the headphone we have today – the HE-400i – began with the HE-5 introduced in 2009. All that it means is you have gotten one of the new look, more environment conscious, packaging boxes. – Hifiman HE400S vs Hifiman HE400I. Appearance vs Reality. Then most importantly, both of them are open planar headphones with magnetic drives. Out of these 2, I would go with the 400i, but today I’m going to recommend something else. Both sets are constructed in the exact same manner, with a couple of subtle differences. Click Privacy Preferences for more details. Your email address will not be published. They won’t sound their best with the stock ear pads. Unacceptable. That’s a phrase I will use once or twice throughout this review. I did some research and couldn’t find much. Headphones - Open Back. They sound grainier and more abrasive than the smoother sounding 400i. The HE400i has an efficiency of 93 dB/mW and a nominal impedance of 35Ohm. They tend to really expose bad quality tracks. Very natural. Can get a bit abrasive at times/rough around the edges. 320 kbps should be the standard here. In terms of the differences, there are a lot of them and these can actually help you decide which one of the models is best for you. Sennheiser hd650 headphones usually come in fancy boxes, fancy cables and housing whereas hifiman he400i lacks flashy effects. Your mileage may vary. Objective 2. The updated HIFIMAN Sundara improves upon all the shortcomings of the original 400i with regard to build. As I already stated before both pairs are open-back headphones. Stu is determined to help you make sound decisions, and strives to deliver the best and most in depth content on the internet! Your email address will not be published. read. Comparing HE400i vs HE400S, we see that the HE400i is a bit heavier than the HE400S. At the time of publishing this, the Hifiman HE400i 2020 is available directly from Hifiman for $169 whereas the Deva is available for $219. This kind of makes the 400S sound cooler, a bit more sterile, and a bit more crisp, if a tad grainier in comparison to the warmer sound of the 400i and Sundara. An amazing headphone. suggested Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Sennheiser HD 598 Philips Fidelio X2 Audeze LCD-2 Oppo PM-3 Audioquest NightHawk HiFiMAN HE-560 Fostex T50RP HiFiMAN HE … The treble performance of the Hifiman HE400i is overemphasized a little but that is not noticeable. Thanks. Added … It’s one of the best mid-fi headphones I’ve reviewed. Whilst the He400i is likely to be the most consumer orientated or bass tuned Hifiman between the two, perhaps even in the entire updated range (unless Fang surprises us and that’s always possible), it doesn’t quite have the same strength of slam as the older HE400. While the treble is solid, it does lack a bit of air, sparkle, and detail that would otherwise capture that realism in tracks that we all love. HiFiMAN HE-400 vs HiFiMAN HE-400i. It still has energy, but isn’t quite as treble heavy as other cans. HIFIMAN HE400i has 370 g, while HIFIMAN SUNDARA is only 2 g heavier — 372 g. The headband of both devices can be adjusted and their audio cable can be detached. You may notice a few changes like the padding and maybe the weight but physically I don’t think you’ll note any difference without actually touching them. Our site uses cookies to improve your experience. Here I compiled all of my impressions of the big 4 since 2017! This was pretty much unanimous in all of the reviews including the positive ones. However, for this set, when in midrange the sound changes and that’s when it starts to sound really good. They sound best with high quality source files. It might not have the necessary rumble that people who love heavy bass may want. Hifiman HE-400i vs Sennheiser HD650. In addition, they do not fold. This one also still the same open planar headphone with a great quality and loved by many audiophiles out there. It’s more musical with better resolution, while the 400S is perhaps a bit more detailed in theory, but doesn’t quite hit the mark like the 400i. And if you want to change the cable are they like normal 2.5mm jacks or do they have some special locking mechanism and you have to buy the original hifiman cables ? 1,280 posts; 1,280 posts; Posted September 21, 2015. This difference of $50 is not a large amount but may be to those starting out in the headphone world. However, if you hate the ache that occurs after a while then the he400i would make the better option. In truth, we both know that people are always looking for the next best thing. A fantastic overall sounding headphone with some quality control issues. They are as good as hifiman he400i headphones. The same doesn’t go for the Hifiman HE400S. The sound also may be unbalanced on right vs. left. The ear cups, however, somehow they managed to make them look thinner. Overview Prices Specs Dunno about HE400i. I would go with the he400s. The HE400S has full velour padding and the size of the opening ear pads vary from 5 to 6cm. At the current moment, this one is quite popular in the market. I would highly recommend the Sennheiser HD25 for that. Physically speaking, both the Hifiman HE400i and Hifiman HE400S have almost similar looks. Small Disclaimer before we get into things: HiFiMan has been having ongoing quality control issues for quite some time now, mostly with the cable connection. So great, that more of it would most definitely be welcome. First off, in the box, what you will find is the headphones themselves, the cable, and a 3.5 to the 6.3-millimeter jack. For a headphone it has some pretty good sound qualities and the performance is quite impressive. In reality my HE-400i measures 42.9Ohm on both sides, but at least they are balanced. The worst thing about the HiFiMan HE400S’ sound is the bass, but it’s not bad by any means — we just wish there was a little more. More on that later. Pretty much all of the headphones I’ve owned over the years started to sound significantly better over time. Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!! My video shootout goes into much depth about my overall impressions of the big 4, including Drop’s HE-4XX, the original 400i, the 400S and the Sundara. They kind of sit somewhere in the middle. Keeping them rather cool. For this set, the kick drums sound refined and the bass guitars don’t sound as subtle nor as muddy at all. HiFiMAN HE-400i. 11/11 Shopping Carnival at GearbestCheck the deals. It really defeats the entire purpose. The problem with this is that they cost an additional $40 when they should be included for no extra cost, or used as the original ear pads! HiFiMan HE400i 2020 Review Cable. In short, I’m just going to say that I would highly recommend the he400s. However, sennheiser hd650 headphones are not flashy for nothing. You won’t feel much of a disappointment. At 98dB/mW, they are a bit more efficient than a 400i at 93-94dB. If you are looking for the best headphones, then you are at the right place. Pros: Lightweight. There’s a grill mod you can do which also supposedly improves the bass, sub bass, Soundstage, and treble response. *. If you have Spotify premium I believe they provide 320kbps which is the standard for good listening and a number you should always strive for. The cable is very suspect. What might actually be of concern is the high shrill vocals or cymbals. Mostly because the bass guitars and kick drums aren’t as pronounced as you’d want them to be. Also, all of my final impressions of the big 4 can be found here in the HiFiMan 400 Series Shootout! On your mobile device, they aren’t too loud but also not too quiet. This improved sound quality. Because I am more comfortable with inline mic on my headphone. Normally a speaker amp, but this one was modded to support a … I never have to turn them down, but on the flip side, I would like to turn them up on occasion. HE400 sounds a bit similar to the HD700 in term of warmness, but HE400 got more distinct treble spike. Philips Fidelio X2HR vs. HIFIMAN HE400i/HE4XX. It also sports a tighter bass with more impact, better mid-range and cleaner highs. So when it comes to headphones you know that people are looking to but the best set that is available at the time. 4-5 min. A lot of people don’t really believe in this phenomenon, but I’m here to tell you that there is some truth to it. There’s more depth to the sound. AKG K702 Vs Sennheiser HD650 In this article below, we will do comparison between AKG K702 vs Sennheiser HD650. Until you understand what headphones can do for you. With no distinct difference at all. Hi Stu, I read your review about HE400s and HE400i. As for the comfort, they come with enough padding that feels comfortable enough when used. I personally enjoy the sound of the 400i. They aren’t very amp specific, and will sound fine with many different combinations. Compare Fostex T50RP MK3 vs HIFIMAN HE400i headphones side-by-side. They produce great quality by providing some clarity with a nice black background and good speed. The 400s have this bulky design that you will probably spot from the outside. Questions? They aren’t too loud or too quiet; it’s a nice happy medium. Did I miss the mark on something? The latest Hifiman headphones should be easier to drive then ever before but you will notice they’re still not the easiest to drive headphones. Your email address will not be published. In his spare time, he likes to fish, paint, play guitar, pray, rap, make beats, take photos, record videos, graphic design, and more. Then you’ll notice a slight difference in weight and maybe the look. Out of lower end portable, MP3, and tablets with questionable hardware. You may not want to travel with them. They have proven to be able to deliver a great and wonderful sound. AMP: Emotiva X-Mini A100. Just think of them as bass lean. I currently have the X2HRs and I enjoy them. An amp isn’t required for the 400S, but will greatly aid you in the studio when you’re sitting at your desk. Today we will talk about the absolute leader in the price range up to $400. It might not have the necessary rumble that people who love heavy bass may want. Please let me know down below or Contact me!! Hifiman HE400i 2020 Edition ($169 EUR) VS Hifiman Deva ($219) Both headphones are looking more or less the same, with the exception that Deva has an elongated earcup around those headphone jacks so it could accommodate a BlueMini wireless companion. More in the video below! His sense of humour, coupled with a knack for excellence and strict attention to detail are what allow him to stand out in a crowded industry.”. The main difference between the 400S vs. the rest is that it’s bass rolls off considerably more, and does sound a bit lean by contrast, even though it’s still immensely textured and detailed. Good instrument separation, transparency, and detail. Topping E30/L30 Review – Just How Good Is It? Fantastic rich and textured ortho bass, great mids and better sibilance! The Hifiman HE400i has pretty good and decent bass to its sound. The he400i just looks like it’s a sibling. Based on our rating, HE400i has a total rating of 6.5 out of 10 vs 7.5 for T50RP MK3. Plus it all looks pretty stylish and neat. The 400S does not have an inline mic, and you really wouldn’t want it for DJing purposes. When it comes to comfort, this pair does not disappoint either. They have an open back design which usually does not get as hot as closed back over-ears. While it is clean, it lacks that “oomph” that many people desire. He plays 5 instruments. This isn’t a deal breaker per se, but there is a definite bass roll off starting at 7oHz, and completely rolling off by 30Hz. The sound quality is obviously better that means my reason for getting headphones is clearly satisfied. HE-400 personal review , ATH-AD700 personal review , Aune T1 MK2 personal review , Lepai A2020+ personal review , Field report of Jakarta USF So be sure to look it up, so you know what I’m talking about at the time. At the same time the he400i are more comfortable because they are lighter and the ear padding is rather comforting and supportive. Extremely clear even using Spotify’s sub optimal 192kbps files. However, that is mostly driven by the source of music. The former one will be reviewed on Headfonia in the upcoming weeks as well. Requests? I guess we can say you’ll be able to use them for quite a while before they start burning or hurting you. By using this site, you agree to the use of cookies. Also the open back which might be weird but actually keeps a but of air circulating and getting to your ears. Really one of the only downsides to the headphone. iFi Aurora Review – Love At First Sight?! The sound signature isn’t flat, but also not overly colored. It has plenty of padding that will make sure to keep your ears well supported and greatly cushioned. The HIFIMAN HE400I and the HIFIMAN HE400S also use the same frequency response and they tend to perform better the same musical genres. 5 foot, heavily braided L-jack 3.5mm to split L & R 3.5mm balanced cord. Do you have any affordable headphone that can you recommend for DJing matters? Whereas, the HE400i ear pads are made from ABS polymer with velour and pleather which makes it more comfortable to wear and the opening is 6cm on all sides. The length of the wire which comes with the headphones is 150 cm. Their bread and butter. They have ergomic headbands and beveled ear … Tweet. Let’s say that by the time you finish reading this, you’ll be well aware of everything that these music lovers will be saying. Besides music, Rob enjoys a good whiskey and the outdoors. The Grado Sonata moving-magnet cartridge I use imparts yet an extra degree of warmth to the vinyl, granted, but the HiFiMan exposed the detail in those recordings beautifully, without an analytical taint. They’re the type of headphone that makes you want to know every single thing going on, even though they provide that in spades. Not because they want to look cool or anything, but listening to good music goes a long way. Comments? Your email address will not be published. You’ll never understand the hype that’s out there for a single headset. In fact during a few email discussions back and forth with the team at Hifiman I did mention it would have been better calling the HE400i the HE460 simply because the relationship in terms of design, technology and even tonality bears a closer resemblance to the new direction of the HE560 than the older HE400. It’s a planar magnetic headphone. smartphones laptops tablets News. The good news is that it won’t make you tired, which I’ve come to find is a problem with listening to bright/sibilant headphones too long. Not too sure about the first question. It could definitely use a bit more extension. The cable comes at 1.5 m which is different in that it is shorter and I bet it is easier to walk around with. The HE400i was a mid-range open-back can produced by Hifiman as a successor to the original HE400 and HE400S (though both S and i models were sold at the same time). Would anyone be able to explain the sound signature differences between the 2 headphones? Though both pairs have somewhat relatable comfort, the HIFiman he400i earpads are made of soft and plush pleather while the He400s has a velour material that can be quite a nuisance if it attracts lint. Let me know what you think, and glad to help! Word on the street is that these will take upwards of 150 hours to break in. Mostly because the bass guitars and kick drums aren’t as pronounced as you’d want them to be. The headphone can be used directly with its included 3.5mm cable. They also add bass at the expense of the luscious 3D sound signature. I like the 400s one and I want to try it for my Online DJing, but I want to know first if it has an inline mic? ... Hifiman HE400I the other version of HE400 series besides the original and the HE400S that we have talked earlier. en. Required fields are marked *, By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. The HiFiMan HE-400i, like the rest of the planar magnetic HifiMan headphones, are not very breathable. In his spare time, he likes to fish, paint, play guitar, pray, rap, make beats, take photos, record videos, graphic design, and more. Just make sure you understand what you are letting go of. Find out which is better and their overall performance in the headphones ranking. I dont know if the amazon 400is have been updated yet, as of a while ago only hifiman direct was selling the new stock, but it may have reached other stores by now. The biggest things to keep in mind with these headphones are the following: Other than that, these are a fantastic sounding headphone with a pretty good build quality aside from the cable issue. Well, what can I say? Rob is a musician and audiophile at heart. Related Posts. It should also be noted that Audio Advice (a store I frequent to demo these models) has stopped carrying HiFiMan products due to said issues. It makes them seem as if they are louder than they actually should be. Something that almost every audiophile has been able to approve of. While they are a solid desktop headphone, they aren’t sturdy enough to lug around. When we look at the treble performance for both sets. What is the difference between Philips Fidelio X2HR and HiFiMAN HE-400? Learn how your comment data is processed. Cons: Slightly Narrower Soundstage Setup: DAC: Aune T1 with upgraded 6922 tube. Thank you. As noted above, the 400S seems like it’s trying really hard to be analytical and in comparison to the 400i, falls a little bit flat although I do like listening with it. Updates. The first is color and the second is ear-pad material. HIFIMAN HE400I Vs HE400S – What Are The Differences? Both have the same frequency response: 20Hz – 35kHz. HIFIMAN HE400i 2020 Version Full-Size Over-Ear Planar Magnetic Professional Headphones with Enhanced Headband, 3.5mm Connector, for Audiophiles, … Good music always brings a good vibe. This is very common with headphones in this price range. More on that later. Many people claim that it has an engaging sound that lets you hear almost every beat and rhythm to the music being played. The hifiman he400i headphones are large, light full-sized headphones which makes them look magnificent. With the Brainwavz FocusPads (replacement ear pads), more bass driven music comes to life. Interested in learning more? See also : HIFIMAN HE400I Vs OPPO PM3. The Hifiman HE400i has pretty good and decent bass to its sound. That’s why we have decided to put them up to the test against each … Home Studio Guide – Part I (Introduction), The Best Audiophile Headphones [Complete Buyer’s Guide], The Best Audiophile Headphones (Part II) [Complete Buyer’s Guide], The Best Audiophile Headphones (Part III) [Complete Buyer’s Guide], The Best Audiophile Headphones (Part IV) [Complete Buyer’s Guide], The 5 Best Audiophile Headphones For Under $500, The Best Headphones for Gaming [In Depth Guide], The Best Audiophile Headphones For Gaming Under $100, Blue Yeti vs. AT2020 vs. Samson C01 [Definitive Guide]. Making the song sound great and well balanced. Required fields are marked *, “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”, “Stu is determined to help you make sound decisions, and strives to deliver the best and most in depth content on the internet! At this point, the question of what could be better certainly makes things a whole lot different. As for the second, they are proprietary HIFIMAN cables and terminate in coax which is very weird. Purchased with the HE-400, great little DAC/AMP. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The same doesn’t go for the Hifiman HE400S.