Part of “Stories w/ Stubear”
Greetings mate and welcome aboard!
Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…
How on earth do I start talking about the one true audiophile experience that actually changed my life forever?
The other stories in this series are important, sure. But the very first experience with an OG 400i is something that I never could have imagined in all the years leading up to it.
It’s the one moment in time that stands out significantly more than anything else, and the memory of it is certainly the most vivid.
In 2017, audiophilia was a brand-spankin’ new idea to me.
I never knew there were actually people who claimed they could hear the grass growing.
Jokes aside, and for as much as I dunk on audiophiles nowadays, there is a reason why people get sucked down the rabbit hole. And, if you’re new to audio, the 400i is just about the perfect reason to dive head-first into the abyss; in only your birthday suit.
So think about it in terms of marijuana. The weed is something like an HD600, but the hash?! The hash is the 400i, my friend.
Or Hashish as the oldsters say.
So get excited, light one up, and just CHILL THE F OUT ALRIGHT!
Sure, you can move on to cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, and all that other jazz (i.e. way more expensive headphones), but the high quickly becomes a diminishing returns proposition, and guess what? You can only shoot up so many times before you become a walking corpse.
Chasing the unicorn in audio and spending more and more money on gear trying to achieve a feeling you’ll never attain is a similar idea.
That initial high, sort of like the 400i, is the most exhilarating and amazing feeling you can have listening to music; thus you want more of it.
And, spending more and more money on the harder drugs only to become more empty every time you shoot up is just like spending over $20,000 on gear and still not being satisfied.
See below:
In 2017, none of what I just wrote was on my mind.
So if you’re new to audio, I want you to enjoy these incredible experiences while they last. Like I did. Because it won’t last forever.
The 400i is memorable to me because it represents something special. Something that should be cherished and remembered.
And laugh all you want, but it is similar to a first love, or your wedding day; something in your life that has profound significance to you.
It was a day just like any other day: I was driving down to my local Audio Advice so I could… you guessed it, listen to music.
Who knew?
At this stage, the thought of trying a new headphone made me wetter than a waterpark, and I couldn’t get enough. It’s like when you’re a baby or small child and everything feels so fresh and new. So exhilarating and wonderous. Such glee. Many headphone. Such audio.
The baby bro experience with headphones is no different, and pretty much everything about gear, in general, is interesting.
I feel incredibly fortunate that Audio Advice has headphones at all, much less lends them out for demo. This is because there aren’t any other audio stores near me.
Home Theater is their primary focus, but there’s a wall of headphones available, and choosing one to listen to is still a lot like being a kid in a candy store; even all these years later.
And, as much as I lament the familiarity of it all, walking into the store is still pretty incredible; albeit in a different way now.
Back then, it felt like the time Tommy and Chuckie got stuck in the Toy Palace. That initial overwhelming feeling of pure bliss is kind of what it was like walking into Audio Advice in 2017.
Cool lights, neato movie posters, all kinds of interesting side rooms. If you were a kid, you’d be overjoyed at the sheer amount of hiding places there are.
And, the store is deceptively big. It looks like a tiny space from the outside, but the inside is fairly spacious and complex.
There’s a main, somewhat irregularly shaped hallway, and then rooms tentacling (is that a word?) off to either side and also the back, which then made a backward L-shape and fed into a small area + narrow hallway leading to the bathrooms and a conference room.
That small area contained the holy grail listening station, with its dark recliner and shelf containing several mammoth-looking amps, dacs, and receivers that looked like something out of a magazine.
The original 400i
I can still remember the moment like it was yesterday.
Approaching with extreme caution, I gripped the 400i just taken from the wall of wonder and slowly sat down while I tried to not make eye contact with the huge Amps in front of my face.
At the time, Chip was still working there and offered me a cool CD with some tunes for the impending jam sesh. He knew that the gravity of the situation was quite immense, and for that, I’m eternally grateful.
You see, Chip was a really cool cat and I miss him dearly. Apparently, his retirement means he’s now off somewhere on a boat in the middle of nowhere. So there’s that.
Before my voyage, he wished me well and I sat down without any real expectations.
If you’re reading this, that may be hard to believe since I just spent this entire time discussing what led up to this moment, but it really is that important.
Because listening to cheap drug store headphones in the 90s wasn’t even in the same galaxy as something like a 400i. Heck, we may as well be referring to different universes.
I’ve described this concept in the Utopia review as a sort of “Doors of Perception” type of conceptualization, and because the 400i is a planar magnetic headphone, it comes eerily close to being as resolving as something in the hi-fi category.
Yes, this Mid-Fi darling sugar pie honey bun Snookums, is in my opinion one of the most important headphones the hobby has ever seen.
And, once I got to “Over The Hills And Far Away” on Chip’s CD, it all made sense to me sort of like when my best friend years back told me he was in the front or third or whatever row of a Phish concert on mushrooms and suddenly understood the meaning of life.
Music, after so many years of just hearing it, finally made sense now that I could listen to it.
In the same way that a person can physiologically hear you speaking but not necessarily be listening, I can also hear music through crappy headphones yet not actually perceive anything that’s going on underneath the surface.
And boy howdy when I tell you a lot is going on, I mean it. The resolution of the 400i is nothing short of ecstasy to the highest power.
Most people are familiar with the band Zed Leppelin, but I can assure you most people aren’t familiar with the intense pleasure eruption that shoots out of your ears after they climax in rainbows like Radiohead.
In a sense, this was like being on drugs, in the way that your awareness is heightened and you’re intently focused on the song.
So think of the 400i as the drug, because it’s supplying you the altered consciousness (the newness/ecstasy) that it creates by playing music.
And, when a headphone is almost as good as a drug?
Hoo boy, sorry in advance for your wallet.
Intensely focused is something we all need to strive for, even in an age where profit is attained by succumbing to the opposite. The attention economy, information overload, the fear of missing out, the advertising of endless amounts of products; they’re all distractions pulling you away from what’s important.
The 400i in a somewhat ironic sense forces you to become present, because of how technologically capable it is. This almost seems completely counterintuitive. Like a paradox of sorts.
But there are times when the advancements in technology merge so harmoniously and beautifully with the experience of being human that you’d think your life was an actual movie.
I had heard “Over The Hills And Far Away” hundreds of times in those 14 years leading up to 2017. The song always invokes some sort of nostalgic response from those cobweb-filled corners of my mind. But nothing could prepare me for how it sounded through planar drivers and an impossibly perfect recording.
Nothing.
It was realistic in a way that’s hard to believe. In other words, the unique tone of the instruments. Their timbre. The qualities that make an instrument what it is.
What makes each of our voices unique. How it all sounds to your ear in real life vs. the way it sounds through a device. The 400i, for simply being a headphone, is, at times, pretty close to converging with reality.
And, even if it doesn’t quite live up to the lofty standard of hearing music in a live setting, it’s still going to completely change your perception about what a good recording is capable of.
The recording of “Over the hills” starts innocently enough. We have a guitar riff that I practiced so much in high school it drove my friend Dennis absolutely bat shit crazy.
As in, “If you play that riff one more time I’m going to stab you with a rusty screwdriver.”
LOL.
Psychotic outbursts aside, next comes Robert Plant, the quite handsome man who apparently loved to wear super tight jeans and belt out vocals with half of his clothes missing.
OH, BEHAVE!!
At that point, I was starting to get uncomfortable because everything sounded so incredibly rich and lifelike that I have a hard time putting it into words right now. I also may or may have not been getting a little damp.
In the back of my mind, I knew something incredible was about to happen, and at that moment when the bass and drums come in, it did.
*Splurge*
Given I had heard the song so many times, surely I had an expectation; but those few mere seconds left such an imprint on me *ahem* that I knew I’d never look at audio the same way again.
The kick drum was so lush, so familiar, but yet so foreign. It was saturated and rich, like just the right amount of maple syrup over French Toast. Too much and the bass sounds like it’s drowning in a sea of chocolate pudding. Too little and you’re eating dry french toast.
Yeah no.
The timbre of it was so perfect that I could almost swear it was happening in my immediate vicinity. Every individual note of Jones’ bass came through so effortlessly and clearly you’d think he was playing it for your ears only.
Plant’s voice was incredibly intimate and close. The entire band sounded more cohesive than I could ever remember; as if they were hardly trying.
It was as if I got a glimpse into each of their souls, why they were bandmates, what made them tick, as well as just how proficient they were with their instruments. I finally understood why they were so close and why they worked so well together.
It’s been said that after John Bonham died in 1980, the band refused to play together anymore because it just wouldn’t be the same.
Because he was such an integral part of the group, it wouldn’t be right (I’m paraphrasing). So they chose to disband out of respect, rather than replace him.
“We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend and the deep respect we have for his family, together with the sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were.”
After listening to Over the Hills with the 400i and the gargantuan Bryston BHA-1, coupled with a NAIM DAC V-1 and Oppo CD player, I completely understood why they made the decision.
It honestly made me want to shed a tear. That’s how good it sounded.
The tone of the instruments, the impact of the bass, the delicate strumming of the guitar, and the realistic nature of the drums. The crystal clear vocals. It was all just too much for me. I was overwhelmed beyond anything you could possibly imagine.
It’s a feeling. A knowing.
A sense of, “Wow. I really get it now. This is truly how the artists intended for this song to sound.”
It was more open, more spacious, more live-sounding, almost as if you could taste the instruments, or reach out and touch them.
I sat there, stunned that a song I thought I knew like the back of my hand could sound so much better than I ever dreamed possible. And that’s when I knew that I’d be going down my own rabbit hole, never to return.
I left Audio Advice that day in a sort of daze, completely bewildered and in utter disarray at what just happened to me. In a strange way, I felt… high almost. Or drunk, as if I were some college chick stumbling around a restaurant parking lot after drinking too many margaritas.
Since then, I’ve had some pretty incredible experiences with headphones.
But listening to a 400i for the first time was special. And, unfortunately, as much as I want to, I can’t go back in time and relive it.
If I could be candid for a moment, there is some sadness to that. A charm to the sadness as Plato put it? Sure.
But that feeling of newness in this hobby is long gone, and I can never hear a planar for the first time again.
So to bring it back full circle, enjoy the time you spend listening to music. Enjoy the feeling of hearing something you’ve never heard before.
Because it doesn’t last forever.
OG HIFIMAN HE400i
Final Grades & Specifications
- Build: B+
- Comfort: A
- Sound: A+
- Amplification Required: Yes
- Recommended: Bryston BHA-1, JDS ATOM 2, FiiO K7.
- Genres: All, but especially Rock and Hip-Hop.
- Type: Planar Magnetic.
- Fit: Circumaural.
- Impedance: 35 Ohm.
- Sensitivity: 93dB.
- Sound Output: Stereo.
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-35kHz.
- Material: ABS Plastic, Polymer.
- Weight: 370g.
- Inputs Supported: 3.5mm, 1/4″.
- Cable Length: 1.5m.
- Additional Features: Detachable Cable.
Build & Comfort
Crafted with a blend of lightweight materials, the HE400i strikes a balance between durability and comfort.
The headband, featuring a suspended design and ample padding, ensures even weight distribution, making extended listening sessions a breeze.
The ear cups, albeit slightly bulky, provide a snug fit without causing discomfort during prolonged use.
Despite its overall ergonomic design, some users with smaller head sizes may find the fit a touch loose.
That said, the 400i is certainly one of the most comfortable headphones of all time and deserves high praise.
The pads themselves tend to flatten out with prolonged use, but this is to be expected.
Expect to change them out depending on usage. Users typically purchase a new set around the 1-year mark.
Well, that’s about it for today my friend. I hope you’ve enjoyed this HIFIMAN HE400i story.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please leave them down below or Contact me!!
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Where are you on your audio journey? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
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HIFIMAN HE400i
Pros
- Intimate, Revealing, and Detailed
- Comfortable Overall
- Great for Casual Listeners
Cons
- Headband slides down on your ear lobes
- Yoke Issue on Newer Batches
40 comments
Looks great!! I’m definetely a fanboy of Sennheiser but this also looks great, especially when you look from the perspective of ergonomics and comfort. I have no doubt that it will fit into my head like a charm.
I’m also a great fan of Pink Floyd and would like to listen to “Time” with the best audio quality.
Yeah, I really liked the 400i, but I preferred the snappier sound of the HD600. The 400i’s tend to be on the warmer side, even though they’re still really detailed. They’re just not quite as clear, and the mid-range isn’t as resolving.
The song Time actually sounds a lot different with a great pair of headphones. Scary almost. It’s like you’re putting a microscope to it and can analyze exactly what’s going on. I can honestly say the 400i’s enabled me to look into the soul of David Gilmour for a few minutes.
I’m deciding between the HD600s and the HE-400i. Right now they are the same price ($175). I’m confused trying to come to a decision. My music of choice is Classical, with some Jazz, Pop and Dubstep on the side. I’m also into gaming, with the V Moda M100’s being the most open headphones that I’ve tried. But I’ve heard that the HD600s need a decent Amp/DAC combo to get them closer to their true potential while the HE-400i doesn’t NEED one. If i decide to get one over the other, I’ll be pairing it up with the Schiit Magni 3. How much do these gain from getting a dedicated DAC? Will I notice a difference in getting an Amp without a DAC as opposed to an Amp with a DAC?
Hey Sydney!
Unless your internal Soundcard on your computer is really good (which I doubt because most aren’t), then getting a DAC for your desktop Amp is always a good idea. What it will do is give you a better digital to analog conversion, resulting in better sound quality to your ears.
All an amp does is pretty much raise the volume a bunch. So if your DAC is crappy, you’ll only be magnifying bad sound. That’s why I pretty much always recommend the Magni Amp with the Modi DAC.
You’re also making a great choice with the Magni. Because of it’s super low output impedance (less than 0.2), it will work with the majority of headphones. As an example, the HD600 needs roughly 20 mW of power to perform optimally. The Magni provides 260 mW into 300 Ohms. You can see why it’s such a valuable piece of equipment.
As for the HE400i, it doesn’t necessarily need an amp like you point out, but I personally wouldn’t buy them not intending to pair them with something. I appreciate the sound of them with an amp more-so than I do without one. Again, the Magni/Modi stack is perfectly fine here as well.
That said, the differences between the HD600 and HE400i are a bit more subtle than you would think. One of the biggest is Soundstage. You’ll get a wider image with the 400i’s, as the 600’s are known to have a much narrower one than your typical open back headphone. Know that instrument separation with the 600’s is nothing short of magnificent, but there’s no real out of your head feeling.
The bass on the 400i is also heavier, but still not bloated or out of place. The 600’s tend to be a lot lighter in this regard, and there is a lot more roll off after 40-50 Hz. Even so, I find the bass on the 600’s to be plenty, but that’s just me. 🙂
Also, the mid-range is better on the 600’s, though it can be a bit intense at times. With the 400i’s it kind of takes a more aggressive dip after 1k, while with the 600’s, it’s gradual.
I would also say that the treble is a bit brighter on the 400i, as the 600’s have been accused of having a “veil” or being darker by comparison. I don’t really hear it much, but your mileage may vary.
Those are probably 3 of the biggest differences. The rest take a bit of listening to really discern.
In a nutshell:
The HD600 is more analytical, detailed, and “cool.”
The HD400i by contrast is warmer, more lush, more inviting.
If you would like a more in depth comparison, here are my impressions: Sennheiser HD600 vs. HIFIMAN HE400i
If I had to make a recommendation based on your specific needs, I think the 400i wins out by a slight margin due to a bit of a better Soundstage, planar magnetic drivers, and more bass. The 600 just won’t work as well for dubstep. The planar drivers of the 400i give it a bit of a more realistic and raw energy that’s tough to put into words. It’s difficult to recommend one over the other because I like them both and they both do so many things right. I usually recommend the 600’s outright, but the 400i’s happen to be one of the only headphones that puts up such a good fight with regards to a head to head. To be honest, you’ll be extremely happy with whatever you decide in this case.
Hope that helps! Let me know what you go with.
-Stu
hey, thanks for review!
if i ask grado sr325e, 400i or hd600 for Post-Rock what is your answer?
No problem Saman!
It depends on the type of sound you’re after. The 325e has a brighter sound, but the mids/treble can easily become sibilant and just too much. Plus the build is questionable, with a bulky cable and they’re not comfortable at all.
Between the 400i and HD600, would you rather have a clinical/sterile, clean sound? That’s what the 600’s provide, with a bit more bass roll off than the 400i.
The 400i by contrast is also a slightly warmer tone, with more bass emphasis. Between the two, you’ll be happy with either, as the differences are subtle and take a bit of listening time to discern.
Also do you plan on investing in an amp? Both basically do need one.
Let me know!
-Stu
Thanks! I am using a Fiio X3 (first Gen) as amp/dac now! with a sennheiser IE80, plus an Iphone 6s. now i was looking for a home headphone like 400i. Gl
Hey man! Are you leaning towards this one? I think it would be a great purchase. I also like the HD600 and feel it’s the best overall buy, but it’s very close and entirely dependent on the sound signature you’re looking for. Let me know what kind of sound you’re after and what sorts of genres you like!
hey Stuart, try these:
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUR3Iz9VzKc
2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7j4tXYJRmQ
i listen post-rock, post-metal, ambient and classical symphonies. they had almost no vocals but many instruments and many complex textures. i don’t need bass either.
Ugh I used to like Post-Rock but it’s soooo depressing to me now. Well some of it is. Some of it is still awesome. Ever heard Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, Sigur Ros, Tortoise, God is an Astronaut, Russian Circles, The Album leaf, Broken Social Scene, Trans Am? Those are some of the artists I used to listen to. 🙂
That said, if it’s mostly post rock you listen to, it’s not going to make that huge of a difference here. Basically if you’re after a more sterile/cleaner sound, go with the 600. If you like a bit more added bass emphasis, and and overall warmer tone, the 400i is awesome too.
stu! what is your opinion about beyer amiron home?
Haven’t researched or tried it, but would love to!
Heya! So I’ve been looking into getting a good set of headphones for console gaming for the past few weeks. I’ve been eyeing the Sennheiser HD 599 for awhile now (which is currently going for $187 on Amazon), but looking at rtings.com made me aware of the existence of these HE400i , which just so happens to cost only like 30 dollars more at $219. So of the two, which do you think would be best for gaming? I’m specifically looking for an awesome immersion experience, and comfort for long play sessions would help, so I have a particular interest in how the soundstage and comfort between the two compare.
Also, what would be a good budget amp/DAC combo? I was going to pair the suggested FiiO F10K with whatever I got, but I noticed that it only had an USB connection. Unfortunately in order to get the 3D audio processing out of the PSVR for the PS4 I would need a headphone jack connection, so I’d need one that has that as an option.
Thank you for your help!
…I’m kinda leaning heavily toward the 599s now after visiting the Reddit headphones page. Apparently the Hifiman brand is getting/has a bit of a reputation for breaking, specifically the plastic yoke that connects the cups to the band. I was kinda curious why the 400i were selling for so much less than their initial price compared to other headphones…I suppose that’s why.
I would still love to know what a good amp/DAC would be for my needs though!
Eh, prices tend to fluctuate a lot, but yeah it could be based on less of a demand at the moment. That said, the 400i is an excellent headphone and would work well for gaming, but I think you’re making the right choice in the 599.
Hope my other response helped! Let me know.
Hey man!
I actually really like the 400i, but I can see your concern. I don’t own a pair, but have demoed them on many occasions and wouldn’t mind having one at all. I think comfort on the 599 is slightly better. The 400i’s tend to slide down onto the tops of your ears, and take a bit of fiddling to get a good fit. The 400i’s have a great Soundstage as well, but not as good as a 599. That said, the 599 is most excellent, and has a fantastic Soundstage conducive for gaming, so it’s the right decision and I would say go for it. I have the HD600’s and would recommend them, but they won’t be as good because of the infamously narrow staging.
As far as a budget Amp/DAC combo, the Magni 2 Uber + Modi 2 Uber would work well. You need the Uber version of the Modi because it has optical which you would need for a PS4 hook up.
If you decide to attach a boom mic, an adapter will also come in handy.
So should you go this route, the Magni 3, Modi 2 Uber, PYST cables to hook up from the back of the Magni to the back of the Modi, and the adapter.
So your set up would go PS4 > Modi 2 Uber > Magni 2 or 3 > Headphones. I have the Magni 2. They have since come out with the 3, which is the same price but better 🙂
Alternatively, you could just get the Astro Mixamp which will be more convenient, but not provide as good of sound quality. It’s got everything you need on it including optical and a 3.5mm jack. I would def go with the Magni/Modi combo, as it’s an excellent Headphone Amp and will be a staple in your studio/gaming environment.
Hope this helps! Let me know what you think.
-Stu
Thanks for the advice! With it, it’s settled – I’ll opt for the 599s!
As for the Magni 3 + Modi 2 Uber setup, I weirdly can’t find it listed for sale anywhere aside from the Schiit website itself, where both together comes to $250. That’s a touch steep for the budget range I think (though it probably is considered budget in the audiophile world – this stuff gets pricy!), so that’s going to be something I work up toward.
In the meantime I was eyeing the FX Audio DAC-X6 or the SMSL Audio M3 DAC/amp combos. Which of those do you think would be best to hold me over in the meantime, or do you think neither are worth it?
Oh, and I did look into the Astro Mixamp, but it kinda came off to me that a lot of what you’d be paying goes more for the various presets and the Virtual Surround Sound that it offers instead of quality audio, right? I also play primarily single player games, so having a mic isn’t really important to have at the current time.
Yeah I hesitated to even mention the Mixamp but did because of pure convenience and that the sound quality is not bad per se, just not as good as the Magni/Modi combo. I also had trouble finding them on amazon as well. I would still wait it out and buy them when you have saved enough. They are absolutely worth the investment, and are a bargain even at $250 combined. Haven’t heard of the others you mention, but reviews are not that great. I generally don’t mess with stuff that’s under 4 stars ever, and it’s prevented a lot of headaches given all my gear is still holding up after years of use.
Interesting that you find these warm. My own experience is that its a very flat even sound. True to the source material, but does tend to make some genres of music feel boring. It may be the lack of amp though.
I’m using mine with an AUNE X1S DAC. I’ve had my HE400i’s about a year and a half, so far only casualty has been the audio cable, had to replace mine once.
Will be getting the AUNE X7S Headphone amp to play with in a week or two, will see if it improves the sound.
I think in comparison to the 600 it sounds warm. Perhaps on it’s own without that buffer to A/B test, it’s not. It is a very flat and even sound, with some nice bass impact. The 600’s by contrast are very sterile/clinical, so that may be why I perceive the 400i as warm. I still think they are a bit warmer than average. Let me know your impressions with the new amp when you get it!
Best Regards,
-Stu
Hi there,
I am a newbie and I am very confused right now between the HD600, HE400i and DT990 250.
Price is also my concern.
So I have omitted 600 right now as they are 286$ on amazon and I am more inclined towards 650 which is 386$. DT990 is 160$ and HE400i is 219$. I will be using it mostly for movies and music (latest pop mostly) and somewhat games. What do u suggest? Is it worth spending extra 60$ on 400i or DT990 is okay?
Hi Omer!
Hm.. The 990 is a fantastic Gaming headphone and also will do really well for Pop. The HD600 is great, but it’s more of a reference headphone and not the best for Gaming. The HE400i is a bit warmer than the 600 but won’t have as much bass impact as a 990. That said for me it’s more than enough, and has some nice impact. If you desire more bass, try the 990, if you desire a more balanced sound, the 400i is the way to go. The 990 also has a very bright treble for most, and may become grating to you after awhile. Something to keep in mind.
Let me know what you decide!
-Stu
Hello Stu,
Now I am stuck between 250ohm and 600ohm dt990, both are 152$ and 184$ respectively. 600ohm model is premium and 250ohm is pro, what should I buy. Right now I have topping tp32ex DAC/amp and I have a plan to buy magni 3 later. How much difference in sound quality both would have
Regards Omer
Hey Omer!
There is very little difference between the 250 and 600 Ohm. I would go for the 250 Ohm with the Magni 3 as it will work with 99% of headphones should you ever purchase more.
As for the small differences:
The 600 Ohm’s bass is a bit tighter, with less impact than the 250 Ohm. The mid-range is also a bit more forward than the 250 Ohm. It’s the most refined out of the 3 impedance levels (32, 250, 600). That’s about it. Just keep in mind that these differences are extremely minuscule and not all that noticeable. In other words, please don’t stress out about it.
Let me know how you like the 990!
-Stu
I have both He400i and Hd6xx as well as Hd202 and I cannot tell the sound difference between these headphones. Weird thing is I like Hd202 sound more than other two headphones :). What am I missing? Sometimes I feel like I just wasted money on these headphones. I have Magni 2 amp and topping tp32ex Dac/Amp.
Hey man!
So you’re using a Magni 3 and Topping Tp32ex DAC/Amp with all three? or just the 400i and HD6xx?
Ye I am using Tp32ex as DAC and Magni 2 as Amp for He400i and Hd6xx. Hd202 dont need amp so I am using Topping Tp32ex directly with Hd202. Although Tp32ex is powerful enough to drive 6xx and 400i as I dont find much difference while using “magni 2 as Amp” or “Tp32ex as DAC/Amp combo” standalone with 6xx and 400i.
Ye I am using DAC Tp32ex with all three but use magni 2 with he400i and hd6xx. Hd202 don’t need magni I think. Although tp32ex also works well with he400i and hd6xx as it has amp builtin. I usually don’t find much difference with magni 2 as amp or tp32ex as amp. Its just I have to increase volume above 90 for tp32ex as amp for he400i and 6xx. With magni 2 as amp sound is quite high at 12 O clock.
I have some HifiMan HE400i (in addition to the Akg 240 600 Omh,) reading their excellent reviews of both products, I cannot agree more with their conclusions, focusing my comments on the HiFiMan HE400i and amplified with a model of Lake People G3 phone amp, the headset acquires a more dynamic sound, and with a more extended bass and with greater control, the middle area continues to retain a very pleasant naturalness, and an acute, extended, detailed, and not aggressive, with it the modern, well-recorded recordings sound excellent, wearing special qualities for rock, jazz fusion, etc. Somehow it is complemented by the excellent results also achieved with the akg, which demonstrates a greater fit for music recorded in the 50/60/70/80, classical, jazz, blues, and pop rock that at least is my opinion and experience Greetings
Nice man! So glad you’re enjoying. I agree totally about the K240 – it does very well with older Rock music. I love the 400i as well as I find it does well with all genres.
Which headphone do you like more and whose excellent reviews are you referring to?
certainly to those made by you here ,,,excellent and where I can’t (in both cases, which are the ones I know perfectly well)agree more according to your conclusions
Aw thanks man! That means a lot to me! I’m always working to get better here. In fact, there’s a lot of things I would change and add to this review to make it more fully fleshed out, but perhaps that’s a project for another day.
Stu, (italy here!!) I find instead that you are eighter hugely passioned, either capable, either generous: you can see it from the BIG amount of singular reviews of all the hifiman-400’s-series, the ones comparatives one another (…), and utterly, the comments, always incoming to the users, and very gutted (is said thus? ???)
I’m less of a fun of that kind of humour on the YouTube channel, but that’s my two cents (another eng saying).
So: I jumped rightly straight to this blog having bought my he-400i **2020** today, because I expected analysis and emotive immersion, because is barely what we aspire from our soundish gears: veridicity and emotion, analysis and hype… not all are capable of staying true to both of them, that’s why I’ve chosed home studio basics 😀
Thank you so much, man! Let me know when they arrive so we can talk about them! I’m fixin’ to get myself a pair as well for comparison to the DEVA 🙂
in reference to the question raised of what would be of the two my favorite, I say, that I honestly keep both, each from its particular reproduction of the musical instant, it brings an excellent musical pleasure, in any case they are not exclusive, if not more well complementary, and in my particular case, depends on the musical style, the type of recording, etc.etc, but , I repeat, each in its style are, in my humble opinion,extraordinary, and luckily I can enjoy them with absolute pleasure,… a greeting
Yes sir! You really hit the nail on the head. There are certain instances where I simply do not like an AKG K240, but those are few and far between. I think for Hip-Hop they work incredibly well if you want to hear everything going on, but: they don’t do as well if you’re goal is to kick back and really feel the music. The bass is just lacking a bit too much. For better impact, the 400i is the way to go. Those really have a knack for digging down deep and representing the sub-bass extremely well; even more so than the majority of other headphones. Bass articulation as a whole is also a lot better being that they are Planar Magnetic. You’re just getting a smoother, more detailed and less clammy sound than a typical Dynamic.
logically when I mean the excellent reviews, it can’t be any other way than referring to yours about both products
detailed, and with which I can’t agree more
regarding the preference of between, both, and excellent,products,akg 240 studio 600, and hifiman 400i, allow me not to opt for either, or better expressed, I decant for both, the two have extreme musicality, and it only depends on the type of musical style, and especially the recording that i prefer one or the other, I’m lucky enough to be able to live with both, and I couldn’t give one up in favor of the other. ,I’m happy and I enjoy both with igúal passion
Exactly man! Check my other reply. Thank you so much for the love and continued support. Keep in touch!
hellu hellu!! i am AKBAAR! dude amazing videos you are doing, instantly hooked and decided!!
i luv the slides u do, very very professional.
hmmm was thinking about windows software, what do you recomned? i curently use Foobar, and some addons for pcm and dsd towork.
keep it up my audio file man lol
Thank you so much man! I think what you have now is fine!