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Author Topic: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions  (Read 11112 times)

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Marvey

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2015, 03:45:05 PM »

That sounds like quite a leap to me.  Has anyone done a head-to-head comparison?

I still have HE400. HE400 bass is better, more extended down low, a bit more articulate. However, HE400 is really laid back sounding in the upper mids. No snap to snares, no crunch of guitars. HE400 is hotter in the mid-high treble. Finally, HE400 does have more mids distortion - that will annoy certain people. HE400S distortion is actually very very good.

I don't think HE400S competes with HE560. Sure FR is a little bit different (and I can see people preferring the HE400S response) but HE560 is more resolving and faster sounding. The Bill-p and Jerg modded HE560s were pretty fantastic.


P.S. I will try different pads later. I wonder if the bass rolloff is from the velour pads. I will give TP a shot to flatten out the treble. This might end up as something fantastic with tweaks.
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Hands

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #11 on: August 11, 2015, 03:48:06 PM »

If this is your pair or belongs to someone else willing, any chance we'll get a loaner tour going after you've had your fun with them?
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Marvey

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2015, 03:49:13 PM »

This is definitely going on the Changstar loaner program.
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OJneg

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2015, 04:08:10 PM »

The HE400S is only $299. The HE400i is $499. Then, a jump up to $899 for the HE560.

From past descriptions of their sound signatures, the HE400S is better than the HE400i! If the HE400S really compares well with the HE560, then HifiMan will need to fix their product lineup. They have plenty of room to play with since the HE1000 is $2999, then the HE6 at $1299.

Hmm... HE400S vs HE560...

Funny how that's normal for audio manufacturers. HD700, PS1000, K812, etc.
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kothganesh

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #14 on: August 11, 2015, 04:16:11 PM »

For the price, this has me interested. Before I do anything though, what is the considered opinion in CS on QC variances in HFM phones in general? Specifically, have you come across the large variation a la  Audez'e  HPs in HFM ? I seem to remember some variation in the HE1K.
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No_One411

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #15 on: August 11, 2015, 04:17:34 PM »

Thanks Marv for getting these measured!  :)p1

Technically only supposed to have these out for a month, but these can definitely go out on a loaner program.

For the price I think it's a good entry level ortho. Kinda wish Fang would start playing around with closed back designs. If you're a fan of dynamic drivers, this probably won't sway you.

No true HE400 replacement as of yet. I think he plays around with certain designs and won't reproduce anything similar after it's first iteration. :(
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Hands

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #16 on: August 11, 2015, 04:35:54 PM »

Before I do anything though, what is the considered opinion in CS on QC variances in HFM phones in general?

The two HE1Ks I heard at the Boulder meet had some noticeable sonic differences. Can't remember if one was a pre-production/beta pair and the other wasn't, which would account for it if so. Not that they were huge differences anyway. Clearly the same model headphone, but one was a bit warmer and smoother up top but had less slam than the other. I've heard a bit of variance with the three 560s I've tried, but all of them sounded painful to my ears to varying degrees (the worst being "rip it off now" painful and the best being "weird and annoying"). Though, I know thegunner got a replacement pair that he said was considerably less bright than the original pair he loaned me. Might have been a silent revision pair?

Can't say how their variance compares to Audeze or OPPO, but it's there to at least some degree from my experience.
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Marvey

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #17 on: August 11, 2015, 05:19:36 PM »

If you're a fan of dynamic drivers, this probably won't sway you.

Translation: STFU OJ. We know you won't like it because it's not a Sennheiser.

--

On another note, I tried the HE560 pads. Look ma! Some bass:



It appears the bass roll-off is a  result of both the leaky pads and a driver characteristic. I haven't listened to it like this yet, but I will post my impressions soon. Picture of stock HE400S pad attached (overexposed to show permeability of the pads - and also some dust and cat hair on it).
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Griffon

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #18 on: August 11, 2015, 05:47:22 PM »

Thanks Merv for the measurements! This corresponds pretty much to what I've heard. The 8K peak is not annoying at all to me. I agree that 400S is not on the same level of 560.
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spoony

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #19 on: August 11, 2015, 06:07:48 PM »

Now imagine what pleather pads would do :U
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