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Author Topic: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions  (Read 11113 times)

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jexby

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #50 on: August 16, 2015, 02:14:46 PM »

Magni 2 or Magni 2 Uber for sure. Let me try out Vali.


Yah since nabbing 400S for a work office, been contemplating a Vali as well. Or magni2uber.
Any brief comparison appreciated.

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Marvey

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #51 on: August 16, 2015, 09:15:36 PM »

My concern with Vali is its slightly higher output impedance, which could be an issue with orthos (softer sound). I suspect it wouldn't be an issue since the HE400S is so darn efficient. Ultimately, it's more a matter of delivered power (of which output impedance does have a lot to do with). But in the end efficiency matters more. Higher efficiency is essentially free power. A lot of free power - given that you need x10 more power to get x2 volume.

The HE400S measure a flat ~22 ohms impedance. The output impedance of the Vali is 6.5 ohms. The damping factor is 3.3. Good enough. Coming from the tube world, we like to see ~3.0. I know some folks like to see 5. Others like to see 40,000. Take guidelines with a grain of salt. Bottom line is that it's worth it to give the Vali a shot.

I happen to have Vali and Magni 2 on my desk. The DAC used is a Modi 2 since I figured it would be kind of lame if I threw a Yggy in the mix. I figure you guys would be interested in much better amps and headphones if Yggy was already your DAC.



So what's the verdict? Hard to say. This is a classic tube(hybrid) vs. solid-state argument. Bass quality on the Magni 2 is better. Lower extension, better sustain, more precision. The Vali's bass doesn't extend as low. It's more murky. Less clear. But not annoying so where I want to say "yuck". Vali does the job on the bass OK and Magni 2 while better, still doesn't win awards for being able to reproduce the most accurate Moffat Bass (i.e., clean precise well articulated low bass with impact.)

It wouldn't necessarily say Vali is more resolving with this setup either (a better DAC may change things, but this is out of the scope of this comparison - we are talking budget everything here). However, there's a really nice bloom and engaging quality in the mids. Call it the Donald North Audio effect - something about soapy suds and Sofia Vergara rubbing her boobies on you.

I'd have to give the Vali a slight nod, despite inferior bass quality. Both amps are more tonally similar than not (after the Vali warms up). If you listen to a lot of techno or electronic with low bass start-stop stuff, the Magni 2 might the better choice.
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jexby

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #52 on: August 16, 2015, 09:29:06 PM »

Captain,

As usual, you have over delivered a comparison with worthy details and info.
Still not sure which once I will buy tho, ha!

Until then it's GOV2+Infinity and 400S in the near term.
More on that combo after a few more days.

Cheers Marv!
 :money:
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Hands

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #53 on: August 16, 2015, 09:37:01 PM »

I should try the Vali with high efficiency planars...should be interesting. What I know is that I do not care for the Vali with less efficient planars, like the HE-500 or modded T50RPs. Makes them sound thin and weird. Now, with dynamics, the Vali is quite nice.
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audiofrk

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #54 on: August 16, 2015, 10:14:05 PM »

Call it the Donald North Audio effect - something about soapy suds and Sofia Vergara rubbing her boobies on you.

...thats the most interesting way I ever heard someone describe the DNA sound.
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Skyline

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #55 on: August 17, 2015, 12:42:14 AM »

I should try the Vali with high efficiency planars...should be interesting. What I know is that I do not care for the Vali with less efficient planars, like the HE-500 or modded T50RPs. Makes them sound thin and weird. Now, with dynamics, the Vali is quite nice.
I actually think the Vali plays well with the HE-500s.

Not as well as something like the Lyr 2 or Project Ember, but it more than holds its own in the budget category. 
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jexby

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #56 on: August 20, 2015, 06:11:37 PM »

yah for the months I had the pair, Vali + HE-500 was ok.  far from bad.
but also a no contest when moving up to Lyr2 with HE-500, and now HE-560s.

for HE-400S second office set up-
decided to "splurge" on a Asgard2 instead of magni2uber or vali.


belay that order. cancelled my A2 plans with 400S.
decided to sell my Lyr2 and some Telefunken tubes. move to Mjol2 with HE-560s.

400S will continue to live off GOV2+Infinity.
 headbang
« Last Edit: August 20, 2015, 07:49:07 PM by jexby »
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Kyle 491

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #57 on: August 29, 2015, 06:29:13 PM »

The HE-400S is god-damn amazing for the price, a really coherent sound from top to bottom with nice tactility and a well-balanced & open mid-range, no treble harshness. I preferred the HE-400S fed from the HM901s and EF-2 combo over the HE-1000 fed from the HM901s/EF-6 combo easily, as the HE-1000 had a distant sounding mid-range with a cavernous, uninvolving sound. Buying anything between the flagships fed by top-end components and the HE-400S or HD6xx is a colossal waste of time and money IMO.
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munch

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #58 on: August 30, 2015, 06:03:30 AM »

heard the 400S recently - absolutely love them for the price.
setup was not even the best, but I can highly recommend these.

great balance, nicely detailed and good texture throughout the entire FR- or however you'd like to call it.
not oversmoothed, just nicely balanced.

I'd have a hard time choosing between these and HD600 to be honest. I like the bass on these more.

very comfy, has velour pads that I like. didn't try for more than 40 minutes or so but they seem to be on par with the 560's which is what I run at home.

can't comment much on scalability, I heard with JDSLabs gear... :p not ideal I'd guess, but still really likey.
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Psalmanazar

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Re: HiFiMan HE400S Measurements and Short Impressions
« Reply #59 on: August 31, 2015, 12:25:36 AM »

Tried this today. Major bass bleed into the lower mids; the separation and levels of bass and guitars were strange. The peaky treble made sparkly cymbals too sibilant and actually harsh ones painful. Something was up with the upper mids too and it didn't seem very sturdy. Not worth 300$ when compared to the HD 600/650.
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