expiredDesertGardener | Staff posted Dec 12, 2023 05:15 PM
Item 1 of 4
Item 1 of 4
expiredDesertGardener | Staff posted Dec 12, 2023 05:15 PM
HIFIMAN HE400se Planar Magnetic Over-Ear Open-back Wired Headphones (B-Stock)
+ Free Shipping$59
$149
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AKG K702's are considered to have among the widest soundstage of any headphone, but they have a slightly boosted midrange. I personally find that boost ideal for acoustic guitar, classical, synth pads, and soft jazz-like music. Bass is a little weak to my ears even boosted with an iFi amp with x-bass. The 400se is said to have an average soundstage and a small dip in mids ofter 1KHz. The AKG K702 is a little controversial. Some love it; some don't. It's a sizzling, airy headphone if I had to describe it in a couple words.
The Sennheiser 6XX has a more flat midrange whereas the Hifiman headphones usually have a dip after about 1000Hz. The soundstage on the 6XX is considered by some to be below average while the 400se represents the average. Neither is very controversial. Both have a sound most people enjoy. The Hifiman build quality is often maligned; the Sennheiser build quality is most often praised.
In short, the 400se is considered to be a very good sounding headphone. Build quality is questionable historically, but some think it is worked out. Open backs are more comfortable for listening for longer periods, and they have the potential to have wider sounding soundstages where it sounds like things are happening outside of your head, but they usually lack bass heavy tone that you might be accustomed to from closed back headphones.
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The most important thing to understand about the HE4xx is that they take EQ very well. I assume these 400se's would be the same. Don't even worry about the sound signature, because all it does is serve as a starting point to EQ them however you like. I use PeaceEQ with the Oratory1990 profile, slightly tweaked. With this EQ and a nice DAC/AMP, it's just as good as any of the best sounding headphone setups I've ever heard. I frequent the big audio shows, and sit and listen to everything I can get my hands on. I've never heard anything that could replace these, not even in the multi-thousand dollar range. Yes, that could be because my ears aren't resolving enough to hear the differences, but I've been into audiophile audio for several decades and these are close enough to perfect to me.
Also, as these are 32 ohm, you'll most likely want some type of amp to drive them. I think at this point it might not be *necessary*, but with planars you'll want it anyhow.
The input impedance only matters IF you need an amp. Once you determined you need an amp, then you should use the "Rule of 8" to select an amp that has an outout impedance which is 1/8 or less of the input impedance of the headphone generally speaking. So you'd want an amp with an output impedance of 4ohm or less in this case. There are many common and cheap solid state amps that meet this criteria like JDS Atom and Schiit Magni.
Impedance especially becomes more relevant when you want to use a tube amp. Their output impediance is sometimes high like 100 ohms and they likely would not pair well with a headphone such as this one with an input impedance of 32 ohms.
They're pretty comfortable, and I like that the earpads are fabric and not leather / vinyl. Also, I like how easily the cords can be changed.
I've noticed that I need to turn up my headphone amp louder with these than when I use closed headphones.
Also, beware that people around you will hear everything that you are listening to, because of the open back design.
At $59, these seem like a steal. Getting my dad a pair as a gift.
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They're pretty comfortable, and I like that the earpads are fabric and not leather / vinyl. Also, I like how easily the cords can be changed.
I've noticed that I need to turn up my headphone amp louder with these than when I use closed headphones.
Also, beware that people around you will hear everything that you are listening to, because of the open back design.
At $59, these seem like a steal. Getting my dad a pair as a gift.
take your pick
I LITERALLY COULD NOT LIE BACK ON A PILLOW WITH OUT THEM SLIDING OFF MY EARS! OR STAND UP OR WALK OR LEAN FOREWARD TO GRAB SOMETHING
so give me all the thumbs downs you want, I'm not a hater, I wanted them to work and am a fan of Hifiman otherwise...
( xen-xi , not throwing any of this at you at all, just ranting at the internet)👍
the 4xx's seem better from what I've heard
https://www.amazon.com/MiiLink-Bluetooth-Receiver-Microphone-Streaming/dp/B08HZ4LKT2/ref=sr_1_29?cri... [amazon.com]
FYI, I use system level EQ to compensate to flat any of my headphones
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