🟥HiFiMan Can't Lose _(Z Reviews)_ HiFiMan HE400SE

[@ZReviews]

Want to see these Reviews Early, Get in on Monthly Yard Sales, Hear Sound Demos? Check out... ⚔️www.SubscribeStar.com/Zeos -- Subscribe Star 🥇www.Patreon.com/Zeos -- Check out the Patreon

[@Dan.a.k.a.bradpitt]

ZEOS you should be going to church rather than reviews on sunday :)

[@khaled_2249]

Hi Zeos, do you have a playlist for the songs you listen to in your videos?

[@donm9090]

SVS included your review of the 3000 micro in one of their marketing emails. Described you as "Always Amusing Z reviews"

[@joshuagilmore5878]

I bought mine through amazon and it came with the same vinyl wire on the older black hifiman externally packaged.

[@MichaelSidneyTimpson]

what about the HE-X4?

[@1000dreams]

Drop has added the HEX4 too which are supposedly indistinguishable from the HE400SE, it's an update to the HE4XX. It's getting a bit confusing haha, I dunno why they just don't number their headhones.. Planar 1, planar 2, planar 3 fucking done

[@dragonborn.k]

THANK YOU! I've been hoping Zeos would review the HE-X4. Maybe this will finally get his attention.

[@dasninjastix]

@@dragonborn.k It's pretty good, definitely worth the asking price. It's not the kind of headphone that you need to wait for a review. They're solid. If you're okay with medium-sized oval cups I'd say buy them. And they come with a stock cable that isn't a prank. You can actually use it.

[@dragonborn.k]

@@dasninjastix Unlike the repurposed bread ties on the 400SE.

[@kabir0418]

i have a pair and they sound amazing. they're my first set of planars so i can't really compare them to any of the other hifimans but i can say they sound much better than both my shp9600's and my dt770's. the imagine and soundstage is VERY good on these especially with orchestral music, i tested out the soundtrack for A New Hope and it was quite poggies

[@1000dreams]

@@dasninjastix medium-sized oval cups? they're pretty big and round aren't they? :>

[@Akirilus]

When taking the back off, you gain a bit in the 10-40 HZ range in bass but probably lose it around 150-300 in my perception at least. I tried to mod these in 15 ways, different pads, putting stuff on the magnets, closing them. Frankly the way they are out of the factory is my favorite.

[@teste-yh5df]

gaining at 10-40hz is more important than 150-300. You get a better soundstage removing the back off, th 150-300 you can increase with EQ if u want

[@Akirilus]

@@teste-yh5df Sure, I used to keep the back off on my first pair, unfortunately due to hifiman's quality that pair died, the damn membrane literally disintegrated on me. And then I got a second pair but I feel it didn't quite sound the same, but that's probably cause I had been spoiled by more expensive stuff at the time.

[@requiemforameme1]

The bundled cable is really good for fishing out wires that fell behind your workstation. Like a pliable wire hangar. I’ve tried it as a backscratcher, but it’s not quite rigid enough.

[@MrBlitzpunk]

Got mine for 110$ for the chinese version, what a time to be alive for audiophile to be able to have planar anything for 110$. I think even the cheapest planar IEMs cost more than that. And it sounds good! I love how hifiman cheap out in the build department instead of the sound, it's a compromise, but one im willing to accept for the price.

[@Criiies]

Does it play your music in Mandarin? Where did you buy it from?

[@MrBlitzpunk]

@@Criiies the chinese version doesn't have a stealth magnet and comes with the HE4XX cable. Where did i get it? Uhh... China?

[@speeddrift3]

"looks like it wants to be straight but can't be" I felt that

[@RobbieG17]

Just purchased these, (and a new cable,) based on this review. I started crying one minute into the first song I listened to. Thank you.

[@josha8715]

i bought them because of this comment, i hope i love them

[@RobbieG17]

@@josha8715 I hope so too, talk about pressure!

[@josha8715]

@@RobbieG17 haha

[@josha8715]

Just got them. Might sell my Sennheiser HD800 now.

[@kaziratul]

What dac/amp you're using with these ? I'm planning on buying one for this

[@kimchi3600]

Lmao that wire... I don't think there's even a combination of words to fully describe how godawful they are but watching you shit on them was very satisfying haha, another entertaining review! Also I'm eagerly waiting on your Kinera Skuld review considering you loved the Nannas!

[@nuadarstark]

Had the HE400SE for about 3 weeks now and yeaaaah, that cable is just...I don't know, bad beyond my comprehension I think. It has all the "bad" qualities a headphone cable can have. It's super microphonic, so any touch will translate into noise in the drivers. It's super stiff so it's always going to hang awkwardly. It's super "memory", so any "hard" kink you make into it imprints into the cable no matter what you do. And it's super thin so it's also somehow fragile as fuck. Thankfully replacing a cable in these is super easy, as these headphones are otherwise absolutely amazing.

[@joshuagilmore5878]

mine came with the vinyl wire that was on the other ones when I bought through amazon, they were separately packaged.

[@januszdusigrosz4328]

@@joshuagilmore5878 maybe they ware like. Shit this cable is retarded better ship him anything else :D

[@Grom84]

it's strange because aliexpress version has similar to 4xx cable.

[@uhgungawa4574]

Just an FYI. I got my set in the mail today, and it had a second normal rubber coated cable thrown in with the packaging box

[@nicholasrockstroh6920]

Huh, I'm surprised your perception of the bass on these is that it's stronger than the Sundara, because if you just look at the FR they're pretty similarly tuned in the bass. I guess it's probably because the treble on the 400SE is much more laid back by comparison, so the bass feels more forward even though it, technically, isn't.

[@spencerkowalski9566]

The cable portion of this review was genuinely hilarious.

[@ajl1430]

allready listening this on the 400se. saw them in the other recent vids laying on the side. yes they are great and the added bonus of the silver is that you can draw cool shit on it.

[@BobKarnowski]

Probably been mentioned before somewhere in the comments, but I got mine today and they came with the crap cable with 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter as well as a cable that's the same you get with the Drop HE 4XX. The "better" cable was in the outer box; not the actual box. Maybe your review had something to do with this. I just tossed my balanced Periapt cable from my HE 4XX.

[@oliverriezebos]

I actually also got my HE400se with a proper cable, I think they changed it

[@VEN0M415]

my 4xx fell apart but it was the first itteration, pads glue popped off the rings, cable lost connection somewhere, hope these are more durable. The headband looks better at least.

[@reanimation777]

YES, YES, and YES! I've waited for this for a long time

[@primeshmohanty7701]

I am waiting to buy these for the past month here and i can now whole heartedly buy them. Thanks Zeos!

[@bichukrishnan8984]

An amp is must for these. My phone, laptop and tablet couldn't drive it to required volume and the sound was thin too.

[@primeshmohanty7701]

@@bichukrishnan8984 Can you recommend a cheap amp or amp/dac combo to go with this? I was eyeing a Fiio E10K too to go with these.

[@bichukrishnan8984]

I use ifi hip dac with xbass on. I guess E10k does the job too. There is slight roll off in subbass, so an amp with bass boost on will be better. Mids are little laid back, not very forward. Treble is smooth. The best quality of these headphones must be instrument seperation and imaging. Sound stage is average. I don't think there are any good open back alternatives at this price range. I found the Senheiser 500series too muddy. I Haven't tried the beyerdyamics.

[@primeshmohanty7701]

@@bichukrishnan8984 Yeah i am hoping to get them for the instrument separation and detail retrieval. I currently have hd 559s(i like their sound though) and want something different sound wise. I would go for either ifi zen v2 or e10K with these.

[@brothatwasepic]

Dude duuuuuude I got these and they came with a different cable and man do they sound way too good like way way too good compared to my HE1000SE

[@dtz1000]

Never tried those expensive ones but the he400se is way better than Ananda V3 and Sundara despite what all these BS KZbinrs claim.

[@trellusg]

HE-X4 is cheaper, $129, but only via Drop, HE-400se is $20 more but available everywhere else

[@robertkirkpatrick1826]

Thanks! This was My first set of non gaming headphones....thanks again

[@wesleyleigh4063]

Have had these for 3-4 months now. a slight upgrade from my previous 58x's, which I eventually started to dislike due to the dips in the treble. I also just found them to sound a little dull or thuddy, and I think i personally prefer Planar's though there's definitely a degree of haze or lack of sharpness to the whole spectrum which you have to accept. Have bought some Verum 1's though so already looking toward a better Planar, though these are my top pick for around $150

[@foxandroses]

"Slight"

[@MrBlitzpunk]

Interesting, i already got me a HE400se and is looking for a dynamic to add to my collection. I really like the HD600 but it's too steep for my pocket, so i decided to look for a cheaper alternative. I thought to get hd58x at first but i guess HD6xx it is

[@wesleyleigh4063]

​@@MrBlitzpunk I'm pretty sure they are so similar that 58X is the better option due to price

[@MrBlitzpunk]

@@wesleyleigh4063 does that mean hd58x are good or the hd6xx are just bad for the price?

[@wesleyleigh4063]

@@MrBlitzpunk I mean i haven't tried both, but the general impression is that the drivers are the same, just with slight different tuning. definitely an unfortunate lineup for your sake, but this is the present consensus.

[@silvydb]

I was waiting for this. I got a pair like a month or so back and I cant put them down. Even over my Stax...they old and like not the best....but stilllllll~ To combat the headband I took a spare sennheiser headband cushion and taped it to the headband XD

[@emjay9733]

Hoping Chewbers feels better soon 😺

[@werewolf1e]

How does this compare to the HE400i 2020?

[@sauhamm3821]

better all around… I sold mine after listening to these for a few hours (well put them up for sale) these sit below the sundara but not way below. if you’ve owned sundara for months and are used to how good they are these will feel inferior. that same energy applies to listening to these for a few hours and then going back to the 400i or deva … these sit a couple steps away from those.

[@Sir_Corgerus]

Had this for a few months now, and they have solidified their position as my main and favorite headphone. A very clear and decently balanced sound. What's most impressive with this headphone in my opinion has to do with the bass as it is tight and well separated from the mix, which makes it easy to hear it in music without having to EQ it (I hate EQ btw). Nothing much to comment about on the mids and highs simply because they are perfect to me. Overall a fast, clear, and balanced sound. These do not do that great for competitive gaming, but they are okay to use compared to my other headphones (primary gaming can being the SHP9600) just not to the level of the other ones. What's weird is that the imaging is very precise and intimate with music, but it feels blurry when gaming. This likely has to do with the soundstage being somewhat narrow but not closed in. You will get plenty of out of head moments with the soundstage, but 90% of the sound will be in your head. But the clearness/airiness of the sound helps it feel immersive which helps me forget about the narrow-ish soundstage. Comfort was a miss for me only because the headband is very deeply padded but it is hard as shit. I had to buy Dekoni nuggets and I ended up putting all four nuggets on the headband. Thankfully, that has rectified the headband problem completely with a minor downside being that the height adjustment bottoms out leaving my ears in just the right place, but I could use just one notch more on occasion. One really annoying thing with this headphone has to do with the pads. They are very comfy, but removing and installing them is honestly terrifying. The driver is very close and almost not protected (somewhat normal for planars I guess?), and the clip system for the pads nearly broke itself when I carefully removed it. So please be careful and be prepared to buy replacement pads in the event that the clips inevitably break. Hifiman, why do you do this? 9/10. I just with the comfort was a bit better and it would be great if the pad attachment system was more work-able and less dangerous. 5/10 for gaming. For context, I give my SHP9600 a 7.9/10. The HE400se outclasses the SHP in music performance for sure.

[@RumpelStiltskindarkone]

I got these yesterday and the description in ur first paragraph is exactly how I felt about them, especially ur description of the bass. What amp do you run them with? I noticed they are very power hungry..

[@Sir_Corgerus]

@@RumpelStiltskindarkone I use an iFi Zen DAC with the HiFiMan using the 4.4 Pentaconn output. 10 to 11 o clock on low gain is enough to reach a reasonable listening level.

[@gamergtx2602]

@@Sir_Corgerus Have the zen dac v2 + 400se as well. Running them balanced, although I have removed the dust filter and the soundstage improved a lot. These get more time than my trusty HD 650s.

[@Sir_Corgerus]

@@gamergtx2602 been wondering how effective removing the dust cover truly is. i do not want to risk long term damage with having the cover off.

[@gamergtx2602]

@@Sir_Corgerus I believe it depends on where you use and how dusty your room becomes :). You could try to remove the grill and listen to it without the grills, if you think the soundstage is worth the mod then look for a honeycomb grill, if not you can put back the grill.

[@jb678901]

When these were offered on AliExpress for just under $100 plus another $28 for shipping, I pulled the trigger. Under $130! No-brainer. I did buy a third party cable, just in case this set comes with that crap silver cable. Went with a Cavo OPENHEART [8 wires 1.4m, (4 Silver-plated Copper wires + 4 Copper wires), 240 cores, single wire 30 cores] on sale (50% discount) for another $13.

[@cali_cal]

did you get the crappy cable?

[@jb678901]

@@cali_cal No. Nice cable.

[@jonsays3762]

Sundara for occasional home use and an older set of pioneer flagship flat-folders for traveling are all the headphones I’m ever going to need. Thanks for the tip on the sundara’s. Only prob with those is the thick pads get a little warm. Can’t wait for winter? :)

[@dtz1000]

These are better than the Sundara.

[@crakzor]

I remember paying $400 for my 400i and they didn’t hold up well

[@baja71688]

Finally, been waiting for soooooooooooooo long for this review, Thank You!!!!!

[@baja71688]

Replying to myself from the future, I bought em, Love em, coming from DT 770's 250 Ohm it's a nice change, still getting used to open backs and hearing myself talk while gaming but I love the extended range of sound that I'm hearing and can pick out. Don't get me wrong, I love my 770's and both will stay on my desk but damn I'm glad I got these. Those sivga 21's look like something to try in the future.

[@baja71688]

Forgot to mention mine came with the new black cable, it's not a lot better then the old one but at least this one works.

[@baja71688]

I ended up sending the HE's back, my environment just made the open backs a living hell for me. They sounded amazing but tone-alitty wise they sounded near identical to my DT's just louder from the lower impedance, but the sound stage and extension and everything sounded wonderful till the real world would creep in over the top and couldn't escape like I could with my DT's. I also wasn't expecting how heavy they would be, and the construction on mine was a bit poor in places. If you picked up the headphones by the headstrap and pinched the sides near the sliders, you would get poked by the spring steel from the headband poking through the fabric, also the headband was very stiff foam and the first few day's I could feel it pressing into my skull where the DT's would just rest on top of my head.

[@baja71688]

I ended up picking up the Sivga's after returning the HE's, I've learned I'm a closed back only kind of a guy. I've been looking for an upgrade for a while now, something like my DT's but better. I thought I'd have to pick up a set of 1770's or something to find what I was looking for. I wanted more bass, something that I could FEEL, the DT's are always regarded as one of the best for it's lowend but my DT's have never shook like these have. Part of the reason is my DT's are 250ohm, why my friend said to get these over the 80's is beyond me but they were comfortable, built like a tank, and easy to repair / get parts for. I love my DT's but I didn't know what I was doing wearing a Monitoring headphone as a Daily Driver, coming from any headphone the DT's are great for picking everything out, hearing things for what they are, and while that's great, sometimes you just want a set of headphones that are fun to listen to. These sivga's are it, from the headstrap padding, to the sound, holy shit the sound. The tone of sound changed night and day, the HE's I could swap back and forth from my DT's and they sounded the same, one was louder from the lower impedance and more open but sounded very similar. One thing I didn't like about the planers was how they removed the reverb from bass heavy voices, I'm used to hearing like an echo of edededed in peoples voices on some songs, the HE's removed that entirely and sounded sterile. I don't know if that's a side effect from the planar technology but something as subtle as that could really ruin your favorite music. When I first heard the Sivga Phoenix on here I was blown away, they sounded amazing to me and almost picked up a set when I found them below 200. I'm really glad I didn't as after having the HE's I've learned I can't use or have a Open back set of headphones, if I lived alone, had a quite place to listen to music they'd be great but with family, pets, responsibility the open's were a nightmare for me. The driver technology is really something, immediate sound difference from the DT's drivers. I don't know if it's souly the lower impedance but wow to these things sound fucking amazing, they feel and sound like a closed back but the have far bigger stage, deeper lowend, and bass that you can FEEL. I could feel the DT's but it was always subtle, if I listened for it I could hear/feel the impact of bass but I don't have to squint my eyes on the Sivga's, they just ARE! If I'm editing a video I'll wear the DT's, If I'm playing a game or listening to music I'm wearing the Sivga's. I reach for them 99% of the time now and have hung up the DT's for only when I need them, it's great to have finally found an upgrade to DT's and am very happy with these. The construction, the fit, how soft the pads are, zeos hit's it out of the park with describing the sivga's for truly what they are. If you have the time, look in the sv021's reviews video description for his first review, it has so much more information that I think could help deciding buyers try these first over the HE's. /book

[@carminedesanto6746]

Good morning ☕️. Got the 400i 2020 ..they’re ok…not quite up to my 650’s ..and yes everything is run in balanced from my 789, Loxji 20 and the 604. Definitely better built than HiFiman of old . Another great and entertaining review thank you.

[@drunkenfarmerjohn42]

"Cheapest Hifimans." Drop: "Hold my beer. HE-X4's for a hundo!"

[@danielcohn6884]

What do you guys think? 400SE or 4XX? I am treble sensitive, weary of sibilance. I'm concerned by the construction of the SE, so I'm leaning toward 4XX, but maybe that's a mistake....

[@Tripokaridos22]

HE400SE or HD560S ??? Thats the BIG question.

[@bb_lou]

Ayyy I've had these for a bit. Like them a ton

[@MrStingraybernard]

Just got these and it included 2 cables , 2nd cable was black and way better

[@grbii916]

Are there any good replacement pads for the HE400SE?

[@jazmies8794]

Between this and Philips x1s which should I get? I like listening to jpop and some soul jazz

[@adamismail2883]

Finally you made a review on these lmao

[@crackong781]

If bought from Amazon , they will pack a second cable (rubber coated) free of charge

[@Patback22]

Separate question: what cable can you recommend for the Neuman NDH 20. I hate the two stock cables they come with.

[@ZReviews]

I used one that is a Sennheiser HD560 I think. I had to sand it down a bit.

[@KarmaElectronics.]

love my HiFiMan's

[@neugroove6172]

These vs nth 100 in terms sound quality. I like the 4xx for the openness and low end with Dakoni sheepskin. How do these two compare against each other?

[@hankhill5409]

"Looks like it wants to be straight but can't be" Let's just call it the Ryan Seacrest cable.

[@Lag_TV]

Unfortunately I just returned mine because they were too uncomfortable for me. I got them as a replacement for my broken Takstars but apparently I just need to get new Takstars.

[@slyfox720]

How would these compare to the Sony MDR-1AM as far sound quality...I had a pair of the Sony's but was looking to try something different...Have a budget of about $250

[@FPSBird]

Apparently these sound almost the same as the he-x4 so I'm definitely getting those.

[@miks_w8945]

the he-x4 are the drop version

[@FPSBird]

@@miks_w8945 not true they have a different driver, different headband and colour scheme

[@fabiangomez357]

How do you like the he-x4?

[@FPSBird]

@@fabiangomez357 they are great for listening to music bit not for mixing. And you need i put bike helmet foam on the headband to make them more comfortable.

[@santiagobodhi7075]

Liking that new thumbnail work, may views increase

[@sauhamm3821]

these were purchased today from amazon and they showed up with another cable in the shipping box🥲 hifiman knows how bad that cable is and they include another as a ‘my bad’ both of them were left as they arrived as I have a hart balanced cable from a different set of cans… Z your ears are fine… these are better sounding than the 400i’20 and the deva and the 4xx. it was noticeable with zero burn straight out the box.

[@ericanderson7059]

If you're willing to look like something from The Day the Earth stood still , modded Phillips ShP 9500 are a poor man's HE 500 , check the archives .

[@cigarsnic]

what amp powers these well

[@MRFUTURETECHNOLOGYGAMING]

I can't download wallpaper just goes to a different site just brings me to a Resilio Connect website

[@daltron4000]

Hey Zeros, do you think you could successfully drive these with the Syba Sonic amp?

[@rtxtimanu]

One question, I can't decide which of these three headphones to buy and I want to use it for high quality music but I also want it especially for video games with enough sound amplitude for competitive and horror games, which of these three do you recommend: DT 880 pro, Hifiman HE400se, Hifiman HE400i?

[@vernon_4411]

Zeos says that he doesn't know what else HiFiMan would do for their line of headphones. Interesting enough, HiFiman just releases HE400SE v2. It is called Invisible Stealth Magnet. The price is about 1/3 higher than original version. It is listed in a Chinese e-commerce site.

[@mateusssssss567]

I also came across the "v2" while browsing aliexpress. Product description says "Invisible magnet structure optimization improves the air turbulence and reflection between the gaps of the magnet, makes the magnet invisible in front of the sound wave, and gets more pure and complete sound." I wonder if that means they covered the magnets or something. The Chinese are so bad at marketing their products, Jesus.

[@ManicQuinn]

The V2 might be the China version of the one Zeo reviewed, which is the international version, since the china one never came with the stealth magnets. Not sure tho

[@96froger]

They are very similarly priced to the hd560s (where I am) how do you think they compare. As a first proper investment into headphones?

[@imprice5668]

Im in the same boat (Dt880 Pro vs HD560s vs He400i) and I cannot decided which to get

[@96froger]

@@imprice5668 I ended up going for the 560s They are very nice, but haven't tried the others. Only thing is they are bass light but that is because they are open backs and not because of the headphone in soeicifc

[@rushdrift]

is this better than the philips x2hr, philips shp9500, hd660s ?

[@makunouchiippo816]

I saw on another youtube Video as someone mentioned that these headphones are not good for the metal music genre. Can someone Confirm this? Because I really like the Sound of the hifiman but a lot of people recommendated beyerdynamics dt 770 pro for my purposes?

[@abstractwars]

Is it fair to compare hifiman HE400SE vs AUDEZE PENROSE . purely compare sound quality. For gaming and music. These happen to be the cheapest planars available to me.

[@elsombrero7495]

How do these compare to the 5xx?

[@manuchaves9511]

I have a question which of these two has better sound amplitude, for video games and movies with excellent sound, the Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro or the Hifiman HE400SE?

[@kendoglarson5419]

Sennheiser HD280 pros are very good for television and movies. Best out of my ten headphones. No contest. You hear so much detail and the background music in tv shows sound lush and full. Sony 7506 are good as well.

[@StataProfessor]

Too much rambling but nothing special about how the headphone sounds, comparison, which dac to use?

[@ATK.]

That cable is kinky and I like it!!

[@derrickcrocker4265]

You deliver@ thanks for the video. Mine came with an extra cable in the Amazon box like they knew the cable sucked. Hey how are these compared to Phillips Fidelio x2HR. Sennheiser 6xx, even the Beyrodynamic 990 Pro?

[@sauhamm3821]

all the cans you mentioned are worthy of ownership for different reasons. if you have any you don’t need the other ones as they’re going to climb the same tree. (I own them all…) if I had to pick one I’d do so blindly knowing I’m getting solid sound. one might not stage as well as another or one might be brighter (looking at you beyerdynamic) but overall … all of those cans have more pros than cons and it’s going to come down to your ears. none of them are just openly better.

[@derrickcrocker4265]

Thanks. Good points

[@saurabbbhardwaj1930]

Stealth magne are what they are also using for their Arya cans, I believe. Amazing ... Will be picking them up

[@ugursenturk5860]

Cant decide between this and HD560s

[@rafidshahriarpranto588]

Is it better than Sivga Phoenix ?

[@hpuredatalover]

What's that sticker on your amp/dac thing?

[@hpuredatalover]

please i beg you

[@Goe96]

Can I use a balanced cable on the 400se? I have not understand

[@MrQwertyzone]

Yea u can

[@ViperDent]

That's it, Zeos is sanding the magnets on the 4xx's. Aren't you Z? And then you do a before and after sound demo? I've been wearing my 4XXs religiously over any other headphone I've got for 4 years now (and they are the cheapest I own). With new thick full-leather pads, a decent amp with just a little EQ to bring up the sub-bass and treble and they sound great with pretty much any music. Well sealing pads made all the difference, without them they bottomed out on heavy bass EQ and sound flatter. They weren't problem free though.. The mechanism on mine failed because the self tappers they use are tiny and strip the soft plastic very easily. Couldn't give up on them though so I drilled a slightly wider hole in the metal band and screwed them back on with the largest self tappers that fit. Ideally they should have metal inserts in the plastic and just continue using that old design with machine screws - the reason they break is pretty lousy and easy to fix after all.

[@twoften]

Any Mini Foot Shammy = Too Many Hifimans

[@TazTheTech]

I bought these when they came out and we really enjoy them, glad you reviewed them, and you talked about the shitty cable. As I had to immediately order a balance cable and there was very few on amazon at the time. So this may push more people to carry the better cable. Thanks again

[@RoyAlf]

Have you listened to the 4XX's? Does the SE have a good base similar to the 4XX?

[@TazTheTech]

@@RoyAlf I have not tried the 4xx

[@aidanw6725]

Can anyone help me decide whether to buy this or the sph 9600?

[@nepomukullmann3013]

I‘d sell you my 9600s, I didn‘t try the 400se but I when I considered upgrading to a 400i 2020 I didn‘t notice much difference. I guess the 400se are more treble-focused while the 9600s are very relaxed with a midbase bump. I‘ve recently upgraded so I don‘t need my 9600s anymore but they are in perfect condition and not old (6 months). Hope I could help you out.

[@niko1even]

Me: *sees that he’s using the stock cable at the beginning of the video* oh boy, here we go again

[@xophere]

Best wishes to chewy.

[@oscarsantana9983]

I'm not the kind of person that usually cares too much about cables as long as they don't bend and kink weirdly, but this one looks horrendous lmao.

[@emmanueljuarez4431]

Unfortunately I didn’t like these Hifimans. I purchased them from Amazon thinking that they’re going to be the best headset ever. No. That didn’t accomplish. The highs and mids were warm and sounded like digital coaxial or optical audio. But the bass sounded terrible as f***. The bass was devastatingly distorting like crappy $10 Sentry headphones from Big Lots, even after changing the cable. I had to return it. $163 for Sentry-quality bass headphones. Maybe it was a knockoff. I bought the Archgon headphones instead for $63. The bass is a slightly better. Still get some distortion. The mids and highs also sound like digital audio from SPDIF or HDMI. But I also have KZ earbuds and they never fail to sound perfectly amazing, even at boosted bass frequencies using Equalizer APO.

[@bichukrishnan8984]

Were you using it from phone or pc. I noticed sound distortion without an amp. With amp the bass is very clean no distortion at all even at ridiculously high volume, I have never heard a dynamic driver doing that. This is my first planar.

[@emmanueljuarez4431]

@@bichukrishnan8984 When I had these Hifimans, I tested them on my Monolith LIquid Spark connected with SMSL SP100 vacuum tube amp with a NFJ&FX Audio Tube 03 amp. I was using the FiiO K3 DAC using 32bit 384kHz refresh rate and I was using Equalizer APO on Windows. I regularly boost the bass frequencies on the low shelf at 50Hz at 20dB and maximum slope. And on the peaking filter I was using around 34Hz at the middle dBs using the comfortable Q factor. I also had the 32Hz frequencies at the variable equalizer. When I had the AmazonBasics, the sounds was excellent on this configuration. The Hifimans unfortunately was too weak for these configurations. Now I have the Archgons and the bass is almost good, but not as good as the AmazonBasics. On the other hand, my KZ earbuds sound undistorted on my setup and configuration. Maybe the Hifimans were not capable of handiling vacuum tube audio as I saw previous reviews stating that these headsets are best capable on the Drop AAA THX headphone amplifier and a high-end DAC.

[@krayozmines]

Wow very different from my experience. Used with xduoo xp2 pro amp and I really like the bass. Best headphones I've tried. I'm glad this planar is affordable

[@ManicQuinn]

@@emmanueljuarez4431 Did you zero your EQ? When you boost anything on an EQ, you don't ever want to go above the 0 line, meaning you'll want to introduce a negative pre-amp so that the EQ is always at or below the 0 line. Having them above the 0 line, even slightly, can introduce all kinds of distortion, and seeing that you boosted the bass, and having distortion in the bass, that would make sense. Another theory is that tube amps do introduce distortion, but this is generally wanted by people who use tube amps as they tend to enjoy that distortion. These are just my theories, I'm still quite new to the scene.

[@victoryisHis]

finally

[@Hbomb22Kaboom]

Nice review but your camera moving made me so dizzy! I just have to listen to you instead of watching...

[@martinkulik9466]

not sure if these reviews are helpful to choose product actually....

[@Kaltes1]

seeing how easy it is to gain access to the drivers it makes me wonder if this headphone would be one good for modding. need an Argon 2 electric Boogaloo

[@bb_lou]

there's some guy working on some mods atm on youtube

[@MrDutch1e]

lol nothing about sound stage or imaging. Just half a video of cable rant.

[@donkeyle6364]

HifiMan has replaced that s***** cable with HE4XX one, so keep that in mind

[@xxXCoolJokeXxx]

this ones or the philips shp 9500?

[@BillyC500]

0:30 Yard Sales Access 1:20 HE400SE vs HE4XX - Cheap & Good, Planar Magnetics! 2:00 The headband 2:30 Stock pads 3:00 HE400SE vs HE4XX 4:40 Rounded magnets = win 4:45 Sundara 2020 enters the ring - $200 better or...? 5:04 Sound profile 7:49 A buy? 8:10 Cable rant 14:25 Pads and swapping (be careful doing so!) 19:41 Putting the back back 20:40 Outro - Sound demos, Patreon & Subscribe Star, telegram chat, HiFiGuides

[@johnvonshepard9373]

Thx.

[@MrBlitzpunk]

Zeos should hire you

[@Go-nb9jz]

Doing God's work

[@JeradBenge]

"I want to thank myself for doing this review." - Zeos 2021

[@andtothewestamerica]

peak Zeos

[@krayozmines]

💀💀💀

[@3dScience_uk]

😅 i also want to thank himself for doing this review

[@foysalislam7588]

Received my HiFiMan HE400SE today. Surprisingly it came with a different cable. Now it comes with the same black cable as the HiFiMan HE400i. By the way, thanks for this great video. It helped me to press the trigger for this headphone. All the best wishes.

[@NotAFanMan88]

Yeah, they received a lot of complaints in reviews about the 400se cable so they switched it out for the cable that no one seemed to hate. Good on them, and you for getting a nice pair of cans.

[@gamergtx2602]

Such a great VFM headphone with a great tuning. Using them for a month now with Ifi Zen Dac v2 running balanced. They sound amazing that my HD 650s do not get any love. Removed the dust filter and the sound stage improved. There are also honeycomb mesh replacements sold online for even greater soundstage. Pair with palipads and you have something that is greater than the Sundaras for less price.

[@mrfarax4944]

What cable are you using

[@hypnoz7871]

Greater than Sundara ? lol keep lying to yourself. HE400 have shit imaging + lower resolution and no mod is gonna fix it. Also the grill mod is a joke for HE400, it was meant for HE560/HE5/HE6.

[@clemsiemckenzie9799]

Wow those have to be the worst cables I've seen in a long while. I already don't like the one on my HE4XX, but that's amazing. For once I'm not complaining about the 15mn Zeos Cable Rant...

[@MrDutch1e]

Apparently they updated the cable shortly after launch to a way better quality grey rubber cable.

[@SaucerX]

Any opinions on the HE-X4? It's supposed to be Drop's version of the HE-400SE, is it a good first planar for the price?

[@RoyAlf]

Used the 4XX from Drop for 3 years, fantastic first planers. You do need some extra power to get the most out of them, but they're great not only for the price but up to $250 headphones. If you like sound stage and not a very heavy base, you will enjoy them. I'm thinking of getting these SE's.

[@SussyBaka-em9rq]

just get the 400se???? No need to use Drop

[@januszdusigrosz4328]

@@SussyBaka-em9rq id get them and for price difference get DESCENT CABLE FOR THEM :D

[@wardprocter2371]

Yes! For the price they are great, I bought mine two months ago and don’t regret it at all. They’re my first set of planars and although bulky, they’re very comfortable. As far as the cable goes the one that came from Drop is different from the one Zeos is showing. They definitely need an amp to get the best sound out of them.

[@hirdy932]

Just bought the 4xx like 2 days before seeing this. I'm sure they'll still be great. I don't like the new headband though. All and all, can't wait for the 4xx to arrive, when I want brighter planars I'll get the Sundara's.

[@gulla04]

Got me a pair of 4xxs recently and they’re soo good with fiio K3 amp. Don’t care if these cheaper 400s sound better. This man over hypes things

[@soup_troop]

I’ve had a pair of 4xx for a year now, don’t regret anything, they are a fantastic headphone. I’ll never sell my pair :)

[@elliotparnell7805]

I've had my 4xx for about 3 years now and they're fantastic, dont leave them in the sun or a hot room though, my pads glue melted and they fell apart

[@TsunTzu]

4XXs are great. You're gonna enjoy them, so no worries.

[@Bobboberson1234]

@@TsunTzu 6xx all day. 4xx are good, but sundaras beat them in every way. If you can find the Nighthawk carbons they are probably my most listened to headphones.

[@Akirilus]

Just as reassurance, you can break the magnets with your fingers, once my original pair failed, I decided to test that. But you do have to be fairly forceful. A bit harder than breaking a twig and I'd say it's hard to put that much pressure on the magnets by accident.

[@Blackw1ng]

Oh thanks, that def helps me feel less cautious about getting these headphones 😵‍💫

[@Akirilus]

@@Blackw1ng Though, I can tell you some downsides. Unfortunately as with many headphones the headband plastic and the cups sort of self destruct within 1-2 years. Which was a bit surprising for me as I did not expect a serious company to have this problem. Ofc you can replace both, or rather solutions can be found, but you should be aware it will be a problem. All Hifiman products suffer from this sort of issue. As I also own a sundara which had basically the same happen.

[@Blackw1ng]

@@Akirilus yikes, well im glad I got a 2 year protection plan for them😬 Now I'm just hoping something fails within the two years💀

[@Akirilus]

@@Blackw1ng I mean for the price it's a good headset, I compared it with much better ones like AKG K712 pro and it was pretty much identical. I also preffer the tuning here better than with the Sundara. The Sennheiser hd 600 beats all of them but that's double the price and teribly unconfortable. So overall I'd say it's a good buy even if you might have to fix it up later on.

[@ThathousecatSHC]

I just got a pair of these cans, from Amazon, direct from factory, and they included an extra audio cable, it's not shit, it's really nice. The bad one is still included. I believe you may have fixed and issue.

[@mildtotemperate]

Good to know, thank you.

[@kendoglarson5419]

The he400se EQ'd through my K7 amp as balanced output is unbelievable. This level of sound is truly astonishing for $110. Mine came with a very nice black plastic coated/jacketed cable so I was happy.

[@EvLTimE]

Oh yeeh K7 give more controlled bass overall. Even I have edition XS and Arya SE , sometimes I listen to 400se with k7 +balanced cable is really open these headphones to another level. I didn't have same experience with zen dac v2 and k5 pro ess.

[@damnbrosky]

me and my K7 we waiting 2 more days for this headphones, nice to hear about great synergy between, balanced cable is ordered to!

[@spizzlo]

why did he not listen to these compared to he400i 2020? In that review he said basically the 4xx are obsolete. It seems like that would have been a better comparison.

[@collinalbert6276]

They did start shipping with a new cable though and if you buy from amazon they send a free replacement one with it

[@Cinnabuns2009]

I just got a set of these and can confirm, they come with both. The 'other' cables were placed in the package box, not the HP box so... likely an afterthought when the community cried out about how awful the stock cable was.

[@ManicQuinn]

@@Cinnabuns2009 How does the new cable stack up?

[@HtS643KyS6555GxQ3edA]

“Enigma of failure” lol loved that

[@joshualee6932]

I appreciate that your reviews are more compact and concise now

[@ronzack4572]

Yeah, he's finally broken that 30 minute mark....

[@ElRobin]

When Zeos started bending the cable at 9:00 I laughed my ass off 😂. I got a pair of Sundaras, would these be a good compliment to them if I want just something different or should I go with something like the Harmonicdyne Zeus?

[@thiscorrosion900]

Sundaras are a few steps above these.

[@ChoppaCity27]

Was going to mention the cable for these when you was talking about how shitty the cable is for the Anandas in one of your previous videos, but now you know lol. These are my first planars (and most expensive headphone I've bought) and now I think I may end up falling down the rabbit hole. RIP wallet

[@liekkilada]

I think my grandma´s christmas lights had better cables than this.

[@shahmi5727]

I'm watching this as I'm listening using he400se right now