Hifiman HE400 VS HE400se Stealth Magnets - testing some mods to see how they perform

[@alouisschafer7212]

These cans are lovely to tinker with aren't they? I bought mine 6 months ago and was blown away by the sound once EQ-ed :) and I got so hooked on the 400se that I bought the Sundara. Funny how quickly you end up spending 450€ on headphones just because you like music. The Sundaras are pretty much "unmodable" though because of the way they are build and Hifimans engineering makes them great out of the box.

[@mrxyo]

Is Sundara much better?

[@alouisschafer7212]

@@mrxyo yes. Its better in every aspect. Worth the 280€ I paid.

[@teste-yh5df]

even when both have Oratory1990 EQ? @@alouisschafer7212

[@kazumasatou6124]

Hello! Would like to ask how big the difference between the stealth magnet and the standard magnet in terms of detail retrieval?

[@阿兰-r3c]

do you know what are the sound differences between 400se steal magnet version and the normal version with the normal magnet? thank you for the show by the way

[@CustomCans]

From what I remember - the square magnet ones have a little more bass and are more sensitive so you don't need to turn the amp up as far for the same volume. The Stealth magnet ones have lower distortion and better treble

[@Hakku1403]

​thank you very much 4 the show, Sir

[@CustomCans]

You are very welcome

[@kreimer1417]

Looking forward to new mods. Would definitely try them on my he400se, BTW I'm curious to know what difference would a 3d printed wave-guide (both front and back of driver) make to he400se in terms of sound ?

[@marcelor.5994]

Good morning my friend! I'm from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Congratulations on the excellent channel. Congratulations on the great ideas.👍👏🤝

[@CustomCans]

Thanks my Brazilian friend ;)

[@brothatwasepic]

Modders unite! Nice job man ❤

[@CustomCans]

We have got a final version of the HE400 inserts available now kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJinl6ZsnJlrpbc

[@brothatwasepic]

@@CustomCans nice thanks so much 🙏

[@surreptitiousscreamer]

You are correct Sir, I am cool.

[@CustomCans]

It shows ;)

[@iGPR3]

what would the effect of using more solid or more open 3d printed grills?

[@CustomCans]

We did a load of testing if you have a hunt through our videos. A more open grill will improve sound-staging and give a little extra bass. But... after months of R&D we designed a new grill with fins that improve the airflow and re tune them to make them sound much better then an open grill. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gneXgH1mbZd4aMk

[@iGPR3]

@@CustomCansgreat! if i do grab myself a pair of these i’ll definitely buy your print files. would you recommend i bought some higher sensitivity cans than these? this is my first pair, so im on a tight budget and im only running an arturia minifuse 1. im considering the philips X2HR instead, any thoughts? do you sell print files for the X2 grills?

[@CustomCans]

@@iGPR3 No, We don't do any mods for the H2XR unfortunately. As far as sensetivity goes - it depend what you are plugging them into - you will need more power to make them go loud. They will work fine with anything but you will need an amp to get the best out of them

[@iGPR3]

@CustomCans theyd be running on my arturia minifuse 1, rated for 145mW at 32ohm over on Julian Krause’s amp chart

[@Tripokaridos22]

I add Beyerdynamic Foam behind the HE400SE driver and the bass hits harder without losing any Soundstage ... to my ears :)

[@CustomCans]

Top tip. I may have to give it a go

[@scemmerjoke]

Are amp necessity like if you don't have amp you only got 50% performance or are dongle fine driving them to 80% of their performance.

[@CustomCans]

That is a difficult question to answer - I have driven them off a phone and they still sound good but won't go super loud. You should be able to enjoy them as much as any other pair of headphones in this price range on a phone or dongle but you will get more out of them with an amp

[@scemmerjoke]

@@CustomCans then I'm going to buy these as I listen with low volume most of the time and using them with pc should provide more than enough volume hopefully.

[@iritian]

I've really gotten into 3D printing since watching your last HE-400se mod video and now I have a better idea of how the models work. You had mentioned in a reply that your mod can't fit non stealth magnet drivers like the ones in my HE-X4. Would it be alright with you if I buy the STL and remix it to fit them?

[@CustomCans]

These new inserts will work with both versions

[@willielast]

Is the grill mod on your store also for the HE6seV2? And do you know if it changes the FR and stage?

[@CustomCans]

Hi - It is not designed to work with the HE6seV2 - we may be making a version for those later this year

[@willielast]

​@CustomCans thanks! 👍

[@zaironwellfabella332]

does the chinese version use neodymium magnets? and the stealth version uses like (black) cobalt magnets?

[@CustomCans]

I don't think so - it think they have the same black magnets, the stealth ones are just a better aerodynamic shape

[@zaironwellfabella332]

@@CustomCans I also noticed from the frequency measure you made, the bass of the chinese version seems to be more extended than the stealth?

[@CustomCans]

@@zaironwellfabella332 they are both made in China, one Is just an older version. And yes the one with square magnets has more bass extension. Probably because the magnets are slightly larger

[@zaironwellfabella332]

@@CustomCans Maybe I'll just download your mod design, so I'm sure of the result; because of your video I decided to get v1

[@teste-yh5df]

does worth grill mod on v2 stealth magnets ?

[@CustomCans]

Yes it will. As far as I am aware the V2 is the same as the stealth magnet version, our latest version of the supergrills was tuned for the stealth magnet version so should work nicely kzbin.info/www/bejne/gneXgH1mbZd4aMk&ab_channel=CustomCans

[@alberto8727]

Creative AE-7 is enough to push them ? is the V2 version better than the first? I think about using it for fps games and music. Thanks

[@CustomCans]

Yes - it should be fine - they are not super high impedance but do need a bit of power to drive - I have run them off a phone so the Creative AE-7 should have enough juice

[@Tripokaridos22]

I just got them , I love my HD 6 line because of the character, But its nice to have an alternative sound and honestly it sounds close to my Sundara (not that airy but close) .

[@CustomCans]

Yes - the would give a good counterpoint to some HD650 or something. They both sound good in their own way but quite different

[@Tripokaridos22]

@@CustomCans I dont know they sound really bright for my taste.

[@frederf69]

I've heard good and bad things about the Verum One. I'd be interested in your critique of them.; possible suggestion for a future video...

[@CustomCans]

I will keep an eye on eBay to see it a cheap pair turns up

[@marcp.1752]

Hi there, is there any project update after some time? Any further (new) mod, tuning, new headphone grill, design, better sound? 🙂

[@ItsWhatever736]

The HE400se was my first pair of open-backs. They're amazing for the price

[@CustomCans]

Yes - really good bang for the buck

[@DVolF]

How to download your mod for 3d print?

[@jurgenilg2811]

Hallo to custom cans My Question.....I have a Nord Piano 5 with a AKG K702 headphone. Is the Hifiman HE 400 SE a real update for the AKG K 702 Great wishes from Germany Jürgen

[@CustomCans]

The stealth magnet version do have a certain magic but it is all down to personal taste

[@Tripokaridos22]

These or hd6xx in your opinion?

[@CustomCans]

It is down to personal taste, they are both good. If you like a warmer sound then the HD6xx if not then the HE400 ... Ideally you want to have a go on both.

[@PaulBloomlittledevil]

Hi, I have the stelth magnet version, and would like the pad spacing part of your mod. How soon will those or the ST files be available to buy? I love the cable I bought from you, for my AKG K275's, beautiful performance improvement! P.s, I think you should look at doing K275 mods, they are amazing headphones, but wearing glasses frames destroys the bass response from the pads.

[@BrenttttttMCMXC]

updates?

[@tyson747]

Just rewatched, bummer I missed you live, was following along when you did the original project but ultimately decided it was all too hard for me too tbh, not owning a 3d printer I guess put a nail in that proverbial coffin. Also, I assume you have a camera on switch that was meant to overhead at 9.22 but never did but thats okay, presume this isnt the end we'll see of the Hifiman. On your final note on the files, I personally, like probably others, would also prefer you sold the parts inhouse and shipped them instead or in addition to selling the files, maybe via eBay? Royal Mail international tracked from you to me would only be £7 up to 2kg in less than a week, not all that bad really! As long as you just had the parts up, could have a print lead time that i'd be cool with, presume others would too. At least then you wouldnt be holding printing off runs or holding stock for no reason. I just can't seem to get a local 3dprint-to-my-door that i'm satisfied with in AU and i'm not in a position to set up a printer atm due to moving and having half my life in boxes. Thanks for another great vid regardless, always interesting to see your thought process as you go along even if its not the end result.

[@CustomCans]

Yes we will probably sell pre printed parts as well - we know someone with a mini print farm who could knock them out for a sensible price for us.

[@NFStopsnuf]

Your mod looks like the Audeze fazor technology!

[@CustomCans]

Yes, similar idea

[@MrJonte58]

I notice your 400se has 6 magnets. Mine has 7. Why is that? Jonas

[@CustomCans]

You may have got distracted while counting ;) The ones in the video have 7 magnets

[@richh650]

If a larger company/business only sells by mail order, it should not be surprised when customers return product they don't like, especially headphones which are so hit or miss and a personal fit item.

[@Tesseract9630]

The customer who did that was a complete fraud. Sue him .

[@CustomCans]

99% of our customers are lovely so on average we do OK only getting the odd bad one ;)

[@justino9042]

10:42 v shape is not exactly what all people is looking for if you buy it for music production for example.

[@CustomCans]

Yeh, you are right - we do make DT770 80ohm with out V3 tuning which are pretty ruler flat for music production

[@impuls60]

Thats a dick move, fraud even what that customer did. Anyways great to see you squeezing even more performance out of these. If you would manage to lower the area where most of these have a resonnance that would be a game changer.

[@CustomCans]

Yes - I forgot to show the charts but, yes resonances will be reduced

[@frederf69]

Seems the only way to get headphones to perform is to operate on them

[@CustomCans]

It is more about making them your own.. I just love modifying stuff and finding out how they work

[@marcp.1752]

Cool to see you back ontho the HE-400se. It could being had now for 109 EUR seriously all new, really, should being modded for the better. For instance - i am a huge fan of the HD 650, but the HE-400se onto the K5 Pro sounds especially lame...mushy, like some cheap 20 bucks IEM, not the right headphone amp. Haven't tried it onto my OpAmp rolled Essence STX yet.

[@CustomCans]

Is it the stealth magnet version you have?

[@marcp.1752]

@@CustomCans yes, the 400se is that way. (edit) And i must admit, it sounds way bad onto the FiiO K5 Pro. The sound-quality worse than any other headphone, i do own. Mostly Sennheiser. The HE-400se into contrast sadly sounds like shit, at least with the K5 Pro - i have no other Headphone Amp atm. Tested with various CD FLAC files.

[@teste-yh5df]

here the sound is awesome fioo k13 pro@@marcp.1752

[@marcp.1752]

I don't like that the HE-400se has that high pitch frequency bump, and it does have less bass, than my Sennheisers, i am not a bass head, but i get easily ear fatique with long listening sessions over hours...especially the 400se is terrible here. And hissing s-vocals into music are horrible. ;-) Wondering when you've finished the new custom grill...do you plan to sell these items finished? For ppl without 3D Printer?

[@CustomCans]

Yes - we will probably be selling pre printed parts as well

[@SpsTamiya]

@@CustomCans patiently waiting for the files !

[@Tripokaridos22]

Add a foam disc from Beyerdynamic in front of He400 and problem solved....

[@marcp.1752]

@@Tripokaridos22 1st things first, i don't own any Beyerdynamic, i am listening to Sennheiser Headphones. And this stock HE-400se is from SQ much worse than all my Sennheisers.

[@Tripokaridos22]

Beyerdynamic foam cost 2 -4 euros . And it fits Hifiman He , Sundara series ... that foam smooth the high pitch. Other than that agree i have Sundara i have He and they sound metallic and not natural like HD 600 650 660. In my opinion. But they have some positives .

[@luizengrazia5169]

He400 non stealth modded vs stealth modded

[@kendoglarson5419]

People who do stuff like that may they spend a year in hell for that. Makes you wonder what other things these scum do. 🤔🤔🤔

[@CustomCans]

That is a bit harsh... Maybe just an hour in hell

[@alouisschafer7212]

Report that person to eBay that is scamming in my opinion...

[@CustomCans]

It is very difficult to prove to eBay what happened so it is probably not worth it

[@zoltantoth1566]

returning - It is bad, hence do not do it to us, do it to others.

[@CustomCans]

I think being selective over who you return stuff to is the way to go ;)

[@jesuslovesyoujohn314-21]

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

[@CustomCans]

I must confess to not knowing a great deal about the significance such passages have to Christians or their underlying meanings but I do find the thought of everlasting life to be a little daunting.