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Drop + HIFIMAN HE4XX Planar Magnetic Headphones
LEONOFSWEDEN
32
Oct 19, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
HIFIMAN HE4XX vs SENNHEISER HD 58X JUBILEE
Well, where to start? Probably with the fact that I like, if not love, both of these headphones. If you’re thinking about buying either of these, you will not go wrong. With that said there are a few things I would like to compare between them.
Firstly and most importantly, listening to music.... yes oh yes… just yes. I have loved listening to music all my life, and I have had more than a few headphones through the years. Right now I have the two I love the most at the same time.
Before my current pair, my favorites were a Bose headphone from over ten years ago that I can’t even remember the name of anymore. I was heartbroken when they finally gave up, plus I found out they were no longer being produced. After this I spent years trying to find something that gave me the same listening pleasure, and now finally I have two headphones that actually beat my old Bose.
Both the SENNHEISER HD 58X JUBILEE and HIFIMAN HE4XX are excellent for the ears. But they do have differences, some a bit surprising and quirky. Like the fact that I always enjoy listening to guitars more on the HE4XX, while piano sounds much more pleasurable on the 58X. The HE4XX soundstage is excellent, music sounds open, and the bass is fast and distinct. Although I think this can make the bass response feel a little light sometimes. Whereas the base on the 58X is much more present, though not as detailed. Where the 58X shines however is vocals, and its unrivaled detail in midrange and treble. The clarity in a violin section is second to none in this price range, and I have to mention how my spine tingles when listening to an operatic section on the 58X.
The HE4XX do an excellent job in music, don’t get me wrong, the differences from the 58X can more or less be called a difference in flavor. My flavor however more often than not goes towards 58X in music. I love hearing every detail in my songs when listening, I want to feel close and personal with the music. Nevertheless, hearing every detail can be fatiguing. The HE4XX are much more relaxing in the long run to listen to, which is beneficial for long sittings, like gaming. I have never really had to stop listening to my HIFIMAN HE4XX because my ears are tired. Even though that could be because when I take my SENNHEISER HD 58X JUBILEE for a spin I really listen to my music, perhaps overly intensely. Dark room, closed eyes, and no other sensory input except what I hear in my headphones.
The soundstage and imaging on the HE4XX is quite good as mentioned. Something you really notice when you’re playing video games. I am an avid PUBG player and I always gamed with the 58X. What I had before 58X isn’t worth mentioning… I was very happy with the ability to pinpoint the direction I was being shot from with the 58X. Nevertheless I then bought the HE4XX, mostly because I’ve never owned a couple of planar magnetic headphones and I was curious. Imagine my surprise when I realized I could now not only tell where the sound was coming from directionally, but also from which altitude. Was I being shot at from the first, third or fifth floor of the building opposite me… Being able to tell more or less exactly where the enemy shooter is and return fire almost immediately has saved me more than once. It also bears mentioning that games that don't involve first person shooting, but instead have a rich sound curtain conveying atmosphere and deepening immersion also benefits from the soundstage of the HE4XX. So when it comes to gaming the HE4XX is the winner in my book.
So, as a last recommendation, which would I buy for what?
If you’re a gamer, go for the HIFIMAN HE4XX, though bear in mind they really appreciate a good amp. They can be driven by your phone, but once you give it steady power they really open up their full potential.
If music is your number one focus, then go with the SENNHEISER HD 58X JUBILEE. The extra bonus with the 58X is it sounds good on anything. Directly from my phone, or even better, my FIIO BTR3K. I am pretty certain you can plug these headphones into a cheesecake and still get a pretty good rendition of Rammstein going.
****
Some of what I’ve been listening to when comparing these headphones down below.
Hi res Music
Chamber Orchestra of Europe - Stravinsky Apollon Musagete & Pulcinella Suite, Flac 24 bits 192000hz
Nidarosdomens Jentekor & TrondheimSolistene - Magnificat (Arnesen: Magnificat 4. Et misericordia), Flac 24 bits 192000hz
Marianne Thorsen & TrondheimSolistene - Mozart Violin Concerto in D major KV 218, I. Allegro, Flac 24 bits 176400hz
Hoff Ensemble - Polarity, Flac 24 bits 176400hz
Christian Grövlen - BACH - Inside, Polyphony Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903: Fantasia, Flac 24 bits 176400hz
Aretha Franklin - Many albums… Flac 24 bits 192000hz
Cat Stevens - Tea For The Tillerman, Flac 24 bits 192000hz
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On, Flac 24 bits 192000hz
Green Day - American Idiot, Flac 24 bits 96000hz
Rammstein - Rammstein, Flac 24 bits 192000hz
Eagles - Hotel California, Flac 24 bits 192000hz
Whitesnake - Whitesnake, Flac 24 bits 192000hz
****
Spotify, streaming quality very high
Akala - 10 Years of Akala
Billie Eilish - Don't smile at me
Childish Gambino - Many albums…
Clean Bandit - New Eyes
Daft Punk - Many albums…
Nordic Lights - Grieg, Sibelius, Nielsen
Songbird - Eva Cassidy
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Gorillaz - Many albums…
Kent - Vapen & Ammunition (Swedish)
Micheal Jackson - Many albums…
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Queen - Many albums…
Rodriguez - Cold Fact
Run The Jewels - Many albums…
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair
Van Halen - 1984
Whitney Houston - Whitney
The Who - Tommy
A Perfect Circle - Lullaby (This track is my bass test. Warning! Deepest bass of any track I have ever heard)
****
YouTube - all kind of things, 1080p 1440p
****
Audio Equipment
ifi zen Dac/Amp
THX AAA 789 Amp
FIIO BTR3K Bluetooth Dac/Amp
Recommends this product? Yes
kbuitragom
1
Oct 25, 2020
LEONOFSWEDENAmazing review Leon, it was very helpful. Thank you! I was really struggling to decide between these two pair of headphones, very good reviews on both.
After reading your review I have decided to pick up the Hifiman HE4XX, but has you mentioned they require an AMP to really excel. Do you have any recommendations? (<$150)
LEONOFSWEDEN
32
Oct 25, 2020
kbuitragomifi zen dac/amp is wery nice. It powers the HE4XX more than enough, and I personally like it's warm sound signature. It's also balanced which is a good bonus at the price point.
https://www.amazon.com/iFi-Zen-DAC-Converter-Unbalanced/dp/B07YZK5MDS/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?adgrpid=83059415178&dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxNT8BRD9ARIsAJ8S5xYrgkyFH2vhRjw1RwM73GtLt99E6dq6wzeGaZRtJ-l4SsVT6v2HqZYaAiNOEALw_wcB&hvadid=393489265633&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=1012511&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=100898999607759071&hvtargid=kwd-828693573088&hydadcr=2744_11210427&keywords=ifi+zen+dac&qid=1603633624&sr=8-2&tag=hydglogoo-20
(Edited)
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