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Showing 1 of 24 conversations about:
HIFIMAN HE-400i Planar Magnetic Headphones
PabloMtz
4
Sep 14, 2020
What is the difference between the 400i and the 4xx? Any have them or have listened to both?
HungerWorkStudio
16
Sep 14, 2020
PabloMtzThe 400i uses a single sided magnet planar driver. The weight is drastically reduced at the expense of overall THD. The sound is agile and the sonic profile is incredibly neutral with appropriate levels of bass when the recording demands it. The high end is not as detailed and nuanced as the XX edition or HE-560, but they are no slouch. If you want a headphone which can be driven from a cellphone and provides a balanced planar experience then I would recommend them.
(Edited)
LowFi42
263
Sep 14, 2020
HungerWorkStudioPablo asked about the 4xx not edition xx.
HungerWorkStudio
16
Sep 14, 2020
LowFi42I'm sorry! Let me be more specific. It's not an appropriate comparison because of the single sided driver. I was trying to make that clear and offer comparable headphones.
jaydunndiddit
3259
Sep 14, 2020
PabloMtz@HungerWorkStudio The 4XX and 400i both use single-sided magnets and are brothers in the HFM lineup compared to something double-sided like the HE6 (round cup style iterations).
To be blunt, the 400i isn't as warm as the 4XX due to rolloff below 100hz and being a bit more flat in the upper bass/lower mids. "Neutral" enough overall for this price point. This is from memory as it's been some years I've listened to the 400 series stuff, but that was pretty consistent for HFM back then compared to the warmer tuning they seem to be trending towards (I still have the 4XX and HE6se).
JJDeviloper
192
Sep 14, 2020
PabloMtzThey're very similar. Headband is the main difference. Drop may have tuned the 4XX a bit different. 400i has a bit more bass, 4XX has smoother sound. But the mid range is better on the 400i. Comes to slight differences in sound preference vs headband choice. 400i 2020 is $169 new, with a very padded headband, and I wouldn't be too surprised to see them appear on Drop as an alternative. 4XX and 400i are more old skool in terms of looks. If you have a taste similar to J Valour, I believe his tastes are as follows: Sundara > 4XX > 400i > 400i 2020 > Deva Cabled. He did mention 2020 400i is better at some things, but he likes the 4XX bass more, and he is a bit of a basshead. As for me, sound wise I prefer the 400i to the 4XX, but I prefer the headband on the 4XX. I have not heard the 2020 400i. The mid-range smoothness and presence in the 400i is planar gold on a very small budget.
Check out J Valour's vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sd-pRr9dcs
mirot
0
Sep 15, 2020
JJDeviloperHow can anybody prefer the headband of the xx to anything? It is just horrible!
JJDeviloper
192
Sep 15, 2020
mirotJust because for some people suspension headbands are a no-no. The 2020 400i looks like it has a great headband. Lots of cushy plush padding. Also, for headphones like 4XX or M40X, to add padding, you can get something like a Sennheiser padding and just attach it. You can just use string. Then if you don't want to look at the string, add a headband wrap, but it will look silly for wearing out, but very comfortable at home. Headband cushioning: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H8Q05O4
(Edited)
jaydunndiddit
3259
Sep 15, 2020
JJDeviloperOr just use Dekoni nuggets. They were made specifically for this sort of thing.
JJDeviloper
192
Sep 15, 2020
jaydunndidditThat's a good call, I may have modded mine before those became a thing. Also the Sennheiser padding has a cloth feeling surface and may be more breathable.
FatDoi
193
Sep 17, 2020
PabloMtz400i goes for the reference sound but still got the roll offs whereas 4xx has the slam + the roll offs
JJDeviloper
192
Sep 17, 2020
FatDoiI agree although 400i has a definitive planar tone with audibly accentuated mids. 4XX tone is more dark and neutral even when sparkly and bassy. 400i is a stereotypical planar. It defines at least the baseline of what planars should be. Compared to Audeze where minor concentration is required to notice it's a planar.
(Edited)
phoenixsong
1054
Oct 24, 2020
PabloMtzApart from what others have mentioned, 400i has a more prominent treble spike to my ears too. I own both :)
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