Up to 37% in savings when you subscribe to hi-fi+
hifi-logo-footer

Begin typing your search above and press return to search. Press Esc to cancel.

First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

Many years ago the Chinese firm HiFiMAN got its start and its name by building (or perhaps more accurately, re-building) hot-rodded, performance-enhanced versions of the ubiquitous Sony Walkman personal music players, and modern personal digital music players are still an important part of the company’s DNA. In my mind, however, HiFiMAN stands first and foremost as a high-performance headphone specialist. I say this because, when you get right down to it, making very accomplished high-end headphones is one of things HiFiMAN does best of all.

, First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

My first exposure to HiFiMAN came during the time period when the firm was transitioning from its original HE-5 planar magnetic headphones to an improved HE-5LE model, which was the first of many HiFiMAN headphones I have reviewed over the years (click here to see my HE-5LE review from the digital magazine Playback). In time, the HE-5LE was superseded by HiFiMAN’s excellent but notoriously difficult-to-drive HE-6 headphone (click to see my Playback HE-6 review), which in turn was followed by the also superb but much easier to drive HE-500 headphone (praised by my colleague Tom Martin in Playback and especially by Hi-Fi+ Editor Alan Sircom in Hi-Fi+ issue 83). Later still, the arrival of HiFiMAN’s HE-400 marked a watershed event (click to read the Hi-Fi+ review of the HE-400 co-written by Garrett Whitten and by me) in that the HE-400 was at the time arguably the world’s most affordable and easiest to drive planar magnetic headphone). My point in taking this trip down memory lane is to underscore the fact that HiFiMAN has broad and deep experience in building upper-tier planar magnetic headphones that each have earned well-deserved critical acclaim. Indeed, there really isn’t a ‘clunker’ or a misstep in the bunch, which is actually a pretty rare thing in high-end audio. It would have been understandable, then, if the firm simply opted to ‘freeze’ its product line for a time, essentially resting upon its laurels. That, however, is not the HiFiMAN way.

, First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

 

HiFiMAN’s founder and President Dr. Fang Bian has the sort of restless and fertile imagination that simply cannot resist the impulse (or is it the temptation?) to make good things even better. Accordingly, HiFiMAN has of late begun been revealing a step-by-step revamp of its headphone product line. The first new model to appear was the HE-560 priced at $899 in the US (see my recent Hi-Fi+ blog on that model), a full-fledged review for which is presently underway. Depending upon one’s point of view, the HE-560 could be seen either as a major performance update on the earlier HE-500, or perhaps even as a potential replacement for the HE-6 (the jury is still out on the question of whether the HE-560 has the requisite performance chops to unseat the HE-6 as HiFiMAN’s reigning flagship, though we expect full break-in of the HE-560 will reveal much).

, First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

But now, we have the new HE-400i, priced at $499 in the US, which is plainly meant as a major performance upgrade to the original HE-400. Based on my brief “First Listen” experience I would say the HE-400i preserves many of the HE-400’s desirable qualities, while also taking a truly substantial step forward in sound quality. What does this bode for the future? Well, my educated guess, even during these early days, is that HiFiMAN is likely going to sell about a gazillion of its new HE-400i headphones, and for all the right reasons. Allow me to explain.

, First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

 

HiFiMAN’s HE-400i differs from its original HE-400 in several essential ways, which I will attempt to enumerate in a ‘bullet point’ list below:

  • It is lighter (HiFiMAN says about 30% lighter than competing designs).
  • It features an all-new frame/headband design that makes for a dramatic (and I mean really dramatic) improvement in comfort and adjustability vis-à-vis the earlier frame design used in the HE-400, HE-500, and HE-6 models.

, First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

  • It features new, user replaceable, ‘beveled’ ear pads whose sidewalls are covered in so-called Pleather, but whose touch points with the wearer’s head are covered in velour material; the new pads are very comfortable.

, First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

  • The HE-400i uses an updated, so-called ‘single-ended’ planar magnetic driver that appears to have been influenced by the design of the new HE-560 (the term ‘single-ended’ denotes the fact that the driver has a magnet array behind—but not in front of—the planar magnetic diaphragm surface, meaning there are no obstructions between the face of the driver and the wearer’s ears—apart from a thin, acoustically transparent protective fabric cover).

, First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

  • Rated sensitivity has increased ever so slightly from 92.5dB for the HE-400 vs. 93dB for the new HE-400i.
 
  • The ear cups/driver housings have been revised to provide forward-angled fittings for the HE-400i’s screw-on signal cable fittings (this, to keep the cables aimed forward and not straight down into the wearer’s shoulders), plus a new-for-HiFiMAN smoky silver/grey, mirror like finish (yes, you really can see your own reflection when gazing at the headphones).

, First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

  • All around fit and finish have been noticeably improved, as has the packaging for the headphone (for the HE-400i, HiFiMAN has created an exquisite, leatherette-covered,  flip-open box whose appearance is fully befitting a headphone of this stature).

, First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

  • A $100 increase in suggested retail price ($499 for the HE-400i vs. $399 for the original HE-400)—an increase that in my view is well-justified.

What’s to like about the HE-400i? Well, even before you plug it in you’ll discover that its lighter weight and redesigned frame, headband, and ear pads make it much easier to adjust than any of the early generation HiFiMAN headphones and far more comfortable, too. With headphones, let’s please note, ergonomics are a huge consideration because—for obvious reasons—audiophiles won’t wear even the best-sounding headphones on the planet if they’re not comfortable (this is supposed to be fun, after all, not a self-inflicted torture test). Thus, right out of the gate HiFiMAN scores a big win in terms of fit, finish, adjustability, and comfort. Seriously, one can wear the HE-400i’s for hours on end.

, First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

 

Next comes the moment of truth when the headphones are plugged in and the HE-400i’s do not disappoint. On the contrary, they surprise with a sound that in very many respects closely parallels that of HiFiMAN’s new HE-560 (the sonic ‘family resemblance’ is unmistakable). But here’s why I chose the word, “surprise”. The original HE-400 was and is a very good headphone, but critical listeners who heard both the original HE-400 and HE-500 side-by-side would probaqbly concede that the performance gap between the 400 and 500 was a fairly significant one (the 500 offered marked more neutral voicing and dramatically better resolution). The surprise I alluded to centres on the fact that the new HE-400i actually sounds quite a lot like its almost twice as expensive big brother, the HE-560. Now please don’t misunderstand me. The HE-560 is, without a doubt, the better headphone of the two and as with the predecessor models the differences centre on tonal neutrality, resolution, and focus—all three being areas where the HE-560 enjoys a clear-cut edge. But with that said, let me also point out that the perceived ‘gap’ between the HE-400i and HE-560 is much narrower than was the gap between the HE-400 and the HE-500, which is encouraging news for those shopping for mid-priced headphones. Moreover, and this is a somewhat tricky observation to put forward, the performance differences between the HE-400i and the HE-560 only become fully apparent when using upper-tier headphone amp/DACs (with good but not great amp/DACs the sonic differences between the headphones are still there, of course, but they are much less apparent). This, too, is good news for headphonistas on a budget.

, First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

Another piece of good news is that the HE-400i is significantly easier to drive than the HE-560, so that in a pinch one might even drive it directly from a smartphone or tablet. I tried the HE-400i with both my Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone and my iPad and got OK but not great results with the phone and slightly better (but still not great) results with the tablet. My advice: Pick up a good portable amp/DAC to use with the HE-400i; they deserve it (hint: the HE-400i pairs beautifully with iFi’s also affordable Micro iDSD portable amp/DAC).

, First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

In terms of sonic character, the HE-400i offers reasonably smooth, wide bandwidth frequency response, but with small traces of midrange forwardness vis-à-vis the somewhat more neutral-sounding HE-560. Still, the overall voicing of the two models is strikingly similar, which I consider a point in the HE-400i’s favour. The HE-400i offers very good levels of detail, transient speed, and overall nuance, though with a top-shelf amp/DAC it becomes clear (pardon the pun) that the HE-560 is a smidgeon better in all three respects. Further, the HE-400i offers the traditional planar magnetic virtue of easygoing coherency of the sort that lends desirable qualities of top-to-bottom evenness and consistency to the proceedings. I suspect that the HE-400i will be all the headphone that many music lovers will ever need or want and it is one that, while certainly not cheap, will also not break the proverbial bank.

, First Listen: HiFiMAN HE-400i planar magnetic headphones

One point I probably cannot overstress is that the $499 HE-400i is good enough that one might instinctively seek to compare it to models costing $700, $800, $900, or more. The HE-400i might win some and lose some in those head-to-head comparisons, but I feel confident in saying that—win, lose, or draw—the HE-400i will certainly not embarrass itself in direct competition with more expensive headphone fare, which is pretty remarkable in light of the price differentials involved. For these reasons and many more, I suspect the HE-400i will become a top-seller for HiFiMAN, as was the HE-400 before it.

I still have much to learn about the HE-400i as I begin work on a full-length review for Hi-Fi+. Among other things, the headphone still needs a lot of run-in time (HiFiMAN recommend giving the headphone 150 hours of run-in) and there are many comparisons yet to be made. Thus far, I’ve compared the HE-400i to the original HE-400, the HE-560, and to Oppo’s PM-1. But, in the course of my upcoming review listening, I hope to compare the HE-400i to Final Audio’s Pandora VI and—if I can get my hands on a sample—to Oppo’s soon-to-arrive, cost-reduced PM-2 planar magnetic headphone. Those should prove to be enjoyable and eye-opening comparisons, to say the least.

In the months to come, watch out for the Hi-Fi+ review of the HE-400i and in the interim, may I wish you all happy listening.

Tags: FEATURED

Adblocker Detected

"Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit..."

"There is no one who loves pain itself, who seeks after it and wants to have it, simply because it is pain..."