Hifiman makes great planar magnetic headphones in all price classes. From the super expensive, ultra high-end Susvara, to the entry-level HE400-series, with the current version being the HE400SE.
The first HE400 came around in 2011/2012 and was Hifiman’s new entry level planar magnetic headphone. The HE400i came in 2014, and the HE400S in 2015. There was the HE4XX in 2017, a Drop collaboration, and finally, the current 400SE, which was launched in 2021.
The HE400SE has stealth magnets, which are rounded magnets with better acoustic performance. It has the classic Hifiman circular cup design with a removable grill, which enables the possibility of doing a “grill mod”, and the round ear cups make it easy to experiment with a variety of pads. The modability of Hifiman headphones has been a part of the reason they’ve become so popular.
The HE400SE costs 109 USD at the time of writing and was sent to us by the company.
HIFIMAN HE400SE SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver Type: Planar Magnetic Driver with stealth magnet
- Double-sided magnet driver
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-35KHz
- Sensitivity: 91dB
- Impedance: 32 Ohms
- Weight: 390g
- Cable connector on headphones: Dual 3.5 mm jack
- Included cable: 1.5 meter / 4.9 Feet. 3.5mm plug with 6.3 mm adapter
BUILD AND COMFORT
I find the HE400SE well-built and comfortable to wear. The yokes and grill are metal, the headband is spring metal wrapped in padding and pleather. There’s good swivel action. The cups are plastic.
The pads are comfy with mesh facing the head, fenestrated pleather on the inside and solid pleather on the outside.
The only thing I would change is basically the padding on the headband which is a bit stiff. It’s not a problem for me, but if your head isn’t shaped so that the weight is well distributed, it might be. Focal has similar headbands with softer padding. All in all, however, these are well-built and solid-feeling headphones, especially regarding the price.
LISTENING IMPRESSIONS
I used the Sparkos Labs Gemini hybrid tube amp and the RME ADI-2 DAC FS in this session.
Daddy Lessons by Beyonce – Quite spacious presentation, but not the last word in imaging and separation. The bass is rock solid and very even. Beyonce’s vocals sound great. The guitar is crisp and energetic.
Liszt Die Zelle Nonnenwerth by L.O.Andsnes – Beautiful piano piece which sounds great on the HE400SE. I really like the timbre and tonal balance.
Don’t Panic by Coldplay I really like the way Chris Martin’s vocals are rendered. Warm and natural. The bass is solid, the percussion is snappy. The soundstage is intimate, and the separation is not great but adequate.
Down by Stone Temple Pilots – Great presentation. The bass is easily separated from the fuzz guitars, vocals are energetic and full-bodied, and percussion is snappy and crisp without being too much.
Escape Route by Boris Blank – Great electronic music. The HE400SE delivers a coherent and very enjoyable presentation. Great bass, a well-balanced sound overall.
858-3 by Bill Frisell – Enjoyable string music. The HE400SE sounds great, the timbre of the violins is natural. The strings have warmth and texture.
HEADPHONE COMPARISONS
HIFIMAN DEVA PRO VS HE400SE
I did a separate comparison review about these headphones, but here is the takeaway. I used the powerful Auralic Taurus for the comparison, but the differences remain with budget amps like the Schiit Magni Heretic and the Fiio K5 PRO ESS.
Build: These headphones are very similar. The headband is identical. The Deva PRO has slightly larger oval cups. The Deva PRO is 30g lighter. It’s also easier to drive for the amplifier. The HE400SE has seemingly a thicker driver unit, making the cups thicker. The pads look and feel the same except for the shape.
Treble: They both have rather good treble. The Deva PRO is however more refined and effortless. The HE400SE has more bite and body to the high notes. I find the HE400SE occasionally to be somewhat more upfront, not only in the treble but also in the high mids.
Midrange: Both have a present and detailed mid-range. The HE400SE does however have a bit more mid-range energy, more tonal weight and body. Vocals etc. are closer, more upfront and thicker sounding. Whether this is a pro or a con depends on the track.
Bass: Again, they are both good but they are different. The HE400SE seems to have a tighter bass, often with better definition and control. The Deva can sometimes sound a bit loose and bloomy in direct comparison. However, this is relatively marginal and never really an issue. Both have a deep and present bass response, worthy of real planar magnetic headphones.
Timbre: I cannot really decide which has the best timbre overall. The Deva PRO is the most natural sounding in the highs. The mids are more of a tie, it depends on the track. The bass I think is objectively the HE400SE’s strong point. If forced I think I find the HE400SE more natural overall, but the Deva has a great presentation so I’m not saying the HE400SE is the better headphone.
Soundstage: Both are fairly open-sounding headphones. The Deva PRO is however painting a wider, taller and deeper soundscape. It’s quite impressive. The HE400SE isn’t especially small, though, so they’re not miles apart but it’s significant.
Amplifier Requirements: The HE400SE is, unsurprisingly given by the specs, more demanding on the amplifier than the Deva PRO. It’s not a problem to drive the HE400SE with a desktop amp, but for portable setups, it might be something to bear in mind, it needs some extra juice compared to the Deva PRO.
In conclusion, these are both great-value headphones. They have great planar magnetic bass, a well-balanced tuning and plenty of detail.
Links to Amazon: DEVA & HE400SE
HIFIMAN SUNDARA VS HE400SE
The Sundara is a long-standing reference headphone, currently more than twice the price of the HE400SE. It’s built differently with a strap headband and fixed grills, but they can use the same pads. The HE400SE has more swivel action.
Here’s a track-by-track comparison:
All For Us by Labyrint – First of all, they sound very similar. The bass is a bit fuller with the Sundara, the separation is a little better.
Haydn Cello Concertos III by Freiburger Barockorchester – Slightly cleaner and more open sounding with the Sundara. Otherwise very similar.
Almost Like the Blues by Leonard Cohen – Again, the bass has a bit more body with the Sundara. There’s a better sense of space as well; a better sense of the “listening room”.
Come Away With Me by Norah Jones – The vocals are a bit clearer with the Sundara.
As Before by Olga Konkova – Although they are quite similar, the Sundara sounds more precise and with a bit more detail and dynamics.
I continue through my playlist, and the impressions are the same: These two headphones have very similar sound signatures. The treble is a bit cleaner with the Sundara. The mids are a bit more open, the bass has a bit more body. The Sundara also has better instrument separation and imaging with a slightly bigger soundstage. Tuning, tonality and timbre are very close. All in all, the Sundara is very similar but a little better sounding on all parameters.
Links to Amazon: SUNDARA & HE400SE
SENNHEISER HD560S VS HE400SE
Build: The Sennheiser HD 560S is smaller and lighter. It had a single-sided cable detachable 3.5 mm cable. The clamping force is quite high, and I personally find the HE400SE more comfortable. Here’s a track-by-track comparison using the Topping A90 amp.
In My Tree by Pearl Jam – I’m surprised how similar they sound. I looked up some frequency response charts and my hearing didn’t fail me, the graphs are very similar. I find the HD560S a bit more dynamic sounding on this track, but to be honest, the differences are marginal.
Come Away With Me by Norah Jones – Again they are very similar. Both sound great, but I find Norah’s vocals a bit clearer and more nuanced with the HE400SE.
Daddy Lessons by Beyonce – The bass is delicious with the HE400SE. Full-bodied with good texture. Very even, no audible roll-off. The guitar is crisp, and Beyonce’s voice is clear. With the HD560S, the bass is less even and audibly rolled off a bit, there’s also less bass texture. Otherwise, they are quite similar.
Fading Sorrow by Marcin Wasilewski Trio – The HE400SE sounds warmer. The trumpet sounds fuller, it’s a bit thin sounding on the HD560S. The bass drum also has more body with the HE400SE.
Flush by Todd Sickafoose – Again, the HE400SE is warmer sounding and a bit richer. The bass is great. The bass on the HD560S is good too, though, just not quite as good. The HD560S sounds a bit more airy but I prefer the HE400SE.
To conclude, I am impressed by both headphones. I prefer the HE400SE for the better bass performance and warmer sound presentation, the HD560S sometimes feels more dynamic and slightly clearer, depending on the track.
These are very similar-sounding headphones. If I were to choose between them I would look at price and practical/functional needs. From a good amplifier, the HE400SE sounds a bit better overall but for portable use, the HD560S is easier to drive. It’s also smaller.
Links to Amazon: HE400SE & HD560S
PHILIPS FIDELIO X3 VS HE400SE
The Fidelio X3 is the third iteration of Phillips’ popular X-series. The previous had an HR appendix (X1 HR, X2 HR). The X3 is large but comfortable and well built. It’s also more than twice the price of the HE400SE.
Flush by Todd Sickafoose – The bass/piano playing tandem is so well defined and satisfyingly rendered by the HE400SE, that it is hard to imagine the X3 doing better. And it doesn’t. However, it’s quite close. The mid-range piano is fuller with the HE400SE, the treble is crisper with the X3. The X3 has a bit withdrawn mids compared to the HE400SE, but in turn, it has a more airy soundstage.
Floratone by Floratone – The HE400SE has great bass. It’s full, deep and well-balanced. The X3 also has very good bass. In addition, it is very spacious, with much better imaging and separation. I like the tonal balance of the HE400SE better. The X3 can sound a bit dry, but it’s the X3 that’s most impressive here.
Fly Forward by Jennifer Higdon / Hilary Hahn – With this orchestral piece, I like the HE400SE, but the X3 offers a much bigger soundstage, better imaging and detail retrieval.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake – As usual, the X3 has a huge soundstage, but the vocals are quite dry. I prefer the warmer and more natural-sounding HE400SE. The bass is impressive with both.
Cold, Cold Heart by Norah Jones: -Also Norah Jones’ vocals are on the dry side with the X3, I enjoy the HE400SE more.
Amplification
The HE400SE is more power-hungry than the X3, however, the X3 has another challenge. It can need some help with that dry mid-range. The Sparkos Gemini hybrid tube amp infused some more warmth and softened the treble a little bit, but even the Woo WA22 couldn’t make it the mid-range “warm” sounding. I still preferred the timbre of HE400SE.
Conclusion
These are rather different-sounding headphones. The Fidelio X3 is spacious and dynamic, with great bass and great detail. The mid-range, however, does not have the best and natural timbre I’ve heard, and comes off as a bit dry, with more upper midrange energy. The treble is also on the energetic side.
The HE400SE isn’t exactly treble-shy either, but I find it much better balanced. It is warmer sounding with more body in the mids, but lacks the huge soundstage and great imaging of the X3.
Links to Amazon: HE400SE & FIDELIO X3
AKG K701/K702 VS HE400SE
Floratone by Floratone. The two headphones present the music very differently. The HE400SE is warm, intimate and has plenty of bass. The K702 has more detail in the treble and mid-range and is more airy but it is very lacking in the bass. I prefer the HE400SE.
Akka-Safad by Faraj Suleiman. The K702 is more airy and open sounding. It has better macro- and microdynamics in the mids and highs. The bass, however, is the realm of the HE400SE.
Cold, Cold Heart by Norah Jones. The tonality, timbre and bass is superior to me on the HE400SE. However, the K702 has more details in the mids and treble and delivers a good performance too.
Winter, Vivaldi 4 seasons by The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra. I find both to sound really good. The K702 is airier, thinner, lighter – the HE400SE is a bit thicker and warmer sounding.
In conclusion, the K702 has cleaner treble and mids, a wider and more precise sound-stage and better dynamics. However, the HE400SE has a much more solid bass presentation. It is also warmer sounding and to me it’s got better timbre in the mids and bass.
Links to Amazon: HE400SE & AKG K702.
AMPLIFICATION
At 91 dB sensitivity, the HE400SE isn’t the easiest headphone to drive properly. However, there are plenty of good alternatives. Here are a some of them:
SCHIIT MAGNI HERETIC
Small but powerful. A good amp for the HE400SE. Very tight and slightly better defined than the Fiio K5.
FIIO K5 PRO ESS
Warmer sounding than the Heretic and still quite punchy. A good amp for the HE400SE. The Fiio K5 PRO ESS has a quite good built-in DAC too.
TOPPING A90
The A90 is very clean and neutral sounding with lots of power and good control. It’s very capable with the HE400SE, which does need some power to really shine. The A90 has been replaced by the A90D.
SPARKOS LABS GEMINI
The Gemini is a hybrid tube amp. This isn’t exactly a cheap amplifier, but it’s definitely delicious sounding with the HE400SE, inducing a hint of tube liquidity to the sound.
PORTABLE OPTIONS
Now, I’m very stubborn when it comes to giving up the headphone jack on my phone, and recently got a Poco F5 with a headphone output. At full volume it sounds quite OK with the HE400SE. However, using the THX Onyx dongle is many steps up. Basically 70% listening level from Tidal is where it’s at.
THE ULTIMATE OPTION
I gave the HE400SE some time powered off the speaker taps of my 100wpc Creek Destiny 2 speaker amp. It really kicked the HE400SE to its full potential and the result became a headphone performing waaaay above its price-point: Extremely dynamic, rock solid bass, great headroom, detail and wonderful tonality. I hooked it up to my Cary SLI-80 Signature too. Stunning. It plays like it costs 10 times its price or more. It’s like a HE-6 light. The scalability of many Hifiman headphones amazes me.
WRAPPING IT UP
Soundstage: The soundstage is good on its own, but comparing it to some of the competitors, it becomes clear that it isn’t the biggest and the imaging isn’t the most precise. However, the HE400SE presents a coherent and enjoyable listening experience. It sounds like an open headphone, just not one with a spectacular soundstage.
Treble: The treble is crisp and can be a little rough, depending on the amplifier. Hifiman headphones often need power to get the treble under full control. Considering the price I find no reason to complain. It has good resolution and I find it well balanced and non-fatiguing.
Mid-range: I like the mid-range very much on this headphone. The timbre is very natural sounding, it’s warm and full-bodied without being overly thick.
Bass: The bass is very good on the HE400SE. It’s powerful but not overdone, it’s dynamic and textured. Even if it rolls off gently in the lowest octaves, it doesn’t at all disappear but remains present and controlled.
Dynamics and timbre: The bass on the HE400SE is quite dynamic, but the mids and highs aren’t on the level as the best of the competition. However, the timbre, especially in the mids, is spot on, and along with the great bass and decent highs, the total experience is very positive.
CONCLUSION
The HE400 series have always been Hifiman’s entry level planar magnetic headphone, and now they’re pushing prices lower than ever. Hifiman is seemingly on a quest to make quality planar magnetic headphones available to everybody. That’s something I applaud.
I like the HE400SE a lot. It’s not perfect, no headphone is. However, the HE400SE is exceptional value for money. As long as you pair it with a decently powerful amplifier, it delivers the goods: Great bass, warm mids and crisp highs. The HE400SE comes highly recommended.
Products mentioned in this article (Amazon or manufacturer links): HE400SE , DEVA , SUNDARA , FIDELIO X3 , AKG K702 , Schiit Magni Heretic , Fiio K5 PRO ESS , Topping A90 , Sparkos Labs Gemini.
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