Massdrop X Hifiman He4xx Planar Magnetic Headphones Review
Hifiman HE-4XX
Tested at $180
Pros
- Well balanced
- Smooth audio
- Deep, precise and controlled bass
Cons
- Slight brightness up top
- Considerable weight
Hifiman produces headphones, in-ears, amplifiers, portable players, etc. But there is no dubiety that the make is all-time known for its range of planar magnetic headphones. Virtually of them are priced quite loftier, and if you head to a Hifiman website you'd exist hard-pressed to find a HE-400 series model under the $300 marker. Fortunately for us, they made a deal with an online retailer known equally Drop (ex. Massdrop) to produce their most affordable planar magnetic model ever. Hifiman HE-4XX enters the scene.
In its essence, this model is very similar to the rest of the HE-400 range. It shares its looks, build and technical background. Somehow, Drop manages to sell it for $180, with price going every bit low as $145 during sales. That's why, for a few years at present, this model has been regarded as a best-purchase, or no-brainier if y'all will.
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FocusPad-A pads are thick and comfy -
Strong grip
BUILD AND COMFORT
I think reading early reviews a few years back and not everyone was satisfied with the build quality. Fiddly headband adjustment was 1 of the biggest complaints. Fortunately, several revisions accept been made since then. On both the left and right cup, there is at present a 3.5 mm jack for detachable cable (it used to exist 2.5 mm before). Provided cable is single-ended and just OK. If yous want to become counterbalanced, you'd need to purchase a balanced cable separately. The pinnacle aligning at present works very well and doesn't feel cheap or fiddly in any way. If annihilation, whole cans feel quite sturdy to me.
The downside of a metal frame and sturdy build is the weight – those are quite weighty. The headband is padded very lightly and covered in simulated leather. I don't have whatever comfort bug with information technology personally but a affect more than padding would make things even more than pleasant. Pads are thick and soft, which is good considering the grip is quite potent. These days HE-4XX is delivered with FocusPad-A pads. Those are preferred by many early testers every bit they provide a smoother frequency response than usual FocusPad the model was initially delivered with.
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Headband covered in imitation leather looks good
FEATURES AND SOUND ISOLATION
Correct earlier we spring to the sound quality, it's proficient to mention a few things. This is a fairly sensitive model with a 93 dB/mW, but contrary to what marketing tells you, information technology nonetheless prefers to be juiced properly for optimal results. Yes, y'all can drive them just loud plenty with a smartphone, tablet or laptop – just you'll never hear what they are capable of that way. If such sluggish and muddied sound is OK then you should not spend this much on a pair of headphones in the first place. So yes, a decent DAC/AMP combo is a must in my opinion.
Regarding the audio isolation, these are open back and so there is none. Sound leakage is too considerable. Once again, forget the marketing about these being good street cans crusade they're but not.
Sound
Starting with frequency response, information technology's pretty fifty-fifty with but slight emphasis on college frequencies. That emphasis is non most as pronounced as with some models out there (few Beyerdynamics and AKG come to mind), just don't wait them to wrap yous in a warm blanket. Bass notes can go very deep and with proper amplification you lot don't just hear but yous also feel these notes pulsing on your caput. That said, the bassline is fast and very well-controlled. The same goes for upper bass that has a firm grip and never feels boomy or leaks into the midrange. Because of that vocals and instruments audio clean and well-baked. Detail retrieval is very good across the frequency spectrum only presented in a smooth and nonaggressive mode.
So if I have to sum it all up very chop-chop, I'd say these are well-controlled, smooth, precise, with deep bass and just slightly brighter up elevation. Not aggressive in whatever fashion but non also laid back either. I didn't observe them to be picky virtually a music genre either. The vocals are not the most intimate I've heard but these still perform well enough for me to enjoy Leonard Cohen or Norah Jones for instance. Switching through something livelier similar Wilco or Duft Punk was a real joy. Skillful bass treatment, instrument separation, and overall precision took care of that.
Talking about lively music, HE-4XX is capable in terms of drive and dynamics, just definitely not the most strident or tuned to impress at first annotation. If you desire a proficient bite and excitement it has to be initiated by your DAC and Amp. And that brings united states to the next part.
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HE-4XX and Fiio K5 pro combine well
SOURCE MATCHING
In my experience, USB DACs such as Dragonfly Black or Lusya Fever are merely adequate enough. Yous do get plenty of volume and dynamics, just the bass is acting a scrap lose, spilling into the midrange and mudding the water. Don't get me wrong, it's all the same pleasurable experience, just non the all-time HE-4XXs are capable of. Connect them to something similar Fiio K5 pro and things will be put in improve order. Bass slams with more intent and focus, while the sound overall feels crisper and uncluttered. Lastly, using Burson Playmate shows that Hifiman HE-4XX is capable of revealing a more detailed nature of Playmate, bringing even more tiny details and spatial cues. All of that proved these Hifiman scales very well across the wide range of sources. They don't punish you for pairing them with bottom sources simply they do reward when hooked to improve ones.
COMPARISON
If you lot're coming from a more upkeep selection such as AKG K92 you will immediately discover these are more neutral. They are too a clear stride up in particular retrieval and bass precision. K92 also sounds much boxier in comparison.
Takstar Pro 82 fares better in terms of details and bass control but it's all the same not as good in these disciplines every bit HE-4XX. Pro 82 also sounds thinner and grainer. Both bass notes and vocals audio richer and more than lush trough HE-4XX.
Lastly, I managed to make a quick comparing to Beyerdynamic DT 880. This was a much closer match only DT880 can sound too strident in the upper region. I discover that Hifiman HE-4XX offers a more even response and smoother presentation.
CONCLUSION
Afterwards spending some time with Hifiman HE-4XX, I go how it became so pop. It does near of the things right, and makes very few compromises, especially when you count in the price. HE-4XX is also a articulate step up from whatsoever sub $100 pair of headphones no matter how practiced they sound. All of this makes them an easy recommendation. If you're in a need of well-built all-rounder, and you're capable of spending up to $180 (even less during frequent sales), these might be merely the ones to consider.
| HIFIMAN HE-4XX – CHARACTERISTICS |
| Open principle |
Source: https://iiwireviews.com/hifiman-he-4xx-review-planar-magnetic-headphones-on-the-budget
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