He400se have only 91db of sensitivity, soo hard to drive
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This. after the grill mods and sundara pads mod , it became better than the sundara with noticeable wider soundstage and more precise imaging
Does anyone in the UK/EU region know whether purchasing on Hifiman’s site is the best deal for these? Or are there better bargains out there?
I think finding a “local” store is preferable for this kind of thing: you’ll probably have better shipment price, easier return policy, etc
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I just learned about the grill mod and pads today. I was wandering what pads everybody uses? The 50$ hifiman palipads for the he 400 series? And is there a tutorial somewhere to do the grill mod? Thanks!
My personal favorite pads I’ve used is the brainwavz XL micro suede gaming pads with the cooling gel. There’s something about the ones with gel in them that just works.
That seems like a better deal since they’re like half the price. I’ll definitely give those a try. I’ll search up a video of taking the grilles out. What do you normally replace them with though and how do you do that part?
most people use these and if you want some extra protection you can use the mesh that comes on the stock grills and glue it to the inside of the honeycomb grills with some craft glue
Sweet thank you very much! Looking forward to hearing them after the mods
I actually forgot to ask one more thing about the ear pads. Are the brainwavz ones actually better than the hifiman palipads in sound too? Or do they both sound good and they’re more reasonable and comfortable?
I don’t like the pali pads personally. they’re not deep enough for me. And I’m not 100% sure but I think the 400se comes with pali pads stock but it may just be a different kind. The XL (specifically the XL) brainwavz suede pads drastically stretch out the soundstage and make the bass feel a little more authoritative and they’re way way more comfortable that the pali pads or stock hifiman pads.
Holy frick… If there’s anyone in the UK/EU region help me out on this… I literally can’t find any TRS dual 3.5mm-to-3.5mm cable on Amazon UK and eBay UK, and any option related to Hifiman replacement cables are from abroad and $80+…
Is it just temporarily like this or always like this?
If anyone could provide a UK/EU friendly option I’d greatly appreciate it.
try searching newfantasia on amazon. not sure if amazon uk has them but they’re plastered everywhere on amazon us so its worth a shot.
Get the gold planar gl2000 cable on amazon UK. Click on gl2000 and then you can select the cable, £89
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That’s over my budget, but at least that’s the only option available on Amazon UK
On the other hand, @Pokrog 's suggestion kinda works around, I could find Newfantasia affordable cables on Amazon US with no additional shipping cost (still no Newfantasia for Amazon UK).
Thanks for the help!
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I own both. The 560s is a solid headphone. Plenty of detail, and the frequency response is about as flat as it gets.
But as @Pokrog said, the 560s are a bit dull compared to even the stock HE-400se. I have not done the grill mod to my 400se, yet they’re still far more engaging and musical than the 560s. They don’t overemphasize a part of the frequency curve like Meze 99 Classics (bloomy bass) or some Beyerdynamics (excessive treble). They’re pretty neutral, maybe a touch bass-light. But I also use balanced cables with mine, which adds more power and detail and a touch more slam.
I would be stoked with my HD560s if I never heard the HE-400se. But I have, and there was no putting that genie back in the bottle. Once I heard the HE-400se, I realized I have found the entry-level audiophile can for which I’ve searched for about the last three years. They’re TERRIFIC, especially for $150.
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Both are among the most comfortable headphones I own, and I have slightly larger than average ears and a BIG head.
Still, the HE-400se take the comfort crown for me between the two. I barely even notice they’re on since the headband broke in. The HD560s have pretty roomy cups, but the clamping force is definitely higher than the HE-400se.
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I’ve seen $149 on HiFiMan’s site and Amazon. I went with Amazon because I’m Prime, so quick shipping and easy, no-questions returns.
Also recommend headphones.com. They’re $150 there, and headphones.com has a 365-day return policy. Nice to have with HiFiMan’s spotty quality record. Still, I’ve had zero problems with my HE-400se.
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You get what you pay for, Teddy.
I had NewFantasia balanced cables for $50 for my HE-400se, and they shorted out after ONE DAY. I bought balanced cables as a replacement from Audiophile Ninja for $65, and they’re FANTASTIC in build and sound quality.
Not sure what the shipping prices are to the UK/EU, but Audiophile Ninja makes superb cables at fair prices.
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Had the same problem when I was looking for a balanced cable for my he400i. Difference being I’m in France.
I ended up getting a cable for 20€ on AliExpress.
Search for a sundara cable can help having results, too.
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