sundara -> ananda -> arya (-> HE1000V2 -> Susvara)
can go with edition xx as well (what I did)
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On the headphones themselves you can only do something with the pads, thatās it.
Otherwise I would have just said sundura and the Sendy and the Monolith M60 or something would certainly be worthy.
It also depends on the budget you are aiming for and, of course, whether you have the necessary power in the Dac if you want to stay with planar listeners, so what can quickly cost something for an upgrade. But everything depends very much on the Dac. You say you should always invest in headphones first, which is true. But if you plan something higher it would be better to do both at the same time. The Dac could possibly stay and look for a headphone amplifier like Lake People g103, Asgard 3, Rupert neve, possibly even a Jan Meier would be potential headphone amplifiers.
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Sundara intrigues me. Enough of an upgrade?
If I go for Ananda/Edition XX, for the priceā¦ would I consider Focal Elex as well?
I donāt have the sundara, but from what I have heard, it is enough of an upgrade (although that will be up to you to finally decide). Focal Elex is different, so in theory if you know what you want clearly, you would either want the Elex or Ananda/Edition XX, but for someone that doesnāt know exactly what they want, it can be tricky. Personally I was between Sundara and spending more and getting Ananda, Edition XX and Elex. I wasnāt totally sure which would be best for me, but the FR of the Edition XX is more similar to the HE4XX than the other options, so that coupled with a good deal was enough for me to pull the trigger on the Edition XX.
Note: I have not heard the Elex or Ananda and am going off of what I have heard.
for me going from the 4xx to the sundara was a pretty substantial gain in almost every regardā¦ I was thinking about the ananda because of my affinity for the sundara but decided to go with the elex instead because ive read quite a bit how the ananda isnāt that much of an upgrade (they made the sundara too good 
) and im not quite ready to spend Arya money yet
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Thanks! The Sundara sounds right up my alley.
Have you by any chance heard the 177x? Iām thinking maybe getting a close back for now to compliment the 4xx.
no unfortunately I havenāt heard the 177x
Hallo is ifi zen dac/amp enough drive this headphone without balanced output and external amplifier?
It should drive it fine, and perhaps temper the highs a touch. The 4xx does like a bit of power, but the Zen should have enough.
Welcome to HiFi Guides, BTW!
Thank you for fast respond 
I just started getting a buzzing at 720-850Hz in the right ear cup. Is that a common problem or is there something specific I can do to fix it? Itās smack-bang in the middle of the vocal range, so this sucks.
It has a 1 year Manufacturerās warranty. If it is less than 1 year old either contact Drop or Hifiman.
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Buzzing can be caused by hair getting stuck between the magnet and the diaphragm. Take off the earpad of the buzzing cup and see if thatās the case. If so, and if you are up for it, use a non-metal tweezer to take the hair out carefully.
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Would you suggest going through Drop or Hifiman from outside the US?
Would that happen just at certain frequencies? I already checked the back, but I hadnāt checked the front yet. The pads are a real pain to get back on.
It has been awhile for me but from my experience with the Ananda, there was a sudden onset of buzzing that didnāt occur across all frequencies; I donāt really remember if it was narrow like yours but there was a range. I lifted the pad and saw a piece of hair that apparently slipped through the earpadās dust cover and wedged itself between the diaphragm and magnet. Removing the hair removed the buzzing. Of course YMMV.
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You might be better off contacting Hifiman directly then.
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Oof, good shout on the hair. I should really keep on top of haircuts, I was surprised by how deep they were. I guess maybe static buildup on the hair makes it attract to the magnet.
Anyway that seems to have totally cleaned it up (pun, yuk), and I also noticed that the pleather has started peeling a tiny bit so I ordered new rings to add my Ori suedeās in the future.
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INTRODUCTION
Iāve had the HE4XX for about 8 or 9 months now. Itās a very good headphone for its price. Itās also a solid introduction to planar-magnetic drivers. So, here is a review. As with my Senn HD6XX review, I have tried to make this review āscale-ableā by making it clear what parts are targeted to newer audiophiles and readers who havenāt read my other reviews on this forum and which parts are more useful for more veteran audiophiles. Alright, letās get to it.
KNOW YOUR REVIEWER (skip this if youāve read lots of my posts on this forum)
My preferred genres are rock/metal and classical/orchestral music. Iām getting to know jazz more and enjoying quite a bit. I also listen to some EDM and hip-hop. My hearing quirks include a high sensitivity to midrange frequencies from just under 1KHz to around 3Khz, give or take. My ears are thus quick to perceive āshoutinessā in headphones in particular. I describe āshoutinessā as an emphasis on the āouā sound of āshout.ā Itās a forwardness in the neighborhood of 1KHz and/or on the first one or two harmonics above it (when I make the sound āooooowwwwwā into a spectrum analyzer the dominant frequency on the vowel sound is around 930Hz, which also means harmonic spikes occur again at around 1860Hz and 2790Hz). In the extreme, it can have the tonal effect of sounding like a vocalist is speaking or singing through a toilet paper tube or cupping their hands over their mouth. It can also give instruments like piano, but especially brass instruments, an added āhonkā to their sound. I also get distracted by sibilance, or sharp āsā and ātā sounds that can make ssssingers sssssound like their forssssssing esssss ssssssounds aggresssssssively. Sibilance does not physically hurt my ears nearly as quickly as shout, though. Itās distracting because itās annoying and unnatural. Readers should keep these hearing quirks in mind as they read my descriptions of sound.
Prior to owning the 4XX I had the V-Moda Crossfade M-100, Beyerdynamic DT990-32ohm, Monolith M1060, Massdrop ā Sennheiser HD6XX, and Dekoni Blue. After the 4XX Iāve also acquired Ikko OH-10, Tin T3, Beyerdynamic DT880-600ohm, HiFiMan Edition XX, and Fostex TH-X00 Purpleheart. Iāve also used the 4XX on combinations of the following amps, dacs, and amp-dacs: Schiit Magni 3, JDS Labs Atom, Monolith Liquid Spark, Loxjie P20, SMSL SP200, Darkvoice 336SE, Schiit Asgard 3, Schiit Modi 3, Topping D10, SMSL M100, SMSL SU-8, Fiio E18, Topping NX4-DSD, iFi Hip-Dac. Iāve even used a Nobsound/Doak Audio tube buffer in the signal chain with 4XX as well.
HE4XX INFO (for beginners)
The HE4XX is a collaboration between (Mass)Drop and HiFiMan. It is a Massdrop branded and distributed version of one of the HiFiMan HE400 series headphones, but I donāt remember which one. It uses planar-magnetic drivers. It is rated at 35 ohms of impedance but with 93 dB/mW sensitivity. The first number suggests itās easy to drive. The second number suggests an amplifier is recommended to get the most out of them. Innerfidelity measures its impedance at 49 ohms at 1KHz.
BUILD (if youāre familiar with 4XX build, move along, nothing new here)
The 4XX is quite comfortable to wear for extended periods. It also comes across as decently built for the price. If you Google them, they do at times have longevity issues. Some of the HiFiMan quality control issues are mitigated by Massdropās involvement, but not all. The cable is detachable with each earcup having a 3.5mm input. The included cable has a 3.5mm connector with a 6.3mm adapter. The earcup connections are 3.5mm TRS plugs but are only wired with the tip (+) and shaft (-) active. My unit had a loose 3.5mm jack in the left cup. The nut that clamps down to hold it tight came a bit loose, but I was able to tighten it down just fine. I havenāt had issues since that tightening.
SOUND
Signature:
To my ear the 4XX sounds like it has a slight W shaped sound signature but with a significant bass roll-off below about 80Hz. It sounded like the bass from around 80-200Hz had a slight elevation. Then it sounds like there is a dip from about 200Hz to around 400 Hz. There was a lesser-than-the-bass-sounding boost in the mids from there to about 1KHz, then another dip before the treble climbed back up again starting around 4 or 5 KHz and stays high up into the āairā range around 10KHz. After listening for awhile and then looking up frequency response curves, like the one from Innerfidelity, I was genuinely shocked to see almost flat measured response from about 50Hz to 1KHz. The dip from just over 1KHz to about 4 KHz was there followed by a wider treble elevation from 5KHz to about 10KHz; an elevation which is only slightly higher than the flat region in the below 1KHz. But, that flat response ā in this case meaning basically the same SPL everywhere in the range ā from 50Hz to 1Khz really surprised me. To me it sounds like the sub-bass roll-off happens more aggressively around 80 Hz and that there was a dip in the upper-bass/lower-mid region. Either way, donāt expect super extended and powerful sub-bass. But the bass impact around 100Hz is pretty slamming. The treble can sound a bit forward if youāre coming from a headphone like the 6XX. The treble is sibilant initially to my ear, but my ears/brain compensate after a few minutes and I only notice sibilance if the recording is sibilant. The mids are mixed bag which I will discuss more in the Timbre section.
Detail Retrieval:
The level of detail retrieval is pretty solid for a headphone in this price range. Itās not class-leading in the <$200 market (DT880 600 ohm), but itās not as relaxed sounding as the 6XX. āLady in Blackā by Uriah Heep is reverb-heavy on the drums, guitars, and vocals. The 4XX gives a hint of that āplanar speedā, resolving that reverb pretty well. However, the reverb is louder on other headphones. The detail is there on the 4XX, but even Massdropās and HiFiManās own Edition XX plays that detail at a seemingly higher SPL. However, for the current price of $160, the level of detail seems quite appropriate as is neither lacking nor aggressive.
Spatial Performance:
The soundstage is decently wide. There are wider soundstages out there, but again for $160 itās decently wide. The imaging is a mixed bag. The sonic image stretches from left to right fairly seamlessly without noticeable holes. But nor is the imaging sharp. The center image is noticeable but itās not as center-locked as it could be. Instruments are placed horizontally well but theyāre not separated particularly well. The sonic images blend into each other across the soundstage a bit. Again, though, it bears repeating that at $160 the spatial presentation is pretty solid.
Timbre:
Iāll come back to my comment about the midrange here. To my ear the oddest part of the timbre is in the upper-bass/lower-mids. It sounds to me like there is a reduction in the frequency response somewhere in the 200-400Hz range. This apparent dip makes things like vocals and drum hits sound a little hollow. This sound is not shouty. To me shouty sounds like frequencies added. This is more frequencies missing. Some of this is probably an amp pairing issue. Op-amp based amps likes the Atom and SP200 seemed to be the bigger culprits here. Warmer sounding amps like the Liquid Spark and Asgard 3 smoothed that out some, but it was still detectable on those amps. For example, as I type this Iām listening to the 4XX through the Asgard. āCum on Feel the Noizeā by Quiet Riot came on in my shuffle. The opening drums and vocal entry early in the song had a bit of that hollowness going on. It wasnāt severe, but it was noticeable and āI donāt know why. I donāt know why.ā (couldnāt resist)
Iāll make a note on the treble here. To my ear the initial excess sibilance of the 4XX disappears after a few minutes of listening. But the treble can have a bit of a hashy timbre at times. Rapid cymbal hits can a bit shishishish-y, to be onomatopoeic. Much like the initial sibilance, though, that quality fades as listening goes on.
But If You Tube It:
In my 6XX review I mentioned the 4XX does not tube well. I should clarify that some here. The 4XX does not do well on an OTL tube amp like the Darkvoice. However, I did have good results with it on hybrid tube amps (Loxjie P20) and with a tube buffer. The P20 naturally provided even more warmth in that perceived frequency dip in the upper-bass/lower-mids and gave the 4XX a really full, rounded-out sound. I obtained similar results powering the 4XX off an Atom with the tube buffer stuck between the DAC and the Atom in the signal change. The buffer again added a boost in the perceived hole and provided a similarly rounded-out experience. The Asgard and the Liquid Spark came close to that tube result, but couldnāt quite get there.
WALKING THE DOG
A really nice experience was putting on the 4XX on a non-windy day (strong wind can damage an open-back planar), powering it with the iFi Hip-Dac, and going for a walk. The Hip-Dac has a lot of extra warmth for a solid-state amp and is a good sonic match for the 4XX. The XBASS on the Hip also extends the bass some and gives more rumble in the sub-bass. I imagine the iFi Zen, when used as a DAC, would provide similar results.
COMPARISON TO OTHER HEADPHONES
Two other popular open-back headphones in the ~$200 price range are the Beyerdynamic DT-880 and the Massdrop + Sennheiser HD6XX. Iāll use the 600 ohm DT-880 in this comparison. Signature-wise, the 6XX is neutral-warm, the 880 neutral-bright, and the 4XX more W-shaped (eh, it still sounds that way to me, anyway). In a number of areas ā soundstage, imaging, bass and treble extension, detail retrieval ā the 4XX is the middle of the three. In overall timbre quality, I would have to rank the 4XX third. However, for me the 4XX is the most enjoyable of the three for rock and metal. Itās timbre issues ā although relatively minor in the scheme of things ā are the least noticeable in most rock and metal music. The 4XX does have the punchiest bass in the 100Hz region of the three though; a plus for rock and metal. It also has enough treble extension to give it sparkle, but not overwhelm. However, for acoustic music like jazz and classical, the 4XX cannot compete with the DT880ās ability to create space and place and separate instruments, and cannot keep up with either the 880 or the 6XX in instrument timbre.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I like the 4XX. Itās a solid headphone, especially for rock, metal, hip-hop, and EDM. At $160 itās a really good deal. It hints at the speed planar-magnetic drivers are capable of. It provides an overall very enjoyable experience. For a period of time, it was my go-to headphone for rock and metal. However, it is likely to be sold soon. That doesnāt mean I donāt think itās worth the money and the experience ā it is. I just have better options now and it no longer fills a unique role for me. Still, if youāre new to the headphone game and still in the mode of exploring budget audiophile headphones, the 4XX should absolutely be on your list.
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Great review. Iām surprised you thought it was great for metal. I love the 4XX for pop music and other mainstream stuff like hip-hop. But the 6XX remains my favorite for metal.
BTW You have typo at the info header.
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Damn the name similarity! I fixed the typo. Thanks. Yeah, the 6XX just doesnāt do it for me. I recognize that itās a good headphone. It just lacks some things that are important to me and to my ear messes up the thing itās supposed to he good at too often. But I also recognize Iām probably the weird one there and that this is the 4xx and not the 6xx thread 
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