HiFiMAN HE400se
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
The HiFiMAN HE400se is widely regarded as a high-value entry point into planar magnetic headphones, praised for its spacious soundstage and fast, punchy bass. While it offers technical performance that many users find superior to dynamic drivers in its price bracket, it is frequently criticized for its demanding power requirements, inconsistent build quality, and comfort issues related to headband pressure.
Pros
- Excellent soundstage and spatial presentation for the price point.
- Tight, fast planar bass that remains controlled even when EQ-ed.
- Neutral-bright tuning with good separation and flat mids.
- High value-to-performance ratio, often cited as a top sub-$150 choice.
Cons
- Difficult to drive; often requires a dedicated amplifier or high-powered dongle to reach adequate volumes.
- Comfort issues including a stiff headband that can cause 'hotspots' and headaches.
- Build quality concerns, specifically flaking headband material and driver rattling caused by dust or hair.
- Poor imaging for close-range sound cues, making them less ideal for competitive FPS gaming.
Caveats
- Users report a 'planar crinkle' or tin foil sound when pressing on the earcups due to air pressure on the membrane.
- The V2 (stealth magnet) version is noted to have significantly better bass than the V1.
- Frequent mentions of a 'QC gamble' regarding HiFiMAN's manufacturing consistency.
Best for
- Budget-conscious audiophiles wanting to experience planar magnetic characteristics.
- Listeners who prioritize soundstage and a neutral-bright signature for music.
- Users with a dedicated headphone amplifier.
Avoid if
- You primarily play competitive FPS games where precise close-range imaging is required.
- You are sensitive to treble spikes or sibilance.
- You only have low-power sources like standard phone jacks or basic budget dongles.
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 6-month half-life. The evidence is drawn from a consistent volume of Reddit discussions spanning 2025 and 2026, reflecting a stable consensus on the product's performance and known flaws.
Sentiment
65 positive (57%) · 22 mixed (19%) · 27 negative (24%)
Trust + time weighted score: +31% · raw score 33%
What redditors said (10 of 114)
That in the sub250€ range the Hifiman He400se is the best there is
A friend tested HE400se, DT990 Pro 250Ohm and HD560S and suggested that HE400se makes all sounds play like they are far away. I mention this because rarely there can be some headphones which can't play sounds as being up close to listener, they kind of have deadzone in the soundstage
Hifiman HE400SE (according to a friend not be able to play close sound cues as close to you, so bad for fps)
Hifiman HE400SE (planar, no idea, a friend criticized it for sounding too spacious and returned).
The only aspect the he400se is better in than the hd560s is soundstage but I still think it's not worth it to buy. He400se soundstage feels like a perfect 360 degree circle where you're sitting in the centre
The he400se has a skull crushing headband, I get headaches, I get hotspots from it. My ears get a bit hot. The outer ring that holds the mesh protecting the driver rattles at 20-30hz. The earpads don't do the best job of protecting the drivers from getting hairs and dust get onto the membranes and cause the rattle. The headphone is pretty heavy overall and I think many people in the audiophile space glance over the comfort aspect.
Honestly, I kinda hate he400se, well I guess I get what I paid for (70$). They sound flat, they have this rattle, they need eq if you want to hear any vocals, and then you need an amp if you want to eq harder because inbuilt mb audio chip is just barely enough, they have this sibilance spike that is a literal minor health danger like I got ringing!!!! from it in my ears (and I listen at low volumes, have good hearing and I'm 21 yo).
other than that HD560s and HE400SE are both good options as well.
I'd recomend the He400Se's if you can find it for cheap. I had mine for only 60$ and they sound amazing for the price. Would need some eq if you'd like it to be more accurate though they're pretty neutral if not a tad bright.
V1 is has much less bass compared to V2 steal magnet version which is better in some ways.
Compare
HiFiMAN HE400se vs Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKIIHiFiMAN HE400se vs Sennheiser HD 550HiFiMAN HE400se vs Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
Related
- HiFiMAN Edition XS · related · 852 mentions
- Sennheiser HD 560S · related · 841 mentions
- FiiO FT1 · related · 750 mentions
- HiFiMAN Arya Stealth · related · 703 mentions
- Sennheiser HD 600 · related · 638 mentions
- Sennheiser HD 490 Pro · related · 598 mentions