The HE400SE from Hifiman are open-back over-ear headphones that deliver a truly surprising sound performance, considering that their price is now around 140 euros.
Prodotti consigliati
HE400SE: features, build, technology
These are wired headphones, with a connection cable featuring a 3.5mm jack and a 6.35mm adapter included in the box, with an impedance of 250 ohms, a sensitivity of 91 dB, a frequency response between 20Hz and 20kHz, and a weight of 390 grams. The earcups are circular, with the rear side covered by a honeycomb grille. Overall, the design resembles that of the Deva Pro.
As for “weight”, planar magnetic technology is generally heavier than other types—nothing surprising here. The headphones feature a medium clamp force and a comfortable padded adjustable headband, and overall they are well designed: weight distribution is good, making them suitable for long listening sessions. Of course, they are not designed for “on-the-go” use, although nothing prevents you from connecting them to a portable DAC and using them on the move (for example during a train journey). That said, by nature open-back headphones are intended for use in relatively quiet environments, at a desk or armchair, or even on a sofa, for those who might want to use them as gaming headphones, a task for which the HE400SE are well suited.
It is very important to highlight the presence in the HE400SE of the new magnet architecture that Hifiman has recently implemented in many of its headphones (including higher-end models). The Stealth Magnets technology was designed to reduce potential wave interference through a new magnet structure, aiming to achieve an even more accurate sound. Such implementations are not surprising in mid-range or high-end headphones, but they are remarkable for a pair of headphones that, it should be remembered, can be purchased new for just 140 euros.
Build quality is good as always with Hifiman, and having owned several models over time, we can confirm that the overall durability of the company’s headphones is absolutely notable. It is also worth remembering that given the HE400SE’s impedance, the use of a dedicated DAC/headphone amplifier is essentially assumed.
How the Hifiman HE400SE sound
We mentioned it from the start: the strong point of this model is its sound quality relative to its price. These are headphones with a generally neutral tuning, without particular coloration, oriented toward faithful reproduction and a natural sound. They offer a good soundstage, solid dynamics, and appreciable instrument separation.
As for the bass, there is a certain lack of rumble; overall, they lack some physical impact and body, but bass detail and control are more than acceptable, and overall integration is good. It is also possible to enhance the bass via EQ or with a DAC/amp that drives the HE400SE more strongly in these frequencies. As is well known, satisfaction in this regard varies depending on musical genres and personal taste.
Moving to the mids, they sound clean, lively, slightly forward, with good naturalness in vocal reproduction (male vocals in particular are especially well rendered).
The treble has good detail, is well articulated, and not overly emphasized—overall better balanced than in the past, which is definitely a positive improvement.
The soundstage is wider than it is deep, but clearly above average for the price range, with good instrument placement and separation.
Compared to other dynamic driver headphones in the same price range, the HE400SE offer a better overall soundstage width and a dynamism that allows good performance even with complex or fast-paced tracks.
Hifiman HE400SE vs Sundara
And here we come to the inevitable comparison with Hifiman’s reference headphones in the higher price range: the Sundara (now in the new v2 version). Clearly, the Sundara offer more in terms of sound performance, but it must be said that they cost more than twice as much as the HE400SE. The Sundara are faster, punchier, offer more detail, better instrument separation, and greater soundstage depth. However, everything must be considered in relation to price: if you can stretch your budget to the ~330 euros required for the Sundara, we recommend doing so. If instead your budget cannot go far beyond the 140 euros of the HE400SE, we strongly suggest considering them, as at that price there is very little that sounds better than the HE400SE, even across different music genres.
Conclusions
The Hifiman HE400SE with Stealth Magnets offer excellent sound performance in the ultra-budget segment. They are not lightweight headphones, so they are particularly suited for desk and armchair use, and for those looking for a natural and overall balanced sound. They are also recommended for gaming, provided you do not need a built-in microphone. Build quality and durability are excellent, and the HE400SE can be paired with affordable DAC/headphone amplifiers from Topping or iFi (such as the Zen DAC V2) to build a headphone setup costing around 300–330 euros in total.
If you are looking for wired open-back headphones that sound great under 150 euros, you will hardly find anything better. So if you are not looking for booming bass, we strongly recommend considering the HE400SE.
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