Massdrop x HIFIMAN HE4XX Measurements and Impressions

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by purr1n, Aug 1, 2017.

  1. Big Al Knine

    Big Al Knine Acquaintance

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    I totally second Kattefjaes opinion about looking for upgrades to an HD650. As a person that has spent a few $$$ trying to find something that upgrades my music from my HD650M, and lots of $$$ later I still prefer the HD650M. Now I know what others tried to warn me about (and I didn't listen), Once you have an HD650M with proper amplification (I use a Schiit Jotumheim, Valhalla 2, and Emotiva BASX A-100), it will take a big $$$ jump to get to something next level. So I am selling everything besides the gear mentioned above and saving my money for what I now consider my "End Game" rig. STAX L700 + SRM-353X. Until I can get those, My Current amps + HD650M will do.
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2017
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    ^ This.

    Keep in mind the very appropriate pricing of $169, which is still less than the HD650 or fuglier finished HD6XX. Where the HE4XX shines: it's great out of the box and does not need amplification. Buy them and send them out as x-mas presents to get people started on the hobby. They also serve as great entry level cans for computer or secondary cans on another computer.

    In the meantime, resident mad scientist @Bill-P is grabbing them from me in an attempt to make them into Code-X lites. @brencho and I are very eager to see what he can do.
     
  3. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    @Marvey indeed. i'm resisting the urge to join the drop cause i've embraced the simple life of only having 2 headphones and not N+1 headphones. will be fun to experiment with. if they turn out to be code-x lite then i might have to grab a pair later. i like the x-mas present idea a lot, btw.
     
  4. Big Al Knine

    Big Al Knine Acquaintance

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    I agree that for the $, these are an excellent value. I am thinking about buying a pair as a Xmas gift to my father.
     
  5. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    This and the possibility of gifting these are the reasons I jumped in. I would happily donate if there is interest in funding @Bill-P experiments to create a modding guide for HE-4XX.

    EDIT: After seeing Bill-P's post below about modding with new pads, etc, doesn't look like I need yet another mid-fi headphone to mod. I will just keep saving for something better.
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2017
  6. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    but with all that said, and for fear of sounding like a broken record, i still love my code-x. maybe the drivers that fang created during his phd work at columbia just need people like luis or in this case cee tee to help him tune them.
     
  7. Delayeed

    Delayeed Facebook Friend

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    allrighty then http://imgur.com/a/5NinK

    Edit: and yes that is "Super Best Audio Friends" tatted on her arm inspired by Wilsons post lol.
     
  8. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    MOIST tramp stamp. Yup
     
  9. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    I think the chic in @jayeshrc post is hotter, but your tattoo usage gets double bonus points.
     
  10. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Wait a min here... is Marvy the sole determinant for who wins? Are we voting on this? Panel of judges? hahaha
     
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I'll move all the entries to a post, and we can vote.
     
  12. MF_Kitten

    MF_Kitten Banned per own request

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    Do the newest he400i version/iteration really have less sub bass, do we have measurements that show it, and are these 4xx's the last place to get that sub bass from a budget Hifiman?
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Based on my experience, all more or less the same in terms of subbass for the HE-4xx series. Pads and other tweaks will have a huge effect. The roll-off isn't that extreme. That's being said, if you want sub-bass, go for a better headphone like that Abyss, SUSVARA, or HE-6 (with proper power).
     
  14. MF_Kitten

    MF_Kitten Banned per own request

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    I'm thinking more about doing a pad swap and EQ. I don't listen without EQ anymore after I started measuring and correcting and modding. I mainly want the capability of sub bass in that "planar way". The detail and speed is what I'm after, as long as I don't have to bump it up with like a 24dB at 50Hz low shelf filter just to get it even. I like to surgically flatten those treble peaks both by ear ans measurement, so I can verify that I'm hitting the peaks and not the measurement artifacts. Then I try to make a sexy downward slant with good extension in the highs.
     
  15. MF_Kitten

    MF_Kitten Banned per own request

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    Edit: double post
     
  16. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    To be fair, Tyll's 400i measurements don't match what HFM says either. But his FR results look very similar between the two, even though Marv's look different.
     
  17. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    Okie... so preliminary report:

    1. It's Focus Pads, not Focus Pads-A on these things. So 3-4KHz mount doom is easy to fix: just swap pads to something else.
    2. Midrange is indeed a bit aggressive/forward. Shelf-liner helps.
    3. Screen in the back causing diffusion, makes things sound closed-in, grainy, etc... so either replace the grill or at least take off the filtering cloth. (think HE-6 mods)

    And just those 3 alone were able to take care of the slight sharpness feel of these for me. There is still a peak up high (9KHz, it shows on my measurement rig, not gonna post measurements cuz I'm lazy, yadda yadda...) but... they're now good-ish sounding enough that I don't wanna bother doing more than those 3 steps. If I were to post a mod guide, it'll just be those 3 steps, and then I'll worry more about getting a better cable or something (but thank GOD for these not having the old SMC connectors. I HATE THOSE CONNECTORS!)

    So verdict: okay at stock. A bit too HE-560-ish (@Hands knows precisely what I'm talking about here). Modded: a-okay. Sounds like an HD580/650 in planar form with less resolution but better bass. Not super resolving but this is mid-fi purgatory done right. Jump in and sell all your other mid-fi headphones. These + replacement pads (I'm trying Dekoni's Beyer pads) = $200.

    Just go place an order already. ;) (I'm not shilling, by the way, these are good! I had my suspicions so I went to pick them up in person, and they don't disappoint)
     
  18. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    Pics or it didn't happen! At least I wasn't too lazy to take these :oops:

    Focus Pads (what's on these): (note perforations)
    [​IMG]

    Focus Pads A: (note no perforation)
    [​IMG]

    Dekoni Beyer pads on the HE-4XX:
    [​IMG]

    Look, ma, no screen! Driver easily visible: (this is easily reversible, too, btw)
    [​IMG]

    Driver without screen in the rear is almost see-through:
    [​IMG]

    Shelf-liner on top: I chose a bright color so you could see which shelf-liner it is:
    [​IMG]

    And that's that. Will bring these to @brencho tomorrow so he can try stock vs modded, and then will see if I can start a loaner for them if @Marvey is cool with it.
     
  19. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    So which pads do you like the best? I'm guessing either Dekoni DT Series or Focus A.
     
  20. MF_Kitten

    MF_Kitten Banned per own request

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