Massdrop x HIFIMAN HE4XX Measurements and Impressions

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

  1. Outerspace Wasabi

    Outerspace Wasabi Friend

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    It was the 4XX, though, that he preferred over the 600 in certain areas, namely bass... but he said, based on measurements, the 4XX is similar to the 400i..

    But when I read that the 4XX is strident compared to the 600, I stopped myself from joining the drop, and came on here to get another opinion. I can't tolerate any sibilance or overly bright sound.

    I actually had the R70x and, although I really liked it, especially for the bass, I sold it after I heard the 650.
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2017
  2. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    How did you two officially hold such a meeting without President warm-ass @Hands attending?

    edit- dropping the term from my vocab
     
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2017
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    You guys are nothing compared to @Hands.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    My concern is that HD650 and ESP950 are super smooth in the treble. Unrivaled really.
     
  5. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    LOL

    Yeah, my warmfaggotry level is low, but I'm slowly working on it! Clearly president @Hands' level is currently beyond our mortal understanding, but I hope I will one day get to experience the ultimate pleasure!

    That said, I think (or more like "hope") that our president will approve of the HE-4XX, as I think it has potentials!
     
  6. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    My goodness! I am flattered!
     
  7. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Haha awesome to have you over man. It's become like a biweekly tradition. Anyway, we had a fun time comparing the 4XX to Code-X and modded HD580, almost entirely out of a jotunheim and through a tube preamp (but also without the preamp, cause @Marvey cooked the shit out of this Jotunheim in his car one day under the hot sun). It's also true that Bill prefers a warmer sound signature than me. For reference I sometimes find even the Anromeda + ZX2 combo (with the dreaded sound enhancements turned off) still a tiny bit too dark even with a ALO Ref8 cable (but it does so much so damn well that I just get over it).

    Unmodded, the 4XX definitely were a bit prone to being strident and sibilant. Not as smooth as hd6x0/hd580 family or the Code-X up top. Modded, the 4XX feels much more tonally similar to the modded hd580 and Code-X. The biggest difference in tonal balance between the three -- the mods to the 4XX definitely recess the highs and make it more warm and laid back sounding compared to the 580 and Code-X. Cymbals felt further away and less sparkly than either of the other headphones. I wanted some of that sparkle back, but then it would be hard to strike a balance without further mods. It's nice having 3 simple and cheap mods for the 4XX. So yeah 4XX is definitely warmer and more chilled out than either the 580 and Code-X. As others have said, this is good inexpensive headphone with good tonality (albeit on the warm and laid back side post-mods). Code-X LITE could be a pretty good label for these (barring some slight differences in tonality but they are small). It's pretty incredible that they were able to pull these off at $169 and the tonality isn't bad even in stock form, just a leans more towards sibilance.

    Moving past tonality is where the other headphones really pull apart. The Code-X is in a completely different league than the 4XX in pretty much every respect -- soundstage, openness, instrument separation, transients, impact, etc. I also felt the modded hd580 also pulled away in these respects. I also tend to prefer a bit less warmth than Bill (or at least a bit more punchy and snappy) and certainly King Snuggles aka @Hands so I liked the more dynamic and more neutral-leaning sound of these other phones. On the 4XX sounds seemed to be more sticky / stick together a bit more, with less separation and less clear images. We noticed that the diaphragm was a bit wrinkled around the edges and not as tight as the HE-5 / HE-6. This might contribute to some of the technical differences between them. I wonder at higher volumes it might contribute to the distortion measurements showing themselves more. The wire going to the driver also looks cheaper than the silver wire on the HE-5 / HE-6 which could also contribute to these differences (but these are all pretty unfair criticisms given its price!).

    Personally I'd consider these a nice option for a work headphone since you can drive it with some cheap and small solid state amp and call it done. I might do that one day but the Andromeda check that box for me plus has the bonus of being portable. Maybe if I want to become an audio pig like @jexby or something again. Not offensive and most material sounds good on it (so not too revealing of imperfections in the chain or the material). Or if you want to not over invest in headphones like some of us dummies, then this would also be a good option. No need to spend much more on further upgrades. These probably won't scale all that much. I did listen to them straight out of a laptop and phone and it didn't quite get loud enough for me (but Bill was happy with the volume at max so ymmv). Otoh if you have 200 bucks to spend on a headphone and want something you can build on and get more from over time, I'd lean towards the hd6x0 family because there's a clear upgrade path (if you're inclined) since these really do grow some cojones when you put better amplification behind it. Or as Marv has said, give these away to folks because it'll probably be the best sounding headphone they've heard (unless they're fucked up like you).

    Bill modded these in record time. It took him all of like an evening to mod these. They sound great with the mods and transform the headphone into something that is tonally pleasing and inoffensive that is totally easy to live with. Well done amigo!! And well done @CEE TEE I don't know how many arms you had to twist to pull this off but it was worth it. Great batting average with this, the hd6xx, the fostex th-xoo, campfire stuff, and more great things to come I'm sure.

    Totes, I'm going to listen for a few days and then if the gods smile upon us we can set up a loaner tour

    PS: just realized that these cost less than my Code-X cable, and about the same as the audio technica m50, and just a bit more than beats f**k that's so retarded

    PPS: grape flavored popsicles suck (but im still gonna eat it)
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2017
  8. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Oh ya pics or it didn't happen IMG_5271.JPG
     
  9. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    both of those look great, thank you for the pic @brencho
     
  10. DrForBin

    DrForBin Friend

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    hello,

    a loaner tour would be awesome sauce!:bow:
     
  11. SDVJCN

    SDVJCN New

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    Hey guys, any reason to get this if you already have a massdrop 6xx on the way? Trying to save a few penny's here :)
     
  12. TungNS

    TungNS New

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    @brencho can you talk about weight and sound leakage of this cans? I think 370g it too heavy when compare to HD6xx.
     
  13. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    Have any of you lucky early reviewers tried these out on a balanced amp like the Jotunheim? I'm wondering how much they will benefit from the added power with that low sensitivity.
     
  14. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    they leak hella sound because they're wide open. after mods, you can basically see through the damn drivers. as for weight, if you compare to the hd580/6x0 family, it's moar hebby. i personally didn't feel that they were burdensome, but then again i never felt that way about Code-X/HE-5/HE-6, or Elear/Utopia, or others. but yeah if those kinda phones bother you, this one will probably bother you too.

    no balanced cable here. in fact, i'd love to try out nicer cables with better connectors. the included one isn't great, but i'm not gonna complain for the price. anyone with Oppo headphones, maybe even Elears, i think they're the same connectors.
     
  15. Outerspace Wasabi

    Outerspace Wasabi Friend

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    The connectors are the same as the ones for 400i, right?
     
  16. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    yeah they look like it! the oppos, some hifimans seem to use 2.5mm mini plugs or whatever they're called.
     
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2017
  17. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    I think newer HFM connectors are also the same as the HD700, right, @Forza AudioWorks? (The HD700 needs really slim plug hoods, though, so it doesn't always work both ways.)
     
  18. Outerspace Wasabi

    Outerspace Wasabi Friend

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    So, I'm guessing I should verify they're the same connectors before getting customs made. I really don't like janky cables.
     
  19. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    @LetMeBeFrank, let me be frank. I don't think the HE4xx have low sensitivity issues.

    EDIT: UPSY!!! They do have lower sensitivity than the regular HE-400(x). Not that bad though. The HFM nomenclature is fucked up. The HE-4xx look a lot more like regular HE-500 or similar.
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2017
  20. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    I'm planning on converting one of the balanced cables I made for my HD650s from sennheiser 2 pin to 2.5mm trs to work with the HE4XX.

    Redco audio had some color coded ones for a good price incase anyone is looking for some. Link
     

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