Hifiman HE400SE Global Edition Measurements and Thoughts

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by Vtory, Apr 3, 2021.

  1. Woland

    Woland Friend

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    What I'm finding fascinating is the sensitivity to the source. HE400SE sounds absolutely horrible connected to a 100% Topping stack but fun through the Dragonfly / Vali 2.

    Running with your sharpness metaphor, the former has the exaggerated texture of a sharpened photo and the latter has inked edges on a watercolor palette. Both are unnatural, but the latter is also appealing.

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    Wassily Kandinsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2021
  2. Woland

    Woland Friend

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    Here are some photos of my mainland China version for comparison to the Global version. They look to be otherwise identical.

    Non-stealthy magnets

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    Less crappy cable

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  3. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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  4. Woland

    Woland Friend

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    I'll be following this linked exploration of HE400SE mods closely.. Jason has already identified potential for reduced bass roll off that would improve these substantially. Some cosmetic upgrades would be appreciated too.

     
    Last edited: May 6, 2021
  5. Woland

    Woland Friend

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    I wonder if @Vtory 's measurements are unrepresentative - maybe his unit or an artifact of the rig.

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    Source: This thread


    Here's an alternative measurement that doesn't have the 10db peak at 10k, and which is more consistent with what I hear.

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    Source: https://forum.headphones.com/t/hifiman-he400se/12129

    And here are Hifiman's own measurements

    [​IMG]

    Source: https://hifiman.cn/products/detail/283
     
    Last edited: May 13, 2021
  6. tubefans

    tubefans MOT Drop

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  7. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    @Resolve summary: HE-X4 is indistinguishable subjectively and nearly indistinguishable by measure. The HE-X4 uses non “stealth” magnets, so square edged instead of rounded.
     
  8. Shoop_Ah

    Shoop_Ah New

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    So maybe the HE-X4 is just a rebranded He400se Chinese version. That retails for about 90-100 USD in China.
     
  9. Marvey

    Marvey Super Friend

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    It's the other way around. Many times, steep nulls are actually peaks. This happens with speaker measurements on rare occasions, but actually occurs quite often in headphone measurements. The way to confirm if the null is actually a peak in disguise is looking at the CSD.

    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...se-measurements-and-review.11038/#post-349251

    10kHz peaks generally are not so bad. At best, they can help add definition to the sound presentation.
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2021
  10. Marvey

    Marvey Super Friend

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    Also see here for explanation of FR nulls and CSD ridges: CSDs and What They Tell Us | Page 2 | Super Best Audio Friends

    This is the reason why I still use CSDs. Basically if you are experienced with FR plots, you kinda know when that steep null is really a peak. Also, CSDs can show that some dips are not as deep as they appear in FR plots. There is also a tendency for well formed long lived ridges in the highs to sound worse than ridges that decay quickly.

    Changstar's unofficial site name was 'Effin Ringin'. This was a different time where most headphones were an assault upon the ears.
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2021
  11. nobodyNoot

    nobodyNoot New

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    Here's my attempt at modding my pair using that video up there.

    It deff made the bass more palpable and the voices are abit more recessed but a LOT less sibilant.
    The accuracy is now Pinpoint and the highs are a lot more refined

    Unfortunately these magnetite bars are very brittle and one of them snapped in half while pressings on it.
    I used superglue gel around it to keep the halves in place tho and it's worked okay.
    To avoid the same fate I pre-heated the rest to 153C (a temperature I've found doesn't permanently distort the membrane or the aluminum traces)

    I used windowpane lead strips which conveniently measured at 3mm wide, the exact width of the flat magnet face.
    Also conveniently (but frighteningly) the ear-side is completely exposed with only the pad-filter between you and the ultrathin diaphragm.
    I've weighed the strips to be around 14g per ear-cup so the extra 28g are barely there in terms of comfort, but the differences they make to the sound signature is more than palpable.
    Not only do they focus the magnetic field but the rounded faces also further remove distortions, making everything sound that much more clear and well defined.

    I just wish I had a miniDSP EARS rig to verify what I'm hearing.

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    Last edited: Jun 19, 2021
  12. Shoop_Ah

    Shoop_Ah New

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    Now Fang is going to borrow your idea and make a HE400se V2
     
  13. nobodyNoot

    nobodyNoot New

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    Fingers crossed! :sail:
     
  14. MarcoGV

    MarcoGV Acquaintance

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    The HE400 se currently on sale for $129 on the Hifiman site and on Amazon (Hifiman store) that I received on Sunday (yesterday; from Amazon) had two cables: a braided light-colored cable in the headphones box and a cable like the one in the photograph above in a plastic pouch outside the box. The braided cable is exceptionally microphonic, which, I guess, is a (the?) reason for Woland's characterization.
     

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