HE-400i

CSDs. First ones I've done, wouldn't mind feedback if it looks like there is something I did wrong.

Also I should note that you should disregard the elevated distortion in the Mids of all of my measurements. Every set of cans I've measured have had this elevation in distortion of the mids, including well-known sets of cans such as the HD600. It appears this is an imperfection of my measurement set up, and I'm trying to figure it out.

Stock:


HM5 Pads


HM5 pads + cotton

 

@jj7642 Can you go into more detail about the nature of the cotton you put over the driver, and how you did it? Thanks.

 

Pretty simple: take some cotton balls, and tear them up to make them thinner. Then put them in front of the driver, and put the pads on top. It takes a bit of trial and error to get the amount of cotton "Just right"

 

Ether-C pads sound amazing. Someone should measure them. To me with Ether-C pad they sound like a less refined version of the Hifiman x2 but damn close.

 

I would get some because if they make the same changes to the HE-6 as the HE-400i it might be REALLY good. But I'm sticking with the HM5 Angled Velours for the sound stage.

 

I placed my order during BF sale and waiting for it to arrive and found your post (Great to find your post). May I know what pad you swapped with? Is it focus A pad or something else?

 

I lose track, has anyone tried the very pricey Lawton pads, and if so, how did they find them?

 

My apology. I missed that you mentioned that it was HM5 pad. Is it angled pleather pad or hybrid one that you used to measure?

 

Angled Pleather https://www.amazon.com/Brainwavz-Angled-Memory-Foam-Earpad/dp/B00ZY8PGJI

 

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I was able to pick up some HM5 pads and a sacrificial pair of Hifiman pads to give the pad mod a try. It does exactly what the frequency charts say - better low end extension and reduced peaks in the highs, but it also pushed the mids forward a bit more as measured in the graphs. I personally wasn't a big fan of that as I think the 400i already has forward mids. The cotton mod on it's own sounded best to me.

Thankfully, I've discovered my tube with the Vali 2 - the Amperex 6DJ8 Orange Globe - what a great combination. It sounds really good without any EQ or mods, but a sharp -3db drop at 7.6k makes things better for some songs. Still need to try the cotton mod with this tube, I'm enjoying it a lot right now.

 

trid several mods, here's my solution for the obvious fatal flaw in this headphone (the odd and strident upper mids/treble peaks (s)). this improved the issues approx 70%. Tthe foam ring is basically just acting as a spacer. The cotton is half of a standard cotton facee pad. When the pad was paced directly on the back of the driver, there was a slight bass reduction and so the spacer does not do this. The headphone is already bass light so didn't want to decrease any more.

 

Those are good to mod with. Make sure you try both sides as one is smooth but dense and the other is more woven and breathes better.

 

I tore the pad in half (thickness wise). yes, it is a great modding material

As to modding in front of the driver. I tried but it didn't really alter the midrange peaks, it just lowered overall treble and the treble on these is just about right stock so to decrease just to tame the peaks is not desirable imo. working in the back is much more appropriate to deal with these peaks.

 

Gotcha, I didn't realize that you where using it in the back. Yeah, the cotton in back will decrease peaks and raise dips evening out the frequency response.

 

I know this thread is super-old but hopefully you're still around or someone else here who's modded this is...I've had the 400i headphones for a couple weeks and I like them enough (especially now that my Loki arrived and I can EQ) but I'm interested by the performance and sound quality improvements made by using the Brainwavz Angled Memory Foam Pads (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZY8PGJI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2XYIDHW2C10EQ&psc=1). I just looked at my headphones and as best I can tell, to remove the pads, you just pull them off, right? Or do you have to totally deconstruct them to remove them properly?

 

Oh it's been so long since I've had the 400i, but I've managed to remember a bit. Removing the pads from the plastic mounting ring - there's no trick, just gotta work the pads so they un-stick from it. It's a one way street because glue, so you'll prb end up losing the pads. Removing the pads from the headphones involves pulling and stretching the plastic ring they attach to - you can pull it in towards the center of the cup to release a latch on the mount. After that it's easy to get the rest of it unlatched.

 

Thanks for the info! I also checked Youtube and found a couple videos. I haven't bought new pads yet but I feel as prepared as I can be once I finally do.