Massdrop x HIFIMAN HE4XX Measurements and Impressions

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

  1. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Yeah looking forward to hearing these with @Bill-P and possibly messing with them a little. If these can be pushed towards the Code-X direction they would be nice to have around for whatever, office, backup etc. I don't really need a second headphone but I might find a reason if they work out well haha
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    LOL. Seems to be an obsessive desire to figure out what driver is being used. My guess is that it's new. Distortion characteristics are more similar to 400i (noting that I ran distortion measurements of the 4XX at higher SPL than the 400i measurements here). FR characteristics are more similar to the 400S. So here's my guess: 400i magnets and 400S diaphragm. All speculative, just pulling shit outta my ass. I could give a rats-ass. There are other options if people feel Massdrop or HIFIMAN are being elusive, like the Grado SR-225 or MrSpeakers Alpha Dog Prime. I'd rather accept a mystery than have my ears bleed or have my planar diaphragm run over by tank treads to create an accordian pattern.
     
  3. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    Oh damn, yes. It seems so obvious now...

    Paging @CEE TEE, Massdrop x @Bill-P collab?
     
  4. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    Let's see if I manage to break them before we meet up! Hahaha

    LOL most of my mods are too complicated to be made commercially viable, I think. Too many steps! I hope I'd be able to come up with something simpler one of these days, though... And this looks like prime suspect #1. T-X0 was a good mod platform, and really hard to beat (IMO), but then Massdrop came out with this.
     
  5. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    Actually, imagine the indignation on MD if people discovered 1-ply inside their headphones...

    I will still be interested to see what you can do with these. Code-X Jnr!
     
  6. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

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    The ETHER C angled ear pads fixed a lot of the issues I had with the 400i. Sounds better than Focus-A pads. If someone has these pads, give them a try.
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2017
  7. thighmaster69

    thighmaster69 New

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    What issues, if I may ask, did they fix?
     
  8. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    They might get by with it if Hifiman logo(s) were printed on the TP. Dr. da Bian might not go for that, though.
     
  9. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    Courtesy of Dr. P.. nevermind.
     
  10. mawk

    mawk Acquaintance

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    Tyll's measurements are up now, with a short companion article.

    FR looks pretty similar to Marv's measurements. That is to say, rather nice. Other than that the only things to note are the slightly higher distortion and significant decrease in efficiency in comparison to the other lower-end Hifiman models... Looks like the result of a weak magnet to me.
     
  11. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    And based on Tyll's measurements, I calculated this:

    Nominal impedance: 45 ohm (+- 5 ohm)
    Sensitivity: 87dB SPL/mW

    That's pretty "far" from this:

    Impedance: 35 ohm
    Sensitivity: 93dB

    So ultimately, it doesn't have the same specs as HE-400i, which to me means it's not really a HE-400i driver in there. I'm leaning toward what Marv said: it's probably a different driver with elements from past HE-400 headphones, but it is its own thing. But then again, like Marv said, who cares. I'd prefer non-tanked drivers personally. Specs be damned. Knowing how to read (and get) them is useful but not really useful for enjoyment.

    Regarding that specs, my best guess: someone from HFM just "copy and pasted" HE-400i specs over to Massdrop.
     
  12. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    The tech specs don't bother me as much as the plastic timbre comments.
     
  13. JayC

    JayC Resident Crash Test Dummy

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    Considering you have a pair of 650s: I had the opportunity about 1.5 years ago to A/B the K7xx and the HD650M (I think it was not the full set of mods) and although at the time I refused to fully accept that I preferred the 650 (having spent money on that and the JDS Element), I knew the truth deep down. The 7xx had a nicer soundstage of course - very nice to use when gaming as well but the 650 had a better presentation of music in almost every other aspect (timbre, smoothness, vocals and guitars sounded much better). I felt more connected with what I listened to and I kept shaking my head because I tried to fight the fact that the hype of head-fi had led me to spend money on things that werent as good as what I was listening to. This was definitely more applicable to the JDS Element but to also to a lesser extent, the 7xx vs 650.

    This isnt to say the K7xx is bad, but the 650 definitely sounded better overall (atleast to my ears and as per my preferences)
     
  14. JayC

    JayC Resident Crash Test Dummy

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    well, i cant answer your question with certainty, I can just give you my opinion based on the information we have. If I already had a 650 I would probably pick neither if I was buying them. But your case is different so I'd pick the 4xx because I personally am not interested in a 7xx. Also, the 4xx has been likened to a Code-X lite, which is bodes well for it.
     
  15. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    @jayeshrc I do own a pair of Sennheiser HD650's . So you suggest the 4xx?
     
  16. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    The problem is that TP tends to fall apart if too moist..

    Neither the HE-400i or HE-400S (which these resemble, to me) is an actual upgrade to HD-650, especially modded HD-650. It's possible that the crazy Massdrop version is better than either, but I'd still be very doubtful that they'd bridge the gap.

    I'd go as far as to say that looking for upgrades (or even sidegrades) for the 650s is a bit of a fool's errand. Barring the similar-but-different HD-600, most other things just don't offer as many of the strengths, until you get to stupidly expensive headphones. It might be best to just relax and enjoy those 650s for now.

    You could spend the money on a Gen 5 USB upgrade for your Bifrost, alternatively (or an Eitr, if you prefer). That'd maybe be a smarter use of funds. That's just my half-assed opinion, mind.
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2017
  17. JayC

    JayC Resident Crash Test Dummy

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    Yup, or what @Kattefjaes said
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2017
  18. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

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    The colder highs are tamed and put it more in line with HD600 and not as peaky. The bass is tighter also.
     
  19. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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  20. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    the estimated ship date on the HE4XX is Dec 18, 2017
     

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