All categories/Audio & Home Theater/Over-Ear Headphones/HiFiMan/HiFiMan HE400se
HiFiMan HE400se

HiFiMan HE400se

Based on 74 comments across 5 communities
TL;DR
A standout-value entry planar with detailed, spacious sound that punches above its price, especially after a small bass EQ. It is power-hungry and needs a DAC/amp, and stock bass runs light.

77% of 74 verified owners recommend the HiFiMan HE400se.

What 74 owners say
1,002 comments reviewed · scored on the 74 clearest verdicts
77%
Recommend
57 owners
15%
Neutral
11 owners
8%
Don't recommend
6 owners
Source
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
79%
53
Other forumsAudio Science Review, Head-Fi
67%
15
Independent blogsino affiliate links
83%
6
Reviewed, but not counted — and why
Affiliate blogsipaid commission
100%
1

Affiliate blogs here say 100% recommend, while the owner-based score is 77%. They earn a commission on every sale — so we show them for transparency but never let them move the score.

The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, and blogs with no affiliate links. YouTube and affiliate blogs are shown for perspective but kept out — hover the i for why.

What owners like
  • Outstanding sound for the price / bargain planar · 9 · 12%
  • Wonderful, fast planar bass · 5 · 7%
  • Responds beautifully to EQ · 4 · 5%
  • Impressive soundstage and imaging for the cost · 4 · 5%
  • Comfortable for long listening sessions · 3 · 4%
What owners flag
  • Uncomfortable headband with a pressure hotspot · 5 · 7%
  • Hard to drive / needs a proper amp · 3 · 4%
  • Treble peaks / harshness that need EQ · 3 · 4%

Top quotes, sourced

1,002 reviewed · 75 shown
Sentiment
Community
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Reddit▼ don’t recommend

Tive exatamente o mesmo problema na minha unidade nova no HE400SE v1. O problema era físico infelizmente, mais especificamente a construção dos drivers, que geravam vibração excessiva em um intervalo de frequência específica (grave).

Reddit▲ recommend

I recently got a Hifiman HE400se and it gave me a wow reaction, I felt I just got out of Plato's Cave and now I'm hearing my beloved albums for the first time again.

Reddit— neutral

I also once had the Hifiman HE400SE and I can only say: entry-level planars are all well and good, but in terms of long-term reliability prognosis and build quality they are no match for the K702.

Reddit— neutral

I recently got hifiman he400se, as hd58x owner. Granted, not same sound as s2, but it is senn sounding headphone. As you said, amount of details in highs is present, but they lack resolution.

Reddit▲ recommend

Ended up purchasing a HE400SE from Hifiman (also from Amazon), and they're significantly better in all respects, but really night and day in regards to bass.

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

I had a problem with the driver of my brand new He400Se. Sold it and bought a used Ananda OG, it works like a charm

Reddit▲ recommend

HiFiMan HE400se is my best headphone.

Reddit— neutral

Hifiman HE400se are great budget planar magnetic headphones. They have a fast, tight sound that works great with any type of media. They're not too high fidelity though and have awful build quality.

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

This was an issue for me with hifiman he400se's. For me it feels like there is a pain in my ear, similar to when you press on a bruise. And i get headaches. So i sold the he400se's long ago and got sennheiser hd600's instead which are wonderful.

Reddit▲ recommend

HE400se is probably the best cost-to-performance headphone right now. Very low distortion and sounds much like the other Hifiman phones. A little bit of EQ and it's near perfect.

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

HE400SE: first Hifiman headphone I got, them make a point to show that their product range from absolutely boring to the best there is. Bass is the only thing interesting here imo. Mids and trebbles are boring to a point I always get annoyed when listening to these.

Reddit— neutral

I have the HE400SE that I bought on Amazon. Is the real deal, but build quality leaves a lot to be desired. Had to return the first one because the adjustment was janky and the drivers were super crinkly.

Reddit▲ recommend

Ele tem um som muito bom, equilibrado e detalhado, com graves definidos e bem destacados, mas não é um " bass head" e pelo valor que custa esta entre os melhores até R$ 1.000,00

Head-Fi⚠ product link▼ don’t recommend

I had same issue with both HE400i 2020 and HE400se. New headband maybe soft, but the style just doesn't work as intended.

Reddit— neutral

I have the HE400SE and agree with almost everything you said, except comfort. For me the headband is almost rock solid

Reddit▲ recommend

I recently upgraded to a Hifiman HE400se with a portable DAC, and open-back headphones are just so good for Autechre. The soundstage is much better, even on a cheaper pair of open-backs.

Audio Science Review▼ don’t recommend

My copy of the HE400SE has a collection of very high-Q, high magnitude spikes between 8-12kHz located in quite different spots between the left and right channels that I find unbearable to listen to without EQ, and available EQ presets don't correct them.

Reddit— neutral

I consider them very different from each other, the he400se is more detailed and the hd585 is cozy

Reddit— neutral

He400SE: They are kinda just there. Don't hate them, don't love them. The other 2 headphones above kinda spoiled me though, for their price (I got them for $60) they are great. They don't really do anything exceptionally well but there isn't anything terrible about them either.

Reddit▲ recommend

If you want good soundstage/instrument separation, the Hifiman HE400se are an amazing value at $100. They’re my beaters atm. Granted you want to deal with the dodgy QC.

Reddit▲ recommend

At msrp i would genuinely say they are worth the price of admission just to hear the hifiman sound. They do play nice with eq too. They however are not world beaters.

Head-Fi— neutral

It is relatively hard to drive - what I mean is 400i 2020 can be powered by phone ( OnePlus 3T) it will not sound it best but it will be OK where 400se needs more juice

Head-Fi— neutral

These are extremely impressive for $149 cans. But I can't call them giant killers, especially with the Sennheiser HD 560s at $199. The 560s seem to have better detail and soundstage. But the HE400se are a bit warmer, more musical and a bit less clinical, if that makes any sense.

Reddit▲ recommend

I recently bought some Hifiman HE400se and bought the Custom Cans Super Grills for them (I also bought their headband to improve comfort). I only use them at home, but they are incredible headphones!

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