Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X vs HiFiMan HE400se: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the HiFiMan HE400se: 80% of 127 owners recommend it, vs 68% of 63 for the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X

68%of 63 owners recommend
68% recommend · 5% neutral · 27% don't
Owners praise
  • Clear, balanced, detailed sound
  • Several owners report pairs still in good shape after two or more years of daily use
  • Most owners who switched from the DT 770 PRO prefer it
Owners complain about
  • Build durability is the most common complaint: headband padding coming unglued within months, and plastic sliders and earcup arms cracking, often within two years
  • For some owners the clamp is tight or the headband presses on the top of the head and starts to hurt
  • The sound does not suit everyone, with some hearing heavy bass and muddy detail and others hearing thin or fizzy highs
Full owner report →

HiFiMan HE400se

80%of 127 owners recommend
80% recommend · 9% neutral · 11% don't
Owners praise
  • Outstanding sound for the price / bargain planar
  • Wonderful, fast planar bass
  • Responds beautifully to EQ
Owners complain about
  • Uncomfortable headband with a pressure hotspot
  • Hard to drive / needs a proper amp
  • Treble peaks / harshness that need EQ
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X if
  • ✓People producing or monitoring music who need a closed back
  • ✓Gamers and everyday listeners who want one pair for music and games
  • ✓Owners of an older DT 770 PRO looking for a cleaner closed back
Skip it if
  • Buyers who want headphones that will not need a headband or slider repair in the first couple of years
  • Listeners sensitive to a tight clamp or pressure on the top of the head
Get the HiFiMan HE400se if
  • ✓Budget listeners getting into planar magnetic headphones
  • ✓Users who EQ their headphones for best results
  • ✓Fans of warm, musical, non-clinical sound
  • ✓Value seekers pairing them with a proper amp
Skip it if
  • Phone-only listeners without a decent amp
  • People sensitive to headband pressure or hotspots

What Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X owners say

“Update: I got the headphone and I have been using it for almost 2 months. Best headphones I ever owned in terms of clarity. Perfect for music producers.”
— @HifyTech on YouTube
“To anyone here thinking of buyint the 700 Pro X: Do it. I've owned a pair since the very first day they were available in the market, use they daily, and they still look fresh out of the box. The sound is amazing, still on the same pads and the comfort is unmatched.”
— @bananawarlock3981 on YouTube
“I'm not kidding, this thing feels like a vice on your head. Add to that the extra weight and the excessive bass, and you have a headphone that quickly fatigues both your head and your ears.”
— @Nayah9 on YouTube

What HiFiMan HE400se owners say

“The treble is still tamed, but the bass doesn't seem to roll off. Punchy and fun.”
— @onepieceatatime on YouTube
“they are amazing, the replacement grills smooth out all the peaks and dips”
— @ZdraveBass on YouTube
“Hifiman are known to last about two months. It's only a question of time before they fail and customer service is bad from what I saw.”
— @westsenkovec on YouTube

Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X vs HiFiMan HE400se: frequently asked questions

Is the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X or the HiFiMan HE400se better?

Real owners lean toward the HiFiMan HE400se: 80% of 127 owners recommend it, vs 68% of 63 for the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X.

Who should get the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X?

Owners point the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X at people producing or monitoring music who need a closed back, and gamers and everyday listeners who want one pair for music and games.

Who should get the HiFiMan HE400se?

Owners point the HiFiMan HE400se at budget listeners getting into planar magnetic headphones, and users who EQ their headphones for best results.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X is build durability is the most common complaint: headband padding coming unglued within months, and plastic sliders and earcup arms cracking, often within two years. For the HiFiMan HE400se, it's uncomfortable headband with a pressure hotspot.