Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

DT 770 Pro vs HiFiMan HE400se: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the HiFiMan HE400se: 80% of 127 owners recommend it, vs 55% of 197 for the DT 770 Pro.

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

DT 770 Pro

55%of 197 owners recommend

55% recommend · 20% neutral · 25% don't

Owners praise

Exceptionally comfortable for long sessions, with soft velour pads that owners say let them wear the headphones for hours (some cite 15-hour days) without fatigue
Built to last for years of daily use, with many owners reporting the same pair still going strong after 3, 9, even 13-15 years
Punchy, full bass with a balanced V-shaped signature that many describe as fuller and better-tuned than rival closed-backs

Owners complain about

Sharp, peaky treble (the well-known 'Beyer treble') that many find harsh, sibilant, or fatiguing, sometimes causing headaches after 10-15 minutes
Plastic components (headband sliders, hinges, earcup connectors) that crack or break over time, sometimes worsened by heat and humidity
Tight clamping fit and small earcups that some owners find uncomfortable, causing jaw soreness or head squeezing within an hour of wearing

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 DT 770 Pro if

✓Gamers and FPS players wanting wide, precise soundstage in a closed-back set
✓Home studio mixers/producers who value detail and don't mind a bright signature
✓Long-session listeners who prioritize all-day comfort and light clamp
✓Buyers on a budget wanting durable, repairable headphones that last a decade-plus

Skip it if

Treble-sensitive listeners; harsh, sibilant highs cause fatigue or headaches
Anyone needing a detachable cable, since the fixed cable often frays or breaks

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 DT 770 Pro owners say

“i'd say go for the Beyerdynamics since their only drawback is their harsh upper register of the frequency and nothing else. For the money, you can't beat them!”
— chrissb34 on Reddit

“dt 770 100% and hyperx quadcast microphone! Best combo ever and "cheap"”
— NervousNobody666 on Reddit

“The long term durability of these headphones seems to really depend on the climate where you live. When I moved to Florida the humidity and/or heat really caused them to start deteriorating fast.”
— Lord_swarley on Reddit

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

DT 770 Pro vs HiFiMan HE400se: frequently asked questions

Is the DT 770 Pro or the HiFiMan HE400se better?

Real owners lean toward the HiFiMan HE400se: 80% of 127 owners recommend it, vs 55% of 197 for the DT 770 Pro.

Who should get the DT 770 Pro?

Owners point the DT 770 Pro at gamers and FPS players wanting wide, precise soundstage in a closed-back set, and home studio mixers/producers who value detail and don't mind a bright signature.

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 DT 770 Pro is sharp, peaky treble (the well-known 'Beyer treble') that many find harsh, sibilant, or fatiguing, sometimes causing headaches after 10-15 minutes. For the HiFiMan HE400se, it's uncomfortable headband with a pressure hotspot.