Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

HiFiMan HE400se vs Sonos Ace Ultra: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the HiFiMan HE400se: 80% of 127 owners recommend it, vs 56% of 18 for the Sonos Ace Ultra.

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

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 →

Sonos Ace Ultra

56%of 18 owners recommend
56% recommend · 22% neutral · 22% don't
Owners praise
  • Clear sound upgrade over the original Ace, especially in the bass
  • Pulling TV audio from a Sonos soundbar to the headphones works well for some owners
  • Comfortable fit
Owners complain about
  • The TV audio link to a Sonos soundbar drops out, picks up static, or fails to connect for a few owners, and one returned a pair over it
  • A few owners still rate rivals higher, such as the AirPods Max 2 overall or Bowers & Wilkins headphones for music
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

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
Get the Sonos Ace Ultra if
  • ✓Sonos soundbar owners who want to watch TV on headphones
  • ✓Original Ace owners who want more bass
Skip it if
  • Buyers counting on the soundbar link to work without dropouts from day one

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

What Sonos Ace Ultra owners say

“I think these sound leagues above the original Ace tho thanks to that custom dual-ring magnet motor. The bass is deep and tactile while the sound stage is far more wide and open in comparison to its predecessor.”
— @ventus77777-h on YouTube
“I have the Ace Ultra and i love them....especially with my Sonos Theatre system...i had the first ones and i like these ones more....no complaints whatsoever”
— @SpankyGolfaddict65 on YouTube
“do NOT buy these for TV audio swap. the feature sucks. source: i own these headphones.”
— @Beanz0911 on YouTube

HiFiMan HE400se vs Sonos Ace Ultra: frequently asked questions

Is the HiFiMan HE400se or the Sonos Ace Ultra better?

Real owners lean toward the HiFiMan HE400se: 80% of 127 owners recommend it, vs 56% of 18 for the Sonos Ace Ultra.

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.

Who should get the Sonos Ace Ultra?

Owners point the Sonos Ace Ultra at sonos soundbar owners who want to watch TV on headphones, and original Ace owners who want more bass.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the HiFiMan HE400se is uncomfortable headband with a pressure hotspot. For the Sonos Ace Ultra, it's the TV audio link to a Sonos soundbar drops out, picks up static, or fails to connect for a few owners, and one returned a pair over it.