Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison
HiFiMan HE400se vs Sony WH-1000XM5: what real owners say
Real owners lean toward the HiFiMan HE400se: 80% of 127 owners recommend it, vs 60% of 359 for the Sony WH-1000XM5.
Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score
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
60%of 359 owners recommend
60% recommend · 15% neutral · 25% don't
Owners praise
- Class-leading noise cancellation
- Comfortable and lightweight for long wear
- Excellent, well-rounded sound quality
Owners complain about
- Hinges crack or break, often within a year
- Sound underwhelming or muddy for the price
- Headband presses painfully on top of head
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”
“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 Sony WH-1000XM5 owners say
“I actually love the fact that they won't fold. Folding make them weaker and they rattle a lot.”— @LLANTALOBOTOMIK on
YouTube
“I think not being foldable will eventually be better for durability in the long term”
“Wow the sound quality sounds just like my phone speakers”