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

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 →

Sony WH-1000XM5

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
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 Sony WH-1000XM5 if
  • ✓Frequent flyers and commuters wanting top-tier noise cancellation
  • ✓Office workers on frequent calls and video meetings
  • ✓Long-session listeners who value all-day comfort
  • ✓Listeners who fine-tune sound with the app's EQ
Skip it if
  • Audiophiles chasing reference-grade sound quality
  • Gym and sweaty workouts (not water resistant)

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 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”
— @RaedVS on YouTube
“Wow the sound quality sounds just like my phone speakers”
— @Gpinky765 on YouTube

HiFiMan HE400se vs Sony WH-1000XM5: frequently asked questions

Is the HiFiMan HE400se or the Sony WH-1000XM5 better?

Real owners lean toward the HiFiMan HE400se: 80% of 127 owners recommend it, vs 60% of 359 for the Sony WH-1000XM5.

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 Sony WH-1000XM5?

Owners point the Sony WH-1000XM5 at frequent flyers and commuters wanting top-tier noise cancellation, and office workers on frequent calls and video meetings.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the HiFiMan HE400se is uncomfortable headband with a pressure hotspot. For the Sony WH-1000XM5, it's hinges crack or break, often within a year.