HiFiMAN HE-400i

64 reviews

Apr, 2024

Positive
sound (57)
comfort (43)
design (27)
price (27)
bass quality (25)

Negative
soundstage (11)
reliability (7)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 64 reviews of HiFiMAN HE-400i. The average rating for this product is 4.5/5, compared to an average rating of 4.0/5 for other Headphones for all reviews. Comments about the design and usability are overall positive. The price and comfort are also appreciated. Many are critical about the soundstage. There are some mixed views about the size and reliability.

sound, comfort, price, usability, design

soundstage

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Headphones the HiFiMAN HE-400i is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 86/100 = Very good quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 64 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(50% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews (44% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews (6% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews (no reviews)
(no reviews)

Features

sound
Show positive (90%)Show negative (10%)(Show all)

comfort
Show positive (86%)Show negative (14%)(Show all)

price
Show positive (68%)Show negative (33%)(Show all)

usability
Show positive (63%)Show negative (38%)(Show all)

design
Show positive (84%)Show negative (16%)(Show all)

Show more features

Showing 52 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Disclaimer:

Below is a list of reviews for this or similar products. If you think this grouping is wrong please click here to flag.
Read more on our FAQ’s page.

Showing 1 - 24 of 52 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (12)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for HiFiMAN HE-400i

alaTest has collected and analyzed 11 user reviews of HiFiMAN HE-400i from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.8/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other Headphones on Amazon.co.uk. Reviewers are impressed by the portability and durability. The price and comfort are also mentioned favorably.

sound, comfort, price, durability, portability

100% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.ca)

Amazon.ca review summary for HiFiMAN HE-400i

alaTest has collected and analyzed 3 user reviews of HiFiMAN HE-400i from Amazon.ca. The average user rating for this product is 5.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other Headphones on Amazon.ca. People really like the durability and sound.

sound, durability

100% of the reviews on Amazon.ca give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by : David Carnoy Steve Guttenberg (cnet.co.uk)

HiFiMan HE-400i review: High-end audiophile headphones for a semi-affordable price

If you've always wanted to own a pair of high-end "audiophile" headphones but can't quite justify dropping a grand on a pair, the superb-sounding HiFiMan HE-400i is a good compromise.

The HiFiMan HE-400i is a large, full-size headphone that uses planar-magnetic drivers for exceptional sound quality highlighted by first-rate clarity, detail and well-defined bass. The headphone is also lighter and more comfortable than its predecessor.

Headphone cord may be too short for some people; fairly pricey; open-back design leaks sound.

If you've always wanted to own a pair of high-end "audiophile" headphones but can't quite justify dropping a grand on a pair, the superb sounding HiFiMan HE-400i is a good compromise.

Feb, 2015

Read the full review

Expert review by (cnet.com)

HiFiMan HE-400i

Like the HE-400, the HE-400i uses thin-film "planar magnetic" flat drivers that produce clearer and more dynamically alive sound than your typical headphone drivers which work like miniature cone or dome speaker drivers.

Headphone cord may be too short for some people; fairly pricey; open-back design leaks sound.

If you've always wanted to own a pair of high-end "audiophile" headphones but can't quite justify dropping a grand on a pair, the superb sounding HiFiMan HE-400i is a good compromise.

Feb, 2015

Read the full review

Expert review by : Stephen Hornbrook (hometheaterhifi.com)

HiFiMAN HE-400i Planar Magnetic Over-the-Ear Headphones Review

The HiFiMAN HE-400i is an updated version of their entry model HE-400 featuring the new design changes introduced in the terrific HE-560 planar magnetic headphones. Believe it or not, at $499 the HE-400i is an absolute steal in the headphone world....

Nov, 2014

Read the full review

Expert review by : Sam Vafaei , Marc Henney, Jean-Christophe Lamontag (rtings.com)

HiFiMan HE-400i HEADPHONES

The HiFiMan HE-400i are great critical listening headphones that are not really suitable for any other use case. They're comfortable and deliver an excellent sounding audio reproduction. However, they can sound a bit sharp on already bright tracks, and...

Great sound quality. ; Decent build quality. ; Comfortable.

Sensitive to ambient noise, by design. ; Big and bulky. ; High leakage by design, cannot be used in public.

Jun, 2018

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : David Carnoy Steve Guttenberg (cnet.com.au)

HiFiMan HE-400i review: High-end audiophile headphones for a semi-affordable price

If you've always wanted to own a pair of high-end "audiophile" headphones but can't quite justify dropping a grand on a pair, the superb-sounding HiFiMan HE-400i is a good compromise.

Headphone cord may be too short for some people; fairly pricey; open-back design leaks sound.

If you've always wanted to own a pair of high-end "audiophile" headphones but can't quite justify dropping a grand on a pair, the superb sounding HiFiMan HE-400i is a good compromise.

Feb, 2015

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Fred Manteghian (soundandvision.com)

HiFiMan HE-400i Headphone Review

Performance Build Quality Comfort Value

Every time I visit my buddy Lou and listen to my old 6-foot-tall Magnepan MG IIIa speakers, I ask myself why I ever sold them to him. How excited am I that similar planar magnetic technology is now available in headphone form? Granted, higher-end...

Feb, 2015

Read the full review

Consumer review (reevoo.com)

HIFIMAN HE400i

clear and relaxed sound, comfortable

would like a bit more mid range on low volume setting But I have still have not done 150 hours burn in and it is improving all the time.

Oct, 2015

Read the full review

Consumer review (head-fi.org)

Unbeatable for the price

At 240 dollars new (price I paid) there is not a single headphone in the world with better price/performance ratio. Each song is a new listening experience and these sound far superior to any other cans or speakers I have ever heard. I am currently...

Sound Quality, comfort, packaging, price

Clamping force

Feb, 2017

Read the full review

Consumer review (head-fi.org)

Detailed and Revealing but Lacks Musicality

I'll keep this relatively short as the HE400i has over 20 reviews here, some of which are very detailed and some that contradict others. This is just my 5 cents on the matter. I think @jerg summarized it perfectly in his review, that these are a...

Detailed, comfy ear pads.

Not musical as detailed, vicious clamp (fixable), treble characteristics of cheap headphones.

Jan, 2017

Read the full review

Consumer review (head-fi.org)

HiFiMAN HE-400i vs DT880 250 Ohm Special Edition Chrome

I will keep this short. I currently have both the HiFiMAN HE-400i and the Beyerdynamic DT880 250 Ohm non-pro version. I read a lot of reviews with people bagging on the DT880 vs the 400i, so when I got the DT880 I figured that I would be sending them...

Comfortable and excellent sound quality

Cheap build quality, replacement parts will be hard to find.

Dec, 2016

Read the full review