All > Drop HIFIMAN HE4XX
Drop + HIFIMAN HE4XX
Retail Price
$180.00
Lowest Price
$139.00
Release Date
2017
The Drop HIFIMAN HE4XX are robust, comfortable headphones with good distribution of their reasonable 400-gram weight on the head and ears. They utilize a cable with a 3.5mm jack connection that can be adapted to the included 6.3mm. They are lacking in terms of isolation due to their open design, but their high-end audio quality more than justifies their cost. They are planar-magnetic, open-ended headphones that bring a few modifications to build quality and acoustic performance, making them overall better, yet significantly cheaper; one of the cheapest entrances to the world of planar-magnetic headphones with high-quality sound.
Purchase Links
Overview
- Summary
- Overview - Comfort
- Overview - Price
- Overview - Sound Quality
- Overview - Usage
- Recommendation
- Positive
- Negative
Summary - The HIFIMAN HE4XX are robust, comfortable headphones with good distribution of their reasonable 400-gram weight on the head and ears. They utilize a cable with a 3.5mm jack connection that can be adapted to the included 6.3mm. They are lacking in terms of isolation due to their open design, but their high-end audio quality more than justifies their cost. They are planar-magnetic, open-ended headphones that bring a few modifications to build quality and acoustic performance, making them overall better, yet significantly cheaper; one of the cheapest entrances to the world of planar-magnetic headphones with high-quality sound.
Overview - Comfort - The HE4XX are warm and comfortable and very easy to listen to.
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
Overview - Price - The HE4XX are impressive in terms of design, build quality and fit, with impressive sound quality for their price range. The HE4XX are decent headphones for their $170 price tag, not as great as the likes of the Odyssey LCD 2C or the M1060, but good enough in terms of build quality and portability.
Overview - Sound Quality - The HE4XX have great soundstage, vocals, and separation with background instruments. They have fast highs and lows, decent midrange, good treble, and good imaging.
Overview - Usage - The HE4XX are usable both indoors and outdoors with no significant changes in sound quality.
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Recommendation - The HE4XX are great headphones in terms of performance, customizability and versatility for their price range. They are a clear step up from any headphones that are under the $100 price range. The HE4XX are a fairly sensitive model with 93 dB/mW but still need proper supporting hardware like a decent DAC/AMP combo for optimal results. Still, they are pretty well-rounded in terms of performance by themselves.
Sources
Tags
- Summary
- Overview - Comfort
- Overview - Price
- Overview - Sound Quality
- Overview - Usage
- Recommendation
Sources
- Head-Fi
- World of Turntables
- YouTube
- iiWi Reviews
DallaPo - Head-Fi
01/07/2021
World of Turntables
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
r/headphones
08/29/2020
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
DMS
12/29/2018
DMS
12/29/2018
DMS
12/29/2018
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Srboljub Stojanovic - iiWi Reviews
04/12/2020
World of Turntables
Srboljub Stojanovic - iiWi Reviews
04/12/2020
DMS
12/29/2018
See All Sources
Build & Design
- Build Quality
- Build - Cable
- Build - Comfort - Pads
- Build - Cups
- Build - Fork
- Build - Headband
- Build - Rear
- Design
- Design - Ear Shells
- Design - Headband
- Design - Material
- Design - Size
- Positive
- Negative
Build Quality - The HE4XX have solid build quality at stock parts, save for their cable. Most parts of the build were improved compared to the previous models, especially in terms of headband adjustment and rotation.
Build - Cable - The HE4XX’s cable is detachable, is fully rubberized and well-protected. The merging of the wires is highly shielded and the cable is terminated with a 3.5mm connector that turns into 6.35mm with the included adapter. The cable is 1.5 meters long, which could be too short for some.
Build - Comfort - Pads - The HE4XX are made with comfort in mind, as seen with its Focus-A hybrid earpads that are the best-feeling and best-sounding pads the company offers. The pads’ foam has extra cushioning and is specially angled for acoustics, with its material made of soft, luxurious velour. They feel thick but are not heavy, and they are round and feel great on the ears.
Build - Cups - The HE4XXs have undergone revisions since launch and improved their build quality, specifically their headband adjustment. Their cable is decent but could be better. The headphones’ frame is made of metal, which can be weighty and detract from the comfort. The FocusPad-A pads are thick and soft with a strong grip and smooth frequency response.
Srboljub Stojanovic - iiWi Reviews
04/12/2020
Build - Fork - The HE4XX are well-built considering their price. Their fork that holds the cup is made of solid metal, and their headband extension piece is solid. The headphones have a very nice, comfortable, light feel.
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
Build - Headband - The HE4XX’s headband is good at spreading the headphone’s weight across the entire top of the head which is a good contributor to overall comfort. Its ear pads are angled so that there is a forward and back orientation. They have fake leather outside and microfiber on the inside. They have dual sided 2.5mm connectors on both sides.
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
Build - Rear - The HE4XX’s back has a shiny black metal mesh.
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Design - The HE4XX is somewhat based on the HE-400i with a modified appearance, build quality and acoustic. Its design contours with the head.
Design - Ear Shells - The HE4XX’s ear shell exteriors are fully open, so noise isolation is effectively nonexistent, and thus the headphones will not be that suitable for outdoor use or in rooms where there are other sounds present.
World of Turntables
Design - Headband - The HE4XX headband is inspired from the original HIFIMAN style with a number of build Improvements. It is made of spring steel which can bend without losing shape, and is hand-stitched with breathable protein leather. It has a matte finish that is soft to the touch and fingerprint resistant, with midnight-blue colorways. The headband is arched in a way that adds to the good fit to the head.
Design - Material - The HE4XX is made with textured plastic and no paint.
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Design - Size - The HE4XX is small, fitting, and subtle with a detachable cable and portable key.
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Sources
Tags
- Build Quality
- Build - Cable
- Build - Comfort - Pads
- Build - Cups
- Build - Fork
- Build - Headband
- Build - Rear
- Design
- Design - Ear Shells
- Design - Headband
- Design - Material
- Design - Size
Sources
- YouTube
- World of Turntables
- iiWi Reviews
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
World of Turntables
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
World of Turntables
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Srboljub Stojanovic - iiWi Reviews
04/12/2020
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
World of Turntables
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
World of Turntables
World of Turntables
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
See All Sources
Features & Sound Quality
- Bass
- Drivers
- Highs
- Imaging
- Mids
- Soundstage
- Treble
- Vocals & Instruments
- Positive
- Negative
Bass - The HE4XX has a detailed playing style and a certain lightness to the sound of its bass, and while its subrange could be better, it is very accurate without slipping into the mids, which gives an unexpected sense of spaciousness. It is fast and precise, though it is lacking in depth and high presence in the lowest part of the frequency range, Overall its bass is respectable yet authoritative in its performance.
Drivers - The HE4XX’s planar-magnetic drivers need more power from good quality amplifiers in order to get enough volume. Regardless, the HE4XX performs well enough with smartphones.
Highs - The HE4XX’s highs are not extensively detailed. They are never bright or sibling, but they are not the focus of the sound produced either. They are acceptable considering the price of the headphones, but they could be better all the same.
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
Imaging - The HE4XX does not do well with forward imaging, opting to move between left and right side instead. It is not quite airy or intimate especially with voice presentation. Its separation is decent but seems lacking when compared to something like the HE5XX.
Mids - The HE4XX’s mids are neutral, though they can seem somewhat restrained and lacking in energy. Voices are intimate and instruments more towards the midrange sound mostly realistic. The mids can sometimes sound slightly veiled, though it is barely noticeable. It has very detailed, very impactful performance both in the upper mid-range and the lower mid-range.
Soundstage - The stage is well positioned in terms of width and depth, although this is certainly not where the HE4XX's absolute strengths lie. It is realistic without the stage being classified as above average in width.
Treble - The HE4XX’s treble is noticeably artificially boosted and can amplify sibilants, causing tonality to slip into bright and unnatural at times. Nevertheless, the treble is transparent with good resolution provided the volume is at a reasonable level. The good detail and transparency makes the highs good though sometimes artificial-sounding.
DallaPo - Head-Fi
01/07/2021
Vocals & Instruments - The HE4XX’s vocals are great whether from a male or female due to naturalness and the fact that they are never drowned in the musical background and retain their distinctiveness regularly. Instruments sound equally as good.
World of Turntables
Sources
Tags
- Bass
- Drivers
- Highs
- Imaging
- Mids
- Soundstage
- Treble
- Vocals & Instruments
Sources
- Head-Fi
- World of Turntables
- YouTube
DallaPo - Head-Fi
01/07/2021
World of Turntables
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
World of Turntables
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
DallaPo - Head-Fi
01/07/2021
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
DallaPo - Head-Fi
01/07/2021
Joshua Valour
07/09/2018
DallaPo - Head-Fi
01/07/2021
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
DallaPo - Head-Fi
01/07/2021
World of Turntables
See All Sources
Performance
- Frequency Response
- Sound Isolation
- Source Matching
- Positive
- Negative
Frequency Response - The HE4XX’s frequency response is good with a slight emphasis on higher frequencies, which is not nearly as pronounced as with other headphones. Bass notes can go very deep with proper amplification, and the bassline is fast and well-controlled along with the upper bass, which also has a firm grip and does not leak into midrange. Vocals and instruments sound clean and crisp. Detail retrieval is good and presented in a smooth fashion. The HE4XX is capable in terms of drive and dynamics, but definitely not the most strident or tuned to impress at first note.
Srboljub Stojanovic - iiWi Reviews
04/12/2020
Sound Isolation - The HE4XX has no sound isolation to speak of, and has a considerable sound leakage.
Srboljub Stojanovic - iiWi Reviews
04/12/2020
Source Matching - The HE4XX benefits in terms of sound quality when matched with USB DACs like Dragonfly Black or Lusya Fever. These provide good volume and dynamics, though the bass leaves much to be desired as it spills into the midrange. Meanwhile with the Fiio K5 pro and the Burson Playmate, the performance is better and more detailed.
Srboljub Stojanovic - iiWi Reviews
04/12/2020
See All Sources
Comparison
- Comparison vs. HE400
- Comparison vs. HD58X, Comparison vs. HE5XX, & Comparison vs. HD6XX
- Comparison vs. 560
- Comparison vs. HG 1000
- Comparison vs. HE350, & Comparison vs. DT-177X
- Comparison vs. 770
- Comparison vs. HD650
- Comparison vs. Arya, & Comparison vs. Audeze LCD X
- Positive
- Negative
Comparison vs. HE400 - The HE4XX are lighter and more comfortable than the Hifiman HE400, though the addition of a suspension strap would improve them even more as the padding can break down over time.
DMS
12/29/2018
Comparison vs. HD58X, Comparison vs. HE5XX, & Comparison vs. HD6XX - The HE4XX is competent for its price, though not as good as the HD58X, HE5XX, or HD6XX due to slightly artificial and peaky highs. Bass and mids are good, but treble can be divisive depending on preference and tolerance. The HE4XX is a good all-rounder overall.
DallaPo - Head-Fi
01/07/2021
Comparison vs. 560 - The HE4XX is equal to the 560 in terms of sound quality and ambiance.
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Comparison vs. HG 1000 - The HE4XX feel better than the HG 1000s in terms of texture and material, though it loses points in terms of durability due to the same.
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Comparison vs. HE350, & Comparison vs. DT-177X - The HE4XX’s treble can be harsh at times, but better than the HE350 and DT-177X. The DT-177X wins in terms of comfort, isolation and ease of listening, but the HE4XX’s sound has better detail.
r/headphones
08/28/2021
Comparison vs. 770 - The HE4XX has less bass than the 770 but overall sound feels more spacious.
r/headphones
08/29/2020
Comparison vs. HD650 - The HE4XX has better sound quality than the HD650.
r/headphones
08/29/2020
Comparison vs. Arya, & Comparison vs. Audeze LCD X - The HE4XX are affordable and have good sound quality and durability, and treble resolution is decent. They are very compatible with the Euphonium, their mids resolving capabilities are decent, their bass is fast and tight, but their midrange can be harsh depending on the music. Overall the HE4XX are good headphones, but the Arya and the Audeze LCD X are considered as superior upgrades.
r/headphones
08/25/2020
Sources
Tags
- Comparison vs. HE400
- Comparison vs. HD58X, Comparison vs. HE5XX, & Comparison vs. HD6XX
- Comparison vs. 560
- Comparison vs. HG 1000
- Comparison vs. HE350, & Comparison vs. DT-177X
- Comparison vs. 770
- Comparison vs. HD650
- Comparison vs. Arya, & Comparison vs. Audeze LCD X
Sources
- YouTube
- Head-Fi
See All Sources
Price & Availability
- Price - Value
- Value - Affordability
- Positive
- Negative
Price - Value - The HE4XX is sold for approximately $180, which can go down to as low as $145 during sales, which is regarded as very competitive when considering its sound quality and performance.
Value - Affordability - The HE4XX are very valuable, being regarded as high quality planars, and even better, they cost under $200.
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
See All Sources
Miscellaneous
- Brand Quality
- Competition
- Issue - Bass
- Positive
- Negative
Brand Quality - Massdrop, the company behind HiFiMan, are being praised for improving their product quality in recent times.
Z Reviews
05/05/2018
Competition - The HE4XX has very strict competition from brands like Audeze, Fostex, Monoprice, Monolith, and Oppo, but they are still able to pull ahead thanks to their cheaper-priced models.
World of Turntables
Issue - Bass - The HE4XX can sometimes have no bass and sound very thin when plugged into a PC. This can be fixed by adding a proper source, i.e. an amp, and make the headphones produce a much fuller and cleaner sound. A recommended amp and DAC is the JDS Labs Atom Amp and DAC stack.
r/headphones
08/29/2020
See All Sources
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