Both Hifiman HE-400i and Sennheiser HD650 headphones are excellent, delivering one of a kind sound quality. However, some of you may wonder, which one is better? That’s why we have decided to put them up to the test against each other with pros and cons for both headphones.
1. HiFiMan HE-400i
Design & Build Quality
Opposite to the Sennheiser HD650, the HiFiMan HE-400i headphones are specifically designed for home use. They need to be used with a receiver or an amplifier. It’s an open-back headphone and it’s rather bulky, which means not the perfect option if you are looking for portable headphones. The grip on your head might be a little firm too, and there could be some friction if you wear glasses. This means that you might get annoyed after having them on for long periods of time.
The headphones are made out of high-quality materials and seem quite durable. On the other hand, the ear cups show some issues. However, there are sturdy plastic joints that connect the frame and the ear cups. This makes the ear cups a little bit more durable. When it comes to stability, they’re quite large for the head and might slip off your ears if you attempt to use them while running on a treadmill or exercising.
HiFiMan Sound Quality
Considering that the He-400i are open-back, the low frequencies are more enhanced and allows the sound in and out of the headphones. This is why they are not suitable for outdoor use or in public places as any external noise will meddle with the music you’re listening to. The sound the HE-400i provides is very transparent and allows you to hear the depth in music. Instrumental parts are produced very clearly and you can easily pinpoint each instrument.
Related article: Best Podcast Headphones
The HE-400i headphones are the type of headphones who don’t add any sort of enhancement to the sound they reproduce. This means that the sound is very neutral. If a song doesn’t have much bass then it won’t have much bass when using these headphones either. However, overall bass quality is very decent. Also with songs that do have heavy bass, the bass might a little bit undermined. However, if bass doesn’t matter that much to you, then HE-400i headphones will serve you just fine.
The midrange is where HE-400 shines. The reproduction of midrange frequencies is almost perfect. It’s very well-rounded and it doesn’t enhance or undermine any point. This also means that instruments like piano and guitars will sound amazing as well as vocals. So, all in all, the HE-400i headphones should be amazing for fans of jazz, pop and country music.
When it comes to treble, the headphones produce a very good output. Low treble might be a bit enhanced but it’s not really noticeable. The sound distribution is also wide and produces good accuracy. The high end is extremely detailed without piercing your eardrums or been uncomfortable after some time. You might notice small details but the sound is generally one of a kind as well as smooth and detailed.
HiFiMan Features
The HE-400i comes with a cable that’s 1.5 meters long and a connector cable which is renowned 3.5 mm plug. You can plug the connector either directly or you can use a 6.3 mm adapter. Other than that, there is nothing else that comes in the box with a HiFi-Man HE-400i.
Related article: Philips SHB8750NC Review – Stylish And Modern
- Sturdy and durable build
- Comes with an adapter and removable cable
- Wide sound distribution
- Detailed high end frequencies
- Near perfect mid-range
- Might get uncomfortable after long listening sessions
- Clamping force is a bit too hard
- Low frequencies lack sometimes
2. Sennheiser HD650
Design & Build Quality
The build quality of Sennheiser HD650 isn’t as long lasting as the one of HE-400i. This also means that after years of usage, be prepared to replace some parts. By years we mean five years or more. However, finding replacements for these headphones is fairly easy and it shouldn’t take much effort.
The ear cups are large and they are slightly tilted backwards which gives them more neutral look and standard fit. The ear pads are made of a very soft velvety material. On the downside, the foam inside of the ear pads is firm and springy. However this feature also makes them more stable and they won’t slip off your head easily. But they might get uncomfortable after some time.
Related article: BOHM B76 Review – Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphone
The open-back design of the HD650 headphones allows a lot of ventilation. The cable of these headphones is made out of premium materials making it much durable than the headphones themselves.
Sennheiser HD650 Sound Quality
The frequency response of HD650 is from 10 Hz to 39.5 kHz. This range ensures that you will have some extra bass. The clarity of the sound is one of the most important factors of the headphones. They have a rather flat response and even more neutral sound than HE-400i.
These headphones have almost perfect bass performance. It is said that the maximum amount of deviation throughout the low frequency range was less than 1dB. However, they might be a little bit inconsistent when it comes to treble range. The treble response also depends on the positioning of the headphones and ear shape.
SEE ALSO: iGadget24 – Best Tech Gadgets
If you are used to closed-back headphones, you will notice there is a lot of emphasis on the bass. The bass quality is one of its major strengths.. When you have them on, it feels like an immersive spectrum of frequencies with great depth. The instruments and vocals are very detailed. You can even pick out the instruments in a song.
The mid-range of the Sennheiser HD650 headphones is also great. Not as good as the HE-400i but it’s still reasonable. It’s very even and flat and what’s even better is that it is consistent. It’s also very clear and well balanced, making both vocals and instruments sound great. However there is a bit of an emphasis on the mid-range.
Related article: Sony MDR V6 vs 7506
The treble is overall good. Low-treble and mid-treble are consistent however the treble in general lacks in clarity. You will mostly notice that on vocals, lead instruments and cymbals. The sound reproduction is great which makes sure the bass is tight and the treble is transparent.
Sennheiser HD650 Features
The HD650 headphones come with three cables. There is no in-line remote and you can plug them in your Xbox or PS4 controller. However they don’t come with a microphone so you can’t use them for calls and voice chat.
- Amazing bass
- Stable
- Great mid-range
- Great sound reproduction
- Treble lacks in clarity
- Not very comfortable
Conclusion
Both HiFiMan HE-400i and Sennheiser HD650 have their best and worse features. Depending on your needs and preferences, you will decide which one is the best headphone for you.
