Introduction

HiFiMAN is one of the few brands to push the envelope when it comes to the development of high-performance planar magnetic headphones. Today, we will take a good, hard look at the HE-400i. It, like the HE-400, is based on a planar magnetic driver. Like its newer and bigger brother, the HE-560, the 400i uses a single-sided magnet array, while also sharing its headband design with the HE-560. The good news is that HiFiMAN managed to keep the price at a somewhat more pocket friendly $499, which is several hundred dollars beneath other higher-end models from AKG and Sennheiser.

Specifications

• Single-sided planar magnetic driver
• 35 Ohm impedance
• 93 db/mW efficiency
• 370 g weight

The Package

HiFiMAN has matured as a brand at a fast pace over the past few years, and everything about the HE-400i has been trimmed carefully. Even the box is somewhat luxurious.


If it works don't fix it! HiFiMAN still uses the coax connectors we first saw on their first-generation planar magnetic headphones. They are a little tricky to affix properly, but they don't move around once they have been. The good thing about them is that that they are available all over the world, which is great for DIYers and cable manufacturers. There are also a wealth of aftermarket cables for HiFiMAN products, which is neat for people like me with minimal soldering skills.


One of the things that makes the HE-400i incredibly comfortable to wear is its new headband it inherited from the HE-560. The suspended design works flawlessly and provides good comfort for all head sizes and types.