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.

Closer Examination

The current crop of HiFiMAN headphones look great. The HE-400i's ear cups have a new glossy finish and aren't as wood-like as those of the HE-560. The absences of wood is a bit of a downer in terms of aesthetics, but it seems like a more durable solution.


The HE-400i's cable solution is slightly more appealing to me than the HE-560's. The HE-400i's cable terminates in an angled mini-jack connector of very high quality. The cable is sleeved and looks brilliant. It also seems thinner, which reduces the size of its y-split strain relief.


HiFiMAN's move to angled pads has been long overdue, but HiFiMAN introduced their own take on a high-performance pad with the HE-560. The pad is angled so as to make the ear cups angle forward in relation to your ears, which helps in keeping the sound projection a bit more natural while, perhaps, eliminating some reflection issues inside the cups. The pads have pleather sides and velour fronts, which is a good combinations.


The grill arrangement has not been changed as it has proven to work pretty well when it comes to the protection they offer to the driver. Modders will probably experimented with the grill the most by opting for a mesh with less blockage.