Review on 🎧 HIFIMAN HE400SE Stealth Magnets Version Over-Ear Open-Back Full-Size Planar Magnetic Wired Headphones: Great-Sounding, Comfortable, High-Sensitivity Audio Gear for Audiophiles and Studios by Chris Crawford

These headphones blew me away for the price. The sound quality is fantastic for $150 headphones. I've heard $400 wireless headphones that sound like tin cans on a string compared to these awesome planar magnetic headphones. The best way to describe the sound quality of these cans is "neutral but appealing". Bass is present but not dominant. Mids are decent and highs are crisp and roll off before getting harsh. Detail and visualization are excellent, and the soundstage is predictably wide for open-ended in-ears. My biggest compliment is the control of these headphones. Maybe it's the quality of the plans as this is my first set of plans but every aspect of your music endures no matter how difficult it is. Detailed, rich, or complex music sometimes turns into a wall of smooth sound with other headphones, especially those with dynamic drivers. Just not at these banks. I also have Sennheiser HD 560s, open-back headphones with a dynamic driver. The HD 560s is a bit more average and clinical, with details on par with, or maybe even better than, the HE-400se. However, the high end of the HD 560s gets a bit spicy and hot at certain frequencies, and with very complex and aggressive pieces of music the sound really turns into a wall of sound. Just two complaints and one suggestion about the HE-400se. . First, the headband is VERY uncomfortable for the first few uses. It will soften over time and with a little kneading and thumb pressure. Luckily, the ear cushions are roomy and comfortable. Second, the included cable is flimsy as hell. It works, but it's flimsy and cheap. But easily interchangeable. I suspect HiFiMan has to cut corners somewhere to sell headphones of this quality for $150. Suggestion: HiFiMan says that these banks can be easily controlled by mobile phone. This is BS. They're low impedance but also low sensitivity and you really need at least a portable DAC/amp or amp to get them up to the right volume with good accuracy. Otherwise I wouldn't be enthusiastic about the HE-400se. Those would be amazing $300 headphones. At $150, this is one of the audiophile's biggest bargains.