The HiFiMan HE400se are planar magnetic over-ears ideal for audiophiles who value high audio quality at a more affordable price. If you're not already familiar with planar magnetic headphones, this driver design can offer three benefits over more conventional dynamic drivers, such as the AKG K371: a better bass response, more immersive soundstage, and less distortion. Adding to this, HiFiMan has refined their drivers with 'Stealth Magnets,' a design choice they advertise as further lowering audio distortion without degrading audio quality. However, their wallet-friendly price point comes with a couple of caveats. The manufacturer has already made one silent revision, replacing the original braided audio cable with a thicker rubber cable due to user reports of poor build quality and breakage. There's a chance you still may receive the headphones with the original cable, though, depending on the manufacturing batch.
Our Verdict
The HiFiMan HE400se are inadequate for sports and fitness use. They're not stable enough to reliably stay in place while exercising, and they're bulky over-ears, which aren't convenient and trap heat. Their cabled design can snag on gym equipment, too. While they're comfortable to wear and sound good, their design is too impractical for workouts.
- Very comfortable fit.
- Consistent audio delivery.
- Leak audio, even at moderate volumes.
- Won't block out any background noise.
- Not stable enough during moderate movement.
The HiFiMan HE400se are bad for traveling. Despite their comfortable fit, these open-backs don't block out the noises on planes or buses. They also let a lot of your audio escape into the space and disturb people around you. If that's not enough to deter you from taking these on a flight, they don't have a case, resulting in their bulky size taking up a lot of room in your bag. All that said, they sound good, but everyone else on the flight doesn't need to know.
- Very comfortable fit.
- Consistent audio delivery.
- Leak audio, even at moderate volumes.
- Won't block out any background noise.
- Not stable enough during moderate movement.
The HiFiMan HE400se are poor for office work. These open-backs leak virtually all of your audio into the space, and they don't block out sounds around you either. They don't have a mic, so they're not ideal for online meetings, unless you provide your own microphone. The main upside is that these feel very comfortable, thanks to their plush padding.
- Very comfortable fit.
- Consistent audio delivery.
- Leak audio, even at moderate volumes.
- Won't block out any background noise.
- No mic or controls.
The HiFiMan HE400se are wired-only headphones, so you can't connect them wirelessly.
The HiFiMan HE400se are acceptable for wired gaming. Their open-back housings offer a somewhat immersive listening experience to match their flat sound signature. Sound effects and dialogue play back sounding natural, though not overly bassy. This versatile tuning suits all sorts of games and media, and the headphones' plush padding ensures a comfortable fit. With that said, if you need a mic to chat with friends, these don't include one.
- Very comfortable fit.
- Consistent audio delivery.
- Leak audio, even at moderate volumes.
- No mic or controls.
The HiFiMan HE400se are good for audio reproduction accuracy. They're fantastically low in harmonic distortion. They comply well with our target curve, but like most open-backs, they roll off the deep bass. Still, they output a good amount of boom, the mids sound natural, while the top-end is mostly balanced. They're well-matched between the L/R drivers overall, though our unit has deviations in the phase. The peaks and dips performance is good through the lower frequencies, but it's a little less smooth in the high-mids through the treble, depending on the pitch. The headphones do an acceptable job of mimicking an angled reference monitor when it comes to PRTF. Lastly, their group delay performance is disappointing, but most of the loose bass is in frequencies that are rolled off, and higher registers still sound transparent.
The HiFiMan HE400se are open-backs and can't block external sounds. They leak the majority of what you're listening to into the space at audible volumes, which means they're meant to be worn in quiet spaces, away from others.
The HiFiMan HE400se don't have a microphone.
The HiFiMan HE400se have impressive frequency response consistency. Regardless of your head size or shape, hair length, or whether you wear glasses, these headphones create an even seal around your ears. As a result, they sound nearly the same to different people and over the course of multiple listening sessions.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Jul 28, 2025:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. We've added new performance usages and updated the text throughout the Sound tests and corresponding side-by-side comparisons. This update also includes testing updates to Isolation.
- Updated Jul 10, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0, which updates our sound tests and adds performance usages. You can read more about this in our changelog.
- Updated Jul 04, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.8, which updates our target curve and Sound tests. You can read more about this in our changelog.
- Updated Jun 27, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.7, which updates our Noise Isolation test. We've also expanded the scope of this test to include Common Scenarios in addition to Voice Handling and Wind Handling.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The HiFiMan HE400se come in two batches that are differentiated primarily through their audio cables. The first batch has a silver braided audio cable. However, users reported breakage issues with this cable, and as a result, the manufacturer produced a second batch that has a black rubber cable. This change was also done in a stealth revision, so it's possible that you may not know which batch your product comes from until you open their box. In terms of colorways, these headphones come in only one color variation: 'Silver,' and you can see our model's label here. Our model is also from the second batch and comes with the black rubber cable.
If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the discussion section below and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The HiFiMan HE400se are budget-friendly audiophile headphones. They stand out from the affordable, open-back crowd, thanks to their planar magnetic drivers. This design helps them create a more immersive soundstage than many of their dynamic driver competitors, such as the Philips Fidelio X2HR, and they can produce a bit more low bass. As HiFiMan also produces a wide lineup of planar magnetic headphones, these over-ears are often compared to some of this manufacturer's mid-range products, such as the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. The HE400se are similarly great for neutral sound, but their high-mid to low-treble is more recessed, which weakens and veils vocals and instruments compared to the Sundara, which have a flatter overall response.
That said, if you're on the market for great-sounding headphones, you'll want to check out our best audiophile headphones article. You can also take a look at our picks for the best headphones for music and the best wired headphones.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 perform similarly to the HiFiMan HE400se, and your best choice depends on your preferences for sound profiles. While both headphones are very comfortable and well-built, the Sundara follow our target curve more closely for a smoother sound profile, particularly in the treble, and a bit warmer than the HE400se. They're also a bit more stable on the head. That said, these are minor differences, and if you want a brighter sound, the HE400se might suit you.
The Philips SHP9500 and the HiFiMan HE400se are great entry-level audiophile headphones with small differences. The Philips are less bulky and more comfortable for extended sessions. On the other hand, the HiFiMan are better built and are a good entry point for trying planar drivers. They deliver slightly more consistent sound on different people and are a little more spacious-sounding with remarkably low harmonic distortion. However, there are plenty of reasons to choose either, depending on your priorities.
Depending on your preferences, you may want to check out either the Sennheiser HD 560S or the HiFiMan HE400se, which are both comfortable audiophile headphones and share similarly consistent sound between people and sessions. The Sennheiser are dynamic headphones and are a bit lighter, with a tuning that complies a bit better with our target. However, the HiFiMan are planar magnetic headphones with better build quality. Most people will pick based on their preferred tuning.
The Philips Fidelio X2HR and the HiFiMan HE400se are comparable audiophile headphones. Both headphones are comfortable and well-built, with sound profiles that lack low bass but feature detailed mids and inconsistent highs. However, the HiFiMan are planar magnetics with a more immersive passive soundstage. Due to fit, positioning, and seal, they're also less sensitive to deviations in bass and treble delivery.
Test Results
The sound profile of the HiFiMan HE400se is fairly flat with a balanced treble range, making them a versatile choice for most kinds of audio content. They have planar magnetic drivers, but they also have an open-back design, which means that they don't produce as much thump, rumble, or punch as closed-back, dynamic driver models such as the FIIO FT1. That said, they also follow other target curves a little more than ours, like the SoundGuys.com Studio Curve, which works for this style of headphones for critical listening. Their mid-range is well-balanced and neutral, but a dip in the high-mid to low-treble veils vocals and lead instruments. In the top-end, the tuning is bright, more so in the mid-treble and above.
The frequency response consistency of the HiFiMan HE400se is great. Once you get a good fit, you should experience consistent bass and treble delivery each time you use these headphones. These headphones sound virtually the same regardless of your head size, hair length, and whether you wear glasses.
The bass profile target compliance of the HiFiMan HE400se is decent. Although they lack a thumpy low bass, which is to be expected from open-back headphones, they still deliver satisfactory boom and warmth. The high bass, in particular, punctuates the rhythm of kick drums in tracks like We Will Always Love You by The Avalanches and Blood Orange, but it doesn't necessarily inject much weight into the lower bass register parts.
The HiFiMan HE400se have great mid-range profile target compliance. The range is very flat, which results in natural and present vocals and lead instruments. However, a dip in the high-mid weakens their upper harmonics. This means that if you listen to songs like Sinnerman, you'll notice that Nina Simone's vocals, as well as her powerful piano melody in the climactic ending, sound a bit distant compared to the racing hi-hats.
The treble's target compliance is superb. Overall, the frequency response adheres relatively closely to our curve for a bright and clear reproduction of vocals, sibilant sounds (like 'S' and 'T'), and the upper harmonics of instruments such as cymbals. The low-treble carries on the high-mids' de-emphasis, which slightly veils vocals. However, the mid-treble is more balanced, so sibilants like cymbals sound bright without being too piercing.
The peaks and dips performance of the HiFiMan HE400se is good. The low bass has a small roll-off that de-emphasizes rumble a bit, while most of the low-end is otherwise smooth. The mids exhibit small peaks that can slightly boost leads and speech, while a dip in the high-mids carries into the low-treble, which weakens presence a bit. A prominent peak in the low-treble can cause vocal articulation to sound somewhat harsh, while a dip veils details a bit. A series of peaks causes harmonics to sound relatively piercing.
These headphones demonstrate good stereo mismatch performance. Their weighted amplitude is tightly matched on the L/R planar magnetic drivers. However, the left and right drivers have frequency response mismatch, particularly in the mids and treble, which can slightly shift where frequencies are located in the stereo field, though it's not especially significant. The headphones exhibit phase mismatch across the range, but it mainly falls within inaudible thresholds. Still, there's a significant mismatch in the highest frequencies, but for most people, this isn't too impactful.
These headphones have poor group delay. While they exhibit delays in the bass range that can make bass sound loose, most of the delay is in the lowest range, which they already roll off. Even so, the mid-bass doesn't sound overly tight and defined, while the mids and treble are transparent.
The PRTF performance of the HiFiMan HE400se is acceptable. The over-ears interact with your outer ears to lend sounds depth. However, they don't necessarily match the immersive qualities of angled reference speakers.
The HiFiMan HE400se demonstrate outstandingly low harmonic distortion. Across the measured frequency bands tested at 94 dB and 104 dB/SPL, the headphones output a clean, uncolored signal, free of unintended distortion.
Most analog audio sources, like laptop headphone jacks, can drive these headphones without a headphone amp.
These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid in this configuration.
The HiFiMan HE400se have rounded ear cups that are quite reminiscent of higher-end models like the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. However, the silver plastic detailing and aluminum hinges help differentiate them from other products in this manufacturer's lineup, which tend to have an overall black color scheme. They also have a more conventional headband than over-ears, such as the HiFiMan Arya, which tend to have large ski-band headbands.
Keep in mind that earlier batches of these headphones come with a silver braided audio cable. If you purchase from a newer batch, you'll receive a black cable.
The HiFiMan HE400se are very comfortable. They feel relatively lightweight (for planar magnetic headphones) and don't clamp too tightly on your head. The padding also feels plush and soft against the skin. However, the padding can get warm over time as heat is trapped in the cloth part of the cups.
Like most audiophile headphones, these over-ears are bulky and not designed for outdoor or on-the-go use. The ear cups can't swivel to lay flat and they take up a lot of room in a bag. They don't come with a carrying case to help protect them either.
The HiFiMan HE400se have a good build quality. Their frame is a mix of plastic and metal, and although the plastic feels a bit cheap, the headphones still feel sturdy overall. The headband has faux leather padding while the ear cups have a mix of faux leather and cloth. These over-ears also have planar magnetic drivers as well as two ports for the left and right audio cable connectors. On the downside, the hinges make a creaking noise when you move them. Luckily, they don't make any annoying sounds when on your head.
When we disconnected our unit's audio cable from the drivers, the left connector's glue came apart, exposing the wires inside the cable. We were able to push the connector back into place and it seems like there has been no change in performance. However, the cable seems of low quality. Luckily, the cable is replaceable, but this may still be a dealbreaker for some, as you'll need to factor in possible cable breakage over time.
The HiFiMan HE400se have mediocre stability. They don't clamp as tightly onto your head as other headphones from this manufacturer such as the HiFiMan HE-400i. They slightly move around with low-intensity head movements, but they can easily fall off of your head with more intense head movements. They're not designed for this purpose though.
The noise isolation performance of the HiFiMan HE400se is bad, but that's to be expected from open-back headphones. They're not designed to block out background noise like the low rumble of bus and plane engines or ambient chatter.
In common scenarios, the open-backed enclosures let in virtually all of the sounds in your environment. As a result, passenger chit-chat on transportation, office racket, and traffic all reach your ears.
The leakage performance of these headphones is terrible, but again, that's to be expected from open-backs. They're designed to leak audio and interact with your space for an immersive listening experience. The trade-off is that others around you can hear your audio, even in quiet environments.
These headphones come with a detachable 1/8" TRS cable with a separate 1/8" connector for the left and right drivers. They also come with a 1/8" to 1/4" TRS adapter so you can connect it to an amp or DAC. Keep in mind that earlier batches of these headphones come with a silver braided audio cable whereas newer batches come with a black rubberized cable.
The HiFiMan HE400se can only connect to PCs via analog. They don't have a mic though so you can only receive audio.
The HiFiMan HE400se can only receive audio when connected to your PS4 or PS5 console. If you want to communicate with a team, you'll need a mic.
These headphones can connect to your Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S via analog. However, they can only receive audio since they don't have a mic.
