HiFiMAN HE400SE is an entry-level model of planar magnetic headphones that can be seen as a successor to the almost legendary HE400 that were released back in the 2012. Their manufacturer is also one of the most renowned headphone-related companies in the whole audio industry. HiFiMAN was founded by Dr. Fang Bian in 2005, and over the years evolved into a well-respected company that offers a vast array of products – ranging from budget RE400 wired IEMs, through wireless TWS IEMs like the new Svanar Wireless – up to hi-end phones like the well-respected HE1000se or Susvara. This particular company even made one – back in the day – of the first portable players that implemented an R2R (resistor ladder, or as some prefer to call the technology – multi-bit) technology: the HM-601 and the HM-801, which sported TDA1543 and PCM1704 conversion chips respectively. Obviously, HiFiMAN is better known for their planar magnetics cans, and for a good reason – they made quite a few of them. And were actually one of the industry’s pioneers in this regard. Not to mention the fact that some of those headphones made quite a stir and became classics with almost cult status. Like the hard to drive yet well acclaimed HE6 or HE500, to mention only a few.
What is even more interesting here is the fact that the subject of this particular review – the HE400SE – is, on one hand, the least expensive in the whole current planar line-up. Yet, on the other hand, it still has some of the newest HiFiMAN’s technologies that are used in more expensive siblings. Take the Stealth Magnets for example, which were introduced not that long ago. And should provide a clearer sound by the virtue of reducing air turbulence around diaphragms. Roughly the same shape of the magnetic structure – which is rounded – is, for example, used in Ananda Stealth Magnets and well-acclaimed hi-end HE1000 Stealth. Now please consider the fact that HE400SE has almost suspiciously low asking price – 109 US Dollars (around 120 Euro in Europe). Please also notice that, technically speaking, this is actually a full-blown planar design, because while devoid of all the bells and whistles of a more expensive offerings – everything, at least on paper, really seems to be in the right place here.
Moreover, HE400SE is also the cheapest model ever that bears the “400” in the name and has planar magnetic technology at the same time. Let me bring a little bit of a history here: the first HE400 were introduced back in the 2012, and were then succeeded by the HE-400i in the beginning of 2015. Then, in the same year it was the HE-400s with slightly different tuning. And then, in the end of the 2020 the HE400i came out, which can be viewed as a direct predecessor to the HE400SE reviewed here. What should also be noted is that the initial price of every previous model with the “400” badge was much higher that the current HE400SE asking price.
This makes us ask the crucial question here. When looking from the theoretical standpoint at the HiFiMAN HE400SE – they not only seem to be too good to be true. But they might even be seen as an amazing entry-level-yet-big-and-true-planar headphones overall. Especially bearing in mind the fact that this is still an open-back, planar magnetic design. And, apart from the aforementioned stealth magnets (heck, there’s even that sticker on the box), they also have detachable cords, and are nicely made in general (especially considering the price).
In other words, nothing seems off here. So, let’s give them some attention and take a closer look at what they have to offer, since chances are that HE400SE might be an interesting aberration even in the dynamic world of entry-level full-size headphones.
Some (planar magnetic) construction details
Let’s start off with the fact that the HE400SE are planar magnetic headphones, or in other words (or actually one word): orthodynamic. The concept is not new, and was introduced in 1972 by – you wouldn’t have guessed it – Wharfedale with its ID1 headphones. Instead of using the drivers with the voice coil that is in the magnetic gap of the motor structure and is also connected to a membrane of a conical or dome geometry, the concept here is a bit different. The actual voice coil is deposited on the flat diaphragm that in turn is placed between or close to many small magnets that form a magnetic circuit (that is flat and actually in a parallel plane to the membrane itself).