Over-Ear
AKG N9 Hybrid
86Outstanding
$290
Full review dataAKG N9 Hybrid vs HiFiMAN HE400SE: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the AKG N9 Hybrid comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 86. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: AKG N9 Hybrid - Outstanding overall at around $289.
Over-Ear
HiFiMAN HE400SE
72Good
$150
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
AKG N9 Hybrid leads on 5 of 7 measures.
- AKG N9 Hybrid
- HiFiMAN HE400SE
HearWiki score
86
72
Sound
9.0
8.0
Noise cancelling
8.4
-
Battery
9.8
-
Calls
9.1
-
Value
9.0
9.4
Price (USD)
$290
$150
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Half a step newer
AKG N9 Hybrid (2024) against HiFiMAN HE400SE (2021). The AKG N9 Hybrid edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- N9 Hybrid20243 yr newer
- HE400SE2021
What differsN9 HybridHE400SE
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
N9 HybridHE400SE
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $290
- $150
- HearWiki score
- 86
- 72
- Released
- 2024
- 2021
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 40 mm dynamic
- planar magnetic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- planar
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- -
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 40 kHz
- -
- Impedance
- 32 Ω
- 32 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 98 dB/mW
- -
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- -
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LDAC
- -
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- -
- Battery life
- 100 h
- -
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 55 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 180 min
- -
- Quick charge
- 10 min → 6 h
- -
- Wireless charging
- No
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- No
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- touch
- -
- Voice assistant
- Google Assistant, Siri
- -
- Weight
- 281 g
- 385 g
- Water resistance
- none
- -
- USB-C
- Yes
- -
- Microphones
- 1
- -
What reviewers said
AKG N9 Hybrid
The AKG N9 Hybrid is a premium over-ear wireless headphone that combines adaptive noise cancellation with an exceptionally long battery life and support for high-resolution Bluetooth codecs. It delivers a clean, detailed, and well-balanced sound profile, with a comfortable fit and versatile features that suit music, gaming, and movies. Its minimalist design and customizable controls make it a strong all-rounder, though it lacks water resistance and wireless charging.
- Pro:Exceptional battery life of up to 100 hours without ANC
- Pro:Natural and detailed sound with wide frequency response
- Pro:Adaptive noise cancellation and transparency mode for flexible listening
- Con:No water resistance rating for outdoor or workout use
- Con:No wireless charging support
- Con:Only one microphone, which may limit call quality
HiFiMAN HE400SE
The HiFiMAN HE400SE is a budget-friendly open-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers a balanced, neutral-to-bright sound signature with well-reproduced mids and treble. It's an excellent entry point into planar audio for the price, though its open design means poor isolation and sound leakage, and it performs best with a dedicated amplifier or EQ adjustments. Overall, it's a highly recommended value pick for home listening rather than portable use.
- Pro:Excellent value for planar magnetic sound
- Pro:Balanced and detailed frequency response
- Pro:Comfortable over-ear design
- Con:Deep bass rolls off noticeably
- Con:Open-back design leaks sound and offers no isolation
- Con:Needs a decent amp to reach full potential
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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