Over-Ear
HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020
82Great
$169
Full review dataHiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020 vs Noise Airwave Max 6: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 82. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020 - Great overall at around $169.
Over-Ear
Noise Airwave Max 6
78Great
$85
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020
Sound8.5
Value9.0
Noise Airwave Max 6
Sound7.5
Noise cancelling7.0
Battery9.5
Calls7.0
Value8.5
Specifications
| Spec | HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020 | Noise Airwave Max 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $169 | $85 |
| HearWiki score | 82 / 100 · Great | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2020 | 2026 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | planar | hybrid |
| Driver size | 70 mm | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-35kHz | 20 Hz - 20 Hz |
| Impedance | 35 Ω | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | - | 6 |
| Bluetooth version | - | 6.0 |
| Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | No | No |
| Latency | - | 80 ms |
| Wireless range | - | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 120 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 80 h |
| Full charge time | - | 120 min |
| Quick charge | - | 10 min = 15 h |
| Wireless charging | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | - |
| ANC type | - | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | - | No |
| Companion app | - | No |
| Custom EQ | - | No |
| Wear detection | - | No |
| Controls | none | buttons |
| Voice assistant | - | Siri, Google Assistant |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 370 g | 251.4 g |
| Water resistance | - | IPX5 |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| USB-C | No | Yes |
| Balanced connection | Yes | - |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 5 |
What reviewers said
HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020
The HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020 is an open-back planar headphone that delivers impressive clarity and speed for its budget-friendly price. While its neutral tuning may benefit from EQ for some listeners, it offers solid comfort and strong overall value in the sub-$200 range. Its main limitations include lighter bass response and an open design that lacks isolation.
- Pro:Fast, resolving planar sound with good detail
- Pro:Comfortable fit for extended listening sessions
- Pro:Excellent value for the price
- Con:Tuning can sound sharp on bright tracks
- Con:Bass is lighter compared to some rivals
- Con:No carrying case included
Noise Airwave Max 6
The Noise Airwave Max 6 is an affordable over-ear wireless headphone offering adaptive active noise cancellation, an impressive 120-hour battery life, and Bluetooth 6.0 with LDAC support. It features a hybrid dual-driver setup, multipoint connectivity, and IPX5 water resistance, making it a strong budget option for long listening sessions and active use. Its lightweight build and quick-charge capability add to its convenience, though it lacks app support and a transparency mode.
- Pro:Exceptional battery life of up to 120 hours without ANC
- Pro:Supports LDAC and AAC codecs for high-quality wireless audio
- Pro:Adaptive noise cancellation with hybrid dual drivers
- Con:No companion app or custom EQ for sound tuning
- Con:No transparency mode for ambient awareness
- Con:Frequency response spec appears limited to 20 Hz - 20 Hz
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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