Over-Ear
HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020
82Great
$169
Full review dataHiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020 vs Sony WH-ULT900N: 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
Sony WH-ULT900N
78Great
$98
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
Sony WH-ULT900N
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling8.0
Battery9.0
Calls6.0
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020 | Sony WH-ULT900N |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $169 | $98 |
| HearWiki score | 82 / 100 · Great | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2020 | 2024 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | planar | dynamic |
| Driver size | 70 mm | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-35kHz | 5 Hz - 20,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 35 Ω | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 93 dB/mW | 110 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | - | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth version | - | 5.2 |
| Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes |
| Wireless range | - | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 30 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 30 h |
| Full charge time | - | 210 min |
| Quick charge | - | 3 min = 1.5 h; 10 min = 5 h |
| Wireless charging | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | - |
| ANC type | - | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | - | Yes |
| Companion app | - | Yes |
| Custom EQ | - | Yes |
| Wear detection | - | No |
| Controls | none | both |
| Voice assistant | - | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Siri |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 370 g | 255 g |
| Water resistance | - | none |
| Detachable cable | Yes | - |
| USB-C | No | Yes |
| Balanced connection | Yes | - |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 1 |
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
Sony WH-ULT900N
The Sony WH-ULT900N is a wireless over-ear headphone with adaptive noise cancellation and an impressive 50-hour battery life. It supports high-quality LDAC and AAC codecs, plus multipoint connectivity for seamless device switching. With a 40mm dynamic driver and customizable EQ, it aims to deliver a versatile listening experience, though it lacks water resistance.
- Pro:Excellent 50-hour battery life with quick charging
- Pro:Adaptive noise cancellation and transparency mode
- Pro:Supports LDAC and AAC codecs for high-quality audio
- Con:No water resistance rating
- Con:Only one microphone for calls
- Con:Relatively heavy at 255 grams
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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