Over-Ear
HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020
82Great
$170
Full review dataHiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020 vs STAX SR-5: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020 vs STAX SR-5, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
Over-Ear
STAX SR-5
Not yet scored
$100
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020 leads on 3 of 4 measures.
- HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020
- STAX SR-5
HearWiki score
82
-
Sound
8.5
-
Value
9.0
-
Price (USD)
$170
$100
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?
Same generation
The HiFiMAN HE 400i Ver.2020 is 45 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price. For 45 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- HE 400i Ver.2020202045 yr newer
- SR-51975
Specifications
HE 400i Ver.2020SR-5
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $170
- $100
- HearWiki score
- 82
- Not scored
- Released
- 2020
- 1975
- Driver
- 70 mm planar magnetic
- electrostatic
- Driver type
- planar
- electrostatic
- Driver size
- 70 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- -
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 35 kHz
- -
- Impedance
- 35 Ω
- -
- Sensitivity
- 93 dB/mW
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- -
- Controls
- none
- -
- Weight
- 370 g
- 300 g
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- -
- USB-C
- No
- -
- Balanced connection
- Yes
- -
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
STAX SR-5
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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