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HiFiMAN HE 400se StealthImage © Amazon

HiFiMAN HE 400se Stealth

75/ 100
Great
HearWiki score

Good value

$120
typical price, USD
Still sold newupdated
Buy now onAmazon

At a glance

Brand
HiFiMAN
Type
Over-Ear
Fit
open
Connection
Wired
Noise cancelling
-
Released
2021

Score breakdowngreat overall

Sound7.9
Value9.3

The HearWiki takeAI-condensed

The HiFiMAN HE400se Stealth is an affordable wired over-ear planar magnetic headphone that delivers accurate, balanced audio for its price. Its Stealth Magnet design and 32-ohm impedance make it easy to drive, though open-back bass roll-off and a slight midrange dip are notable trade-offs. It's a strong value pick for budget-conscious listeners seeking planar performance.

What works

  • Excellent value for planar magnetic sound
  • Accurate, neutral frequency response overall
  • Easy to drive at 32 ohms
  • Detachable cable with balanced option
  • Lightweight at 385 grams

What doesn't

  • Bass rolls off below ~60 Hz
  • Slight midrange dip around 2 kHz
  • Open-back design leaks sound and lacks isolation
  • Not foldable for portability

Paraphrased from published reviews & specs - not an original hands-on test. Our AI disclosure.

Specifications

Audio - HiFiMAN HE 400se Stealth
Driverplanar magnetic
Driver typeplanar
Drivers per side1
Frequency response20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance32 Ω

Where to buy

Retailers we matched to this exact model. Prices are periodic snapshots - the link always opens the retailer's current listing.

What the reviews said

5 source(s) feeding this product's score.

headfonics.com

85

Headfonics describes the HE400se as a very good all-around headphone for the price, with balanced performance rather than standout extremes. Its overall takeaway is that the HE400se is not perfect, but it is a strong value-oriented option.

Read the full review

theaudiostuff.com

76

The Audio Stuff recommends the HE400se as a strong budget planar option, praising its value and the Stealth Magnet design. It also points out drawbacks such as limited bass extension below 60 Hz and a somewhat muffled midrange dip around 2 kHz.

Read the full review

homestudiobasics.com

Home Studio Basics presents the HE400se as a budget headphone that performs above expectations for its price. The review frames it as an appealing entry-level planar with solid sound and a lightweight value proposition.

Read the full review

soundonsound.com

Sound On Sound views the HE400se as an affordable way to get Hifiman planar magnetic technology without giving up most of its core strengths. The review says the headphones are not especially hard to drive and highlights the Stealth Magnet design as a benefit.

Read the full review

What YouTube reviewers say

Video reviews we found, each condensed to its verdict. They do feed the HearWiki score, at a measured weight below what a published written review carries.

13:43

Hifiman HE400 VS HE400se Stealth Magnets - testing some mods to see how they perform

Custom Cans24.7K viewsJul 2022

The reviewer compares the HiFiMAN HE400 and HE400se Stealth, finding the older HE400 is more efficient and louder, while the Stealth version sounds better overall. Removing the grilles significantly improves the older model's bass and presence, but has little effect on the Stealth version. The reviewer also tests custom airflow inserts that add a V-shaped tuning and slightly more open sound, but notes the mods are less impactful on the Stealth model.

Summaries are AI condensations of each video's own conclusion, not transcripts. Titles, thumbnails and view counts belong to their channels.

What owners say

A sample of buyer reviews, quoted as written. They aren't verified and they don't feed the HearWiki score - that comes from published reviews only.

Surptisingly good actually, and two bits of adhesive tape make them 10x better

They are amazingly good for the price, definitely much better sound than my old AKG K271 MKII (which aren t just V-shaped, they are N-shaped, I can t believe I ve spent at least 6 years in them. Yeah,Read more

Definitely the best model for your first introduction to the world of planar magnetic headphones.

Attention! I want to warn you in advance that this review is purely my subjective opinion, and your feelings may differ significantly from mine. I received them a little over a month ago, and in thatRead more

nice, good price, returned 1h after receiving them....read on to see why

I m a headphone phanatic. I ve owned dozens, currently have Grado SR80e and Meze 99 Classics and Bose QC 35; have owned Sennheiser, Beyerdynamics, Koss, more Bose...and Sony, Bose, Kleer, Klipsch,Read more

Precise Sound and Comfortable Fit

I have never owned or heard a planar headphone before. I am not a major audiophile, and the best headphones I have owned are V-Moda M-80, which I have had for a while, and Philips Fidelio X2HR, whichRead more

via Amazon customer reviews

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Where it sits in our rankings

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