Is the Sennheiser HD 400 worth the upgrade from the HiFiMAN HE 6?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the HiFiMAN HE 6 to the Sennheiser HD 400 buys you 13.6 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in value (6.0 to 8.0). On paper: weight 502 g to 240 g. Worth checking: active noise cancelling goes No to No and driver size goes 60 mm to 40 mm. It's also $1222 cheaper, which makes this an easy call. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.58.5
- Value6.08.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | HE 6 | HD 400 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | No | No | |
| Weight | 502 g | 240 g | |
| Driver size | 60 mm | 40 mm | |
| Driver | 60 mm planar magnetic | 40 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 8 Hz - 65 kHz | 18 Hz - 20 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "HE 6 to HD 400". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.