Is the Yamaha Yh-4000 worth the upgrade from the HiFiMAN HE 6?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the HiFiMAN HE 6 to the Yamaha Yh-4000 buys you 14.1 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 7.0) and sound (8.5 to 9.0). On paper: weight 502 g to 320 g. Worth checking: active noise cancelling goes No to No and driver size goes 60 mm to 50 mm. That costs $1201 more, or about $85 per point of score - steep unless the specific gains above are ones you care about. 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.
- Sound8.59.0
- Value6.07.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | HE 6 | Yh-4000 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | No | No | |
| Weight | 502 g | 320 g | |
| Driver size | 60 mm | 50 mm | |
| Driver | 60 mm planar magnetic | 50 mm planar magnetic | |
| Frequency response | 8 Hz - 65 kHz | 5 Hz - 70 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "HE 6 to Yh-4000". 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.