Is the Sennheiser HD 400 worth the upgrade from the HiFiMAN HE 600?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Sennheiser HD 400 scores 8.2 points above the HiFiMAN HE 600. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in sound (8.0 to 8.5) and value (7.5 to 8.0). On paper: weight 389 g to 240 g and usb-c. Worth checking: driver size goes 100 mm to 40 mm. It's also $722 cheaper, which makes this an easy call. Worth doing if you're replacing anyway; harder to justify as a pure upgrade if what you have still works.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.08.5
- Value7.58.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | HE 600 | HD 400 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 389 g | 240 g | |
| Driver size | 100 mm | 40 mm | |
| USB-C | No | Yes | |
| Driver | 100 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 600 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.