Is the HiFiMAN HE 6 worth the upgrade from the Sennheiser HD 400?
Verdict
Downgrade
The HiFiMAN HE 6 actually scores 13.6 points below the Sennheiser HD 400, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on value (8.0 to 6.0). On paper: driver size 40 mm to 60 mm. Worth checking: active noise cancelling goes No to No and weight goes 240 g to 502 g. And it costs $1222 more for a lower score, which is hard to justify on the data alone. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
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
- Value8.06.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | HD 400 | HE 6 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | No | No | |
| Weight | 240 g | 502 g | |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 60 mm | |
| Driver | 40 mm dynamic | 60 mm planar magnetic | |
| Frequency response | 18 Hz - 20 kHz | 8 Hz - 65 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "HD 400 to HE 6". 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.