Is the HiFiMAN HE 600 worth the upgrade from the Sennheiser HD 400?
Verdict
Downgrade
The HiFiMAN HE 600 actually scores 8.2 points below the Sennheiser HD 400, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on sound (8.5 to 8.0) and value (8.0 to 7.5). On paper: driver size 40 mm to 100 mm. Worth checking: weight goes 240 g to 389 g and usb-c goes Yes to No. And it costs $722 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.
- Sound8.58.0
- Value8.07.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | HD 400 | HE 600 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 240 g | 389 g | |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 100 mm | |
| USB-C | Yes | No | |
| Driver | 40 mm dynamic | 100 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 600". 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.