Very good sound stage but very power hungry. You need atleast 170mW to 200mW minimum to make it usable and have 2db-3db room for EQ. but I will recommend for something like 300mW if you need wide room for EQ. One of the better option for complimentary amp/DAC will be KA13 that I use also KA11 is also good enough with enough room for EQ.

Coming from my old Sennheiser HD 206, the Hifiman HE400se is a HUGE, HUGE upgrade. The improvement in sound quality is nothing short of astonishing. The level of detail in every note, the expansive soundstage, and the overall clarity make this an incredible purchase for anyone looking to step into the world of planar magnetic headphones.

I paired the HE400se with the FiiO KA13 DAC-Amp, as my total budget was around ₹20,000. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my 2020 M1 Mac Mini could drive these headphones without any external amplification. Still, having a dedicated DAC-Amp always helps in refining the sound, and the KA13 is a solid addition.

Sound Quality – A Game Changer
The first thing I noticed was the remarkable separation between instruments. Every sound has its own space, making music feel more layered and immersive. The soundstage is wide, and imaging is precise, which makes listening to live recordings and orchestral music an absolute treat.

The bass is tight and controlled—not exaggerated but present enough to be satisfying. Mids are natural and well-balanced, making vocals sound incredibly lifelike. The treble is detailed yet non-fatiguing, though it might be slightly sharp for some users. For my taste, it’s just the right amount of brightness to bring out the finest details in music.

Comfort & Build Quality
At first, I was a bit skeptical about the build quality, but after using them for a while, I found them quite sturdy. The ear pads are comfortable, though swapping them for velour or hybrid pads might enhance comfort even further. The clamping force is light, making them great for long listening sessions without causing discomfort.

Amping & DAC – Is It Necessary?
A lot of people say planar magnetic headphones need an amp, but in my case, my 2020 M1 Mac Mini was able to drive them just fine at around 70–80% volume. However, with the FiiO KA13, there was a noticeable improvement in dynamics, bass response, and overall clarity. If you have a decent onboard DAC, you can still enjoy these headphones, but adding an external DAC-Amp will definitely enhance the experience.

Final Verdict – Worth Every Rupee!
For the price, the Hifiman HE400se is an absolute steal. It provides a true planar experience at an entry-level price, offering phenomenal detail, a spacious soundstage, and a natural sound signature. Whether you’re upgrading from basic headphones or looking for an affordable audiophile-grade option, these are 100% worth it.

✔ Pros:

Amazing detail and separation
Expansive soundstage
Planar magnetic clarity at an affordable price
Comfortable for long sessions
Can be driven by most modern devices
✖ Cons:

Treble might be slightly sharp for some
Needs a bit more power to reach full potential
Would I recommend them? Absolutely! If you're stepping into the world of audiophile-grade headphones, the HE400se is one of the best budget choices out there. 🎧🔥

it's a very accurate headphone. It's definitely for the ones who want to get lost in music, as this creates a soundscape like no other headphones I have tried till now, better than SONY XM4 and XM5.
Pros:
Amazing soundscape. Watch dune.
Accurately represents the sounds.

Cons:
It leans a bit towards treble.
Build quality.

I decided to buy this headphone as a test if I'd like Planar Magnetic drivers. I thought worst case I'll return them and buy something else on store credit.

After hearing these, I realised I unneccessarily worried about the sound. These sound amazing and It's really hard to believe these only cost 10k!

It does not have thumping bass, but what it does have is well defined bass. However, if you feel you need bass, these EQ very well, just adjust the bass via EQ to your preference and you would still get all the resolution in the mids and top end.

Overall It is a worthy buy for anyone. 5 stars because it is a 10k headphone though. Had it been 15k or higher it would be 4 stars as there would be some decent competition in that price point and obviously any higher than 20k and it will just compete with the sundara.

Do keep in mind that this is a Planar Magnetic headphone and will need a decent amount of power even though it is just a 25 ohm headphone (i know it is listed as a 32 ohm headphone but in reality it is 25 ohm as measured by several reviewers out there). I would recommend using a dac/amp capable of 100ohm or higher at 32ohms, that would be enough power to listen to these at a comfortable level, however you can definitely go higher if you wish to.

Headphone are absolutely stunning. Really very nice good for Mix and mastering.

I bought these headphones just to experience the sound produced by planar magnetic headphones. I was a bit sceptical about these headphones considering the mixed reviews it got online. Nevertheless, I bought them in the sale as the much popular Sundaras were beyond my budget and some reviews suggested that it sounded similar to the Sundaras and for their price, they provide great value.

As someone who is new to this hobby, I can't really describe the sound quality in detail but I can easily say that I am really satisfied with its sound. The sound is detailed and you can identify each instrument along with their positions. The soundstage is decent though not very wide. The bass is on the lower side but it can be compensated using EQ. I used the wavelet Eq along with TrueBass enabled on my IFI Zen DAC V2 and the bass was sufficient. The vocals sound good and the treble is sparkly without being harsh.
Overall, I am satisfied with the headphones and they are complementing my Meze 99 and HD660S very well.

I will try to keep this short and simple. I've been mostly using Dynamic driver headphones and IEMs and I've been very satisfied with them. I recently acquired the S12 and the details retrieval really surprised me. Therefore I wanted to get the Sundara B-stock on black friday sale but I was not able to get it and I went with 400SE and boy I was surprised. The headphones came in almost new condition and i didn't recieved the infamous Hifiman cable. The bundled cable is good and gets the job done. The comfort is excellent and the build quality is adequate too for the price. The sound signature is neutral with a bit of less bass (Nothing that my Zen Dac's True bass button can't fix) but the technicalities and imaging are stellar for the price. All in all, a great purchase if you're looking for your first planar magnetic headphones.

best design,best sound, but I wanted sound more louder. otherwish I am fully satisfied.

This is my first planar driver device and I'm spellbound by the songs that i usually hear from my other mid ranged iems... Like rajaz, time travellers... Just 😍, I have no complain against the built quality and the price, but there some qc issues with the cables.

For the past week i have been listening to HE400SE using a combination of Apple Dongle and Zen Air Can and i can say a few things :

•this is an upgrade for anyone going up from budget IEMs and basic headphones
•this blows everything in its price point.
•Although it can be powered by a Dongle which has 100+mW of power, you will be mostly comfortable with a dedicated amp.
•Apple Dongle can be used as DAC if you’re on a budget provided you get a budget amp
•The Details are the main highlight on these, the faint noises on IEMs sound much more apparent on these than IEMS.
•The Directional Sound is good. To enjoy the details you will need a Quiet Room because these are open backs.

Also, thanks to headphone guru who advised me to go with Zen Air Can with the Apple Dongle as it sounds pretty good on these.

I am more than satisfied and i will recommend this to everyone who is on a budget.

Ps: they might feel heavy on the head so try these if you can.

Loved the headphones

I'm new to audiophile quality headphones! This is an eargasmic experience! Fantastic detailing! Sound with life! I noticed that the full potential of this headphone can be utilized only by using high quality lossless files. Of course 320 kbps mp3 files sound way better in this headphone compared to any non-audiophile quality headphones.

Great overall performer and can't go wrong with these at this price point be it sound clarity, bass, treble or instrument separation. Keep in mind you need an amp to run them properly.
Only con I would say is that the sound stage is narrow.

Awesome packing and delivery experience!

Overall, HD599 is better.

Bass is excellent and neutral.
Soundstage and imaging is average. HD599 is slightly better.
Treble is very bright. Need EQ.
These are very resolving and analytical.

Biggest issue is the foul smell. Comes from foam pads.