Beyerdynamic T1....or HiFiman HE400i (Resolved!)

[GamerDude]

Hi guys, I'm here again, but to ask for the opinions of the audio gurus here with regard to the T1. I can get a used one for about 560USD, which I think is a great value, and I'm all about getting stuff at great value. :wacko:  The cable on the T1 has been fitted with 4 pin XLR for balanced amps, but seller will provide 4 pin XLR female to 6.3mm jack for use on SE output. Now, the HiFiman planar mag cans is the one I'm truly curious about. But, I can get it for about 400USD which, for me, ain't too great on my value-for-money philosophy. I have budget for one of them, though I can go for both........but that's nuts! :blink:  I like the HiFiman HE400i, looks great and it's lighter than the HE400 with some perceived sonic improvements, but 400USD isn't THAT great a bargain. If it doesn't stand up well against my HD800, I'd not mind given its pricepoint. Now, the Beyer T1 is a greater bargain, but can it stand up against my HD800? They're similar at full retail price, so I'd expect a little more from the T1. My preference for sound is a wide soundstage, nice highs that isn't too bright, with transparent mids......sound can tilt toward warm with a bass emphasis is perfectly fine for me. They will be used on my iFi Micro iDSD and Micro iCAN which are said to be a little tubey sonically, with neutral tilting to warm sound.

 

I'm asking for advice here, I'll prolly buy one of them, just want to know what you guys think about it. Bear in mind that I'd listen to all the prudent advice given, and I might heed the advice or general consensus given....or, I might just ignore everything and do my thang.  I hope you guys are OK with that and not gripe at me for not heeding advice that was given. I'm a bit fickle....OK, OK, a hella fickle......I'm like that, can't help myself. So please don't be offended if I do my own thing.

[creatip123]

T1 got crazy clarity on highs, surpasses the HD800. But I think on the lows and mid-lows, the HD800 is better. 

 

Haven't tried the 400i, but if it's anything like the 400, or even the LCD series, then it's on the warmer side. Compared to the Senn's world, it'd be more similar to the HD700. 

[GamerDude]

T1 got crazy clarity on highs, surpasses the HD800. But I think on the lows and mid-lows, the HD800 is better. 

 

Haven't tried the 400i, but if it's anything like the 400, or even the LCD series, then it's on the warmer side. Compared to the Senn's world, it'd be more similar to the HD700. 

Thanks for the quick reply, I've noted your observations......you sure the T1 can't match the HD800 in the low frequency department? I've always thought Beyer cans are known for better lows, no way close to basshead lows, but more pronounced than on Senn.

 

BTW, do you think the added XLR connections on the Beyer T1 is a possible.....weakness (for want of a better word) both in terms of sonically and physically?

[creatip123]

Thanks for the quick reply, I've noted your observations......you sure the T1 can't match the HD800 in the low frequency department? I've always thought Beyer cans are known for better lows, no way close to basshead lows, but more pronounced than on Senn.

 

BTW, do you think the added XLR connections on the Beyer T1 is a possible.....weakness (for want of a better word) both in terms of sonically and physically?

 

I think it's because of the their Tesla drivers (the T in the T series) that make them so clear in the highs. The DT series and COP, which are known to have more bass are not using Tesla drivers, I think. It's like the HD800 use a kind of 'donut driver' (forgot the technical name), which are different than their usual drivers.

 

Given your condition, if it were me, I'd gladly accept the XLR head, and the XLR to stereo connector. Balanced XLR won't have any advantages when used with non-balanced amps (with the stereo connector), but it will keep an open possibility for the future amp purchase. This is of course assuming you don't already have a balanced connection amp.

 

Aside from the interference minimalisation, which won't do much anyway for short cables, I feel balanced connection gives better, cleaner sounds. Might be because of not using common ground though. 

[GamerDude]

OK, a plus for the T1......but oddly enough, I find myself leaning toward the HE400i after a bit of research.....both can be a tad bright from what I've gathered. I also love that it's planar mag and it'd be my very first. Still, the only reason why I'm 'iffy' now is because the T1 is at a very good price point, and it'd be my first Tesla headphones. Oh man, I hate being so........fickle! :blink:

 

Thanks for the reply, still doing my mental masturbation thang...... <_< Damn, had I'd known that the world, nay, the universe of audio appreciation would be so....confusing, and frustrating, I'd have thought twice before diving in.

[Lays]

From what I've seen, people say the t1 is similar to hd800 but the 800 does basically everything the t1 does, but better.

I think the t1 is to similar to the hd800 to warrant buying it. Imo you should look into headphones that are different than the 800s

[GamerDude]

From what I've seen, people say the t1 is similar to hd800 but the 800 does basically everything the t1 does, but better.

I think the t1 is to similar to the hd800 to warrant buying it. Imo you should look into headphones that are different than the 800s

Was just reading more reviews of the T1 and HE400i, and yeah, you have stated something that I'd just read about in an article comparing the HD800 vs T1. It also seems that the T1 has a narrower or more compressed soundstage compared to the HD800 (but then, I don't think there's any dynamic headphones that has soundstage that can compare with the HD800, that's why I'm curious about planar mags). Anybody tried the HE400i yet? 

[Lays]

Was just reading more reviews of the T1 and HE400i, and yeah, you have stated something that I'd just read about in an article comparing the HD800 vs T1. It also seems that the T1 has a narrower or more compressed soundstage compared to the HD800 (but then, I don't think there's any dynamic headphones that has soundstage that can compare with the HD800, that's why I'm curious about planar mags). Anybody tried the HE400i yet? 

 

 

I used to have a pair of HE-500, they are very similar to he-400i from what I've heard.

My biggest complaint with them was sort-of uncomfortable, but the 400i is supposed to fix that.

[GamerDude]

I used to have a pair of HE-500, they are very similar to he-400i from what I've heard.

My biggest complaint with them was sort-of uncomfortable, but the 400i is supposed to fix that.

 

IMO see if you can find something different than hd800 so you can use them as a "change-up"

That's the thing, I'm not clear as to whether the HE400i is different enough, also not clear as to whether its bass is as good as the HE400 is supposed to be. Still, tilting more toward the HE400i now....

[Lays]

That's the thing, I'm not clear as to whether the HE400i is different enough, also not clear as to whether its bass is as good as the HE400 is supposed to be. Still, tilting more toward the HE400i now....

 

The 400 definitely has more bass from the comparisons I've seen in reviews, but the HE-400i is supposed to be more geared towards neutral.

I'm not entirely sure what to recommend, because a lot of good headphones that are more expensive tend to be quite neutral.

 

I think the 400 would be a good counter to the HD800, but I also think they're somewhat uncomfortable. So I'm hesitant to recommend it.

[BoredErica]

You need to spend more time in a shop and less time asking for our opinions mate.

 

inb4darkwizzieisameaniesohisopinionsareinvalid

[MayflowerElectronics]

Balanced cables don't do anything. My time with t1s wasn't great. Very flat and boring. I like my 770/880/990 much better.

The 400i looks very promising, I would go with them.

[GamerDude]

Balanced cables don't do anything. My time with t1s wasn't great. Very flat and boring. I like my 770/880/990 much better.

The 400i looks very promising, I would go with them.

Yeah, I'm leaning towards it......I've been trying to contact the seller, he has not responded. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Thanks for the advice given guys, will wait a day or two for the HE400i seller to reply. Hope to get it by the weekends though....once again, thanks guys.

[GamerDude]

While waiting for the guy selling the HE400i to respond, I more or less bought a Beyerdynamic DT990 600 Ohms. It's going to replace my HX Cloud which I'm going to sell. The reason why I'd gotten the DT990/600 Premium is because the seller was willing to sell it for about 144USD, I figured that that's a good price. Looks like I'm cleaning house, so to say. I'm selling my Logitech Z623, the HiVi GT1000 as well as the HX Cloud. Gonna replace them with higher quality cans and DAC/AMP's.

[MayflowerElectronics]

Yeah I love my DT 990's. Maybe try picking up some AKG K612 pro's while you are at it. Both will be cheaper than the 400i's.

[GamerDude]

Yeah I love my DT 990's. Maybe try picking up some AKG K612 pro's while you are at it. Both will be cheaper than the 400i's.

The DT990/600 is gonna be my go to gaming cans, that it can be used as a good pair of cans for music is a plus....or, should I have phrased it the other way around? Regardless, I'm determined to get a pair of planar mag cans, so I'll wait for the HE400i seller first, should he not wish to sell, I'll look online. I do see a HE400 over at eBay for a good price. I'll take my time on this......thanks for the suggestion though. I'm heeding your previous advice, one way or another, I'm gonna get a HE400i/400.

I'm listening to a couple of DSF tracks using my iFi Micro iDSD hooked up to my 2nd rig with the Senn HD800, the sound is amazing, really next level stuff! What I've found to be equally amazing as the sound is the size of each track/file, between 200mb to 300mb!

Edit : A brief update, the 400i seller has gone MIA....might settle for a brand new HE400 instead.

[Goyomojo Tech]

I just got the new Hifiman He-400i and they sound absolutely amazing! The packaging is awesome and the headphones feel extremely premium while also being comfortable. They also sound great with extremely crisp extended highs, nice clear and forward mids, a little subdued but accurate and tight bass. Even though the he-400is sound great, it is not as good as the T1 but it does come pretty dam close. These 2 headphones are not in the same price bracket so its really not a extremely fair comparison. 

 

I have also listened to the hd650s and the dt990 pros before and in my opinion, none of them sound as clear as the he-400is. The he-400is also have incredible sound stage that makes you feel like your sitting in a huge room. the only downside to them is that the bass response is a bit on the lower side and if you are a bass head, these will probably not be the best headphones for you. 

Edited February 2, 2015 by colonel_mortis
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[BoredErica]

Holy thread bumping zombie batman!

[ShearMe]

T1 sounds like a slightly more refined DT990. As such, I think it's rather overpriced unless you love the DT990 so much that you want a fancier built one.

[ShearMe]

Holy thread bumping zombie batman!

Oh, nice. Missed it on mobile.

[SSL]

T1 sounds like a slightly more refined DT990. As such, I think it's rather overpriced unless you love the DT990 so much that you want a fancier built one.

 

The whole Tesla lineup is dumb; worse versions of the DT cans at ridiculous markup. The Manufaktur stuff exists for people who want fancy shit.

[ShearMe]

The whole Tesla lineup is dumb; worse versions of the DT cans at ridiculous markup. The Manufaktur stuff exists for people who want fancy shit.

I love English because there's so many ways to say the same exact thing.

[SSL]

I love English because there's so many ways to say the same exact thing.

 

Too bad that wasn't the case here.

[NannerBeans]

The whole Tesla lineup is dumb; worse versions of the DT cans at ridiculous markup. The Manufaktur stuff exists for people who want fancy shit.

The Fostex teslas are pretty good

 

I wouldn't get any one other than the TH600 though. I think the $450 that used ones are going for is a steal right now. 

[ShearMe]

Too bad that wasn't the case here.