HiFiMAN, a leading designer/manufacturer of high performance headphones and portable audio products, announced their newest full-size planar magnetic headphone, the HE-400i, intended for high performance listening in the home or studio. Replacing the company’s highly popular HE-400, the new HE-400i make available an extraordinary balanced musical presentation.

The HiFiMAN HE-400i is 30% lighter than comparable headphones allowing the listener to comfortably enjoy music for hours on end with minimal listener fatigue. A newly-designed headband that is lighter with an improved pressure pattern is a key to the phone’s best-in-class comfort. The FocusPad, new beveled hybrid ear pads made of pleather and velour, provide both increased comfort and improved sound quality. The gloss ear cups are finished in a smoky gray, Mylar finish that gives the HE-400i a striking contemporary look.

On the technical front, the HE-400i challenges the status quo with newly-designed single-ended drivers in open-back design that delivers the lifelike soundstage and spatial imaging that HiFiMAN is known for. Efficiency is increased to 93dB, which allows the HE-400i to be driven with a portable audio device such as an iPod or smartphone though ultimate performance would be achieved if paired with a quality amplifier. To capture every bit of detail, a newly-designed premium cable, comprised of Crystalline metal featuring Oxygen-free copper and Oxygen-free silver is included as standard.

According to HiFiMAN Founder and President, Dr. Fang Bian, “The original HE-400 was the best-selling, full-size headphone in the company’s history and a very popular product. While people liked the sound they kept asking us if we could make them lighter and more comfortable? With the extensive design and engineering we had just done with our new HE-560, we were able to do several things to improve on this model. For starters, we really enhanced the ergonomics and comfort through lighter weight and a greatly improved headband. We also use the same FocusPad beveled ear pad which is a hybrid made of Pleather and Velour. That further increases the comfort as well as improves the sound.”

Dr. Bian went on to add, “We also did three years of research on this new single-ended driver. Though this design has had limitations in the past, our in-depth engineering has managed to greatly improve its efficiency and sound quality in every way. Finally, everyone who knows HiFiMAN knows I am crazy about using the best cables possible as it is one of the easiest ways to improve the sound of a headphone. For HE-400i, I chose a special cable made of crystalline copper and crystalline silver. You know, as successful as we were with HE-400, I am quite excited about the potential for HE-400i.”

Key Features of the HiFiMAN HE-400i:
• Newly-engineered, single-sided, planar magnetic driver provides tighter bass with superior soundstage and spatial imaging
• 30% lighter than other full-size planar magnetic designs for increased comfort
• Increased efficiency so it is even easier to drive. Can be used with portable audio device such as an iPod or smartphone
• FocusPad Beveled hybrid ear pads with pleather and velour for increased comfort and improved sound
• Newly-designed cable comprised of crystalline metal and crystalline silver

Specifications:
Driver Type: Planar Magnetic
Impedance @ 1kHz: 35 ohms
Sensitivity: 94 dB SPL/V
Connector Type: 1/4"
Cable Length: 1.5 m
Cable Style: Straight Y
Weight: 12.7 oz.

The Planar Magnetic Operating Principle

You can think of planar magnetic drivers as a sort of crossbreed between dynamic and electrostatic drivers. Like a standard dynamic headphone, planar magnetic headphones use the magnetic field around a conductor that has electrical current flowing through it to drive the diaphragm. Like an electrostatic driver, the diaphragm of a planar magnetic speaker is a thin sheet of flexible transparent film, but unlike an electrostat, the film has very thin, flat electrical conductors (wires ... but very flat ones) in it.

HiFiMAN at a glance

Founded by Dr. Fang Bian in 2007, HiFiMAN is widely regarded as one of the leading manufacturers of high performance headphones and portable audio products. HiFiMAN is especially known for its critically-acclaimed Planar-Magnetic headphones that feature state-of-the-art driver technology. The company also designs and manufactures best-in-class dynamic in-ear drivers which have also garnered awards and rave reviews. HiFiMAN also owns and operates Head-Direct, an online webstore featuring the finest headphones and portable audio players available today, including HiFiMAN products.

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