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Head to head · for music listening
HIFIMAN Sundara vs HE400se
More people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara overall (79 vs 15). None of the 20 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 20
- Say they own both
- 1
- Choose the Sundara
- 0
- Choose the HE400se
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 20 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 11 review videos, harvested Sep 2026. A comment counts as a choice only when it says so in plain words (prefer X over Y, upgraded from Y to X); questions never count. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $179 | $109cheaper |
| Overall rank | #7higher | #27 |
| People who recommend it | 79more | 15 |
| Say they own it | 109more | 13 |
| Mentions | 806more | 187 |
| Type | open-back planar wired | open-back planar wired |
| Known for | Planar detailHomeAmp helps | PlanarBudgetAmp helps |
| Best for | The planar most often recommended under $200, by people who already have, or will buy, a small desktop amp. | Recommended as the entry ticket to planar sound for just over $100. |
| Buy | Amazon · $179 | Amazon · $109 |
#7 overall
HIFIMAN Sundara
1 of the 20 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Planar speed and detail that people say is unmatched at the price
- Good soundstage and imaging; responds well to EQ
- Frequently on sale or open-box direct from HIFIMAN, which is how many owners bought it
- Comfortable and clean; several owners say they stopped shopping after buying it
The complaints
- Needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone
- Older units had driver failures and some people call HIFIMAN build and quality control poor
- Tuning takes getting used to; a couple of listeners simply do not like planars
In their words
“I bought the Sundara on your recommendations and really love it”
A commenter under Sundara v 660S v 1990 (Under $500 Headphone Comparison) (Joshua Valour) · Feb 2020
“I got my Sundaras at a crazy price, and I love them”
A commenter under The Best Deal in Audio... Period. (Joshua Valour) · Nov 2024
“I use the sundaras and i would recommend them”
A commenter under Why Do All Streamers Use These Headphones? (Dagwummy) · Jul 2023
#27 overall
HIFIMAN HE400se
3 of the 20 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Cheapest planar-magnetic headphone people take seriously; called hands-down the best budget headphone by one owner
- Open, fast sound well above its price
- Open-box units direct from HIFIMAN keep the full warranty
The complaints
- Needs more power than a phone gives
- Same HIFIMAN quality-control worries as the Sundara
- Basic comfort and build
In their words
“I have the Hifiman HE 400SE and Love them with a dac”
A commenter under The Best Deal in Audio... Period. (Joshua Valour) · Nov 2024
“Nice I can buy the HE400SE vs the Susvaras now ;P”
A commenter under Stealth Magnets for UNDER $200!? HE400SE Review (Joshua Valour) · Sep 2021
Questions people ask about this pair
Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.
- Is the HIFIMAN Sundara better than the HIFIMAN HE400se?
- None of the 20 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 79 people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara and 15 the HIFIMAN HE400se. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the HIFIMAN HE400se?
- The HIFIMAN HE400se is cheaper: $109 against $179 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the HIFIMAN HE400se?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara: 79 people recommend it against 15. On the site-wide leaderboard the HIFIMAN Sundara is #7 and the HIFIMAN HE400se is #27.
- Do people own both the HIFIMAN Sundara and the HIFIMAN HE400se?
- Yes. 1 of the 20 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 1 say they own the HIFIMAN Sundara and 3 the HIFIMAN HE400se.
- What do owners complain about on the HIFIMAN Sundara and the HIFIMAN HE400se?
- The most repeated complaint about the HIFIMAN Sundara: needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone. About the HIFIMAN HE400se: needs more power than a phone gives. The full lists are on each side below.