Best Headphones for Music
HIFIMAN HE400se

#16 overall · open-back planar wired

HIFIMAN HE400se

Entry ticket to planar sound for just over $100.

PlanarBudgetAmp helpsUnder $200
People recommending
15
Say they own it
15
Mentions
163
Posts read
1,745
Check price on Amazon · $109
Own these? Vote

Typical price, checked Sep 2026. HIFIMAN's own HE400se page was not fetched; the $109 figure is the list price cited by a Head-Fi member in Nov 2023 and matched by Amazon listings seen during the search. Treat as approximate.

Why people like it

  • 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

What owners complain about

  • Needs more power than a phone gives
  • Same HIFIMAN quality-control worries as the Sundara
  • Basic comfort and build

The 17 sources

Owner = the person says they use it. Recommendation = passed on without saying so. Dates are when the thread or video was posted.

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