ROAD TEST
Sennheiser HD 400 Pro Studio Headphones
By Audrey Leyenhorst
I
’ ve been using Sennheiser ’ s HD 280 Pro studio monitor headphones for years , so when the opportunity came up to try out their new HD 400 Pros , I was obviously rather excited . This new model from the iconic German manufacturer is a lightweight , openback pair of monitoring headphones that seeks to improve audio quality and user comfort for those in environments where critical listening is key , especially for extended periods of time , as they boast velour ear pads and a weight of only 240g .
At the heart of the HD 400 Pro ’ s sonics is a 120-ohm transducer developed by the company , which utilizes a specialized polymer blend within its diaphragm . According to Sennheiser , “ the drive magnet offers high power while its damping system manages ventilation ,” which ultimately aids in the reproduction of lowrange frequencies . The headphones ’ frequency response rating of 6Hz to 38kHz corroborates this , and so have my ears – aside from the adjustment from closed- to open-back , the most immediate and apparent difference to me when switching to these from my 280s was the fullness of the low end by comparison . On the 280s , I find that when dealing with deeper LF content , you have to learn to feel where the right level is , because while the low end sounds full , it ’ s not super articulate . On the 400s , you can confidently hear what ’ s going on down there .
It ’ s a fun little case study in varying degrees of what an advertised flat response can sound like – and don ’ t get me wrong , the 400s sound stunningly natural , and with that it ’ s apparent what Sennheiser was going for with them : in a word , more . More power , more realism , and most importantly , more accuracy . I ’ ll clarify as well , these are clearly a step up from the 280s , not a replacement or alternative – they ’ re objectively better headphones , and are priced as such . The side-by-side comparison more or less just helped to demonstrate what makes the 400s so good , because I do love the 280s and am very familiar with them .
Looking further into the specs , the HD 400 Pros feature angled transducers that have been designed to provide the lowest possible distortion at high playback levels , which work in tandem with the open-back design to widen the reproduced stereo field and offer a more realistic and dynamic perception of audio that ’ s more akin to monitors in the room . Additionally , they can output up to 110dB SPL ( please don ’ t do this ), with a THD rating of less than 0.05 percent ( 1kHz @ 90dB SPL , and 120 ohms of impedance ). Furthermore – and this is pretty cool – the HD 400 Pros can be used with Dear Reality ’ s dearVR MIX software , which uses spatial audio technology to allow users to place themselves in a variety of virtual monitoring environments to check universal mix translation .
As far as other little incidentals go , the HD 400 Pro comes standard with a 3m detachable coiled cable , as well as an alternate straight cable that is 1.8m in length . I quite like the inclusion of a straight cable , especially for my setup where the coiled cable can sometimes be a little bit too bulky or weighty . Both cables use an eighth-inch connector , and as such , the package also includes an eighth-to-quarterinch screw-on adapter . Keep in mind that you ’ ll only be able to use this adapter on other headphones with threaded connectors .
In terms of a verdict , they ’ re great . I ’ ve really enjoyed using them , not only for tracking and mixing , but also for casual listening and gaming – these are absolutely killer for gaming , especially titles with strong sound design . If you feel like having a transcendent audio experience , throw these on and play a few missions in Destiny 2 . Seriously . The gaming is relevant here as well , as beyond longer recording and mix sessions , wearing these for hours on end with controller in hand has made obvious how comfortable they are . They grab on nice and firmly ( granted , I ’ ve got a big head ), but without pinching or weighing down your ears . The open-back nature is honestly pretty liberating as well , as it doesn ’ t really feel like you ’ re wearing over-ears ; from a wearability standpoint , I can best describe these as “ pleasantly floaty .” These are endurance headphones for sure .
In closing , Sennheiser have dropped another stellar offering with the HD 400 Pros – they sound as excellent or dismal as whatever you run through them , and they don ’ t lie – without a doubt fulfilling the responsibility of any good studio monitoring piece . They ’ re also very comfortable despite their size , and are ultimately at home no matter what they ’ re being used for , professional and casual applications alike . I wouldn ’ t pass these up .
Audrey Leyenhorst is a Niagara-based freelance producer , recording & mix engineer .
24 CANADIAN MUSICIAN