Sennheiser HD 400 PRO
Are Sennheiser’s studio reference cans ideal for casual users too?
HEAR THE NAME Sennheiser and you instantly think of audio technology. The company is a powerhouse in this respect, covering most bases for commercial, leisure, and professional peripherals. The HD 400 PRO is the latest addition to its HD headphones lineup—labeled as studio reference headphones, are they the ideal companion for music producers, or do they fail to make the cut?
The HD 400 PROs look sleek, with a style that's unmistakably aimed at the music production market. The all-black color scheme is subtle enough not to stand out in a crowd and their profile means they don’t weigh down on your head over long periods. However, they don’t feel as premium as you might expect at the price, with the plastic construction of the headband and the earcups feeling a little cheap. The cups are designed to swivel, but give them a gentle shake and they start to rattle.
Although the construction means the headphones are lightweight, they aren’t the most comfortable pair we've tested at this price. The top of the earcups can become a little tight on your head after a long session. Aside from the cheapfeeling plastic, the other materials used offer a more premium experience. The velour ear cushions and the pads on the inner headband are soft, and the meshed open back metal on each earcup makes these headphones feel durable.
As far as buttons and features go, the HD 400 Pros are fairly sparse. There are no controls on the cable to distract you—this is simply a plug-and-play device. While you may usually expect a few more features, these are serious headphones meant for studio use rather than Bluetooth commuter headphones.
For a start, the only connection here is through a cable. In the box, there's a 3m coiled cable with a 3.5mm jack plug, an alternative 1.8m straight cable, and also a 3.5mm jack plug to a 6.3mm adapter for connecting to a digital-toanalog converter (DAC). This is a nice selection of cables and means that the HD 400 PRO should be compatible with your setup, no matter what the configuration.
The cable on the headphone end attaches with a twist and lock motion, so it shouldn’t fly out if the cord is pulled.
The open-back design gives it more of a feeling of a speaker placed near your ears, rather than the music being forced into your head. The headphones offer a flat and natural sound that should appeal to the studio reference headphone market. However, the nature of open-backed headphones is that sound leaks out, so anyone in the vicinity will also get an earful of your tunes.
When mixing, producing, and creating sounds, it's ideal to get the purest sound possible with no EQs, filters, or effects that may give you an untrue representation of the audio you are creating. Compared with its older sibling, the HD 600, these cans have a steady and even frequency response. With a slight peak in the midrange, the HD 400 PROs deliver a clean and neutral soundscape.
LOOSE ENDS
When casually listening to music these headphones appear to sound a touch too bright at the high-end. The low-end suffers a little too, and can often sound a little weak, particularly during sections of heavier bass. The bass is detailed, yet not as artificially punchy as you might get on some other more commercial cans.
Lighter tracks such as instrumental, acoustic, or acapella suit these headphones as they pick up a lot more detail than your typical pair. Out of the box, they provide a straight, flat sound profile and if you haven’t used reference headphones before, may be somewhat different from what you are used to. As a tool with which to mix and pick out details, it's a fair representation of what your production sounds like.
If you're looking for a budget or mid-range pair of studio reference headphones, the HD 400 PRO is a good option. There are better headphones around, but you'll have to stretch your budget. For moderate music production, video editing, or recording, these cans tick all the boxes. For $250, these Sennheisers offer a solid, producerfocused sound.
VERDICT
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Sennheiser HD 400 PRO
PRECISION ACCURACY Lightweight, thin profile; accurate and flat soundscape; great for light to moderate production.
NOT TO EVERYONE'S TASTE Cheap plastic construction; not ideal for bass heavy music; can sound a little too bright through casual music consumption.
$249, www. sennheiser.com