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 cheap-
feeling 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-to-
analog converter (DAC). This is a niceAre Sennheiser’s studio
reference cans ideal
for casual users too?
Sennheiser
HD 400 PRO
8
VERDICT Sennheiser HD 400 PROPRECISION 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, http://www.sennheiser.comSPECIFICATIONSDriver Type Dynamic driverFrequency Response 6Hz-38,000Hz
Impedance 120ohmsConnectivity 3.5 mm jack plug
with 6.3 mm adapter
Design Style Circumaural, open back
Weight 0.52lbsselection 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, producer-
focused sound. –SAM LEWISin the lab
88 MAXIMU MPC MAR 2022