I know you don't have one but do you think the Schiit Asgard would work? If I'm on the high gain setting, turning the volume up halfway is about as loud as I go on the HE-400s
Sorry, I'm not familiar. Way back when I looked at Schitt pretty hard but I forget . They aren't THAT hard to drive so I wouldn't be surprised if the Asgard was fine. Headfi.org shoud have some answers and probably first hand experience...the he-400 and he-500 cover SO much ground. Something magical about planar magnetics that dynamics just cannot reproduce.
I know you don't have one but do you think the Schiit Asgard would work? If I'm on the high gain setting, turning the volume up halfway is about as loud as I go on the HE-400s
Sorry, I'm not familiar. Way back when I looked at Schitt pretty hard but I forget . They aren't THAT hard to drive so I wouldn't be surprised if the Asgard was fine. Headfi.org shoud have some answers and probably first hand experience...the he-400 and he-500 cover SO much ground. Something magical about planar magnetics that dynamics just cannot reproduce.
Yeah they are just on a completely different level from my AKGs. Would you describe the 500s as having less of an upper mid scoop? I think to compliment the 400s I'm looking for something that's a bit less warm and bassy as they certainly impart their sound signature on to certain records. They compliment Doom and death metal perfectly but with black metal I was hoping for a bit more clarity and bite. Would the 500s do a good job with this?
Wes Mantooth wrote:
Yeah they are just on a completely different level from my AKGs. Would you describe the 500s as having less of an upper mid scoop? I think to compliment the 400s I'm looking for something that's a bit less warm and bassy as they certainly impart their sound signature on to certain records. They compliment Doom and death metal perfectly but with black metal I was hoping for a bit more clarity and bite. Would the 500s do a good job with this?
yeah, they are not as colored as the he-400, more clarity and perceived depth to the bass and upper air which opens up the soundstage even more..they sound more neutral/flat. They are both great in their own way, but the he-500 is more refined sounding. Very close to my audeze LCD-2 which are worth the asking price. I don't prefer one over the other, they all have their strengths and compliment certain recordings. I wish planar magnetics had just a touch more of the midrange magic that only otl tube amps provide with proper cans. My hd-650 and otl amps are as next level compared to normal dynamics with transformer coupled amps, as planar magnetics compared to dynamics. Something to think bout if you get deeper down the hole.
. They aren't THAT hard to drive so I wouldn't be surprised if the Asgard was fine. Headfi.org shoud have some answers and probably first hand experience...the he-400 and he-500 cover SO much ground. Something magical about planar magnetics 
that dynamics just cannot reproduce.
