The first pair of open-back headphones in the company’s Pro line.
Slick, jet black from the bottom of the cup to the top of the headband, there is just no excess on the Sennheiser HD 400 Pro. No reflective plastic panels, stainless steel inserts, or chrome; only black-on-black branding and logos. A bold statement from a brand that seeks to draw our attention to the only thing that matters, the sound.
On the outside, the design is nearly a decade old, taking a page from Sennheiser’s HD 500 series. Yet, it remains iconic, with its free-flowing organic curves and eye-catching arms that gently embrace the earcups – the cups are somewhat restricted in movement, but never to a degree where they might become a nuisance. Not even during prolonged sessions with reading glasses.
Weighing just 240g, the HD 400 Pro is hardly ever really felt, and its headband conforms to a variety of head sizes, as it provides an excellent fit on both large and smaller heads.
In terms of performance, closed-back headphones usually tend to accentuate low-end frequencies due to the air pressure having nowhere to escape, and the HD 400 Pro performs exquisitely in that aspect. While the isolation is poor (as expected with most open-back headphones), the airflow provides for a more spacious mix, and its 6Hz to 38kHz frequency range is certainly impressive.
Each ear cup has a 120 Ohm transducer installed, which translates into deeper bass as it mitigates any distortion, and these have been angled, simulating the position of high-end monitors in a studio.
In all, the HD 400 Pro are phenomenal reference headphones, both for mixing and mastering and also for tracking. Even taking into account the aforementioned caveat about leakage, their accuracy sets them apart from their closed-back relatives, making them a great option due to their smart price range.
You can learn more about the Sennheiser HD 400 Pro here.
