HIFIMAN RE400a - Earphones For $29 - Suitable For ANY Device

7.5

Good

HIFIMAN RE400a is a solid headset for everyday use.

Sound up to $1006.5

Microphone8

Material Quality6

Comfort9

Design8

Pros

Good mids
Naturally sounding vocals
Decent microphone
Interesting set of eartips
Convenient for daily use

Cons

Weak detail retrieval
Inarticulate bass
Unreliable button and microphone unit
Non-detachable cable
Design is subjective

HIFIMAN has long been known among audio enthusiasts for its full-sized headphones, DAC amplifiers, and players. Thankfully, they haven’t forgotten about the segment of wired IEMs. I decided to test the tiny dynamic in-ear model HIFIMAN RE400a. This headset is priced at $79 for Android, with a similar price for iOS. However, if you only need the headphones without the mic, the price drops to just $29.

HIFIMAN designed these headphones for use with various devices, but I’ll say upfront that they are best suited as a headset for Android or iOS smartphones.

According to the company:

Designed for Android
8.5 mm drivers with titanium coating, specially developed by HIFIMAN
Compact size with powerful neodymium magnets
Oxygen-free copper cables
Improved ergonomics for comfort and extended listening
Stylish design and lightweight

Let’s see how well the HIFIMAN RE400a holds up in 2024.

HIFIMAN RE400a Sound

Overall Presentation: It leans towards a brighter sound. Unlike many earphones in this price range, there are no heavy-handed accents. The mids are well-defined with interesting highlights in the highs. There is a certain charm in their sound, characterized by softness and silkiness. Of course, this is within the sub-$50 price segment.
Bass: Sub-bass is weak, merely hinting at its presence. It’s not absent but plays within its own defined level without prominent accents or punch. The mid-bass is similarly understated, playing within its bounds without encroaching on the mids. Male bass vocals, like those of Geoff Castellucci, sound superficial and synthetic. For a fan of monitor sound, the bass is lacking.
Mids: This is where the headphones shine more. They sound almost linear without dips or spikes, presenting a cohesive and seamless experience. Male baritones and altos are open and at the appropriate level. Female sopranos are pleasant and natural. Trumpet parts are clear, tonal, and spread across channels, as heard in Kenichi Tsunoda’s “Moanin’.” However, due to the silky decays in the mids, there’s a lack of precise positioning of sounds and voices.
Highs: Less pronounced like the mids, but they are comfortable. There’s no harshness; they are slightly muted, avoiding piercing or cutting sounds.
Detail retrieval: These earphones lack detail, with a slightly smeared sound aimed at warmth.
Soundstage: It’s ambiguous. In most genres, female vocals are smeared and unclear. In jazz trumpet compositions, all wind instruments are distinguishable.
Sound Summary: For their price range, they play convincingly. Suitable for fans of chamber music who aren’t picky about exact reproduction.

Microphone: the sound of the microphone is very good, perceived naturally and understandably

Sound for $100 is 6.5/10
The microphone is 8/10

Comparison with Competitors

I haven’t encountered single-driver headphones with such small drivers, making it hard to find a fair competitor. Most models I’ve heard have at least 10mm drivers. For instance, the lesser-known UiiSii GT900 with 12mm drivers sounds more interesting in the lows and highs, albeit restrained in the mids, thus perceived more natural.

Design and comfort of HIFIMAN RE400a

The HIFIMAN RE400a comes in a rather unremarkable plastic box, hinting at its budget nature.

Headphones: They are cute, small, and shiny, resembling little studs. Aluminum, neatly made, the small housings are overshadowed by the eartips. The black wires are labeled for left and right channels. The microphone button makes a strange sound when shaken, as if something is loose.
Eartips: An intriguing set, including tiny double-flanged ones, small ones with a diaphragm in the sound tube, large black ones, and three types of white ones with a slanted skirt. There’s something for everyone.
Case: Small, matching the headphones, with a zipper and an internal mesh organizer.

Everything is very minimalist and tidy. A pleasant, small set that won’t get lost in a bag or stick out. I docked points for the loose button.

Quality of materials – 6/10.
Design – 8/10.
Comfort – 9/10.

Specifications

Driver: 8.5mm;
Impedance: 32 Ω ± 3.2;
Sensitivity: 102 dB @ 1 mW;
Rated power: 10 mW;
Maximum power: 30 mW;
Frequency range: 15 Hz ~22 kHz.

What’s in the box?

Headphones
Spare sound tube filters
Set of eartips — 7 pairs
Case
Manual

Bottom line

An interesting package for its modest price. Suitable for non-demanding listeners. The headphones have a specific sound direction focused on the mid-range, making them good for voice reproduction. They’re best used for choral parts or vocal repertoire, and also suitable for chamber music, classical, or jazz.

They fully justify their price when used with a smartphone as a wired headset. However, they can’t claim the role of reference earphones for listening to Hi-Res audio. I have more interesting models for that purpose.

Leave your questions and comments – I answer all 😉.

HIFIMAN RE400a – Singing Wired Headset