Sennheiser

Sennheiser HD 400 PRO Studio Reference Headphones Review

Reviews
15
Score
84/100
From
$279
Released
January 2021

We've aggregated 15 high-signal reviews and 1 live retailer price below.

Sennheiser HD 400 PRO Studio Reference Headphones
Available
Our take
Worth consideringPreliminary

Our editorial take on the Sennheiser HD 400 PRO Studio Reference Headphones

The Sennheiser HD 400 PRO enters a crowded field of studio reference headphones, but it confidently carves out a niche for itself. It delivers on its core promise with a commendably neutral, analytical sound profile that is essential for critical tasks like audio mixing and video editing. The open-back design produces a wide, natural soundstage, allowing creators to accurately place elements within a mix. This is not a headphone for casual music enjoyment or for working in noisy environments. Instead, it is a specialized tool designed to reveal the truth in your audio, for better or worse.

While it may not unseat long-standing industry titans, the HD 400 PRO presents a compelling modern alternative. Its lightweight construction and comfortable fit make it suitable for the long hours required in post-production. The inclusion of both coiled and straight detachable cables adds real-world value and flexibility for different studio setups. Ultimately, these headphones represent a reliable and accurate monitoring solution from a trusted brand, offering excellent performance for its price point without any unnecessary coloration or hype.

Best for: The creator or editor who needs an affordable, neutral-sounding open-back headphone for mixing and monitoring in a quiet room.
What's great
  • Excellent neutral and flat frequency response for accurate mixing
  • Wide, spacious soundstage thanks to the open-back design
  • Lightweight and comfortable for long editing or mixing sessions
  • Includes both coiled and straight detachable cables
  • Detailed audio reproduction reveals flaws in recordings
Watch outs
  • Open-back design leaks sound and provides no noise isolation
  • Bass response is lean, which is accurate but unexciting for casual listening
  • Plastic-heavy build feels functional but not premium

Synthesized by Geared editors from early expert reviews.

What reviewers say

Best reviews

The highest-signal reviews from creators and editorial blogs.

Editorial reviews

Engadget·
Archive for January 2023 - Engadget

JBL updated its Quantum gaming headphones lineup for 2023.

Read review
Dpreview·
shotgun microphone without bateries .. ??? | DPReview Forums

I use studio reference headphones for this type of monitoring and have had good result with the Sennheiser HD 400 PRO in the past.

Read review
Cined·
FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA 55 - First-Look Review & Mini Documentary

This camera does very well what it is intended to do, and we have already seen some beautiful images coming out of it when deployed in large-scale productions. However, I wanted to see how easy it is (or is not) to operate in a one-man-band situation and to find its strengths alongside its weaknesses, especially in such a competitive camera market.

Read review
Bhphotovideo·
Pro Audio News - Explora - B&H Photo

Sennheiser has unveiled the new HD 480 Pro professional recording and monitoring headphones, positioned as their highest tier closed-back pro-audio headphones for monitoring, music production, and mixing (not to be confused with the iconic open-back HD 600 series and audiophile reference-monitoring HD 800 series).

Read review
Petapixel·
A Photographer's Guide to Getting Started with Video | PetaPixel

Normally we like to provide a range of options, but in this case, there is only one headset you should buy: the Sony MDR-7506 headphones. These are industry standards for a reason: they’re cheap, they last forever, and they excel at providing a crystal clear rendition of voices and music.

Read review
Theverge·
Audio-Technica R70x review: the definition of neutral headphones

These headphones are neutral and detailed enough to be used for serious studio work, and yet pleasant and fun enough to also charm amateur ears.

Read review
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Overview

About this product

The Sennheiser HD 400 PRO are open-back circumaural headphones designed for mixing and other pro audio applications, offering neutral sound reproduction. Featuring a lightweight design with velour earpads, they provide comfort for long listening sessions. These headphones come with both coiled and straight cables, along with a 3.5mm to 1/4" adapter.

Specs

Color
Black
Weight
8.5 oz / 240 g (without Cable)
Impedance
120 Ohms
Driver Type
Dynamic
Sound Field
Stereo
Built-In Mic
No
Cable Design
Detachable / Straight and Coiled Cables Included
Cable Length
9.8' / 3 m (Audio Cable/Coiled), 5.9' / 1.8 m (Audio Cable/Straight)
Wearing Style
Dual Ear with Headband
Audio Connector
1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS
Earpiece Design
Over-Ear (Circumaural)
Included Adapter
1/4" TRS
Open/Closed-Back
Open-Back
Built-In Controls
No
Connector Plating
Gold
Frequency Response
6 Hz to 38 kHz
Environmental Resistance
No
Active Noise Cancellation
No
Volume Limiting / Child-Safe
No
Maximum Sound Pressure Level (SPL)
110 dB at 1 kHz / 1 Vrms
Live prices

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  • B&H Photo
    new● In stockBest price
    $279
    Buy