Skip to main content

Hi-fi Corner: KEF’s stylish M400 give you bass with balance

kef m400 headphones kep manual
Image used with permission by copyright holder
KEF’s virgin venture into headphones, the M500, became one of our favorite pairs in their class, with plush comfort, elegant styling, and brilliant sonic performance. It would have been tough to top them, so when KEF decided to issue its latest effort, it didn’t even try. Instead, the company took a left turn, creating a lighter, sportier, more mobile offering dubbed the M400.

At $250, the M400 can be seen as a soft step down from their predecessor — the M500 run a cool $300 — but the headphones are more about attracting a different kind of listener than a more price-conscious one.

Recommended Videos

Related: Klipsch R6i earphones expand into snazzy new on-ears

Few (if any) headphone makers have escaped the mighty reach of Dr. Dre’s stylish (if overpriced) Beats brand cans, and KEF is no exception. Apart from being lighter and more compact, the new M400 are a little flashier than KEF’s first effort, especially when you trade the classic black cans for one of the three vivid color options, including Racing Blue, Sunset Orange, and Champagne White.

And style isn’t the only change for the M400. Although the 40mm drivers match up very similarly to the M500 on paper, there’s a fairly distinct change in sound signatures here as well. While the headphones keep the same balance we expect from KEF in the midrange and treble, the bass is definitely boosted here — enough to be thunderous when called upon, which may or may not be a good thing, depending on your preference. The headphones also lose just a touch of presence and clarity in the upper mids when compared to the M500.

That said, there are plenty of gorgeous moments to be enjoyed with the M400 — these are from KEF after all — providing balance, detail, and rich warmth at the center of the sound across a wide variety of genres.

Those looking for a smooth ride, modern styling, and a bit more bass than the M500 will definitely want to give KEF’s latest a try.

A version of this post first appeared on our “brother site” Digital Trends.

Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is an audio engineer, musician, composer, and all-around lover of all things tech, audio, and cinema. Hailing…
Will there be a fourth season of ‘The White Lotus?’
The show's third season will be set in Thailand, and is set to premiere in early 2025.
Theo James and Meghann Fahy in White Lotus

The White Lotus was one of the biggest surprises in HBO's recent history. The series was initially devised as a self-contained story that could be filmed in compliance with COVID, and it's since become one of the most popular series in the company's repertoire. We already know that a third season is on the way and will feature another star-studded cast, but what about a potential season 4?

According to reporting in Variety, a fourth season of the show is percolating at HBO, but it hasn't officially been announced yet. “Mike, obviously — if he wants to move forward and do the four seasons — he will do the fourth season,” HBO head Casey Bloys said.

Read more
Denis Villeneuve says he ‘absolutely believes’ in ‘Dune: Messiah’ as he develops the script
The exact timing for the potential trilogy capper remains under wraps.
Timothee Chalamet in Dune Part 2

Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Dune has been more successful than many who have loved the Frank Herbert novel for decades could have dreamed. Dune: Part 1 was nominated for a bunch of Oscars and won a couple, and Part 2 seems to be on a similar trajectory, and also far outgrossed the first installment.

Villeneuve has promised that he will return to the world of Dune one more time to adapt Herbert's sequel, Dune: Messiah, but we don't know exactly when that movie might be coming. In a recent interview with Deadline to discuss Part 2, Villeneuve was hesitant to say too much about the upcoming third installment.

Read more
Will Max’s new thriller Duster be your next must-watch show?
J.J. Abrams' newest thriller is coming soon
duster season 1 lost  star josh holloway at the 64th annual golden globe

Max has become the home to some of the most fascinating and innovative shows on TV. Fans can trust that the HBO-affiliated streamer has tons of originals and plenty of old favorites from trusted creators, and that trend will continue with their newest offering titled Duster. This thriller comes from the mind of the esteemed J.J. Abrams and stars his fellow Lost alum, Josh Holloway, as a getaway driver who must use his skills for the good of the government when the first Black female FBI agent in American history asks him for her help (the agent will be played by Rachel Hilson). The show is a period piece taking place in the 1970s. It hasn't been revealed how any of the main events of the decade will be incorporated into the plot of the series.

Like a lot of shows that have been teased for the coming months, Duster doesn't have a lot of concrete details out in the open yet. The project has been ongoing for quite some time and was delayed during the Hollywood writers and actors strikes, but a recent teaser trailer has hinted that Duster should finally arrive at an unspecified point in 2025. Here is everything we know so far about Duster.
Who is starring in Duster on Max?

Read more