If you want an over-ear headphone with a wired, planar-magnetic design for big ears, choose HIFIMAN HE400se; if you need wireless listening with active noise cancellation and long battery life, choose KEF Mu7. The HE400se keeps things simple and cable-connected. The Mu7 adds Bluetooth convenience, touch controls, and noise management for travel and busy spaces.
• HIFIMAN HE400se: Planar-magnetic drivers and a wired connection are its main strengths; the trade-off is that it has no wireless listening or active noise cancellation.
• KEF Mu7: Bluetooth 5.1, active noise cancellation, and up to 40 hours of use are its strengths; it is the more feature-heavy option.
• HE400se fits: listeners who want a wired over-ear headphone and are comfortable with a cable.
• Mu7 fits: listeners who want wireless freedom, touch controls, and noise cancellation for commutes or travel.
The HE400se is a wired, over-ear headphone built around a planar-magnetic driver. Its listed frequency range is 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with 25-ohm impedance and 91 dB sensitivity. Those figures describe the design, but they do not tell the whole story of how a headphone will sound with every device. The practical point is that this model is intended for mobile use and connects by cable, rather than relying on a battery or Bluetooth.
Its bevelled ear pads are described as providing noise isolation and temperature compensation, while the headband is designed to be lighter and more comfortable. Those details may matter during longer listening sessions, though they do not guarantee a particular fit. For big ears, the over-ear format is a more relevant starting point than an in-ear design, but the sheet does not provide ear-cup dimensions. I would not assume the cups will fit every ear comfortably without checking the fit information available to you.
I’d choose the HE400se if I wanted a straightforward wired headphone with planar-magnetic drivers and did not need wireless controls or active noise cancellation. I’d skip it if a cable would get in the way, or if I wanted to block environmental noise with an electronic cancellation feature. Its stated connection is wired, with a 3.5 mm headphone jack; the supplied information also mentions a 6.35 mm adapter.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
The Mu7 is an over-ear headphone for someone who wants wireless listening and active noise cancellation in one package. It uses Bluetooth 5.1, supports aptX HD over Bluetooth, and also has a 3.5 mm jack for wired use. Its touch controls handle playback, volume, and calls. The flexible connection options make it easier to move between wireless listening and a cable connection when that suits the situation.
The Mu7 also has a hard protective case listed in its product information. For big ears, it is again an over-ear option, but no ear-cup dimensions are given, so its fit cannot be guaranteed from the available specifications alone. I’d pass on it if I wanted a simple wired planar-magnetic design rather than wireless features, or if I had no use for active noise cancellation and touch controls.
• Best for wired listening → HIFIMAN HE400se. Its listed connection is wired, with a 3.5 mm jack and a 6.35 mm adapter mentioned.
• Best for wireless listening → KEF Mu7. Bluetooth 5.1 gives it a cable-free option, while a 3.5 mm jack remains available for wired use.
• Best for active noise cancellation → KEF Mu7. It includes Smart Active Noise Cancellation; the HE400se instead lists passive sound isolation from its ear pads.
• Best for long stretches between charges → KEF Mu7. KEF lists up to 40 hours with Bluetooth and ANC enabled, plus up to eight hours of playback from a 15-minute charge.
• Best for a planar-magnetic design → HIFIMAN HE400se. Its driver type is planar magnetic, while the Mu7 uses a dynamic driver.
• Best for touch controls on a wireless headphone → KEF Mu7. Its touch controls cover playback, volume, calls, and more.
• Best starting point for big ears → either, with a fit check. Both are over-ear designs, but the supplied details do not give ear-cup dimensions. Neither can be called a sure fit for every ear based on the listed information.
These two headphones solve different problems. The HE400se is the more focused choice: a wired, planar-magnetic headphone with sound-isolating ear pads. The Mu7 aims for flexibility, combining Bluetooth, active noise cancellation, touch controls, and a wired option. If your everyday listening happens near a phone or computer and you do not mind a cable, the HIFIMAN’s simpler design may be enough. If you move between home, transit, and travel, the KEF’s wireless features are easier to justify.
Likewise, neither is described as a bone-conduction headphone or a volume-limiting model. So if you are looking for the best volume limiting bone conduction headphones for big ears, this comparison does not identify a match. The useful takeaway is narrower: both are over-ear options, with the HIFIMAN emphasizing a wired planar-magnetic design and the KEF emphasizing wireless use and noise cancellation.
For sound, the data gives the HE400se’s planar-magnetic driver and the Mu7’s dynamic driver, along with frequency-range information for both. That is enough to distinguish the designs, not enough to declare one universally better-sounding. Listening preferences and the device or connection you use matter, and there is no supplied listening test to settle that question. I’d make the decision based on the features you will use every day, rather than treating driver type alone as a guarantee.
My Verdict
I would choose the KEF Mu7 for most people who want one over-ear headphone for commuting, travel, and wireless listening, because it combines Bluetooth, active noise cancellation, and up to 40 hours of listed battery use. For big ears, though, I’d still check the fit carefully: neither specification set gives cup dimensions. I’d choose the HIFIMAN HE400se instead if I specifically wanted a wired planar-magnetic headphone and was happy to listen without ANC or Bluetooth.
FAQ
Both are over-ear headphones, but neither listing provides ear-cup dimensions. The format may suit someone avoiding earbuds, yet the available details cannot confirm which will fit a particular person better.
Yes. The Mu7 includes a 3.5 mm jack as well as Bluetooth 5.1, so it can be used with a wired connection. The HE400se is the wired-focused choice, with a 3.5 mm connection and a 6.35 mm adapter mentioned.
The HE400se has no battery-life figure in the supplied specifications and is described as wired. The Mu7 is listed for up to 40 hours with Bluetooth and active noise cancellation enabled, with a fast-charge figure of up to eight hours of playback from 15 minutes.
The supplied information does not describe either model as a sleep headphone or as having volume limiting. It also does not identify either as a bone-conduction headphone, so shoppers seeking those specific features should look for a different type of product.
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