Sennheiser HD 25-SP-II

The fact that they’re a tad cheap-looking could be a big plus when traveling (people are less likely to nab your cans), but -- no joke -- these are amongst the top sealed cans priced around $100. Sennheiser lives up to its reputation for quality durable design in a big way with this simple headphone: you just won’t break it. Add to that durability decently punchy, well-balanced sonics and an acceptably comfortable fit, and you’ve got a solid pair of sealed-earcup portable headphones at a nice price. Sure, they may lack a bit of crisp articulation in the upper highs and perhaps some overall richness in the bass response, but definitely better that than the unforgiveable audio sin of timbral harshness or 'flattened box' sonics. Simply said, these headphones flat-out rock & will probably last an eon toted around in a backpack or carry-on. It’s a strong pop-rock-hiphop-ambient-rave-grunge-electronica-country-or whatever mobile-use headphone. If you’re looking for a more refined, smooth, buttery sound, the Sennheiser HD280Pro model is perhaps just a bit better detailed & slightly smoother-sounding, but also larger & clunkier to haul around too.

On the downside, the 25-SP-II tends to sound a bit murky without a dedicated headphone amp and is rated a tad inefficient for really clean, robust volume from portable players like iPods & laptops --although they will still work ok directly from most portable devices. But once mated with any dedicated head-amp the HD-25SP really blossom sonically with much-improved musical detail clarity and an expanded [and 'quicker'] dynamic range extension clearly audible. The upscale 'big brother model' HD 25-1-II headphone ($199.99) remains the ideal choice for audiophilic portable listeners but this lower-performing HD 25 SP-II edition remains an effective AND well-priced choice for on-the-go listeners seeking a sealed, lightweight, and built-to-last headphone.

This small-to-moderate size headphone seals more on the ear ("supra-aural") than around the ear ("circumaural"). The straight-forward design provides decent adjustment and fit ergonomics on the head, and allows the earcups to spin around flat for ease of storage or transit. The 9-foot headphone cable is slender, supple, and seemingly stainless-steel strong; it also handily detaches at the earpiece for easy replacement if needed. The earcups slide up & down on their posts in quite keenly detented steps for fit adjustment. The earpads are made of a comfortable pleather material that seems to fit pretty well on most people while delivering a fair degree of passive external noise blocking ability. Sennheiser has an incredible materials design lab; they’ll likely be digging up the HD25 SP-II in junkyards two hundred years hence.... and they’ll probably still play!