Headphones
Sennheiser HD 201
Just. Simply. Amazing! We have no idea how they did it, but Sennheiser with their HD201 has blown away all price/performance barriers at the extreme low end of the scale in the category of 'full-sized' sealed headphones. With a clean, quick, surprisingly well-balanced sound for a can at this nice price, you'll find it perfect for all sorts of great "budget" listening uses. Looking for smiles from kids in the back of the van, patients in the dental chair, students in a multi-media classroom, or patrons in the museum? Here's your easy answer.
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Product Features:
- Terrifically well balanced sound at this price point.
- Sealed design to isolate you from outside noise.
- Durable construction make this an excellent choice for business/education use.
- 2-Year Warranty
What's In The Box:
- 1/4" adaptor
Applications:
Our jaws smacked the ground when we first heard this headphone. You have to understand just how terrible most "cheap" sealed-earcup, full-size cans normally sound but (somehow) Sennheiser got it amazingly right with the sonics of the very inexpensive HD201 headphones. No question they are slightly uneven-sounding in spots, but that's really a quibble since they still sparkle and sing in an unusually clean way for a product at this crushingly low pricepoint. The HD201 are the perfect gift headphone because the recipient will always be amazed at how darn good they sound with any music style. They are also a strong choice for commercial applications like museums, schools, doctors offices and dental chairs: first, because they are inexpensive; second, because of their durability and, third, because your clients will appreciate the soothing, pleasant experience of high-quality sound. The HD201 are also sized just about right for DVD-playin' kids hanging out in the back of the mini-van too!
Although the HD-201 are a reasonably efficient, low-impedance design, they are not particularly sensitive headphones. So those seeking to plug these directly into an iPod, laptop computer, MP3 device, or other portable audio player might find they have to set the player's volume near maximum to get decent listening levels into the HD-201; perhaps a good thing to save youngsters hearing! Of course, any dedicated headphone amp will easily overcome this issue while also dramatically upping the detail clarity, musical punch, and dynamic range extension of this inexpensive can. This durable plastic HD201 headphone construction is rather plain, but beneath its black & grey utilitarian exterior you'll find great build quality to withstand the rigors of being knocked around the home/office/dormroom for a long time to come. The dark black and matte-silver plastic earpieces have midsized circular pleather earpads that surround the ear for most wearers. These small-to-mid-sized circumaural ("around the ear") earcups attach to a simple system that tilts & swivels a limited amount and also slides up & down into the connecting headband to adjust for sizing/overall fit. The HD201 has a fairly long 9ft non-detachable cable that connects in a "Y" to both earcups and terminates in a 1/8" (3.5mm) mini-plug jack. An adapter to a full-size 1/4" inch jack is handily included in the Sennheiser package. Excellent 2 year manufacturer's warranty.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2 Years
- Sensitivity: 108 dB/V
- Cord Type: Straight Y
- Microphone: No
- Cord Length: 10 ft. (3 m)
- Weight: 165g w/o cable
- Detachable Cable: No
- Driver Type: Dynamic
- Coupler Size: Medium
- Connector Type: 1/8" with 1/4" adaptor
- Isolation: -7dB ~-10dB
- Ear Coupler Type: Full-Size
- Impedance @ 1kHz: 24
- Warranty: 2 Years
- Wireless: No
- Headphone Type: Full Size
- Noise Cancelling: No
- Acoustic Seal: Closed
Additional Resources:
- Manufacturer's Website
- Sennheiser USA
- Product Reviews
- HardWareGeeks HD201 and HD515 review
- playlistmag.com Dan Frakes, December 2006
Average Rating
Posted by Kodack from Texas on 2010-04-30
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Exceptional transparancy and strong sound stage presence
Cons: reduced bass response, low sensitivity
I won't pro/con these because the only drawbacks are -5db below 120hz, and low sensitivity. They are otherwise perfect. Regarding these drawbacks, the bass is easy enough to fix with a little EQ and sounds superb once eq corrected, and the sensitivity is enough to listen to with an Ipod and be happy but you will never be able to "rock out" with it.
On to the pros. An exceptional sound stage. Each instrument occupies a point in space and is clearly defined. For closed cans that is amazing. Even better than the Grados. The character is very neutral without a lot of coloration and exceptional clarity. They really come alive with a stronger source like a headphone amp or a hifi stereo. I use them on an Xfi soundcard and they are loud enough at full volume for me to be happy (I value my hearing).
I applied some EQ correction to boost low frequencies by about 5db and I attempted to flatten out their frequency response. The results once EQ corrected are phenomenal. They sound perfect, the kind of perfect that will make you cry with joy. Beyond the base observations about clarity and sound fields, they just sound good. These are musical in quality and truly a joy to listen to. Any shortcomings audio wise are not that apparent and enhance rather than distract from the sound.
I am going to buy 2 more pair so I have enough for the rest of my life if they should ever stop making them.
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Posted by Yermo from Alameda, CA on 2010-02-21
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Good audio quality
Cons: thin cord
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Posted by hellyes from viana do castelo, portugal on 2010-02-07
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: the price, nice sound quality and they are not ugly also
Cons: huge cable
they have a perfect price/quality relation
i would take a risk and say that this headphones are the best you can do to cost only about 30$
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