Headphones

Every once in a great while somebody makes a small "mistake" of sorts that somehow gets things more right than they perhaps ought to be. Well, CRASH!BOOM!BAM!BING!SPLAT!... These headphones sound good for sealed-earcup, full-size cans priced under $100! Although maybe missing just a bit of audio detail at the edges of the musical range, the 280Pro remains a smooth-toned sealed-back headphone that manages to deliver decently clean, non-harsh audio from low to high frequencies. It's an enjoyable set of cans for all your typical sealed (aka 'closed') headphone applications: noise-blocking for commuting on planes, trains, & automobiles; for watching movies in bed; or for listening in quiet workplaces, study halls, or in noisy ambient environments where listening isolation is key. The HD280 remains efficient enough to be used with most portable audio players and laptop computers BUT it will definitely sonically bloom and become more musically lively and well-detailed when paired with any dedicated headphone amp. The HD280Pro has also become the headphone choice of many audio, film, and location recording/mixing professionals due to its clear, flat tonal presentation, very effective ambient noise attenuation properties, and extremely durable build quality. The HD280Pro remains a true workhorse sealed-earcup headphone at a hard-to-beat price.

Despite its somewhat bulky-looking headband, the HD280Pro is a comfortable wear for most listeners. The circumaural, sealed earcups are covered in glove-type pleather padding surrounding the ear which also serve to improve the strong ambient noise isolation/attenuation characteristics of the headphone. Sizing adjustment rails move in & out of the headband to change the fit; we found it a bit creaky for quick adjustments, but quite secure & decently comfortable in the end. The earcups on the HD 280Pro fold up and in via hinges in the headband, allowing the headphone to be stowed away in a compact albeit lumpy bundle for transit or storage. The secure headband can also be gently bent (gently!) to better accomodate those preferring a less tight clamping force. HANDY TIP: Letting the headphones stretch while clamped over a thick stack of books or a basketball for several days will help to slightly loosen the headband for big-melon owners. The HD280Pro's non-detachable cord is a coiled cable design that stretches to around three meters (approximately +/- 9ft) and the cable comes terminated to a 1/8" [3.5mm] plug with a handy threaded 1/4" full-size plug adapter included. A 2-year product warranty remains standard with all Sennheiser headphones.

Average Customer Rating:
(based on 9 reviews)

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Treble, bass, and a head clamp.
by PScal from Little Rock, AR on 2010-02-07

Pros: Nice long curly cord, great isolation.
Cons: Midrange please?
Would you recommend this product: No

I auditioned a pair of these when a friend came to town. I tried them on and instantly noticed the kung-fu grip they put on my head. My temples kindly asked me to remove them before a terrible blood clot ensued, so I did. Then my friend said, "You have to stretch them out before you put them on" and I thought, shouldn't a pair of headphones fit a head? A human head? My head is not big by any means. Anyway, I stretched them out and hooked them up to my headphone amp. I was impressed at the bass and treble, but that was all I heard. Midrange, where did you go? Do these headphones actually lack midrange or is it just the kung fu clamp of death inhibiting my blood flow making me think there is no treble? The isolation was really good... I can see why they would be popular in office environments. The long cord is really convenient because it is curled up like a phone cord, so you don't have to coil the cord and set it on your desk. However, I can't really recommend these headphones to any adult with a actual human head...

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Great Sound
by Somaholiday from Atlanta, GA on 2010-02-07

Pros: Very good outside noise buffer, great sound quality
Cons: a little uncomfortable
Would you recommend this product: Yes

This is the first pair of "expensive" headphones I've ever bought, and I am extremely satisfied with them. It sounded like I was hearing all of my favorite songs for the first time again. All of the instrumentation sounded incredibly crisp and distinct, but still blended together perfectly, almost as if the song was being played live right in front of me. Before I bought these, I was very wary of paying anywhere near 100 dollars for headphones, but these made me a huge supporter of higher end headphones - they really are leaps and bounds better than typical speakers or headphones. The only complaint I have with them is that after wearing them for a few hours, they begin to get a little uncomfortable, but this flaw is easily overlooked due to their incredible sound.

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Great sealed cans for the price
by Matt from NJ on 2010-01-31

Pros: Sound great
Cons: Headband fell apart after about 2 years
Would you recommend this product: Yes

I've had these headphones for almost 5 years now, and I love 'em to death. The sound is great for sealed cans, and when paired with a headphone amp (even my simple DIY weekend project amp) they really start to shine.

Now, the headband DID crack after about 2 years worth of daily use, but I decided to contact Sennheiser regarding this. The person I spoke with was VERY helpful and sent me a replacement headband free of charge, even though it was technically out of warranty by a month or two by the time I contacted them. The cracking started before the 2 year warranty was up, but I was busy with other issues, and never got around to calling. The replacement headband seems to be a different type of plastic and seems a little beefier than the original, as this one has lasted 3 years compared to the original's 2 years. The original headband was kind of a semi-glossy black and turned out to be quite brittle after 2 years of daily use. The new one is a matte black and is doing a better job in terms of durability. I've been using the new headband for almost 3 years now with no issues.

Overall, I'd easily buy these again.

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great headphones for the price
by Now Hear This! from Pleasant Grove, UT on 2010-01-25

Pros: excellent Sennheiser sound, Sennheiser 2 year warranty
Cons: none
Would you recommend this product: Yes

I love these cans! They're comfortable as all get-out and I've worn them for six plus hours at a time. Admittedly, in warm weather they get a bit warm with the closed design, but the noise attenuation is great (tight circumaural design removes a lot of ambient noise) and was more important to me than taking these off and wiping my ears a little every few hours.

The sound is quintessential Sennheiser, with a nice clear frequency response on the high end. Some people like their noise a little more colored (I have a pair of AKGs with a warmer sound that I also like), but I think for classical music and jazz (my main kinds of music I listen to) the Sennheisers sound more like I'm in the concert hall than any other cans I own.

One problem with these is durability; where the metal extension joins the plastic overhead sleeve are some plastic rivets. This spot takes a lot of tension when you're putting them on or taking them off. I had a pair whose rivets broke (leaving one side dangling from the audio wires) after about a year and a half. Sennheiser replaced them free of charge, of course, with the two year warranty.


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Good value, great isolation
by A HeadRoom Fan from washington, dc on 2010-01-22

Would you recommend this product: Yes

This headphone gets some mixed reviews. The professional review sites give it great marks, while the "audiophile" sites dump all over it. Listen to the pros. The headphone is a studio unit, and therefore has a very flat response. Coming from audiophile-type headphones, the HD 280 Pro will sound unforgivingly flat and dull for the first few minutes of listening. It takes awhile to let your ears adjust to the sound. Most of the poor reviews I have read start out with "I listened to this headphone for 60 seconds and took it off in disgust." Of course, if you are used to listening to an electrostatic set, or the HD 800, and you put this on, it will immediately sound flat and lifeless, given that it is designed for a neutral, clear presentation. Once your ears adjust, however, the HD 280 Pro imparts a lively clarity and very pleasing presentation. Instrument placement seems perfect, and the overall effect is highly satisfactory. This is all the headphone a casual listener will ever need. However, if you are looking for a very colored, bold sounding headphone, with astonishing soundstage, this will probably leave you cold. I will also say that pretty much everyone says this thing clamps too hard. While I think this is overstated, I do admit it is not the most comfortable of headphones. But that is the price you pay for the excellent isolation which this affords.

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Didn't get what I paid for. Not even close.
by Mark from on 2010-01-21

Pros: Decent sound
Cons: Uncomfortable and fell apart after a couple of years.
Would you recommend this product: No

I occasionally have a need for a sealed headphone and bought this on the recommendation of users on HeadFi.org.

The way they described the sound was accurate, not much in the ways of extremes, but a good solid middle range.

I was satisfied with the sound but after using them daily for a couple of years they fell apart, they are still usable, but very ugly and uncomfortable. The plastic between the ear pieces and the headband fell off. This wouldn't be much of an issue besides exposing the wires, but being bald the wrong parts of the headband touch my head. As usual this started happening just after the warranty ran out. As a result I'm not buying any more Sennheiser products. I judge companies by their less expensive products before getting high end products. Sennheiser failed.

In contrast the AKG K240M (600 Ohm) headphones that I bought in 1989 just blew a driver last month. That's the only problem I had with them in 20 years. And my Grado SR60's earpads are wearing out but they are much more comfortable than the Senns, sound much better and haven't fallen apart yet with daily use.

I will be buying more Grados and AKGs if I can also save enough for a good amp, but I will never again consider buying Sennheiser products.

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Great choice for 100 $
by SoundPepper from Montreal, QC on 2010-01-18

Pros: Comfortable, great noise cancellation
Cons: Distant sounding, a little heavy
Would you recommend this product: Yes

I recently purchased Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, following several positive reviews I had read.
I now had them for about a month and I can say overall i'm satisfied with them although they're a little heavy, when comparing to the Sony V300 I had for the last 5 years.

Discussing with a friend of mine who's been both a Sony and Sennheiser user throughout the years, it seems you won't get this proximity to music Sony headphones give you, that the Sennheiser sounding in general creates a feeling of distance from the music. The HD280 sound very distant and a little echo. I like my headphones to immerse myself into music, something I don't get with these Sennheiser even if the sound quality is great.

On the other hand, they're very comfortable and perfect for public transport and walks around the city, astonishly cancelling the terrible noise of subway, construction machinery and snow plows.

I'd recommend these headphones to anyone whose not a regular Sony headphones user.



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Very sealed, but bass heavy and muddy
by treelogger from Los Gatos, CA on 2010-01-15

Pros: Extremely good noise shielding
Cons: Bass to heavy, and not clear
Would you recommend this product: Yes

I originally purchased these headphones at work, because I had to put a few student interns to work into a very noisy computer lab, so I offered them some way to stop the noise. After the students left, I kept it, and I use it for airplane trips. Their big pro is that they are exceedingly good and shielding exterior noise; comparing them to good safety earmuffs (I'm a rifle shooter), they probably match a good Peltor or Sordin set. Comfort-wise, they are pretty good, although like all closed cans, you get the hot/wet ear problem after a while. And sound-wise, they are pretty good for a closed can. Their shortcoming is the bass reproduction. Their bass is very powerful, but not at all clear. In music with a good-size base component, that muddy bass overpowers everything else, and drowns the music. If I can cut the bass (in particular the deepest frequencies) down with an Eq, they are quite tolerable. I don't know any closed can that doesn't have the problem of a boomy bass though. For music reproduction in a noise environment, they are probably the best one can do without having to go into the ear canal. I can see why recording engineers at concert venues swear by them.

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Good headphone for gigging DJs
by dasmb from Albany, NY on 2010-01-13

Pros: Virtually indestructable, intense isolation, very neutral
Cons: Sound quality, uncomfortably tight
Would you recommend this product: Yes

I bought these in 1999. Over the course of that time they've traveled with me around the world, been beat up, neglected, dropped, kicked and hated and they have survived it all. The isolation is so good on these I used to wear them at work even with the sound off to aid in concentration. However, the sound quality isn't great. Resolution seems lower than my $50 Porta Pros, and combined with their neutrality and isolation they provide something of a claustrophobic effect. They're also very tight and sweaty. But for a DJ, who's looking for something to isolate beats when held to one ear in a noisy club and then get thrown into a gig bag, this is it.

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