Sennheiser HD 218i On Ear Headphones Review

Howdy!

Ear buds are the most convenient way to take your sound with you, but they are usually uncomfortable, especially for extended trips. But there are some nice options for lightweight over the ear headphones, such as the industry standard Koss Portapros. I recently picked up a pair of Sennheiser HD 218i phone, and they are working out to be a good compromise for travel. I already own a few pairs of Sennheiser headphones – the HD 228, HD 299, HD 280 and HD 380 models, and they are really a phenomenal value.

The HD 218i headphones have a compact over-the-ear design, and fold flat to make them a little more portable for travel. They are only available in black (as far as I can tell), and come with a 1/8-inch (3.5mm) Apple-style jack on the end of a 4 foot (1.2-meter) single-sided cable. It does not look like the cable or the vinyl ear pieces are replaceable, so these will probably not last for the rest of your life.

These cans are very lightweight (under 4 ounces), and with the padded headband and swiveling ear cups they are super comfortable. They are springy enough to stay on at the gym or while walking, but not so tight that they hurt. I have worn these for hours on end (including a few 10 hour flights) with no problems.

Neodymium magnets are used for higher output, and specs-wise, there is nothing unusual going on with these dynamic headphones. They have a frequency response of 19,000 to 21,000 Hz and they are capable of putting out 108 dB. Total harmonic distortion is supposed to be less than 0.5% with 100 dB at 1000Hz. These phones have 32 Ω of resistance, so they are loud enough for travel, (32 ohms is as high as I would want to go with headphones for an iPod).

The biggest difference between these and the other low-end Sennheiser headphone is that these are designed for use with Apple products. There is a module built into the cable that has a microphone and controls for volume, play/pause, and skipping to the next track. It works very well, and I have used it with iPods, my iPhone, and my newer Macbook Pro with no problems at all. Pretty much none of these features will work on an Android phone, so keep that in mind.

I have burned them in for around 100 hours, and they loosened up quite a bit and sound much better than they did out of the box. I use them or traveling on planes and at the gym, and though they do not have big ear cups, they provide pretty good isolation and not much leakage to annoy my neighbors.

Sennheiser says that the HD 229 phones “bombastic bass-driven stereo sound” and are “optimized for iPod, iPhone, MP3 and CD players.” Well, they sound good with my iPhone and my laptop, but I would not say the bass performance is excellent. I did try them with a few different headphone amplifiers and they really perked up, but that is not really the sort of use these phones were designed for.

They do, however, have a nice crisp tone with good enough bass. I hear some mid-range resonance, and they are not nearly as good as any of my over the ear Sennheisers, but they were never supposed to be as good. The HD 218i are cheaper, more portable phones so I did not expect miracles. All-in-all, they are a good value.

The Sennheiser HD 218i headphones have a list price of $64.95 and they sell for around 30 bucks on Amazon. For the price range and portability they are very good, but if you want heavy sound, spend another 50 bucks and get a pair of HD 228 Pro headphones (but they will be bigger). But, if you crave portability and comfort, these are a great value.

Mahalo!

Sennheiser HD 600 Headphones Review

Howdy!

These days, it seems like I rarely listen to music except through headphones, and Sennheiser is pretty much my go to brand. Recently I had the chance to try out a pair of their HD 600 cans, and not surprisingly, they are quite a bit nicer than my usual HD 280 Pros. If you are familiar with their products, the higher the model number the better (and more expensive) they are.

The HD 280s are very good phones, and if you are going to spend five times the price for a new set, there had better be a noticeable improvement in sound. The HD 600 phones deliver this is spades. These are open-back headphones, so these are not the ones you are going to use at the office or gym or on the airplane. A lot of ambient sound will make their way in, and you will disturb your neighbors.

Physically, these phones are open back (as I just said), and they fit comfortably around the ears (circumaural) with cozy user-replaceable ear pads. They weigh in at around a half pound, but they are nicely adjustable and they are some of the most comfortable ones I have ever stuck on my head. The coiled cord is three meters long, with a ¼-inch jack and a 1/8-inch mini jack adapter is included. The cord is replaceable should it happen to be damaged. Overall they are very smart-looking with a snazzy finish and an imposing size.

The specification sheet provided by Sennheiser for the HD 600 contain no surprises for headphones in this price range. They are equipped with neodymium magnets and frequency response is supposed to be 12 to 39,000 Hz, with a total harmonic distortion of less than 0.1%. With 300 ohms of resistance, these things will take a lot of power to drive. They will not work well with an iPod or laptop unless a headphone amplifier is used.

I tested these headphones with a variety of audio sources, including my home stereo, my iPod and iPad, as well as my laptop. I used them with and without headphone amplifiers (solid state and tube-type) and with my usual assortment of music and movies. This includes mostly rock and blues, with a little country, classical and show tunes to round things out.

The HD 600s perform magnificently. They have virtually even output, and the lightweight aluminum voice coils are very sensitive and crisp with no distortion at any normal volume levels. The highs are clear and do not have any unnatural elements to them. The mid ranges seem slightly boosted, mostly in the upper mids. This is not distracting to me, and I like the effect for most music. The bass is the best I ever heard, very crisp and powerful, but still well-balanced with the mids and highs. I found that they sounded best with classical and jazz music, and using them with a home theatre system is mind-blowing. They are maybe a little lacking for hard-rocking music. Of course, these are subjective observations, and depending on what kind of music you are listening to you might find other headphoens that you prefer (but I doubt it).

In the real world, due to their design there is not much isolation, so if there is any background noise it will makes its way in too. This means that they are really not the best headphones for me, as I am never anywhere that it is quiet enough to get the full benefit from these headphones. But, if you are an audiophile that has a quiet place to enjoy these, they should be close to the top of your shopping list.

But, when you go shopping, make sure that you have plenty of cash in your pockets. The Sennheiser HD 600 headphones sell for around $400, which makes these a serious purchase. But they are worth it, and if you ever get a chance to try a pair out, you will be amazed!

Mahalo!

Symphonized NRG Premium In-ear Headphones Review

Hello!

Around my house, we go through headphones and ear buds at a ferocious rate. Things get dropped, plugs get yanked out, and all of a sudden they stop working. Go figure! So, it is a good idea to keep some spares on hand, and right now I have a few extra sets of the Symphonized NRG in-ear headphones on hand.

Symphonized makes ear buds, headphones, and wireless speakers, and they have a unique take on the market; everything they make has wood in it. Their marketing materials say that since quality speakers and musical instruments are made of wood, your headphones should be made out of wood too. I am not convinced that making almond-sized ear buds out of wood will make them sound any different, but that is their story.

When you open the package, you will find that the NRG phones come with a lot of extra stuff. There are 5 extra sets of silicone ear cups, a clip, and a little linen carry bag. The headphones themselves come with various colors of cloth-wrapped cables (4 feet long), a built-in microphone, and a gold-plated 1/8-inch jack. They look nice and yes, they are actually made out of wood.

They have 8mm neodymium magnet drivers, have 16 ohms of resistance (so they will play ok on you smart phone), and the manufacturer says they have a frequency response of 18Hz to 22kHz. That is ambitious!

Setting all of the specs and other gobbledygook aside, these are pretty good ear buds. There is good isolation from outside noise, and very good high and mid ranges. The bass is muddy, but is not much worse than other phones in the same price range. The only gripe I have is with the cloth-covered wires. When they are moved around, anything that contacts the braided sheath makes a scratchy noise that transmits straight up into the user’s ears. Not an electronic noise, mind you, but a mechanical noise. Anyway, it is not too awful, and it would not keep me from buying them.

I have not tried to use the manufacturer’s 1-year warranty, but it seems to be the usual one that covers defects, which is not usually what causes ear buds to fail – it is always some sort of accident or abuse by the user. Anyway, they have a toll-free number you can call to discuss things if they do crap out on you

The Symphonized NRG ear buds are good enough for most uses and are able to get the job done for a reasonable price. You can disregard the list price of $49.99, as the manufacturer sells them direct through Amazon Prime for $18.99, which includes shipping.

Mahalo!

Sennheiser HD 360 Pro Headphone Review

Aloha!

I have used Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones for the past few years, and they are really very wonderful. But, I recently had the opportunity to try out a pair of HD 360 Pro cans, and if you know anything about their products, as the model number becomes higher, generally the phones become more wonderful (and expensive). Well these buck that convention, as you can buy them for much less than the HD 280 Pro, and they are a good set of cans for the bucks.

The HD 360 Pro is a bit of an odd duck, as they are marketed as professional monitoring headphones, but they are slightly smaller than full-size and they fold up fairly compactly. This means that they are great for guys who are on the road and do not want to put up with the discomfort of in-ear monitors or crummy sounding noise cancelling headphones. Plus they kick the living crap out of Beats while looking relatively normal.

Physically, they are similar in size to the PX 360, so they are a smaller pair of around-the-ear closed-back phones that will work if you do not have big ears. They weigh in at around ½ pound, and they have nicely padded leatherette earpads, that appear to be replaceable. If you have small to mid-size ears, they are comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time but not so loose that they slip off. They include a non-replaceable cord that is almost 10 feet long and an adapter so they can be plugged into ¼-inch or 1/8-inch jacks. As I said earlier they fold up, and the end product is fairly flat and compact. A nice zippered carry case is included.

I tested these headphones with a variety of audio sources, including my home stereo, my iPods and iPad and directly from my laptop. I played the music with and without headphone amplifiers (solid state and tube type), and with my usual assortment of music. This includes mostly rock and blues, with a little country, classical and show tunes thrown in for good measure.

And these headphones perform very well. They are very sensitive and crisp with no distortion at all normal volume levels. The highs are clear, and do not seem to have any unnatural elements to it. The mid ranges are definitely boosted, mostly in the upper mids. This is not distracting, and I like the effect for rock and blues music. The bass is crisp and powerful, but is still well-balanced with the mids and highs.

In the real world, they sound great and provide perfect isolation (and no leakage) on airplanes and when working in crowded and/or noisy rooms. For my purposes, this more than makes up for any sound imperfections that come about from having closed-back cans. I like them a lot, and used them regularly until the cable pulled out of my wife’s headphones, so these are now in her care. There is no substitute for a good pair of headphones.

And these are good headphones that you can buy for a song. The list price on the Sennheiser HD 360 Pro headphones is $149.95, but you can buy them all day long on the internet for 60 bucks. These are a heck of a deal at that price, and if you are looking for a new pair of pretty nice headphones, start checking around online and buy them!

Mahalo!

Sennheiser HD 229 Headphones Review

Howdy!

Ear buds are the most convenient way to take your sound with you, but they can be uncomfortable, especially for extended trips. But there are some nice options for lightweight over the ear headphones, such as the industry standard Koss Portapros. I recently picked up a pair of Sennheiser HD 229 cans, and they are working out to be a good compromise for travel. I already own a few pairs of Sennheiser phones – the HD 280 and HD 380 models, and they are really a phenomenal value.

The HD 228 headphones have a compact over-the-ear design, and fold flat to make them a little more portable for travel. They are available in black and red or white and orange, and come with a 1/8-inch (3.5mm) jack on the end of a 4.5 foot (1.4-meter) single-sided cable. It does not look like the cable or the vinyl ear pieces are replaceable, so these will not last for the rest of your life.

These cans are very lightweight, and with the padded headband and swiveling ear cups they are super comfortable. They are springy enough to stay on at the gym or while walking, but not so tight that they hurt. I have worn these for hours on end with no problems.

Neodymium magnets are used for higher output, and specs-wise, there is nothing unusual going on with these dynamic headphones. They have a frequency response of 18, 000 to 22, 000 Hz and they are capable of putting out 110 dB. Total harmonic distortion is supposed to be less than 0.5% with 100 dB at 1000Hz. These phones have 16 Ω of resistance, so they are loud enough for travel, (32 ohms is as high as I would want to go with headphones for an iPod).

I have burned them in for around 100 hours, and they loosened up quite a bit and sound much better than they did out of the box. I use them or traveling on planes and at the gym, and though they do not have big ear cups, they provide pretty good isolation and not much leakage to annoy my neighbors.

Sennheiser says that the HD 229 phones “provide excellent bass performance” and are “optimized for iPod, iPhone, MP3 and CD players.” Well, they sound good with my iPod and my laptop, but I would not say the bass performance is excellent. I did try them with a few different headphone amplifiers and they really perked up, but that is not really the sort of use these phones were designed for.

They do, however, have a nice crisp tone with good enough bass. I hear some mid-range resonance, and they are not nearly as good as any of my over the ear Sennheisers, but they were never supposed to be as good. The HD 229s are cheaper, more portable phones so I did not expect miracles. All-in-all, they are a good value.

By the way, avoid the white ones like the plague. The ear cups get dirty and do not clean up well, and the plastic turns yellow, so they look nasty in less than a year. I made this mistake with some closeout HD 228 phones that I bought a few years back, and am not going there again.

The Sennheiser HD 229 headphones have a list price of $79.95 and they sell for around 40 bucks on Amazon. For the price range and portability they are very good, but if you want heavy sound, spend another 50 bucks and get a pair of HD 228 Pro headphones (but they will be bigger). But, if you crave portability and comfort, these are a great value.

Mahalo!

AudioQuest DragonFly DAC 1.0 – USB Digital Analog Converter Review

Howdy!

I spend hours every day listening to music through headphones -- I write at least one album review each week, and it is also nice to have music going as I write for my blog and my day job. I never realized how lame the sound from my laptop was until I discovered the world of headphone amplifiers. Then my boss gave me an AudioQuest DragonFly Digital Analog Converter, and my world was expanded even further.

You see, your laptop is not optimized for audio playback. The managers and engineers in the computer companies’ product cheapening departments have to cut as many corners as possible to make their wares competitive in the marketplace, and the audio output suffers considerably. If you are watching cat videos on Youtube this is not much of an issue, but if you really love music and want it to sound as good as possible, upgrading this output is not too big of a deal and it does not have to cost an arm and a leg. I say this because in the audiophile world it is possible to spend $10,000+ on a digital analog converter, but it is possible to get the job done (and well enough) for under $200.

This is where the DragonFly DAC comes into play – simply plug it in and bypass the cheap-o sound card that the child laborer installed at your favorite third world computer factory. This unit is the size of a normal flash drive with a USB connector on one end, a 1/8-inch (3.5mm) headphone jack on the other end, and a cool dragonfly logo that lights up (more on this later). It has a rubberized coating and comes with a leatherette sleeve to help protect it in your backpack or laptop bag (I keep mine in my headphone case). It is a little thicker than some thumb drives, so you might want to invest in the AudioQuest Dragontail extension cable ($17) if your USB ports are recessed into the case of your computer.

It is astounding that this thing is made in the U.S., and even more amazing is the number of high-quality components they were able to cram into its tiny footprint. It actually has a metal case under that rubberized coating, and there are 107 parts in there including its heart and soul, the 24-bit/96kHz ESS Sabre digital-to-analog conversion chip. This chip is also found in quality CD and Blu-Ray players.

There is a lot going on inside this small package, the first of which is its asynchronous clock function. There has to be a clock so that digital music is played back with the proper timing, and there is a clock in your computer that is usually tapped into for this function. But your machine is so busy doing other operations in the background (virus checks, auto-saving files, viewing porn), that the clock will be off inducing errors into audio playback, such as harshness and a lack of clarity. The Dragonfly has its own dedicated clock (two of them, actually) so timing errors are minimized, which improves the detail of what your are listening to, as well as making the sound stage larger.

Another important feature of the Dragonfly is its 60-position analog volume control, which is unheard of on DACs at this price point. A digital volume control will reduce signal resolution and degrade sound quality. Of course it still has to be controlled digitally with the computer, and make sure you read the instructions to set this thing up properly. Pretty much it is best to max out the volume control on the app or program you are using to play the music, and use the master volume control on the computer to set the level. Again, it is a good idea to read the book…

This unit also functions as a headphone amp, and it will work with most any headphone that has more than 12 ohms of resistance. I borrowed my friend’s high-zoot Sennheisers with 300 ohms of resistance, and the DragonFly had the oomph to push them.

Before I forget, DragonFly can be set to a line level output so it operates only as a DAC, so you can control volume with other audio components down the signal chain. I have used this mode to run the audio output directly into my mixing board for DJ gigs.

The AudioQuest DragonFly will work with almost anything. It is compatible with PCs running Windows XP, 7 and 8, as well as Mac OS X Mavericks, Mountain Lion, Lion and Snow Leopard. It can accept every file format I threw at it, including MP3, CD-standard 16-bit/44kHz and native 24-bit/96kHz high-resolution, regardless of music file format. A cool feature is that the logo will light up in different colors based on the resolution of the incoming audio signal. And lastly, it works with every audio file program I tried, but for this review I am sticking with iTunes, because it is common, and is what I use most often.

Blah blah blah. So how does it work?

DragonFly installation was easy as pie. I plugged it into the USB port and attached my headphones, and set up the volume and sound controls as shown in the instructions. In less than two minutes and I was ready to go.

I launched iTunes on my Windows 8 laptop and tried every set of Sennheiser headphones I have, including HD 201, HD 228, HD 229, HD 380, and HD 600 as well as my Ultimate Ear in-ear monitors. Immediately it was obvious that the DragonFly provided a warmer tone that the original sound card could not achieve.

This was with a wide assortment of music, including Larry Coryell, Buddy Guy, Bryan Ferry, Ray Price, King Crimson and the Boston Pops. I was impressed with the organic tone that had a noticeable improvement in separation and clarity – it a very natural listening experience. There was no unusual compression and the silence between phrases had a natural decay with no abrupt cut-offs. This is one of my big gripes with digital playback. Bass and mid-range performance were exceptional

As I said earlier, I also set the DragonFly for line-out and ran it through my mixing board and QSC powered speakers. The increased detail and clarity made a huge difference with 6000 watts behind it, which made the sound of the middle school dance incredible, even if the organizer’s choice of music was lame beyond belief.

All in all, I thing the DragonFly is a winner. It woke up the sound from my laptop in ways that I could not expect, and the experience reminded me of the first time I ran my music through a dedicated headphone amplifier. True audiophiles will sniff at this because it is based in the digital world, it does not cost enough money and it does not have enough knobs. But I am the target audience for this product, and it hits the mark perfectly.

Of course, all of this goodness does not come super-cheap, but at $150 the AudioQuest Dragonfly DAC is worth every penny (and it comes with a one-year warranty). By the way, this is the price of version 1.2, which is supposed to sound even better than the version 1.0 that I have. If you spend very much time listening to music on your computer, and if you want it to sound as good as it possibly can, you need to pick one of these up.

Mahalo!

Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones Review

Howdy!

Over the past few years I have spent a lot more time listening to music through headphones, and have tried many different combinations of headphones and have not found any yet that compare to the ones I borrowed from my boss, the Sennheiser HD 650. My current go-to headphones are their HD 250 Pro, and if you know anything about their products, the higher the model number the better (and more expensive) they are.

The HD 250 Pro are very good cans, and if you are going to spend five times the price for a new set, there had better be a noticeable improvement in sound. The HD 650 phones deliver this is spades. These are open-back headphones, so these are not the ones you are going to use at the office or gym or on the airplane. A lot of ambient sound will make their way in, and you will disturb your neighbors.

Physically, these phones are open back (as I just said), and they fit comfortably around the ears (circumaural) with cozy replaceable ear pads. They weigh in at around 9 ounces (a bit heavier than normal), but they are nicely adjustable and they are some of the most comfortable ones I have ever stuck on my head. The coiled cord is about 10 feet long, with a ¼-inch jack and a 1/8-inch mini jack adapter is included. The cord is replaceable should it happen to be damaged. Overall they are very smart-looking with a slick titanium finish and an imposing size.

The specification sheet provided by Sennheiser for the HD 650 contain no surprises for headphones in this price range. They are equipped with neodymium magnets and frequency response is supposed to be 10 to 49,500 Hz, with a total harmonic distortion of less than 0.05%. With 300 ohms of resistance, these things will take a lot of power to drive. They will not work well with an iPod or laptop unless a headphone amplifier is used.

I tested these headphones with a variety of audio sources, including my home stereo, my iPod and iPad, as well as my laptop. I used them with and without headphone amplifiers (solid state and tube-type) and with my usual assortment of music and movies. This includes mostly rock and blues, with a little country, classical and show tunes to round things out.

And they perform magnificently. The magnets are matched so that they have virtually even output (+/- 1 dB). They lightweight aluminum voice coils are very sensitive and crisp with no distortion at any normal volume levels. The highs are clear and do not have any unnatural elements to them. The mid ranges seem slightly boosted, mostly in the upper mids. This is not distracting to me, and I like the effect for most music. The bass is the best I ever heard, very crisp and powerful, but still well-balanced with the mids and highs. I found that they sounded best with classical and jazz music, and using them with a home theatre system is mind-blowing. They are maybe a little lacking for hard-rocking music. Of course, these are subjective observations, and depending on what kind of music you are listening to you might find other headphoens that you prefer (but I doubt it).

In the real world, due to their design there is not much isolation, so if there is any background noise it will makes its way in too. This means that they are really not the best headphones for me, as I am never anywhere that it is quiet enough to get the full benefit from these headphones. But, if you are an audiophile that has a quiet place to enjoy these, they should be close to the top of your shopping list.

But, when you go shopping, make sure that you have plenty of cash in your pockets. The Sennheiser HD 650 headphones sell for around $600, which makes these a serious purchase. But they are worth it, and if you ever get a chance to try a pair out, you will be amazed!

Mahalo!

Sennheiser HD 228 Headphones Review

Aloha!

Ear buds are probably the best way to take your sound with you, but they are usually not terribly comfortable, especially for long trips. But there are some nice options for lightweight over the ear headphones. I recently picked up a pair of Sennheiser HD 228 cans, and they are working out to be a good compromise for travel. I already own a few pairs of Sennheiser phones – the HD 280 and HD 380 models, and they are really a phenomenal value.

The HD 228 headphones have a compact over-the-ear design, and fold flat to make them a little more portable for travel. They are available in black or white, and come with a 1/8-inch (3.5mm) jack on the end of a 4.5 foot (1.4-meter) single-sided cable. It does not look like the cable or the vinyl ear pieces are replaceable, so these will not last for the rest of your life.

These cans are very lightweight, and with the padded headband and swiveling ear cups they are super comfortable. They are springy enough to stay on at the gym or while walking, but not so tight that they hurt. I have worn these for hours on end with no problems.

Neodymium magnets are used for higher output, and specs-wise, there is nothing unusual going on with these dynamic headphones. They have a frequency response of 18, 000 to 22, 000 Hz and are capable of putting out 110 dB. Total harmonic distortion is supposed to be less than 0.5% with 100 dB at 1000Hz. The last spec is important to me, and I am getting different numbers depending on where In look. Their website says that these phones have 16 Ω of resistance, while the packaging says 24 Ω.

I have burned them in for around 100 hours, and they loosened up quite a bit and sound much better than they did out of the box. I use them or traveling on planes and at the gym, and though they do not have big ear cups, they provide pretty good isolation and not much leakage to annoy my companions.

They are loud enough for travel, despite the higher than rated resistance ( 32 ohms is as high as I would want to go with headphones for an iPod). I tried them with a few different headphone amplifiers and they really perked up, but that is not really the sort of use these phones were designed for.

Sennheiser says that the HD 228 phones “provide excellent bass performance” and are “optimized for iPod, iPhone, MP3 and CD players.” Well, they sound good with my iPod and my laptop, but I would not say the bass performance is excellent.

They do, however, have a nice crisp tone with good enough bass. I hear some mid-range resonance, and they are not nearly as good as any of my other Sennheisers (HD 201, HD 280 and HD 380). But they were never supposed to be as good. The HD 228s are cheaper, more portable phones so I never expected any miracles. But I think they are too spendy for what they are…

The Sennheiser HD 228 headphones have a list price of $99 and a street price of around $75. I found mine for $25 on closeout at an electronics store in Tokyo. For $75 you can move up to a pair of HD 201 or HD 228 (on sale) cans that sound a ton better, but keep in mind that they are both quite a bit larger. So, if you crave portability I suggest that you try the Koss Portapro headphones instead.

Mahalo!

Sennheiser HD 380 Pro Headphones Review

Hiya!

I have used Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones for the past few years, and they are really very wonderful. But, I recently had the opportunity to try out a pair of HD 380 Pro cans, and if you know anything about their products, as the model number becomes higher the phones become more wonderful (and expensive).

Well, if you are going to spend twice the money you will want to notice a difference, and you will. The HD 380 Pro is a bit of an odd duck, as they are marketed as professional studio headphones, but they are slightly smaller than full-size and they fold up fairly compactly. This means that they are great for guys who are on the road and do not want to put up with the discomfort of in-ear monitors or crummy sound noise cancelling headphones. Plus they kick the living crap out of Beats while looking relatively normal.

Physically, they are around-the-ear closed-back phones, and weigh in at a sprightly ½ pound. They are nicely padded (replaceable earpads!) and adjustable, and are comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time but not so loose that they slip off. They include a replaceable coiled-type cord that stretches out to about 10 feet long. They come with a screw-on adapter so they can be plugged into ¼-inch or 1/8-inch jacks. As I said earlier they fold up, and the end product is fairly flat and compact. A nice zippered carry case is included.

The specifications provided by Sennheiser for the HD 380 Pros have no surprises. They have neodymium magnets and frequency response is supposed to be 8 to 27,000 Hz, with a total harmonic distortion is less than 0.1% (1kHz, 100dB SPL). These headphones can provide up to 32 dB of attenuation, which combined with a reasonable 54 Ω of resistance means that they can play loudly enough (with enough isolation) that they do not necessarily need a headphone amplifier when used with an iPod.

I tested these headphones with a variety of audio sources, including my home stereo, my iPods and iPad and directly from my laptop. I played the music with and without headphone amplifiers (solid state and tube type), and with my usual assortment of music. This includes mostly rock and blues, with a little country, classical and show tunes thrown in for good measure.

And these headphones perform very well. They are very sensitive and crisp with no distortion at all normal volume levels. The highs are clear, and do not seem to have any unnatural elements to it. The mid ranges are definitely boosted, mostly in the upper mids. This is not distracting, and I like the effect for rock and blues music. The bass is crisp and powerful, but is still well-balanced with the mids and highs.

In the real world, they sound great and provide perfect isolation (and no leakage) on airplanes and when working in crowded and/or noisy rooms. For my purposes, this more than makes up for any sound imperfections that come about from having closed-back cans. I like them a lot, but am too cheap to pony up for a pair of my own and will have to make do with my old headphones, which are still very good.

If audio perfection is your quest and you only have two hundred bucks to spend, these are probably your best value because there is enough difference in sound over the HD 280 Pro headphones to justify the extra cash. The HD Sennheiser 380 Pro headphones have a list price of $299.95 and a street price of $199.95, which includes a factory two-year warranty.

Mahalo!

Koss Porta Pro On-ear Headphones Review

Hello!

If you are looking for a good pair of headphones for less than $50, there are plenty of choices out there, and some of them are very good. I think one of the best buys out there would be the Koss Porta Pro headphones. These on-ear semi-open cans were quite revolutionary when they were introduced in 1984 and are still very popular, even though they have not changed a bit. Koss got the design right in the first place, and they were smart enough not to mess with it.

As they are still the same 28 years later, the black and silver design looks a little funky, but that is subjective, I suppose. They have a 4-foot cable with a 3.5mm mini plug. The replaceable ear cups are attached to headband that has three different level of tension adjustment (Comfort Zone!) so that the headphones put just the right amount of pressure on your noggin. They will spring back when you take them off, and might snag your hair. I find them to be quite lightweight and comfortable, except for the hair thing. By the way, they also fold up neatly into a circle for travelling.

From a technical side, the Porta Pros have high-output neodymium magnets with Mylar diaphragms that are very stiff, reducing distortion. They are 60 ohm cans with a frequency response of 15-25,000 Hz and a total harmonic distortion of 0.2%. Blah blah blah. How do they sound?

They sound really good! Using them with solely an iPod or my laptop, or in conjunction with a variety of headphone amps they have a tremendous range with tight mids and amazingly full bass. They faithfully reproduce sound and have a very realistic 3D sound stage. Remember that they have a semi-open design, so outside sounds can make their way in and sound will leak out. Be warned that they might not be your best choice for your next 12-hour flight.

On top of all of these good things, the Porta Pro headphones come with a carry case and include the legendary Koss limited lifetime warranty. If they fail during normal use, they will send you a new pair for the cost of shipping. This should be enough to put you over the top if you are considering picking up a pair of these.

As far as cons, there really are not very many. They will leak sound out and annoy your neighbors, your hair might get snagged in the adjustable band, and they may try to strangle you when you put them around your neck. Oh yes, and they do look funky. I think they look cool, though, and the other stuff does not bother me because they sound fantastic.

The Koss Porta Pro headphones have a list price of $49.99 and seem to sell online for between $35 and $80. The $80 is at Crutchfield, I am not sure what is going on there, but this shows you that it pays to shop around. You will not find a better pair of headphones for the money.

Mahalo!

Sennheiser HD 201 Headphones Review

Hiya!

I use my Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones on an almost daily basis, and I think they are probably one of the best headphone buys out there. Though their price is relatively low in the high-fidelity world (around a hundred bucks), you might be looking for something a bit cheaper. Well, I recently had the chance to try out Sennheiser’s HD 201 headphones, and depending on what your needs are they might be just the ticket for you.

The HD 201 cans are closed-back over the ear (circumaural) cans with a 3-meter cord and an 1/8-inch jack. A gold-plated ¼-inch adapter is included. They do not come with any sort of carry case of bag, but how many extras can you expect at this price point?

The ear cup have padded black naugahyde covers, and they are mounted to pivots that allow them to tilt back or forwards (about 20 degrees worth). This helps them fit differently-shaped melons, and lets you leave one cup in place in case you need to slip the other off the ear for a bit. The padded headband is adjustable and fits my head well. I think the top of my head is kind of flat, so take my observations for what they are worth.

A pair of the HD 201 headphones comes in at around 6 ounces, according to my digital scale. There is a fine line between making these things light enough so that they are comfortable, but not so light that they feel flimsy and cheap. Unfortunately these ones fall on the flimsy and cheap side of the line. But that is just my first impression. I have banged these things around quite a bit and nothing has broken off of them and they still sound the same. It appears that they will last for quite a while.

Of course the biggest deal is going to be how these things sound, and they work pretty well. I tried them out with my iPod Classic, my laptop and from my CD player, and got very similar results. They have a clean and natural sound, with limited bass and bit too much emphasis on the upper ranges. You are not going to $100 or $800 sound out of a pair of $30 headphones, so get realistic. They are a huge step up from the ear buds that came with your iPhone, and they are well-balanced for the price

Though the resistance is considerable less than my HD 280 Pro headphones (24 Ω), the HD 201s do not put out much volume. Perhaps the neodymium magnets in the HD280s give them more oompf. Anyway, these headphones benefit greatly from using a headphone amplifier (like a CMOS), so they are not going to be great for portable use. The cups seem to seal well, so your cubicle mates will not have to listen to your crummy music that leaks out around the edges.

As you have probably figured out, there are a few downsides to these headphones. If you want them for listening in the office or at home, you are in luck. But if you are in a noisier environment and you will have to crank the volume on your iPod to make them loud enough to hear. Plus you are not going to want to take these to the gym as that 10-foot cord gets hung up on fricking everything.

The MSRP for a pair of Sennheiser HD 201 headphones is $29.95, and I usually see them for around $25. Doing an online search I found a pair of new ones on Amazon for $21.95, which is way cheaper than the price of a pair of nice ear buds, and you will surely get a lot better sound out of them. By the way, make sure you get these from an authorized dealer, as they come with a 2-year warranty.

Mahalo!

Micro Cmoy Headphone Amplifier

I had never even heard of headphone amplifiers until last month, and now I am totally sold on the concept.

In my last blog post, I mentioned that my new headphones were a bit anemic due to their high resistance, particularly when used with an iPod. I had borrowed my boss’ HeadRoom Total Airhead amp, and it made the headphones sound exactly the way I wanted them to.

This amplifier is available online for about $100, but I was hoping to get the job done a little bit cheaper. A friend suggested that I build my own (?!) and pointed me to a link with detailed instructions and a parts list to build a Cmoy amp. I researched what people had to say about these amps, which are commonly built inside an Altoids tin, and there were very positive reviews of the amps. Plus there was a note that somebody was building these and selling them on eBay for $35, which is about $15 more than it would cost me to make my own. Hell, it even comes with a battery! As an added bonus, he has a number of different mint tins to choose from.

I bought one from seller juice2214 on eBay, and it showed up quickly, and was well-packed. The first thing I did was pop it open and look at the insides. I am really glad I did not try to build my own because all of the components are REALLY tiny. The build quality is first-rate, with neat soldering and plenty of shrink wrap to prevent shorts. There was no skimping on the parts, either. He used an Alps pot, Nichicon capacitors and a TI Burr Brown OP AMP chip.

The controls are simple, a volume control potentiometer with an ON/OFF switch, a 1/8” input, 1/8” output and a bright blue LED to let you know it is on.

I plugged it in, and it does everything the Airhead did, and really brings the headphones to life. I have used it about 10 hours so far, and the 9-volt battery is still going strong. I have not noticed any change in tone, so I do not know if the amp will burn in and sound better as time goes on. Either way it is cool with me, because I the way it sounds right now.

The only downside that I can see is that it might confuse the TSA airport security folks when they see it with their x-ray machines. It does kind of look like a home-made bomb…

Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones

The ear buds that come with the iPod defy physics, and both suck and blow. I tried them once, and moved on to Shure and Ultimate Ears in-ear monitors which work great. But eventually I wanted a bit more fidelity and began the search for some over-the-ear cans.

If an uneducated person (such as myself) heads down to Best Buy, they are at the mercy of the equally uneducated salespeople, and the limitations of what is in stock at the store. I avoided this route and went straight to the expert: my boss (of all people). All I had to do was mention headphones to him (a mega audiophile), and he brought in his headphones and headphone amplifier. He then started researching headphones for me and sending me a barrage of e-mails. His headphones were not going to work out for a few reasons: they are open-backed, which would share my unpleasant music with others, and they cost wayyyy too much money.

After all of his research, I decided to try the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones. It turns out that many of my musical colleagues already had them, and really like them for studio use. Maybe I should have checked with them first. These headphones are not a new model, they came out about 10 years ago.

Predictably, they did not have these headphones at Best Buy. So I started to poke around at Al Gore’s internet, and found out that these headphones retail for $199, but nobody is charging more than $100 bucks for them. I found a new set on eBay for $75. They have a 2-year factory warranty.

The HD 280 Pro headphones come with an instruction book, a 10-foot sproingy cord, and a ¼-inch adapter for home stereo use. I will surely lose the adapter at some point.

They sound very good, and have a nice crisp tone with good bass. I maybe hear a little mid-range resonance. Maybe. They are not as good as the high-end Sennheisers my boss loaned me, but good enough for the likes of me. By the way, I let them burn in for 24 hours straight before using them for an extended period, and they loosened up a little, with a bit more bass.

They are comfortable, though the vinyl ear cups get a bit sweaty after an extended wearing. There are 2-way hinges on the ear cups, so they fold into a more packable size. The earcups comes off pretty easily, and should I damage the retro coily cord, it is relatively easy to replace too (no soldering).

My only complaint is they are not terribly loud due to their 64 ohm resistance. For most portable players, 32 ohms is a better specification. Which means that my shopping was not done: I also invested in a headphone amplifier, which you can read about next time. Stay tuned.