Quick Review Guide
These reviews are from personal experience of headphones past
and present. Enjoy!
**Sennheiser twins** Refers to the Sennheiser PX100 and PX200, which have long been a popular choice for the portable headphone market. I believe they’ve been superseded by the brilliant Grado iGrado’s.
AKG K27i
Better than the usual offerings from the Sennheiser twins. Fuller sound if not as revealing or as comfortable, as the Sennheisers. The AKG’s are closer to the HD212’s in terms of performance.
AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-0N3
One of my all time favorite headphones. No bass to speak of, but the ATH-ON3’s kill everything that I have under £50 for clarity and a crisp performance, and they cost me what? £22!
BOSE TRIPORT
Audiophiles loathe them, but I loved them. At the price, I’ve yet to hear deeper bass. And don’t think the Sennheiser HD280’s compare on bass, I’ve already tried them. But with a weak point in the headband, I’d stick to the new Bose OE if I was you.
CROSSROADS MYLARONE X3
A great replacement and improvement over the Sennheiser CX300’s. Brilliant bass and pace but the sound staging is a little vague. You should see the extras you get with the Mylars!
EQUATION AUDIO RP21
Forget the Sennheiser HD280’s, these are the top dog DJ headphones. The RP21’s are just brilliant for the price. These are the new classics of the headphone world, and they are gathering a huge, huge following. buy them, and you’ll hear why. Unfortunately, people will still go for the HD280’s. It’s their loss!
DENON AH-D1000
The new Grado SR60 and S80 slayers in my humble opinion. Comfort, you don’t know the meaning of the word until you’ve tried the Denon’s. Stylish and supremely detailed, but could do with a little more low end weight. Still, the bass is deeper than anything the SR’s can muster up.
GRADO SR60
If there’s one pair of headphones you MUST own in your lifetime let it be the Grado SR60’s. For clarity, they’ll rival headphones costing nearly twice the price.
GRADO SR125
Another great from one of the most prestigious names in the industry. Very forgiving what ever the source, but is it worth the extra money over the famous SR60’s?
GRADO iGRADO
Another personal favorite, though not in the same way as the Audio Technica ATH-ON3’s. The iGrados are far more comfortable than I though they would be, and far more accomplished than the Sennheiser twins in every way.
IPOD HEADPHONES
Not a bad pair of earphones for a standard set up. They’ll do until you buy your first pair of serious headphones, and with the Sennheiser CX300 going so cheap, don’t wait too long.
JBL REFERENCE 410
AKG K-27i in drag, although the leather headband makes all the difference. Fuller performance than the Triplets (Sennheiser PX100/ 200 and iGrado) but not as open as the triplets. Apart from the classic HD25-1, the JBL are my new favourite portable headphones.
KOSS PORTA PRO
A more full performer than the Sennheiser twins (PX100/200) with rich sound, but lacking behind in terms of sound-staging and clarity. And yes, you can go jogging with these on!
PIONEER SE-MJ3B
My first pair of Pioneer headphones and not a bad buy (I’m wearing them now). slightly ahead of the Sennheiser twins for richness, but a whisker behind for crispness.
STAX SR-001 MKII
A different experience to dynamic headphones, not necessarily a better one. It’s up for debate. Don’t let anyone tell you the Stax SR-001 system is bass shy, ’cause they thump alright!
SENNHEISER CX300
What can I say other than they’re a very good, cheap, replacement for your standard ipod earphones. Deep thumping bass, and good enough sound staging.
SENNHEISER HD25-1
Excellent headphones all round, even more comfortable now I’ve bought the velour earpads. Only the Bose OE can rival it for a serious home and portable compromise.
SENNHEISER PX100
The jury is still out in whether they are better than the PX200’s. Before I tried the iGrado, I would have said these set the standard, but the iGrado are better.
SENNHEISER PX200
As above, but I prefer them over the PX100 for sound and looks. Just a shame the iGrado blows them out of the water.
SENNHEISER HD280
Stunning clarity for headphones at this price, but I couldn’t get over the cumbersome and heavy design. The recessed bass did nothing the strengthen their cause either. I’d give the HD280’s a miss and go for the Equation Audio RP21’s instead.
SENNHEISER HD212
Some say that the bass is far too heavy, but it’s nice to have deep bass when you want it. I’ve tried many in it’s class, and the HD212’s always come out on top.
SENNHEISER PMX60
All the sound quality you’d expect from Sennheiser, but the comfort (or lack of it) meant they went to a worthy cause, i.e. I gave them to my sister……..and she lost them. Thanks Thomasina (sarcastically), they only cost me £30!
SENNHEISER PX40
What I feel was my first serious attempt to get into headphones. Brilliant budget headphones. Unfortunately at the time, living in Newquay, Cornwall, no one sold anything better.
SENNHEISER HD470
One of my first acquisitions from ebay. The sound takes getting used to, but there’s plenty of bass weight. Obsolete now, and going for a song on ebay. Mine cost a measly £5.99.
SENNHEISER HD465 Expressionline
My first experience of Sennheiser headphones. I remember they were heads and shoulders above what I was used to. However the inner headband on my pair split three times, resulting in a long winded trip back to Sennheiser. My purchase was influenced, by my fellow Art student Paul Prickett (no laughing), who let me try his pair.
SENNHEISER HD215
Even with the bulky looks the sound is far from bulky. Sweet and detailed, if not a bit weedy for the dimensions. Actually they remind me of the HD280’s. Choose the HD212’s for bass, HD215 for detail.
ULTRASONE PROLINE 750
Bought these on blind faith, and was rewarded with superb clarity and deep but well-controlled bass. The Proline 750’s are one of my better Purchases. Huge but comfortable.
The sound is finely detailed, but it’s also recessed and distant. You’d really, really have to want these headphones, and I do. They are a lovely ownership proposition, sonic failings aside. The Ultrasone iCans are the Ultimate bling item for your IPod, but secretly, I’d still go for the iGrado.
