Headfile

These are quite old, but, for the sake of archiving, let’s review these so-called “professional” DJ headphones by Sennheiser. First off, these are closed, circumaural, and are designed for monitoring—which means the frequency response should be as flat as possible. It has up to 32 decibels of attenuation, which is part of its selling point for use by DJs. They are loud, and that’s a straight fact. So now let’s re-live some of the good reviews we’ve accumulated from users throughout the years.

“The sound from these phones is excellent. The standard criteria are there. The signal is very clean, thanks in part to the oxygen free copper cabling used. Bass is controlled and precise so a timpani doesn’t sound muffled. Higher frequencies do not hiss and the phones are able to drive high frequency sounds and pull out details lost by consumer grade headphones. Soundstage is fairly narrow as some have said, but much better than consumer sets that sound like the sound source is inside your head. Of course, a DSP solution for soundstage expansion could help if someone didn’t like the soundstage.”

“After burning these puppies in for 24 hours, the audio quality truly impresses with details I’ve never noticed before in my Definitive Technology and Aperion Audio home theater/stereo systems. Initially I thought the bass was a “little” lacking, but the cans have developed a fuller, richer sound with burn-in. I’m tempted to buy a second pair so I don’t have to carry mine from home to work all the time.”

“Rock/punk is hit or miss on these phones. The Ramones’ “Road To Ruin” sounded excellent, especially with the bass cranked way up on my receiver. The Ramones have never sounded better to me, but, strangely, The Damned’s Damned Damned Damned album, which is classic British punk, didn’t sound so hot. It’s as though these phones were too polite for these guys. Magazine’s “Secondhand Daylight” also didn’t sound so hot on the 280s. The recording sounded too analytical as though the phones were dissecting the music. All the instruments were very well articulated, but this made the music sound deconstructed. The instruments somehow didn’t cohere. In short, some rock has never sounded better to me than on these phones, but some just falls flat.”

One major issue that we did not compile from said reviews is comfort. Take our word for it, they are tight and tiring. “Clasp of death” is just what it is. If you have a fairly small head you would probably survive long use with these, but other than that you will definitely notice them always, which takes away from the whole listening experience or professional work you are trying to accomplish with them. Other than that, if you can live with that, especially now that these are being sold way low from when it was released, then these are really bang for the buck.

The Sennheiser HD 485 belongs to the sub $200-semi-audiophile segment, which means balance between price and performance is key. The greater the sound per dollar invested, the better these cans rank among the competition. Sennheiser earned our respect from the HD 555, at right about the same price as these.

The 485s cover the entire ear fully, so don’t be mistaken by the photos, especially if you think the ear cups are like that of those from the HD 202—a nightmare in comfort. To sum it up, people with large ears might feel a slight “touch” inside the cups, but will not pose any problems for the average-sized-ear man.

These cans have very low impedance (32 ohms) which make them easy to pair with any “iPod.” It might be a little to big for them though, and you might not look at all that “portable.”

The box includes a nice metal screw-on 1-inch jack adapter, detachable cord, and some leather-looking headphone stand which we found little to no use for.

The overall balance of the sound is quite impressive. It does not have earth-shaking bass as say that of the 527, but ample for most bass-demanding music types. The higher frequencies are quite boosted—upon opening, we felt the need to tame via equalizer that above 630 Hz. Detail was excellent, revealing most articles that we’ve accustomed as “revealed only by the high-end.”

Just remember what you’re buying if you choose to decide to add the 485 to your list. These are open, and are best used in silent environments. These are quite bulky, which means if portability is issue, cross them out. Other than that, if you want excellent sound and are the type who listens at home every now and then, these might be a good option as a back-up audiophile reference, and a back-up for portable use.

The ATH-EM7 GM are some sleek-looking clip-on headphones. Retailed at $99.95, expect outstanding Audio-Technica performance in a lightweight package. Each earpiece is encased in a durable double-forged brushed aluminum housing, and—if you paid attention to you metallurgy class— is very lightweight.

First and foremost, clip-on style headphones are not for everyone. Case in point, if you use glasses, you’re probably better off with an in-ear design. The EM7 has a very high sensitivity, and a reasonable resistance rating, which is perfect since most buyers would probably end up matching these with portable music players.

The ear hangers are quite comfortable, except it takes some time to get used to especially if you’re new to this format. But once you get used to them, they’re like wearing glasses—you don’t really notice them anymore. Oh, by the way, have we mentioned, these things are light! The cord is 2 feet long (braided), and it comes with a 3.3 feet extension. As to why, we are not sure since we’ve always preached here at Headfile, for portables, the shorter the cord, the better.

The sound is, honestly, quite brilliant. As we do not really expect anything less from Audio-Technica, it came as a surprise how detailed the sound of the box was. The bass was not quite impressive as say some of AT’s DJ-style headphones, but we thought the bass was quite punchy and fast. It carries Audio-Technica’s signature strong-on-the-mids sound, but they are as great on the highs as well. Our test material, especially on rock sounded particularly clear and lively, with everything to as soft as a whisper, audible.

Currently, you can get a pair for around $50, so considering that, it becomes somewhat a steal. You would not want to spend your money on anything else (although there aren’t as many clip-on choices anyway), unless you’re looking for in-ear/earbuds, or over-the-ear fullsize headphones.

The ATH-ANC7b is the upgraded version of the ATH-ANC7—the very first pair we reviewed here on Headfile. These QuietPoint® active noise-canceling headphones reduce noise by as much as 90%, making it perfect for use while traveling, or in busy places where you need to “hear” your music or concentrate. In fact, use the noise-canceling feature without even playing music, and voila, privacy at your fingertips.

We’ve read a lot of reviews on the ATH-ANC7b, and we’ve tried it personally. In this post, we highlighted (and quoted) what deemed agreeable in our own opinion from other reviews.

The carrying case

“The ATH-ANC7b came with a very nice, sleek case.”

“Nice big case if you want to carry extra stuff (Nintendo DS, ipod, etc).”

Build

“Nice solid construction, appears durable.”

“As for the package in general, it’s very simple and elegant. The battery compartment takes a single AAA battery and it is easy to rotate the cover on the right earpiece to expose and replace the battery.”

Comfort

“Perfectly satisfactory. Larger opening than previous AT model.”

Sound

“Well balanced, good sound.”

“Bass was nice, but not overwhelming. Mids and treble were about as good as it gets without a built in equalizer.”

Noise cancellation

“The ATH-ANC7b goes between the Bose QC15 (best noise cancellation) and the Sennheiser PXC 450 (poor noise cancellation).”

“When you turn these things on, the roar of the jet engine all but disappears. Listening to music and onboard movies is now a pleasure. I have a smidgen of hearing loss and these headphones made that all go away.”

The beyerdynamic DT 235 is a small and portable sealed headphone that delivers decent and balanced sound, as well as good noise isolation. It is an update from the previous DT 231, and comes in a simple but elegant matte black finish.

The DT235 has a good punchy bass response and detailed mids and highs. The resistance is low enough to be paired with most portable media players, so for something retailed at $79.00, these are extremely worth it, especially for the beginner iPod-carrying headfile.

The DT 235 has a simple but roadworthy design. Durable plastic headbands that are both light and tough, and fabric-padded earcups provide comfort with an easy-to-use spring-loaded adjustable strap. It has a single-sided cord 2.5 meters long with a 3.5 mm jack, and comes with a 1/4″ adapter. It comes with beyerdynamic’s standard 2-year warranty.

Reviews

“Bottom end is tight and well defined. Slight graininess in the extreme highs but definitely tolerable. Inner detail, depth and soundstage are all very good but a little thin in the mid range. Frequency response appears linear with the exception of the above mentioned mid range. One of the best I’ve heard at this price point.” — Oasiswriter; Washington, DC

“They sound great – nice strong bass, detailed highs without being too bright and rich mids. They are very light and easy-fitting, and pretty much disappear on your head. I am not an audiophile, but I can tell you that these make music come alive, and immerse you in your recordings. They are also good for portable use, but I have to warn you that the cord is fairly long, which cuts into their utility on that score just a little bit. However, I strongly recommend these headphones in the under $100 category. In fact, I think these is my favorite in that category, and they are well under $100. You can’t go wrong. Try them!” — HeadRoom fan; Washington, DC

“At this price point, these may well be my favorite headphones. Great sound, good comfort. I’m not sure why they don’t get more attention than they do. I use them all the time, even if I have many other pairs to choose from. The only potential drawback is that they have a rather long cord, which does not bother me and is not a deal-breaker, but I feel like I have to say something in the nature of constructive criticism. Of course, if you are using them from your computer, that would be a plus. They have made a real beyerdynamic fan out of me.” Jose Kaufman; San Francisco

“Skullcandy SCLOWBG” or “Skullcandy SC-LOW/BG” headphones are basically the Lowrider line of headphones from Skullcandy with black and gold hardware. So let’s see, what nice things can we say about these cans? For starters, they look really nice for their price. Truth be told, Skullcandy, the brand in general, is not exactly Headfile material. It seems that Skullcandy is more interested in breaking the fashion market than the audio market. But, that doesn’t prevent them from producing good-sounding audiophile-ish quality cans, right?

First, the general build quality and usability

Being as they can fold themselves in half and can swivel their earcups 90 degrees (DJ style), these headphones are a good choice for the frequent traveler. Imaging hauling them around and fitting them in whatever tiny space your hand-carried bag has left, and using them as you please without remorse—after all, they are, for all extensive purposes, “candy.”

Earcups and headpands are wrapped in leather, and the cord measures a whopping 47 inches.

Side note: If I were a traveler, I think it would make more sense if my headphones had shorter cords. I don’t get why the standard non-home use headphones come with mile-long cords. Is “travel light” not the thing nowadays?

Another side note: I’ve read reviews of these snapping in half. Unfortunately, we could not spend enough usage time with our demo unit, so no comment on this matter.

Sound

For $30 (on average), there would be a ton of other cans ranking higher in this department than the SCLOWBG. Research tells me that “loud” seems to be a common denominator of other reviews made, and yes, they do go up really high to mind-splitting levels but is that really important? Even a high resistance unit like say an AKG K 240 had enough loudness in it (plugged via media player) to drown out outside noise.

But, they do sound “decent.” Bass was weak, which was a disappointment for me because I always thought bass is the frequency of the younger generation.

At best it lacked something in every conceivable audio spectrum, but they were a step higher than what would normally come with your iPod.

Its amazing though how these still sell like pancakes (just check out all the reviews @ Amazon.com), so maybe there is something there that we “old schoolers” missed.

The Sennheiser HD457 is somewhat an upgraded version of the subject of my last review—the HD 202. The headband is exactly the same, nay the color, and the earcups look like they were conceived from the same mold, except for some grooves on the outside part of the HD457. The foam on the headband and the earcups are different as well; on the HD457, they are somewhat “clothlike,” on the 202s, “leatherlike.”

Note: The 457s are open headphones, the 202s closed.

There is not a big difference in price either; $49.95 versus $39.95, which in reality, translates to just under $5 on dealer prices.

As expected, the HD457 came with a cable organizer thingy like that of the 202. It came in the same packaging—the tough clear plastic type which is a pain to slice, and also came with a stereo jack adapter. Like the 202, it has a low enough resistance of 32 ohms, which makes it perfect for the most feeble mp3 players.

Sound

Being as these cans are open, if listened to in a very hush environment, one might be overwhelmed with the bass. I had imagined pairing it with an mp3 player out in the open (noisier) environment would drown out some of the bass, leaving a sort of “just right” neutral sounding but impressive sound signature.

The upper range is nice—quite neutral yet still soft, still carrying some of Sennheiser’s infamous “veiled” sound. To others—detail freaks, Grado users, it might only mean “lacking in detail,” but I’d like to look at it as “the detail is still there, only not that articulated.”

I would imagine the 497 would appeal to the younger mp3 player-using generation and not the seasoned audiophile. For something priced as such, the sound should not be critically analyzed, as long as it falls under the really decent category.

Build

These cans are really light which make them perfect for hauling around, but, considering the beating that it might go through, I wish Sennheiser would have made the wires more bullet proof. I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if the wires are the first to go from these units. They are adequate enough for home use and for its price, but I would’ve preferred something stronger (or even “stronger looking”) to make it the ultimate anywhere-you-go headphones.

Oh, remember how I complained about the 202’s clasp? Well, being as these cans are made from the same plastic, well it is still an issue (harder and more fatiguing than normal).

I once owned a pair of Sennheiser HD 202s. The year was 2006, and I wanted a little extra something for my 24th birthday. I knew I wanted headphones, because at that time my work was already computer-based, and I have already ditched the desktop with a laptop—which meant I had already dropped the idea of having an “office,” and was moving quite frequently (while working), even if it meant just at different rooms within the house.

I have heard of Sennheisers and knew it was a respectable brand of headphones. I purchased one (HD 202) at a local record store. Why I picked it, I don’t really remember, all I know is that the store only had a number of models left to choose from. Ah, the thing was made of plastic, literally. Anything visible was made of plastic (obviously except for the pads and the wire). It was not bad though, because I know that it was the tough kind. That also meant it was very light.

It was not as comfortable as I remember (having had a number of headphones after). The cups did not cover my ear entirely and the clasp was stronger than usual. In fact I remember tiring easily and having to rest my ears for long work sessions. I was not the worst in terms of comfort as I’ve had worse, but they were not tolerable as well. I remember trying on a pair of HD 201s at that same store and thought “Damn, these are comfortable as hell.”

The sound was respectable. It was not great, but it was of good quality and was really a step-up to what I was used to at that time. Noise isolation was decent, it was my first experience with closed headphones and I enjoyed it very much especially when I was movies and other videos on my laptop.

What else? Well, it had this wire organizer thingy but I not able to use it not once—because if you’re lazy like me, you wouldn’t see the point either. I know I have not commented on the sound characteristics much but for what I remember, they were a bit colored in the mids and but had a strong bass response. Of course, I’m judging this now that I’ve heard and owned a bunch of high-end cans. For $30, you should not even dare complain about the sound it produces. Oh well, except for the comfort maybe, because I know of cheaper cans that are more comfortable.

By the way, the headphones did not last long enough with me (it was confiscated, long story) to tell if the pads deteriorated in time as with other headphones using the same material (pleather? that glossy thin semi-leatherlike material on top of the foam).

The foldable AKG K 450 was made for use with virtually any portable music player, your mobile phone or your PC by means of optional adapters and a headset. Enjoy your favorite music as you may never have heard it before, as well as make and receive hands-free calls or calls via Skype (with optional communication kit), all through the same system. Two lengths of the single sided cable are included plus an impressive carrying case. See below for complete specifications.

Specifications

• Closed-Back Design
• New unique 3D-Axis² folding mechanism for even easier transport
• iPhone® compatible
• Single sided detachable cable; Two cable lengths included
• New Supersoft™ ear pads for comfortable fit
• 2.5mm/6.3mm jack adapter
• Premium carrying case included

Reviews (compiled from various sources)

“The sound is quite correct, the bass is jaw dropping because of the new cushions. The midrange is quite good, and the treble is just amazing (with) loads of details, nearly beating my XTZ 99 2.2 v2006 speakers with the Doxa 70 amplifier.”

Viktor Basso (www.viktorbassor.com)

“These headphones are very comfortable. They come with a great carrying case with an insert designed for the headphones. I actually thought they’d serve as an upgrade to my Koss Porta-Pro’s based on cost. What a mistake. I have to say I’m a bit disappointed in the sound quality as the highs sound muffled and too low, mids seem a bit low but a tad bit higher than the highs, and bass is just plain overwhelming. These phones lack tonal balance to the extreme. Overall they’re very loud and may sound great to the general ear or if you love bass heavy tracks. However, I’m a bit picky when it comes to sonic accuracy, clarity, and balance. I’m what I like to call a low budget audiophile. I also own a pair of Grado SR60i’s, and Sennheiser HD555’s for full size headphones. These would be quite hard for anything to match under $200.00 in that category. I have the Shure SE110, UE Super-fi 3 studio’s, and the Bose Tri-port hybrid ear-buds as well. The reason I bring all those up is so you can see that I have quite a bit to compare the AKG 450’s to.”

Kool Aid from Mannheim, Germany (via Amazon.com)

“The sound that is there is high quality. Bass and Mids are clean and clear. Bass may be a little heavy, but then again if there was more treble, the sound would be more balanced. The appearance is good. Comfort is excellent. Not too much pressure on the ears, ear cushions are soft and supple. Noise isolation is good for this type of headphone. Portability is excellent. Detachable cord from the headphones allows you to change the length or replace the cord should it become damaged. Included accessories are nice, 1/4″ and cell phone adapters are included as well as two cord lengths.”

Jason T. Wright from Detroit, Michigan, USA (via Amazon.com)

Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Germany has awarded AKG Acoustics the Red Dot Design Award 2009 for the design of two mini-headphones. The prize, which has been awarded since 1988, is regarded in the industry as an indicator of excellent design and high product quality. An impartial, autonomous jury of well-known design experts from around the world chose from the over 11,000 products submitted according to various criteria such as innovation, functionality or ergonomic efficiency. The jurors were in no doubt that the AKG K 420 and K 450 deserved the prize in the “Product Design” category. The prize will be officially awarded at the Essen Opera House on 29 June 2009.

The AKG K 420 and K 450 feature the unique patented 3D Axis2 folding mechanism. When folded up, the two mini-headphones are a miracle of compact design and can be stowed away easily for convenient transport. However, when worn, they produce the typical AKG sound with a wide and distortion-free spectrum, so that they can compete with the larger models in terms of acoustics. Because of the half-open design and the padded headband, they give the impression of lightness and maximum freedom of movement.

AKG.com

“Every year, thousands of businesses worldwide compete with their products for the Red Dot Design Award, so it is a really great honor for our work to be recognized with this much-sought-after award,” said Alfrecht Reinprecht, Vice President of Marketing at AKG. “As well as sound quality, we place a lot of emphasis on a modern, classic look for our headphones.” “The latest technology is by no means the only thing that the customer is looking for. That’s why we will continue to promote attractive design in the future, in an effort to stand out from the mass of products available.”