Sennheiser HD457 Review
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).
Related posts: