Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones.
May 16, 2006 21:58:45 GMT
Post by Stormy on May 16, 2006 21:58:45 GMT
For those of you who are not familiar with them, the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro are 64 Ohm, DJ-style closed-back headphones that can be folded up for transportation. A 300 Ohm version is also available for studio use (as well as a number of single or double earpiece aviation headsets with boom microphones - that gives you a good idea of the noise attenuation qualities of these 'phones).
I got these headphones about three years ago as an alternative to my HD600s, which are not at all suited for use as audio recording monitors due to excessive sound leakage, and don't work well in noisy environments due to the nature of their open-backed design. I also prefer circum-aural designs to supra-aural, so I ignored the much better established HD 25, HD 25-SP and HD 250.
The sound is characteristic of lowish-impedance closed-back 'phones: very high potential SPL, especially in the bass frequencies, and rather closed-in treble relative to open-backed designs.
A major failing of the design is the headband. The metal band has a large number of moulded plastic comonents fitted over it to disguise it, and several of these have been made with quite a tight radius, following the shape the headphones make when their earcups touch, left to their own devices. The problem is that when you insert even a modest-sized head between the earcups, the radius of the headband is almost doubled and the plastic parts no longer "fit". The plastic is rather hard and brittle, and it gradually develops splits and cracks after repeated stress from flexing. Eventually, the two plastic panels on the inside of the headband pop out at their outer ends, and make creaking and cracking noises whenever you move.
I contacted Sennheiser to enquire about spare parts, and they said it was only possible to order a complete headband assembly. I sent them a picture of the headphones with the small parts I wished to replace highlighted, but they insisted they are not available separately, and I would have to part with £33 if I wanted to fix the problem. I decided not to bother, as the headphones are still functional and at more than a third of the cost of a new pair to repair "cosmetic" damage for two years until the plastic cracks again seems unreasonable.
Pros:
•Very good ambient sound attenuation without excessive pressure on the head.
•Folding design allows a number of different arrangements for compact stowage.
•The thick, coiled, single-sided cable is difficult to damage by tugging or catching it on things.
•The 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter is threaded so the cable can never be accidentally pulled out.
•2 year warranty.
•Spare parts available.
Cons:
•The moulded plastic cowling on the headband cracks and splinters with use.
• You can only order a complete headband assembly as a spare part at the cost of £33, rather than just the small, cheap plastic parts that fail.
If they ever need replacing, I will probably go for something with a more proven, functional design like the BeyerDynamic DT 100, which are a similar price.
I got these headphones about three years ago as an alternative to my HD600s, which are not at all suited for use as audio recording monitors due to excessive sound leakage, and don't work well in noisy environments due to the nature of their open-backed design. I also prefer circum-aural designs to supra-aural, so I ignored the much better established HD 25, HD 25-SP and HD 250.
The sound is characteristic of lowish-impedance closed-back 'phones: very high potential SPL, especially in the bass frequencies, and rather closed-in treble relative to open-backed designs.
A major failing of the design is the headband. The metal band has a large number of moulded plastic comonents fitted over it to disguise it, and several of these have been made with quite a tight radius, following the shape the headphones make when their earcups touch, left to their own devices. The problem is that when you insert even a modest-sized head between the earcups, the radius of the headband is almost doubled and the plastic parts no longer "fit". The plastic is rather hard and brittle, and it gradually develops splits and cracks after repeated stress from flexing. Eventually, the two plastic panels on the inside of the headband pop out at their outer ends, and make creaking and cracking noises whenever you move.
I contacted Sennheiser to enquire about spare parts, and they said it was only possible to order a complete headband assembly. I sent them a picture of the headphones with the small parts I wished to replace highlighted, but they insisted they are not available separately, and I would have to part with £33 if I wanted to fix the problem. I decided not to bother, as the headphones are still functional and at more than a third of the cost of a new pair to repair "cosmetic" damage for two years until the plastic cracks again seems unreasonable.
Pros:
•Very good ambient sound attenuation without excessive pressure on the head.
•Folding design allows a number of different arrangements for compact stowage.
•The thick, coiled, single-sided cable is difficult to damage by tugging or catching it on things.
•The 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter is threaded so the cable can never be accidentally pulled out.
•2 year warranty.
•Spare parts available.
Cons:
•The moulded plastic cowling on the headband cracks and splinters with use.
• You can only order a complete headband assembly as a spare part at the cost of £33, rather than just the small, cheap plastic parts that fail.
If they ever need replacing, I will probably go for something with a more proven, functional design like the BeyerDynamic DT 100, which are a similar price.