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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2012 9:23:30 GMT
I've been listening and comparing these two headphones since a friend of mine has the HD201.
They are top notch value for money imo. The HD201 sells at around £17 and the HD202 around £28. Yes, ridiculous prices and you would expect a toy for that amount.
Both are closed headphones and so develop a very robust bass so perhaps people who don't enjoy a robust bottom end or are keener on a treble led sound wouldn't like them as much.
However, it has been a huge surprise to me how good these headphones sound and how well built they are a such a daft price.
The one I own now is the HD202. In comparison to the HD201, it has a heavier bass and hits a little harder. Some would say that the HD201 is more even sounding - to me it was lighter in the low end. (More like a PX100)
The HD202 is quite amazing for a cheap headphone. I think I prefer them both to the Portapro. They are both similar to the PX100 but give a fuller bass.
Both have the typical Senn house sound so if you're not keen on that, you wouldn't perhaps like them too much. I don't mind that sound at all and enjoy the HD650 quite a lot but these at £28 are a steal.
Plastic, over ear (Just) and closed, but the sound is amazingly full bodied and bass lines are really punchy. The HD202 is described as a 'bass led' headphone and I think that's a good description.
The biggest problem with it is the long lead. It's just too long for this type of headphone. It's most likely to be used with an Ipod type of device rather than into a home hi fi unit or headphone amp, so really a short lead would have been better.
Something really good if you want a surprisingly rich sound for daft money.
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mrarroyo
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Our man in Miami!
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Post by mrarroyo on Oct 14, 2012 11:57:50 GMT
I have owned the HD201 and loved it so much I bought a few on sale (about $16 USD) and gave them as gifts. Glad to see others have found them as nice, now I will have to look into the HD202.
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Post by JohnnyBlue on Oct 14, 2012 14:53:10 GMT
Funny how tastes can vary: I've got a pair of HD202s rotting away in the attic (almost literally: the pleather pad cover material has cracked and broken up) because I found the bass to be so overbearing. I bought them years ago because of the closed back, but couldn't get on with them at all!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2012 15:27:20 GMT
You know, it's funny that when I first heard the headphone, I felt the bass was way over the top but after a couple of hours or so, it kind of got more in control. If anything, it's the treble that is a little soft in comparison to some headphones. Instead of that clean 'ssss' sound you get more of a sshhh' sound but that's not a bad thing at high volumes. To me, it's like a mini HD650. I noticed that Mike on Headphonia really likes it too - The resolution of the driver is actually pretty shockingly good for a $30 entry level headphone. For instance, the HD202 actually have better detail retrieval, soundstage and ambiance, compared to perhaps all of the vintage orthodynamics I’ve tried — headphones that people are willing to pay up to $100 for (the ortho mafia is going to kill me for that)What surprised me is what he's said about them in comparison to vintage orthos!!! The one I have is an HD202 II. I don't know if any real revisions were made, but it is impressive for such little money. I agree that it's more bass led than the HD201 though but the cups of the HD201 cause more 'honkiness' to me than the HD202. I guess the price is the thing that impresses me the most. You just don't expect this full bodied sound from such a cheap headphone. Here's Headphonia's full review: www.headfonia.com/sennheiser-hd-202-review/3/I do agree with a lot that he says there. However, I suspect that it has a good downward slope in the FR in order to give that bass with the treble area quite curtailed in all honesty. However - £27? The only query I have with them is how to wear them. The cups are small. I can get the 'flaps' of my ears into them but are the supposed to be worn this way or are threy really supposed to fit ON your ears, pushing the flappy part of your ears down like a Grado headphone?
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Post by JohnnyBlue on Oct 15, 2012 6:04:58 GMT
Just when I was convinced that at least one set of headphones in my (way too big) collection could rest easy in the knowledge they'd never come out of their packaging again, you've convinced me to buy some new pads (less than a tenner on eBay) and give them another go...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2012 6:49:14 GMT
Sorry John!!
I think if you don't like a bass led sound, then they're not for you personally. I regard them as a very cheap portable with a lead that's way too long.
I was surprised at what headphonia say since the treble IS rolled away giving that big bass but they go loud without pain!!
Don't forget that I'm used to wearing things like HD650, DT150, D2000 so a rolled away treble isn't a big deal to me and in any case, I adapt to headphones sound sig very rapidly and easily, I think.
The one I have is an HD202 II. It's a newer version. Some prefer the HD201 because it's less bassy but I found it more 'cuppy'.
Anyway, for the money they go at, they are a real bargain.
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Post by JohnnyBlue on Oct 15, 2012 9:41:44 GMT
I love the Senn sound generally, and have an array of HD580s and HD600s, but I've always been wary of the HD650 because of its famous 'bass hump'. Similarly, I've steered clear of the Beyerdynamic DT-770s in my quest for a closed headphone, because of its alleged bassiness...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2012 18:49:38 GMT
I find the mids more problematic with the DT770. They seem very recessed in comparison to the AKG K550 which has much better presence.
I always return to Senns after long absences. They kind of give me a good mid ground to compare others to.
Sent from my iPod using ProBoards app
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2013 8:39:29 GMT
I'm planning to buy a pair of inexpensive closed-back headphones and was wondering if anything had come up in the year since this thread was started; anything which would give the HD 202s a run for their money?
I already have my Sennheiser HD219s which were 'free' with a magazine subscription... but since then they seem to have undergone a price hike to at least £35 and I wouldn't be OK with shelling out that sort of money for phones which I not terribly mad about. So c. £30 for the currnet 202 seems a good price if they're as good as folks say they are.
Reason for purchse? I use the 219s for travelling; although too bassy and coloured for home hi-fi use the tuning is just fine for noisy planes, traffic etc. And now my wife is into music on the move since she has just bought a 'tablet' so we need two pairs of closed back travel phones..
HD 202s still OK?
Regards,
Derek
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Post by JohnnyBlue on Oct 6, 2013 14:51:02 GMT
My opinion about the HD202s hasn't changed from the above (why would it? I still haven't bothered to dig mine out of the loft!), but if you want a bargain, have a look here. I do like the Superlux HD-661s, which are closed back, but probably a bit too pricey...
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