Let's hear about durability
Written: Oct 08 '00 (Updated Oct 08 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: DURABLE, comfortable, good sound range, needs a minimal investment to be made like new again
Cons: none I can think of
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| transgenik's Full Review: Sennheiser HD 455 Hi-Fi Stereo Headphones |
This review refers to the HD 450 model. As those headphones were discontinued years ago, this review won't stress on the sound quality of the HD 450 (you're more likely to be interested to read that about current models, aren't you?) but on the durability of Sennheiser headphones and tips to revive an old pair, which any consumer might be interested to hear about before choosing a brand today.
Some context
Once upon a time, I was a young audiophile college student on a budget, who wanted to invest in a long lasting sound system. After counting my earnings, I went to an audio center and chose each component carefully (NAD CD player, ampli & receiver, DUAL turntable, etc.) When it came to the headphones, I didn't have any money left. But the vendor packed in a pair of Sennheiser HD 450 as a bonus. Over ten years later, I'm writing this epinion while listening to MP3 on my computer with those good old Sennheiser headphones over my head.
The price of change
I must say I came near to buy new headphones recently. Even though mine never broke and sill felt as solid as before, the cushions covering the ears were completely worn out. Every time I wore the headphones, I ended up with a black dust all over my ears, because of the disintegrating ear cushions. Also, the sound did not seem as pure as before.
After doing some research and shopping (I brought my HD 450 with me to compare the sound with a potential new pair of Sennheiser or Grado), I realized I would have to spend at least 200$ on a new pair to hear a real improvement in the sound. This was twice what I was willing to invest at the moment.
Then I made something I should have done years ago: I gave a call to Sennheiser Canada and asked about the price of new ear cushions. 15$ was the answer. I decided to buy these as a temporary solution, to keep my ears clean of black dust while waiting to invest in a high-quality pair.
Change the cushions and change your audio life
Changing the ear cushions was easy: I took the old ones out, and clipped the new pair in. Then I put the headphones on, and suddenly realized the important role good cushions play. I'm not simply talking about comfort here (even though it was obviously improved), but also about sound quality.
With the new cushions, there was a clear improvement in the sound range my headphones were able to transmit. All of a sudden, I heard subtle sound variations I wasn't able to hear anymore with the old pair.
A simple explanation of this is that old material became compacted over the years, so the cushions were cutting out the sound (like adding a piece of carton between your ear and the headphone). I'm no sound engineer, but it seems obvious that the air inside the cushions plays an important role into transmitting the sound clearly to the ear, which compacted cushions can't do.
My 15$ investment in an old pair of Sennheiser headphones, which I thought would be a temporary solution, turns out to make my HD 450 like new again. I'm not considering changing them anymore, and will keep my money to buy something else.
Final words
If you have old quality headphones and think about changing for something new, first check out what can be replaced in your actual pair. You may be surprised to find out how little it cost to make them as new again.
If you're in the market for new headphones, I suggest you seriously consider the "durability" criteria. If you invest in high-quality headphones, not only is it important to get a solid pair that gives you a great sound range, but also to get one on which the less durable parts can easily be changed.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
transgenik
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Member: Martine Gingras
Location: Rosemère, Québec, Canada
Reviews written: 23
Trusted by: 28 members
About Me:
Let's talk about things. Real things.
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