Best cans under $90
Written: Jul 17 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very good sound, so light you forget they are on.
Cons: Require a lot of power
The Bottom Line: Great 'phones for the music lover on a budget. Ideal for home listening.
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| bpm123's Full Review: Sennheiser HD 495 Ear-cup Headphones |
The Senn 495's were my first introduction to quality headphones, and they have ruined me for cheap audio equipment. After listening to the clarity and presentation afforded by the 495's, I can't stand to listen to the standard headphones that are so common in major stores.
Keep in mind that these are not audiophile quality 'phones, and they are in the lowest price bracket for anything worth buying. Truly fantastic headphones can very easily run you over $300. While the 495's are under $100, their sound quality is in my opinion far above most 'phones in that range. The sound is very neutral, and that is what I need from headphones. My listening habits run from Bach to Pigface, so I need something that can do a good job all over the board. I have been told that Grados are better for the bass inclined, but I haven't auditioned them myself. The bass on the 495's is mild but accurate, and the upper range is crisp. Overall, the sound quality I get from these headphones is excellent for my needs- those of a music lover who can't spend thousands on a top-of-the-line system.
Comfort level is the best I have ever used. You literally forget you have them on your head. The fact that the cord only enters on one side (rather than a cord 'necklace' as is standard when they connect to both sides) is another comfort perk.
I would not recommend the 495's for portable use at all. There are two major reasons for this:
1. They are very light, and the plastic does not feel sturdy. I would not trust them in a bag bouncing around.
2. They need a lot of power! A portable CD player will not be enough to really drive them.
Power usage is the major issue with the 495's. Rather than give it to you in the specs (you can find those at www.headphone.com), I'll use the knob-factor. I have inexpensive speakers connected to my receiver. When listening to a CD, I turn the volume to one quarter of the max, and the volume is nice and clear. When I throw on the 495's, I have to turn the volume to almost half way to get the same level of volume. Part of the reason is the necessary driving power, part of the reason is the open-ear design. This design also means that those around you will hear a lot of sonic leakage (if you wear them at work you will get a lot of "you are going to go deaf" comments).
A final comment on quality of construction: Though they are light and plastic, the Sennheiser 495's are well made. On day two of owning them, I went to get out of my chair with them on, and stood up quickly not realizing that the cord was wrapped around a desk handle. Out popped the cord. I thought I was going to have to rewire them until I noticed the plug on the end of the cord- you can remove the cord from the connection point on the headphones any time. Great idea.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
bpm123
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Location: Chicago, IL
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 0 members
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