To sum up, I've been endlessly going through various headphones but since I've came across these a few years ago I've yet to hear a headphone that offers so much for the money.

You get a detailed, full-range sound without any big peaks in the frequency spectrum, so it is not really a genre-specific headphone. Very few headphones offer this level of bass depth (the deep bass is amazing) or treble extension and overall balance over the frequency spectrum, the HD6xx series simply sound slow (the transient response is also faster on these) and veiled in comparison and lack the low bass so it makes you think whether these phones phones came out from the same factory. But the design of these phones go back to earlier times and it seems to me that that the guys at Sennheiser really knew what they were doing.
There is a slight recession in the midrange (very likely to be caused by the deep bass being strong) so with a source that is too neutral or bright and boring it might sound a bit cold or too treble-happy for some but in my opinion this is much easier to correct than big peaks in the frequency spectrum or a lack of extension.

The soundstaging on these phones is superb, very well-defined and much better than the HD-25s. Don't know how they managed to pull this off but it doesn't feel claustrophobic like most closed phones and it is very honest to the recording. It opens up very nicely on a high-grade source but still not bad at all on a mediocre one.

Comfort is also hard to fault thanks to being circumaural with very little clamping force and the useful amount of isolation is another little added bonus.
Moreover, these were designed for the studio, so while the quality of the materials aren't what you call exclusive they are very durable and the cable or the earpads and foam are easily replaceable. If you take good care of them, they might go on forever, I own pairs as old as 20 years (!) and they are still going strong and sound as good as new.
Because of the very long production cycle, they were some changes during production so not all HD250IIs sound quite the same, although they all share the same 'house' sound.


Headphones such as the very best of electrostats (most of them are simply no match in the bass department) might offer an ever better performance but when you factor in the cost difference and the fact that you can drive these from almost anything (although they will reward a good amp and source), the value is unbeatable.


Sennheiser decided to completely discontinue these a few years ago and only continue with the HD25s so these are getting harder and harder to come by.
I really don't have the faintest idea why they did this as these are more than competitive among today's closed headphone offerings and better than many open headphones as well, they should refresh the design a bit and should re-market these as closed, high-end consumer headphones instead of studio headphones.

So HD-250 Linear III, I am waiting for you!

- Clear sound
- good isolation from other sounds around you
- comfortable

- VERY quiet
- Cheap look

I ordered this headphone online (€160/$235), when I got it, I already was dissapointed by it's cheap look, but that wasn't all, as it's a studio headphone, I was expecting a very clear, loud sound with a good amount of bass, but it turns out to be a very quiet headphone.
The sound is alright, the bass too, but nothing special, and I find it very quiet, not good enough for a studio.
I also got a HD-202 headphone, which only cost €40/$58, and even this one is MUCH better, it also has a clear sound, much more bass, and very loud.

So be warned, anyone who wants to start a home studio like me, please, do not buy this headphone, not worth it's money at all.

( and no, it's not my pc volume settings/whatever, I'm not stupid, it's the headphone that's too quiet. )

Sennheiser, I 'm really dissapointed about this one.

Customer Service

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Sennheiser HD-202

Very good sound quality.

Cord could have decent connection to the phones, like in new HD590... Several times had to press conectors to get back sound in one or the other can.

After having break-in these headphones for more than one week I can say that bass improved dramatically! If in the beginning I boosted bass by +6dB, then now I have to keep all EQ on 0dB!

Good sound quality. Maybe 5% difference from HD600.

Little bit more narrow stereo image than HD600, but really -- they cost MUCH less!!!

I bought these headphones after reading two previous reviews on www.audioreview.com to replace my old Pioneer SE-5000. Sennheiser HD250II Linear are really good headphones, just bass isn't as thunderous as I imagined in the beginning. But - my headphones are still in the process of break-in. Bass really got better after 12hours, maybe after 24 hours it will be OK. Anyway, everyone who's looking for recording and/or listening can buy these wonderful headphones. They really isolate you and environment arround you, indeed very good isolation: good for noisy environments or live preformance recordings. As soon as you put headphones on, thiefs can carry half of your room away and you will not hear that...

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Sennheiser HD600, Pioneer SE-5000

Open, dynamic and revealing; not quite as good as my Grado SR80s. Tight, controlled and extremely deep bass makes them a teriffic listen; easily beat the Grados on this aspect

Build quality Appauling manual (not that this is a real consideration)

An excellent product ! My reason for purchase is that the Grado SR80 cans are far too loud for work use (open backed); the Sennheiser 250-IIs easily cater for this need. The Senns beat the Grado hands down for bass extension, although the Grados are slightly more controlled (and open). All in all a truely rewarding and useful product, if a little expensive. When auditioning, I tried a few alternative Grado products (the new smaller closed back designs) - These were nowhere near as revealing or open.

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Grado SR60; Grado SR80; Various in-ear cheap and nasty variants

Clarity of sound at all volume levels. Bass you just can't believe. Very light in weight. Good isolation from the environment

Middle tones not that audible otherwise no complaints.

I left one starr off due to my perfectionism.

Very light to ware compared to sonny headset from the sixties (those were like wearing a brick). The bass on these babies just takes my breath away. Isolation from the outside world is extreme even if you're not playing music (my boss can scream his head off at me and it doesn't annoy me one bit). Clarity of sound is fantastic even at high volume (I mean HIGH!). Little limpy at mid-tones but no biggie.

Although pricey all I can say is: Good buy...

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Sonny studio headphones, and other headsets really not worth mentioning