Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I have several headphones and reference monitors, and my HD535's provide the best results for mixing. These are not GOOD-sounding headphones; they are ACCURATE-sounding headphones. They will only sound good if the mix is good, which is a good thing because they reveal flaws in the mix.

I am ordering replacement cushions, as I have used these so much that I am wearing them out. I've already been through a replacement cable.

Since these are no longer in production, this advice doesn't matter: if you want headphones that make everything sound good, look somewhere else. If you want headphones that accurately reproduce the mix, this is what you want.

Price Paid:  $80.00 from 1995

Summary:
I had a typical high-street £20 brand headphones before buying this. One day I got curious and walked into a proper hi-fi store and, after grinning from ear-ear at the Sennheiser listening post, walked out with the £80~ HD535. It was the best thing I ever heard for the price.

The music reproduction was so accurate. A popular track in my favourite genre was Sound of Blackness' 'I believe'... the HD535 delivered the bass, mid-range weight, vocals and top end - all at low and (very) high volume. Simply it was like strapping hi-fi speakers to one's head.

A keyboard/pianist myself, I've also mixed and produced with them and they quickly became my cans of choice.

As one reviewer said, 'just don't move your head'. My HD535 soon developed a short in the one ear that remained even after replacing the lead. It's a lot worse now and I will soon replace the headphones altogether with the HD555 which, at first listen, lacks the top-end of this pair.

Basically wonderful sound, but lead connection problem within the HD535 lets it down.

Strengths:
Superb music reproduction, high volume should you need it

Weaknesses:
Lack of discipline may induce tinnittus, flimsy lead design is weak link (causing crackle or shorting out), vinyl ear-pads sweaty and uncomfortable during long usage

Similar Products Used:
Vivanco SR750 (£60 in 1996) bought as back-up and reference... a more contained sound, holds back and is much harder to drive. Velvet ear-pad is very comfortable and my ears are used to its EQ levels now. It's my main-stay headphones but I am so looking forward to receiving my HD555s.

Price Paid:  $150.00 from Specialist music sho

Summary:
I purchased these headphones as I wanted to be able to apreciate my music without disturbing the neighbours. I always heard that Sennheiser were good. The headphones are very comfortable, sitting on the head snugly and isolating me from the outside quite well. The sound quality is good, balanced with the ability to handle high volume levels without distorting, particularly at the bass end. The thing that immediately bugged me was the crackling audio connection on the right hand side. This never went away but I could never be bothered to take the damn things back. I still use them but have just ordered a replacement audio lead. Hopefully that will resolve the problems.

Strengths:
Comfortable, good tonal balance with supple bass and crisp treble.

Weaknesses:
Crackly audio lead on one side.

Similar Products Used:
N/A

Price Paid:  $125.00 from j&r musicshop

Summary:
well, i'm very happy with this headphone set ...when i had it for a year the cable did distort the sound...it wasn't strong enough..when i went back to shop (after more then a year) the immediately gave me a new cable! now few years later i haven't seen any probs . i'm very happy with it...also in the shop they say it has lifetimewaranty on cables plugs and the soundboxes in there...haven't seen 1 brand giving the same waranty..only that deserve a positive remark. and yes also mine was abused loads of times.

Strengths:
waranty , lifetime of parts

Weaknesses:
plugs on the cables..although after the replacement it didn't occur nomore ...

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $150.00 from The Good Guys - Los

Summary:
I never did really like these. The sound was good --- never amazing like the Bose Triports. With the Triports, it was love-at-first "note." Anyway, the treble and mid-range are standouts, like other posts mention, and the bass is shallow, like the posts mention. The thing that made me hate them was the faulty cord connection. One channel just wouldn't stay put. The cable was so "flimsy." Also, the cushion around the phones smashed horribly and lost their shape in a year or so, and then tore. Hmmmm. To me, none of Sennheiser's headphones are any good. And they are supposed to be a headphones authority. Sony is good. Bose rules.

Strengths:
Well . . . none to me.

Weaknesses:
mediocre everything. questionable construction quality

Similar Products Used:
Bose Triports
Sony MDR EX-71SL