Sennheiser - HD 202 Headphones Review

Overall 5.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

the2js97
Charlotte, NC

great deal

mp3 listener

Pros

value, sealed in design

DEC

2007

Sennheiser - HD 202 Headphones —

I own a couple of pairs of headphones for different purposes, the Sennheiser HD202 is for listening with my iPod. I'm living in a city where people are addicted to mobile-phone chatting in the public. The headphones' ability of providing isolation from the outside annoyance is of utmost importance when I consider purchasing a pair of headphones for traveling purpose. The HD202, sealed in design, excels in that functionality. Most noises are decently blocked away from my listening pleasure. The HD202 are mid-sized, and I don't find portability a burden. The headphones are circum-aural for my average-sized ears, which contributes a lot to the good isolation. The pleather ear-pads and cushion under the head-band are comfy, no complaints for extended wearing for me.

Sound-wise, I found the HD202 performing unexpectedly well for headphones at this price range. It could be driven by the iPod with ease. Judging by listening, I found the HD202's frequency response even and flat, with a little emphasis on the low end. The overall timber is on the dry side. Bass-heads might found its bass less then head-bombing, but it's just adequate for me, allowing mids and highs passing through to paint a balanced sound profile. Since the HD202 is a sealed-type design, the mids are not as open and airy as its open counterparts. Details are of cuz not as good as my Sennheiser HD600, but it's totally acceptable for a pair of traveling cans. The Grado SR-60 has more details, but its highs are, surprisingly, more harsh than the HD202, and it just fails to block any noise from outside.

My listening spectrum is broad, ranging from classical, operas, chansons francaises, jazz, old rock, psychedelic, indies, metal to trip hop. Although not perfect (what could be anyway?), the HD202 performs satisfactorily in every genre I have tried through it, and favors music with heavy beats like Portishead and Morcheeba. It also sounds good with Doors, Cream, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. It's best for dance, pop and rock. For classical-fans, the HD202 could also bring smile on your face. It's not the smoothest phones in the world, but its shortcomings (a bit dry and inability to retrieve full details) are forgivable and it could let you forget hi-fi and concentrate on musical nirvana. Gieseking's Debussy piano works from his 78r/m era are just magical, and the pluckings of the double-bass in Munch's "Symphonie Fantastique" are tangible and rich. The HD202 also "Rings", forgive my puns, well with Wagner. The Bayreuth acoustics are altered, yet remains beautiful, through the HD202. I enjoy every bow across the strings and the "Ho-jo-to-ho!" by the Walkures. For jazz, both vocals (Lady Day) and instrumentals (Monk and Coltrane) swing.

For durability, the HD202 doesn't score too high. The left-side cord of my headphones has developed bad contact after 2 years' service. Since the cords are non-detachable, the ailment could not be remedied. I thought of buying a new set of HD202 but was bitten by the up-grade bug and bought a HD212pro instead. And boy what wrong I have done and feel regreted for my conversion. The HD212 might have deeper bass, but it doesn't come close to the HD202 regarding naturalness which I place high regarding music listening. It has TOO MUCH bass for my taste. Sounds are richer but somewhat artificial in the 212. I much prefer the 202 to the bass-exaggerated, unnatural and over-rated 212pro.

For listeners not obsessed with bass-fetishism and hi-fi-similacrum who want to enjoy music on the road, Sennheiser HD202 is highly recommended.