Noise Cancelling Headphones: June 2012

Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones

Customer Rating :

Product Description

The HD 280 PRO is a pair of closed, dynamic stereo headphones that deliver accurate, linear sound reproduction with up to 32dB of ambient noise attenuation for critical monitoring applications. Optimum impedance ensures universal compatibility, from home listening to studio monitoring. The space-saving design features collapsible, rotating earcups that are very comfortable to wear, even if used for long periods of time.

Dynamic, closed-ear headphones with up to 32 dB attenuation of outside sound
Lightweight and comfortable, ergonomic design, Cord Length - 3.3 - 9.8 feet Coiled
Extended frequency response and warm, natural sound reproduction
Collapsible ear-pieces for compact transport
Earpads, headband padding, and audio cord are easily replaceable, ensuring long life
Collapsible earpieces for compact transport
Lightweight and comfortable, ergonomic design

Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones Reviews

819 of 836 people found the following review helpful

Excellent sound, but . . ., February 4, 2003

Jordan F Viray (Manhattan, Kansas United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones (Electronics)

the folks at Sennheiser must not have large heads. As with about every pair of headphones that I try on, I had to extend these all the way to fit. After a few months of daily use, the plastic headband began to develop small cracks. Now the cracks are growing and I fear that the whole thing will just snap one day. Unfortunately, that is one of the parts that isn't listed as replaceable.

That said, people who look at this headphone are looking for: a) quality sound synonymous with the name Sennheiser b) excellent noise reduction.

a) The sound from these phones is excellent. The standard criteria are there. The signal is very clean, thanks in part to the oxygen free copper cabling used. Bass is controlled and precise so a timpani doesn't sound muffled. Higher frequencies do not hiss and the phones are able to drive high frequency sounds and pull out details lost by consumer grade headphones. Soundstage is fairly narrow as some have said, but much better than... Read more

248 of 255 people found the following review helpful

All I can say is, WOW, June 19, 2003

Steven Park (Lansdowne, VA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones (Electronics)

These cans are currently being offered well below MSRP -- no, they aren't in danger of being retired any time soon (confirmed with Sennheiser customer service) -- and are truly the best bang for the buck. Despite the very positive reviews, I had two reservations about purchasing the 280s: 1) the tight, uncomfortable fit; and 2) cracking in the plastic headband that some have commented on. I have a big ol' head where adjustable ball caps barely fit me. The 280s aren't tight at all, but rather comfortably snug -- what do you expect from a closed design? Shooting range ear protection/muffs are 3 times more tighter than these. Secondly Sennheiser claims to never having heard about the cracking issue but will repair/replace your unit with no questions asked under their 2 year warranty.

Although plastic in design, the product has a solid, quality construction (made in Ireland if you care). An advantage, as you may already know, is that most of the components are designed to be replaced... Read more

70 of 72 people found the following review helpful

Great Headphones, after burning them in, January 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones (Electronics)

These are, overall amazing headphones. They sound great, are comfortable, and easily driven by portable players. However, when I first bought them, and eagerly unwrapped the packaging and tried them out, I was bitterly dissapointed. Where had my money gone, I wondered. They sounded tin canny, and the bass had no punch. I nearly returned them. But, taking the advice of many reviewers, I plugged them into my computer and left the music playing loudly for nearly a week straight. And it paid off.

After nearly a month's use, these headphones sound GREAT. I have fallen in love witht eh tight, clear treble and amazingly accurate bass that the HD-280s provide. Jazz and classical fans (and rockers too but to a lesser extent) will love these headphones. I could go on and on and on about the sound quality, but you would find your self reading needless repition of the words "great," "amazing," etcetc.

The design is a little big, but very comfy. I can wear these for several hours... Read more

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Sennheiser HD201 Lightweight Over-Ear Binaural Headphones

Customer Rating :

Product Description

The Sennheiser HD201 Stereo Headphones prove to be a low priced alternative to high-end studio headphones.With great clarity, the Sennheiser HD201 headphones are the ideal entry into the world of powerful stereo sound. These excellent headphones also boast great attenuation of ambient noise and outstanding comfort at an affordable price.The HD201 features stereo rich sound with crisp bass response. These headphones are lightweight, rugged, and the high-quality leatherette ear pads also make them comfortable to wear.

Lightweight and comfortable economical headphones, Cord Lenght : 9.8 ft (3 m)
Features smooth silver design and leatherette ear pads
Delivers powerful, bass-driven sound
Comes with manufacturer's 2-year warranty

Sennheiser HD201 Lightweight Over-Ear Binaural Headphones Reviews

849 of 882 people found the following review helpful

Great sound, and the price is a steal!, September 5, 2005

D. Edwards (Shoreline, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sennheiser HD201 Lightweight Over-Ear Binaural Headphones (Electronics)

This product is one of the best bang for the buck items I have ever owned. They may end up costing me a bundle, however.

The HD201 came to my attention after reading a little debate on headphones on a bulletin board I frequent. Someone recommended the HD201s as being phenomenal for the money.

I'm not an audiophile, but I do enjoy music and computer games where sound is important, so I thought I'd give them a try. The only other "cans" I've used have been the cheapos that come with portable CD players and a pair of Coby CV-200s that I bought seeking something cheap that would be better than the poor quality phones I have had in the past. The Coby units were a minor improvement, but bass rumbled like crazy.

Enter the HD201s. These closed phones (they cover the ear with a foam pad instead of sitting on top of them) have a padded plastic headband, a long 10' cord that terminates in a mini jack (it comes with a 1/4" adapter). The earpieces have some... Read more

646 of 694 people found the following review helpful

Not loud enough, sibilant, slightly bright, January 30, 2006

Raul Saavedra (Caracas, Venezuela) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sennheiser HD201 Lightweight Over-Ear Binaural Headphones (Electronics)

In summary this headphone has one general strength:
1) Decent sounding depending on your tastes and needs, given the price, and given the kind of sound you get from most other closed headphones of similar price.

However, the Sennheiser HD201 has 4 important weaknesses:
1) Has very low sensitivity: it takes a lot of volume/power to bring them to satisfactory or normal loudness levels.
2) It's a bit bright, bass is slightly lacking, making them sound slightly thin or "weak".
3) Has a tendency to be SSSSSSSibilant with some female vocals.
4) For a closed headphone, doesn't isolate that much.

Weakness #1 is critical if you are considering these headphones for listening to music from your laptop or portable players. If that's the case, it's very likely you won't be happy with the sound even at max volume. These headphones are REALLY hard to bring up to normal loudness levels. If you will use them with the headphone out of a receiver, or... Read more

137 of 145 people found the following review helpful

The S in Sennheiser Stands for Superb, November 13, 2006

E. Rivas "oceanlifter" (Tampa, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sennheiser HD201 Lightweight Over-Ear Binaural Headphones (Electronics)

Basically, I needed a new pair of headphones after I got tired of the Sony MDR-V150s that my roommate lent me. I did not like the idea of having the "cups" right ON my ear, and honestly, they did not sound all that great so I decided to do some searching. I looked at Koss(I did not like any of their models) AKG( I love them, but, for $100, I did not get involved with them.) So, I decided to search some more..

I totally forgot about Sennheiser headphones. I heard them once at an ultra high end home stereo shop in Tampa, Florida and they sounded damn good. So when I saw these for less than $20, I decided to buy them..

First of all, they arrived sooner than usual. I put them on and I noticed something...I could not hear any outside noise. These "cans" really kept outside sound out. They sat comfortably on my head and the "cups" covered my ears. Score!! Now, for the sound..

I listen to a lot of music that I have on my pc. I have a Dell Dimension E310 with... Read more

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Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphones

Customer Rating :

Product Description

The Shure E2c In-Ear Headphones combines a Dynamic MicroDriver speaker technology with a sound isolating design, to deliver rich, full-range sound while blocking outside noise.

Amazon.com Product Description

Shure's E2c in-ear headphones are tiny, lightweight, and designed to sonically outperform most ear-bud-style headphones. The E2c's unique, relatively affordable design comes from Shure's years of collaborating with professional musicians. With high-energy drivers in distinctive enclosures, the E2c produces high-quality sound with excellent isolation from background noise.

The E2c's speakers are constructed with studio-grade components, producing exceptional audio clarity. Their in-ear design, using supplied flex sleeves, naturally blocks background noise. This permits lower listening volumes in loud environments--critical in safeguarding your hearing during performance or other activities. No batteries or extra equipment are needed for sound isolation.

Because every ear is different, E2c earphones come with 3 pairs (small, medium, large) of flex sleeves and 3 pairs (small, medium, large) ultra-soft flex sleeves to ensure a personalized fit. These disposable foam sleeves gently compress to fit in the ear canal. Once in the ear, the foam expands to form a tight seal. Once tightly sealed, the sleeves hold the earphones firmly in place.

The E2c's cables pass behind the ear--out of sight and out of the way for comfort and discretion. Weighing only 1 ounce, the E2c is lightweight and comfortable enough for any portable listening application. The set comes with a soft, stylish, compact, and zippered carrying case, which allows for an easy, tangle-free way to store your earphones.

What's in the Box
Earphones, 2 triple-flange sleeves, 3 pairs (small, medium, large) of flex sleeves, and 3 pairs (small, medium, large) ultra-soft flex sleeves (kit 90XC1371, with cleaning tool), a soft carry case (80B8232), a user's manual, and warranty information.

Sound Isolating in-ear design - Hear only what you want to hear
Portable and lightweight design - weighing only one-ounce
Personal fit kit to contour to your ear size
Built in High-Energy in-ear speaker technology
Enriched studio quality sound used by Musicians worldwide

Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphones Reviews

545 of 559 people found the following review helpful

great product, and Shure stands by it, January 22, 2005

Ron Cronovich "Ron" (Kenosha, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphones (Electronics)

Like many people, I was tempted by the good reviews but reluctant to pay so much for a pair of tiny earphones. Finally, almost 2 years ago, I bought a pair.

Like all of the other reviews here state, the Shure E2c's sound GREAT. They are very balanced, and let you hear the subtle details of your music, making the music almost come alive in your head. They turn your MP3 player or Discman into an audiophile-quality stereo system.

The E2c blocks outside noise by forming a very tight seal in your ear. In contrast, "noise canceling" earphones, such as the popular ones by Bose, do not block outside noise from reaching your ear, rather they add their own electronically generated noise which is supposed to cancel out the outside noise. I've never had good results with the various noise canceling headphones I've tried; plus, they require batteries to generate the noise-canceling noise. The E2c's block noise without batteries, and without adding any artificial noise... Read more

584 of 611 people found the following review helpful

awesome pair of phones, three caveats, September 2, 2004

J. London "despreocupado" (New York City, NY, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphones (Electronics)

I am totally into these noise-cancelling earphones and they perfectly complement my iRiver mp3 player/recorder in sound and color. Once you've gotten over their higher price point, have followed the enclosed instructions exactly and begun to use them, there is no going back to the normal, flat sounding buds. They isolate exterior noise and that is a boon if you live in a noisy environment, like NYC infamously is.

Experiment with using the foam vs. the flex sleeves to your taste. I've stuck with the smallest of the three sized flex sleeves and after two days testing my ears were used to the slight increase in pressure.

A warning: be careful not to turn the volume up too high in public as one needs to be able to know when her/his attention is required, among other things. Be extra aware of traffic when on the street. Also, high volume just is not necessary as ALL exterior racket (subways, curse-laden conversations and car horns) is rendered mutedly surreal... Read more

83 of 85 people found the following review helpful

Excellent product, blows any earbud away!, November 5, 2003

J. Hutchinson (Montgomery, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

I bought these earphones for a combination of uses - travel, exercise, casual listening, etc. They are great. The noticeable background noise attenuation is perfect for flights, busy airports, mowing the lawn or anywhere you want to tune out the outside world. Bass response is very good, I'd call it neutral (which is the best thing a serious music fan can ask for.)

These earphones are very low profile and unobtrusive to wear. They do not create the fatigue I get while wearing regular headphones for a long period and the sound blows away the numerous earbuds I have tried. I use the flex fit sleeves which are very comfortable. By cinching up the sleeve on the cord, they stay in place with minimal fuss even while exercising.

I strongly recommend these earbuds to anyone who wants immersive, comfortable and excellent sound.

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