Anyone have experience with Sennheiser headphones?

"All Motor Is Best Motor" (acidicheartburn) 10/23/2014 at 00:58 • Filed to: Audiolopnik

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Two days ago I got my new pair of Sennheiser HD 449 headphones. I've been breaking them in with a large variety of music on a repeating playlist, and they probably have about 24-ish hours of break-in on them now. When I first got them they had absolutely no bass, no mid range punch or weight, and sounded tinny like a cheap boombox. I read online that they need up to 70 hours of break-in time to sound their best.

After the 24 hours of break-in they've improved some with respect to bass and midrange punch, but they still sound rather dull and flat. Detail and clarity is good, but otherwise these are completely underwhelming headphones so far. These don't sound warm at all, either. My previous pair of headphones was a set of $40 Koss Portapro which are highly acclaimed to be an amazing value. I was pretty happy with them, and felt that they were airy and relatively bass heavy (bass on those could be a little muddy and overpowering at times) with a warm overall tone.

I'm not a bass fanatic and I don't listen to dubstep, rap, electronica, house, etc, but I like a solid bass punch and right now these Sennheisers don't have nearly enough low and even mid range punch. The low end is severely lacking unless you turn them up loud, at which point the highs become harsh and piercing which makes them unlistenable.

I've tried driving them with my Creative onboard add-in soundcard (X-fi Titanium) and my Van Alstine hybrid tube preamp. I listen with uncompressed .wav ripped from CD's, or from a CD player with external DAC. Using my Van Alstine preamp, the headphones sound better in the way that driving any kind of headphones or speakers would sound better when using better equipment. Bass and midrange didn't really fill out any more on the AVA preamp.

So my question is, anyone with experience with these or similar Sennheiser headphones know if they're going to get better, or should I just start looking at selling these and finding something else? This is most definitely the wrong place to ask but I don't belong to any audio forums.

Squid > All Motor Is Best Motor 10/23/2014 at 01:07

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I have no personal experience with Senheisers, but I have a friend who is an audio engineer who swears by them. I'd just give them time to break in and then decide. But then again my most expensive head set is an old pair of Audio Technica M40 (I think. . . ) that I don't use too much any more because the covering on the cups have deteriorated to the point of leaving me with black flakes of leatherette all over my head. . .

In no professional way do I offer advice, but you have the set right now, use them or just let them play music for a while and then decide what to do with them.

All Motor Is Best Motor > Squid 10/23/2014 at 01:10

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Indeed, I am going to continue to let them break in, but I don't foresee any miracles happening with regards to them suddenly gaining a much more lush and full low end.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > All Motor Is Best Motor 10/23/2014 at 01:11

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I think you just need more time to break them in. I've got a pair of HD 438s and while I'm not a massive audiophile, I think they're alright.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > All Motor Is Best Motor 10/23/2014 at 01:17

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I've got some eh350's, the bass never really filled out, still adequate though. I've kept them because they're crazy light and relatively neutral. They're on portable duty these days as I have hand me down AKG K240 mkII's for home use.

all the reviews on the HD 449 I'm reading say they're not the strongest in bass either.

Squid > All Motor Is Best Motor 10/23/2014 at 01:25

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I've briefly sampled some tracks through his headset and they sounded really nice and full but they had god knows how many hours of play time on them. They might end up sounding fantastic in a few days time.

I do think that it is a characteristic of the higher quality sets to take some hours of play time to break in and really start to sound good.

All Motor Is Best Motor > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 10/23/2014 at 01:25

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All the reviews I read mentioned "balanced" and "neutral", but right now they seem unbalanced as in very light on the low end. Maybe my view of "balanced" actually means a little bass heavy, but I've never considered myself one of those bass-lovers. I like a warm, full low end but nothing like what people who buy Beats are looking for.

TulsaTurbinique > All Motor Is Best Motor 10/23/2014 at 01:33

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I am an audio engineer/sound mixer for TV/Film. 30 years of headphones. I use Sennheiser HD-25s. First of all you don't "break in" headphones. They aren't shoes or a bike saddle. They work or they don't. The Germans will give you a very accurate sound without bass boost, unlike Sony, Beats, etc. That's what you want when recording dialogue for TV. Unhappy? Return them. Bring your mp3 player to the store and listen to a whole selection of cans. Find a set you like and buy a second pair. Always stay with a monitoring source you know and trust

AussieGit > All Motor Is Best Motor 10/23/2014 at 06:34

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Have HD558's and they're pretty good, no complaints from me!

AthomSfere > All Motor Is Best Motor 10/23/2014 at 07:01

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I love Sennheiser headphones. I have not used the 449, but I bought some of the very similar 439 a couple years ago and they are a great set.

As I recall, they were flat, and break in helped a bit there. I have no idea what you are used to, but many of the better headphones are flatter / less punchy but focus on detail and clarity and this is really what I think these are good for.

(update)

Went to Sennheiser's site: 439s are still available and much cheaper than they were! Woo!

But, important note. The 439s specifically are noted as having outstanding bass, the 449 only mentions clarity. Perhaps the 449 is meant to be closer to a monitor?

Something to think about. Perhaps the 439 is a better choice for you?

And: If you ever want another amazing value: Monoprice 8323s.

AthomSfere > All Motor Is Best Motor 10/23/2014 at 07:03

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But what is your experience with neutral? Most people have no clue what natural or good sound is, want proof? Beats Audio. Those things are muddy and the bass is way too strong but they sound "great" to most people.

Juan Tawn > All Motor Is Best Motor 10/23/2014 at 10:51

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It is likely, if only slightly so, that you prefer something bass heavy. How unbalanced do you feel your pair is?

All Motor Is Best Motor > AthomSfere 10/23/2014 at 10:52

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At this point, unless these suddenly become much more punchy with the low and midrange, I'm just going to sell them and avoid Sennheiser all together. If this is reflective of the sound Sennheiser has (which is what I've been reading) then Sennheiser is not for me. Really disappointing.

MrCrash > All Motor Is Best Motor 10/23/2014 at 11:38

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I've had a pair of Sennheiser HD580s since 2006, and absolutely refuse to give them up. It took some time for them to break in and to find the right amp to drive them, but the sound quality is better than anything else I've encountered. It seems that with Sennheiser, some models are built to a price point, and others are built to sound as good as possible within a price range. I'd suggest researching other models prior to purchasing if you ever decide to try Sennheiser again. If you find the right set, they can be amazing. If you want to give them a second chance, see if you can find a set of HD 280 Pros. They look to be around the same price, and I have heard good things about them. As an alternative, Grado Labs makes a couple nice sets in the same price range. Beyond that, I'd suggest joining head-fi.org and asking for some recommendations. List the equipment you have and what you are looking to get out of the headphones. I'm sure they can point you in the right direction.

AthomSfere > All Motor Is Best Motor 10/23/2014 at 14:51

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I think that's too bad... Sennheiser really makes some of the best, but they are also for a special group of people I guess.