Sennheiser HD 400S - Audiophile Closed Back Headphones with One-Button Smart Remote on Detachable Cable,Black

Purchased on June 10th, 2023, for about $55.I have a very difficult time with headphones, since the current market seems to only value a 'sleek' look and wireless functionality, hence the advent of the dual "innovations" of wireless headphones and earbuds, which have culminated in the supremely awful experience of the wireless earbud -- tinny, awful-sounding, uncomfortable, and extremely easy to lose -- all for the "low-low" price of a pair of good open-ear headphones. Blech.The alternative to this high-tech e-waste is usually the classic older 'portable headphone' design -- but this market space, from what I have seen, is largely dominated by cheap products with no staying power. At one point, I used a pair of very cheap foldable headphones (about ten dollars,) and while I was very pleasantly surprised with the fidelity of their sound (especially when compared to the awful sound of hundred-fifty dollar earbuds,) their durability and comfort left quite a bit to be desired.These HD400S headphones are a very refreshing alternative -- comfortable to wear, durable, and shockingly high-fidelity. I wouldn't want to use these as my primary headphones (that honor is reserved for other non-portable Sennheiser models!) but they work fantastically with my phone or MP3 player, especially given their essentially negligible power draw.My only issue, which is a fairly small one, is that the headphones sit sort of strangely on the ears -- not quite like a closed ear headphone? I think this is responsible for how comfortable they feel, even with the fairly cheap earcuffs, but it does lead to them falling off fairly easily in heavy wind or similar conditions. I've only ran into it a few times, and they do seem durable enough to handle a few of these sorts of falls, but it's something to keep note of.

Possibly the best price-to-performance headphones on the market. I use these every day for hours and I get zero fatigue in my hearing or on my head and ears from wearing them. I use these with my PC for gaming and my phone for music and podcasts as well as calls. Sound quality is excellent, at least as good as headphones I've heard in 200-250$ range from other major brands. Call quality is a significant step up from my Galaxy S24 Ultra's mic and speaker. My father was in radio for many years and I was lucky enough to be able to try a variety of higher-end sets of his and of his coworkers. These are on par with the best of what I've heard in that professional setting. One of my favorite features is the replaceable cable with mic. Since I'm moving these around between sources frequently the 3.5mm jack tends to wear out after about a year. Much of this wear was likely from my old phone which I used for about 5 years allowing it to collect a lot of debris in the ports. This has been the primary cause of failure for several pairs of cheap headphones I had tried before getting the Sennheiser HD400S's. I'm so happy I was able to replace the cable for around 10$ and avoid replacing the entire set. I am not a wealthy person and these headphones have been an incredible investment in the quality of sound I get from my entertainment and calls. 9/10. The only thing imo that could be improved would be the mic sound quality, however it is tiny and almost invisible on the cable. Mic audio is totally serviceable, no one should expect studio quality from a 1/4 inch wide microhone.microphone. The headset itself has taken many falls from chest height when it's slipped off my PC's makeshift headset hanger onto the floor. Seems to be none the worse for wear. I highly recommend the HD400S.

Good headphones. I needed an inexpensive closed back headphone to use at work. I am a fan of my Sennheiser HD650, 560s and HD280. I own various Etymotic and Cambridge Audio products as well so I am familiar with good sounding audio. These sound good.They aren't as enjoyable as the 560s but they were $49. Luckily, I have small ears so they fit okay. I could see how these would be uncomfortable for larger ears. The pads were an interesting design choice. That's why I gave them 4 stars. For the price, I am happy with the sound. They aren't as neutral as some other headphones I have but I enjoy them.

Now I had a pair of Sennheiser years ago and I loved them and always wished to come back to a pair...... yep I came back to a perfect wired pair. The sound quality of these when I connect these to my music player.......yes yes yes! The clarity is muy bien, the fit is comfortable for extended use, the quality is pretty great for the price, lightweight. I'll tell you I love to get more Sennheiser stuff after this!