High quality closed back around the ear headphones
Choice of two single sided cables for home/portable use.
Plush cloth ear cushions are ultra-light for extended listening comfort.
Includes 4.6' and 10' detachable cables.
2 Year warranty
Inspired by custom wheels on today's hottest cars, the Sennheiser HD 438 over-ear headphones grabs attention and flaunts power. The 438 uses a soft, fabric ear cushion that's comfortable on any ear, for as long as you want to wear them. The acoustics are warm and full, with emphasis on low-end thanks to the powerful neodymium magnets. Click here for a larger image.
Whether you are on the move or staying at home, the dynamic top-of-the-range HD 438 offers a balanced stereo sound image with precise detail. The closed circumaural design blocks outside noise for pure audio enjoyment, and the ergonomic design provides a superb all-round listening experience. The two included detachable single-sided cables--4.6 feet and 10 feet--let you decide on your preferred cable length.
What's in the Box HD 438, detachable cables (4.6 feet and 10 feet), 1/4-inch (6.3 mm) plug adapter Specifications Frequency response: 17 - 22,500 Hz Sound pressure level (SPL): 112 dB Ear coupling: Around-the-ear Transducer principle: Sealed, closed Impedance: 32 ohms Total harmonic distortion (THD): <0.1 percent Connector: 1/8-inch (3.5mm) Cable length: 4.6 and 10 feet (detachable) Weight (including cable): 6.8 ounces Compatibility Optimized for MP3, iPod, iPhone (iPod and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries), and portable media players. Warranty The Sennheiser HD 438 is covered by a 2-year warranty with the backing of Sennheiser's worldwide service network.
This review is from: Sennheiser HD438 Closed Circumaural Hi-Fi Headphone with Enhanced Bass
I've owned these headphones for about a month and feel I'm ready to review them.
If I could pick two words to describe these headphones, the words would be Natural & Immersive.
I own a couple other Sennheiser products: the EH350 and the HD560. Comparing the three, the HD438 is my favorite. They're easier to drive than the HD560 and they sound better & are more comfortable than the EH350.
Sources:
ipod 5.5g 30GB - Apple Lossless files
ipod 7g 160GB - Apple Lossless files
Denon PMA-250 Integrated Amp & Powermac - Apple Lossless files
Sound Quality:
Detail is very important to me, and the HD438 does disappoint. I hear all the little nuances in music that other lesser headphones (like the EH350) tend to smooth over. The HD438 has a pretty wide soundstage for a sealed headphone as well. Instruments are well separated as well. They have good bass, better than both the EH350 and HD560. I'd say the bass is neutral, not too boosted. Highs are clean and crisp, but not harsh in any way. These are the headphones you want for long, non-fatiguing listening sessions. Before breaking the headphones in, the mids seemed a bit recessed, but as they've broken in that problem no longer exists. Just beautiful, immersive, detailed music.
I listen to a lot of electronic music, and I find them very immersive and clear. They sound great listening to jazz too, cymbals sound very crisp and clear, and the other instruments sound natural. I also listen to some rock and ska, and I've been happy with their performance there as well. Bass is crisp and tight and the other instruments sound as they should. Since they sound so natural, they're quite intimate as well with other styles, like folk and classical.
There is one downside to these headphones I've found (if you can call it that). They're very revealing. If you have a bad recording or a bad source player, it's going to let you know. I tried em with some lower bitrate mp3s and AAC files, (128-192kbps) you'll hear graininess and artifacts that some other headphones smooth over.
With my ipod 5.5g, the bass is a bit lacking and the overall volume level is a bit lower than I'd like. In my opinion, you have to turn it up past 75% to get a reasonable level of volume.
With my ipod 7g, the bass is a bit fuller and there's a bit more detail and separation and there's a bit more headroom in the volume. I'd say 70% is where you'd want to be for a reasonable level.
My Denon PMA-250 has a ton of headroom. I only have to turn it up about 20% or 25% to get to a reasonable level. Given that, it has fuller and stronger deep bass when driven by this powerful amp.
Overall, I think they sound as good as my audiophile-grade HD560's, but they have a slightly darker sonic profile. I'd say these are headphones that will benefit from an amp, but it's not necessary in most circumstances.
Design & Isolation:
These are very, very comfortable headphones. I've had multi-hour listening sessions and have had no comfort issues whatsoever. The velour pads have a soft texture, but are firm enough so they cup your ears rather than sinking into your head.
They're sturdy headphones, with a single cable running out the left side. Included is a shorter & a longer cable that is easy to swap out depending on your needs. It also comes with a 1/4" adapter. At first I thought the outside design would bother me, but they're not as flashy as I thought they would be, which makes me happy.
In terms of sound isolation, they isolate a fair amount, but not enough to completely isolate you from the outside environment. They have a small amount of sound leakage, but really not very much at all.
Overall:
I think this is a great pair of headphones. They come with a 2 year warranty, and I've had very good luck with Sennheiser's quality in the past. If you're looking for a great sealed headphone that's comfortable, sounds beautiful & natural, from a quality brand, these would be a great choice!...
This review is from: Sennheiser HD438 Closed Circumaural Hi-Fi Headphone with Enhanced Bass
Just received these, so these are my first impressions. More to come later - long term observations, measurements and photos.
1) Very light, all plastic construction. The only metal I can see are the screws holding the vertical hinge above the ear cup for slight swivel action
2) The pressure on the ears is just about right to give a good seal to the head, but not to make them uncomfortable over extended periods. The velour pad material though is warm to the feel. Perhaps good in the cool, but in this warm spring it's very noticeable (I believe leather effect replacements are available from Sennheiser). The ear cups fit perfectly around my ears, but with no spare room. It may be that being 'over the ear', not 'on the ear' 'phones, the encapsulation of the ears retains heat (Later, I shall try my Bose QCII headphones with their pad material and compare the feeling)
3) Don't like the "wheel trim" chrome design. Black and plain would be more aesthetically pleasing to me, but I can't see t...
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