SennheiserHD 400S Closed Back, Around Ear Headphone with One-Button Smart Remote on Detachable Cable

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.

I'm used to looking for headphones and always buying some that have some sort of mediocrity to the sound (little range, too much bass, too high treble). With these, I can finally say that's not happened. Very balanced, with a surprising range. The only problems I have with these are the cable it uses (2.5mm to 3.5mm) and the length of it. Thankfully it's removable, and lockable. I am not sure if it uses a standard pin out though. It's plastic, but that's easily forgiven with the audio quality, and the money that you're buying these at. They're sturdy otherwise. There is a microphone and button on the cable for mobile users as well.

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.

SOUND - For the price, these headphones sound fantastic. I am able to pick up on bass in movies and TV shows that I didn't previously know existed. I have no complaints about the sound, and their audio quality is such that I am very happy with my purchase.COMFORT/FIT - These headphones fit in a strange manner. As other reviewers have mentioned, they are a strange in-between size of over-ear and on-ear. I have a larger head, and I find that I can manage my way into fitting the cups over my ears with a bit of maneuvering. These headphones may cause ear pain after a few hours of wear when you first get them. I found that after this period of 2-3 weeks, I am now able to wear them for as long as I want (upwards of 8-10 hours straight).NOISE - Passive noise cancellation on these headphones is good for the price given you manage to wear them over-ear.UPDATE: I have since tried quite a few more headphones in this range. None of them give as balanced a music experience as these. The Soundcore Life Q20's were far more muddy and made it feel like I was listening to audio through a thick sheet. JBL tune buds also seemed noticeably worse. I have since upgraded to a pair of AKG 371's, which I find to be fantastically comfortable with better sound quality than these headphones. In terms of value per dollar, however, it seems like the Sennheiser HD 400S' are hard to beat.