Sennheiser PX200 Collapsible High-Performance Closed Headphones (Black) Reviews

• Disappointing! read on...

  
  By AJO9MIULW76H8 on 2004-04-24
  NO, NO, NO!!! I don't mean to be disrespectful to the other reviewers but I may be. I feel that I have to warn people about these headphones. They are disappointing!
  A few positives first though. The fact that they fold into a very small (and sturdy) case is a really amazing idea. Two thumbs up for that. Quality of construction is also very good. Comfort is very good even after extended wear, though not excellent. They are also very light. Their low impedance and high sensitivity allows you to comfortably drive them with any portable device. You do not need to play them only on your stereo system or with a headphone amp to get the most out them. Isolation is good for a pair of this size and price (although I would say it is just fair if my comparison was irrespective of their price).
  To make a long story short, sadly enough, these headphones are very good AS LONG AS YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO MUSIC WITH THEM!
  In what really matter--sound quality--these headphones perform very poorly. Overall response is very dull. There is no punch. Technically, although the specs claim that they cover the full 20-20000hz range, the response in the low frequencies is really lacking and the highs are also very recessed. This leaves the midrange sounding unnaturally accentuated. Because of this, although mostly guitars, cellos, mid violins and violas, clarinets, flutes, horns, and instruments that emit sounds in the mid-frequency range sound pretty good, instruments that can go really low like bass drum, piano, different basses, tenor and baritones are extremely faint and even non-audible at times with these headphones. Instruments that can go really high (high violins, piano, cymbals, etc.) are also deemphasized. So if you are biased to listening in the mid-range, you may like these. Someone who likes to listen in the whole range as was intended by the artist/composer would be very bitterly disappointed at these headphones!
  If I may offer some alternatives in this price range: Sennheiser HD-212, Sennheiser PX 100, Sennheiser TD-497, Beyerdynamic DT 231, Grado SR 60 (great but not very comfortable), KOSS Porta Pro (great!); KOSS KTX Pro 1. The KOSS KTX Pro 1 are, for me, probably the headphones with the best quality-to-price ratio than ANY pair of headphones out there. In fact they easily beat most headphones in the $50-$100 range, and MANY in the $100-200 range. This in NOT an exaggeration.
  
  

• Very pleased overall...

  
  By A1ZG9WMHNMGY62 on 2003-05-03
  Just got these from Amazon.com today in time to test out with my brand new 30 GB iPod. I'm not particularly thrilled with Apple's earbud style headphones since they become uncomfortable after only 10 minutes in the ear and the bass, though surprisingly strong, overwhelms the middle ranges and creates an overall "muddiness" to the audio quality.

  The sound of the PX 200, on the other hand, is strong, vibrant, crystal clear, and encompasses a more full tonal range. To put them to the test I first listened to Van Halen's "Atomic Punk" -- the sonic power of Eddie's guitar was fully displayed but the bass was diminished. But I don't miss the heavy bass on these portable headphones...the sound actually seems more clear and authentic without it.

  Previously I was using the Koss KTX-PRO but despite the good sound relative to their cheap price, they're cheaply made and the wires have come loose a more than one pair -- rendering them useless. The Sennheisers, on the other hand, are of superior quality. They obviously put some design effort into these and it clearly shows: the head band is metal, not cheap plastic so it has a good "grip," the padding is not cheapo foam but instead a thin padded vinyl material, and they fold up small and come with a handy plastic storage case.

  Very comfortable to wear continuously for, well, hours (lots of tunes on my iPod!). Highly recommended headphones.

  5/08/2003 - Update: I mentioned above about the weak bass of these headphones. I read somewhere that Sennheinsers may need time to "break in," whatever that means. Well, to my surprise the bass has since become more apparent...much stronger now than when fresh out of the box. Either that or I'm blowing a hole in my eardrum from iPod overuse. These are absolutely the most comfortable portable headphones I've ever owned. The PX-200's have it all...what a great buy!
  
  

• To help clear things up: px-100 vs px-200 reveiw

  
  By A35970PCGH6C8R on 2006-06-30
  Ok, so I purchased both the px-100 and the px-200 by Sennheiser because the reviews for both were similar but some where saying that the px-100s were better. My first reaction to them is that they are both remarkably similar in build and quality. Nice case, sturdy, and comfortable. Now the sound, after listening to both I found that the px-100 does have better speaker drivers,...but not much better. The bass on the px-200 is a little bit stronger. The real difference between the two really comes from the closed ear design of the px-200 vs. the open px-100. With the open px-100 the bass isn't as strong, you can hear everything around you still, and others around you can hear what you are listening to even if the music is only moderatly loud. While the px-200 losses high end sound quality in its design, the px-200 makes it so you will only hear music (almost) and nothing else. Also the px-200 is silent to those around you even if you have it cranked up.
  
  Conclusion: Both are amazing headphones but the real decision comes down to the person who is using them and where. If you don't mind being able to hear things around to get better sound quality get the px-100s. If you want to just hear the music and not bother others around you get the px-200. I choose the px-200 in the end because I use them at work and I don't want to disturb others around me also I don't enjoy hearing everything around me.
  *as an important side note the differences in both in high and low end sound can be fixed just by using an equalizer. You can't beat these headphones for quality along with portability.
  
  Deryk
  
  

• Sennheiser Px 200

  
  By A23YWGFNXA63QU on 2003-04-29
  I truly wanted some pretty decent portable headphones for my MP3 player. Most headphones that come with music players are a joke, so it was back into the piggy bank again to find something worthy to listen to my collection. Before buying the Px 200's, I was using a pair of Koss KSC-55 behind the ear headphones. Lots of bass, pretty reasonable for the price, but they developed a small crackle with lower quality music, so going to a forum ... gave me some insight into what the veterans of music recommend for portable headphones.

  To be honest, my first impressions were of disappointment after receiving them. No bass, kind of tinny and only a small amount better at driving my mp3 player than the Koss headphones. I don't know how much scientific truth comes with breaking in a pair of headphones, but letting these run for a few hours has already loosened them up to the point that my initial 'I'm going to send these things back' has changed to 'wow, let me give this break in thing a chance'. The Sennheisers are better balanced at sound than the Koss 55's. The Koss's are bass heavy, but lack midrange but are still commendable for the price. The sennheisers are very stylish and very comfortable to wear. They require good positioning to get the correct bass and sound out of them, but to me it's not difficult to do and once they are on, they stay on. Price through [Amazon.com] ... is reasonable considering they aren't easy to get in retail stores and seem to be backordered online. I'm not super experienced with headphones and with so many options out there I came to the conclusion I wanted to keep the price [down] didn't want in the ear headphones, didn't want phones that made me look like I was a DJ in the making, so narrowing that down, the Sennheiser Px200's are off to a good start. I'm hoping for even more sound off them when they are truly broken in ( that is if there is such a thing, or it could be just a tiny bit psychological ). I've only used them for a couple of hours, so it's time to shut down the computer and get back to the music. Thanks for listening...
  
  

• Best phones I've ever heard

  
  By A2B3I95YH7CH92 on 2005-07-25
  I want to counter some of the negative reviews you might read on these headphones.
  
  Yes, there are technical calculations and specifications to quantify any aspect of sound that you want, but when it comes right down to listening to music, sound is largely a matter of taste. I've owned many sets of portable headphones over the years, and these are just about the best I've ever heard. It might be helpful for you if I mention that I listen to many different genres, from jazz to classical to rock to pop-standard vocals to opera, and these Sennies render them all admirably and accurately. I purchased these primarily to listen to music ripped at a relatively high bitrate (192) on an MP3 player. The sound on these headphones is warm, natural, and uncolored, without over-emphasis on any segment of the audio range. They also happen to be quite comfortable to wear; they look darn good, too. And don't be put off by other reviewers' remarking that they're difficult to fold back into their carrying case: look at the diagram, and with a little practice, you'll get the hang of it, no problem.
  
  The sound is so clear that I've heard details in the music I haven't noticed with other phones or even on my really great home speakers. These Sennheisers may just become my home headphones, as well as my portables. They're really that good.
  
  Note that I don't listen to hip-hop, dance music, or any genre whose listeners tend to prefer heavy, thumpy, booming bass. The bass on these phones is clean and accurate, completely audible, and I don't hear any "holes," but these are not phones that accentuate bass at the expense of the rest of the tonal range. They're just very well balanced across the range. If you're a "bass junkie," you might want something else.
  
  The combination of exceptional sound, the convenience of the protective hard-plastic case, and reasonable price makes these an excellent choice overall. I'm very, very pleased, and I'd say these are definitely worth a try.
  
  
• Ordinary Sound, High Priced, Better Value elsewhere
  By A2TCHXH4SIN2OF on 2004-08-10
  These are ordinary Sennheisers, which means way better than the usual junk by Sony, Aiwa, etc or worse yet Coby and Maxell. Midrange is strongest, with trebles being muted. These sound fine with pop, a little bit worse with jazz, and pretty unimpressive with classical.
  
  The black mark here is the odd concept of a small closed headphone design. The smallish cups will not cover all or even most of a normal ear, so the noise isolation is minimal, and the bass is far thinner than might be expected. These phones do fold up into a tiny bundle, but that is not such a big selling point especially given the price.
  
  Impedance is 32 Ohms, so these do work fine with an Ipod, and sound much better than the standard Apple buds. I would recommend the PX 100 much more highly though; similar design, cheaper, and the open backs give the sound a much more vibrant effect even bass, which is unexpected. The open design of the PX 100s though makes it easier to hear outside noise (and for those outside to hear your noise!) so if you need a closed headphone design, try the Sennhesier HD 202s, a larger design though one that sounds very good and delivers acceptable isolation, and one which is also cheaper than either PX model. (You are paying for portability I suppose!)
  
  
• Sounds Great with All Sound Sources, including Music
  By A1YF0SKMGV2BIL on 2006-10-15
  I have read many reviews from a broad cross section of people regarding the Sennheiser and Koss Models of headphones. I used to be in the camp of "Koss is Boss" but Sennheiser products such as the PX-100 and PX-200 as well as the research I have done on other Senns I hope to purchase soon have led me to believe that Sennheiser is just as Boss as Koss. In regards to the PX-200's, I have to say that there was one review in particular that was so inaccurate that I had to write my own review. Others have commented about a very severe reviewer who said that the PX-200's are great as long as you don't listen to music with them. I must say that this is absolute nonsense and should not be taken seriously by anyone. I first bought the 100's and was blown away by them and then the 200's arrived. (I had also received a pair of the Koss KTXPRO1's before the 200's arrived and they are a wonderful pair of headphones--highly recommended as well.) I tested out the PX-200's and was amazed at how well they played everything I could throw at them, including television, DVDS, video games and yes, Music. I found myself almost in tears as I played Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. I had never heard my favourite Adagio with such clarity as I did with the PX-200's as well as the 100's and the Koss KTXPRO1's. As the weeks have worn on, I have found that the 100's have remained unused while I use the 200's a lot. I recently acquired a pair of Koss PortaPro headphones and I think these might actually be a tad better (but less comfortable) but for overall clarity, comfort and quality, you can't beat the PX-200's. They do block out some ambient sounds (I'm pleased and surprised because of their size) but they aren't designed to be noise cancellers as compared to some of Sennheiser and Koss' other larger or specific products. Don't believe the reviews that say the PX-200's have poor musical quality or are uncomfortable. I have a very large head and these phones are great and don't bother me in the least; I've fallen asleep with them on. [...] has great information on all their different products and would be helpful to use for research. I think I'll conclude by saying that like all new things, you need to give these headphones just a little time to get used to and you surely will not regret it!
  
  
• Something important about bass with this headphones !!
  By A3FU9Z2JYPQOJ9 on 2003-09-07
  I was quite afraid about the lack of bass with this headphones, acording to what I red about it. But just for the size and collapsible possibility I bought it. When I listened first I was quite disappointed, so I let the headphone for break in with bass rich music (techno). After about 15 hours it sounded better but I found something interesting : the quality of bass depend in the way you put the headphone on the ear : it must be put on the lower part of the ear and not on the middle or higher part..Try it and you will se a great difference. I think the people who complain about the lack of bass first didn't let the headphones for break in enough, and the don't put it in the right position on the ears. This has to be put lower on the ear than with other headphones.
  
  
• Excellent Headphone for Cost
  By A3EIM9ZXGA2H5M on 2004-09-25
  The Senneheiser PX-200's for the cost are probably the best closed, portable headphones out there. They come with a neat case and are easy to carry around. I have posted many responses on www.head-fi.org which is a site specifically dedicated to headphones and headphone amplification.
  
  Sennheiser typically makes a wonderfully constructed headphone that will last a lifetime and these fit the bill. The only other headphones for portable players out there that I would consider in this price range are Koss Portapro's. Other than that, these can't be beat.
  
  As compared to the Sennheiser PX-100's, I think the sound is ever so slightly better than the PX-200's, but they are open, not closed. Closed just means that when you put them on, you can not hear anything else but the music. Open means outside noise does get in. Regardless there is minimal sound from the headphone actually getting out of the headphone. For $40 or less, this is the best bang for your buck. I hope this review helps.
  
  
  
  
• Comfort, but not Sound
  By A3L05SQ76L1X9J on 2005-11-06
  I spent a lot of time online researching headphones and ultimately settled on these. My feeling after having used them for about a month is:
  
  If you're prepared to pay $60 for headphones, you might as well spend just a bit more and get a better pair.
  
  The best thing about these headphones is their design. They are very portable, and I've taken on them airplane trips easily. They fold in a clever manner, and they are VERY comfortable. By far the most comfortable headphones I've worn. Sometimes you almost forget they're on your head.
  
  But the actual sound that comes out of them leaves a lot to be desired. This was the first pair of headphones that I had purchased alone, rather than with a stereo or a keyboard. I was expecting a sizeable upgrade in sound and didn't get it. Music still ultimately just sounds flat -- as if it's coming from one source, rather than the greater dispersal you get with higher end 'phones. And my biggest problem with the iPod phones, which is their muddy quality, doesn't go away with these. It's like the difference between AM and FM radio (only more subtle, obviously.) More expensive headphones give you a much crisper sound than these.
  
  So BOTTOM LINE: If your overwhelming concern is comfort, and you don't care a lot about sound quality, these headphones are for you. But if you want crisp, clean sound, you're not going to get it here.
  
  
• Best all-round portable option
  By A2EZAQ2F8N8DAN on 2006-02-07
  I've had some good, even great portable headphones: PX 100, AKG K26, Shure E5c. But for walking around NYC, these are the best.
  
  - They sound detailed and full. At first, comparing them to the K26, I thought for sure the K26 was better. But after living with them both for a few days, the K26 sounded unnaturally boomy and murky. The PX 200, when seated properly, has plenty of bass punch if you like your sound accurate. After several hours of play, the PX 200 no longer sounded harsh.
  
  - They offer a nice balance of convenience and noise control. For a long while the E5c were my out-and-about phones of choice - they're marvelous at sealing out the world - but sometimes (like when crossing the street) they seal out a bit too much for safety or convenience, and taking them off temporarily isn't convenient either - they don't hang round your neck securely, and then you have these dangly bits with earwax rubbing on your clothes :) The PX200 is definitely better than the PX100 in sealing out sound. K26 - they seal better, but the springy headband is very tight and tends to change size too easily--it often becomes a "choker" around your neck.
  
  - They look good (in my opinion) because they're retro like a Walkman headphone but not big like some circumaural job.
  
  My advice: order these from Amazon, plug them into your stereo and "burn in" for say, 24-48 hours before listening, and experiment with locations on your ears(I've found pushing them a bit towards the back of my ear, even to where the rear of the cup extends over the rear of my ear, gives me the best seal, in contrast to advice on Headroom that suggests wearing them forward). Return them if you can't get decent bass--but with a little experimentation, I bet you'll be able to.
  
  
• rocky road at first - now much better
  By A5N2NNO7NZNN7 on 2005-10-26
  Despite the wide variation in reviews and the negative reviews from very knowledgable people, I decided to try these headphones. The selling point for me was the design of the headphones, and the brand also carried a lot of weight with me.
  
  My initial impression of these headphones was horrible. Like so many of the others who posted, I found the bass to be very, very weak, leaving a tinny, high/mid-heavy sound, which is very annoying.
  
  I decided to up the bass boost on the EQ setting in my iPod, thinking that perhaps this would loosen up the drivers in the headphones. I played them at full volume for a few minutes, while not wearing them.
  
  I came back for a listen after doing this and they sounded much better. I then experimented with the fit on my head. I found that if the ear pads are not well seated on my ears the perceived bass is heavily attenuated.
  
  Now that I've worked all this out, I have to say I'm very, very impressed with the sound. I've compared them with other, around the neck headphones that I have, and I like the sound of the Sennheisers much better.
  
  I like the over the head comfort of this style, but it is somewhat annoying that I have to fiddle with the fit on my ears so much to get the sound right. I think the user must try to get the same kind of seal you get with full size headphones, with these smaller-pad style headphones.
  
  There are things to like and dislike about this style of headphone - but I don't think you need to be scared off by concern of lack in bass.
  
  Keep in mind that you are purchasing an audiophile brand name, but the product is, like so many other things, made in China. I think this is probably to be expected at this price point.
  
  
• Ordered both these and the PX100
  By A22EE6B3IHEDMH on 2005-02-04
  Ordered both the PX200s and the PX100s and the PX200s turned out to be my favorites although both are excellent headphones. I like the closed headphone with less backgound noise and the music just sounds fuller. They are also a little louder than the PX100s at the same volume setting showing that they are easily driven. I use them with a Sandisk 512mb player. There is no problem with bass response, in fact, the bass is stronger than that of the PX 100s. I've had no touble putting them in the case either. These are great headphones!
  
  
• A very pleasant surprise!
  By A15MBAOHHYDOH4 on 2005-10-15
  I began my search for better quality headphones for my Creative Zen Touch after hearing a set of Bose $149 headphones at Target. They excited me, so I began my research at Amazon.com. I was immediately disappointed to learn how poorly the Bose held up under normal usage. I also became educated on some important decisions one must make before buying more expensive headphones: do you want open or closed design? Do you want more sensitive, and therefore possibly heavier, headphones that will almost certainly detect any compression of your audio files to mp3, for example? Or will you be using these with your home-based stereo system? I was looking for a set of closed headphones that were light weight and would not be terribly affected by mp3 compression, yet be responsive and accurate across the sound spectrum. The criticism of the poor bass response of the Sennheiser PX 200s, and the difficulty some folks were having stuffing them back into their carrying case, frightened me. However, on balance the reviews seemed good and, more than any other headphones I considered, seemed to fit the bill of what I was looking for. So, I purchased these headphones, burned them in steadily for a period of five days straight, and now would not part with them for any reason. I am completely pleased with these, my first Sennheiser headphone experience. As most reviewers have said, the design and quality of this product are impressive. When I looked at the diagram on how to return them to their carrying case, I was able to accomplish the task the first time around, and in under a minute. As for the lack of a bass response: nonsense. It is true that you do not get the booming bass that you might expect if you're a fan of Hip Hop, however, I found the sound of these phones to be more realistic across the spectrum and easily adjustable by changing the Equalizer Settings on my Creative Zen Touch. These phones are sensitive enough to pick up the annoying artifacts of compression, but I found that this was only the case with those downloads or burns that had not been done at a high enough ratio. To sum it all up, I am very pleasantly surprised with the Sennheiser PX 200s, in light of the criticisms I read which, I have concluded, are simply a matter of taste and fit. So, if you're looking for quality, balance, and accuracy in your listening experience with a portable audio device, you need not worry about investing in these pleasing, comfortable, and very handy headphones.
  
  As an aside, I want to mention one negative element in my headphone purchasing experience. I discovered online that the Sennheiser PX 200s are also sold at Best Buy. So I decided to go there and try them out before buying a pair. At Best Buy they have these headphones displayed in their box and do not have a demo pair that you can try on. When I asked if I could open the box and give them a test drive, I was told no. The sales person suggested that I buy them and, if I didn't like them, I could bring them back within 30 days for a refund. How inconvenient! I would suggest to anyone reading this who may be in a supervisory position at Best Buy - change your policy!
  
  
  
• Forget about it.
  By A1YJ541O10BM5U on 2005-01-12
  I bought these based on recommendations on a music newsgroup, and on Amazon. These are very disappointing headphones.
  
  First, they're allegedly "closed", but are nothing of the sort, and provide no more sonic isolation than any open design I've used (including the allegely "open" PX-100's).
  
  Second, the sound awful, with an overresonant, honking sound that I find absolutely unacceptable in a $10 set of headphones that might be included with a portable CD player. There's no excuse for a $50 set of phones sounding like this.
  
  Third, they can only be driven by portable units with fairly high output.
  
  Horrible purchase, and I'm usually a huge Sennheiser fan. I bought a pair of PX-100's last night, and they are infinitely superior, and slightly cheaper. I also use Koss $15 "Plug" earbuds, and these are also superior to the PX-200 in every way, including isolation.
  
  
• Bass is really lacking: the PX-100 is much better
  By AW3FX7JALX8N0 on 2006-10-25
  I went back and forth between the PX-100 and PX-200 after reading the reviews and finally opted for the PX-200 because I wanted a closed headphone. Turns out it was the wrong decision.
  
  The PX-200 has nice, detailed sound, but very little bass. I let the phones play all day and night for four or five days to see if they'd improve with break-in, as some of the reviews below said they would. As best I can tell the bass did improve a little, but it still leaves a lot to be desired, and the advertisement on the package, "Powerful Bass," is a joke.
  
  Then today I was in a Tweeter store which happened to have hooked up a pair of PX-100 and PX-250 phones for customers to try out. I put on the PX-100 and immediately heard the bass I'd been missing, without any loss in the rest of the sound range. I tried the PX-250's to compare and found they had the same defect in bass as the PX-200's.
  
  The PX-100's are an open headphone, but I agree with a reviewer below that not much more sound escapes or gets in than is the case with the PX-200's. (I tested this by putting the earphones up against my hands and seeing how they sounded from the outside.)
  
  Tweeter was selling the PX-100's for $60.00, so I ordered them from Amazon at a little more than half that price, including shipping. The PX-200's will go back to Amazon.
  
  I think one reason the PX-100's might be so superior is that the speaker is a slightly larger unit, which gives the designer more space to operate with. Due to the open style, the earphone itself doesn't look much if at all bigger on your ear, but when you look at the two earphones side by side and subtract the leather padding from the PX-200's you'll see the difference.
  
  
• Best sub-$100 headphones for portables
  By A2SU6CA6HSK85I on 2004-02-10
  ...and possibly the best sub-$100 headphones, full stop. I bought these for use with my iPod, and was rather disturbed to discover that they sound better than my $100+ full-size Sennheisers, which I picked after auditioning a dozen pairs of headphones at a serious hi-fi store.

  One caveat though--you will get tinny bass if your portable system can't drive them sufficiently. The solution is to get a headphone amplifier; I have a Xin supermini amp the size of a matchbox which makes an incredible difference, bringing the iPod's sound quality to within spitting distance of my Harman Kardon amp and CD player.

  On systems with adequate driving power, I actually find the PX200s to be a little bass-heavy. I use them with my home equipment, and dial down the bass a little. However, slightly overemphasized bass is probably what you want for a portable. What's important is that the midrange and high end are smooth and clean and not tiring to listen to, and musical details are clear and not hidden.

  From a practicality standpoint, the sound insulation is excellent, the headphones are comfortable to wear for hours at a time, they fold up small enough to fit in a pocket, and they come with a nifty protective hard case. Forget the Koss PortaPros and try these first.
  
  

• where the heck is the bass?
  By A2ATA3Z5O1B0E5 on 2005-04-11
  There are a couple of things to rave about with the Senn px200. Its most charming feature is its compact foldable design. Secondly, its thd % is low, so sound is very very clean. The flattery stops there.
  
  I waited patiently like a saint for the bass to present itself after the "burn-in period." Well, the bass never really gets to where it needs to be for actual listening enjoyment. I didn't even have a moderately good time with these. Bass which isn't there to begin with will not miraculously appear all of a sudden...there is no bass, ABSOLUTELY NO BASS with the Senn px200 period. I'm no basshead by any means, but come on. Where the heck is the bass?
  
  Alongside its basslessness, the Senn px200 is also a bright little performer. Ouch...that's two strikes...no bass and shrill on top of that. Hmnn... needless to say, I sent these back to Amazon.
  
  Seriously ponder whether these are worth the purchase. Consider the Sennheiser hd 202 for a closed design headphone. For about 25 dollars, it's great-sounding and easily portable.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Phone for public and outdoor settings
  By A2134JJ2NVWRH9 on 2006-09-24
  Dakonium's review I feel is a little unfair.
  First of all, consider the design philosophy of this phone. This is a one of the smallest (if not the smallest) closed (person next to you can't hear the music you're playing), supra-aural (sitting on the ear) phone on the market today. It has very few competitors in its class. Most of the phones he's comparing to are either open (leaks sound) or circumaural (big cups that cover your ears) phones that are not meant to be competing with this one. For example, I've used PX200 in fairly crowded libraries with people sitting only a few feet away from me. There is no way I could have used an open headphone without bothering other people. Unless you raise the volume to a level that's unhealthy for your ears, you keep the sounds completely to yourself. Also, the size of this phone allows you to walk around in the streets without drawing looks (no, when your headphone draws attention it's not because you look cool). Other phones that are in this class - AKG 26 and 27, beyerdynamic dt231 to name a few in this pretty short list - are better sounding, but noticeably bigger. Those who are fashion conscious should take that into consideration.
  Onto the sound quality.
  While I can understand dakonium's criticisms, I can't agree on the severity of his words. This isn't the best sounding headphone at this price range, but I still do enjoy listening to this phone occasionally even as I've moved onto phones that cost several times more than this. It seems like getting a good seal is the key. If you're not getting an acceptable level of bass, you're not getting a good seal. And I guess sometimes it's not the user's fault as everyone's ear shape is different. But in my case, being a headphone newbie at the time about three years ago, didn't wear it right for many weeks. Once I found the right spot by accident, I started hearing the bass, but more importantly, sounds at all frequency levels dramatically improved. Overall, the sound quality is good for the price unless your definition of good sound quality is amount of bass.
  So all in all, if you're looking for a headphone for public settings and outdoors, this phone certainly deserves your consideration.
  
  
• Excellent purchase
  By A1KD7NTTV15RJ6 on 2003-10-27
  I got these after I got the Koss KSC50s and I have to say that these are fantastic.

  In Singapore these cost about S$100. For the price I expected them to be fairly good.

  -Audio quality. Sennheiser doesn't disappoint. I'm no audiophile, but these were excellent. Highs and mids are good, but maybe the bass sounds a bit weak in my opinion. Still, excellent.
  -Comfort. These are perhaps the most comfortable portable headphones I have ever tried, and I have tried alot in my quest for headphones. I can barely feel them on my head. However, some may find it hot inside their ears for extended periods of time.
  -Noise dampening. I tried them on at a busy shop. The background noise was immediately dampened and I could even listen to classical music.
  -Seems to be quite cheaply made however... I foresee it breaking under constant use.

  If you want a pair of headphones for under S$100 ( or however it translates for you) these are the pair to get.
  
  

• unique but disappointing
  By AXG6YV1EX1W5G on 2005-02-25
  The PX-200 is a unique headphone. It is by far the smallest closed phone available. This offers the unique combination of being very portable and offering some isolation from outside noise. As such I thought it might be an excellent phone for workout use in a noisy gym. I normally use Koss KSC-75's for this. The 75's are excellent for the price, and continue to improve with break-in. However, the Koss's offer exactly no isolation and are not partiularly sensitive. As such, getting adequate volume in a noisy environment can be a challenge with a low powered MP3 player.
  
  The PX-200 as mentioned is a small closed phone which folds up neatly and is packaged with a classy plastic storage pouch. It has small vinyl covered pads which rest comfortably on the ear. It is a 32 ohm phone and is significantly more sensitive than the KSC-75. Also, the degree of isolation offered is surprisingly good. It won't completely block outside noises, but it will attenuate them greatly. So this would seem to meet my needs to a T.
  
  Unfortunately, no. Many people complain of poor bass response with these, mainly due to not getting a good fit. Well, I do get an excellent, tight fit with these, but bass is still sorely lacking. I'm not referring just to deep bass either. Response all the way from the lower midrange down seems to be lacking. This leads to a hollow, tinny, sort of AM-radio sound. I'm not a bass-freak by any means. In fact, I prefer a birght, less heavy sound. But these are completely lacking in low end. Adjusting the EQ on your player can help things considerably. After I adjusted the frequenices below 250 HZ up about 10 db, the sound actually became quite good. A little boost at the extreme upper end also helps. However, even with all these adjustments, I don't find this headphone to sound as good as the 1/3 the price KSC-75's. There is an uneven quality to the sound, which is almost inevitable when using such extreme EQ. If your player doesn't offer equalization, the bass boost on most CD players should improve the sound of the 200's quite a bit. (With most phones, activating this really muddies things up).
  
  I'm still debating whether to keep these. Despite their drawbacks, the isolation they offer is an important advantage, especially in such a small phone. They are very comfortable, and are easy to drive. Whether this adds up to enough to make up for their mediocre sound quality is an individual decision. Much better sound is available for much less money, but not with the unique features of the PX-200. For 1/3 the price, the Koss KSC-75 beats its sound quality but is harder to drive and offers no isolation. For almost the same price, Sennheiser's own HD-497 tounces the PX-200. The 497 is one of the true bargains in headhpones. Accurate, punchy, crisp sound and easy to drive. Not much isolation though, and much larger than the PX-200. Beyerdynamic's DT-231 is about the same price, is a closed phone with excellent sound and good isolation but it significantly larger than the PX-200.
  
  All in all, if you need isolation and portability, the PX-200 might fit the bill. But without equalization, the sound quality is just not accpetable, especially in this price range.
  
  Update: After about a week of use and burn-in time to see if the performance improved (it didn't), I decided to return these. The isolation benefits just don't make up for the hollow, uneven sound of these phones. If they were half the price maybe, but when much better sound is availble for so much less, I couldn't justify these. A real disappointment for a Sennheiser fan.
  
  
• Excellent
  By A1K34D77DNLLYS on 2006-09-20
  First, let me preface this by saying I have been an owner of its sibing headphones, the PX-100, for 2 years. I loved those phones. But it came time where I needed them to be closed and not leak sound, as I need them for the library. Despite some people's insistence that the PX-200's aren't as good, I decided I'd give them a try.
  
  I cannot agree with the assessment that the PX-200s are in some way inferior. They are different--they fit a little differently, and you need to get a seal in order to get the full sound. I had no difficulty in doing so. Some people apparently do, and this is their cause for complaint. But after a seal is achieved, they sound remarkably similar to the PX-100. They don't sound quite as "airy" and fluid as the PX-100, but they sound remarkably good. And with the added benefit of not having the sound leak and its blocking of ambient noise (not as much as an in-ear phone, mind you, but better than an open phone), these are a no-brainer for those wanting a good, closed headphone. Highly recommended.
  
  
• Great all around
  By A2Y8YJHDHZQR0X on 2004-01-15
  The sound is perfect so I won't go into that.

  One flaw: after an hour or so of use, I noticed that it started to get a bit uncomfortable because they wrapped around my head and ears too tightly. I believe this is the cause of being able to fold the headphones to their compact size. Imagine a tight-fitting pair of eyeglasses. Nothing major, but if you're going to use these for hours on end, then you might want to reconsider (especially if you have a big head like myself). Also, since these aren't earbuds, you can't really go work out with these it might get a little gross coating them with layers of sweat (something I forgot to consider when I was shopping around).

  The fact that it comes with a case is pretty irrelevant. You're really not going to fold them up nice and neat EVERY single time you use them. I don't even know where my case is anymore.

  Sorry about the pessimism, but I figured people will be too busy telling you all the good points anyhow (plenty of), so I thought I'd play devil's advocate.
  
  

• Great for all types of music
  By A380XDBCQ7XQBU on 2004-04-09
  I have owned my PX 200 headphones for over a year now, and I am totally satisfied with them. I tried various brands and types of ear and headphones before finding these - I bought about a dozen different ones in a year or so. I have not bought any since buying these.

  They are comfortable for long periods of time. I have worn them for the full plane trip from Singapore to London and back a couple of times - about 12-14 hours each way. They cut out significant amounts of outside noise - I can still hear quiet music and voice while on the plane.

  I listen to a wide range of types of music - rock, jazz, classical, blues, easy listening, pop - and it all sounds excellent on the PX 200s. From the quietest passages to the loudest, the sound is clear and full-bodied (that's technical talk!!) in bass, mid and high ranges.

  They are easy to carry, as they come with a plastic case into which the headphones fold and slide - can be a little tricky at first. I bought a 90-degree adapter plug for the end of the cord, which is a good 4 feet long - just the right length.

  Overall, the PX 200 headphones are brilliant!! They have become my best friend on trips or when I don't want to listen to TV or when I want to relax and snooze with my music or whenever, really!! You won't be disappointed, either.
  
  

• Extremely Pleased
  By A149C701MLJDJC on 2004-11-15
  I am extremely pleased with my purchase. You cannot buy a better pair of headphones this size/light (let alone at this price).
  
  I have had my Sennheiser PX200's for six months now. I use them every afternoon on my bus ride home from Washington D.C. to the suburbs. I use my headphones with a 40gb MP3 player. The sound quality is excellent with a decent range of sound covering highs through lows.
  
  You will be extremely pleased with this set of headphones.
  
  
• Best Most Well-Made Piece of Garbage I Own
  By AQGDGMPN2VW0U on 2005-09-01
  **Update - Only thing I have to add is that if you have plenty of power and an EQ these phones actually sound great! The bass comes to life if you have more power, but I wouldn't have found this out had I not hooked them into my home stereo (these are marketed as portable headphones so I bought them for my mp3 player). If you have access to an EQ, then pump up the bass and midrange!
  -------------
  These are by far the best quality portable headphones I've owned. The amount of amenities they've packed in is great:
  
  Portability - 10
  Fit and Finish - 10
  Weight - 10
  Style - 10
  Comfort - 8.5 (great faux leather ear pads and head pad)
  
  Now on to the less important stuff.
  
  Treble - 7 (Very high)
  Mid - 3 (Could be better but can't hear because of the Treble)
  Bass - 1 (I thought I was hearing bass, but it was only my toe tapping)
  
  These are the worst sounding headphones I own. My $22 JVC HA-CD71Fs I own blow the socks off these, as do my $8 RCA replacements.
  
  Where the two previously mentioned headphones lacked in quality (I mean really lacked) these lack in sound (I mean really lack).
  
  This headphone should cost half what they ask.
  
  And a note to all the reviewers (%80 of them). If the only thing you are comparing these too is earbuds then you're, frankly, not that bright (I wanted to say something else here). ANY HEADPHONE WILL SOUND BETTER THAN AN EARBUD.
  
  Now excuse me while I throw on my cracked, taped-up, ear-foam-falling-off, GREAT-SOUNDING JVC $22 headphones.
  
  
• Perfect Portable Headphones
  By A2Y4G3CITASAKG on 2005-12-29
  I will first qualify that I bought these headphones as a compliment to my Creative Zen Micro. I replaced my supplied earbuds with Sony EX 81 LPs, which sound great, but have unbelievably poor quality workmanship. The wires wore through behind the earphones after about 4 months of use. The one caveat I have had with these is that if they are not placed on my ears correctly they do sound tinny and the bass response is poor. But once I placed them correctly the sound reproduction is outstanding. In fact I have upped my compression rate to 196kbps, because they hightlight poor compression quickly. I listen to a broad range of music but primarily rock (everything from Godsmack to Led Zeppelin and everything in between).
  
  To lend some weight to this review I will say that I own the following headphones: Sennheiser 590s, 490s, Sony MDR 74s, Sony EX 81 LPs, and unfortunately the earbuds that came with my mp3 player. I have also tested a couple of high end Sonys DJ style headsets, also the Koss 4AA, Bose Triports, and Quiet Comfort 2s, and the Grado S60s, which did sound great, but the sound leakage was huge.
  
  These headphones are equally as good as most of these, and when linked to a low output mp3 player will out perform both the high end Senheisers and the Koss. Although the Bose Triports do sound great, they do not have the volume, and are literally three times as expensive as these headphones are.
  
  So although I respect the right of others to post their opinions, I would say that if you own these headphones and do not like them try adjusting the earpads on your ears. If that doesn't work feel free to send them to me so I can have them to replace the ones I'm wearing, when I wear them out.
  
  
• Didn't like them at first... but
  By A1AGOMNNERKRWT on 2006-01-27
  I had the PX100s but my wife swiped my pair for her iPod. I thought I'd give these ones a shot for my PC at work. At first I was really irritated that I paid more and the sound wasn't quite as nice. After a few days, the leather ear pads softened, and they formed a better seal on my ears. Now I believe they sound better and are more comfortable than the PX100s. Give them a few days and you will be pleased.
  
  
• Some Good, Some Bad
  By A1M2966JVX37XP on 2006-04-10
  First off, let me say that I like the sound that comes out of these earphones. I was looking for a lightweight and comfortable set of fairly high fidelity headphones for my iPod, and these fit the bill nicely. Compared to my workout headphones, these things sound absolutely beautiful with a nice rich sound, especially for vocals. The bass is fairly lightweight, but I find it balanced as opposed to the overpowering thump that often accompanies headphones these days.
  
  Basically, I would certainly consider buying these headphones again -- if they hadn't broken on me within six months.
  
  It turns out there is a reason that headphone makers are creating plugs that take an immediate right angle on the plug. That seems to be the weak spot on headphones, and that right angle turn helps keep the wire from breaking right at that point. These headphones do not have that right angle turn, and of course, the wire in mine broke.
  
  Since I only use this set of headphones while sitting at my computer, I must say that I am fairly disapointed they broke under such ideal use conditions.
  
  
• Excellent Small Headphones
  By A23DD66XS96QSV on 2004-06-25
  The Sennheiser PX-200 Headphones are wonderful sounding, compact, comfortable headphones, and have found them excellent for all music I listen to. Since I listen to everything from Classical, Jazz, Classic Punk, Grunge, Heavy Metal, Rock, Heavy Techno, and World Music, this is saying something.

  On the plus side: Excellent range and dynamics, fast, accurate highs, and deep bass. In passages where the bass is very low, I can really feel the bass in the temples, which is surprising given the smallness of these phones. They fold down very small, and come with a nice hard plastic case, which protects them as I carry them to and from work in my soft briefcase. The case is a little smaller than a paperback book. These phones have also allowed me to hear parts of music that I have only been able to hear using my Sennheiser HD-500A (Circumaural, Open back, with a dynamic range of 50-32Khz) headphones.

  On the minus side: The cord is relatively short, and several times I have accidentally turned my chair and unplugged the cord from my CD player while working at my desk. The headphones DO need a break-in period, and the bass will become deeper after some hours of playing.

  One other important note: although these are not noise cancellation headphones, they do block out a lot of the exterior sound. They block more sound than any other other compact headphones I have listened to, and are closer to a closed back headphone in sound blockage than an open back headphone. They block more outside sound than my Sennheiser HD-500A full size open back phones.

  Summation: For $50, you are probably not going to find a better sounding pair of compact headphones. If the cord were longer, I would rate these 5 out of 5.
  
  

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