Sennheiser PX 200W Collapsable High Performance Closed Headphones Reviews

• Fine phones for the portable user

  
  By AC829YDFMKWMY on 2006-04-11
  Although the standard equipment earbuds that Apple supplies with the iPod are certainly adequate for casual listening, I wanted something better. I also wanted phones because I find in-the-ear designs to be irritating after extended periods. So far these little Sennheiser cans are an excellent solution to both problems. I also have another pair of Sennheiser phones for home use, the HD25SP, and I have a long history of ownership of good cans, from high-end Beyerdynamics to Audio-Technica electrets. While the PX200s are far from the best headphones I've listened to, they're a lot closer than the price would lead you to expect.
  
  Sound quality is generally excellent; smooth, extended, non-strident highs, with a midrange that is exceptionally natural and distortion-free for an inexpensive set of phones. As for lower frequencies, it is true that these do not have the deep bass response of a $300 pair of audiophile phones (why on earth would anyone expect them to?), but there is plenty of satisfying, tight bass here with ONE caveat: I have found that proper ear placement is absolutely critical for bass response. This probably due to the fact that the ear cups are about as small as practically possible for a closed design. As a side note, I was extremely disappointed the first time I listened to these phones until I realized I had them on backwards (the design makes it easy to do this). Once I reversed them and adjusted the headband carefully, it made all the difference in the world. Those who find proper positioning difficult might find the open-design PX100s more suitable. Still, people who equate flabby, overemphasized mid-bass with "hi-fi" will probably find either phones wanting.
  
  These phones have an impedance of 32 ohms, a very light load. The iPod will have no problem driving them to satisfying (or even dangerous) levels. The maximum SPL of 115 dB is quite enough to cause hearing damage.
  
  Build quality is typical Sennheiser, which is to say, superb. These should be extremely durable even in portable use. The stainless steel headband and its' associated hinges have a nice solid feel, with no play whatsoever in their adjustments. The plastic components have a similar feel and finish to the iPod itself, a nice touch. The pleather-covered earphone cushions and headband pads are similarly high-quality, soft and pliant. The plastic case is well designed and made, although I find it a bit bulky for on-the-go use.
  
  Overall, I am extremely pleased with the Sennheiser PX200W headphones. I have to say, however, that headphones as an audio component are the most heavily subject to personal taste and the most difficult to characterize objectively. You should always try to get your hands on a pair for first-hand experience before buying, if possible. That said, I can highly recommend these phones as an upgrade to whatever came with your portable.
  
  

• Why pay more for less?

  
  By A1YJ7I2OEVZCOI on 2006-04-18
  I've enjoyed the PX 200s for several days. They are quite wearable and comfortable on a large head. If I hadn't tried the PX 100s, I might be content to keep them. But despite the open design of the 100s, they bring the bottom end of the music into the balanced picture. The 200s suggest the existence of bass, the 100s let you feel it. It's not just a question of a poor ear seal with the 200s, as I don't feel the same bass when I press them tightly to my ears. The 200s do provide more acoustic isolation, if you would prefer that to the entire musical spectrum.
  
  

• Good sounding headphones

  
  By A2PZJYHC2342W on 2006-02-04
  The Sennheiser PX200's are a good pair of headphones for portable devices, I got this for listening to my Ipod and for work. I'm in front of a computer for 9-10 hrs per day and wanted a simple headphone that's easily transportable and sounded crisp. This is my first "name" brand so the sound is ALOT sharper and crisper than the 20 dollar Sony earplugs I've been listening to. There is decent bass and the treble is tight and sharp. I read some of reviews online and narrowed it down to the Grado 60 and the PX200 /PX100. I purchased the PX200 because of the transportability, although the Grado's were reviewed for better sound.
  
  These are very light and comfortable, which was a big factor for my decision. You do have to give these a couple of days of "breaking" in or straight lsitening to get a better sound. At first listen you will be somewhat mad at how they sound, but I have heard most pricey headphones do sound better after a few days.
  
  If you decide to move up into a higher priced headphone do be aware there is a leveling off of headphone sound quality - to - your audio equipment. My Ipod sounds good as well as my computer but I am not an audiophile by any means so I do not need a very high end pair of cans. So if you are a casual listener, stick with the entry level Sennheisers and Grados and it will be a fit for your equipment.
  
  -note-
  I got the PX200's thinking they would sound better than the PX100's but have seen better reviews online (headroom.com and headfi.org) two great sites.
  
  I am very happy with my purchase tho. cheers.
  
  

• Affordable, high quality portable headphone without causing a headache

  
  By AV0B9YJ8WHIK on 2006-06-20
  I fly frequently and I used the Sony MDR-NC20 noise-cancelling head phone since 1999 and liked its sound quality. However, I always had problem keeping it on for more than two hours, especially in warm weather. It would give me a slight headache with its full ear cup design (as would any full size head phone). The size was also inconvenient at times for carrying.
  
  Few months ago, my bag was stolen, my Sony headphone was inside too. So I was looking for a replacement. I was tired of the earplug earphones because they are terrible on the airplane.
  
  I found the Sennheiser PX200 40th Anniversary edition in a store. I was struck by its portable design. It folds elegantly into a compact case. The case is about the size of a normal case for glasses. It fits very well into all of my bags including waist bags. The ear cups are small and more comfortable than a full size.
  
  The construction quality is excellent. The sound is crisp and clear. This headphone is best at mid to high range. Vocal, piano, guitar and other music sound very good. While the bass could be stronger, over all it's good enough for its size and price. If you are into strong bass, this is probably not going to please you.
  
  Although this is not noise-cancelling, it does a good job blocking noises on the bus - definitely much better than my ear phones. With earphones I have to set my MP3 player's volume to 11 to 14. I can set it to 4 to 6 with the PX200.
  
  I never heard of Sennheiser before, however, I am satisfied with my first purchase. The 40th Anniversary edition comes with a crystal cube memorabilia.
  
  

• Incredibly Disappointing

  
  By A1SPOYQ7RQHKZI on 2005-11-07
  Well after several days of research and much trial and tribulation I decided to purchase these at the local "big box" electronics store - they are going back in the morning. I consider myself quite the audiophile although headphones are not my bag, at least not until I recently spent several thousand dollars on Mac systems, i-try-my-pods & laptops and thought "what the heck, let's give personalized listening a try again".
  
  Being a consumer of high-end automotive systems I like my sound live and responsive. At home, I prefer my Infinity multi-speaker (3 per channel) surround system and my deep, rich Velodyne bass. Hate Bose, there's simply nothing there for me. With this in mind and being a bridge and tunnel commuter in NY for many years with a CD player screwed in my ears, I wanted a headphone that blocked some noise while giving more than decent sound quality.
  
  Unless I got some broken-down return item (it was sealed) the Sennheiser PX 200W are simply awful. I first tried them with my laptop and an actual CD - no good/ Then to the iPod (it's white supposed partner) and even worse. Since this was basically where I wanted to use them, I didn't even try the portable hand-held DVD player although I did slip a DVD movie in the laptop and nothing better came of it. Overall the sound "highs" gave an a chill, very screechy and undefined. On the lows, I had to go through many, many songs to be sure as the bass was dull and sounded like it was over-amped! It's just disappointing, they had such average reviews and for the price, that was all I expected, but it's simply not there.
  
  On the style, they are "cool". Took me a while to figure out how to get them out of the case from the factory without breaking the cord. They fold up sweet and there is a built-in cord winder on the uniquely designed case - the top of which folds around and I'm sure I would break in a week. Getting the phones back in the case is a chore and the ear cups have to be queezed in - perhaps this is why they state "easily replaceable ear cups", you'll probably need to after a short while.
  
  Well it's back to the drawing board. I popped on an old pair of collapsible AIWA HP-A260's and they sound a heck of a lot better than the Sennheiser's. Maby on up to Shure's next.
  
  
• Poor reproduction
  By A34U4EZ0MBB4YS on 2006-03-14
  I bought these to replace the standard iPod and Sony ear buds. I was under the impression that I would get a much deeper bass response. I was wrong. The bass reproduction is simply horrid. I read somewhere there is a "break-in" period. I have found this not to be true. They sound just as bad after 50 hours of listening as they did brand new. This is my first pair of Sennheiser and am very disappointed. I know they are low-end headphones - but I expected more. My recommendation is to keep researching.
  
  
• "Very OK" closed portable headphone
  By AC4ZN1ZD6YAVH on 2006-06-24
  I haven't had any difficulty obtaining a seal with the Sennheiser PX 200W, and it provides sufficient isolation to be usable on the subway. This headphone has a nice midrange, producing vocals that sound quite natural, but the treble is severely rolled off above 10 KHz and there's a pronounced midbass hump, resulting in a overall sound that, while pleasant enough for casual, portable listening, isn't at all refined or "high end" in character.
  
  
• Casual Buyer Very Pleased
  By A3Q02SLC9QDIYT on 2006-10-06
  This was my first excursion into the world of quality audio and I like what I'm hearing. Prior to this I just had $5 speakers and the occasional $10 headset for the easy mic access for my online games. I got a tip from my roommate who is an avid Sennheiser fan to go with this brand.
  Things I was looking for:
  1. Durable for transporting because I bike 2 miles to school everyday.
  2. Comfortable to Wear.
  3. Sound Quality.
  
  That was the order of my priorities and they were all filled very well. The case is AWESOME for transporting keeping my headphones safe even when I jam them in my backpack under all my books.
  
  These are really comfortable to wear. They are light and I don't really notice them. I thought the small earpieces might be a problem because I like earphones that cover the whole ear but these were suprisingly comfortable.
  
  The sound quality really awes me. Like I said I'm no audiophile so this sounds like heaven to me. I know some people complain about the bass but it doesn't bother me because I'm the kinda guy that turns the bass down to half the treble on my car stereo. I also halve or quarter the volume that my friends set their headphones to. I asked my roommate why people said the PX100 had better base and he said it was because the PX100 probably had a more exaggerated bass whereas the PX200 have a more natural bass. Of course, the bass on these is still much much better than the stock speakers I've been using on my Emachine. The sound isolation is decent. My roommates sit next to me and talk and they sound distant like they are off in another room. It doesn't silence everything but does soften it much more than I expected it would.
  
  What I use them for:
  1. Listening to Online Streamed Country Radio
  2. Playing Counterstrike(I can hear people who are two rooms away!)
  
  Like I said I'm not an audiophile. I am just a casual customer who feels I got a very very big boost in sound-quality from a pair of affordable headphones(I had a $50 limit). I give these a 5 because of the price/quality combination even though there are definitely better headphones out there they still cost much more.
  
  
• Ouch, these earphones hurt
  By AZIYZ0URWEYRI on 2007-03-13
  Pros: Good sound. Like the way they limit external noise-not too much, not too litte. Very good outdoors. The color coordinates with my Zen Vision M, nice touch. They collapse easily, store nicely in the case provided.
  
  Cons so far: Won't stay on my head should I bend to pick something up. My ears ache after 4-5 hours of listening. The cord is about 12" longer than needed.
  
  I've used the earphones about 2 months. I use them to listen to audible books (8-9, so far) while performing repetitive tasks involved in handweaving, walking the dog, etc. I have not used them to listen to music.
  
  
• much less compared to PX 100W
  By A1F2NBM5ZH8S1B on 2008-02-08
  I purchased it based on my extreme satisfaction with the sound quality of the PX 100. A higher number means a better product, right? Wrong. The sound has virtually no bass compared to PX100 and overall sound is tinny. I immediately returned it & ordered a second PX100. The only thing going for the PX 200W is the same smart fold design & accompanying case that comes with a PX100.
  
  
• Very Satisfied
  By A20DV0T7FT5U0G on 2006-01-20
  I am very picky when it comes to headphones, I have bought quite a few in the past years. I have owned these for about six months, I don't regret buying them at all. The sound reproduction is great, they muffle outside noise.... don't get rid of it totally, but reduce it. I work in a noisy manufacturing facility and I don't have to crank up my music the whole way. I highly recommend these headphones.
  
  
• Great headphones for mobile use!!
  By A3VSYCDJ7FDVM8 on 2007-03-11
  I like these headphones better than the lower cost px-100w's for two reasons (1) they are closed off so you can listen to them full blast without disturbing your neighbors on the bus & (2) the sound quality is comparable to the sound quality you receive on your normal at-home stereo headphones.
  
  All in all- great headphones for the money
  
  
• great for the subway
  By A1KP7IBDJNUFYJ on 2007-04-10
  These head phones block a lot of noise letting you play your music at a much lower level. Get the 200 series to block outside noise, get the 100 if you want to hear people talking while you listen to your music.
  
  
• Awesome!!!!
  By A11LC6CGC928BJ on 2007-05-27
  I'going to brief about Sennheiser PX-200 because my English skill is very bad.....
  
  Once listen with it!!!
  You feel great sound quality!!!
  It's absolutely defferent from others!!!
  
  
  
  
• Where's the bass?
  By A2SPL8M51OUXEZ on 2008-01-16
  These are certainly not bad portable headphones. They create a pretty decent stereo soundstage with some remarkable depth.
  
  However, there are a few cons:
  
  1) Bass response is pretty much non-existent. It seems like the cutoff is at about 100Hz, though I'm sure they're "rated" at better. Results in a pretty flat sound.
  
  2) Due to the limited range, more complex and heavy music (i.e. rock, metal, etc.) tends to sound pretty muddy.
  
  3) As another reviewer mentioned, these the PX 200s really hurt the ears after they have been on for about an hour.
  
  
• satisfied
  By AQH24ODGS8Q9P on 2007-02-06
  (I have a pair of HD590s that serve as my benchmark for accuracy, response, and comfort.)
  
  The PX200s are VERY comfortable and isolate sound nicely - a bonus is that the White model matches my Macbook perfectly. The sound reproduction isn't as deep or accurate as my HD590s (which are open cans), but for the size and portability i found that they were a very reasonable compromise. I highly recommend these headphones *especially* if you need a pair for listening in a library where you *can't* have any sound leak out. They are a great value for the money. However, if these will be your only cans, I suggest getting Grado or some of the open headphones that Sennheiser makes.
  
  
• Fantabular
  By A1SSH3H505QASY on 2007-08-20
  I recently bought a MacBook, and I spent hours (literally) searching for a good set of headphones that matched the white of the computer. After looking at different types of ear buds, (rediculously expensive) Bose headphones, and even bluetooth sets, I decided on these.
  
  When I first opened the packaging, I was a bit skeptical. My first thought was, "great -- a pair of headphones strong enough to last a good month." After using them for the past couple weeks, I can say my original assumption about these headphones couldn't be more wrong.
  
  They're extremely durable, comfortable beyond belief (even for those who wear glasses), and the sound quality is perfect. Even the bass performs on a level better than most headphones I've used. When all said and done, Sennheiser has not let me down with my purchase. Sure, they're fairly expensive, but you get what you pay for.
  
  
• Great, especially for this price
  By AR7MPUEPWVGID on 2006-12-07
  I have read a lot of reviews before I chose these headphones. Some people wrote that they were great, others that the base sucked. I don't think that the base sucks, it could be better, but you have to take into consideration, that this is not a high-end product, it's $40 and for that it rocks. Otherwise, the folding is really easy, you try it once and you got it. They are really comfortable and block out a lot of noise (I don't hear people talking and coming in and out the door). So, to sum up, they are not perfect, but considering the price, they are really good.
  
  
• Great upgrade for your iPod or mp3 player!
  By A19O8TUD5Y1M8A on 2007-01-09
  I wanted a pair of quality headphones to use with my iPod. I work in a noisy environment with lots of computer equipment and the ear buds supplied with the iPod do block out some sound but not enough. Also even though the new style ear buds supplied with the iPod sound better to me than previous models, the sound quality was muffled and limited in my work environment. I have used and owned Sennheiser headphones in the past and started looking at the different models and the competition. The PX200W headphones seemed to be the best match for my needs. They offer closed design, so I can block outside noises and improve the sound quality of the music. In addition they wouldn't not disturb my coworkers.
  
  So far they sound great! The sound quality is far superior to the supplied earbuds. These head phones offer great frequency range at lower volume than the earbuds or other open design headphones I have tried.
  
  Also I like the storage case. It makes storing the headphones easy, no tangled cords.
  
  Note they do take some time to "break in". I noticed that after a week or two of listening for a few hours a day the sound quality has improved.
  
  I would recommend these headphones to anyone who wants to avoid listening to music at high volume, but wants full rich sound. If you pay top dollar for your audio equipment, you should have headphones to bring out the best in them.
  
  
• Nice Headphones
  By A2EBTGQB926RUA on 2007-01-12
  They feel sturdy and sound great. They are a nice in-between size - I purchased these for my wife since her ears are too small to comfortably wear ear buds and she didn't want to look like she was wearing earmuffs like with the larger style headphones.
  
  Only con I can say about them is that the storage box is a little difficult to work with. You have to fold up the headphones in specific steps, put them in the box, wrap the cord around it, and then close it all up without pinching the cord.
  
  All in all I really like these and would purchase them again.
  
  
  
• These work great for me..
  By A2IB0WV2JW5AF5 on 2007-02-07
  I think these are quite excellent all round headphones. My earholes seem to be abnormally small so earbuds are freaking uncomfortable - I wanted decent sound but I didn't want to have to cart around large headphones, so I tried these. My favourite things about them are:
  1) Exceptionally comfy, I can wear them all day and they are great.
  2) I probably don't have the most discerning ears in the world, but I love the sound quality. MUCH better than the ipod earbuds, very clean, crisp and plenty of bass.
  3) Easy to travel with. I fly a lot, so I wanted them to block out some (not all - I want to be able to hear when they tell you to assume the safety position) aircraft noise and not take up too much room in my handbaggage. I don't usually bother with the case, I just fold them and wrap the cord around. Works splendidly.
  I have bought these for my Mom, my boyfriend and he bought them for his daughter. They loved them.
  
  
• Great Value
  By A9GJC1AL6VW3A on 2007-02-08
  I purchased these headphones about one month ago and have been very pleased with my purchase. The build quality is very high and the included case is actually very easy to use (it usually takes me 10-20 seconds to fully encase them). The sound quality however is not amazing but it is good compared to a 20 dollar pair of earbuds. The ear cup does a good job of isolating outside noises, better than I would have originally expected. I am not by any shot an audiophile but these are definatelly a great buy for 50 dollars.
  
  
• Solid headphones
  By A13ZJJX0VCTNOT on 2007-02-13
  With all of the flimsy products on the market, it's nice to find a pair of headphones with a solid build. Of course, they have great sound being from Sennheiser and are good looking in white. The earcups stay secure to your head and ears, so they're good for blocking out noise from an airplane and the like. They also fold very nicely into a compact case. Even if you don't use the case, which I don't, the folding mechanism is useful.
  
  
• Sennheiser PX 200 headphones
  By A208VKK8XVZ5D1 on 2007-07-05
  Comfortable headphones with very good sound. I decided to purchase these rather than more expensive noise reduction headphones, and in most circumstances these work fine. The sound is better than the Etymotic ER 6i earbuds that I was using previously.
  
  
• I can hear again
  By AB137ZO2BH9K0 on 2007-10-04
  I have two sennheiser products - one a wireless headset connected to my home theater and the PX200W headset that i use with a sansa MP# player. I know i have high frequency loss in both ears, but these instruments help me enjoy what I thought was lost. Great phones!
  
  
• Great Value
  By AT4WOWARO6WWN on 2007-10-16
  OK, I am not an audiophile like some on here, but do appreciate a great set of headphones that are closed so as not to disturb those around me. I must say that I love these so much that I am ordering a pair to travel with. They have great sound, are very comfortable and come with a carrying case so that they won't be damaged inside your computer bag. Would recommend!
  
  
• Got them in Japan LOVE THEM IN THE US
  By AVFCTL56WFY69 on 2008-02-23
  These are great headphones! Portable, stylish, and great sound. It is cheaper here than when I got it in Japan 2 years ago. And yes, they still work fine and survived all the travel it takes in my bag. The best headphones I ever had, comfortable and cool.
  
  
• Great for Mozart, not for Metallica
  By A398TSUOW51J49 on 2008-02-26
  These headphones are great for the home, at the office, or anytime when you're in a relatively quiet environment. As several other reviews have mentioned, these phones perform best in the mid-to-high frequencies, where the sound is crisp and vibrant. If you're listening to anything with a large dynamic range, you won't be disappointed.
  
  However, I agree that the bass is somewhat weak, though they're not nearly as bad as some reviews would have you believe. Putting them on carefully and adjusting them properly does make a difference, but these phones have simply been optimized for Mozart (or Dave Matthews), and not for Metallica.
  
  So if you're looking for a set of affordable phones to rock out with, or to listen to on the bus or subway, buy the PX100 instead. They've got much better bass, though at the cost of some of the clarity and crispness that the PX200 offers. I don't leave home without my iPod and my PX100s, but at home I usually reach for these PX200s.
  
  
• No Dissappointment here! FINE HEADPHONES !
  By A34C7O0X3GFYRG on 2008-03-06
  Ok, When I got my IPOD (classic 30gig) I totally loved it, but hated
  those earbuds. Tried buying a few different ones but still hated the
  whole concept. I wanted to buy really good headphones, that were
  of decent sound quality and COMFORTABLE ! I read the reviews and took
  a chance. I LOVE THEM, light weight, SOUND IS OUTSTANDING. I like that
  song "Who let the Dogs out" and it was the first time I heard all the lyrics! Bass excellant! The fact that they fold is a real bonus!!!!
  Getting them back in their case, not so easy. I'm using an oversized
  eyeglass case and it's simple and easy.
  For the affordable price, the sound is excellant, and are very very
  comfortable. They don't allow half stars, otherwise the case would
  have cost my review a half star for it's difficulty to return headphone
  to original position. I'm sure if you practice you will get the nak, I'm
  just always rushing.
  Short of hundred of dollars for a Bose, this purchase is highly reconmended !
  
  
• Excellent headphones but very small.
  By A3FQ1WVVJ4LRR2 on 2008-03-11
  This headphone is one of the best that i have ever had. But one thing is for sure, I didn't expect it to be so small. It is a collapsible headset which is idle for traveling. Its not idle for laptop or portable DVD player usage but it is manageable.
  
  

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