Sennheiser PX200-II Review

Sennheiser PX200-II

The latest trend in portable headphones is in-ear design. However some people prefer a more classic style of headphones, with headband and earcups that sit on top of the ears. This design is common in home-theater use headphones, they provide maximum quality, but full size headphones such as these are not suitable for portability. This is where portable on-ear and around-the-ear headphones come in, with a design that is similar to full size, but smaller and portable.

The PX200-II are a great example of this type of headphones. They feature an around-the-ear design of the earcups, which means they provide isolation from environmental noise, and also reduce sound leakage. The result is that, listening to music, you'll feel immersed into a world of your own and isolated from the external environment.

The PX200-II are a totally redesigned version of the Sennheiser PX200, a very popular model in Sennheiser's line. With the PX200-II Sennheiser sound quality is much improved, as well as the comfort factor.
The PX line of Sennheiser headphones also features the PX100-II, a revision of the PX100, a cheaper open on-ear design, that don't provide the sound isolation of the PX200-II.

Likes

Sound Quality

Sound quality of the PX200-II is suprisingly good. Much improved over the earlier model, the PX200. They provide an excellent sound clarity, with very good mids and highs that extend way up in the frequency spectrum. Basses are not boomy on the PX200-II. They're definitely present, but they are quite tight. This contributes to the good clarity. The end result is a neutral set of headphones with good instrumental separation. Vocals and instruments are very detailed, and feel very close. Soundstage is quite wide. More than expected, for a portable set of headphones such as these.

Overall, these headphones sound very clean and airy, close to a full size set of headphones, quality wise, but they are portable.

Isolation

The closed around-the-ear design provides very good isolation from external noise. Isolation is not as strong as noise isolating in-ear headphones, but it's enough to avoid being disturbed by most external noise while listening to music. The PX200-II can be used safely while jogging outside because they still allow you to hear things around you, just not as much as open headphones.

Sound leakage is also very low, and you'll be able to listen to music without disturbing your neighbours.

Price

The Sennheiser PX200-II can be bought for less than $100. For such an exceptional sound quality, they're a steal.

Comfortable closed on-ear design

The PX200-II are extremely comfortable, they don't clamp too much, and can be used for several hours without tiring. The earcups swivel, marking it easy to provide a compliant fit around your ears.

Build Quality

Build quality of the Sennheiser PX200-II is very good. The headband is made of plastic, but it has a large metal strip on top of the padded section. The result is that they feel very durable.

The PX200-II have a folding mechanism that is useful when carrying the headphones around in their carrying case. It's also extremely cool.

The wire connection was redesigned from the one in the PX200. It is now a single wire coming out of the left earcup, which means it's more comfortable to wear.

Stylish

The PX200-II are quite stylish. They come both in black and in white colors. They don't look oversized at all. The folding mechanism is nice, and it's an added bonus to the cool factor of these headphones.

Accessories

These headphones come with just a soft carrying pouch, useful to carry the headphones around while folded. There's also an inline volume control on the cord.

Dislikes

Bass

This is not necessarily a negative of the PX200-II, but as I mentioned they don't feature super strong basses. Basses are tight and well controlled, but the overall response is on the neutral end. If you're more of a basshead, you'll probably prefer the open version of these, the PX100-II, that feature a more pronounced bass response.

No Mic

The PX200-II don't feature any mic. So if you want use them to take the occasional call with your iPhone you'll need some optional mic, such as the SmartTalk inline Microphone adapter for the iPhone, that can be bought here.

Bottom Line

The PX200-II are the headphones that I most recommend if you are looking for a great pair of portable headphones that are not in-ear.

Their sound quality is fantastic, with very good noise isolation, and they are extremely comfortable and portable.

For this price, they're really an exceptional deal.

Product Specifications

Frequency Response	10-21,000 Hz
Impedance	32 Ohm
Sensitivity	115 dB SPL/1mW
Cable	1.2 m single-sided cable (earphone to volume control: 60 cm; volume control to connector: 60 cm)
Connector	3.5 mm
Space-Saving Mechanism	Flat-folding, collapsible