Sennheiser HD438 Closed Circumaural Hi-Fi Headphone with Enhanced Bass Review

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(More customer reviews)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!

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The HD 438 is part of a series of headphones designed to be an extension of consumers lifestyles.

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V-MODA Cross-fade LP Over-Ear Headphones (Gunmetal Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I strongly urge anyone considering these headphones to go see them in person first.(like at the apple store)
I got these headphones in August after a coworker recommended them. He got his off Amazon and I got mine from the Apple store.
The speaker drivers themselves are great. Good balance of bass and treble across a wide range of music. The Crossfades seem well constructed and light. I use them only at work for about 4hrs a day and was happy for about a month. They stay on my desk when not in use and have never left the office
Unfortunately after a month I noticed the the inner plastic band where the metal adjustment bar that connects the phones to the padding the goes over your head had completely cracked on both sides of the headphones. If you look at the pictures Amazon provides, look at the 6th picture(for the gunmetal version - [...]). The cracks appeared right above the crossfade logo where the 2 screws secure the plastic housing on both sides of headphones(tops of the V). The plastic wasn't just cracked on one screw on each side, it was crack on all 4 screws. This leads me to believe that they had some over-tightening problem when putting in the screws during manufacturing. A day after I discovered the crack, one of the plastic cracked fragments actually fell off the headphones, making it impossible for the headphones to keep tension on the metal adjustment bar.
I was sad to see this issue, given I had just dropped $250 on these headphones a month earlier. So I went and had a look at my co-workers set. SAME exact problem, cracks along the plastic on both sides of the headphones in the same 4 places where the screw look to have been over-tightened. The plastic had not fallen off on his yet, but he was equally pissed off at the quality of manufacturing.
Seriously, the rest of the headphone is well constructed of metal and solid plastic.... but the one location that would get the most stress has the cheapest made component??!?!? I don't have a particularly wide head, and I've DJ'd for years and know how to take care of expensive headphones. What a shame that an otherwise great sounding set of headphones could be wrecked by a defective 50cent plastic part.
Thankfully the Apple store allowed me to return the headphones beyond the 14day regular policy. We went over to the iPod demo section in the store where they had 4 crossfades out for display to use with the iPod/iphones, and guess what!!! 3 of the 4 had the same exact issue.
I think these headphones are so new that this problem will start to become more prevalent in the next few months for folks who bought them early on. I don't think this is a hard issue to fix with a redesign of that particular part (using metal). However it's probably going to require folks to send them back to the manufacturer.


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Developed over the span of four years in collaboration with some of the world's top musicians, DJs and producers, the Crossfade LP delivers epic sound with a distinct design composed of luxurious fabrics and lightweight metals. Designed to be the ultimate versatile and multi-purpose headphone, Crossfade LP is made for people on the move, at the gym or on the stage.
Epic sound with a distinct design.

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Skullcandy S2TTBZ-CZ Titan Earbuds, (Chrome) Review

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(More customer reviews)These earphones are simply phenomenal. Not being much of a headphone/earphone music listener (at least until now), I have always looked for the absolute least expensive phones for getting by when listening to speakers just wasn't feasible. But with my 12-year old son rocking out constantly on his iPod, I thought I should try some decent phones and see what the hoopla was all about. I have an iPhone, and I hadn't yet used it much for its music capabilities, so I thought I'd try it out. Plus, I'm a movie guy, and I had already ripped and converted some films from DVD to MP4 format for running on my iPhone. Video quality was great, but the aural experience left something to be desired. Oh, what a difference to hear these clear film tracks on a pair of little bitzy speakers which fit in my ears.
I had already determined that the standard iPod/iPhone "earbud" style of phones didn't work for me -- they didn't seal out extraneous noise (translate: three boys and all their white, black and everything-in-between noise in its constant glory), and they didn't fit my ears, leading to painful pressure points within a short time. While the "in-ear canal" style made me feel a bit sonically "claustrophobic," these made the most sense to me. Plus, I had experienced them in a few $10 earphone pairs I had bought on the cheapie. So, that's where I went a looking....
Well, to get finally to the punch, I purchased the Skullcandy Titans -- off Amazon at their normally great price, and my Prime membership got them to me in a couple of days, free of shipping charges. (Note to non-Primers: the 80 or so bucks a year I pay for Amazon Prime is the absolute greatest deal going, at least if you're an Internet shopper as I am. I'm a guy, and as such I prototypically hate brick-and-mortar "girl" shopping.) After reading so much about the freakin' Comply foam ear tips, I was a bit disapppointed to receive the soft silicone tips which some other "Mr. Helpful" reviewer has forewarned you and yours truly how truly inferior they are.
To punctuate some users' comments, and to dispel others, I've gotta tell you: these earphones are absolutely incredible. Clear as a well tuned bell, natural but not "flat" with just enough EQ to sweeten the sound, and powerful (ie: efficient). What a sound stage! I not only was transfixed by my listening experience, but also I found myself cranking up the sound to what on a lesser set of phones would be unlistenable. These phones absolutely rock!!
And here's a note about the much-ballyhooed Comply tips. While I am sure they are fine complements to these phones, they are by no means necessary, and in fact I am unlikely to buy them. Why? Because the "soft silicone" tips (I wore the middle-of-the-Bell-curve medium size) were as silky smooth as a well fashioned, well... you know, one of those nice-fitting sleeves I wore when I was a frisky teenager. When these tips are referred to as "soft silicone," the description is accurate. These babies are SOFT. They fit perfectly in my ear canal, effectively shutting out all but the very loudest ambient noises (remember the kids), and making for a truly delicious musical experience -- unlike what I have heard on anything but the very best and most expensive speaker system in the perfect listening environment. And money aside, the perfect venue ain't never gonna happen with kids around. So, I have discovered a bit of peace and re-discovered the beauty of really good music. Like a memorable concert, played just for me.
Oh, and the silicone tips -- as soft and delicate fitting as they are (remember my previous reference) -- do NOT move. I don't need tight-fitting foam tips for a secure fit. Again, like a well crafted glove, they protect and enhance the experience. (OK, I think I have stretched, if you will, this metaphor to its limit.)
I may be a relative newcomer to earphones, but I do know sound. And the Skullcandy Titan earphones are simply incredible. Buy them -- I promise you that you won't be dissapointed. And foh-get about the Comply foam tips. You don't need 'em.
Shaken Rumor
PS -- As for all good speakers, be sure and break these babies in. For a great way to do this, go to [..](nods to JLab Audio and their inspired "burner" app). JLab, BTW, makes some great earphones of their own, and they are wicked inexpensive. Pick up a pair for a spare.

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Skullcandy S2TTBZ-CZ Titan Earbuds, Chrome

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