Average Reviews:
(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.
