Sennheiser HD 25

Anyone else using these 'phones? I'm mighty impressed, at first I tried them with the new Audioquest Red DAC and my iPhone 6S. A nice, albeit small improvement. More detail, soundstage, more volume (which I need) add in the size of the thing and IMO its just about justified @ £169.

Anyway, I came home tonight and plugged them into my main headphone rig - Mac Pro, Audirvana 2.0, Schiit Wyrd, Hugo then Mojo with the iPhone and these things are probably the best £130 I have spent on audio. I am shocked how much detail is coming through. Note the Mac trounces the iPhone but an improvement is there.

I initially bought them for EDM and the SPL but have since realised they are fine for everything I throw at them. I've had mid and top end Beyers not too long ago and I cannot believe how good these are.

Recommended !

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-II-Closed-Headphone-headband/dp/B000TDZOXG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_23_4?ie=UTF8&dpID=414Drxv9w5L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1MJA53EYFGB3B1K3EQN3

 

Although I haven't hear these headphone I have thought about purchasing these as over time I have been thinking of tying something from the pro audio world - which I believe is where these headphone are from - as I have been becoming increasingly frustrated at how worse the hifi world is getting. Also, it seems to me that with normal headphones you have to play it out too louder volume to hear any detail, which of course is not good for the ears.
You mention EDM which i assume is Electronic Dance Music? if so this again is interesting to me as this should mean that you like you music to be portrayed honestly with all impact and warmth that is in the program material.
I wonder is there a a place i could get a demo of Pro headphones in the U.K.(?)
Has anyone else compared pro headphones especially for modern music ( not fuddy duddy laid back music)?
Will be good to know how you get on with them.

 

I use my 25s all the time. Totally ignored by most hifi bods but a standard in broadcasting. Superb. I've heard better but not even remotely close to the price. Plus, every single part can be replaced easily so you don't have to treat them with kid gloves. Brilliant.

 

They are great and I take them everywhere. Its a good idea to specify that we're talking about the 25 I-II (with the double head band), because they are quite a bit better.

 

You are correct in that EDM is Electronic Dance Music. Last night I was spinning Eva Cassidy, Steely Dan and all sorts, not once did I feel they weren't up to the task.

These things are yet to break in and I am lost for words. Yes, they are that good. I appreciate I can spend a grand and get better but these are very convenient, and as the post above implies, every component is replaceable.

I had high hopes after reading good reviews but feed them with a decent source and they really shine.

I would highly recommend them for monitoring too, it actually says so on the box in addition to DJ use. They're closed and leakage is much better than previous closed backs I have had.


For the money, if you're considering a decent pair of headphones, which I add are very light, I wouldn't hesitate.

 

I find them comfortable. Perhaps your head design is incompatible, Tony? I like HD 600s too and I thought they had the same family sound. I think I'd go for 650s though if I ever used headphones at home (which I don't).

 

You're not the first person to complain about the clamping, Tony, they do loosen up after time, and a lot at that but it sounds like they're not for you anyway. Perhaps the HD600 are so good, they make the HD25 sound a little sibilant.

I started the thread as for £130 or so, I think people would struggle to find better. I am fully aware there are a lot of very good headphones at this price point, most of which i've tried but the HD25 stand out as being fantastic VFM, IMO.

 

I had the HD650 many years ago with an MDAC, maybe it was the MDAC but I found them very veiled. At times it was nice as they never became tiring but my personal description of them would be they're too veiled for my liking. I may have had one of the 'not so good' MDACs.

I was bored at an airport a few weeks ago so took the opportunity to listen to all the mainstream headphones, namely beats and B&O. I could not believe how bad they sounded. That said there is a guy on HeadFi rating the 2nd gen of the B&O H6 'phones above Audeze (including the SINE model) and headphones costing 3 times the price.

 

I had the HD650 and now use HD600. I prefer the more balanced sound of the HD600. The HD600 gives better midrange. They really work well with a Schiit Valhalla valve headphone amp.

 

I don't think enough people recognise the importance of amping headphones. Even those < 80 ohm. The HD25 work "ok" with a bare iPhone, but add a Mac Pro and Mojo or Hugo into the mix and they are almost a different headphone. Much more solidity comes to mind which the iPhone suffered with a little, bass became a little loose which was a shock. I thought it was the cans until I had them wired up in my main headphone rig.

 

In a similar vein, Beyerdynamic DT-150s are superb headphones which put many over-priced hifi phones to shame.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000LDPP1K/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21

 

Tony, do you still have the pair of 25s? If so could you give me an example of when you hear the irritating sibilance, so that I can listen to the same on Spotify? I'm just interested to know whether it's something I'm simply not that sensitive too, or if it's an issue with very specific musical examples.

 

They're in Vancouver today Tony. Rogers Arena

 

the user of this pair must have the head the size akin to that of a pea.

mine are getting better with time. whilst I have said this too many times before, they're going nowhere. certainly not for the price. I cannot report of any sibilance at all. I use Spotify, Tidal and Audirvana for the "critical stuff" - I had some initial bass problems early on but they have gone. why, I have no idea but not only have they gone, the bass has come on a treat. Now I understand why DJs use them, the isolation is awesome.

 

You need to replace the steel cable with copper to smooth out the sound. Still doesn't stop them from being uncomfortable though.

Thought they had a very direct sound, especially in the midrange. Bass lacked a bit of depth but apart from that, they were great.