Sennheiser PX 100 Lightweight Collapsible Headphones
by Sennheiser
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List Price: Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sennheiser PX 100 Lightweight Collapsible Headphones
Customer Review: Wow...VERY IMPRESSED
Summary: 5 Stars
I ordered these after reading all the glowing reviews (and when they went on sale for $33). Obviously I was expecting the great sound others had raved about. In other words, my expectations were pretty high.
Let me say, these deliver. First off, the packaging. Nice, pretty simple. Something that everyone can appreciate is the packaging is very easy to open. I hate having to take a knife some plastic casing just to get to my goods. This had a cool little rubber piece where the casin just separated (you know, the little hole where they normally hang it from) and the plastic hinged open. Very nice little touch.
I had read that the case was of nice quality, but I was still surprised by it. The plastic is easily 2-3mm thick, not flimsy at all. I took the phones out, and the build quality is very good. All the pieces fit together perfectly, and it looks good. They are pretty light, and don't FEEL like they could take much abuse. However, I think with the metal headband, they could take much more than I'd be willing to submit them to. So an A for build quality.
The design is pretty minimal, but it looks good. The earpieces themselves are big compared to the headband, but it looks quite nice. Kind of a functional yet futuristic look that I would not mind wearing at all in public. A for style.
Putting them on, the fit is nice and comfortable. I could honestly wear them overnight and not have ANY ear fatigue. They are light and the ear pads do not press uncomfortably. The headband pads really do help, and the metal headband has plenty of spring, while still keeping the phones securely on my head. Getting a snug fit is vital, because if the headband pads do not rest on your head, the headphones are very unstable and will not stay on. My head is pretty normal size, and it seems like they can go quite a bit bigger, so A+ for comfort.
Now for the real test, plugging them in...nice. The sound is really open, clear, and full. I may have been expecting a bit more, but only because of the hype (and these have not been 'burned in', so the quality will get better). The bass is nice and punchy, and the mids and highs are sweet. I'm not an audiophile by any means, but these sound amazing for the size. However, comparing them to my Sennheiser HD497s, they are put to shame in the openness and clarity. The 497s are more balanced (leaning more towards highs), while the PX100s seem to have fuller, richer sound (leaning towards the low-end). Don't get me wrong though, the PX100s are amazing for the size and are also much more stylish than the 497s. They won't disappoint in this category. A-
Summary time...these headphones really pack a ton of quality into great value. Stylish, nice and portable (though not quite pocketable), and great sound. An awesome buy for around $30!
Customer Review: A good balance between price and performance
Summary: 4 Stars
Over the years I've owned a lot of bad cheap headphones so I think that I'm about as much an authority as anyone on bad sound. So I can say without a doubt that the Sennheisser PX-100 headphones don't sound bad at all. Frankly I think that they sound great, they beat out by a mile the pair of earbuds that came with my mp3 player and I would even say that stuff sounds better with them than my Yamaha surround sound setup.
Audio quality aside all is not perfect. Frankly I find them uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time since they basically clamp down on the sides of your head. That of course means that they fit a bit more securely than any other open eared phones I've used before when worn normally, however they still fall off pretty easily if you tilt your head forward or backwards too much when upright. I find that they sit pretty securely if you have them kind of diagonally on the back of your head but then the phones aren't positioned properly and they don't sound as good. So with that said, I'm not sure that I can really say they're that good for the likes of jogging although they work fine on an exercise bike or just chilling out with your mp3 player or discman (which is what I like to do to relax before going to sleep).
I've also got mixed feelings about the way they fold up. While it is nice to be able to fit them into my pocket along with my mp3 player when I want to take them off when out and about, I always seem to have trouble getting them to fold up just right. I mean, in the first place you have to have them pushed to their shortest length to get the depressions to meet up so they're secure (I never carry around that stupid "rugged looking" case) and I have a big head (my mother had to have a cesarean because my head was so big they couldn't pull me out of her the normal way) so I always have them pulled out a bit.
As a side note the only thing I can say about the audio quality from my observations is that you need to have the volume on say 3-6 depending on the scale you're working with (my mp3 player goes to 40, my discman to about 20) to really bring out the full potential of the headphones since they sound a bit funky to me at the lowest volume settings. Although as I understand it I'm one of the few people out there who can actually hear things when they're set at their lowest volume so I doubt that will be an issue for most people.
Well when all is said and done these are a good choice if you're like me and you want to finally get a pair of phones that sounds good so you can actually enjoy what you're listening to, but you don't want to (or can't) drop a lot of cheddar to do so. If you do have the money for higher end stuff though, I don't really see any special reason to get these so go ahead and look elsewhere.
Customer Review: Light-weight, comfortable, natural sound at great price
Summary: 5 Stars
I cannot get earbuds to stay in my ears, and models with the form factor of the Sony MDR-W24V Sony MDR-W24V Vertical In-The-Ear Headphones give good sound and are light weight but soon hurt my ears. So I have looked for comfort and sound quality in over-the-head style headphones for several years. I own and enjoy noise canceling phone by Bose and Sennheiser (both with external sound processing units/battery holders), and standard phones by Bose as well. All give admirable sound, but are relatively heavy and I don't like wearing them for long periods. (I do appreciate the ear surrounding Bose models for winter walks, however.) I recently bought and tried out a number of less expensive phones. I have found two that produce well-balanced, natural sound and are also light and comfortable for extended wear, and which I highly recommend.
The Sennheiser PX 100 (63 grams) Sennheiser PX 100 Collapsible Headphones Is the more expensive of the two, but it is also the most comfortable and produces the most "natural" sound. One of the reasons for its comfort is that it has two pads that cushion the headband against the scalp. The sound units are also attached to the head band through ball joints, so that they adjust to the angle of the user's ears. The Sennheiser is a folding model and comes with a nice storage case, though one may often not want to take the time to fold the phones, insert them into the case and wind up the cord. The plug is straight, rather than being bent at a right angle as I prefer. Overall, this is an ideal set of phones for use with an iPhone, iPod, or other MP3 player in a quiet to moderate environment.
But one can also come very close to the comfort and sound quality of the Sennheiser PX100 for less money with the Sony MDR410LP (62 grams) Sony MDR410LP Foldable Open-air Stereo Headphones. The Sony is also a folding model, and with right angle plug but no case. The sound is also "natural" with perhaps a slightly heavier bass. The Sony is more "plasticy" than the Sennheiser, and the sound units are rigidly attached to the headband, and thus do not adjust to the angle of the user's ears. Overall then, the Sony **** comes very close to the Sennheiser at less than half the cost.
Both the Sennheiser and the Sony earphones show that users can achieve quality sound and long-term comfort at a very reasonable price in comparison with the cost of high-end, audiophile headphones.
Customer Review: Superb sound, rugged, portable, decent looking too
Summary: 5 Stars
I've owned the PX100s for two years now, and these are my main open air headphones. Over the years, I've owned Sennheiser HD 580s, Grado SR60s, Dennon C551k in ear monitors, Yuin PK3s, a FIIO portable headphone amp, and a Total Bithead portable amp from [...] + shoddy stock headphones
SOUND:
So, I'd like to think I have a reasonable grasp on what decent sound quality is. The Sennheiser PX 100s give a fairly sweet, rich sound with a nice amount of bass. These are easily driven by portable players, and that's a big plus because you can get enough clarity and volume out of them. These cans are excellent for computer use, movie sound effects simply pop out and each detail is distinguishable. The PX100s are not the best headphones for highs, but it's definitely good enough. I don't why some people say the mids are recessed, but they are there. Perhaps it's not as pronounced as the Grados, but vocals come through strong. Overall, sound quality is a very strong point on the PX100s.
Design:
Style is a matter of individual taste, but the consensus is that these headphones are bland ( but not ugly) at worst, and fairly stylish at best. These are extremely light, the addition of a padding on the headband makes this very comfortable to wear. The earpads are sufficient, my only issue is once they get worn thin, your ears start squeezing against the hard plastic, and replacements will be needed throughout the life of the headphone. This is a minor gripe, earpads are a few dollars, unlike the grado ones.
These things can fold away, and the earcups can swivel fully flat, which allows easy storage in a bag, or a large pocket. The carrying case is a hassle.
I have used this headphones in the toughest conditions, but I still have an issue with the wiring near the headphone jack connector, some of the insulation came off there and I had to put electrical tape. Fortunately there was no signal problem, and it's held for months. I bought another pair in case it fails.
So, if you are considering a headphone for home listening consider that the PX100 is versatile enough for home and portable use. Read below.
Sennheiser PX100 vs. Grado SR60
I know the Grado SR60s have the same 32 ohm impedance, but on my portables the PX100s were much clearer and more easily driven than the Grados. This is an open air headphone, it won't isolate you from the outside world, but the sound leakage is manageable if you minimize your volume enough. Unfortunately, everybody around you can hear exactly what you are listening to if you wear Grados.
If you like pretty laid back sound that's not in your face, solid design, the PX100s are worth your money.
Customer Review: The best!
Summary: 5 Stars
These are by far the BEST portable headphones on the market today. After spending several days deciding between these and the Portapros, I decided to choose the Sennheisers. I couldn't be any happier. While the Portapros are very good headphones, I thought the bass was a little too overpowering (not to mention it looked a little too goofy for my tastes). The PX100's, on the other hand, have tighter bass and allows me to hear the rest of the song instead of a constant "THUMP THUMP THUMP" through a bass-intensive song.
Granted upon first listening to these, the bass was kind of weak and the entire range sounded very flat. After burning in my headphones over two nights, these have really opened up! I was blown away by what these little things can do! They sound like headphones twice the size and cost. The bass is in my opinion perfect. Even when its hitting hard, I can hear subtle background instruments that i've never heard before. Of course, those of you who like more or less bass can adjust accordingly with equalizers. Personally, I like the Rock setting on my iPod mini.
Senn also included a trick hardshell case that looks like a glasses holder. The headphones fold up like a pair of glasses and fit perfectly inside, with the cord wrapping around the base. The case looks very sturdy and your investment feels very secure once inside. Some reviewers complain about how tricky it is to fold it up. Personally I think if you can't get it right after a few tries, you should probably to back to kindergarden and play with legos some more. Senn even included instructions on the backside of the case too.
Keep in mind that these are open-air headphones, so sounds will come in and your music will be heard by those around you. This is perfect for me at work because I need to know if the phone rings or someone is trying to talk to me from behind. If you want total isolation, then go with a closed headphone, such as something in Senn's HD line (the HD280 sounds amazing), or an in-ear like apple's in ear, Sony's EX71SL, or something from Shure or Etymonic.
Pros:
Sound will blow you away
Very comfortable
Ultra portable
Trick case
Cons:
Styling not for some
Jack is not gold plated
Bottom Line:
The best portable open-air headphones on the market. Period.
If you're tired of earbuds medicore quality and want a pair of tried and true headphones, these are the best ones you can get for your money. If you want to experience your music instead of merely listen to it, these headphones are the closest you'll get short of a live performance. Highly recommended.