Sennheiser HD280 Pro

The Sennheiser HD280 Hype

As odd as it may seem, the Sennheiser HD280 Pro is a controversial pair of headphones. Reviews vary from praise to dismissal, and we couldn’t really wrap our heads around it from the very beginning. “There’s too much commotion around a pair of headphones that cost under a hundred bucks,” we thought. Perhaps, this is the same buzz that has allowed the HD280 to become one of the most talked-about and best-selling headphones in professional audio.

Sennheiser is a well-established company that produces quality products. It would be fair to even say that of all the headphone brands in professional audio, they have the greatest reputation. But still, at $99 (see current price), the price tag of the HD280 planted a seed of doubt. These are the same guys who created what they call “the greatest headphones in the world,” the Sennheiser HE-1, which sell at over $50,000.

So, how could a headphone that retails at $99 become a staple in high-end professional recording studios? After spending some time with the Sennheiser HD280 we can finally say that we now understand these headphones and quite frankly, all the fuss makes sense.

A First Look

Once you look closer at this product, you realize that some things are slightly out of sync. The first thing you’ll notice is that the HD280 has a pitch black, all business, no-nonsense style that can seem very bland for those interested in style. To further accentuate this point, the HD280 is also very bulky and also have a “plasticky” feel to it.

Despite this apparent shortcoming, they are not fragile. The HD280 is made of a dense plastic that makes it tough and durable. Rest assured that they won’t break after a few light collisions or drops.

The ear cups and band are also pretty thick. In fact, they’re so thick that they even look a little awkward on you, almost feels like you’re wearing a helmet at times. From the first look, you can see that these headphones are designed for the studio, which means that they really ought to be looked at in this context.

But, are they comfortable?

Once you put the HD280 on, the first thing you’re likely to notice is the tightness of the cups around your head. These headphones could certainly be a bit more comfortable. As you put them on, before you even turn on the music, you’ll hear your surroundings go mostly silent. While the tightness may not be very comfortable, the silence you hear actually becomes one of the greatest traits of the HD280, having a tremendous effect on its application and use. But, we’ll have more on that later.

Despite the tightness, the ear-cups on the HD280 are over-the-ear, have a swiveling design and are soft enough, that they are only slightly uncomfortable after a while. You’ll also notice that the ear cushions, while being soft, also have a somewhat slick and leathery feel to them. Depending on your work environment, these headphones can make your head feel quite hot after a while, you might even find that the ear cushions attract a good deal of sweat. Gross, right? These are the last pair of headphones you’d want to wear while at the gym.  But, no worries, these babies are meant to stay in the studio.

An Honest Sound

Let’s move onto a sweeter part. One of the first things often asked when shopping for headphones, is “But, how does the bass sound?”. The Sennheiser HD280 does not disappoint. Unlike many studio monitoring headphones in its price range, the HD280 has a solid bass which extends down to 10 Hz, giving the low-end frequencies, especially its sub-bass a prominent yet natural sound.

And when it comes to natural sound, this is the main selling point of the HD280.

The mid-range is particularly flat and clear, allowing these headphones to be very useful when mixing and mastering, especially when it comes to elements such as vocals. As you may know, the mid-range frequencies are the most important when it comes to mixing and mastering. If you can nail a solid mix in the mid-range, your mix is going to sound great on the widest variety of speakers and listening devices.

The treble is where the sound starts slightly deviating from its initial flatness in the lower and mid frequencies. That is not to say that the response isn’t balanced. The upper frequencies still stand out very clearly and have their crisp, despite the slight treble imbalances, which are very common among studio monitoring headphones in this price range.

A Comparison

In the above chart, you can see how the HD280’s frequency response fairs up against other similarly-priced studio monitoring headphones. While the HD280 is not superior at every facet of the frequency spectrum, they are the most consistent and balanced as you can see indicated by the blue line, without a prominent bass roll-off.

The HD280 also offers a wide and highly-detailed soundstage. You can hear individual elements in the mix across the stereo spectrum with ease. While you’re not going to experience the quality stereo-imaging that you would hear while listening to open-back headphones, you’re certainly going to get your money’s worth when it comes to these closed-back headphones.

Who are they for?

As mentioned earlier, these headphones are meant for the studio. If you’re considering the HD280 mainly for casual listening, such as listening to music on your phone while out for a walk, we’d strongly advise you look elsewhere. They’re not very comfortable, pretty bulky, and you’re also stuck with the coil cord that the Hd280 has, which is not detachable, and what we also consider to be a weakness of their design.

As we stated earlier when discussing the comfort of the HD280, that their tightness on your ears goes hand-in-hand with one of the greatest strengths of these headphones. This strength is its isolation. Sennheiser states that the HD280 offer 32dB of passive noise attenuation. What this means in layman terms is that once you put them on you’re going to significantly block out the noise surrounding you. Because of this, the HD280 has become a great tool for recording.

Great for Recording Environments

If you look closely, you’ll see them used in many recording environments, whether budget home studios or top-tier recording studios. The isolation that they offer ensures that the audio you hear while wearing them will not bleed into any nearby headphones.

While you won’t achieve complete isolation, the HD280 offers more than enough isolation to be a great choice whether for a singer in a recording booth or to wear during the recording of a podcast. For example, if you happen to watch the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, you’ll notice him and his guests wearing the HD280, a headphone choice you’ll see again and again in live recording environments.

The isolation alone isn’t what makes the HD280 special. If all you care about is isolation, there are definitely better options, such as Vic Firth isolation headphones which are designed for drummers. What makes the HD280 truly special is the combination of its neutral sound character with its solid isolation. These traits are not too difficult to come by individually, but in one pair of headphones, at $99, there is no better option than the HD280 in our opinion.

To Sum It Up

To break it down briefly, these headphones cost $99. And for the value they provide, that’s cheap – really cheap. There are a few shortcomings, of course, such as their size and lack of comfort. However, if you’re not too bothered by the bulkiness or discomfort, then what you’ll have in the HD280 is a highly valuable and versatile tool for your studio.

These headphones do a great job whether it’s recording, producing, mixing, or mastering. And if you’re a professional, comfort and style probably aren’t at the top of your priorities. The Sennheiser HD280 is great whether you’re a professional mix engineer looking for another listening reference for your mixes, or if you’re just starting off and want a useful, yet affordable pair of headphones for music production and mixing; and that’s why they have our strong recommendation.