Has anyone done any serious testing of the two? Judging from HeadRoom's graphs, the two headphones seem to be exactly the same cans in different housings. I'm curious to know what makes the HD 448 worth $30 more, apart from profit margins.

Is it just me or is this a classical case of price affecting perceived value?

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/sen...-428-a-453697/

Maybe this thread helps...

I'll stand by my opinion that the HD448 look better Plus you get a useless bag and a useful extension cable. Dual use headphones FTW!
I only bought these because the HD428 weren't available in my country at that time. The HD438 still aren't.

The HD 438 are definitely different, with flatter bass response. I'd get them if it weren't for those flashy hubcaps.

Maybe the HD 448 are really just repackaged HD 428 with more accessories.

You can make the 'flashy bits' of the HD438 unflashy. Since it's a closed design you have a lot of options.

It is true that airbrushing a clear smoke coat over the chrome to turn it gunmetal sounds tempting...

The Sennheiser HD438 Gun Metal, big gun sound quality... L.o.l. Replace 'big gun' with high/large calibre and you've got a new/alternative slogan.

i prefer 448

Quote:



Any reason why?

I own the HD 448 and I have listened to the HD 428.
They pretty much have the same frequency response as you mentioned and the soundstage is similar so the listening experience is much the same.
However there is a noticeable difference in highs and mids, the HD 448 sounds very neutral where the HD 428 sounded a bit distorted in this section (nothing to worrying though).
The HD 428 basically sounds cheaper but my ears are used to the HD 448 so the comparison is not entirely fair.
Moreover, I am not 100% sure the HD 428 was burned-in but in my opinion you better just spend the $30 so you don't have to doubt you have got the best sounding headphone.
This is because the HD 448 truly sounds amazing (if you don't need a lot of bass) and I certainly recommend it if you want very detailed, natural sound.

 
well... I´m just asking the same. then reading in the web I found this graphic where u can see that HD238 have much more bass response, HD448 have less bass response and HD428 is between both....
however, in high frequencie responce HD438 have a best performance but cost $40 more .    .In the other hand, HD428 have a better hight freq response  and is cheaper than DH448.
so personaly I will buy HD428 then I will tell you how it sounds.
 

 
 
=1163&graphID[]=1223&graphID[]=1203]http://graphs.headphone.com/graphCompare.php?graphType=0&graphID[]=1163&graphID[]=1223&graphID[]=1203

So how are those 428s working for ya?