HD25 and HD25-sp: Are they using the same drive?

[solution]

I have a question is that : Do HD25-sp: Are they using the same drive?
The shape of the "ear-cup" are nearly the same, so will they use the same drive inside? If they really using the same drive, how come their sound will have difference??

And I want to buy a pair of hd-25 for my mp3 player, where I own a hd25-sp already. The volume level while using hd25sp around 25 something, so will the hd-25 easier to be drive and just use a lower volume to make it have decent sound level??

 

[Lisa]

I don't think they use the same driver. Don't know about the volume. The HD25 does go loud enough on any portable player though. It's very easily driven.

 

[Emon]

Here is the frequency response graph for the HD25. Here is the response graph for the HD25-SP. No way they use the same drivers.

 

[BushGuy]

No, they are different and have significantly different sounds. Actually, there are 2 versions based on the "elements" used in the SP - the other is BA spec'd for the Concorde and is 300ohm. This sounds better than SP when amped. Also the higher ohm models of the HD25-1 sound better to my ears than 25-1 when they are amped - those are eg. HME25-1 @ 600 ohm.

 

[shuurajou]

Yes, different drivers.

 

[solution]

oh ic~

and. the ear pad of my HD25-sp get ageing, so do Senn have the standard replacement pad for this headphone?

 

[appar111]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BushGuy No, they are different and have significantly different sounds. Actually, there are 2 versions based on the "elements" used in the SP - the other is BA spec'd for the Concorde and is 300ohm. This sounds better than SP when amped. Also the higher ohm models of the HD25-1 sound better to my ears than 25-1 when they are amped - those are eg. HME25-1 @ 600 ohm.

I've tried the HD25-1 and currently own the HD25-SP. I prefer the SP version for unamped use by a long shot... they just seem much better suited to portable type use, once you get past the 3 meter steel cable!

The HD25-1 may sound better amped, I'm not sure since I never tried it amped, but for me it doesn't make any difference anyway as I will only be using them unamped. And even if the HD25-1 sounds better than the SP version amped, the SP will still improve when amped, compared to unamped.

 

[BushGuy]

appar111 - Senn. does have a 1.5 meter (steel-cored) cable with the correct connectors used in the 25's. They are found on the Senn. worldwide site under the heading Accessories.......stock # is H-52708 and can be ordered from SennheiserUSA (cost was $19 + ship.). I found the HD-25-1 require extensive burn-in (aprox 150-200 hrs). Amping makes only a minor difference. Mine are now used with a bedside older Sony portable CD player. The 25-BA are with tiny MPio fl100, and the HME25-13 are in residence with Xin Supermini/Nano........further, I do believe that the SP model is generally underappreciated - they definitely DO belong at the $100 level, but are too often compared to their more expensive brethren.....to reiterate what I said re amping - it was that I found the BA markedly improved with amping (85 vs 300 resistance does make a difference). That does NOT mean that SP does not improve.

''solution ' - Senn. has replacements for all components of the 25 series headphones - including both orig. Pleather and (IMO better) Velour earpads - they are $12.75 + ship.

 

[appar111]

I did the velour pad swap on my SP's. Didn't like the sound as much as the stock pleather, but the comfort is better, so it's a worthwhile trade off. Then when the velour wears out I can switch back to the pleather for a slight improvement in sound quality.

I'll probably stick w/ the stock steel cord since it is extremely durable. I'll probably swap it out w/ the copper cable once Sennheiser gets them back in stock. They're also 3 meters long, which actually is fine for bedside or chairside listening-- got plenty of cord so nothing gets yanked off the table.

Been using them w/ a Sony MZ-E730, a Sony D-131, and soon a D-EJ711 paired w/ a Go-Vibe. Not worried so much about burn-in anymore. The SP's, along w/ my 770-80's and 990 Pros all sound good w/ no burn-in, so if it gets better, then I'll consider it icing on the cake.

I really like the idea of the HD25's, whether it's the SP, 25-1, 25-BA, etc. because pretty much any part can be replaced on them-- headband, earpads, cable, drivers, etc. fairly easily, making them something that will stay in use for years and years to come. There's something infinitely cool about a pair of cans that can take a helluva beating and thousands upon thousands of hours of use, and can then be "maintained" as necessary w/ new pads, etc. In the past I've gotten so caught up in trying different cans, that none of them would have ever been w/ me long enough to become "warhorses". Not so w/ the 25-SP's...

 

[BushGuy]

Actually, the 3m. copper-cored cables are in stock - a bought 1 on 12/7/05.
The stock # is H-37974 - it is the correct connectors for HD25, and ends with miniplug.
The Pleather earpads I either have thrown out, or given away - any replacements to Velour will be Velour. I heard no worthwhile sound differences.........ah prefer to be as c-o-o-o-l as ah can be

 

[Fr_eak]

actually the HD25-1 doens't benefit much from amping. There's slightly more control on bass, but not much, at least not worth carrying one more thingy when you are on the way, IMO.

and HD25-1 and HD25sp sound alot different, and they are definitely using diff drivers.

 

[appar111]

Bushguy-
They must have gone out of stock quick, because that part was out of stock when I ordered the velour pads around 12/20. I'll have to call and place my order so I know it's in stock before the order gets placed.

Fr_eak-
yeah, they do sound different and I must be a little weird because I prefer the SP version!

 

[b-sides]

i believe the replacement drivers listed on the sennheiser website are listed as two different drivers, with one significantly more expensive than the other.

 

[solution]

thx a lot for the comment everyone~

I'm now satisfy with my grado SR-60 with my Xenos amp, the mid high is GREAT, and have impact but not-mudy bass

so compare with HD25, how will it sounds like? I use my hd25sp with my xenos amp and I think the bass quantity is a little bit over, the mid high is not as bright and my SR60, maybe this is caused by the over-quantity of bass which overcome the mid high, will hd25 have the similar problem?

 

[Fr_eak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by solution thx a lot for the comment everyone~ I'm now satisfy with my grado SR-60 with my Xenos amp, the mid high is GREAT, and have impact but not-mudy bass so compare with HD25, how will it sounds like? I use my hd25sp with my xenos amp and I think the bass quantity is a little bit over, the mid high is not as bright and my SR60, maybe this is caused by the over-quantity of bass which overcome the mid high, will hd25 have the similar problem?

One very funny thing about the HD25 is that, the overpowering bass, IMO, will become just right when you are listening to it on the street! Yeah, the bass covers up a lot of details when you are at home, but things will sound much more “right” when you are listening to it in a noisy environment.

Even though the sp and HD25 bear the same character, still, the HD25 sounds a lot better to me, better resolution, better balance.