[mitchb]

I have a small variety of different headphones I've been collecting and listening to but one set has caught my attention espescially and I'm wondering if they're really good or just a flavour I happen to take to. I am listening to The Senn HD25-1-II phones quite a bit balanced with Equinox balanced cables to my RSA Apache. I have some headphones giving me variety but I find myself very much enjoying the HD25-1-II as a headphone for indoor use as opposed to portable on the go. Does this make sense or am I more likely just infatuated with the bass of these little guys? Any one else use these as in house headphone?? Maybe I'll grow out of them but they sure sound good to me now.Anyone?

 

[noblsheep]

there is a long and informative appreciation thread on the hd25 if you do a search.

 

[arteom]

i do love mine, using them single ended most the time with a denon dj mixer. They used to be my main set of listening cans, until the denon d2000 came along. But they are quite irreplaceable when it comes to monitoring.

 

[Zorander]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitchb /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have a small variety of different headphones I've been collecting and listening to but one set has caught my attention espescially and I'm wondering if they're really good or just a flavour I happen to take to. I am listening to The Senn HD25-1-II phones quite a bit balanced with Equinox balanced cables to my RSA Apache. I have some headphones giving me variety but I find myself very much enjoying the HD25-1-II as a headphone for indoor use as opposed to portable on the go. Does this make sense or am I more likely just infatuated with the bass of these little guys? Any one else use these as in house headphone?? Maybe I'll grow out of them but they sure sound good to me now.Anyone?

You love them more than the HD-580/-600/-650?

 

[Ansel]

I just picked up a used pair. Love the sound, especially out of my new Apogee Duet. I actually just returned some Grado Sr-80's yesterday because they weren't getting any play. Not as clear or well balanced as the Grado's but the Apogee really brings the Senns to life (helps tame the bass, the Grado's mids sounded recessed in comparison). Besides, I have Stax if I need clarity.

 

[musicmaker]

I love the HD25-I IIs very much as well. To me, they offer great sound with great isolation with ok comfort at a great price. The soundstage is definitely compressed compared to its bigger brethren. But I did find the HD6** too laid back for my tastes and sold em. I do appreciate and miss the HD650s but not as much as I thought I would. So at the moment the HD25s are my home/travel cans and I'm very pleased with what they offer. Also I got them $100 new. At that price its a no brainer !

 

[mitchb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zorander /img/forum/go_quote.gif You love them more than the HD-580/-600/-650?

No. I prefer the 580/600//650's but these little guys are fun for a change. They really rock with balanced Equinox cable but now I have them rigged with my spare set of Denon D5000 cable I was using on a pair of 580's but the flexability of the D5000 cable screamed for me to use it on the HD25's. It sounds nice but the Equinox are my best cables for the 580's and 650's. The 600's love the Cardas. No question. So I'm still enjoying the HD25's but in all honesty I think they play the best with the Equinox. I may just put back the Equinox but the Denon D5000 cable are not far behind the Equinox. As my
D5000 are terminated for the 580/600/650 series headphones I have option to try them on all my Senheisser headphones. If it came down to 1 headphone with one cable it would be the Senheisser 600's with the Cardas cable. That in my opinion is the best match of Sennheisser headphones and cable. There are many who would disagree but I think there are few few who would agree.In any case the HD25-1-II are a fun boomy little headphone which are now sounding really good with D5000 cable as I have been listening to them while writing this post and within the 10 minutes of writing this post they've perked up nicely. It's a good thing as the wiring was a job in itself in keeping with the origional wiring design.

 

[daveDerek]

i just got a set the other day and am still taking their measure, especially in comparison to my akg k181djs. the senns have some attractive qualities but the sound stage seems to completely lack depth. this is something that isn't always a high priority in headphone reproduction but here the flattening seems to be to the point of distraction.

 

[mitchb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveDerek /img/forum/go_quote.gif i just got a set the other day and am still taking their measure, especially in comparison to my akg k181djs. the senns have some attractive qualities but the sound stage seems to completely lack depth. this is something that isn't always a high priority in headphone reproduction but here the flattening seems to be to the point of distraction.

I don't need to justify these little guys as I have the bigger senns which of course are better but I've noticed that the changing of cables going to the HD25's have a dramatic impact on their sound. As these headphones are limited the effects of better cables are actually more noticable. I have found the better bigger Senns have more definition and soundstage if you can call it that but the HD25 somehow got that punch to them that are actually fun. If I'm going to listen to music critically I may prefer one of my bigger phones but in just casual listening I've been enjoying these guys. Of course when I plug in my 600's or my 701's I notice all that the little senns don't have but it's not what they don't have what I like. It's what they do have. Check out different cables with your new Senns and notice everything widen up and come alive with a better cable. The cheapest cable I can think of that are OK I guess may be the stock 650 cable which are good because the fit tightly into the earcups of the headphones. I find the standard terminations of the Equinox and Cardas as well as other cables a little loose on the
HD25's. I like them. Unfortunately I require a cable for them that is the value or more of the headphone itself. I don't care much for them with their stock cable. The stock 650 cable work alright.
I am using a denon d5000 stock cable which I removed from a broken pair of denons and find I was able to wire the headphones as they came stock. It isn't as neat but the terminations hold better.

 

[mitchb]

daveDerek,

After reading your public profile it should be you recommending to me which cables to use!

 

[daveDerek]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitchb /img/forum/go_quote.gif daveDerek, After reading your public profile it should be you recommending to me which cables to use!

haha! Mitch, i haven't done the experiment (yet anyway). it's interesting to hear your take since you have and makes me want to play around with them to see for myself. thanks for your input. it still surprises me that the k181djs have gotten so little attention on this forum, especially since i've seen other experienced head-fiers post some positive impressions of them (eg. jjcha). personally i prefer them, in both sound and build, to the k81djs, which have gotten a lot of attention here (see the massive thread from a while back). and like the hd-25s they have an easily replaceable cable making experimentation an easy option.

 

[mitchb]

Without a doubt the HD25-1-II sound a much superior sounding headphone with the Euinox cables. I actually prefer the single ended with the HD25-1-II so these are the headphones I probably am using the most as they are plugged in my predator at my computor. They also travel easily. These little headphones are good.