Senn HD 280 vs Senn HD 202 vs MDR-V6

[joe5620]

I am looking for headphones for multiple uses, mainly with my iPod, computer,and for gaming.

Out of:

Sennheiser HD 280 PRO
Sennheiser HD 202
Sony MDR-V6

Which would you recommend?
They're in my price range...below $100

I heard the 280's and v6 are very similar, but have their pros and cons, such as portability. The 202's seem to be getting positive reviews and are a cheap pair of 'phones...

 

[csroc]

I own both the 280 Pro and the MDR-V6. I can say that I much prefer the V6 on comfort alone, and it is even better with the Beyerdynamic DT250 pads on it like I have on mine. The 280s clamp on your head like a vice if you've got a bigger noggin like I do.

Sound wise, compared to the V6 the 280s sound less clear and less dynamic. There's more bass and more bass impact with the V6, the mids are clearer and the highs also are stronger and clearer but I wouldn't call them bright at all.

 

[phandrew]

What type of music are you listening to?

 

[lejaz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by csroc /img/forum/go_quote.gif I own both the 280 Pro and the MDR-V6. I can say that I much prefer the V6 on comfort alone, and it is even better with the Beyerdynamic DT250 pads on it like I have on mine. The 280s clamp on your head like a vice if you've got a bigger noggin like I do. Sound wise, compared to the V6 the 280s sound less clear and less dynamic. There's more bass and more bass impact with the V6, the mids are clearer and the highs also are stronger and clearer but I wouldn't call them bright at all.

Not bright? Well, they're brighter than any other headphones I have now or have have had in the past....not necessarily a bad thing if you like the snare drums super crispy and the cymbals extra sizzly. It's purely a matter of taste what kind of sound signature you prefer. I find the bass kind of flabby compared to my Equations. Haven't heard the others mentioned, but I have the RP-21 which I think is more honest/neutral, and the k240S which is much more laid back than the v-6...and the rp-21 as well. FWIR the 280 is lacking in the bass department. I use the v-6's for travel phones...they fold up real nicely.

 

[csroc]

I don't find the V6s bright, but that's because I find their high frequency response doesn't overshadow the mids or bass, they're much more balanced than the 280s. Not saying they're perfect but they're pretty good for $70 headphones.

The bass can be a bit bloated at times, but it's still much better than the 280s as well which are light on bass and often vague. There's more of it though and for the most part it's fairly well controlled and tight.

For my own taste the V6 is a much better listening experience than the 280, even with its shortcomings.

 

[lejaz]

I read somewhere that there's a dip in the upper bass/low mids in the v-6's. Perhaps that's what makes them seem so bright compared to the k240's which have a big broad bump where the v-6's have a dip! One of our fellow head-fi'ers claims they have a big boost at 7k. From my experience with them, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's correct...it's pretty noticeable with cymbals and snare drums, making them more prominent than they are with any of my other headphones past or present.