Sennheiser HD 300 Pro Review and Impressions Thread (HD 250 Linear Revival )

[SHAMuuu]

There is PLENTY of clamp
They have designed a cyberman headband so you cant walk through a doorway without hitting each side
As I say, early days...it all depends on burn on now as to whether we have a modern HD250 or just another 'Content producers' modern sounding headphone with stupid amounts of immature reverby bass

@SHAMuu - you know you can use the HD202 headband for the 250's?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Sennheiser-HD-202-Headband-Headphones-Black/70679775?iid=273390911213

No i did not know that hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, would that provide the clamp i am seeking? This is verrry interesting news.

 

[jon parker]

No i did not know that hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, would that provide the clamp i am seeking? This is verrry interesting news.

Im not sure. I bought an HD202 for the headband - I think its a little tighter. Maybe a new HD202 would be tighter than an old 250 headband?
I had one old headband for either the 250 or 540..cant remember and it was shaped like an n = no grip but i have other designs that are almost an O shape

 

[SHAMuuu]

Im not sure. I bought an HD202 for the headband - I think its a little tighter. Maybe a new HD202 would be tighter than an old 250 headband?
I had one old headband for either the 250 or 540..cant remember and it was shaped like an n = no grip but i have other designs that are almost an O shape

Thanks for the tips! will keep in mind as i also pad roll. Have 1540 shure pads atm after trying hm5 hybrids/sheepskins. Need to explore some China pads.

 

[redria]

Tried the HD 300s for a few hours yesterday, sadly not fond of them at all. Bloated bass that has no nuance which completely clouds the rest of the sound. Soundstage is peculiar too where in some songs instruments that are supposed to be in the background are instead very close instead.

Cannot recommend these to fans of the HD250s, you will be incredibly disappointed.

 

[smallcaps]

Tried the HD 300s for a few hours yesterday, sadly not fond of them at all. Bloated bass that has no nuance which completely clouds the rest of the sound. Soundstage is peculiar too where in some songs instruments that are supposed to be in the background are instead very close instead.

Cannot recommend these to fans of the HD250s, you will be incredibly disappointed.

Not great to hear but thanks for your impressions. A closed back Sennheiser looks to still be a holy grail of sorts.

 

[pietcux]

Not great to hear but thanks for your impressions. A closed back Sennheiser looks to still be a holy grail of sorts.

The HD820 is quite good, but the price isn't.

 

[smallcaps]

The HD820 is quite good, but the price isn't.

Haven't had a chance yet but I read mixed reviews. Still want to give them some extended listening time but you are right about the price. Ouch. Especially when the HD800(s) are so readily available for decent deals both new and second hand.

I've been in search for a good closed set of cans for ages, and have gone through the gamut of Bayerdynamics, pioneer, AKG, fostex, etc. but can't seem to come close to the signature I prefer, being most open Sennheiser cans from the px100 though to the hd800s. Maybe it's unreasonable to ask for, and maybe the HD820 will be it when the price is right, but right now... there's nothing really definitive on the market. ZMF maybe?

 

[Monsterzero]

Tried the HD 300s for a few hours yesterday, sadly not fond of them at all. Bloated bass that has no nuance which completely clouds the rest of the sound. Soundstage is peculiar too where in some songs instruments that are supposed to be in the background are instead very close instead.

Cannot recommend these to fans of the HD250s, you will be incredibly disappointed.

Thanks for taking one for the team!
I was afraid that Sennheiser was going to screw this one up,and it seems my fears were justified.
If the sound changes significantly with burn-in(or not) kindly keep us posted.

 

[jon parker]

Well, after 24 hours of burn in has taken away around 40-50% of the warm bloated reverb bass
but even still the low end is a joke
Out of the box, they just sound like someone has turned the bass knob all the way on and THEN added reverb

Claiming that the Sennheiser engineers have almost matched the sound of the HD 250 is frankly ridiculous. They should be sued for making such claims
There are 'some' similarities in the highs and mids but the loose bloated low end ruins it

I strongly suspect they have done their tuning using computers. Sadly most companies don't seem to employ engineers capable of using their ears
because if you listen to the HD 300 and the HD 250 headphones side by side the HD 250 is clearly vastly superior. In comparison the 300 sounds exactly like all
the other BS bloated bass none-sense that are being produced for a non caring mp3 listening generation

I'll do a proper review after a good 60 hours burn in. They are not entirely a bad headphone but they are very average and NOTHING LIKE THE HD 250

 

[pietcux]

Well, after 24 hours of burn in has taken away around 40-50% of the warm bloated reverb bass
but even still the low end is a joke
Out of the box, they just sound like someone has turned the bass knob all the way on and THEN added reverb

Claiming that the Sennheiser engineers have almost matched the sound of the HD 250 is frankly ridiculous. They should be sued for making such claims
There are 'some' similarities in the highs and mids but the loose bloated low end ruins it

I strongly suspect they have done their tuning using computers. Sadly most companies don't seem to employ engineers capable of using their ears
because if you listen to the HD 300 and the HD 250 headphones side by side the HD 250 is clearly vastly superior. In comparison the 300 sounds exactly like all
the other BS bloated bass none-sense that are being produced for a non caring mp3 listening generation

I'll do a proper review after a good 60 hours burn in. They are not entirely a bad headphone but they are very average and NOTHING LIKE THE HD 250

Your description of the bass does not scare a Z1R owner like me. Let me guess, the HD650 in stock form is not your cup of tea?

 

[redria]

Your description of the bass does not scare a Z1R owner like me. Let me guess, the HD650 in stock form is not your cup of tea?

Trust us, it's not the good kind of bass. It's just a big, ugly blob of bass that has no slam, authority or nuance to it.

 

[jon parker]

pietcux said: ↑
Your description of the bass does not scare a Z1R owner like me. Let me guess, the HD650 in stock form is not your cup of tea?

Trust us, it's not the good kind of bass. It's just a big, ugly blob of bass that has no slam, authority or nuance to it.

I used to own the HD 600. I haven't heard the 650. Please don't misunderstand me. This is not good or well balanced bass. This the sort of bass the lower end Beats headphones have. What breaks my heart is that the highs and mids are really well done but when you directly compare the 300 with the 250 its scary how bad the bass is. I will keep burning in. Ive heard a fair number of headphone's low end change after a while.
i think they will be quite receptive to modding . . the inside of the cups anyway. They remind me a bit of the Beyerdynamic 220's who i modded with great success
To be fair, I think the low end is the hardest thing to get right in many audio applications.

 

[Malfunkt]

Hmm, disappointing to read about the bass. While the HD250 bass is a bit loose, it has a perfect balance.

Sennheiser has no issue creating bass that had slam, depth and solidity with the HD630VB. They are more than capable of it, have the measuring equipment ears and engineers to do so. So really, whatever tuning that is there is deliberate. I don't quite buy into the 'content creators' rationale that they would make the bass more Beats-like. I guess its possible. The younger producers like bass for certain, but they would certainly enjoy quality bass as well.

Oh well, will take a listen when one shows up at Long & McQuade.

 

[jon parker]

Hmm, disappointing to read about the bass. While the HD250 bass is a bit loose, it has a perfect balance.

Sennheiser has no issue creating bass that had slam, depth and solidity with the HD630VB. They are more than capable of it, have the measuring equipment ears and engineers to do so. So really, whatever tuning that is there is deliberate. I don't quite buy into the 'content creators' rationale that they would make the bass more Beats-like. I guess its possible. The younger producers like bass for certain, but they would certainly enjoy quality bass as well.

Oh well, will take a listen when one shows up at Long & McQuade.

Coming up for 60 hours burn in the bass has certainly calmed down a lot. In well recorded bass light music such as folk the headphones don't sound too bad BUT as soon as you listen to anything that is mastered quite hot or has more bass than 'usual' it becomes clear how exaggerated, invasive and messy the low end is.

Im just baffled. When they say they have in essence emulated the HD250 ?? What are they talking about ??

Personally, from what I have seen of Sennheiser in recent years I don't trust the company to ever again produce another classic such as the 250 or the 540. On the one hand they have the HD 800S for the ridiculous price of $1500+ They are not worth half that. TECHNICALLY they are a great headphone but compared to the HD 540....
On the other hand the Manager said they are focusing on headphones for the mp3 phone using generation. Fair enough they need to make money but I just dont think they are interested or have the skill anymore to make a headphone that accurately presents music as natural to real life as the HD 540 for example.

I think, when they say 'we have tuned the 300 almost exactly like the 250' and from what I have seen of the factory, that they have tuned and measured mainly using computers.

There were some engineers in the mid 80's to the mid 90's who produced in a short time some of the worlds best headphones - AKG 240 Sextett, Beyerdynamic 880, Sennhieser HD 540 & HD 250. A special time. Maybe because it was the peak of analog technology before digital took over and that those engineers ONLY had their ears to tune with.

Anyway, still burning in... They do seem likely a potential for some modding?

Also, I must add the packaging was pathetic, like they really didn't care. Shoved in a cardboard box, no accessories, just a leaflet. £170 is not a small amount
IF they REALLY thought they had produced a modern HD 250...one of the best closed backs ever made then the packaging says a very different story

 

[kman1211]

Coming up for 60 hours burn in the bass has certainly calmed down a lot. In well recorded bass light music such as folk the headphones don't sound too bad BUT as soon as you listen to anything that is mastered quite hot or has more bass than 'usual' it becomes clear how exaggerated, invasive and messy the low end is.

Im just baffled. When they say they have in essence emulated the HD250 ?? What are they talking about ??

Personally, from what I have seen of Sennheiser in recent years I don't trust the company to ever again produce another classic such as the 250 or the 540. On the one hand they have the HD 800S for the ridiculous price of $1500+ They are not worth half that. TECHNICALLY they are a great headphone but compared to the HD 540....
On the other hand the Manager said they are focusing on headphones for the mp3 phone using generation. Fair enough they need to make money but I just dont think they are interested or have the skill anymore to make a headphone that accurately presents music as natural to real life as the HD 540 for example.

I think, when they say 'we have tuned the 300 almost exactly like the 250' and from what I have seen of the factory, that they have tuned and measured mainly using computers.

There were some engineers in the mid 80's to the mid 90's who produced in a short time some of the worlds best headphones - AKG 240 Sextett, Beyerdynamic 880, Sennhieser HD 540 & HD 250. A special time. Maybe because it was the peak of analog technology before digital took over and that those engineers ONLY had their ears to tune with.

Anyway, still burning in... They do seem likely a potential for some modding?

Also, I must add the packaging was pathetic, like they really didn't care. Shoved in a cardboard box, no accessories, just a leaflet. £170 is not a small amount
IF they REALLY thought they had produced a modern HD 250...one of the best closed backs ever made then the packaging says a very different story

Honestly this is disheartening, having heard and owned many vintage headphones, I know what you are talking about. Sennheiser has honestly changed a lot in terms of their tuning. I always thought older Senns were something special. Their newer stuff is hit or miss for me but they never capture the magic or euphony of their old stuff. Is the HD 250 really that good? Loved the K240 Sextett, power hungry though. Sad AKG is dead. Beyer has changed some.