Sennheiser PX100's vs PX200's...

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about to buy some new headphones essentially for on the move etc.

have heard the Sennheiser PX100's are the best for the buck, award winners etc etc. But looking at the PX200's too.

100's are 'open', 200's are 'closed'... whilst 200's will keep tube/traffic etc out more, the 100's apparently 'have better bass'.

anyone got either? help

― Rich (Stinkin Rich), Monday, 16 January 2006 15:06 (nineteen years ago)

I bought my girlfriend the px100s and wish that i had bought them for myself. i have the some closed sennheisers, and they're great-- but they kind of hurt your ears after a while.

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Monday, 16 January 2006 15:20 (nineteen years ago)

I have PX100s & like them but they're a little flimsy for carelessly tossing in the bag use.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 16 January 2006 15:57 (nineteen years ago)

Thanks. Will PX100s annoy fellow commuters? and do we care?! The 'durability' is a worry too as i've now snapped the hinge arch on not one but both sides of my Sony MDRv300s - its a design fault if u ask me...

considering in ear babies too now... http://www.shurestore.com/earphones/eseries_e2c.html#tech

what do we think of these? i used some for the first time on saturday night - bizarre how far they go in your ears! but they certainly have things going for them

― Rich (Stinkin Rich), Monday, 16 January 2006 16:05 (nineteen years ago)

Leakage on PX100s is not too crazy, I don't think. Never noticed anything & I take the bus every day.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 16 January 2006 16:08 (nineteen years ago)

If you're ever going to take them outside I'd get the closed back ones. I have a pair of KSC35's (open back, apparently very close to the px100 sound) and they can be useless outside (trains, buses etc) when it's noisy. Indoors, they are clearly better than the PX200's though. Both are 'good enough' really.

Still want a pair of grado's for ultimate home luxury....

― fandango (fandango), Monday, 16 January 2006 16:34 (nineteen years ago)

ha ha I had to take off the headphones I was listening on to check.
they're PX-200's - fantastic, highly recommend them

the bass is good, but - like some organic thing - develops after several plays. I enjoyed the idea that it might conform to whatever I fed it: Dillinja?

even so, no matter how good the phones some lo-fi music won't work on noisy subways cos white noise clatter will drown it out: e.g. - always feel like I'm missing 30-40% of the sound when playing Ariel Pink during commute. Isolee not a problem though.

(x post!)

― Paul (scifisoul), Monday, 16 January 2006 16:40 (nineteen years ago)

liking the Dillinja/Isolee/Ariel Pink comparisons... ha! cheers all

― Rich (Stinkin Rich), Monday, 16 January 2006 16:52 (nineteen years ago)

i recommend the pxc-250. amazing.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000089GN2/qid=1137431051/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-7986693-0240012?n=507846&s=electronics&v=glance

― lf, Monday, 16 January 2006 17:05 (nineteen years ago)

i've been comparing px100 vs. px200 at the shop and the thing you notice immediately is that px200 gives much less bass. maybe their sound is more accurate and precise and true to source, but you're buying headphones for everyday fun and not for studio monitoring, are you?

it's all a matter of a taste, so check before you buy
put on the music you like, check the arch tightness

px200 closed system might be easer on the ears, though
my ears are getting tired after 2-3 hours of wearing px100's

― andrew_g, Monday, 16 January 2006 19:57 (nineteen years ago)

If you're getting less bass w/ PX200 it's probably because you're not getting a good ear seal. Per headphone.com, that's a common problem w/ the PX200 that has to do purely with the shape of your outer ear.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 16 January 2006 19:59 (nineteen years ago)

PXC-250 is awesome, I love them. They're comfortable, fold up nicely so they are less easily broken, and though it took a while to get used to the battery pack, I don't mind it. Just clip to my belt or put in my coat pocket. It really boosts the sound, along with the noise cancellation making it easier to listen to on a noisy train. It's better for your ears, because then you don't have to turn it up too loud to drown out the noise. Check Cnet, there was an amazing sale where you can get them for $72, whereas they're like $150 at Virgin.

― Fastnbulbous (Fastnbulbous), Monday, 16 January 2006 21:36 (nineteen years ago)

so, according to what i've read, a good pair of grados are good for the rock and a good pair of sennheisers are good for the non-rock sounds. true or false? (i'm not in the market now cuz i'm poor, but eventually i would like a nice pair of phones for home listening.)

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 16 January 2006 21:43 (nineteen years ago)

have a question that's been bugging me -- would like to pick up some expensive sennheisers or perhaps grados. anything nice, high end with good bass response.

my one requirement is that they come with a 1/8 L shaped jack. Do high end headphones even make them with L shaped jacks?

― titty sanskrit (sanskrit), Monday, 16 January 2006 21:48 (nineteen years ago)

I bought the PX-100s then took them back cause walking down the high street, there was just too much background noise getting in. I didn't want to deafen myself always listening on top volume to compensate. Plus I like listening to them on the bus and not annoying fellow passengers.

Swapped them for the PX-200s, which I was very happy with until I broke them, possibly by standing on the jack.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 16 January 2006 23:16 (nineteen years ago)

i've had px-200s for a few months and i think they're wonderful. i listen to ALL types of music on them and have never thought that it wasn't bass-y enough

― outdoor_miner (outdoor_miner), Monday, 16 January 2006 23:53 (nineteen years ago)

The PXC 250 also comes with an adaptor for 3.5 mm double mono socket found on airplanes. Not sure if that's what you mean by L shaped.

I did some research a couple months ago, so the prices should be mostly up to date. I list them according to their frequency responses. That's not the only factor for headphones, but it's a start. Looks like Sony and Sennheiser is the best deal for the quality.

Sennheiser HD 650, $350
(Frequency response: 10 Hz - 39,500 Hz, SPL 1mV: 97 dB, Normal impedance: 32 ohms, Driver matched db: .05)
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/full-size/sennheiser-hd-650.php coupon code "HD650”
http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/434c33220018d28a2740ac10034105e1/Product/View/2275

Sony MDR-SA5000, $365
(Frequency response: 5-110,000; Normal impedance: 70 ohms)
http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=sonmdrsa5000&store=&catid=4059

Sennheiser HD 600, $280
(Frequency response: 12-39,000)
http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/434c32e00072c0042741ac10034105e3/Product/View/2276
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/full-size/sennheiser-hd-600.php

Sennheiser HD 595, $225
(Frequency response: 12-38,500)
http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/434c33220018d28a2740ac10034105e1/Product/View/2277
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/full-size/sennheiser-hd-595.php

Sennheiser HD 580, $200
(Frequency response: 12-38,000)
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/full-size/sennheiser-hd-580.php

Sony MDR-7509, $185
(Frequency response: 5-30,000)
http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=sonmdr7509&store=&catid=4059

Grado RS1, $695
(Frequency response: 12 Hz - 30,000 Hz, SPL 1mV: 98, Normal impedance: 32 ohms, Driver matched db: .05)
http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/434c33220018d28a2740ac10034105e1/Product/View/1935

Sony MDR-7506, $90
(Frequency response: 10-20,000)
http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=sonmdr7506&srccode=cii_14110944&cpncode=12-1072258-2

Grado RS2, $495
(Frequency response: 14-28,000, SPL 1mV: 98, Normal impedance: 32 ohms, Driver matched db: .05)
http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/434c33220018d28a2740ac10034105e1/Product/View/1936

AKG K501, $200
(Frequency response: 16-30,000)
http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/434c33220018d28a2740ac10034105e1/Product/View/1815

Grado SR325i, $295
(Frequency response: 18-24,000, SPL 1mV: 98, Normal impedance: 32 ohms, Driver matched db: .05)
http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/434c33220018d28a2740ac10034105e1/Product/View/1669

Sennheiser HD280 Pro, $100
(Frequency response: 18-25,000)
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Ny6nt39upwh/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=123800&I=143HD280P
http://reviews.cnet.com/Sennheiser_HD_270/4505-7877_7-6899571.html?tag=pdtl-list

Grado SR125, $149
(Frequency response: 20-22,000, SPL 1mV: 98, Normal impedance: 32 ohms, Driver matched db: .05)
http://reviews.cnet.com/Grado_SR125/4505-7877_7-30618197.html?tag=pdtl-list

Sennheiser RS 65 wireless, $170
(Frequency response: 20-20,000)
http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/434c33220018d28a2740ac10034105e1/Product/View/2281
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/full-size/sennheiser-rs-65-wireless.php

Sony MDR-DS4000 Wireless, $173
http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_MDR_DS4000/4505-7877_7-31307768.html?tag=pdtl-list

Sennheiser HD485, $74
http://reviews.cnet.com/Sennheiser_HD_485/4505-6468_7-31341506-2.html?tag=glance

Grado SR-80, $95
(Frequency response: 20-22,000, SPL 1mV: 98, Normal impedance: 32 ohms, Driver matched db: .1)
http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/417c46b30047523e2740ac10033a05eb/Product/View/1416
http://www.audioweb.com/Store/StoreItem.asp?storeitemid=26

― Fastnbulbous (Fastnbulbous), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 01:07 (nineteen years ago)

I have px200s (I had to take mine off to check too). The first good walk around headphones I've had in awhile

― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 02:33 (nineteen years ago)

I've just gone from PX100s to PX200s after two and a half years (the cable to the left ear worked loose, so I needed new ones, but I'd been thinking about changing anyway due to the amount of time I spend on the train).

The PX100s were fucking great and I loved them to bits. The 200s thus far are a little paranoid due to the amount of external noise I'm now losing (a good thing on the train!) and are a little highly-strung sounding, but I get the idea that this will wind down as the bass rounds out with use. I've noticed, from a brief outdoor walk at lunchtime, that I was picking up much more quiet detail in songs that I hadn't noticed withe the 100s due to stuff like wind and traffic.

Happy.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Monday, 23 January 2006 13:15 (nineteen years ago)

Those frequency response details are kinda meaningless without some kind of indication of flatness of response in the quoted range (i.e. are they +/- 3dB?). The Sonys may have been tested out to beyond 100kHz (why? For SACD "compatibility"? Oh dearie me) but whether they've got a presence-lift or some other upper-mid peak down in the 4-10kHz range is infinitely more important. It's the frequency profile that gives you some indication of their signature sound, not the max and min. (You're also not going to get anything above 22k off CD or much above 16k off MP3 or MD.)

I love my Grados but, as I've said before, I wouldn't dream of wearing them outside the house. They're utterly open and will drive people insane around you on public transport.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 23 January 2006 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

I just bought a pair of these:

http://www.akg.com/mediadatabase/pspic/image//30/image1093142068_k24p_k26p41280633f34c1.JPG

And they are as advertised. Not as bright as the PX100s (maybe the lack of high treble will annoy some) but they have a really nice seal and good bass response. One thing I notice right away is that I don't have to listen to music near as loud to enjoy it, which seems a good thing all the way around.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 23 January 2006 14:54 (nineteen years ago)

(sorry, I was talking about the AKG K 26 P there)

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 23 January 2006 14:54 (nineteen years ago)

Does that mean you prefer PX 200s, Mike? I don't understand a word of your post, but I value your opinion, possibly above all others, excpet, say, Sting.

For the record, my Sony in-the-lughole things are suffering from cable outer casing loss due to getting caught in a zip. This is poor, I think.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 23 January 2006 15:01 (nineteen years ago)

I have wrapped the affected area in sellotape.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 26 January 2006 10:14 (nineteen years ago)

so...which to buy, px100 or px200?!

― Osman, Wednesday, 1 February 2006 11:06 (nineteen years ago)

How much does external noise bother you?

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 11:43 (nineteen years ago)

The sony in-ear phones are prone to losing their casing, just from daily wear. I like them a lot for their noise reducing side, but the cables are pretty much covered in black tape now and I've been extra careful with them.

― Greig (treefell), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 11:46 (nineteen years ago)

In-ear headphones are just insane.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 11:46 (nineteen years ago)

I got a pair of PX200s because the AKGs I bought were extremely uncomfortable (same ones as mark above). I love the PX200s, especially now that they seem to have warmed up a bit. Highly recommended.

As mark said, the reason the bass seems low is probably because you're not getting a good seal on your ear; you have to play around with them a bit at the beginning to find the right placement. I get fantastic bass in mine now.

As a somewhat-irrelevant aside, the PX200s come with a surpisingly useful and bomb-proof hard plastic storage case.

― jackl (jackl), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 12:47 (nineteen years ago)

in-ear headphones really would be insane, yeah

ihttp://www.goodcans.com/HeadphoneReviews/Sony_MDR-EX51LP.jpg

these are earphones are really v good but the wire-covering plastic is a bit...stretchy? and weak and gets chewed-up/torn quite easily. wish it didn't

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 12:52 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, my stretchy chewed up wire-covering plastic angers and disappoints me. I don't know what to get next. Maybe splash out.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 13:09 (nineteen years ago)

I have ordered PX200s round the back of the head style. I wanted over the head. It was a minor cock-up. I am trying not to worry about it.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 13:32 (nineteen years ago)

This is embarassing to admit but I could never consider in-ear phones because my ears produce so much wax. I clean them regularly, of course, but I know that the buds would be covered in wax all the time if I went that route. So nothing goes in my ear except my elbow.

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 13:33 (nineteen years ago)

surely you can send a wee e-mail or make a wee phone call, before they're dispatched, PJ

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 13:49 (nineteen years ago)

I have sent a wee e-mail, RJG, but I have to rely on their good nature, like. Doesn't realy matter, I suppose.

I can't wait to test them out by listening to Edith's Hello Children Everywhere compilation at top volume on the train to see whether anyone notices.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 13:53 (nineteen years ago)

No one will notice. Almost no sound escapes from them at all.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 13:58 (nineteen years ago)

Not even Pinky and Perky voices?

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:02 (nineteen years ago)

your expression w/ give you away, no doubt

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:06 (nineteen years ago)

will, not w/

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:07 (nineteen years ago)

My attempts to head off this delivery at the pass seem to have failed.

You know, I love headphone threads.

That is why I revive them for no reason.

Does that sentence make sense?

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 2 February 2006 09:08 (nineteen years ago)

I love my PX 200s, had them for a couple of years now, I think you really need closed-back headphones for outdoor use if you need to hear the bass without damaging your hearing by having them too loud.

My only advice would be to make sure you take one cup away from your ear (DJ mixing style) when you cross the road so you can hear the traffic.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 2 February 2006 09:28 (nineteen years ago)

I will do DJ hand jive at the same time.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 2 February 2006 10:15 (nineteen years ago)

you must be out of your tiny mind!

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 2 February 2006 11:02 (nineteen years ago)

And do lines of coke while crouching down under the mixer?

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 2 February 2006 11:09 (nineteen years ago)

I think you really need closed-back headphones for outdoor use if you need to hear the bass without damaging your hearing by having them too loud.

Nonsense!

If you listen to bass-heavy music, the Koss PortaPros or KSC-35s are much preferably to the Senn PX100s. They're open, though, so different in a lot of ways to the PX200s. Sennheiser has a nice, glittering, laid-back sound, but the Koss are punchier, more fun to listen to (for me). And there's tons of bass - which would be irritating in a monitor headphone but is just right when out on the street.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 2 February 2006 11:32 (nineteen years ago)

I now have PX 200s, round the back of the neck style. They sound very nice compared to those in yer lughole things. I jut wish they were top of the head style.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Sunday, 5 February 2006 20:02 (nineteen years ago)

those akg's mark mentioned are really hard to find! cursory searches have produced backorder after backorder.

― blackmail (blackmail.is.my.life), Sunday, 5 February 2006 21:31 (nineteen years ago)

My PX200s are not very good at keeping sound out. Perhaps this is because they are "neckband" stylee. Mind you, a sodding tube train makes as much noise as a jumbo jet taking off*.

*Or being hoovered.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 6 February 2006 12:49 (nineteen years ago)

those akg's mark mentioned are really hard to find! cursory searches have produced backorder after backorder.

-- blackmail

I got mine from headphone.com. They actually arrived in less than 24 hours, which was amazing b/c I didn't pay for express shipping or anything. From Montana to Virginia. I'm really happy with them, though it sounds like comfort will vary.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 6 February 2006 14:01 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, I thought the AKGs sounded great, so if they're comfortable for you, they're a great choice. The tightness of the band and the rubber spacers on the top hurt my head a lot - but I have a big head and wear glasses, so I may be an anomaly.

Anyway, if you do manage to find them, blackmail, enjoy!

― jackl (jackl), Monday, 6 February 2006 15:22 (nineteen years ago)

forgot to mention I always listen thru these phones to the iPod on R&B eq setting, which jacks up the bass but also has crisp high frequencies.

― Paul (scifisoul), Monday, 6 February 2006 18:00 (nineteen years ago)

I think the closest setting I have is "pops".

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 6 February 2006 18:01 (nineteen years ago)

anyone have any thoughts on Bose Triports? I was wowed by them after testing. $150 though..

― ziti sanskrit (sanskrit), Monday, 6 February 2006 18:44 (nineteen years ago)

I'd say you can get headphones for half the price with better sound. Everyone's ears are different, though...

― jackl (jackl), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 01:50 (nineteen years ago)

I now have over the head PX200s. Very nice. I can still hear the train though.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 10 February 2006 11:31 (nineteen years ago)

I've found those akg's. Hopefully they're in stock in the store (V-day gift from wife!)

― blackmail (blackmail.is.my.life), Friday, 10 February 2006 14:22 (nineteen years ago)

If you are sick of people on the train asking you to turn down your music, get the 200s. This was the single biggest reason I chose them.

However, as I said on another thread, DO NOT GET THEM IF YOU ARE BALD as they look really silly, the way they perch on your head.

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 10 February 2006 17:48 (nineteen years ago)

one month passes...

the akg's finally arrived. thanks mark for pointing these out. got them from samash.com, fyi.

now i'm actually hearing everything going on in Espers II.

― blackmail (blackmail.is.my.life), Friday, 24 March 2006 00:32 (nineteen years ago)

three years pass...

Just got new 100s after the cable broke near the jack on the last ones (after a year of use). Looks like they fixed the cable (or tried to) and added the numbers 1 and 2 to the band to show you which ones you fold up first.

― dan selzer, Wednesday, 10 June 2009 14:43 (sixteen years ago)

fourteen years pass...

Sennheiser consumer audio department is now owned by a Swiss company (bought new in-ears and I saw it on the box) called... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonova
And I can't help myself when I read that... You sonova

― StanM, Friday, 6 October 2023 13:43 (two years ago)

Ha!

― m0stly clean (Slowsquatch), Friday, 6 October 2023 15:17 (two years ago)

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