Despite its significantly lower price, the Sennheiser HD 201 does not have to hide behind the reputation of its bigger brother, the HD 203. Above all, wearing comfort is somewhat better with a larger head circumference, while the sound is more than decent for a model with an asking price of less than 20 euros.
For newcomers to the headphone market, the Sennheiser HD 201 is highly recommended. If you’re using headphones for everyday purposes and want an entry-point model that delivers, you’d struggle to find anything better for what you’re paying here. In the studio, the closed dynamics convince with sensible dampening of external noise, while long-lasting wearing comfort makes them a worthy consideration. And of course, the logo of the established manufacturer, which should be familiar to many customers, adds a stamp of quality to these attractive headphones.
The RRP of 19.50 euros does not raise great expectations considering its low price point, but one shouldn’t be duped into thinking Sennheiser are aiming low here. The workmanship on show is impeccable and stands above more expensive headphone models than this one. The design is simple and stripped-back, but more comfortable to wear than the HD 203 from Sennheiser.
The ear cushions can be swapped out for a more desirable alternative, which is a feature not always found with headphones within this price range. You won’t find a folding mechanism here, but with a weight of only 166 grams, you’re free to wear the Sennheiser HD 201 casually around your neck without worrying about discomfort or or wearing fatigue.
The manufacturer promises powerful bass sound and the low tones are truly convincing, but not so much because of their power. Rather, there’s a rough charm that makes the Sennheiser HD 201 so special, giving R&B productions a real edge.
The mids also sound a bit dirty, with a character you’d expect from a sound system at an illegal party held in a derelict factory. This is especially evident with bass-heavy music, with an apathy in the face of low frequencies that rumble like a muffler.
The high frequencies are reproduced solidly and distributed with amazing precision. I wouldn’t have naturally assumed the Sennheiser HD 201 would have delivered performance levels with this broad a spectrum.
If you’re out to prove something with your audio tech purchases, you’re probably not the type of consumer who’d settle for something with an asking price in the double digits. For those who don’t care about making a point as far as price is concerned, the Sennheiser HD 201 is definitely recommended. It’s an inexpensive entry model into the world of headphones, with a robust construction and solid sound deliver that’s not hampered by a lack of airs and graces.
Technical specifications
- Ear couplingOver-ear
- Typeclosed
- Frequency response (headphones)21 - 18.000 Hz
- Impedance24,9 ohms
- Sound pressure level (SPL)95,57 dB
- Pressure averaged from big and small head490 g
- Weight with cable197 g
- Weight without cable166 g
- Cable length300 cm
What's in the box
- Adapter
- Adapter
These headphones HD201 are delicate. A fall to the floor caused a breakage of one plastic swivel joint, which I glued together and it held until next fall. Now it is broken again and I will trash these unfortunately and get something more sturdy. Also the cable has spliced itself into 2 just about all the way to the plug, which makes it a pain and risk of tripping all the time. Can’t comment about hifi, since I used them mostly with utube.