Sennheiser has once again proven they are masters of headphone audio design.
While not as refined and accurate as open-back headphones costing much more, the inexpensive HD 239 gets about 85% of the way there, reproducing well recorded and mastered high fidelity music very well for a headphone of this type/price-point.
These headphones are built for those who know how to, or would like to learn how to, appreciate all that real high fidelity music has to offer:
* The lows are clear and extended; slightly emphasized without the bloat, boom, bloom, or unnatural exaggeration found in so many of the consumer-type headphones (like Beats, V-Moda, etc.).
* The mids and highs are well balanced, accurate, and clear; and the sound stage is quite good when the source is well recorded in stereo (binaural recordings best demonstrate this).
I don't need to repeat what others have said regarding the ergonomics, build quality, etc. that are typical of headphones in this price range.
The audio cable, while thin, appears to be durable, there are no cable microphonics.
The HD 239 interfaces well with all my portable devices, and carries a 2 year warranty in the US.
In my opinion, the HD 239 could be one of the, if not *the*, best sounding open-back on-ear high fidelity headphone currently on the market at this price point, and so I recommend it highly.
It has definitely earned a place in my personal "best-of breed" collection.
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About "Burn-in" / "Break-in":
Enjoy the Senn HD 239 headphones right out of the box. Playing music or pink noise through them continuously for dozens of hours on end before using them is silly. Why? Because the need to break-in/burn-in headphones is nothing more than uninformed urban legend.
I'm a retired recording engineer and studio owner, and I don't know of any professional audio people who give "burn-in" any credence. The subjective perception of "burn-in" is the user's hearing being re-trained and adjusted to the frequency response curve of the headphone. For example, a listener coming from a headphone whose response curve boosts the lows and dips the mids will hear a headphone with a natural, flat and uncolored signature (like theSenn HD 239) as having a shallow bass and a strident upper mid range. As the listener's hearing adapts over time to the uncolored accuracy of the neutral/flat headphones, the headphones miraculously "improve" after having been "burned-in", when in fact it's the listener's hearing being "burned-in" by the headphones.
The only formal study on this subject of which I'm aware was inconclusive, finding that if there is any such effect at all, it is at best very subtle. It can be found on the InnerFidelity web site by searching on "On the Measurement and Audibility of Headphone Break-in". Read it and decide for yourself.
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Primary sources for assessing the HD 239:
* iBasso DX 50 DAP with 24bit/192kHz DAC;
* Samsung Galaxy S4;
* iPad Mini;
* My own original lossless digital studio masters converted to 24/48 FLAC (multiple music genres);
* Chesky Records' "Ultimate Demonstration Disk-Guide to Critical Listening" CD converted to 16/44 FLAC (multiple music genres);
* Chesky Records "Binaural Sound Show" audiophile CD converted to 16/44 FLAC (multiple music genres);
* HDTracks' 2013 and 2014 "Hi Definition Sampler" free music files 24/96 WAV (multiple music genres); and
* 2L Records Hi-Def free music files 24/192 FLAC (multiple music genres).
Headphones used to help form an opinion about the HD 239's audio performance:
* AKG K701 open-back over-ear studio reference headphones.
* AudioTechnica M50x closed-back over-ear studio monitor headphones.
* Beyerdynamic DT 1350-80 closed-back on-ear DJ monitor headphones.
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There is a newer model of this item:
Sennheiser HD 2.30i Black Ear Headphones (Discontinued by Manufacturer)
$69.99
(427)
Only 2 left in stock - order soon.
$69.99
(427)
Only 2 left in stock - order soon.
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Product description
Product Description
Expect a timeless design and a touch of class with the HD 239 headphones. Sennheiser’s advanced acoustic system with powerful neodymium magnets ensures maximum performance and high-fidelity audio. Offering a top-notch and smooth stereo sound experience, the finest details can be heard with distinct clarity. These headphones also houses premium metallic components and exchangeable earpads for superior performance and durability.
From the Manufacturer
Customer Questions & Answers
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2016
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Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2014
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Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2015
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Top reviews from other countries
jeepjohn
Brilliant!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 7, 2014Verified Purchase
Ta Rykala
Great
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2013Verified Purchase
Mike
Perfect sound, superb tone quality
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 11, 2015Verified Purchase
Patrick Crinnigan
Do I buy the HD238's or HD239's?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 9, 2013Verified Purchase
The North Ridge
Cómodos, ligeros y con un sonido estupendo
Reviewed in Spain on January 19, 2016Verified Purchase
