Accessories

new PX100s compared with my old PX200s
I have been a fan of the Sennheiser open back sound since the late Seventies, and my main "house " phones for the last 10 years have been a pair of HD565 Ovations (this model is no longer sold). For about the last 4 years I have also been using closed back PX200s with my portables.

While I quite enjoy the PX200s (being lucky enough to have ears that seal well with them), when using them I miss that wider sound stage that the open back design provides. I have read with interest various reviews which rate the open back PX100 as being sonically superior to the PX200s, but have not till now been motivated to buy a third concurrent set of headphones. However, my wife has recently 'claimed' the PX200s, so last week I ordered the PX100s, thinking I would keep for myself which ever of the PX200s and PX100s I preferred, and (generously!) pass on the other pair to her.

I have now spent a weekend doing back to back tests between the HD 565s, PX200s, and new PX100s (Sources Toshiba Gigabeat S30, Denon PMA-450SE, Realtek on board sound. Test music included Litte Feat's "Last Record Album", The Rhythm Kings "Anyway the Wind Blows", Santana's "Supernatural", and others). I was not initially impressed with the PX100s, finding the bass overwhelming and muddy. However, this appeared to improve somewhat after a few hours of usage. Finally, at the and of the weekend's tests, and much painfull deliberating, I was unable to decide on a clear preference. I left the choice to my wife (who after a mere five mins listening to each, without hesitation chose the PX200s !).

I rate the HD565s as the most comfortable, followed by the PX100s. The PX200s rate last for comfort, a result of their greater clamping force. However, none of the three are uncomfortable, and I have in the past worn the PX200s for hours on end without issue. (And interestingly, when quizzed, my wife said she chose the PX200s because she found them more comfortable - the PX100s felt too loose on her head).

Contrary to many reviews I have seen, I prefer the bass response of the PX200s. Reputedly the quality of bass from the PX200s is reliant on the seal they achieve against your ears. I have never found it to be an issue. While not as prominent as the bass of the PX100s, the PX200s seem to go deeper, and the percussive bass has more 'attack'. The muddier bass of the PX100s was the main factor in my hesitation in picking them over the PX200s. The HD565s have the 'weakest' bass of the three, although it is well controlled, and I have never been unhappy with it.

The HD565s have the clearest mid/highs, and the widest sound stage. I much preferred the wider sound stage of the PX100s over the PX200s, and this probably also contributed to my feeling that the mids/highs were slightly better on the PX100s. After years of loud concerts I am probably no longer qualified to comment on treble extension !

Both the open back designs leak sound to the extent that they would annoy someone sitting at the next desk in a quiet office. For me this is not now an issue, (although it was when I first got the PX200s, and was the main reason I initially purchased them in preference to an open back design).

I would give even points for build quality. While they do not look all that robust, my PX200s have stood the test of time. The PX100s look to be built to a similiar standard, although I wonder about the durability of the foam earpads versus the pleather of the PX200s. The PX100s have a smaller plug, which apparently makes them suitable for use with Apple iPhones - looks a bit dinky to me. (And just for the record, my HD565s have been re-cabled, due to an intermittent connection issue, but that was some years ago now).

In conclusion - a dead heat: PX200s 4 stars (discounted for 'in your head' sound stage). PX100s 4 stars (discounted for quality of bass).

I very much enjoyed my weekend of listening, as these are both excellent little headphones. However, if I had to recommend one to others who do not have the opportunity to try them for themselves, I would suggest the PX100s are the safer bet. This is entirely due to the reported
uncertainty of obtaining a good seal with the PX200s.

Worth Buying
These headphones are very light weight and produce good sound. Much superior, and more comfortable for me, than ear buds.

Great for iphone, great for midi piano, love these
Have used these non-stop, they are just excellent for use with iphone or ipod. Also have used with an adapter on midi piano, and it sounds live, these are just excellent, I really recommend these.

simply amazing.
bought these a month or so ago, and they are by far the best headphones i have ever used. the sound quality is incredible and they can collapse so i can stick them in a bag without worrying they will break.

Too much bass
I recently took the plunge and bought an IPod. Impressed by the sound quality, but unhappy with the supplied earbuds, I searched the Web for reviews of headphones, determined to upgrade. Based on the excellent reviews of the Sennheiser PX 100 s on a variety of sites, I took the plunge and bought a pair. What a disappointment. The sound was muddy and distant, with way way way too much bass. The bass seemed to overpower the highs and midranges, making even Sinatra and the Carpenters sound like they recorded with Stanley Clarke or Bootsy Collins. I went back to my $20 Sony headphones, which provides a much clearer and tonally balanced sound in my opinion. Maybe with next year's tax refund I'll splurge for the Bose set