If you are somewhat familiar with audio equipment, then Sennheiser is probably a name you are aware of. The company has been developing high-quality microphones and headphones since 1945.
All the way back in 1988, Sennheiser introduced their first pair of HD 25 headphones. Since then, Sennheiser’s Pro Audio HD 25 headphones have become an iconic staple throughout the DJ and broadcast industry.
Today we are taking a look at the Sennheiser Pro Audio HD 25 Professional DJ Headphone to determine how it stacks up in the ever-competitive over-the-ear headphone market.
(4.6 / 5)Contents
Unboxing
The Sennheiser HD 25 headphones come in a simple black box with blue and white accenting. Upon opening the box, you will notice a clear plastic bag holding the headphones. Also included is a small instruction manual with warranty information. The warranty included lasts for two-years and covers basic manufacturer defects.
Besides that, you will not find anything else like a protective case in the box, unfortunately.
Design and Comfort
As we mentioned earlier, the design of these headphones is pretty iconic. The Sennheiser HD 25 headphones have an extremely simplistic look to them that you will either immediately like or dislike from our experience.
To begin with, the earcups have a supra-aural design to them. This means that unlike traditional over-the-ear headphones that completely envelope your ears, these earcups simply rest over your ears. Each earcup comes with a removable soft faux-leather cushion for comfort. The right earcup can rotate up away from your ear, allowing for one-ear listening.
Nice and comfy…
Attached to the sides of the earcups, you notice the plastic headband. This has a split design that features faux-leather padding for added comfort.
You can adjust the individual headbands towards or away from another, allowing the HD 25’s to fit snugly on all head shapes and sizes. The earcups can also slide up or down the headphones for further adjustability. But they do not fold flat.
Connections…
Coming out of the top of the earcups, you will see a cable connected to each. These cables join together at the left ear cup and measure five feet in length. At the end of the cable, you have a 6.3mm jack. This 6.3mm jack is actually screwed on top of a small 3.5mm jack, allowing you to connect the headphones up in two different ways.
Finding a fit…
Overall, these headphones are relatively lightweight, coming in at only 140 grams. They fit pretty snug to your ears, but they do get warm after extended periods of use due to the leatherette cushions.
It does take a bit of tweaking each time you put them on for them to fit comfortably, though. They do not automatically adjust to your head shape and size as some other headphones do, and occasionally the left earpiece may even start to rotate out of position.
Even though they are manufactured from plastic, for the most part, they are exceptionally durable and can flex quite a bit. You can even replace the earcup cushions and the speaker cables if they ever become damaged.
Noise Isolation
The snug fit of these headphones excels in preventing noise from leaking in or out of them. This provides quite exceptional passive noise isolation, making these headphones a good option for studio use. However, they do not provide the same level of noise isolation as you would experience from headphones with active noise-cancellation.
The HD 25s can get exceptionally loud, so no matter the environment you are in, the passive noise isolation on hand should be sufficient for your listening needs.
An interesting fact about these headphones is that they were handed out to passengers who flew on the Concorde back in the day to drown out the engine noise! That goes to show just how well they worked even back in the 1980s, and their performance has only gotten better since then from our experience.
Sound Quality
Since these are studio-focused headphones, we expected the HD 25’s to have an excellent sound profile. They did not disappoint, but they might not be suitable for all users. From our time testing the HD 25’s, we experienced a powerful yet accurate sound profile from them no matter the genre of music we were listening to.
In each ear cup, you will find a 41mm driver tucked away behind each cushion. These drivers have a frequency response from 16Hz to 22kHz.
Sennheiser sound…
At lower frequencies from 100 to 300Hz, the bass is definitely noticeable without drowning out the higher range frequencies. Although, if you are using these headphones to DJ with, you may find the bass a little underwhelming.
They produce a nice thump in your ears, allowing your average listener to feel the bass. For DJs who like to adjust their pitch cue by ear, you might find the bass too weak to do so without adjusting your equalizer.
As you move up to the middle frequencies, you will notice they tend to come out pretty flat. This seems to be a fairly common occurrence with Sennheiser headphones. If you are using these as studio monitors or as a DJ, this is a good thing. This flat sound profile allows you to hear the music just like its producer intended.
Silky smooth…
Vocals come out nice and neutral without sounding distant. Mid-range instruments like a cello or saxophone come across clean and present as well. Middle to higher frequencies above 10khz seems to get lifted a bit, allowing for a smooth sound. Everything from hi-hats to bells and keys is well pronounced without sounding too harsh to your ears.
We thought that tonal clarity throughout the sound profile is well-balanced. Nothing really tries to overwhelm anything else, so everything blends together rather seamlessly.
Listening to anything from dance to country music with these headphones leaves you with an intimate experience.
Sennheiser Pro Audio HD 25 Professional DJ Headphone Pros and Cons
Pros
- Superb Sound Quality.
- Excellent Isolation.
- Lightweight.
- Durable Construction.
- Parts can be replaced.
Cons
- Ear Pads can get hot.
- Not a very interesting design.
Looking for Something Else?
Finding the right headphones has never been easier. So check out our in-depth reviews of the Best Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, the Most Comfortable Headphones, the Best Headphones with Microphone, the Best Neckband Headphones, and the Best Travel Headphones you can buy in 2023.
Also, take a look at our reviews of the Best Waterproof Headphones, the Best Running Headphones, the Best Headphones Under $200, the Best Bluetooth Headphones Under $200, and the Best Lightweight Headphones currently on the market.
Sennheiser Pro Audio HD 25 Professional DJ Headphone – Final Thoughts
Since the HD25’s are available at a fairly reasonable price point, they are easily accessible to a wide range of listeners. DJs, studio engineers, and broadcasters alike will definitely enjoy the versatility that these headphones provide.
They produce a precise sound no matter what you are listening to. You might find the bass to be a bit lacking, but it is still noticeable, nonetheless.
The Sennheiser HD 25 headphones offer a lot of room for adjustability, allowing them to fit comfortably on almost anybody. They do require a bit of time to get used to, and your ears do get warm after extended periods.
That being said, if you can afford these headphones’ reasonable price while living without active noise cancellation, then the Sennheiser HD 25 headphones are definitely worth your consideration.
Until next time, happy listening.
