In a world full of iPods, CD Players, handheld video games, MP3 players, Portable Media Players, music / video capable Mobile Phones, and a wide range of other mobile audio technologies, there is one thing that always amazes me.  No matter how much you pay for that product, $30 or $800, you will find included with the instruction manual and AC Adapter, a pair of earphones that probably cost the manufacturer $5 or less.

While the quality of the sound output will vary depending on the source material and the device used to play it, the most critical part of the listening experience is where the audio comes out to your ears.  The earphone, headphone, or speaker is also where the listener has the greatest level of choice when it comes to deciding on the quality of the audio reproduction.  So if you are interested in getting more than $5 of quality from your $300 iPod, then you should consider upgrading your “stock” earphones.

In this series of reviews, I will be taking a look at a few mid to high range earphones and headphones from some of the most popular and respected headphone manufacturers.  With a focus on mobile use, all of the models reviewed are small, compact, and portable.

For my listening experience, a number of different devices were used including 3 different MP3 players, CD and DVD audio from my notebook computer, the Mobinote DVX-POD personal media player, and a Sony PSP.  All source materials were either optical or digital and in the case of MP3s, were encoded at a variety of bit rates from 128 to 320 kbps.  The material included DVD movies, PSP Games, and music.  Music genres that were used included Rock, Jazz, Pop, and Classical.  The same EQ levels were used for listening to all earphones.

For over 60 years, the European company Sennheiser has produced a wide range of audio products.  With many divisions specializing in aviation, audiology, conference, information, wireless, microphone, and headphone, Sennheiser makes so many different models and products that there is something for every person who appreciates good sound. 

Sennheiser MX500 Earphones
Price: $21.99

The MX-500 is a basic in-ear earphone that sits inside the lower anti-helix of the outer ear next to the ear canal.  It does not insert sound into the ear via an ear cushion or isolate you from external noises.  You will still be able to hear the noise and voices around you.  A pair of foam cushions are included if the solid plastic of the earphones are uncomfortable for you.  A really nice feature, especially at such a low price, is the inline volume control.  The volume control is so small and hidden that I completely missed it until I read the instruction manual.  At first, I thought there was something wrong as my MP3 player volume was high yet I could barely hear the sound.  Once I found the inline volume control, I was able to adjust the sound level.

The MX-500 included a nice, “winder” carrying case.  I like the case since it helps to manage the earphone cable and allow you to wind up and remove the earphone quickly and easily.  I do not understand why more expensive earphones do not use this type of case.  Most of my other earphones get all tangled up in my pocket which is really annoying each time I want to listen to my music.

The MX-500 is very light weight and features a 3.5mm stereo plug, 1 meter cable, and 32 Ohm dynamic drivers which have 119 dB Sound Pressure Level, 1% total harmonic distortion, and a frequency range of 18-22,000Hz.  The power efficiency of the MX-500 is average for a basic earphone, so you will need to turn up the volume to the mid-high range for noisy environments.  While the bass range is better than most “stock” earphones and has a nice rich sound, it is not as deep and powerful as more upscale earphones.  The mid range is solid and clean while the high range is of average quality, lacking the fast response and crisp high range reproduction of Sennheiser’s other products.

Overall, the performance of the MX-500 is good and an exceptional value for the price.  This is definitely one earphone I would recommend if you want better than “stock” performance at an affordable price.

Sennheiser PX200 Headphones
Price: $69.95

The Sennheiser PX200 is a nice, mid-range folding headphone.  With features like a folding design for portability and padded ear and head cushions for comfort, the PX200 is easy to carry and use.  The single point pivot of each speaker makes the PX200 easily adjustable for most head sizes.  The PX200 is light weight and the speaker cushions make it comfortable to wear, although my ears get a little sore after more than 1 hour since the cushions rest on top of the ears (due to its compact size) rather than on the side of the head.  I previously purchased a PX100, which I still use today, and the PX200 is a nice upgrade in performance.

The PX200 does not come with any accessories other than a hard shell case to protect the headphone once it is folded.  It is very protective, good for traveling, and managing the cable.  Unlike the MX500, the PX200 does not have an inline volume control.

Since the ear cushions do cover most of the ear, the PX200 provides some noise isolation, but you can still hear the noise around you.  The power efficiency seems to be a little better than the MX-500, so you do not need to keep the volume level as high for a comfortable listening experience.  The PX200 features a lightweight (60g) design with Neodymium magnets for low distortion, Sennheiser custom diaphragms for good response and reproduction, 3.5mm stereo plug, 1.4 meter cable, and dynamic drivers with 32 Ohm impedance, 115 dB sound pressure level, 1% total harmonic distortion, and a 10-21,000 Hz frequency range.  All sound ranges are good with a “solid” quality at all frequencies.  The bass range is very good with a deep, “tight” sound.  The mid range is also very good, while the high range is good, but seems to lack a fast response to quick note changes. 

The Sennheiser PX200 is a definite “step up” in overall sound quality and performance from “stock” earphones.  If you are looking for a major upgrade and want to move away from small, in-ear earphones, the PX200 is great for most music types, especially if you like a little more bass in your music.

Sennheiser PXC250 Headphones
Price: $169.95

I have always liked my Sennheiser PX100’s, but due to the fact that I spend way too much time on airplanes, I sometimes need an Active Noise Suppression headphone.  With the PXC250, I can now have both.  The PXC250 is basically the same as the PX200, but with a powered, “NoiseGuard” module to supply an active noise reduction.  If you have never tried an A.N.S. headphone, the basic principle is the headphone uses an intelligent, powered module that analyzes the noise in the environment and produces an inverse noise to counteract the environment noise.  This will give you a quieter listening environment and clear music reproduction.  Mostly good for environments where the noise is constant and consistent, A.N.S. headphones are especially good on airplanes to reduce the wind and engine noises.

The PXC250 comes with a nice, zippered soft case with an extra compartment for the 1/8th inch and dual plug airline adapters.  The noise reduction module is a 5 inch long cylinder which contains the noise circuitry, 2 AA batteries, power switch, and belt clip.  The module is positioned at the mid point in the 1.8 Meter cable.

The sound quality and performance of the PXC250 is the same as the PX200.  The only differences would be the 106 dB sound pressure level and 300 Ohm impedance of the PX250.  The PXC250 requires much more volume power from your audio device than the other Sennheiser products.  The overall volume level will be amplified when the noise suppression mode is on.  Most active noise suppression headphones have a tendency to create too much inverse sound, so you hear a noticeable white noise when the music is not playing.  This can also degrade your music quality by producing sounds other than the ones coming from your audio device.  I like the PXC250’s noise suppression.  It does produce a significant noise reduction while not producing as much noticeable white noise, when there is silence, as models from other companies.  I like to use it even when I am not listening to any music just to reduce the noise level on the airplane.

The price of the Sennheiser PXC250 is in the middle range of the market for Active Noise Suppression headphone.  While you can find a cheaper A.N.S. headphone, the PXC250 offers great sound quality and excellent noise suppression performance in a compact, lightweight headphone that is both easy to carry and easy to wear.

Reviewed by Harvey Lee, Senior Technology Editor

Product:  Sennheiser MX500, PX200, and PXC250 Headphones
Manufacturer:  Sennheiser
Web Site:  http://www.sennheiser.com
Catagory:  Mobile / Audio Hardware