In this Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones Review, we’ll discuss their best uses in music production and daily listening. Then we’ll talk about the tech specs. Finally, I’ll give you my opinion of them after being a music producer for over two decades. These closed-back headphones have a dynamic range you need for mixing, mastering, and listening to music podcasts, or TV.
Main Specifications of Sennheiser HD 280 Pros
Upon first inspection, they are durable and lightweight. They fit your average cranium comfortably. With an ergonomic and foldable design and decently lengthy cord. They look pretty solid at first glance, but we’ll get back to that very soon.
The earpads and headband padding are easy to replace. So, you’ll have these for a while as long as you keep a spare on hand. Also, the cord can be replaced too, as long as you store it correctly and don’t abuse it, you most likely won’t need to replace it.
So, why did I say at first glance? Well, there’s a weak spot on these beauties, the knuckle where they fold seems a little flimsy compared to the rest of the unit. Granted, if they’re just going to sit on your desk or hang on a rack, they’ll be perfectly fine. However, if you were planning on traveling with them, I’d go with something else like the Audio Technica ATH-M50X’s.
That being said, these belong in the studio. They are a great choice because of their neutral but vibrant and warm sound reproduction. Plus, the closed-back design doesn’t allow for much leakage. You need that most when recording vocals.
Who will get the most value from this set of headphones?
Anyone replacing an old set or upgrading from your average over-ear headsets will get a lot of great use out of these. Also, anyone starting out on their music production adventure, Singers, rappers, voice-over artists, and everyone who needs a quality set of headphones for listening to podcasts, TV shows, and daily music intake.
I went from an unbalanced cheap set to these fairly early on and they definitely make a noticeable difference. Before I got them, I didn’t think there could be enough of a change. I was wrong. It made a huge impact on what I was actually hearing. If I had known better, I’d have gotten them even sooner. Had I started producing beats after they were introduced to the market and had known about them, I’d have started with them.
These are a great choice for recording vocals because of their closed-back, tight-fitting, high-quality design. Since they are so heavy-duty they can get somewhat uncomfortable because of their weight, in very long recording sessions. That’s not saying you can’t watch a movie or two on your tablet. Maybe, even listen to a three-hour podcast or a few albums from your favorite musicians.
These are some hefty headphones, built to last.
A lot of people praise the quality of the babies because one of its pros is that they are made like they’re meant to last seemingly forever. However, that comes with an equally unavoidable negative. From the thick, high-quality plastic, the cushioning, and all the hardware used in its construction, the weight is instantly noticeable.
They are foldable for easy storage. The cable is a little long for walking around with unless you wrap it up securely, but not overly tight. It’s fairly thick, but that doesn’t mean you should bend it too hard or too often.
The ear cups are faux leather-bound but are surprisingly supple and durable. They can be easily removed just like the pad attached to the headband. After almost five years of extended use, I finally had to replace the padding and they felt like they were brand new again.
Even though these bad boys are super heavy-duty, they have a major flaw but it’s not game-ending for everyone. The knuckle where they bend is probably not the best. I don’t normally fold mine up, but when I need to I’m somewhat afraid I’ll end up breaking them. I obviously haven’t but it does feel a little delicate in that area.
Technical Specification of Sennheiser HD 280 Pros
The HD 280 Pros have extended frequency response and natural flat mid-range reproduction which is necessary and exactly what you want in your choice of mixing and mastering headsets.
- Nominal impedance 64 ohms. Sound pressure level (SPL) 113 dB
- Around the ear design with padded ear cups and closed-back headphones with up to 32 dB attenuation of outside sound.
- Frequency response between 8Hz to 25k Hz.
(The human ear can normally hear a range between 20 Hz on the low end, up to 20k Hz.)
- Cord Length is 9.8 feet uncoiled.
- Weight w/o cable: 0.63 lbs (285 grams)
Pros
The Sennheiser HD 280 Pros are quality headphones that are often used for audio production. Here’s a list of why they excel in their domain and why you will be pleased with their performance, but they aren’t perfect.
- Exceptional sound quality for not a lot of money
- Balanced mid-range and treble
- Extra comfortable circumaural ear pads
- Above-average sound isolation
- Replaceable earpads and headband padding
- “10 foot” (9.8′) replaceable cord
- Heavy-duty construction
- Foldable design makes them easy to store
- Good for Recording, Mixing, Mastering, and everyday listening
Cons
- Some people complain that they are a little heavy and it might give them neck strain, sometimes
- Others complain that they are too tight and they get soar around the ears after extremely long sessions
- They are very large when compared to most models of equivalent value
- The spot at which it folds is probably the weakest part of the unit
- The low end or bass is a tad weak but not overly
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Sennheiser Pro Audio HD280 PRO Headphones
Conclusion
With everything you need in a headset including great sound quality and some of the best mid-range, these are far from the best closed-back monitor headphones, but for their price range, they are superior in many ways to many of the known models available. They make a great starter or replacement set. As long as you take short “ear-breather” breaks during a session, you’ll be fine.
If you only need one set of headphones that won’t break the bank but aren’t just average, you should be pleased, if not completely satisfied with these.
If you found this article helpful and would like to know about some other models you may need more information about, here’s an article about my collection of headphones.
If you’d like to give feedback or need more specific information, feel free to leave a question or comment below. Or you can contact me directly at trx@tshapedmindset.com I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.