Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I own a couple of pairs of headphones for different purposes, the Sennheiser HD202 is for listening to my iPod. I'm living in a city where mobile-zombies are addicted to incessant cell phone chatting in the public. The headphones' ability of providing isolation from outside annoyance is of utmost importance when I consider purchasing a pair of headphones for traveling use. The HD202, sealed in design, excels in that functionality. Most noises are decently blocked away from my listening pleasure. The HD202 is mid-sized, and I don't find portability a burden. The headphones are circum-aural, for my average-sized ears, which contributes a lot to the good isolation. The pleather ear-pads and cushion under the head-band are comfy, no complaints for extended wearing for me. Sound-wise, I found the HD202 performing unexpectedly well for headphones in this price range. These cans could be driven by the iPod with ease. Judging by listening impressions, I found the HD202's frequency response even and flat, with a little emphasis on the bottom and a bit roll-off on the high end. Bass-heads might found its lows less then head-bombing, but it's just adequate for me, allowing mids and highs passing through to paint a balanced sound profile. Since the HD202 is a sealed-type design, notes above the mids are not as open and airy as its open counterparts. Details are of cuz not as good as the Sennheiser HD600, my reference phones, but it's totally acceptable for a pair of traveling cans. The Grado SR-60 has more details, but its highs are, surprisingly, harsher than the HD202, and it just fails to block any noise from outside which defeat the very intention of evading the roaring of the zombies. My listening spectrum is broad, ranging from classical, operas, chansons francaises, jazz, old rock, psychedelic, indies, metal to trip hop. Although not perfect (what could be anyway?), the HD202 performs satisfactorily in every genre I have tried through it, and favors music with heavy beats, like Portishead and Morcheeba. It also sounds good with Doors, Cream, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. It's best for dance, pop and rock. For classical fans, the HD202 could also bring smile on your face. It's not the smoothest phones in the world, but its shortcomings (a bit dry and inability to retrieve full details) are forgivable and it could let you forget hi-fi and dive into musical nirvana. Gieseking's Debussy piano readings from his 78r/m era are just magical, and the pluckings of the double-bass in Munch's "Symphonie Fantastique" (1954 version) are tangible and rich. The HD202 also "Rings", pun not intended, well with Wagner. The Bayreuth acoustics are understated, yet remains beautiful, through the HD202. I enjoy every bow across the strings and the "Ho-jo-to-ho!" by the Walkures. For jazz, both vocals (Lady Day) and instrumentals (Monk and Coltrane) swing. For durability, the HD202 doesn't score too high. The cord on the left can has developed bad contact after 2 years' service. Since the cords are non-detachable, the ailment could not be remedied. I thought of buying a new set of HD202 but was bitten by the up-grade bug and bought a HD212pro instead. And boy what wrong I have done and feel regretted for my conversion. The HD212 might have deeper bass, but it doesn't come close to the HD202 regarding naturalness which I place high regarding music listening. It has TOO MUCH bass for my taste. Sounds are richer but somewhat artificial in the 212. I much prefer the 202 to the bass-exaggerated, unnatural and over-rated 212pro. For listeners not obsessed with bass fetishism and hi-fi-similacrum who want to enjoy music on the road, Sennheiser HD202 is highly recommended.