Sennheiser HD-238 Headphones

Sennheiser is a brand name that needs no introduction to audiophiles and mass-market audio consumers alike – their high-end products are well regarded by audiophiles and their low-end products are generally well received by everyday consumers. Their headphone lineup is quite comprehensive – they have models that go for $30 and models than go for $1,000+ - and all of the headphones that have come under our review microscope have left an overall good impression.

We're back at it again today with a close look at a portable set of headphones in the mid-tier price category – the Sennheiser HD238 headphones. Retailing at $139, they are marketed as providing "high-quality lifelike stereo sound" with an open-back design, all without sacrificing comfort. We test these claims and see how they compare to other similarly priced headphones for iPods and other portable music players.

Design

The HD238 is open-backed and this is the main difference between it and the slightly lower-priced sibling, the HD228. Similar to most headphones in the Sennheiser lineup, the HD238 is quite understated when it comes to looks. Black plastic is used primarily for the construction of the headphones, with a silver trim along the outer ovals on the earpads to give them a bit more flare. Each earcup can be rotated 90 degrees for storage and transport, as well as slightly tilted inwards/outwards to contour to your head shape. Notably missing is the ability to fold the headphones.

The HD238 design is unobtrusive in that it is lightweight and has very minimal clamping effect. Each earcup is made with a combination of foam and pleather, and the headband is also made with pleather along with soft padding. The single-sided cord is made of rubber and is quite thin in comparison to other headphone cords. The 3.5mm plug is the largest we've ever seen for a portable set of headphones, and I have to wonder what the designers were thinking with this plug. The bulk is noticeable even when compared to the size of standard headphones, and downright enormous when compared to the size of plugs for portable headphones.

Each oval-shaped ear cup size is 3" long and 2" wide, which makes the headphones fit well on an average sized set of ears. This on-ear design is typical of portable headphones, as over-the-ear designs are usually too bulky to transport easily.

Specifications

• Frequency response: 16 - 23,000 Hz
• Impedance: 32 Ω
• Sensitivity: 114 dB SPL/1mW
• Cord: 4.5ft (1.5m), single-sided; Straight Plug
• Space-Saving Mechanism: Flat-folding

Sound Quality Testing

The sound quality performance evaluation of the HD238 earphones was performed exclusively by listening to MP3s and FLAC music stored on my Sansa Fuze. I listened to a number MP3s with bit rates of 128kbps and 320kbps, as well as lossless audio tracks in FLAC format. A wide selection of rock, alternative, classical and hip-hop music was used in the evaluation.

Overall impressions of the HD238 show that it has a plentiful amount of bass, slightly warm mids and extended but fairly bland sounding highs. The soundstage is good, with a fairly open sound that still provides clear instrument separation. The soundstage does not rival more expensive portable offerings, but is on par with similarly priced portable headphones.

High frequencies sound smooth, but don't grab your attention. They do not have as much energy or sound as sharp, for example, as the recently tested Phiaton PS320. The lack of liveliness in the highs makes these headphones sound distant with many songs, and not as intimate as more forward sounding 'phones. The highs extend well into the upper range and never come across as shrill or harsh, which made long listening sessions quite enjoyable.

Mids are slightly warm sounding, and also slightly recessed. Vocals were smooth and blended well with the highs. The mid frequencies do not have a lot of energy, and can be occasionally overpowered by the rest of the audio spectrum for some songs. The level of detail provided by the HD238 is perfectly adequate for most listeners. More detail focused listeners will likely miss out on some of the finer details of their favorite tracks.

Bass is where the HD238 kicks it up a notch and provides a lot of 'oomph'. The low frequencies extend low and never seem to run out of steam regardless of the type of music you throw at it. The bass is well controlled, although it does come across as somewhat boomy in songs that have a lot of mid-bass frequencies. I also found that on some tracks the mid-bass bleeds through into the mids, which causes some musical details to be glossed over. Overall the bass is punchy without being too overbearing - which is not an easy feat to accomplish.

Isolation

Isolation is a weak point and where the HD238's fall short compared to other portables. With the open-back design even normal conversations will intrude upon your music listening. Using them in a loud environment, like a bus or a subway, requires you to crank up the volume level to drown out the external noise. They also leak an ample amount of sound – not a prime candidate for listening in work environments.

Comfort

Comfort is a strong point with this lightweight pair of Sennheisers. The combination of foam and pleather pads offers a soft feel on your ears, and the pleather headband has plenty of padding to it. The rotating ear cups allow the ear cups to fit snugly on any head shape and I found it easy to get a comfortable fit right out of the gate. Clamping effect is absolutely minimal, and my ears were happy to continue music listening for 2+ hour sessions with the HD238.

Portability

Portability is a mixed bag with these headphones. On one hand, they are extremely lightweight and can be folded flat for easy transport. On the other hand, they cannot be folded up where the ear cups take up a smaller amount of space. The lengthy and bulky plug is also an issue if you are trying to strap your MP3 player to your arm, or simply have shallow pockets to hold your MP3 player.

Sennheiser HD-238 Headphones

An overall impressive presentation of bass and mid-frequencies, along with superb comfort, are where the HD238 really excels. The low-end kick, along with a good amount of detail, makes these a fun set of headphones to listen to. It is worth mentioning, though, that the lackluster highs may be a deal breaker for some users. If you don't need a lot of isolation and can live with the portability drawbacks, the HD238s are definitely worth a listen at around $80-$90 USD online price.

A few bothersome issues keep the HD238's from scoring higher. Lack of isolation and sound leakage are the biggest concerns, along with a few nitpicky details on their portability. They are certainly a competent set of portable headphones, but these concerns make it hard to recommend them as an ideal choice for an all-around portable set.

Pros: Plenty of punchy bass; good amount of detail; extremely comfortable; lightweight.

Cons: Very little isolation; uninspired high frequencies; not the most travel-friendly.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

www.sennheiser.com