Sennheiser HD 25 1 II, a headphone of Legend

Table of Contents

1. Design and quality
2. Technical characteristics
3. Ideal for DJs and music professionals.
4. What's in the box?
5. Sound quality
6. Conclusion

Sennheiser HD 25 1 II: Quality that endures

The Sennheiser HD 25 is a legendary headset. They appeared on the market in the late 1980s, and have remained among the headphones preferred by the most famous DJs and music producers. They are a classic, and represent the standard of quality for professional DJ and monitoring headphones.

These Sennheiser headphones are very light, and at the same time have a very resistant body. They are known for their durability. All parts are replaceable, so it's not uncommon to find users who have had them for more than two decades.

There are the three main versions of these Sennheiser headphones currently on the market: the HD 25 Light, the HD 25 Light ,the HD 25 1 II and the HD 25 Plus . The Light are the most economical, but have smaller drivers and a much less resistant headband. The classic second-generation model is known as HD 25 1 II, and there is also the HD 25 Plus model. The HD 25 Plus are the most expensive. What differentiates them? They are identical to the HD 25 1 II, but offer extras in the purchase package..

Design and quality

The Sennheiser HD 25 1 II are On-ear headphones (supra-aural) of the closed and dynamic type. The design is simple and functional. Sennheiser created these DJ headphones with music professionals in mind, which is why they gave priority to sound performance rather than aesthetics. It's not that they're ugly, they're just no more discreet than any other DJ headphones. They are available in a black finish that stands up to scratches very well, and have a fairly classic look.

The only negative thing we could point out about the design is that they do not feature a foldable structure. Sennheiser preferred to offer a robust body and thus avoid any fragile points that might occur with the folding system. The popularity the HD 25 has maintained over the years has proven them right. In addition, all components are replaceable, a very positive point. If you damage the headband, a cup or any other component, you can buy the part separately and they will be good as new.

Lightweight and comfortable

One of the most striking aspects of these Sennheiser headphones is their weight: they weigh only 140g. It's one of the factors that fascinates DJs the most. Lightweight DJ headphones are a welcome asset for long sessions, such as live sets or music production sessions.

They generate a little pressure on the head due to the strength with which the headphones attenuate external noise, but this is very tolerable. In addition, the HD 25 integrates a dual headband that can be detached to minimize any discomfort they may cause. The design is intended to withstand long listening sessions.

Both the double headband and cups feature vinyl padding. Not the softest material, but they are quite comfortable. The vinyl cushioning is one of the factors that allow the DJ HD 25 headphones to isolate you from external sound better than most on-ear headphones. However, if you prefer a more comfortable material, you can order an extra pair of very affordable velvet pads.

Technical characteristics

These DJ headphones integrate neodymium magnet drivers, which are lighter and offer better power than ferrite magnets. They also provide greater clarity in the high and low frequencies. On the other hand, the Sennheiser HD 25 1 II withstand a maximum sound pressure of 120 dB, much more than you need: the safe level to avoid any hearing loss is 85 dB. They offer a frequency response of 16-22 kHz.

The Sennheiser HD 25 1 II have an impedance of 70 ohms, a capacity far superior to that of the competition. The best headphones in this price range usually offer impedances of 25 or 30 ohms. Impedance, basically, indicates the electrical resistance of a headset. The higher the resistance, the more power a headset needs to sound good. On the other hand, the higher the impedance, the better the sound quality.

Ideal for DJs and music professionals

The Sennheiser HD 25 headphones are specially designed for audio monitoring and music mixing. They offer surprisingly good sound isolation for on-ear headphones, and perform very well in noisy environments such as studios, nightclubs, etc. In addition, they come with a rotating capsule that allows monitoring through one ear. No wonder they have been the headphones of choice for many DJs and music producers for the past 25 years. Among their known users are Hardwell , Afrojack , Marco Carola , Martin Solveig and Robin Schulz (to name a few).

Sound quality

These Sennheiser HD 25 headphones provide accurate and controlled bass. However, the best thing they offer is the quality of the mid-tones: they are perceived as very sharp and have a good presence. These tonalities are very important for mixing, as they contain the most subtle details, and if you do not hear them clearly you can easily damage a mix.

The bass has an important presence and is deep, but doesn't overshadow the mid tones. We believe the HD 25 1 IIs offer the perfect amount of bass for most occasions. You can use them in noisy places and feel the impact of the bass, but they are also satisfactory for listening to music at home.

Mid-tones are perceived as neutral, clear and detailed. Articulation is good, and all sounds are well separated. The sound spatiality doesn't compare to that of the best open Hifi headphones, but this is to be expected. Overall, the instrument separation is quite accurate and excellent for a closed headset.

The Sennheiser HD 25 headphones produce treble that has good presence and extension, but can sound too clinical in some songs. The mid-high frequencies may also lose some smoothness at times. This is the only negative thing we could note in the sound section.

Conclusion

The Sennheiser HD 25 1 II headphones offer a very balanced sound with good detail in all frequencies. In this respect, they outperform many more expensive headsets, and are well ahead of the direct competition. We understand why they have remained so competitive for more than 20 years.

These DJ headphones offer truly amazing sound isolation for on-ear headphones.They can operate in the noisiest environments. In addition, they offer a clarity of sound, free of distortion, that you don't usually find in this price range. The treble can sound very clinical at times and the sound spatiality doesn't compare with the best Hifi headphones. However, this comparison is rather unfair: the other models do not have the versatility of the HD 25 1 II and can cost a lot more money. Intrigued? Find Thomann's best deals.

Reviews of the Sennheiser HD 25 1 II

These have been the most legendary and adored DJ headphones for decades. The vast majority of the reviews are very positive, and almost no one has anything negative to say about them. However, we selected some opinions with different scores so that you can read different points of view:

• Hydargos: “The sound comes out true and accurate. Plus, they are comfortable and very light.”
• Bial Hclap: “Good choice for the price range and they stay the same after a year of use, although they do tighten up a bit after a while.”
• Ricard Peco: “They are comfortable and you forget you are wearing them. The sound quality is excellent, as are the construction materials. They are indestructible.”

Other good DJ headphones you can check out are the Audio Technica ATH-M50x. You can also check out the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless.

Technical specifications Sennheiser HD 25 1 II