Headphones and Earphones

Sennheiser HD 238 Precision High Resolution Stereo Headphones

Setup

The ear cups are 2 ¾ inches (7cm) long by 2 ¼ inches (5.7cm) wide. The drivers feature neodymium magnets and lightweight diaphragms. Sennheiser rates the frequency response from 16 to 23,000 Hz, with a nominal impedance of 32 Ω. Total Harmonic Distortion is reported as less than 0.5% at 1 kHz & 100dB. Given that these headphones are “optimized” for and marketed for use with portable audio devices like iPods, MP3 players, and portable CD players, the connector is a standard 1/8” audio plug. Sennheiser chose not to include a ¼” stereo headphone adapter which is required for use with most pre/pros and receivers. A black woven nylon carrying pouch with draw-string closure is included with the HD 238s. The pouch is very basic, and does not match the level of quality of the headphones themselves. I would have preferred something made of softer material, or at least lined with a softer material.

As mentioned earlier, the HD-238’s are “on-ear” and also open-back. They therefore offer no sound isolation. For people who use headphones in noisy environments, these Sennheisers may not be the best for them. On the other hand, I found that the lack of sound isolation can sometimes be beneficial: while listening to some favorite music at home, I could still hear my wife call me, or the phone ringing.