Sennheiser HD 2.10 Review

When it comes to on-ear headphones under $50, Sennheiser is NOT the brand that comes to mind.  Or at least, it wasn’t the brand that came to mind – until I got my hands on the new $49.95 HD 2.10 headphones.

Sennheiser HD 2.10 Review

The HD 2.10 comes packaged with some warranty info, and that’s it.  No pouches, no clips, no nothin’.

Made almost entirely from plastic, the spindly design can be a turn-off at first glance.  However, once you hold the headphone in your hands, you feel a bit reassured.  The headband, as narrow as it is, does sport a tiny bit of padding – maybe it’s this small amount of padding or the thin headband, but you barely feel these once they are on your ears.  Thick pleather earpads do a fantastic job of blocking out ambient noise.

Specs

Frequency Range:  18-18,000 Hz
Impedance:  26 ohms
Sound Pressure Level (SPL):  110 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD):  < 0.5%

Low End

The low end on the HD 2.10 is decent, with some detail and a TON of bass.  Surprisingly, there is also a small amount of control – ensuring that bleed doesn’t get too bad.  Vocals can seem a bit smeared at times, still, but in general it’s a good low end.

Mids

In the midrange, things are much as they should be.  Overall, there aren’t many glaring issues, though the upper mids might sound a bit wonky – at least to my ears.  This is far from a dealbreaker, and to be honest, the sound is still fantastic for fifty bucks.

High End

Despite lacking some finer detail, the high end still manages to impress me.  Sure, it doesn’t sound as good as it should when compared to higher end stuff.  And even at $50, I could probably get a better high end on the Koss Porta Pro, but the HD 2.10 still has a great high end for a cheap, bassy Sennheiser model.  Never too bright, there whole top end of the frequency range sounds a bit clipped  – not for everyone, but probably perfect for this headphone.

Soundstage

The soundstage on this headphone has an almost-tangible sense of depth to it.  Unfortunately, placement could be a bit better – some instruments seem to be occupying the same space, forcing certain tracks to become a little less articulate.  However, given that depth, I’d say these aren’t half bad for classical tastes.

Overall Impressions

I wasn’t expecting these headphones to wow me as much as they have.  They’re cheap, the low end is decent, the mids don’t suck too bad, and the sense of realism is amazing.

Recommendations

Not a fan of bass?  Prefer a bright-sounding headphone?  Opt for the Koss Porta Pro for a more level, analytical sound, or consider the AKG K72 for a more detailed high end.

However, if an intense low end is your cup of tea, or if you want something portable that handles rock and hip hop with equal fervor, the Sennheiser HD 2.10 is probably the pony to bet on.   In fact, I would recommend it over my previous favorite, the Beyerdynamic DTX 350p – the Sennheiser is more comfortable and just a tad bit clearer.

Final Analysis

Cheap as chips by well-built and oozing bass, the HD 2.10 is bound to turn some heads.  If you’re searching for an amazing $50 headphone, this one should definitely be on your list. Grab it at the cheapest price on Audio 46 or head over to Amazon for a competitive price.