Sennheiser PX200

I bought my Sennheiser PX 200 headphones two years ago, and haven't looked back. After heavy use in tropical climates they are coming to the end of their life and I will be replacing them with....another pair of the same!

Availability

They cost me £35 online, which is quite a bargain considering they retail for up to £45. I chose the white version as they seemed more girly than the black. They look super and stylish when worn, and I've had plenty of positive comments about that. Perhaps the black ones would be more sensible if you want them to stay pristine, as white definitely shows up all the marks.

The folding action

I specifically chose them for their folding action, as I do a lot of travelling and wanted something compact. They don't fold up particularly small but they are neat and easy to store once in their carry case. Getting them in there takes can be fiddly at first, but when you've mastered all the steps it only takes a second. The wire wraps around the edge of the case and as a result is only half protected. My best friend has the same headphones as me and managed to damage the exposed wire when it was stored in her rucksack, so take care with that.

Sound

They are fantastic for travelling because of the semi-closed ear pieces. I love them because I can have my music loud without the fear of annoyed looks from fellow passengers on planes, buses and trains. They really do keep the sound within. An added bonus of this is that the volume can be turned down lower than it would be with ear-bud earphones or open headphones, thus saving battery power on your MP3 player. Additionally they block out a lot of the ambient surrounding noise which is especially good for listening to chilled out music whilst trying to relax on long journeys in a noisy environment such as a plane or bus. They are also lightweight.

The quality of sound is fantastic, for such budget headphones. Not at all tinny and the bass is solid. A definite upgrade to the typical earphones supplied with most MP3 players. Personally I've always thought that if you're willing to spend over £100 on an Ipod or such, you should get some decent headphones to go with it, and these do the trick without breaking the bank.

Disadvantages

The only downside is the plastic coating over the foam headpiece and ear pieces. After two years the plastic coating on mine has degraded completely and there is now just a few ragged bits covering the exposed foam (see for yourself in the photo here). I think the reason for this however is due to their use in a very humid tropical climate. And perhaps also the fact that I wear them when running outdoors in the rain sometimes. So perhaps not a problem if you don't plan on using them or storing them in damp conditions.

Recommendations

I'd recommend these headphones for anyone who wants a decent sound coupled with easy storage. They may not boast the best sound quality on the market, but they are easily as good as headphones at twice this price. I think they offer real value for money.