Sennheiser HD 380 Pro headphones

I have HD 650 for cross reference when monitor mixing and needed closed back headphones for microphone placement. This requires a good balance between isolation ( to be able to clearly hear the mic over room sound ) and as neutral frequency response as possible - no easy task. These phones err to the side of good sound while still providing ample attenuation for mic placement of quiet to loud sources. Loud sources ( e.g. drums ) would benefit from more isolation but this only comes at the expense of worse balance. Other phones ( DT770M ) will provide a slight increase in isolation but at the cost of frequency response. This was not a compromise i was willing to make as more neutral frequency balance allows for better mic placement which then allows for more accurate source translation to the mix. These 380's give a good balance of the two factors. The only other options i found were the ATM M50 ( smaller cups which sit on ears to some extent which is no good for me ) and DT770 pro 80 ohms which have less isolation than the HD 380's.



The HD 380's obviously clamp a little to provide close fit but not as much as some reviews led me to believe. Not a problem at all. The leatherette material combined with the secure fit causes heat and sweating as expected but this just shows they are doing the job of passive attenuation and it is not overbearing to me. I find them very comfortable and the surrounding ear cups are large enough for larger ears than mine without contact with them. I have an ear condition whereby pressure on the ears from too small headphones or contact causes painful nodule formation. Both HD 380 and 650 cups are elliptical which is the right shape to allow space for the human ear.



Sound wise, balance is good with only a slight emphasis to extreme lows / boominess ( <100 hz ) mostly apparently when summed to mono but these lows are clearer and more detailed than the HD 650's slightly muffled lows to me. The provide an over all clearer more detailed sound than HD 650's due to more prominent presence range ( upper mids and highs ). This makes them ideal for mic placement or cross reference for details in lows, and important upper mids and highs. The HD 650's have a very warm sound with less highs and upper mids and a more natural sound due to open back design. This makes them great for long mixing sessions or listening to music for longer periods.



The only thing i dislike about the 380's is their dual purpose design ( DJ and studio ) as the cups swivel for DJ's and transport. I would have preferred them to be fixed position ( dedicated studio use ) as i often have to reposition them for placement but this is a minor irritation and i understand they cater for both markets. The build quality is light but ok and has all replaceable parts. Other than swivelling DJ action its top marks all around.