Sennheiser HD 485 Full-Size Circumaural Headphones

The title indicates that these are supraural headphones (fit on top of ear) but they are described as circumaural (fit around the ear). So which is it? They are definitely circumaural, which surprised me because the model one step below in the series (the Sennheiser HD 465) are supraural.

Compared to the 465, the 485 sounds better. For example, the bass notes come through with more clarity, possessing a realism that connects you to the instrument that produced them, rather than just providing that head-pounding beat that seems to be so popular these days.

My main concern when buying these headphones was value. Who spends $100 on a pair of headphones? Certainly no one in my family! I wanted a good set of headphones, something that would deliver a level of quality comparable to the speakers I have in my home theater. I'm happy with these headphones and I think they are a good value for the money. I had purchased a pair of Sony MDR-V300 headphones for $32 at a local big box store. I returned them because I wasn't happy with the sound quality. I believe I got value for my money when I traded up for these Sennheiser 485 headphones.

My only reservation is that they are circumaural. I wanted comfort, and I feel that the 465 are more comfortable due to the supraural design. I wish this website description had made that design feature clear to me.

Pros: These headphones ROCK! These headphones have outstanding bass and treble performance. I had a chance to compare these headphones to my friend's HD 280PRO set. What I noticed in the comparison was, the HD 485s have a much more "warm" sound, but without being "muddy". The HD 485s, impressively, almost reproduce the sound of big floor speakers; something I've been searching for for quite some time. The treble response is very equal and even. For example, the 6kHz range doesn't overpower the 15kHz range. As far as bass goes, the HD 485s have the best bass response out of any open-ear, and better than most closed-ear headphones that I've listened to. The HD 280PROs, however, sounded like a good, yet typical, set of headphones. The midrange and lower treble (approximately from 700Hz - 6kHz) was overly present. The HD 280PROs produced glass-shattering, ear piercing, and uncomfortable treble, where as the HD 485s produced more of an overall "clear" sounding treble.

Cons: There are no significant cons, however, there is one minor thing that should be addressed. These headphones are open-ear, and because of that, others around you can hear whatever you are listening to very easily. For example, I was listening to one of my favorite songs "Meridian", by Sirenia at full blast the other day. I happened to look up and noticed the ol' lady, who was across the room, singing along.

Other Thoughts: These headphones fit tightly, but at the same time, are very comfortable. I've listened to these headphones for hours at a time, and neither my head nor ears have ever felt soar. It's amazing how Sennheiser has managed to cram so much awesome into one set of headphones! Sennheiser 485s; definately worth your consideration!