If you’re looking for a great pair of headphones under Rs. 2,000, your search ends here. Sennheiser HD 202 II is an impressive set of on-ear headphones that will surely impress you, whether you are listening to music or watching a movie.
There are a lot of choices you have in this budget range, but none match the build quality, listening comfort, sound quality and noise isolation provided by these headphones.
I’ve been using these headphones for almost a year now and recommend it highly.
Continue reading this extensive Sennheiser HD 202 II review to know why this is the best headphone you can buy under Rs. 2,000 budget.
Sennheiser HD 202 II Headphone Features
Headphone Type: Over-the-Head, On-the-Ear, Circum-aural
Frequency Response: 18 Hz – 18000 Hz
Headphone Sensitivity: 115 dB/mW at 1 kHz
Impedance: 32 ohm
Headphone Jack: 3.5 mm (6.3 mm via plug)
Cable Length: 3m (~10 feet)
Warranty: 2 Years Limited Warranty
Background
Listening to music is one of my favourite past times. Suffice to say, I spend a lot of my time with headphones on, either connected to my computer when I’m at home (also my workplace), or my mobile phone when I’m outside.
Creative EP630 were my go-to earphones whenever I wanted to hear some tunes or watch a movie. These in-ear earphones are great for the price they can be bought for.
However, they weren’t ideal for home or work use where you tend to keep your earphones on for a longer duration of time.
I knew I had to get a bigger pair of over-the-head headphones to increase my music listening comfort. Even though I like to listen to music a lot, I don’t consider myself an audiophile (just like I don’t consider myself a foodie even though I like to eat different types of food).
My budget for the new headphones was limited to Rs. 2,000 max. The options I had were Skullcandy Uprock, JBL J03B Tempo, Sony MDR-XB400 and Sennheiser HD 202 II. JBL’s and Sony’s offerings were interesting, but ultimately it was Sennheiser that won me over.
Build Quality
The first thing you notice when you open the Sennheiser HD 202 II headphones from its packaging is how singular it is. The headband is a single piece of flexible and sturdy plastic. The quality of the plastic headband may feel a bit cheap at first, but it is also very sturdy.
The earcups can be slid across the headband and rotated sideways slightly for a fit that’s perfect for you.
The headband’s inner side is glued with foam cushioning at the top. The material used for this cushioning is top-notch too.
The earcups are made of hard plastic and are detachable (pro users can make use of this functionality). The earpads are also slightly better than what you usually see in this budget range. They’re soft and comfy.
A wind-up belt clip is included along with the headphones for easy cable management. With a 10 foot wire, this definitely comes in handy, especially if you’re using the headphones while travelling. It helps immensely in managing the cable clutter.
Comfort
One of the main reasons why I choose the Sennheiser HD 202 II is its circum-aural design. The earcups are average in size; not too big, nor too small. They wrap around your ears almost completely and don’t put much pressure on them. While this is comfortable, it can also cause your ears to sweat during hot and humid days.
It’ll take some time to get used to the fit, especially if you’re upgrading from other cheap headphones, but I’m sure you’ll like it after a while.
The headband is flexible and can accommodate almost any adult head size. The soft padding at the top also adds to the comfort level.
Apart from being able to move along the headband, the earcups also have a rotating mechanism that enables them to adjust automatically to your head’s shape.
Sound Quality
Sennheiser is a brand well-known for its dedication to deliver high-quality audio equipment. German engineering never fails to impress. The same can be said about Sennheiser HD 202 II headphones.
Bass and mids are where these headphones excel. If listening to Bollywood and pop music is all you do, then these headphones are perfect. The same applies for hip-hop and house music. The voices are clear, the thump is drool worthy, and the music rolls off the speakers without much distortion.
The highs can be a bit muddled though, especially at max volume. I listen to rock and heavy metal mostly, and I can sense that the sound emanating from cymbals is not as clear and loud as it should be. Though not perfect, these are still a good pair of headphones to listen to rock music.
Noise Isolation
The Sennheiser HD 202 II performs a good job at alienating ambient sound from your surroundings. The noise isolation is not foolproof; you can definitely hear some noise from outside if it’s loud enough, especially if it is emanating from a close range.
I can hardly hear my mother or sister yelling at me when I’m listening music at >75% volume. This is one of the reasons why these headphones are also excellent for playing videogames or watching a movie.
They’re definitely good as far as sound quality is concerned, but the noise isolation makes getting immersed in your favorite movie, videogame or TV show that much easier.
Conclusion
If you’re in the market for a decent pair of over-the-head headphones that won’t burn through your pockets, buy the Sennheiser HD 202 II (alternately, buy from Amazon via Sennheiser HD 202 II Professional Over-Ear Headphone (Black)
I’m sure you won’t regret your decision. You’ll discover a new dimension of music that you haven’t experienced before.
Pros
- Great build quality
- Amazing sound quality
- Decent noise isolation
- Adjustable and removable earcups
- Lengthy 3 meter cable
Cons
- Feels plasticky
- Ears can sweat in hot weather
- Cable too lengthy for portable use
- Highs are a bit muffled at max volume
- Noise isolation isn’t perfect at low volume
