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Sennheiser HD 700 review: Among the best-sounding audiophile headphones

These audiophile 'phones not only sound great, but they're comfy, too.

Steve Guttenberg
Ex-movie theater projectionist Steve Guttenberg has also worked as a high-end audio salesman, and as a record producer. Steve currently reviews audio products for CNET and works as a freelance writer for Stereophile.
Steve Guttenberg
5 min read

Sennheiser's new HD 700 ($999.95) over-the-ear headphones sound "effortless," without strain, harshness or aggressive edge. Their stereo soundstage is more open and spacious than you'll hear from most audiophile headphones, and the bass, midrange, treble balance is very smooth, with no overly exaggerated frequencies. The HD 700 is straight down the middle, a very accurate set of headphones designed for buyers who want to hear sound with nothing added or taken away from the music.

8.1

Sennheiser HD 700

The Good

The <b>Sennheiser HD 700</b> is a large, full-size audiophile headphone model with a wide-open sound profile and transparency that sounds great on digital music players.

The Bad

The HD 700 is very expensive, so some buyers might be put off by the amount of plastic used in the design.

The Bottom Line

Sennheiser's HD 700 isn't just one of the best-sounding headphone models we've tested, it's also remarkably comfortable to wear for hours at a time.

Design and features
The HD 700 feels like it weighs almost nothing on your head, but in fact it's 272 grams, which is about average for full-size headphones. Its plush microfiber-covered earpads allow for some air circulation, so they are less likely to make your ears sweat than leather pads would.

I find the HD 700 well above average in comfort, even after hours of use. Earpad pressure against my ears was light, and that certainly contributed to the HD 700's exceptional comfort. It's one of the few full-size headphones that didn't put pressure against the frames of my glasses.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The HD 700's unique styling may not align with everyone's tastes, but I think it looks great. Overall build quality is top-notch, but the earpieces and headband are made of gray plastic, which feels out of place on a high-end design. The 40mm driver is unique to the HD 700, and is not used in any other Sennheiser headphones.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The HD 700's open-frame earpiece supports the 40mm driver within a tightly controlled, open-air acoustic chamber. The three ultrafine, stainless-steel mesh grilles gracing the earcups' exterior may appear to be purely cosmetic, but they were carefully designed to control the air movement behind the 40mm driver.

The steel mesh may dent if you handle the HD 700 too roughly, but even small dents won't adversely affect the sound of the headphones, according to a Sennheiser engineer I asked.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Then again, high-end headphones should be treated with the same care one would give a $1,000 digital camera. That's not to imply a concern for the HD 700's long-term durability; my 15-year-old Sennheiser HD 580 headphones' plastic parts never cracked or deteriorated in any way.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The HD 700's earpieces are free to move on lateral and vertical pivots, so they should conform to everyone's head shape with ease. The open-back design does not isolate the wearer from hearing environmental noise, and people near the listener will hear sound coming from the headphones. As such, the HD 700s probably won't be the best headphones to listen in bed when you're not alone.

The headphone comes packed in a handsome and sturdy padded storage case. The 9.8-foot-long Y cable has 3.5mm connectors that plug into the left and right earcups, while the stereo 6.3mm connector at the other end can plug into an AV receiver or dedicated headphone amplifier.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The cable is very flexible and covered in a durable fabric, but has a tendency to kink when bent. It does not come with a 3.5mm adapter plug.

The HD 700 has a 150-ohm-rated impedance, as opposed to 300 ohms for the flagship HD 800 headphone. Even so, 150 ohms is higher than most headphones designed for use with portable music players and phones, typically rated at 50 ohms or less.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The HD 700 doesn't fold up for compact storage and isn't designed to withstand the stresses of being jammed into a travel bag too many times, so it's really a stay-at-home set of headphones.

The HD 700 comes with a two-year warranty, and proof of purchase or sales receipt from an authorized dealer is required for warranty claims.

Performance
The HD 700 is equally adept playing movies and music, thanks to its unfatiguing sound. Resolution of fine detail is in the top tier of high-end headphones, and yet with good quality recordings, the sound is never harsh or unpleasant in any way.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The HD 700's wide-open soundstage floats freely from the earpieces, so I found it easy to forget I was wearing the headphones after just a few minutes into watching "Being Flynn" on DVD. The sound isn't confined within my head, rather it appears to come from further away.

The film stars Robert De Niro as a homeless man, and the HD 700s let me hear subtle details of the actors' voices better than I do over most high-end speaker systems. When De Niro is out on city streets, the traffic sounds come from off in the distance. The HD 700's neutrality is especially evident with dialog; voices sound naturally balanced and clear.

Outrageously powerful soft-to-loud dynamic jolts, like in the plane crash scene in the "Flight of the Phoenix" DVD are communicated better than they are with most headphones, but nowhere as well as big speakers and subwoofers. I'm using an Onkyo TX SR805 AV receiver for these music and home theater listening tests.

For music listening, I switch over to the Schiit Lyr headphone amplifier ($450). The deep rumbling basslines on my "French Dub Connection" CD are given their full due by the HD 700.

With great headphones like these you don't just hear the bass, you can sense the very texture of the sound. My Grado RS-1's bass is just as powerful, but it's looser and less clear. The RS-1 also shrinks the recording's soundstage, collapsing it inward, so it's trapped between my two ears.

On fusion jazz recordings, funky electric bass notes sound blurred over the RS 1, and more crisply defined over the HD 700. When the drummer whacks a snare drum, the HD 700 will make me jump; it's that alive and realistic sounding.

The HD 700's refinement also shines with classical music. The headphone almost disappears and lets the music come through without adding any coloration to the sound. The quiet details, like the room sound and ambience of the recording venue are presented with unerring accuracy.

The Sennheiser's clarity is hard to resist, especially compared with the Hifiman HE-500 ($799) headphone. The HE-500 has a richer tone, which some listeners may prefer, but in the end the HD 700 sounds more like being there, and it's considerably more comfortable than the HE-500.

Previous generations of high-end Sennheiser headphones didn't sound great plugged into iPods and such, but the HD 700's winning clarity is on full display on my iPod Classic.

Conclusion
The HD 700 is very expensive at $999.95, but its extraordinary sound, build quality, and comfort justifies its lofty price tag for the most demanding audiophiles. They're highly accurate and clear, but won't likely satisfy buyers seeking a rich and warm tonal balance. Regardless, no single set of headphones can please every taste, and the HD 700 will appeal to those buyers who prize clarity and sonic precision.

8.1

Sennheiser HD 700

Score Breakdown

Design 9Features 8Performance 9Value 7