Sennheiser PX100W Supra-Aural Foldable Mini Headphones (White)
See it at Amazon.com for $29.88Average Customer Rating
(4.5 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
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(4 out of 5)They get the job done
I bought the PX 100 after reading online reviews in which they were very highly rated. I've had them now for a few days--I'm listening to a Haydn symphony through my computer CD drive as I type this--and my first impression is that they're okay. Just don't expect miracles, as you might after reading some of the glowing reviews.
On the plus side, they're very comfortable. I wear them when I'm recording myself, and I hardly notice them as I'm playing. The sound is reasonably detailed and open, with a solid bass. Another plus is that, although the semi-open design does allow sound to leak outside the headphones, it's not all that noticeable unless you're blasting at high volume. On the minus side, the carrying case would make a good substitute for a Rubik's Cube. (Instructions for using it are below.) Another caveat: The PX 100 doesn't seem as though it would stand up to hard use. The ear pads are foam rubber, and other than the metal head band, the rest is plastic. For me, this isn't a problem, as I've no intention of using it for travel. But reading Sennheiser's description of the headphones as "robust," one might assume you could hammer nails with it. Apparently Sennheiser and I have different views on the word "robust."
In sum, good sound (not great--for that, you'll need to pay more than $50), comfortable to wear, but don't accidentally sit on them.
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Over time, I've mastered the arcane skill of fitting the PX 100 into its plastic carrying case. For those still baffled by this, below is a procedure for how it's done. But before doing this, notice these features on the headphones:
The left end of the headband is labeled "1"--the right end of the headband is labeled "2."
Each headband end has a notch.
At the point where the headphone wire splits into two wires, there's a little grey sliding tab.
Okay, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you're an intelligent and accomplished adult who's mastered other difficult skills. You can do this. So let's get started:
1. Hold the headphones so that the "1" and "2" on the ends of the headphone band are facing you.
2. Fully retract the metal band on both sides.
3. Gently turn the earpads so they click into place with the foam side facing away from you.
4. Gently fold the headband end labeled "1" so that the earpad is almost touching the padded section of the headband.
5. Gently fold the headband end labeled "2" and line its notch up with the notch on headband end 1.
6. Gently push the notches together. You may have to hold the headband ends together with thumb and finger.
7. Now slide the little grey tab on the headphone wires until it's snug against the earpads.
8. With the folded headphones in one hand, pick up the carrying case with the other hand. The clear plastic side should be facing you.
9. With the numbered ends of the headband facing you, slide the headphones (band side first) into the carrying case. Gently push it into place so that the headband is snug against the inside of the clear plastic housing.
10. Wrap the cord around the grooved part of the carrying case. (Be sure you don't wind the cord outside the protruding tab.) When you reach the end of the wire, loop it around itself a few times and push the pin end inside next to the earpads.
11. Snap the carrying case shut.
12. Stand back and admire your work. If others are present, encourage them to applaud.
(5 out of 5)The PX100W, the iPod matching best Open Portable set of headphones in its class
The following review was written for the PX-100 but the only difference between these two great sets of cans is the colour, most likely to match iPods and such devices.
I started a journey about a year ago into the world of the audiophile, the lover of good sound. One of the first set of cans (audiophile speak for headphones) I purchased was the PX-100. I also received the Koss PortaPro at the same time and the PX-200 a few days later. The audiophile reviews in particular seemed to favor the PortaPro "slightly" and at first, I agreed with these reviews. As time has gone on, I have come to believe that the Sennheiser PX-100 outshines the comparable Koss PortaPro with better, more open and natural sound that isn't bass heavy and reproduces mids, highs and lows all equally and vividly! (I still am very fond of my PortaPros but I consider them to be a 4.5 star model vs. the Sennheiser PX-100, which I consider to be a true 5 star model.)
I've been so incredibly impressed by the Sennheiser PX-100 (and its closed, more bass reflexive relative, the PX-200) that I haven't even bothered to try the new iGrado portable made by my favorite headphone company, Grado Labs. So in terms of an Open Portable set of cans, the PX-100 are the very best set in my opinion. By comparison, the Koss PortaPro, has a somewhat "muffled" sound, requiring a little more power and not sounding quite as rich or dynamic, in my opinion. The PX series has a very low sound impedance of only 32 Ohms, which means that small low-power output devices such as CD/MP3 players and iPods can drive these cans without having to turn the volume way up and sucking your batteries dry quickly.
I have found the Sennheiser cans to be comfortable with durable pads on the headpiece and soft ear cushions, all of which are replaceable. So you are making an investment that will last! Being comfortable, you can also fall asleep in them; I have! They are also very sturdy and can be taken for walks, jogs, trips to the gym and so on. The PX-100's are Open cans so they will leak sound if you turn the volume up too high, possibly disturbing others around you. (If you want a portable set that both keeps your sound in and other people's sounds out, the PX-200 is the way to go.) The PX-100 sounds equally GREAT whether you are listening to an audiobook, classical music, rock, metal, contemporary, country or even a DVD or video game! Having said that, I believe you will be blown away by how much these little cans "can" do with whatever you throw at them! I listened to Samuel Barber's Adagio for String's (a very difficult piece that tests any headphone's abilities to handle all ranges!) and these cans handled every last detail beautifully. Martina McBride, Third Day, Metallica, Mozart and many others as well sounded absolutely amazing!
A lot of to do has been made about the difficulty of folding them up and storing them in their (very rugged and sturdy) plastic case. I have a nerve damaged left hand and I was able to fold them up and stow them the first time I used them in less than thirty seconds. In my opinion, it's a piece of cake! (And the directions are on the headphones as well as the case and packaging.)
Now the "but" or "qualified statement" list: These ARE audiophile level cans, which sound great right out of the box but there is there really is a break-in period for the absolute best results after about 12-20 hours. (I know; I didn't believe it at first either but I could hear the difference with every hour of use.) I believe that should you choose to purchase these Sennheisers, you are going to get a pair of absolutely amazing and out-of-this-world cans that will last for years to come!!
My final qualification is a warning: BEWARE blasting your hearing to pieces! These portable cans are able to produce amazingly accurate and beautiful sound but they are also able to produce amazingly LOUD (and yet still accurate!) amounts of sound.
In conclusion, I believe that the Sennheiser PX-100 is a fantastic portable open set of cans worth every penny you pay for them. They come with a full two year warranty from a company who stands behind their product. I am extremely pleased with all of my Sennheiser headphones and I believe that if you are looking for a Portable set of open headphones, the PX-100's are awesome and the choice to go with, and you have your choice of a black and silver model or the white model, depending upon your taste. Enjoy because it is all about the sound!
(5 out of 5)Best Portable Headphones This Price Range
You just dropped some cash on a new iPod (or any other portable music device/laptop) and all they give you are those little ear buds. Ear buds have their place (for being discreet, when wearing a hat, etc) but when you want to listen to the fine details in your music you have to step up to a better headset. I looked all over the web, read many reviews and by far, at this price, the PX 100 has the most stellar reviews. That includes comparisons to its more expensive siblings, the PX 200 and PX 250.
What most seperates the PX 100 from all the others in this price range is great BASS. It does a good job of delivering solid bass. Trebles are crisp too. They are so light weight, you won't even feel them after 5 minutes. Being open ear designed, you can still hear what is going on around you. If you choose not to, you can always bump up the volume.
I would say sound range-wise they compare to the Koss headsets you find at Barnes and Noble, but much more lightweight and comfortable. You won't be disappointed, especially when compared to those little earbuds.
And yes, for those of you who wondered, I was listening to them while writing this.
(5 out of 5)These are great Headphones
I use my iPod almost every day and the little ear buds that it came with were really starting to get annoying. In searching for a new pair of headphones, I was looking for several things: good sound, easily portable, durable, and not too expensive. These Sennheiser PX 100W's fit all four. They sound absolutely fantasitc, they fold up to easily fit in my gym bag, no worries about them breaking while in said gym bag, and they were just about forty bucks. Another great thing about them is that they stay put. With the ear buds, I was constantly fiddling with them to keep them in place. Not so with these headphones, just pop them on your head and you're good to go. I couldn't ask for anything more! Oh and aesthetically, I like that they are white, just like my iPod. :o)
(5 out of 5)Superior performance from an over-the-ear headphone
This is the best over-the-ear headphone that I have listened to, and inexpensive to boot. I gave it my personal acid test with Bach's Toccata and Fugue in 9 Minor, and it passed with flying colors, rendering both deep bass and very high frequencies accurately and without noticeable distortion even when playing very loudly.
While some have complained about the case and the complexity of folding the phones into the case, I have no problem with it. The phones fold easily (there's even a diagram on the case, and numbers on the earpieces so that you get them folded in the right order), and the case protects them from the rest of the junk in your briefcase.
The phones are very comfortable and can be worn for hours at a time with no problem -- excellent for long airline flights.
Altogether, I found this to be an elegant product with excellent performance, at a very reasonable price.