I unboxed Sennheiser's new entry-level audiophile headphones and "ooohhh"
These headphones don't necessarily feel like they are worth the $449.95 asking price, but then you listen to them and the price tag makes sense.
When Sennheiser announced its new HD 505 entry-level audiophile headphones, I was excited to try them out. It's been a few years since I've tested premium wired headphones, and I had forgotten why I always used to love testing them out.
After I recorded this video, I decided to show them off to my 15 year old son. He loves his music, and more often than not pinches my Sonos Ace headphones so he can listen to his music at a higher quality than his second generation AirPods allow.
He placed them over his head and kicked off a lossless version of Nirvana's Nevermind. As soon as the guitar started the main riff of Smells Like Teen Spirit, he involuntarily gave me his review:
"Ooohhh."
And that basically sums up the experience. If you listen to music through even high quality Bluetooth headphones like the Sonos Ace or AirPods Max, you probably aren't expecting the openness of the sound quality from the Sennheiser HD505.
It's remarkable, and a solid reason to invest in more audiophile equipment.
But it's also much less convenient than a pair of Bluetooth headphones. Not only because you're stuck using a cable to get any sound, but also because the open design of the headphones, which helps create the incredible sound, leaks a lot of noise as well, making it less than ideal for commuting, or even listening in a shared space.
Still, I'm thoroughly enjoying these headphones. Stay tuned for the full review.
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Nick Broughall
