Sennheiser HD 201

Sennheiser HD 201 headphones

The $30 Sennheiser HD 201 headphones are a great value aimed at the infrequent user who's simply looking to upgrade from poor-quality stock earphones without spending a ton. The HD 201s are far from audiophile quality and lack the low-end oomph of pricier headphones from the competition, but we do recommend them to casual listeners who will find satisfaction in their comfortable build, balanced sound, and affordability. The HD 201 headphones are a full-size pair that incorporates a circumaural (over-the-ear) design and includes a 1/4-inch gold-plated adapter that easily pops onto the 1/8-inch plug. A limited swivel design is implemented into the hinge of the frame, and each earcup pivots slightly back and forth allowing one side to stay in place while the other side is off. The oblong pads are black, replaceable, and primarily made of a leatherette material and foam padding with a cloth interior sewn in. The right and left earcups tip 20 degrees forward and back to its original position, although we can find no desirable benefit to this feature aside from its ability to fit a range of head shapes and sizes. The outside of the earcups are accented with an oval-shaped silver and black design, and the rest of the frame is black.