The Sennheiser HD 300 is a closed-back, wired headphone with high passive noise isolation made for application in monitoring. They are rated as simple, compact, and pocket-friendly wired over-ear headphones. Sennheiser headphones are highly regarded in the industry, but do these predecessors of the previous HD 4.20 model actually stand out in the market? The over-ear HD 300 costs just $50. What can you look forward to getting from a Sennheiser product of this price? We’ll see in this Sennheiser HD 300 review.
Sennheiser HD 300 Review
Design and Build
We found that the HD 300 actually offers a little more comfort than the HD 400 S. The earpads feel thicker and softer on the ears. The frame is extremely light, so you should be able to wear these headphones for a long stretch of hours without any discomfort. The sound isolation is also pretty decent even though the fit may not be too firm.
The attached cable is one factor that may make the Sennheiser HD 300 cheaper than the HD 400 S. The HD 400 S has a detachable cable, while that of the HD 300 cannot be detached. This means that you will have to replace the entire unit if the wire gets damaged with time. Fortunately, Sennheiser offers a two-year international warranty and besides that, all their products are well made and reliable.
The Sennheiser HD 300 headphones are foldable, so they are great for use on the go. The only downside is that unlike the HD 400 S, these have no remote or mic on the cable. There is also no carrying case included in the box. Hence, concerning this, the design is very minimalistic. Nevertheless, if all you need is headphones with the decent sound quality for use on your trips, then the HD 300 will definitely serve you well.
Sennheiser HD 300 Performance and Sound
Low notes are somewhat neutral on the HD 300. The bass is a bit more subtle and subdued than it is on the HD 400 S. But the bass still has enough presence to be felt in pop genres. If you listen to classical or jazz music, the clean and detailed bass profile is compatible with acoustic instruments in this range. For rock music, there was little warmth from the low end when we listened but there was a good distinction from the higher frequencies.
The mid-range is prominent, especially the upper mids. Due to the under-emphasized lower mids, there is less fullness of sound when you listen to rock and pop-rock. As a result, the vocals are never too harsh or shrill. Another thing that is really impressive about the Sennheiser HD 300 is that the instruments are presented in a neat and orderly manner. The headphone is great for folk music especially because the guitar strings and picks are tight and precise. And when it comes to tracks that have more complex arrangements, the headphones deliver such clear layering of instruments that is surprising for a product of this price.
When we listened to some string music, we found that the headphones have better transparency than their rivals in the same price category. For pop music, the percussion delivery was crispy and snap. Note that the Sennheiser HD 300 produces a more brilliant sound than the more expensive HD 400 S, hence it may be rather harsh on the ears of people who are sensitive to high frequencies. However, if you enjoy bright high notes, you will find this sound profile satisfactory.
For a $50 price tag, these headphones are not bad. They deliver sound with an impressive amount of depth, and even some amount of height as well. And in terms of sound reproduction, we found good precision in the instrument placements, especially in the width aspect. It won’t exactly blow your mind, but you will surely get a sense of dimension.
The general impression we have about the Sennheiser HD 300 is that they offer more value for their price in terms of balance, cleanness, and detail.
Final Thoughts
These headphones are a good deal. If you listen to diverse musical genres, the Sennheiser HD 300 will do a great job, though it would have been nicer if they came with a mic and remote. On the other hand, if you want a little warmer sound with an extra touch of bass and more tolerable highs, you should go for the HD 400 S, which costs 20 dollars more.