Sennheiser HD 25 70th Anniversary

The 70th Anniversary model of the Sennheiser HD 25 only differs from the original in looks: For the seventieth anniversary of the Thomann music store, the classic model is available with new ear pads in the typical Thomann house colour turquoise. However, the original ear pads are still included.

To be clear: Sennheiser offers the HD 25 in a basic version with the 1.5-metre long cable and without additional accessories. In contrast, the Plus version includes a pre-assembled, very durable spiral cable that can be extended up to three metres. Alternatively, the 1.5-metre straight cable is also included, as well as two velour ear pads and a carrying bag.

Workmanship

As usual from this manufacturer, the Sennheiser HD 25 70th Anniversary impressed us with a modular design, which protects the headphones against wear and tear. Every component, ear cups, suspension, headband and pad, ear pads or cable, can be replaced without having to consult a specialist workshop. Although these headphones are made entirely of hard plastic, this does not detract from their robustness and emphasises their practicality.

Looks

If you want to attract attention with your headphones from behind the DJ booth, the black and purist design of the HD 25 is unlikely to catch many eyes. On the other hand, these headphones present themselves as sophisticated and technical, which emphasises their authenticity for professional use in the studio.

Comfortable to wear

At 140 grams, with a compact design, these headphones hardly weigh down your luggage when travelling to a gig. The expandable headband with foam-filled synthetic leather cord ensures a tight fit on the head and ears without any uncomfortable pressure, even after hours of use. In addition, the ear cups snap into place at the desired height with the ribbing on the shell suspension. This means that the ear pads have no chance of slipping, even during vigorous head movements. The HD 25 also scores points for the hinge, which allows the ear cup to be turned away from the ear for one-sided monitoring without losing support.

Sound

The Sennheiser HD 25 70th Anniversary edition is recommended for use in the DJ booth for good reason. This is mainly due to the closed design with capsule shielding, which masks external noise very well. At 120 decibels, these are also one of the loudest pairs of headphones ever. This sound pressure level also accommodates weaker headphone outputs despite the relatively high impedance of 70 ohms. As spatialisation plays a subordinate role in the DJ booth, the average depth is of no consequence.

In terms of sound, these headphones interpreted the signal quite neutrally: the sub-bass spread a smooth layer under the sound image, and the bass above 80 hertz provided the punch without distortion, even during impulsive signal peaks. According to the frequency spectrum, the mids have been slightly boosted, and these blended homogeneously into the overall impression without standing out significantly. The treble delivered transparency and reproduced details of the signal very clearly. The HD 25 are, therefore, also highly recommended for mixing in the studio.

This sound particularly benefits electronic music but also works with acoustic and rock music, even spoken word when listening to audiobooks.