When comparing Sennheiser HD 202 II vs Sony MDR-1000X, the Slant community recommends Sony MDR-1000X for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones for blocking out open office noise?” Sony MDR-1000X is ranked 4th while Sennheiser HD 202 II is ranked 11th. The most important reason people chose Sony MDR-1000X is:
The ear cups can be folded into the headband. This reduces the headphones' size so that it can easily fit inside bags.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Good sounding bass with okay detail on the highs and mids
As expected of their price, these headphones are not able to deliver a lot of detail, clarity or accuracy in terms of the sound but they're still quite fun to listen to. There is a slight accentuation on the bass which gives it oomph and presence but is not overpowering. Mids on these headphones are recessed, but are still able to present a good rendering of vocals and guitars. The highs are not very detailed, which means that you will miss some of the more intricate sounds from the music, but they are good enough that the overall sound does not come off as too muddy.
Pro Decent all-plastic build quality
Although it's made entirely of plastic, it does not feel cheap at all. The plastics used are of good quality. They can take a significant amount of flex with no signs of breaking.
Pro Can isolate sound well
With the closed back design, very minimal sound can seep into your music. Likewise, sound leakage is kept to a minimum so you won't be disturbing others near you with your music.
Pro Comfortable to wear for hours straight
The 202 II's are really light so you can wear these headphones for longer periods without neck fatigue.
Pro Headphones can fold down to a more compact size
The ear cups can be folded into the headband. This reduces the headphones' size so that it can easily fit inside bags.
Pro Good noise isolation
These have great noise isolating properties and can block out a good amount of sound even with the noise cancelling off. The ear cups are closed back, the ear pads go over the ear and seal well, and this effectively minimizes sound leakage to and from the headphones.
Pro Quick Attention mode allows easy conversations
If you need to talk while using these, all you need to do is to cover the right ear cup with the palm of your hand. This activates Quick Attention mode which cuts off the music and amplifies voice for easy conversation. To get back to listening to music, all you need to do is to remove the palm from the ear cup.
Pro 4 noise cancelling modes to choose from
Users can set the feature to fully on or off, or set it to Ambient Sound which then offers 2 more options. Normal Mode allows some outside noise through, while Voice Mode allows voice frequencies through the noise cancelling.
Pro Effectively cancels outside noise
The MDR 1000x's active noise cancelling is one of the best in the market today. With the mode activated, a significant amount of outside noise is blocked, allowing you to really enjoy your music with minimal distractions.
Pro Noise cancelling otimizer
The noise cancelling optimizer runs a series of quick tests, with beeping noises, to adapt to ambient noise.
This is handy against construction work noise in front of your window.
Pro Can be used wired or wireless
You can use these headphones wired using the detachable 3.5mm cable or you can go wireless with Bluetooth.
Pro Fun-sounding with good details to the audio
The bass is impactful and controlled and works really well with most genres that are popular today. The mids are slightly forward at just the right levels, which ensures that the vocals can be clearly heard. The highs are emphasized and sound great with a lot of clarity and detail, especially on the upper registers.
Pro Right ear cup functions as touchpad remote
Swiping or tapping on the right ear cup's surface can pause or play track, go to the next track or go back to the previous one and can control volume levels as well.
Pro Built in mic makes taking calls very easy
There is a built in microphone which negates the need to remove the headphones to answer a call.
Pro Carrying case allows for easy and secure transport
This comes with a carrying case that is made from high quality materials. It should provide extra protection to the headphones against scratches and minor impacts, which are quite common when taking these while traveling.
Pro Long battery life
The internal battery can give up to 20 hours of listening to music.
Cons
Con Ear cup height adjustment is quite limited
The ear cups are attached to a fixed head band, with a ball socket as the connection. Users then move the ear cups up and down the stationary head band. Available adjustment is quite limited though, so these headphones may not be suitable for individuals with bigger sized heads.
Con Very long, fixed cable
The cable is around 10 feet long. While this can be a good thing for certain uses, the long cable can get tangled up pretty easily and can get quite difficult to manage if you decide to take these on the go. The included cable organizer can help mitigate the problem, but some might find it fiddly to use.
Con Ear cups are quite small
Despite being labeled as over-ear headphones, the cups are actually quite small. If you have larger ears, it is possible that these will fit a little too tightly, if not rest on your ears completely, which you may find uncomfortable.
Con Strong clamping force may cause discomfort
These press down on the head pretty tight, which some might find uncomfortable. With regular use and some stretching of the headband however, it is possible that the clamping force will loosen up over time, resulting in a much more comfortable fit.
Con Highs can be too piercing
The boosted highs add a lot of detail to the sound that these headphones produce.This also makes it too harsh for some.
Con Weight can cause comfort issues
If heavy headphones are not your thing, then these may not be for you. The use of quality yet hefty and the internal battery contributes to the overall weight. As such, these can put a little extra strain on the head and neck when worn for long periods.