When comparing Superlux HD 681 vs Sennheiser HD 201, the Slant community recommends Superlux HD 681 for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones?” Superlux HD 681 is ranked 5th while Sennheiser HD 201 is ranked 166th. The most important reason people chose Superlux HD 681 is:
The HD681 will not put a lot of strain to your neck and head, even for long periods. Coming in at around 220 g, they are relatively light. This is due to the use of plastic as the primary build material, along with small metal tubes on the headband frame instead of large plastic or metal parts.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Not tiring to wear
The HD681 will not put a lot of strain to your neck and head, even for long periods. Coming in at around 220 g, they are relatively light. This is due to the use of plastic as the primary build material, along with small metal tubes on the headband frame instead of large plastic or metal parts.
Pro Bass and treble are emphasized
These headphones have what is called a V-shaped sound signature where the bass and treble is boosted while the mids take a backseat. The bass is powerful, deep and satisfying. Listening to bass heavy music will certainly be a good experience. The boosted treble makes audio detail up front, so nuances in the music can be clearly heard.
Pro Fairly wide soundstage
Due to the semi-open design, the sound is not completely trapped inside the ear cup housing. This gives the sound a wider, more natural feel.
Pro Ample padding on the ear pads make these comfortable to use
Both the ear pads and headband have a good amount of foam in them, which results in adequate cushioning. They're quite comfortable even if you've been using them for several hours straight.
Pro Good detail on the highs and mids
The sound is fairly balanced and can work well with most music genres. The highs and mids have good presence. Although they are not that clear, there is still an acceptable level of detail to them. The bass is not impactful but it does have some depth and helps give a fuller feel to the overall sound signature.
Pro Lightweight
These are actually pretty light weight for over the ear headphones. The HD 201 will not cause unnecessary strain to your neck, even if worn continuously for extended periods.
Cons
Con May feel cheap and flimsy
The plastics used in the construction of these headphones are not of the best quality. They feel flimsy and will often flex and rattle.
Con Thin ear pads may cause comfort issues
The ear pads are made of cheap feeling synthetic leather which can get warm rather quickly. To potentially add more discomfort, the cushioning inside these ear pads is quite thin, and can hurt the area around your ears when worn for many hours straight.
Con Mids can be lacking
Some may find the mids to be inadequate. Vocals, guitars and other sounds in the mid-frequencies may sound distant or too soft.
Con Treble can be harsh
While the bass benefits greatly from the V-shaped sound signature, the highs are boosted by quite a lot, and can make the treble sound too harsh for some. Cymbal hits for example can be too washy and near distorted and can be fatiguing.
Con Does not effectively block outside noise
Despite the closed back design, there is still a fair amount of noise that can mix with the music . This can have a negative impact to your listening experience, especially when you are in a noisy environment.
Con Build quality feels flimsy
The HD 201 has a lot of flex and also tends to make rattling noises when held or moved. This can be attributed to the cheap plastic used in the build.
Con Can get warm around the ears and on the head
The synthetic leather on the ear pads and head band prevents airflow around the ears. This causes warmth to build-up quickly.
Con Very long, non-removable cable
The cable also easily tangles and can make the headphones difficult to store/organize.