Sennheiser HD380 Pro vs Plantronics BackBeat Sense Special Edition

The tight clamp on the 380HD helps create a seal that prevents quite a bit of sound leakage.

These headphones, as far as reference or pro-quality headphones go, are fun sounding. There is a slight boost to the lower frequencies which adds fullness and depth to the bass. The mids are also full-sounding, but there is a peak at the upper mid frequencies which can make guitars in heavy music sound harsh. The highs have good detail to them, but the peak in the top frequencies can also make the sound a bit grainy.

The 380s sit well over your ears and do not typically touch them when positioned correctly. This helps make them comfortable as the clamping force is distributed over a wide area, not directly on your ears.

The HD380 Pro is quite portable thanks to the detachable cable. Also, the included cable has a specially designed locking mechanism which prevents it from being detached accidentally.

The HD380 Pro can produce great sound even paired with low power amps. Some headphones require expensive amps to sound properly, but for these, even entry-level portable amps are sufficient.

These headphones can easily be brought along while traveling and spending time outdoors thanks to the included carrying case. The solid, clam shell design gives the headphones extra protection from impact and scratches.

The large ear cups and the strong clamp allow for impressive passive noise cancellation.

These headphones have fairly wide soundstage, despite being closed back.

The ear cups of the HD380 Pro can be folded up into the headband. This reduces these headphones' size and footprint, making these much easier to fit inside a bag.

The highs, mids and lows are all fairly balanced, and there are no frequencies that stand out from the rest. Audio is clear and with minimal distortion. These are versatile sounding cans that will work with a wide range of music genres.

These can play music continuously for 18 hours from a full charge before the battery is depleted.

The main difference of the Special Edition over the standard Sense is that it has a special nano-coating applied, making these headphones splash-proof. Splashes of sweat and other liquids should not pose a problem for these headphones.

There are built-in sensors inside the BackBeat Sense which detects if you are taking off or putting on the headphones. Music is paused/resumed depending on the detected motion.

The BackBeat Sense features a slim and lightweight design, making these very easy to wear even for extended periods. The headband also features a hammock-style mechanism which feels quite soft and comfortable.