Specification: Sennheiser Over Ear Headphones HD 400S, Black
Product dimensions
140 x 1.5 x 0.03 cm, 217 Grams
Item Model Number
508598
Colour
Black
Compatible Devices
All Headphones
Connector
3.5mm Jack
Material Type
Plastic
size
One Size
Item Weight
217 g
13 reviews for Sennheiser Over Ear Headphones HD 400S, Black
3.7out of 5
★★★★★
★★★★★
4
★★★★★
4
★★★★★
3
★★★★★
1
★★★★★
1
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★★★★★
David Black –
These headphones are comfortable to wear and have a great sound. They look well made and hopefully will last well into the future.
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★★★★★
adam faldo –
I have a pair of HD 4.50’s which have the exact same form factor. I bought these as i assumed they were the same headphones without bluetooth. They are worlds apart…
Wearing these for more than an hour will make your ears ache. There are huge comfort problems with these and its down to the foam in the padding. When i compare them side by side with the 4.50s, you can feel a huge difference in the cups. If you already have these and are having comfort issues, consider replacement pads!
Sound quality is just below typical sennheiser, You can hear a difference between the 4.50s and these but the gap isn’t huge. For the price i can’t think of many headphones that beat the sound profile.
For 60 quid, with comfort issues as bad as they are, they are not great value. The sound quality is great for the price but that doesn’t excuse the padding issues.
Buying these and then spending £15-20 will give you a decent headset and avoid these issues, but that’s a different price point when it comes to value for money.
A swing and a miss by Sennheiser.
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★★★★★
Alex –
The sound output is good, though the microphone isn’t amazing. Most importantly, the over ear design’s ear cups are a touch on the small side, so larger ears might not find it comfortable.
Purchased during a Black Friday sale, hence the 5* value for money rating, otherwise would be 3*.
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★★★★★
Kane Daziel –
use for gaming and can hear enemies and music well
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★★★★★
MN –
It’s pretty good.
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★★★★★
Shehaan D. –
The sound is really good and the quality is excellent. It’s a great price point too, for what it is. The only drawback for me is that my ears hurt after a while, I don’t think I’ve got overly large ears and think they are pretty average-sized. My son (11) has a pair of these too and he has no complaint. He wears them for HOURS while gaming, watching his iPad and chatting with his mates. Good quality – Yes, worth the $$ – Yes Comfort – Meh… unless you’re a child or have small ears. I am super happy with these though.
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★★★★★
999999 –
Very happy with the sound quality but would have liked the ‘cans’ to be a little bigger. I do not have particularly big ears but these headphones may be stretching the meaning of ‘over the ears’. Having said that, I haven’t worn headphones for years so it may simply be a case of unfamiliarity on my part.
Update: Having used these for a few days my concerns regarding the ‘over the ears’ description have proved justified. Despite my aforementioned lack of size in the ear department, I find these phones hurt my ears after a relatively short time in use. The aperture in the pads needs to be larger for these to be justifiably call over the ears. For that reason, and despite the quality of the sound, I’ve downgraded these by another star. Very disappointed.
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★★★★★
Dan –
These are good headphone once you know what you’re in for. I need to dial back the low end EQ for ost music, the low end is just too heavy for my tastes. Otherwise, decent headphone, slightly above average comfort and build quality.
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★★★★★
Vithal –
I have been using these for 15 days now and the headphones are mind-blowingly comfortable, I am 16 and there is enough room for my ears to grow a bit more and still fit in great. I use these for 6-10 hours a day and only after 3-4 hours of wearing continuously do I feel slight pain at the bottom of my earlobe which goes away in a few minutes of removing these. . The cable is flat and of decent length to provide some mobility near your device. I have been using these for making school calls and talking to friends and the microphone is great as well. You might want to increase microphone sound amplification in your PC. . If you love BASS more than the clarity and quality of sound, these are not for you. These have exactly refined bass and you can hear all the different instruments in perfect harmony. . I play games a bit and the footstep sound is accurate, you can easily find the person and kill him based on the surround sound. These are so comfortable and the noise isolation is so good that i wear these even when i am not using any audio. . For this price, you get awesome materials, insane sound, detachable cable with a carry pouch, and a year or two of warranty.
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★★★★★
King MoeJo –
As a new podcaster, I have recently discovered the Sennheiser Over Ear Headphones HD 400S in black, and I have to say, I am thoroughly impressed. As someone who has always been a music listener, I knew I wanted a high-quality audio experience when it came to podcasting, but I wasn’t quite sure where to start. The HD 400S has definitely exceeded my expectations without breaking the bank.
First of all, the sound quality of these headphones is exceptional. The HD 400S delivers a balanced and clear sound across the entire frequency spectrum. The bass is punchy, but not overpowering, while the mids and highs are crisp and detailed. As a result, I have been able to enjoy my music and podcasts in a new way, picking up on nuances and details that I had never noticed before.
The build quality of the HD 400S is also impressive. The headphones are lightweight, yet feel sturdy and well-constructed. The ear cups are soft and comfortable, and the adjustable headband ensures a snug and secure fit.
It is important to note that everyone’s ears are unique, so the level of comfort when wearing the HD 400 headphones for extended periods may vary from person to person. (I can attest to this based on my own personal experience)
This is particularly useful for podcasters, as it allows you to switch between using the headphones for monitoring and recording with ease. The headphone’s cable is also durable and tangle-free, which is a nice touch.
In terms of design, the HD 400S is sleek and minimalistic, with a black matte finish that looks great. The headphones fold up for easy storage and transport, making them ideal for use on the go.
Overall, I would highly recommend the Sennheiser Over Ear Headphones HD 400S in black to anyone in need of high-quality headphones for podcasting or music listening. They offer exceptional sound quality, durability, and comfort at a very reasonable price point.
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★★★★★
Bad Machine –
I got these for my daughter when they were about half RRP – she wanted something that stayed on when trampolining and they do that well, she also wanted something that was up for a bit of abuse and they do seem pretty robust.
I use Beyerdynamics but was curious to try these since I grew up with HD 414s back when the dinosaurs roamed… If you were paying retail I’d look elsewhere but at 50% off these are fair – not much of a sound stage and they lose it at higher volumes but nothing horrible – very well suited to listening to compressed audio from a phone (and the low impedance means you can get reasonable volume).
I don’t have a small head and would find them too tight for long periods but the youngling is happy to wear them for hours on end. They claim to be ‘over ear’ but are really ‘on ear’ unless you have micro ears or can tolerate having your ears scrunched up like a lettuce to fit inside the cups.
The control feature is nice to have and the mic is adequate for FaceTime/Zoom etc..
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★★★★★
ceebeedee –
I read all the reviews, especially those that felt it was worth paying the little extra that these cost from the next down in the range to get a better quality sound. The sound is just right for my taste. Not too basey. I also opted for the over ear version after reading about comfort and sound leakage, my old set are on the ear. This hasn’t work so well. I find after a while some part of my ear, top rim or lobe, feels pinched, and needs adjusting constantly. I don’t consider I have big ears 🤔. The arch of the headphones could do with being rounder, less square. It presses into the top of of your head, and adjusting the sides doesn’t improve things as they are then too loose. I think next time I’ll try before I buy.
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★★★★★
999999 –
I have owned these headphones for 2 years, in which time they’ve seen fairly light use as my portable set that I take on long walks, train journeys etc. I have probably taken them out roughly 15-20 times at most.
I have almost nothing positive to say about these headphones. Even before they broke (which I’ll get to shortly), it was apparent that they were riddled with design flaws and quality issues.
As many other reviewers have noted, comfort is poor. People with larger ears have reported that the openings of the ear cups are quite small and can pinch the ears around the edges. I’m fortunate enough to have ears small enough to fit inside the cups, but still found that the foam around them was a little firm and could cause numbness around my ears after fairly brief periods of time. Worse than this is the headband, which has no padding, just a vaguely flexible rubber strip, and feels like it’s cutting into your head after a short while.
If you can put up with the discomfort, the plastic of the headphones creaks and groans like an arthritic old man’s knees whenever you move your head, and the thudding of your footsteps is also somehow transferred directly into your ears. This is rather intrusive and difficult to ignore, making them poor for journeys and rubbish when walking. Sound quality is a little flat but generally okay for the price, so you can enjoy this as long as you keep perfectly stationary to avoid having it spoiled by the sound of creaking plastic. It’s also worth mentioning that the cable is very thin and feels like it could snap easily if it ever got caught in anything.
Late last year, the joint of the right cup which allows rotation left and right snapped when taking the headphones off, leaving the cup hanging freely. The joint is so small that I’m surprised it didn’t break sooner (I’ve attemped to show the break in the pictures but the size made it difficult. It’s the small, grey looking inner ring inside the hinge). I wrapped it in duct tape as a remedy, which meant that the cup no longer fitted flush with my head. Last week, the same joint broke in the left cup when taking them out of my rucksack. So they have now been unceremoniously binned.
I was led to believe that Sennheiser produce headphones of excellent quality at all price points, but these were so poor that I will be avoiding them like ebola for the foreseeable future. They’re rubbish for travelling but I can’t recommend them for use at a desk either due to the discomfort, nasty plastic creaking and the overall flimsiness of the build.
David Black –
These headphones are comfortable to wear and have a great sound. They look well made and hopefully will last well into the future.
adam faldo –
I have a pair of HD 4.50’s which have the exact same form factor. I bought these as i assumed they were the same headphones without bluetooth. They are worlds apart…
Wearing these for more than an hour will make your ears ache. There are huge comfort problems with these and its down to the foam in the padding. When i compare them side by side with the 4.50s, you can feel a huge difference in the cups. If you already have these and are having comfort issues, consider replacement pads!
Sound quality is just below typical sennheiser, You can hear a difference between the 4.50s and these but the gap isn’t huge. For the price i can’t think of many headphones that beat the sound profile.
For 60 quid, with comfort issues as bad as they are, they are not great value. The sound quality is great for the price but that doesn’t excuse the padding issues.
Buying these and then spending £15-20 will give you a decent headset and avoid these issues, but that’s a different price point when it comes to value for money.
A swing and a miss by Sennheiser.
Alex –
The sound output is good, though the microphone isn’t amazing. Most importantly, the over ear design’s ear cups are a touch on the small side, so larger ears might not find it comfortable.
Purchased during a Black Friday sale, hence the 5* value for money rating, otherwise would be 3*.
Kane Daziel –
use for gaming and can hear enemies and music well
MN –
It’s pretty good.
Shehaan D. –
The sound is really good and the quality is excellent. It’s a great price point too, for what it is.
The only drawback for me is that my ears hurt after a while, I don’t think I’ve got overly large ears and think they are pretty average-sized. My son (11) has a pair of these too and he has no complaint. He wears them for HOURS while gaming, watching his iPad and chatting with his mates.
Good quality – Yes,
worth the $$ – Yes
Comfort – Meh… unless you’re a child or have small ears.
I am super happy with these though.
999999 –
Very happy with the sound quality but would have liked the ‘cans’ to be a little bigger. I do not have particularly big ears but these headphones may be stretching the meaning of ‘over the ears’. Having said that, I haven’t worn headphones for years so it may simply be a case of unfamiliarity on my part.
Update: Having used these for a few days my concerns regarding the ‘over the ears’ description have proved justified. Despite my aforementioned lack of size in the ear department, I find these phones hurt my ears after a relatively short time in use. The aperture in the pads needs to be larger for these to be justifiably call over the ears. For that reason, and despite the quality of the sound, I’ve downgraded these by another star. Very disappointed.
Dan –
These are good headphone once you know what you’re in for. I need to dial back the low end EQ for ost music, the low end is just too heavy for my tastes. Otherwise, decent headphone, slightly above average comfort and build quality.
Vithal –
I have been using these for 15 days now and the headphones are mind-blowingly comfortable, I am 16 and there is enough room for my ears to grow a bit more and still fit in great. I use these for 6-10 hours a day and only after 3-4 hours of wearing continuously do I feel slight pain at the bottom of my earlobe which goes away in a few minutes of removing these.
.
The cable is flat and of decent length to provide some mobility near your device. I have been using these for making school calls and talking to friends and the microphone is great as well. You might want to increase microphone sound amplification in your PC.
.
If you love BASS more than the clarity and quality of sound, these are not for you. These have exactly refined bass and you can hear all the different instruments in perfect harmony.
.
I play games a bit and the footstep sound is accurate, you can easily find the person and kill him based on the surround sound. These are so comfortable and the noise isolation is so good that i wear these even when i am not using any audio.
.
For this price, you get awesome materials, insane sound, detachable cable with a carry pouch, and a year or two of warranty.
King MoeJo –
As a new podcaster, I have recently discovered the Sennheiser Over Ear Headphones HD 400S in black, and I have to say, I am thoroughly impressed. As someone who has always been a music listener, I knew I wanted a high-quality audio experience when it came to podcasting, but I wasn’t quite sure where to start. The HD 400S has definitely exceeded my expectations without breaking the bank.
First of all, the sound quality of these headphones is exceptional. The HD 400S delivers a balanced and clear sound across the entire frequency spectrum. The bass is punchy, but not overpowering, while the mids and highs are crisp and detailed. As a result, I have been able to enjoy my music and podcasts in a new way, picking up on nuances and details that I had never noticed before.
The build quality of the HD 400S is also impressive. The headphones are lightweight, yet feel sturdy and well-constructed. The ear cups are soft and comfortable, and the adjustable headband ensures a snug and secure fit.
It is important to note that everyone’s ears are unique, so the level of comfort when wearing the HD 400 headphones for extended periods may vary from person to person. (I can attest to this based on my own personal experience)
This is particularly useful for podcasters, as it allows you to switch between using the headphones for monitoring and recording with ease. The headphone’s cable is also durable and tangle-free, which is a nice touch.
In terms of design, the HD 400S is sleek and minimalistic, with a black matte finish that looks great. The headphones fold up for easy storage and transport, making them ideal for use on the go.
Overall, I would highly recommend the Sennheiser Over Ear Headphones HD 400S in black to anyone in need of high-quality headphones for podcasting or music listening. They offer exceptional sound quality, durability, and comfort at a very reasonable price point.
Bad Machine –
I got these for my daughter when they were about half RRP – she wanted something that stayed on when trampolining and they do that well, she also wanted something that was up for a bit of abuse and they do seem pretty robust.
I use Beyerdynamics but was curious to try these since I grew up with HD 414s back when the dinosaurs roamed… If you were paying retail I’d look elsewhere but at 50% off these are fair – not much of a sound stage and they lose it at higher volumes but nothing horrible – very well suited to listening to compressed audio from a phone (and the low impedance means you can get reasonable volume).
I don’t have a small head and would find them too tight for long periods but the youngling is happy to wear them for hours on end. They claim to be ‘over ear’ but are really ‘on ear’ unless you have micro ears or can tolerate having your ears scrunched up like a lettuce to fit inside the cups.
The control feature is nice to have and the mic is adequate for FaceTime/Zoom etc..
ceebeedee –
I read all the reviews, especially those that felt it was worth paying the little extra that these cost from the next down in the range to get a better quality sound. The sound is just right for my taste. Not too basey. I also opted for the over ear version after reading about comfort and sound leakage, my old set are on the ear. This hasn’t work so well. I find after a while some part of my ear, top rim or lobe, feels pinched, and needs adjusting constantly. I don’t consider I have big ears 🤔. The arch of the headphones could do with being rounder, less square. It presses into the top of of your head, and adjusting the sides doesn’t improve things as they are then too loose. I think next time I’ll try before I buy.
999999 –
I have owned these headphones for 2 years, in which time they’ve seen fairly light use as my portable set that I take on long walks, train journeys etc. I have probably taken them out roughly 15-20 times at most.
I have almost nothing positive to say about these headphones. Even before they broke (which I’ll get to shortly), it was apparent that they were riddled with design flaws and quality issues.
As many other reviewers have noted, comfort is poor. People with larger ears have reported that the openings of the ear cups are quite small and can pinch the ears around the edges. I’m fortunate enough to have ears small enough to fit inside the cups, but still found that the foam around them was a little firm and could cause numbness around my ears after fairly brief periods of time. Worse than this is the headband, which has no padding, just a vaguely flexible rubber strip, and feels like it’s cutting into your head after a short while.
If you can put up with the discomfort, the plastic of the headphones creaks and groans like an arthritic old man’s knees whenever you move your head, and the thudding of your footsteps is also somehow transferred directly into your ears. This is rather intrusive and difficult to ignore, making them poor for journeys and rubbish when walking. Sound quality is a little flat but generally okay for the price, so you can enjoy this as long as you keep perfectly stationary to avoid having it spoiled by the sound of creaking plastic. It’s also worth mentioning that the cable is very thin and feels like it could snap easily if it ever got caught in anything.
Late last year, the joint of the right cup which allows rotation left and right snapped when taking the headphones off, leaving the cup hanging freely. The joint is so small that I’m surprised it didn’t break sooner (I’ve attemped to show the break in the pictures but the size made it difficult. It’s the small, grey looking inner ring inside the hinge). I wrapped it in duct tape as a remedy, which meant that the cup no longer fitted flush with my head. Last week, the same joint broke in the left cup when taking them out of my rucksack. So they have now been unceremoniously binned.
I was led to believe that Sennheiser produce headphones of excellent quality at all price points, but these were so poor that I will be avoiding them like ebola for the foreseeable future. They’re rubbish for travelling but I can’t recommend them for use at a desk either due to the discomfort, nasty plastic creaking and the overall flimsiness of the build.
Save your money and find an alternative.