Sennheiser HD 438 headphones

These cheap Sennheiser headphones may be gaudy, but they're sturdy and sound decent

Good Gear Guide

  • Review
  • Specs
  • Images
  • User Reviews
  • Buy Online

Sennheiser's HD 438 headphones are designed for listening to music and PC gaming. They're reasonably priced and sturdily built. Though they don't offer spectacular sound quality, non-audiophiles should be relatively pleased.

Pros

  • Reasonable build quality, good mid-bass extension

Cons

  • Gaudy ear-cup finish, slightly awkward design

Bottom Line

Sennheiser's HD 438 is a pair of sturdily built PC gaming headphones with good bass extension — useful for action gaming and some types of music. If you can get past the awkward headband and ugly ear-cups, these headphones are a good buy.

Would you buy this?

  • Price

    $ 149.95 (AUD)

Arriving in a blister pack, the Sennheiser HD 438 headphones include two detachable cables (1.4m and 3m) and a 1/4in adapter plug. Sennheiser boldly claims that the Sennheiser HD 438 "garnishes attention and flaunts power" — in our opinion, the attention is more likely to be of the deriding laugh kind. [Also: "Garnishes" attention?! — Ed] The chrome hubcaps plastered to the outside of each ear-cup aren't as bad as they could be, we admit, but they're still ostentatious and very shiny. The headband is designed in a way that it slants forward on the wearer's head — very rakish, we're sure, but slightly uncomfortable after long periods of listening.

Apart from the headband, long-term listening isn't a problem thanks to well-padded fabric ear-pads and a comfortable ear-cup shape. Using the longer cord allows significant movement away from your PC, so you won't get a stiff neck.

The audio quality of the Sennheiser HD 438 headphones will suit most people who want to play PC game or listen to music: there's reasonable clarity and tonality in treble and mid-range, with powerful mid-bass extension that makes in-game explosions and hip-hop music burst energetically. Treble is clear and even, and it lacks any harshness until higher volumes. However, we noticed that higher female vocals and brass instruments tended to be slightly muffled. Mid-range is the most detailed area, displaying a more balanced character than we expected from Sennheiser headphones at this price point. When listening to our test music, mid-bass really stood out — to the point of occasionally overshadowing other frequencies. It added a noticeable low-frequency kick to music and games.

The Sennheiser HD 438 headphones are closed: they sit over your ears, blocking out about half the background noise and allowing you to use slightly lower volume levels. The closed design also means people around you can't hear your music, making these headphones a good choice for commuting.

These headphones aren't particularly pretty, but anyone looking for sturdy pair with decent sound quality should give them some consideration.

Follow GoodGearGuide on Twitter: @GoodGearGuide

Keep up with the latest tech news, reviews and previews by subscribing to the PC World newsletter.

Read more on these topics: sennheiser, headphones

Be the first to comment.

Post new comment

Users posting comments agree to the PC World comments policy.

Login or register to link comments to your user profile, or you may also post a comment without being logged in.

Most Popular

What's the difference between an Intel Core i3, i5 and i7?
Samsung’s 2013 Smart TVs: everything you need to know
Laser vs. inkjet printers: which is better?
How do I connect my TV to the Internet?
Windows 7 Home Premium vs. Windows 7 Professional

Best Deals on PCWorld

NotebooksView all »
TabletsView all »
Mobile PhonesView all »
Printers & ScannersView all »
Networking, Wireless & VoIPView all »

Compare & Save

« 1 of 14 »
Deals powered by WhistleOut
Use WhistleOut's technology to compare:
Mobile phone plans & deals
Mobile phone models
Mobile phone carriers
Broadband plans & deals
Broadband providers
Deals powered by WhistleOut
Guides and Articles
National Broadband Network NBN 100Mbps Plans
Visualising Mobile Phone Plans
SIM Only Mobile Phone Plans
National Broadband Network NBN 25Mbps Plans
iPhone 5, 4S & iPhone 4 Plans - Compare Deals &...
Deals powered by WhistleOut
WhistleOut