# Good alternative to Sennheiser PX-200 II headphones?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-alternative-to-sennheiser-px-200-ii-headphones/606037>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 13, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-alternative-to-sennheiser-px-200-ii-headphones/606037 "2011-12-13T15:27:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-alternative-to-sennheiser-px-200-ii-headphones/606037/1 "2011-12-13T15:27:16Z")

</div>

My parents got me some a set of Sennheiser PX-200 II headphones for my birthday last month. It was a very nice gift, but it seems like the right one is now distorted or blown out somehow. Very annoying considering what they cost and that I took good care of them.

I can return them to Amazon and my dad asked me what I’d like to replace them with, but I’m not sure what would be a good alternative. I want high-quality sound, but I don’t want anything much larger than the PX-200. I like that they offer sound-insulating cushioning without being too bulky. Any ideas?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-alternative-to-sennheiser-px-200-ii-headphones/606037/2 "2011-12-13T15:59:50Z")

</div>

There’s a wealth of reviews and information at Headroom, a headphone specialty store. All that information can be difficult to wade through, so thankfully they have a [set of selection guides](http://www.headphone.com/selection-guide/) that list the top choices in various categories. Just be aware that they classify anything under $100 as really cheap, compared to the truly high-end stuff that they also sell.

ETA: [This particular guide](http://www.headphone.com/selection-guide/top-picks-for-students.php) has the PX-200, so it should be a good place to start looking for comparable headphones.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-alternative-to-sennheiser-px-200-ii-headphones/606037/3 "2011-12-13T21:24:59Z")

</div>

You can’t go wrong with Grado headphones. I have a pair of the SR80’s and they are absolutely fantastic, though it’s a more open-air design and will not block ambient noise.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-alternative-to-sennheiser-px-200-ii-headphones/606037/4 "2011-12-13T22:28:11Z")

</div>

Grado SR60i or Sony MDR-V6.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-alternative-to-sennheiser-px-200-ii-headphones/606037/5 "2011-12-14T00:08:18Z")

</div>

I really love these [Audio-Technica ATH-M35](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00242J0XU/ref=oh_o04_s00_i00_details). They are $58 on Amazon.