Koss UR29 vs. Sennheiser HD201

Presenting the Koss UR29 and the Sennheiser HD201: two mid-range headphones from two leading commercial headphone companies. These have not been reviewed individually at the Tech2.0 labs, so I shall highlight any features that might call for attention along the way.

Form Factor
The Koss UR29 is a closed back circumaural headphone and built pretty sturdily. The backs of the cans have a smooth finished aluminum surface, with the logo and some dotted design in deep grey. The rest of the body is black: thick cushioned headband, ear cushions and cord. The cord has a volume control on its length, controlled by a smooth slider switch. (This is absent in the Sennheiser, so Koss scores a point.)

The Sennheiser HD201, on the other hand, is lighter, though still sturdy. The cans have a silvery outer surface, with the silver part being smaller, bearing just a black logo. The headband says "Sennheiser" in silver, and bears a cushion too, though smaller than in the Koss.

The two designs are not very different, nor are the ergonomics. I had no issues with the weight, comfort level, or looks of either the Sennheiser or the Koss, though the Koss feels a tad heavier on the head. Wire lengths are comfortable in the case of both.

Technical Specifications
The Koss site states there's an anisotropic magnet for the drivers: this means the ‘magnetization’ of the driver is more concentrated and aligned in one direction. It’s coupled with a Mylar diaphragm, which I presume offers a broader frequency response and louder sound. The rated response is 18 Hz – 20 KHz, which is actually wide, but we shall test and see. The impedance is quite high at 100Ω, and the rated sensitivity is a respectable 101 dBSPL/1mW.

Sennheisers have different specs, mainly a 24Ω impedance. The impedance basically tells you what kind of devices you should use the headphones for. The lower ones work well for portable and PC outputs, which are low-level outputs. The Koss is higher, though those kinds are a bit more rugged and can be used with a variety of amplifiers and outputs. The sensitivity is a healthy 108 dBSPL/1mW. The frequency response is 21 Hz–18 KHz.