Sennheiser HD415

Sennheiser's managed to impress us yet again. This time with the HD415, last seen at CES 2006. Now we can tell you if the hype was worth the deal. To introduce the headphones briefly, let's start with the supra-aural form factor. For non-audiophiles, there's a simple term used by the uninitiated: open-air. The earcups are placed on the ear, and since it doesn't have active noise cancellation, there's no need to have the whole ear covered. This makes the headphones easy to wear and doesn't heat up your ears.

The HD415 does look stunning; better than what you would expect at its price point, but promises a fully functional form factor. The underbelly of the headband is padded with a soft foam-like material, ensuring a sturdy and even form (without which I feel the weight would have been enough to throw it off your head every now and then). The earcups sit firmly, and unlike in the PXC450, your ears won't feel the pressure of the two earcups pushing them towards each other. I like!

The cable is long (about 2m) and comes with a cable winder that can be attached to your belt – no dangling business. The earphone jack is gold-plated, and for added measure a 5.5mm converter is included in the package.