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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.6 update for Headphones! Read the Latency R&D Article to learn more.

Sennheiser HD 202 II Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Reviewed Jun 03, 2016 at 10:38 am
Latest change: Test bench update Aug 10, 2017 at 11:34 am
Sennheiser HD 202 II Picture
5.9
Mixed Usage
6.9
Critical Listening
5.2
Commute/Travel
5.6
Sports/Fitness
5.7
Office
6.5
Home Theater

The Sennheiser HD 202 II are average-at-best. They deliver a decent sound and won't be too distracting to the people around you because of their relatively low leakage. However, they feel cheaply made. They have no audio controls and do not block much noise, which is not ideal for commuting or traveling.

Our Verdict

5.9 Mixed Usage

The HD 202 II are low-budget, closed-back, critical listening headphones that are not well-rounded enough to be good everyday headphones. They lack a few features, which makes them cumbersome to use on the go, and they also struggle in loud environments.

Pros
  • Lightweight, stable design.
  • Low leakage.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation.
  • Uncomfortable fit.
  • Plasticky build.
6.9 Critical Listening

The HD 202 II have an above-average sound and produce a decent soundstage. They're not ideal for critical listening because of their closed-back design, but sound sufficiently good to not disappoint the pure critical listener.

5.2 Commute/Travel

Not made for commuting. They only isolate passively, and it's not enough for the ambient noise of train or plane.

5.6 Sports/Fitness

Below-average for sports. They're lightweight but too cumbersome to use while running or exercising. Additionally, the long non-detachable cable can get frustrating

5.7 Office

Subpar for office use. They won't isolate you from the noise of a busy office but do not leak too much and won't be audible to the people near you except at high volumes.

6.5 Home Theater

Average for home theater use. Since they're wired, they have no latency, but the cable won't be long enough unless you're watching your movie on a PC or tablet. They're also not the most comfortable headphones to wear for long periods of time.

  • 5.9 Mixed Usage
  • 6.9 Critical Listening
  • 5.2 Commute/Travel
  • 5.6 Sports/Fitness
  • 5.7 Office
  • 6.5 Home Theater
  1. Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  2. Updated Jun 03, 2016: Review published.
  3. Updated Jun 01, 2016: Our testers have started testing this product.
  4. Updated Apr 29, 2016: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Test Results

Design
Design
Style
Type On-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless No
Transducer Dynamic
Mic No

The Sennheiser HD 202 II look pretty good. They have a sleek, understated design and an all-black color scheme that will please some. The sliding mechanism is on the ear cup and not on the joints of the headband like typical headphone designs. They look a little cheap upon closer inspection but are stylish enough for everyday casual use.

6.0
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.34 lbs
Clamping Force
0.64 lbs

The HD 202 II do not deliver a comfortable listening experience. Their design is a little stiff, and the ear cups have an odd size that's too big for a typical on-ear design and too small for an over-ear model. The ear cups therefore awkwardly rest on the ears, which causes discomfort after long listening sessions. On the upside, they're lightweight and don't apply too much pressure to the head.

0
Design
Controls
Ease of use N/A
Feedback N/A
Call/Music Control No
Volume Control No
Noise Canceling Control N/A
Talk-Through N/A
Additional Buttons N/A

7.0
Design
Stability

These headphones like the HD 201 are quite stable on the head. However unlike the HD 201, the oddly sized earcups do not encompass the ear as securely and are therefore more likely to slip off during physical activities like running. They won't be ideal for the gym and may require frequent adjustment to keep them in place. However, they will not move much during casual listening sessions.

5.7
Design
Portability
L 7.68"
W 6.69"
H 2.76"
Volume 141.67 in³
Stand required N/A

The Sennheiser 202 II are a little bulky for on-ear headphones. They're not as big as some other over-ear models, but they do not fold up to a more compact format or lay flat to take less space. This makes them a little cumbersome to carry around and would only fit in a bag or a moderately large purse. Furthermore, they also don't come with a case or pouch, which is disappointing.

0
Design
Case
Type No case

5.5
Design
Build Quality

These headphones feel very plasticky and cheaply made. They are lightweight and the plastic used is dense enough to withstand a couple of drops without getting damaged. Unfortunately, they don't feel as durable as som other on-ear design. Their all-plastic build feels susceptible to breaking under a moderate amount of physical stress, and the cable is not very thick and could get damaged by regular wear and tear.

7.9
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 2.3 °C

Design
Cable
Detachable No
Length 10.1 ft
Connection 1/8" TRS

Design
Front

Design
Angled

Design
Side

Design
Rear

Design
Top

Design
In The Box

  • Sennheiser HD 202 II Headphones
  • 1/8" to 1/4" Adapter
  • Cable winder

Sound
7.9
Sound
Bass
Std. Err.
3.12 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
20.29 Hz
Low-Bass
0.96 dB
Bass
4.93 dB
High-Bass
2.41 dB

8.1
Sound
Mid
Std. Err.
2.57 dB
Low-Mid
-1.13 dB
Mid
1.78 dB
High-Mid
3.8 dB

5.2
Sound
Treble
Std. Err.
5.81 dB
Low-Treble
-4.29 dB
Treble
-4.54 dB
High-Treble
-3.18 dB

6.5
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.77 dB

6.4
Sound
Soundstage
PRTF Error
6.37 dB
Openness
7.5
Acoustic Space Excitation
3.0
Correlated Crosstalk
-0.07 dB

7.3
Sound
Imaging
Phase Error
40.67°
Driver Mismatch (Amplitude)
0.83 dB
Driver Mismatch (Frequency)
2.37 dB
Driver Mismatch (Phase)
54.07°

7.1
Sound
Total Harmonic Distortion
Weighted THD @ 90
1.405
Weighted THD @ 100
11.727

Isolation
5.2
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Overall Attenuation
-10.25 dB
Noise-Cancelling No
Bass
0.35 dB
Mid
-6.71 dB
Treble
-26.86 dB
Self-Noise
0 dB

Poor isolation. Due to the on-ear design, poor seal, and lack of active-noise cancellation, these headphones perform poorly in this category. There is virtually no isolation provided in the Bass Range. The overall amount of isolation achieved in the Mid Range is about 7dB, and about 24dB in the Treble Range, which are below average.

7.0
Isolation
Leakage
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
39.48 dB

Decent leakage. The significant portion of the leakage is between 1KHz-4KHz which is relatively narrow. The overall level of the leakage is low too, making these headphones a decent performer in this area.

Active Features
0
Active Features
Wireless
Type
N/A
Obstructed Range
N/A
Line of Sight Range
N/A
NFC
No

10
Active Features
Latency
Base Latency
0 ms
aptX Latency
N/A
aptX(LL) Latency
N/A

not tested
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
N/A
Battery Life
N/A
Charge Time
N/A
Auto-off
N/A
Audio while charging
N/A
Passive Playback
N/A

0
Active Features
App Support

No compatible app.