Our Verdict
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.
- Lightweight, stable design.
- Low leakage.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Uncomfortable fit.
- Plasticky build.
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.
Not made for commuting. They only isolate passively, and it's not enough for the ambient noise of train or plane.
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
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.
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.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Jun 03, 2016: Review published.
- Updated Jun 01, 2016: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Apr 29, 2016: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Check Price
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.