Our Verdict
Not designed for casual, everyday use. The HD 518 are critical listening headphones best enjoyed in an isolated and quiet environment.
- Good and open audio reproduction.
- Comfortable fit.
- Sensitive to ambient noise, by design.
- High leakage by design, can be distracting to others.
- Slightly bulky and cumbersome design.
The Sennheiser HD 518 deliver a good audio reproduction and open sound quality. They have a crisp representation of instruments and vocals and a spacious and immersive soundstage thanks to the open back ear cups. They sound a bit boomier and less evenly balanced than the HD 598 but still offer a good enough sound for most neutral listeners.
Not meant for commuting or traveling. Their open design does not prevent noise from seeping into your audio.
Not sports headphones. They're big, bulky and a bit cumbersome. They're not designed to be used while doing any physical activity.
Not suitable for office use except if you work in an isolated environment.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 20, 2023: We have corrected a mistake in Wired as these headphones have a detachable audio cable.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
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