Our Verdict
The PXC 250 IIare not designed specifically for studio recording or critical listening. They're compact noise cancelling headphones ideally for traveling and commuting. However, lacking a strong isolation performance they are best used as everyday casual headphones.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Minimal leakage.
- Compact, lightweight design.
- Poor isolation.
- Flimsy build.
- Uncomfortable.
Average for neutral listening. They have an above average sound but a poor soundstage. Also, they lack a bit of bass and can sound sharp at times.
Not ideal for commuting. They're compact but don't block much noise, and they're not comfortable.
Mediocre at best for sports. They're lightweight and compact. However, they lack a decent control scheme and the noise cancelling module is cumbersome.
Mediocre for office use. They won't block the chatter of a busy office but on the upside, they don't leak much.
Changelog
- 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.
- Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
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 PXC 250 II look a little flimsy. They have a compact, collapsible and sleek design with a two-tone black and metallic silver color scheme. The small circular ear cups are given a little more flare with their stylized metallic backs. They look good but are not especially remarkable.
The PXC 250 II are uncomfortable. The small ear cups are poorly padded and do not rest well on the ears. They are lightweight but the thin headband is not stable, which gets uncomfortable if you are often on the move.
There are only two control options offered by these headphones: A noise cancelling switch and a volume dial. They are functional but disappointing, as all major changes to the audio need to be done on the audio source or device, which can be quite frustrating for some.
The PXC 250 are above-average portable headphones. They fold up into a compact format and have a thin frame that easily fits into your bag. They are smaller than most on-ear headphones and may even fit in jacket pockets however the control module is slightly bulky and could be cumbersome to carry around.
Comes with a soft case that will protect the headphones from scratches. However, the case adds a little bit of bulk to the headphones, and it will not protect them from physical stress and hard falls.
Build quality feels flimsy and susceptible to breaking. The metal headband is very thin and would easily warp if too much physical stress is applied. The joint connecting the ear cups to the frame also looks a little weak, making these headphones fragile and unlikely to survive many drops.
These headphones are not stable. Their lightweight design applies enough pressure to maintain a stable fit during casual listening sessions. Unfortunaely, the small earcups do not rest well on the ears and move a lot when simply tilting your head. They quickly slip off your ears, while running or doing any physical activity and the long audio cable can easily get tangled or hooked by something in your environment. Also, the noise cancelling generator is big and heavy enough to cause the headphones to sway, especially, while doing sports
- Sennheiser PXC 250 II Headphones
- 1/8" to 1/4" Adapter
- AAA battery (x2)
- Airline Adapter
- Manual
- Carrying case
Poor isolation overall. The isolation provided passively by the ear cups is decent, considering the on-ear design of these headphones. The mid range performance is also below average, but not too bad, considering the design. However, these headphones don't isolate any bass, and are a little high on self-noise.
Very good leakage results. The leakage happens only in the treble range, with its peak around 6KHz. The overall level of leakage is also quite low.
The PXC 250 II have an above-average battery life that delivers up to 44.6 hours of continuous playback. They use a AAA cell but thanks to their surprisingly long battery life, you won't need to change the battery as often. They can also play audio passively when the battery is dead by switching off the noise canceling. Unfortunately, they do have any additional battery saving features so they will run out of power if you leave them on.
No compatible app.
