Sennheiser HD 408 review

These Sennheiser over-ears will certainly appeal to those who are after plenty of bass with their music Tested at £34.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Not the last word in definition, but they will appeal to fans of smooth, bassy grooves

Pros

  • +

    Deep bass

  • +

    comfortable fit

  • +

    decent design

Cons

  • -

    Overbearing bass

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

We know there are lots of people out there for whom deep bass is at the very top of their list of sonic priorities.

For them, the Sennheiser HD 408's promise of ‘bass-driven sound' will be very enticing, but we've listened to enough pairs of headphones to realise that such promises rarely come without a catch.

And yes, there is a catch here. The bass is deep and weighty, certainly, but it's also rather overbearing and takes too much of the focus and nuance away from vocals.

Having said that, those sacrifices are less explicit compared to many headphones with similarly bassy aims. Add a very comfortable fit and you've got a decent budget option.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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