Original Sennhieser HD414s ?

[Martinh]

Look what I just found in the loft - my dads old pair of HD414 headphones.

http://www.chelsea-bathrooms.co.uk/hd414.jpg

I remember that he bought them when I was a young kid (i'm 45 now), so I guess they must be the original model from the 70s.

The foam pads are long gone, but I see that Sennheiser still sell all the spares.

Can anyone tell me any more about these - i'm listening to them now (not too comfy without pads) and they sound pretty good to me.

Cheers,

Martin

[Tim]

Blimey, I used to have a pair of those, but they are long gone now.

[Werner Berghofer]

Martin,


Can anyone tell me any more about these

these were excellent headphones, I owned and loved a pair of them in the late 1970’s. The Sennheiser HD 414 and its descendants were the standard headphones in any serious record shop.

Their sound was very open, though a little weak on the bass. They had an enormous sound stage and were very comfortable to wear.

Werner.

[morris_minor]

My first proper headphones - after a nasty, plastic set of Koss "Red Devils".

I was hooked on Sennheisers from then on. Now got some 650s. (Though some Denon AH-D7000s are coming for my birthday next month :eyebrows:).

Those horrible Koss things:

http://cdn.head-fi.org/b/b7/308x329px-LL-b7eefb07_REDDEVIL.png

[Martinh]

Martin,

these were excellent headphones, I owned and loved a pair of them in the late 1970’s. The Sennheiser HD 414 and its descendants were the standard headphones in any serious record shop.

Their sound was very open, though a little weak on the bass. They had an enormous sound stage and were very comfortable to wear.

Werner.

Thanks for the replies,

Yes, that's exactly what I'm hearing, light, open and airy - I agree on the bass being light too.

I's better get some foam pads on order toute suite...

I think I might shorten the cable a bit too and fit a better 3.5mm plug - any suggestions for a reasonable one?

Cheers,

martin

[Martinh]

My first proper headphones - after a nasty, plastic set of Koss "Red Devils".

I was hooked on Sennheisers from then on. Now got some 650s. (Though some Denon AH-D7000s are coming for my birthday next month :eyebrows:).

Those horrible Koss things:

http://cdn.head-fi.org/b/b7/308x329px-LL-b7eefb07_REDDEVIL.png

I bet you look really cool wearing those...;)

Martin

[morris_minor]

I bet you look really cool wearing those...;)

Martin

Hell, yeh! :lol:

[Coundonroad]

Still got a pair - on their third set of foams, and needing new ones soon!
Great headphones...

[Martinh]

Still got a pair - on their third set of foams, and needing new ones soon!
Great headphones...

Not the most comfy though... Especially with my ears:

http://www.chicagonow.com/milkin-it/files/2011/06/MAN-WITH-BIG-EARS.jpg

[walpurgis]

Martin, I'd look inside them if I were you. The HD414s were prone to filling up with dust and fluff which can affect the sound.

Geoff.

[shane]

Brilliant headphones in their day, and well up to scratch now. Look at any live music broadcast from the 70s (TOTP for example) and the chances are you'll spot someone wearing a pair, usually pale grey rather than black.

They did have a tendancy to break the wires going from the lead socket to the voice coil, but this can be repaired with some very delicate soldering.

[DSJR]

THEY'RE CRAP!!!!!

I have an original dirty grey coloured pair and use them for emergencies. They have little to no bass, an over-projected midrange - like many AVI speakers - and little extreme treble - again, like many AVI speakers... All this on the 414's was heard and documented back in the 70's when they first came out. I don't believe the black later model was as good, but it's a long time since I compared them directly. Pu it this way, they spectacularly fail the "Sam Brown Test" with ease...... ;)

The real cheapo Senheiser to look out for is the HD420 I think from memory. I also have some HD480's and they're better in the bass but are treble-less (I had a couple of pairs and they both sounded the same).

Sorry chaps, I like some bass and treble with my music :lol:

[Martinh]

THEY'RE CRAP!!!!!



Dave, please say what you think. You are always sitting on the fence :lol:

I think they're good, but not fantastic. However, they do hold some sentimental value, as they were my Dads.

They still fetch good money on eBay, so they must have something going for them. Also amazing that you can still buy spares for them from Sennheiser :)

Edit: my Dad also had a pair of the HD420s which sat on the ears better, if I remember correctly. I wonder where they are?

Cheers,

[morris_minor]

Edit: my Dad also had a pair of the HD420s which sat on the ears better, if I remember correctly. I wonder where they are?
I used 420s for about 10 years. Loved 'em :cool:

[DSJR]

I'm just reacting to the speil spouted LOUDLY by AVI's Ash regarding ALL passive speakers booming and being harsh, whereas most of their passive speakers sound hard toned and timbrally just "wrong!" despite blasts that this is "neutral".............

My preference, crushed head and all, at the time, was for the Koss Pro 4AA. The old 'uns were coloured, but better in balance.

The 414's ARE extremely comfortable, but some sort of tone control or loudness switch on the amp helps so much with them :)

[Batty]

I still use a pair of 414s

[Marco]

I'm just reacting to the speil spouted LOUDLY by AVI's Ash regarding ALL passive speakers booming and being harsh, whereas most of their passive speakers sound hard toned and timbrally just "wrong!" despite blasts that this is "neutral".............


The old duffer's deaf, and so has got no more clue as to what "neutral" is, in reference to speakers, than he does what constitutes as a hard-on.

Marco.

[Batty]

My 414 have just had a new lease of life, I have a Graham Slee Nova on loan via the loaner plan, great little headphone amp.

[Coundonroad]

Martin, I'd look inside them if I were you. The HD414s were prone to filling up with dust and fluff which can affect the sound.

Geoff.

And possibly earwax judging by the size of his lugholes! ;)