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The 280 pro as a great value headphone, but it does have a few problems. First, the bass extends very low, but it's not very strong - it does respond well to equalisation though. Second, the highs can be a bit harsh/grating - the highs extend very high. Third, the headband tends to crack/break after a while of use.

Despite these flaws it's still an excellent entry level audiophile headphone. Also consider the Sony V6.

Extreme clamping force, very poor quality earpads, suckout in upper bass and lower mids (requires several minutes to seal to get better bass and mids and reduce hollow sound), and a bit too much highs around 7 and 9 khz making a slight zingy sound. If you can tolerate these for a few minutes until they begin to seal to your head, the sound will be fairly good hi-fi for the current price around $99 USD.

Poor durability. That is all I have to say about them.

After the headband broke on my Bose Triport AE headphones for the 2nd time (pre 2005 model), I opted for the HD280 headphones.

The first thing I had to adjust to was the sheer weight and bulkiness of the HD280's. However this is often the case for headphones dubbed 'DJ' headphones.

Unlike my HD25-1's the sound was generally a touch thin. It was good and detailed, but as a bass lover, they left me wanting.

The unfortunate thing was that after 3 months, when I picked up the headphones, I noticed several cracks and stress fractures all the way up and down the headband.

After a mildly heated discussion with the store a bought them from I went back to the Bose.

The assistant accused me of folding them incorrectly. The fact was that I’m not a DJ, and I had never even attempted to fold them.

Would I recommend them? Yes I would. Even after the stress fractures, the sound was very pleasant. There was no real complaint there.

The Senn HD280 Pro's are good headphones at their average going price of $100. There are a few flaws and a few things it does better than others, but overall I'd choose it over most in its class.

The good:
1. The bass can go very, very deep, and is never boomy.
2. Very well balanced in its sound signature. Not one area of sound (bass/mids/highs) seems to dominate.
3. Very detailed in their sound. (Could also be bad)
4. Killer isolation--someone could shout in your face and you'd have no idea.
5. Easy to drive: Amplification did improve SQ but not enough to consider it necessary.
6. In general the sound quality is what I'd consider decent.

The bad:
1. Bass is held back, maybe too held back for some. But without a doubt not for what I'd call "bassheads".
2. Mids are very slightly on the honky side.
3. Very detailed cans--not forgiving with bad sources.
4. Soundstage is not the best.
5. Not too portable to my eyes.
6. Hit or miss comfort.
7. Hit or miss durability. My headband did eventually break like many others'.

Excellent closed cans. The isolation is top notch (of full-sized closed cans that I've heard). The bass extension is excellent, but they lack severely in bass impact. The mids and highs are pretty good, but the highs can be a little harsh on occasion. Amping does next to nothing for these cans. Durability is also questionable. They don't feel as though they can take a lot of abuse.

If max isolation is a must, canalphones would be better, but if you want (or need) full-sized closed cans, these will deliver. They clamp somewhat tightly to your head, but they aren't what I would consider uncomfortable. But if you want bass impact, stay away from these at all costs.

Strange closed headphones. The mid-bass is recessed, but the bass is indefinitely extended, almost frightening, sure below the 20 Hz. The sound is a little bright and in a good way. Good mids and good highs, but a little grainy. Good soundtstage. Very (too?) isolating. Good comfort. Apparently well constructed but with poor materials. Be careful in bending the headband. You love it or you hate it. I've loved it!

This is a very good headphone, but not for every genre of music. With its unbelievably deep bass capability, along with crisp, very detailed highs and crunchy midrange, they are best suited to Dance/Trance/Hip-Hop/Rap music. They excels with that kind of super deep club sound, with lots of subwoofers.

But with classical and jazz, they are not as good, because they lack the warmth (mid-bass) needed to make these latter genre involving. With classical, they are simply not natural to me, too analytical and too thin sounding.

While thin, the bass is very clean, clear and defined. The midrange, tought clear and punchy, is not very natural on vocals and some acoustic instruments (piano for example) due to the lack of warmth. Highs are extended and precise, but can be irritating on some songs.

Finally, the HD 280 are more "Hi-Fi" sounding than "musical" sounding. They can be spectacular, especially when watching a movie, but they are not natural with acoustic music.

I am basing my review with the Tack Mod. The Tack Mod helped increase the bass impact and extension. These headphones have slight echo. Very analytical and not so warm. These also have the highest isolation i know of for full size headphones because it has the highest clamping force.

Can't say I disagree with anything anyone else said.

I did amp them and the amp added significantly to the sound quality.

I have only compared them to other under $100 phones - SOny V-6, Senn HD28-SP, Koss KSC-75, Sony-POS51, Sennheiser PX100. (Later edit: I sold them and got some AT 900s, which I sold for some Westone UM2s).

These are better than any of the other sub $100 phones. Bass is missing some but can be modded or Eqd - as everyone says. But it sure is deep bass.

I get the feeling that these are very good phones for the money - but not great. They would get trounced by some of the better $200-$300 phones, I am guessing.

Ah, the HD 280s... probably one of the more debated headphones available. Fairly cheap (can be had for $80 if you're lucky), excellent isolation, good comfort, and good sound for the money, yet it has a few niggling details that keep it from being top-notch.

One, and most notable, the bass. Mind you, the actual bass is insane. If you aren't interested in preserving sound quality, you can use an equalizer to up the 50-70Hz range and be prepared to be blown away. It's tight, chest-thumping bass. However, without said EQ, it's just not there. Sennheiser made this wonderful product, and then threw a blanket over the bottom end. Several things can be done to combat this, the easiest being EQ. I, as many others, chose to mod the headphone itself by coating the interior of the earcups with sticky p tack, which helps lower the mid-bass hump, and also increases the presence of the low bass some.

The other issue I've had is the treble. It's very clear, but sometimes, it's just a bit harsh. It's nothing really to quibble about, but it's like the proverbial mosquito that buzzes around your head - you just keep thinking about it in the back of your mind. I found that a small dip around the 5KHz range in your EQ fixes this.

As for amping, it definitely improves. It has a 64 ohm impedance, which is a fair bit for modern soundcards. While it can be driven fine, and sound good, there is a definite improvement when amped.

Portability is rather, well, lacking. They're big, umkay? While I have no pride, and therefore have worn them in public before (complete with hulking D-33 and CMoy), the more socially conscious among you may do well to avoid being seen in public with these, unless your significant other is an aspiring DJ. If you have no significant other, I'd strongly advise against wearing these around potentials. The phrase "C-Clamp" comes to mind.

All in all, it's an excellent headphone for the money. If you're looking for good isolation, accurate, crisp sound, and a good chance to practice your modding skills, try the 280s.