over-the-head headphones

I bought the MP100 (AUD$24) because they were cheap, because I have faith in TDK as a brand and they looked pretty decent. I also have a pair of Sennheiser HD320's (supra-aural design), and used these for reference.

The MP100's are a closed back design, DJ style without all the fancy features of your standard DJ fare (HD25, etc). They're a simple pair of cans and I was hoping to use them as a secondary pair at work - purely for music, not games or watching DVDs.

I am not an audiophile, nor a sound engineer, although I have studied audio engineering for a year or so. I'm a musician as well as a music lover and would like to think I have discerning ears!

The HD320's are a pair of headphones I have had for some years now, and I've grown accustomed to their light weight, comfort and very natural sound. They were great value when I bought them at AUD$120. I can listen to them all day without fatigue and because they sit on gently on my ears as opposed to gripping tightly, they are very comfortable. The flipside is that they fall off rather easily!

The Sennheiser design seems to be of a generally higher standard than the TDK - quality plastics, cord, connector, 1/4" adaptor, etc. You would expect this at 5 times the price.

The TDK's are firmer on the head, with a nice cushion underneath the headband. They grip quite firmly without being too tight, although if you have large ears you might find that your ears don't fit perfectly.

Sonically, how do they compare? Well the Sennheiser's are definitely the winner and that's what I expected. BUT, the TDK are far from being ....

The TDK's are more trebly and tend to have a slightly more EQ'd nasal and brittle sound. I don't listen to these at high volume for hours because they are fatiguing. The mid range on the Sennheiser's is far more natural and vocals sound more forward and defined.

The Sennheiser's also have a warmer and solid bottom end, whereas the TDK appears a bit thinner.

My audio source is just my PC, running through a Creative Sound Blaster - no fancy stereo components here. It's a good test I guess because many people out there buying the TDK's would be on a tight budget.

Here's the verdict - the TDK's are decent. They will be fine for casual/general listening - look good and sound alright to boot. They won't please an audiophile or a serious muso/engineer, yet you wouldn't expect them to at this price.

They are definitely better sounding than some Sony's I have used at double the price and FAR more comfortable too.

Well done TDK, I look forward to more of your products in the future!