At first glance, the HD25 IIs certainly don’t look worth their fairly high price tag, offering tiny earpieces and a plastic headband. Once on, though, they clasp your head like a vice. It does take some time to get used to the tight environment, but after a while you actually grow to like the space they create with their isolation and grip.

Sound-wise, the price is justified by the quality. They are tight at all frequencies, providing a very transparent response. Their closed nature helps to keep the bass up-front without boominess or rumbling, the high end is crystal clear and the stereo imaging is very impressive considering their tiny size. We do have some concerns about build quality, though we were able to do some serious stretching and bending with them without feeling like they were too close to snapping.

These are perfect for DJs, keeping your ears focused on the music in the noisiest of environments.

45 Stars