Headphone recommendation for daughter

[bazzabear]

My Daughter has had a pair of Sennheiser HD4.20s which she's had for 3 years, but the strap has started to crack in a couple of places, and the cable is damaged (only plays in both ears if you hold it in a certain way!)

Looking for a replacement, and the HD 400S seems an obvious candidate. But is there anything else at a similar price point I should be considering?

I think we probably have to go wired because she uses them with a Switch, a Fire tablet and a keyboard at times. Unless there's a wireless candidate which can also be used wired?

 

[goldy6660]

Is she after closed or open back?

 

[bazzabear]

Doubt she cares. Closed makes more sense I guess since she might use them in noisier environments.

 

[bazzabear]

OK, I have just found Creative Zen Hybrids.

They are an example of the product that I didn't know whether it exists - a wireless headphone, but they can also be used wired.

Does anyone have any experience of them? Available for £50 currently.

 

[NickK]

OK, I have just found Creative Zen Hybrids.

They are an example of the product that I didn't know whether it exists - a wireless headphone, but they can also be used wired.

Does anyone have any experience of them? Available for £50 currently

The HD400 will probably sound better than creative..

 

[bazzabear]

You're probably right on pure sound quality.

I'm still tempted towards the Zens on the basis of the better connectivity - and that the headband on the HD400's seems to be the same design as the one on her current 'phones which is cracked in a couple of places.

 

[Flibster]

Lindy BNX range are pretty nice. Other half has the 60s and likes them. Bluetooth and 3.5mm capable with AptX on Bluetooth as well.

Soundcore Q35 and Q45 are really nice. The app makes them very useable and tuneable. LDAC support on Bluetooth too. Q45s currently available direct for under £100 which is a absolute steal. Both also have 3.5mm as well.

Tempted to get a set myself for that....

 

[NickK]

Agree - as a 'connect to anything' such as iPads, phones, computers, TVs etc then bluetooth is likely to work better for kids.

Bluetooth means digital into the headphone and then the inbuilt DAC+Amp then do the work. It's not normal to have a analogue connection (wire) and the digital configuration but I could be wrong. It may ADC then DAC but more likely it's a wired charging cable. Probably worth checking the cheatsheets match what you need.

 

[bazzabear]

From reading the guff, using the 3.5mm cable bypasses all the electronics of the headphones and just uses them as a passive device. So NC, for example, isn't available when using them wired.

 

[bazzabear]

Reporting back on this - bear in mind this is the review of a 12 year old, but she is massively pleased with the Zen Hybrids. Reckons the sound quality is better than the Sennheisers were, and better than the Steelseries Siberia v2's that she's been using in the interim.