I'm still waiting for the AKG 240 MKII's to be repaired and on a whim purchased the Sennheiser HD 598 to use for piano practicing while I wait.

Last night I ordered the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO's for use at the gym. I ordered them for several reasons - they're mentioned as having 32 dB ambient noise reduction (passive) and they allow the cord to be replaced by the user.

I'm curious if anyone here uses this model and what your personal opinion is. My purchase will arrive tomorrow.

I have used the 280s. Good isolation, good sound, easy to drive... Maybe a little tight and hot at the gym.

Tried them. Hated them. If you really need the noise reduction, maybe these are good choice. But I didn't. Other phones sounded much better.

Yeah, they aren't great in sound quality. I rate them as good. Definitely good enough for the gym. Personally, I would just use something lighter for the gym. The 380s are like tight earmuffs.

They are OK (if ok is ok that is)

The 380's are nicer sounding.

Actually, I meant 280s. 380s are much better. I recently bought the Sony MDR 7520s and they are exceptional closed back headphones.

I had these headphones for two days. The isolation is very good. The sound also is kind of surround. But I think it is not designed for classics music. I can also say that after a while you will feel pressure and heat on your ears. They are not good for long time use. The best headphone in this regards is HD-800, you almost forgot that you are wearing cans.

The package just arrived and I'm now wearing the HD 280's. I listened to my N3 through them and while it was OK it lacked the bass response I've gotten accustomed to from the HD 598's.

They are snug on the head which probably helps to block out unwanted noise.

My use will just be at the gym - very often they have the 'background' music cranked up and while I'm trying to listen to the TV.

A short review - they are probably not the best headphones for the gym since they are closed and make you sweat.. The plastic ear cushions were wet in short time, but that's a trade off for me since I really just want to block out the music kindly provided from the gym while I'm watching their TV. They really did an excellent job of blocking out external noise, in this case, external music.

I've noticed the following with this and other headphones, listening to music, they all pretty much sound very good or excellent. When I listen to, in my case, the N3, I've come to expect a certain sound from the piano and if it's not there, the headphones, in my opinion, are lacking.

So, for my limited use of this headphone, it does a good job - I'm more interested in blocking out unwanted noise ... and I like the fact that just about everything on the headphone can be replaced. I wish all headphones came with ear cushions and cables that could be swapped out. I have a box of headphones in my closet that will go to the recycling center simply because the cable or plug gave out.

I am using them for my P95 and love them. Much better than the internal speakers, and better than the MXDR-200's which i was using but are better suited for my IPod.

I think these are decent headphones for $99. The get a little uncomfortable after long periods of use, but I like the way they sound. I use them on my cheap Casio PX-575 and enjoy the way they make this cheap piano sound.

I tried a pair of the 280s, and sent them back after two days. They lacked both high end and bass. The claimed isolation from outside noise is grossly overstated, being much poorer that what I get from a pair of passive ear protectors rated at 25 dB.

Jack