Aluminium model marks 25 years of Sennheiser’s HD 25 headphones

MANILA, Philippines - Introduced in 1988, Sennheiser’s HD 25 headphones have attained iconic status as the choice of DJs and music professionals the world over.

Audio specialist Sennheiser is celebrating the 25th birthday of its HD 25 headphones with the launch of the HD 25 Aluminium, a new version featuring a unique aluminium finish.

Built to withstand even the most demanding professional use, the HD 25 Aluminium delivers peerless sound quality in headphones that are durable, comfortable and now even more desirable.

The HD 25 is one of the headphones most requested by live sound engineers and has become an icon of electronic music and a fixture in DJ booths around the world.

Delivering the ultimate in performance, durability and comfort, the HD 25s are the choice of the most demanding professionals, continuing to set the gold standard for monitoring headphones and evolving to meet the needs of new generations of professionals. DJ fans include superstars such as DJ Bob Sinclar, QBert and Luciano.

That special something: What makes the HD 25 the perfect DJ headphone?

Built for a life behind the decks, the HD 25’s highly insulated rotatable capsules deliver high levels of background noise attenuation, make one-ear monitoring easy, and stay comfortable when worn for long periods. And the daily punishment of professional use is more than matched by its robust build quality and serviceability.

But keeping the world’s greatest DJs happy is about more than the features and specifications. For DJ legend and four-time DMC champion QBert, the magic of the HD 25 is its precise signature sound, a characteristic that’s prized by many DJs: “My ears are accustomed to the Sennheiser sound. I love that the HD 25s have a flat sound, so you hear how the music really is — not colored, but pure — the way the artist wanted to put their music out. I will be using these for 50 years — 100 years!”

“I have been using the HD 25 for a long time and Sennheiser headphones even longer — they made the first headphones I ever used,” said Swiss-Chilean DJ Luciano.

Likewise, Canadian superstar DJ Mike Shannon has found over the course of his career that the HD 25s are built to last: “I have been using the HD 25s since they came out,” he says.

Commenting on the sound performance, which offers tightly controlled bass and detailed treble while handling high sound pressure levels, Shannon says, “The clarity of the sound, it’s a clean reference — it’s very real. In the studio, listening to a mix, the sound is tight — it’s one to one with how it’s intended.”

Like Shannon, Parisian electro house DJ, producer and label boss Martin Solveig has had a lifelong affair with the HD 25: “I have never ever DJ-ed without it. If you look online at the pictures of all my performances and every party you will never see me using another headphone. It’s the only piece of equipment I have never changed. The reason is the same reason everyone will tell you — it’s the best headphone. The response is linear enough to be trusted even in a studio or recording situation. Of course, I know the sound, and it matches the references in my head — I’m formatted to this headphone.”

In daily use, performance has to be matched with comfort and durability. Ibiza legend and Pacha resident Andy Baxter explains that the headphones’ longevity also reflects their perfect blend of both sound and a robust design that offers a great fit over long periods of use: “I have been using the HD 25 for many years now — there’s no more comfortable headphone out there that can deliver such good sound quality, for myself and for many of my favorite DJs who use the HD 25, too. Happy 25 years of listening pleasure to the one and only Sennheiser.”

To mark the 25th anniversary of the HD 25, Sennheiser has created the new HD 25 Aluminium. Improving on the best, Sennheiser has combined the long-standing sound signature of the HD 25 with a distinctive premium aluminium finish. Individually lathed from single blocks of aluminium, the metal earcups give the headphones a unique appearance while taking the clear sound to new heights by further minimizing the resonances in audible range.

Describing the history of the HD 25, Paul Whiting, president for global sales, says, “This headphone initially conceived for professional broadcasters was also championed by top DJs for its incredible sound and durability — a performance that has scarcely been equalled in 25 years as the HD 25 has continued to evolve and set the standard. Meanwhile, the story of the HD 25 also mirrors that of club culture: over a quarter of a century, the world has seen the rise of the superstar DJ, as the technical skills and artistry needed to bring music to life took center stage. The HD 25s have travelled on this journey:  they have accompanied many of the world’s leading DJs throughout their careers — from the small venues where legends were born, to the world’s biggest arenas. With the HD 25 Aluminium, the journey continues as we honor that heritage with a new look for the future.”