It is only recently that I started realising that my appreciation of music has always been linked to my mental state. From my teens when I began discovering music to now, when I need to find time to sit and appreciate a song, a lot has changed. But, the fact remains that great audio quality always makes you pause whatever you are doing to enjoy the moment.
The Sennheiser HD505 headphones are exactly the kind of headphones that make you forget daily stress and focus on the composition streaming into your ears.
The HD505 has a familiar Sennheiser over-the-ear design with a synthetic leather headband and metal mesh earcup covers with bronze-finish accents that give it a very premium look. The HD505 is surprisingly light and very comfortable to wear for long hours. The cups completely immerse your ears and don’t warm up much, even in summers. The 6-foot cable is long enough to connect from the source of your choice and comes with a 6.3mm adapter for those using music systems.
Whenever I am testing audiophile headphones, the first song I listen to is always the one that leaves a lasting impact. I started the Sennheiser HD505 journey with a FLAC version of Brothers in Arms by Club For Five. I could not have chosen something better. This cappella group from Finland has vocals at such a level that most headphones will struggle to make it palatable. But the HD505 managed the baritone so well, along with heartbeat-like thumbing in the middle.
The HD505 has a custom 120-ohm transducer housed in an open earcup that gives all music a natural feel. It is with a composition like NTO’s Petite that you get to experience the full range of this headphone’s capabilities, from a punchy bass to rich details. This is the sort of music that can take you into a trance, and the HD505 gradually fades into the background, letting the music embalm you with its mystical capabilities.
With something more vocal like With My Home in the Delta, the soulful voice of Muddy Waters is the centre of attention, though you don’t miss any details, not the guitars or the regular drum beats. Each strum is as if someone is tugging on your heart… it is not every day you listen to songs with such intent.
I had heard enough… I knew I had to listen to Leonard Cohen to seal my appreciation of the HD505. A live performance of his famous Blue Raincoat took me to the cold New York streets with music playing on the sidewalks, ushered into a surreal world far from my reality as only Cohen’s voice and words can. This is that kind of headphone… one that does not need noise cancellation to shut out the noise of your life.
At Rs 27,990, the Sennheiser HD505 might not be for everyone. But I would consider this among the best headphones at the moment for audiophiles who love their songs to be rendered without overpowering technology. I found my time with the Sennheiser HD505 both destressing and therapeutic… as long as I knew what songs to play. This therapy is strongly recommended.
