Senal SMH-1200
Closed Around-the-Ear Folding Headphones
Intro Specifications Parts & Accessories
Senal SMH-1200 (58Ω, 8.2 oz./233 g without cord, $149.99). bigger. I got mine at B&H where it comes in onyx as shown here, in cherry red, in burgundy, and in nautical blue.
SALE!!!
Just for my readers, you can get these in any color for just $99.
Earpads are interchangeable with the Sony MDR-7506, MDR-V6, Senal SMH-1000 and SMH-500 headphones:
Optional Genuine Sheepskin Leather Earpads.
Optional Deluxe Velour Earpads.
Replacement extra-deep earpads.
Auray Universal Headphone Case.
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Introduction top
Intro Specifications Parts & Accessories
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These SMH-1200 are basic closed around-the-ear folding wired headphones.
Much to my surprise having shopped for headphones since the 1970s is that Senal's description of the sound is accurate and useful: slightly boosted bass for good sound at normal levels with smooth midrange that articulates details without harshness.
These have a clearer than usual sound with a slightly boosted upper midrange, but without becoming harsh. This is an unusually good combination I rarely hear. These are great for monitoring recordings and feeds so you can hear everything, and also good for enjoying music and movies if you prefer clearer sound. I can watch movies for hours with these; they sound great and remain comfortable. These aren't the best for enjoying acoustic classical music like symphonies and choruses because the added clarity isn't appropriate for that.
These come with two cords, a short one with a microphone and single start/stop/answer/hangup button (no volume control), and a long coiled cord. They fold into a ball for travel and come with a vinyl sack:
Folded Senal SMH-1200 and included sack. bigger.
These are very similar to the Senal SMH-1000, but with deeper earpads and slightly different drivers. Compared to the Senal SMH-1000, these SMH-1200 are more comfortable as there is more depth inside so your ears aren't squashed, and these SMH-1200 are clearer due to a slightly boosted upper midrange — and thankfully still aren't harsh.
I got my SMH-1200 at B&H, where they come in onyx as shown, in cherry red, in burgundy, and in nautical blue.
New compared to Senal SMH-1000
Deeper earpads than Senal SMH-1000.
Clearer than Senal SMH-1000 with slightly boosted upper midrange.
Comes in onyx as shown here, in cherry red, in burgundy, and in nautical blue.
Good
Fold into a ball for travel.
Replaceable cords.
Standard replaceable earpads.
1/4" adapter included.
Bad
Nothing, other than being twice the price of the very similar Senal SMH-1000. Order the SMH-1000 and the replacement extra-deep earpads, and for about $99.90 you've got about the same thing as these $150 SMH-1200.
Missing
No Bluetooth. A Bluetooth adapter is hinted at if you read the printed instruction manual, but it doesn't actually exist.
No volume control.
No batteries and no problems, either!
Specifications top
Intro Specifications Parts & Accessories
I got my SMH-1200 at B&H, where they come in onyx as shown, in cherry red, in burgundy, and in nautical blue.
Box, Senal SMH-1200. bigger.
Box Back, Senal SMH-1200. bigger.
Included Cables & 1/4" Adapter. bigger.
3.5mm plugs.
2.5mm locking connection to headphones.
Weight specifications top
8.205 oz. (232.6 g) without cord, actual measured weight.
Quality specifications top
Made in The Philippines.
Price, USA specifications top
$149.99, March 2020.
Parts & Accessories top
Intro Specifications Parts & Accessories
I got my SMH-1200 at B&H, where they come in onyx as shown, in cherry red, in burgundy, and in nautical blue.
Auray Universal Headphone Case.
Ear pads are interchangeable with the Sony MDR-7506, MDR-V6, Senal SMH-1000 and SMH-500 headphones:
Optional Genuine Sheepskin Leather Earpads.
Optional Deluxe Velour Earpads.
Replacement extra-deep earpads.
Performance top
Intro Specifications Parts & Accessories
I got my SMH-1200 at B&H, where they come in onyx as shown, in cherry red, in burgundy, and in nautical blue.
Overall performance top
These are basic closed folding headphones with clean, clear sound and lots of comfort.
Sound performance top
The SMH-1200 are great for monitoring, as their added clarity is a great help in hearing noise, distortion or anything wrong with a feed or recording.
What's especially nice is that while they do add clarity, they don't add harshness. This is unusual and very good. I can enjoy listening though these for hours without aural fatigue or my ears hurting in the shallower earpads of the Sony MDR-7506 or Senal SMH-1000.
Bass performance top
Bass is natural and not boosted. While Senal's description says "slightly boosted," in reality at normal levels the bass is natural.
Ergonomics performance top
These are straightforward.
Everything feels great; even the click stops on the harp are numbered.
All the gimbals move as they should; just pop them on and they adjust to you by themselves.
Sensitivity performance top
Sensitivity is typical and more than enough to use on iPads, iPods and iPhones with no need for any external amplifiers.
I usually have my iOS volume set to about half. This is perfect.
Isolation performance top
These have the usual isolation from outside sounds as most closed headphones.
Leakage performance top
These have very little leakage to the outside world, but they do have some.
People next to you on a bus or in an office won't hear anything, but at home at night if you're trying to make your ears bleed with heavy metal while someone's trying to get to sleep next to you, they may hear a little bit of leakage.
Mechanical Quality performance top
The headphones have the typical quality of other offshored headphones.
The round parts of each earpiece are metal, as are the pivots and springs of the headband.
The headband adjustments are stainless, with numbered clickstops.
There's more metal than in most consumer models, but the straight cord feels cheap.
Cords performance top
4' Cloth Cord
The cloth cord has a 45º 3.5mm connector.
It feels cheaper than what I get from Germany with my beyerdynamic headphones, but what I expect from inexpensive headphones like this.
12' Coiled Cord
The coiled cord has a straight 3.5mm connector.
The coiled cord feels like every other coiled cord.
Recommendations top
Intro Specifications Parts & Accessories
I got my SMH-1200 at B&H, where they come in onyx as shown, in cherry red, in burgundy, and in nautical blue.
These are very well tuned for for monitoring where you want lots of clarity with enough smoothness so you don't have ear fatigue.
They're also a good choice for movies and basic music, especially if you prefer a little extra clarity.
For classical music enjoyment and other serious music enjoyment (as opposed to field monitoring), I'd get something made-in-Germany from beyerdynamic for about the same price, like the closed DT-770 or open DT-880 or DT-990 (more beyerdynamic reviews.) For the best sound for music in open headphones under $3,000, I prefer the huge Verum 1 headphones that only cost around $350 — but they are a very different kind of headphone.
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