Samson SR850 Semi-open Studio Headphones Reviews

These headphones have a quality sound, and I am truly enjoying them.

If you want to try open back headphones and are on a budget, these are the headphones to buy. These sound amazing compared to the wired earbuds I was using before. They're self-adjusting, which is convenient. They're fairly comfortable, at first they felt tight but I'm sure that's just because they were new. My only complaint is that you can't change which side the wire goes into (it goes into the left side), but the cord is plenty long so it's not a huge inconvenience. Overall, would recommend.

I mostly just got these to use as reference headphones for tracking guitars and vocals. Not mixing. I thought these would be "good for the price" or "serviceable" but no, they are just plain good. Excellent sound quality and very comfy. They feel quite durable as well.

I've owned several Samson products and they still have yet to disappoint me.

When I purchased the Samson SR850,I was really looking at something inexpensive, that I could use with my Irig2. I can not believe what amazing sound they deliver! I use them for all my silent jamming, music, movies, everything! I am honestly impressed.

These Samson headphones are superb, especially for the price. I bought them for casual listening, but the audio quality is high enough that I would even use them for mixing. I cranked up "Dark Side of the Moon" with these and felt like I was hearing parts of it for the first time. They're also comfortable. I listened for hours while working on writing projects.

Punch so far above their weight it's not even comprehensible. I've now bought 4 pairs and replaced all of y other headphones with the SR850's!

Finally a head set which fitswell and gives great sound.

for the price, these are excellent headphones.

I use these direct out of my Strymon Iridium for guitar practice. I'm happy with the openness of the sound, clarity, and tone.

I'm certainly not an audiophile when it comes to headphones, but that said, I've been very pleased with using these for guitar practice and would recommend them to the average musician for that purpose.

The Samson SR850's are such impressive, light, and comfortable semi-open OTE headphones for this price, it's almost hard to believe. The 50mm Drivers and wide frequency range rival many headphones costing 2-5x's more. I was so impressed with them for mixing and even certain tracking projects that I ordered another pair just for everyday listening. They're fairly plain looking (think AKG with nominal decoration), but they are well made. No, they don't have removable cables, but it seems that Samson focused more on engineering really decent-sounding headphones, first and foremost. They may not look super-fancy, but they are well constructed, easy on the ears in terms of wear time, and not junky in any way. I love 'em!!! Of course, there are always better headphones out there, but none that I'm aware of anywhere close in this price range. Don't overthink it. If you're not sure, order and spend half a Benjy. Doubt you will ever regret it.

I recently ordered these headphones after being recommended them and i gotta say I'm amazed at how good quality and sounding these headphones are. Definitely worth the money

I'm a mixing engineer and musician, and bought these as a pair of cans to backup my higher end headphones, and for musicians who aren't audiophiles to use while they record. They've turned into my favorite pair of open backs for general use. They have a fairly flat response so they're good for mixing or dialing in guitar modelers, but still have a tiny tiny bit of scoop so everyday music listening is enjoyable. If you are looking for a pair of general purpose open back headphones, I recommend these above anything else.

For the price of these cans they far exceed their expected quality. I was more than pleased with the delivery of sound both lows and highs. Also very comfortable to wear for hours at a time.

I use them in my amp for practice. I like the open backs, too. Very comfortable.

Excellent quality, reasonable price can buy in ebay. Sound quality rockzzz. Highly recommended

I have been an Audiophile for nearly 40 years. I don't believe you have to be a snob or that you're equipment has to be overpriced for you to be a critical listener! The SR850 Reference headphones do an incredible job of music reproduction. The low's are accurate and have a punch. Mid's are ever present which allows the vocals to really come to life. The high range are bright but blend well. Now that being said I am a firm believer that you need to break in any pair of speakers/ headphones these were burned in using a Chromebox and a FIIO KILIMANJARO amp. The bass boost was shut off. Over 70 hours of pink noise, brown noise, white noise, low frequency bass also 8D mixed music. Then it was my turn. First up Dire straights with Money for nothing. Just what I remembered it was and more. Next up was the pure form of Art of Noise, beat Box and Moments in love. The music so rich and perfectly pronounced, it was like listening to two new songs. Robert Plants, ship of fools. The drums and vocals we're magic! I Now have above

I like then to listen to anything, music, Dolby movie.
Very good base and the sound is emerging you into another world.
Quite realistic to, when playing a game, ear sound in my back, turn my head and
when coming in front of mi monitor monster jump on me and almost fall off my chairs.
After 9 PM, they take place from my Reference speaker Event ALP5.

I love these headphones. Just what I was looking for in great sound. The base is perfect, not too much boom boom that my ears will fall off. I'm enjoying my music even better these days. Thank you Sweetwater. Michael P.

Awesome sounding headphones actually recreate's a closersounding mix that I get on my near field monitor .
Much better than my closed studio headphones which now reside in the closet.

For the price... you can not beat these cans. Hands Down. Spend over $150 or get these. I have listened on many headphones in the $100-$150 range mostly and these are far better sounding as far as stereo imaging and thick bass. Waaaaay more comfortable so don't let the headband fool you.. it molds to your head and the cups are huge so that's always a plus.The semi-open design makes it nice for extended listening times. Late-night guitar and synth sessions last longer with these on. I notice a big difference there for sure. And to compare, I have recently heard akg k240 and did not like the sound as much. I have the closed sony mdr7506 headphones, and they fatigue fast and make my ears sweat. Samson has the perfect balance here at a perfect cost. My friend purchased a pair and broke the headband within 6 months. He's very rough on gear. Type to take the headphones off with one hand... but that's the only drawback I would see someone having. Not enough to dock stars, because he went to the store, compared more, and still bought another pair... They are that good...

Great headphones! I just paid a hundred dollars for another set that were great and used by a lot of different people but man, I like these better at half the cost. You can't go wrong with these. They sound great I know you'll like them, nice wide frequency response! Save some money! I could have got two pair for the price of the other ones. Really Great! Can't say enough about them.

As a recording musician, I must have accuracy and HQ sound, so I always choose the semi-open back headphones. I've used ones that cost several hundred dollars and got the same quality that I found in these. The Samson SR850 is a professional choice at an affordable price......period!

First let me say that these are my first pair of professional reference headphones so do your own research and please consider every option before making your final purchase! OK firsts things first,these are very comfortable! Ive had them on for about an hour now and i can see myself wearing these for another 2 or 3 hours easily! Second Thing, the sound! wow! i actually had low expectations because these look like AKG knock-offs, and we all know how look-a-likes can be, but, let me tell you,these are in a league of there own considering the price to performance ratio! they sound absolutely great! they sound like true studio monitors you wear on your head! once broken in, you might not wanna take them off! everything is very well balanced! Nothing seems hyped. the sound stage is huge! i feel like I'm in the mix and not just listening to it. The stereo field is super accurate! they do have a lot of audio bleed but by these being semi-open back headphones, that's how that amazing sound stage is achieved. They have a very natural sound witch is always a good thing because its nothing worse then feeling all boxed in when your listening to earphones.Ive been doing production and engineering for the last 10 years (mixing and mastering engineering for the last 4 years of that time) and i do critical listening everyday (and i do mean everyday) on nothing but my studio monitors so i think i know a thing or to about great sound and sonics so believe when i say that these may absolutely be your best option for professional reference headphones for 60 dollars PERIOD! If you do decide to make these your choice, you will NOT regret it!

Excellent frequency response!! Excellent value!! 100% recommended!!

Even makes my phone sound great!! At that price you just can't go wrong

I needed open-back headphones suitable for mixing, and bought the Samson SR850 for two reasons: budget necessity, and rave reviews.

If had the money I'd spring for Neumann NDH 30, but I don't, and in any case these do an AMAZING job. The rave reviews are correct. Quite detailed, well-balanced sound, open soundstage, lightweight build, and not too cheaply made.

VERY pleased with this purchase. I use them for tracking and mixing, in tandem with a pair of Superlux 662F. (Great combination for mix translation btw.)

Deducted half a star because the original ear pads don't fully cover my gigantic ears, but I solved this same as with the Superlux: aftermarket velour earpads. Specifically these:

I purchased these for direct monitoring during my recording sessions to replace another rather noisy set of headphones, and I am so pleased I took a chance on these! The sound is so clear and bright, it's really helped me hone in on the finer details I was missing before and didn't know it. The only downside for me is they are unusually large, and I don't care for the fact they can't be tightened up. I really would prefer a snugger fit, thus these aren't *perfect* for me, but they are pretty great!

I have had these for 6 years, they are clean sounding, wide sound stage, and do not cause sonic pressure on you ears because of the semi open design.
Sadly this morning my Golden retriever panicked when a woodpecker decided to rattle the gutters lol.
Her legs were tangled in the cord as she went running and the headphones were not built for this.
I picked up all 5 pieces and said goodby to them, and then came here :)

I have a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pros that I use for mixing, which have a very flat frequency response, but I wanted a pair of general-purpose cans for tracking instruments (the semi-open design makes them unsuitable for tracking vocals), and passive music listening. I was skeptical that these headphones would be much more than "adequate", or "Ok... for the price", but I had read/heard so many glowing reviews about them, it piqued my curiosity, and I decided to give them a try. I'm glad I did!

These have a broad frequency range, with good bass response. While they're not quite as flat as the 770s, I don't think any frequencies are particularly hyped. You could use these in a pinch for mixing, and get pretty accurate results. The sound-stage they present is so good I often forget that I'm using headphones, and not my studio monitors (I've walked away from my desk a few times forgetting that they were on my head!).

The biggest complaint I've heard about these cans is that the pads are too hard, and they get uncomfortable after a while, but I think Samson mush have changed that, because the pads on mine are very soft, and I've used these for several hours at a stretch and have been barely aware that I'm wearing them.

I've been using these for a few months now, and I'm very happy with them. Sure, the construction could be a little more robust, but you can't expect the world for fifty bucks. If you use these primarily for home recording, and you're not reckless with them, I think they'll last a long time.

I give these 4.5 stars not for what they are but as headphones in general. That means stacked against other semi-open suspension headband style 'phones at any price.

These are good enough that you need a good source to get the most out of them. If you aren't driving them with a decent DAC, you won't be able to unlock their potential. The impedence is low enough for many mobile phones but there's certainly a glass ceiling that gets hit unless the source audio is of high quality.

They have a hyper-detailed and hyper-transparent sound. How though? Those usually act against each other.

I think the answer is a v shaped sound signature with huge drivers and open Soundstage. The openness tends to bring the mids forward so they're still present, but what is taken away by the openness is made up for the boosted lows and highs. They end up having a very even and flat signature as a result.

Mine have gotten heavy use and are now falling apart. It's sad, but they lasted me many years and I plan on buying a new pair when I can afford it. So far I've got three points of failure with them, and it's the cable, the elastics in the suspension headband, and the earpads. If I was Samson I'd fix these points of failure by adding a removable cable(perhaps a male like on superlux), two pairs of earpads in the box, and a fully replaceable headband. I believe if they changed these three things without changing the price, they'd go from notoriously good to being infamously good.

For the price these headphone can't be beat! They sound great with excellent dynamic range. Very comfortable and the velour earpiece covering is a plus! Call Dave Brow for great customer service!

For me it was a pleasant experience. Just an amateur and I got a great product for my bucks, the service and technical support was exceptional. It was delivered on time and I liked the ability to follow the shipments progress. I will do business with Sweetwater again.

These are an amazing pair of studio headphones, especially considering the price. They seem to be a copy of AKG's open back studio headphones, but with a slightly less substantial build quality. The headband is plastic, and the molding process left sharp edges that I smoothed out with some fine sandpaper. That's not to say they feel flimsy in any way, however, and they sound very balanced. I'm noticing details I've never heard before in my music.

I am really happy with these. Bought it for my digital piano, totally worth it. But if its plainly about listening to songs, iPod with its new earphones are better still anyday. But you would need the iPod with it of course :). So ask me? Yes,I tried using my older iPod earphones with my digital piano, sounded horrible.

I play heavy stadium guitar through headphones and often give headphone "concerts" at work or jam sessions I have home studio with reference monitors and numerous Sony, Sennheiser and Audio Technica headphones these are almost as good after break in, not quite as clear as the high end twice the price others but a million times better than all the other 50 mm neomydium cheapies anywhere near this price range and can take high volume , also open design allows me to write songs play and sing without getting rigged up. after a friend killed my Sennheiser 380's with insane volume I now take these and leave expensive phones in my studio, comforatable don't pinch ears, lightweight

I mainly use mine for practicing guitar without disturbing the neighbors in my building. They fit well and are very comfortable when worn for extended periods. The quality really shows when listening to recorded music. There are headphones twice the price that sound nowhere near as good as these. My only complaint - and I have this complaint about all headphones - is that I wish the cable was more substantial. That's why I gave them 4 stars

I got these months ago...sometime last year, I think. Anyway, wanted to finally review them. For $... these things sound very complete...full sprectrum like the specs say. While certainly on the bassier side (as others have said), you can simply eq that out (I use these for practice at home, and they don't flinch at all with hot pickups/eq). The construction seems a bit rushed around where the leather was glued to the phones, but hey they seem sturdy for the price, and they're comfy.

I also now use these headphones for watching movies when my downstairs neighbor is home. The soundstage is very fitting, and again about the bass...you will easily live without a subwoofer while wearing these. I just watched "Passengers" last night, and holy cow, the explosions and overall oomph from the movie sound like you're in a theater. I'm going to order another pair. For $... they're a steal.

Very comfortable, incredible sound.

Bought these a few weeks ago.. Great mostly for the money ( writing off the top of my head here so please ).. Studio as they say aptly named great for studio. work Like I said great bang for the buck.. Sound is midrange as the price but for midrange these are great.. Surprising bass for midrange also. Seem to be durable but i believe these also have the 2 year guarantee if it is different I will try to post..

Before I was playing through a Fender Super champ as a floor monitor, and now with these headphones I no longer have issues with other people on stage hearing too much of my guitar. My next investment will likely be a mustang floor pedal system, so I can get the same amp modeling as before. I am about to buy another set of phones for my bass player, son.

I bought these because I wanted a more durable pair of headphones that didn't hinge. They definitely fit the bill in that regard, as they automatically adjust to my ears but stay snug without having to adjust them. I feel like if I drop these they won't break. The cord is also nice and thick - less easy to get tangled.

I was very pleasantly surprised by the sound for the price. They have better high range detail than the Sennheiser and Audio Technica cans in the same price range, but not so much that things sound tinny or breathy. It's just enough that you can hear things like fretting, breaths, and fingering in wind and string instruments much more clearly, but no more than is necessary. (Listening to Tori Amos' Night of Hunters with all its wind fingering is really a joy now.)

Bass sounds good. Not too boomy or muffled, but not too depthless either.

Mid-range is SLIGHTLY lacking, but not really enough to complain about. Turning up the volume slightly resolves that.

Unless you have more demanding needs, I'd recommend these, especially if you want a durable pair. They sound very open and detailed, but rich at the same time.

This is my first pair of studio headphones. I'm very happy with the workmanship and the sound quality, but the fit isn't too great. I have a narrow head, and the headphones won't quite shrink down to a good fit. They clamp pretty tight, too.

We'll see if they "wear in." If not, I'm a bit worried I won't be able to wear them for long stretches.