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Superlux HD 681 Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Superlux |
Model Name | HD 681 |
Color | Black |
Form Factor | Over Ear |
Connectivity Technology | Wired |
About this item
- Dynamic
- 50mm Neodymium Drivers Circumaural
- Semi-Open Design
- Self-Adjusting Headband
- Lightweight and Comfortable Fit
Frequently bought together
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This Item Superlux HD 681 Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | -14% $39.95$39.95 Typical: $46.68 | -35% $149.95$149.95 List: $229.25 | $29.99$29.99 | $109.00$109.00 | $109.00$109.00 | $69.99$69.99 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | — | — | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | — |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Sound quality | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 |
Comfort | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.4 |
Noise cancellation | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.6 | — | 3.2 | 2.4 |
Quality of material | 3.6 | 3.8 | — | 4.0 | — | 4.4 |
Value for money | — | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.2 | — |
Sold By | Kellards | Amazon.com | Web Offers | HIFIMAN | Sole Source AV Supply | Bsd Wholesale |
connectivity tech | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired |
headphones form factor | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | — | Over Ear | Over Ear |
connector type | 3 5mm Jack | 1/4-inch, 3.5mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack | 6.35mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack, 1/4-inch |
noise control | sound isolation | — | sound isolation | — | — | sound isolation |
headphones jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
cable feature | Retractable | Detachable | Retractable | Detachable | Detachable | Detachable |
What's in the box
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Product information
Item Weight | 9.7 ounces |
---|---|
ASIN | B002GHIPYI |
Item model number | HD681 |
Customer Reviews |
4.3 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #16,109 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #22 in Recording Headphone Audio Monitors #2,334 in Headphones & Earbuds |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | April 13, 2004 |
Manufacturer | Superlux |
Item Weight | 276 Grams |
Units | 1.0 Count |
Number Of Items | 1 |
Cable Length | 96 Inches |
Warranty & Support
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Product Description
The HD-681 headphones from Superlux combine premium-quality audio components with an ergonomic design to offer accurate and detailed sound in a lightweight and comfortable package. Ideal for long, fatigue-free listening sessions, they are intended for use by musicians and audio professionals in monitoring applications, including recording live instruments and vocals, mixing, and more. The HD-681 features around-the-ear earcups which provide sound isolation from outside noise and help eliminate "headphone bleed" when recording in the studio. The semi-open design delivers a natural sound while still offering deep bass response and minimal sound leakage. Two 50mm neodymium drivers provide a rich, balanced sound with high resolution, wide dynamic range, and excellent stereo imaging. The headphones are equipped with a self-adjusting headband and thick around-ear cushions, providing the listener with a great fit. The HD-681 comes with a protective storage pouch and a gold-plated 1/4" adapter.
Condition Note: Item may have small scratches, may be missing some accessories and is in 100% working condition
Box Contains
- Screw-On, Gold-Plated, 1/8" Stereo Mini Jack to 1/4" TRS Phone Adapter
- Protective Storage Pouch
- Limited 2-Year Warranty
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the comfort, sound quality, and appearance of the sound and recording equipment. They mention that the headphones don't squeeze their head, they sound fantastic for the price, and that the mids are good. They are also happy with the value, and quality. Opinions are mixed on cord length, brightness, and size.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the sound and recording equipment. They mention that the sound is good, spacious, and fantastic for the price. Some customers also mention that there is a better sub-bass.
"...about 20hrs (although not quite fully broken-in) their true sound signature begins to emerge: dynamic, fairly clear..." Read more
"...weeks he says the superlux are so much clearer, cleaner, and spacious sounding, he doesn't like the skull candy anymore...." Read more
"...Sound quality is good. I'm not an audio expert, but I definitely enjoy these. Appearance is one area where these are slightly lacking...." Read more
"...For the rest of you. IF you want good sound quality with a wide sound stage for a reasonable price, and don't want to invest several hundred or..." Read more
Customers like the quality of the headphones. They say that they are well-built, purpose-built design, and don't break at ear-splitting levels. They also appreciate the fact that they should last much longer and do not have to worry about disintegrating foam. Overall, customers are satisfied with the quality and performance of the product.
"...Overall they feel quite sturdy, the cable is fairly long (about 8ft) and is terminated with a small 1/8in jack. A screw-on 1/4in jack is included...." Read more
"...not like the superlux" The point is, these are surprisingly good headphones for "cricial listening" if it's not blasphemy to say such about a sub $..." Read more
"...other point worth noting is their relative bulky size, but the solid construction and notable sound quality overrides this point for me...." Read more
"...Cons:- Not the most impressive build quality.- Not water resistant...." Read more
Customers like the comfort of the headphones. They say that the headphones don't squeeze their head, they don' t get fatigued, and the highs texture is fairly soft.
"...The highs texture is fairly soft (not rough or grainy) but they are emphasized excessively (in the 8-12kHz range), so some type of equalization is..." Read more
"...Overall quality is pretty good. The headphones are comfortable on your ears; however, occasionally the headphones can irritate the top of your head,..." Read more
"...Cons:The clamping force is a bit high, and the pads tend to be a bit stiff...." Read more
"...Pros:+ Excellent sound.+ Super lightweight and comfortable to wear; I used to wear these to bed.Cons:-..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the value of the headphones. They say that they are cheap but good headphones that provide reasonable depth and sound. Some mention that the original pads did provide very good low end.
"...The original pads did provide very good low end on these headphones but with these new pads my ears are slightly closer to the driver, and perhaps..." Read more
"...critical listening, for example Phillips 9500 which are an amazing deal for the price, and you can sometimes score an audiotechnica M40 on sale or..." Read more
"...shouldn't be compared to top-of-the line headphones, but these provide reasonable, above-average depth and sound clarity...." Read more
"...I'd recommend these to anyone looking for cheap but good headphones." Read more
Customers like the appearance of the headphones. For example,they mention they look very good, have nice sound, and vibrant lows. That said, some say the soundstage and imaging really shine.
"...Aesthetics: (2/10) The headphones look very good but Superlux gets only two points from me here - simply because, aesthetically, the HD681 are less..." Read more
"...quarter inch, these things will run out of it and produce a spectacular reproduction of your music...." Read more
"...They look and feel terrible, and yes, they're a bit bright which may be a bit wearying over extended periods, but I can't and won't believe there's..." Read more
"...Sound is soft and "easy" and very pleasing, my ears do not get fatigued listening to them. The cord is long but not as long as the HARX700's...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the brightness of the product. Some mention that it has vivid highs and a remarkable amount of bass, while others say that the highs are very harsh and just don't sound good. The high-end is a little bright, but for the money, these CANNOT BE BEATEN. Some reviewers say that there is lack of mid-range and that the treble on the 681's is too bright.
"...dynamic, fairly clear (still slightly veiled in the mid range) with vivid highs and a remarkable amount of bass for a semi-open design...." Read more
"...I thought they had slightly forward highs, occasionally sibilant, perhaps ... but that's a big word and hardly fair for headphones we paid <$40..." Read more
"...These headphones offer clear, dynamic, sparkling highs, and deep resonant bass that does not wander into other frequencies or drown them out...." Read more
"...They look and feel terrible, and yes, they're a bit bright which may be a bit wearying over extended periods, but I can't and won't believe there's..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the size of the headphones. Some mention that they fit perfectly on their big head, adjust to head size very easily, and are big over the ear headphones. However, others complain that they are a bit tight on fit, are too long, and relative bulky.
"...Comfort: (6/10) The ear-pads are somewhat on the small size (although they do go around the ears) but they are pretty stiff and they do cause..." Read more
"...and I find these to be very comfortable, and the self-adjusting headband works flawlessly...." Read more
"...The only other point worth noting is their relative bulky size, but the solid construction and notable sound quality overrides this point for me...." Read more
"...Extra long cord which is a plus.HD201's fit perfect on my head and very comfortable...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the cord length of the sound and recording equipment. Some mention that the cord is very long and comfortable for longer, while others say that it's overly long, weak, and cumbersome. Some customers also mention that it is not switchable like their other headphones.
"...The cord was massive and kept getting in my way, but that could be fixed with a zip tie easily...." Read more
"...Overall they feel quite sturdy, the cable is fairly long (about 8ft) and is terminated with a small 1/8in jack. A screw-on 1/4in jack is included...." Read more
"...The cord is overly long, which I suppose I will appreciate when I'm not using my laptop and plug into my desk monitor. Noise canceling?..." Read more
"...Not very loud. Long cord which is nice.Sony MDRV150's fit good and are light but they sit on the ear and become uncomfortable fast...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Aesthetics: (2/10) The headphones look very good but Superlux gets only two points from me here - simply because, aesthetically, the HD681 are less refined AKG (K-240) clones, though the red accents are a nice touch. Cable is one sided but unlike the K240/K240MKII the cable is hard-wired (not detachable).
Packaging: (5/10) The headphones are packaged around a piece of cardboard and wrapped in a plastic wrapper. Not that you'd expect more at their price point but the way they sit in that piece of cardboard makes the cardboard dig into the ear-pads. The indentations left in the ear-pads do begin to fade in time.
Built Quality: (7/10) The HD681 are made of plastic and feature vinyl ear-pads and a metal-wire bridge. The self-adjusting support head-band is also made of some type of vinyl. Overall they feel quite sturdy, the cable is fairly long (about 8ft) and is terminated with a small 1/8in jack. A screw-on 1/4in jack is included. Both jacks are gold-plated. Also supplied is a carrying bag.
Comfort: (6/10) The ear-pads are somewhat on the small size (although they do go around the ears) but they are pretty stiff and they do cause (at least to me) some discomfort. In addition the vinyl makes them get hot even when worn for short periods of time. The HD-681 are very light weight and the self-adjusting head-band works well. Felt/Velour replacement pads from some AKG (and Beyerdynamic) models should work for HD681 but they will likely be more expensive than the headphones.
Sound Quality: (7/10) The HD681 use unexpectedly large drivers (50mm) for their price point. Out of the box the sound is very bright (despite having a lot of bass) and a little rough around the edges. After about 20hrs (although not quite fully broken-in) their true sound signature begins to emerge: dynamic, fairly clear (still slightly veiled in the mid range) with vivid highs and a remarkable amount of bass for a semi-open design. The highs texture is fairly soft (not rough or grainy) but they are emphasized excessively (in the 8-12kHz range), so some type of equalization is necessary there. Frankly I find the bass to be too much as well but some people may find that desirable. Also, the bass is not surprising only in quantity but in quality as well as it has a solid feel and is well controlled (even when used with a relatively high output-impedance headphone-amp such as my 5ohm Matrix M-Stage - not the best amp choice for 32ohm headphones). Initially I thought there were some distortions in the lower-mids (depending on the source material) but on repeat listening they seem to be largely gone now. Also, the mid range seems to have gained in heft when compared to the highs and the initial cloudiness has lifted for the most part. I'm assuming they will mellow out some more with prolonged use although it is likely they will remain fairly bright. Overall, for sound quality I'd break things down like this:
Bass Extension: 6/10
Bass Impact: 7.5/10
Bass Texture: 7/10 (solid)
Mids Quality: 6/10
Highs Extension: 8/10
Highs Quality: 7/10 (vivid)
Highs Texture: 6/10 (fairly soft)
Detail/Transparency: 6/10 (neutral/clear)
Dynamics: 8/10 (natural)
Soundstage: 6.5/10
Imaging: 6.5/10
Other:
Isolation: 4/10 (semi-open design)
Portability: 3/10 (large size)
Improvement w/ Amplification: 4.5/10 (Note: It can be easily driven by portable devices to fairly loud levels.)
Value: (10/10)
All-in-all, an interesting offering from Superlux (a manufacturer of pro-audio gear): they are not quite balanced/neutral enough to be proper studio-monitors but not quite aimed at the audiophile crowd either (more like straddling the fence). My take: for the money (less than $30 shipped), you'd be hard pressed (really hard) to do better. Five star.
UPDATE 07/12/2013: (Ear-pad Replacement with AKG-K240 Pads)
Much as I like the sound of these headphones (second only to my newly acquired Beyerdynamic DT990-Pro headphones) the discomfort due to their ear-pads being somewhat on the small side for my ears, have led me to the decision to replace the pads with those for the AKG-240 (I've also tried the Beyerdynamic EDT990-VB, velour pads, but these do not fit these headphones). The AKG pads are the same size overall, but the pad "doughnut," so to call it, is a little thinner than that on the original Superlux pads and, as a result, the inner opening is larger at 60mm (rather than the approximately 54mm on the original HD681 pads). The new pads fit my ears much better, since now my ears can actually fit inside the pad completely and there are no more uncomfortable pressure points on my ear-lobes. Otherwise, the AKG pads could get just as hot (with prolonged use) as the original HD681 pads (they are made from the same material: leatherette). From this point of view the Beyerdynamic headphones are much better since their velour pads do allow some air flow. One more note: the new AKG-240 pads are available here on Amazon (for about $32) but I sourced them from Sweetwater (for a more reasonable $20 shipped). With these pads, these headphones are now about $50 - but either way, they still are a smoking deal!
SQ: The sound quality remains largely the same as with the original pads save for a bit more bass impact. The original pads did provide very good low end on these headphones but with these new pads my ears are slightly closer to the driver, and perhaps that (closer acoustic coupling) may account for the perceived tightening/improvement of the bass response. The new pads don't seem to tame the highs more than the original pads, so some EQ is still necessary there, though with continued use (I have now more than 120-140 hrs on these cans) the high end has mellowed somewhat. To conclude, the replacement of the stock ear-pads on these headphones with AKG-K240 pads was (to me) well worth the added expense (which nearly doubled the cost of the headphone).
My son bought these to replace some skull candy and originally missed the bass those had. But, over a couple weeks he says the superlux are so much clearer, cleaner, and spacious sounding, he doesn't like the skull candy anymore. He says he can hear all sorts of detail in music he never heard before (and he likes it...). My experience lines up with that from the few tracks I listened to with these (though I don't put his skull candy on my head ... ever). Everyone will be different.... so look up more details elsewhere. But $ for sound, these surprized me in a really good way.
Build quality doesn't look exceptional. They don't look fragile, just like they are "just adequate" and not more. My son usually tears things up pretty quick, headphones not withstanding. Hence he paid for these himself ... 2 pairs from dad in <2years and you're on your own, Jack. So far, a couple months of frequent use (he uses them every day, several hours per day ... some days I think he has these on more than he doesn't) and they are holding up okay.
My son listens to them with a generic MP3 player and they sound fine, so no amp needed ... but if you add a little juice, they do perk up and shine. But so do most good headphones. I let him listen to these on a class A solid state and then a tube headphone amp, and his jaw dropped. He tried his skull candy on those and went "meh, yeah, better, but ... not like the superlux" The point is, these are surprisingly good headphones for "cricial listening" if it's not blasphemy to say such about a sub $50 headphone, but you get out of them what you put into them. On a marginal source, you may not notice a big difference between these and a typical $40 set but as the source improves, they start to really separate from other similar priced cans.
Be aware, if you aren't familiar with semi-open/ open, that means they leak sound - in and out. You can still hear things around you AND others can hear YOUR music even if it's not cranked up. The tradeoff is, again if you are not aware, is that the design makes them sound really spacious. Open/semi-open headphones are rarely this cheap, so in case you wondered into reviews of this Superlux looking for a "cheap but decent" pair of cans to wear on the train while commuting ... hmmm ... think on that a bit.
I have a lot of far better headphones ... but for the money, I've not heard anything this "good." It looks like these bounce up and down in price. If these were $70 you could do better for a couple bucks more and would be well to do so (phillips 9500 again). We scored these for less than $40. At that price I'd buy them again any day!! 5 stars for VERY good sound at a CRAZY, CRAZY low price. If $50, I'd say 4 stars because there are other competitors at that price that have better build quality better comfort, and better sound. Hit $75 and I'd drop to 3 stars - too close to Phillips, Sennheisser, and Audiotechnica options that edge these out.
** I've been using these almost daily for two years, and the headphones continue to function as if new. All in all, the sound performance with these is above average, and the affordable price makes this a great deal. The Superlux HD 681 wear comfortably on the head, fitting with cushions over the ears and molding well to the head. Sound quality shouldn't be compared to top-of-the line headphones, but these provide reasonable, above-average depth and sound clarity. I use these casually, listening to a full gamut of genres (rock, jazz, classical, hip hop, audiobooks, etc.) and find the headphones work well with the characteristics of all these audio genres. The only negative is the occasional slight distortion at louder volumes; the bass isn't superb, but that could be the Ipod version I'm using with these. The only other point worth noting is their relative bulky size, but the solid construction and notable sound quality overrides this point for me. Overall, two years in and I would continue to recommend these to casual audio listeners. **
The price of these headphones gives them a great value. Overall quality is pretty good. The headphones are comfortable on your ears; however, occasionally the headphones can irritate the top of your head, but with a little readjustment comfort is restored! Sound quality is good. I'm not an audio expert, but I definitely enjoy these. Appearance is one area where these are slightly lacking. The top of the headphones (as the image shows) stand out, so if you are trying to look "fly" in your 'phones, these might not be the best unit. But, I have not problem with it. All in all, I would recommend these to a casual or beginner headphone connoisseur...
Top reviews from other countries
Qualidade de som excelente.
Entrada se conecta bem no celular e no controle do PS4.
These headphones are big. They come with a thick fixed, 3m cable. Together this means you're probably using them at home, less on the road. They leak as much sound out the back as the do focus on your ears, My dog doesn't known what to make of that. I play my music at low to moderate levels, rarely loud!
I've had these headphones for about 6 months and use them at home.
For their price, they are well-made. I find them to be comfortable and I like their looks too. But their sound is outstanding. The mids are transparent. The bass is solid and true to the recording - most often solid, sometimes devastatingly powerful. Now to the treble - it's clear and sharp and a tab too much to my ear. I trim this down a bit (~2db at 12Khz) with my equalizer. While I'm in the equalizer, I note that I also lighter the deep base (62hz) by about the same. With these adjustments the sound is balanced.
Be aware that good headphones can expose the weaknesses of recordings. That's not the fault of the headphone, it's the quality of the source. These headphones expose poor recordings, maybe not as brutally as some clinical headphones.
Some of the other characteristics of these headphones: they are lively, spacy with a big, well-defined soundstage. The midrange has a nice sweet nature to it, which is where most of the music, including vocals, live. Music comes to life in these headphones.
I like these phones (with a bit of equalization) better than anything I have, including their nearest neighbour the AKG 240's.
If you are seeking a natural sound, to use indoors, and are willing to apply a little equalization, I would recommend them at 3-4 times their price. Yes, they are THAT good.
Enjoy.