Short answer: a tie on sound quality. Both are rated 4.1/5 (#82 and #72 of 481 over-ear headphones) at nearly the same price ($199.95 vs $199), so choose on features and fit.
Why pick the Sennheiser HD 25 Plus: A preference score of 83 in crinacle’s measurement is excellent for a closed-back headphone, and a slightly warm tilt of minus 0.28 suits listeners who like a smooth, full sound. The catch: It is a wired design with no wireless or ANC features.
The case for the Sennheiser PC38X: Measured response gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 84 with a 1.99 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 1.1 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The catch: Sub-bass is 5.9 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 25 Plus or the Sennheiser PC38X on features: they are rated the same for sound quality at close to the same price.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
A preference score of 83 in crinacle’s measurement is excellent for a closed-back headphone, and a slightly warm tilt of minus 0.28 suits listeners who like a smooth, full sound.
Amazon $199.95 eBay
Measured response gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 84 with a 1.99 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 1.1 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $199.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 25 Plus | Sennheiser PC38X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $199.00 |
| Ranked | #82 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #72 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 84 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.15 dB standard deviation | 1.99 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.28 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 70 ohms | 28 ohms |
| Weight | 0.3 lbs (140 g) | 0.6 lbs (253g) |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 30kHz |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Falls 6 dB below target at 28 Hz (-5.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
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