KitPlus | News: Sennheiser showcases new 300 PRO headphones and headset and Essential range of headset and lavalier microphones at IBC 2018

Whether it’s monitoring, camera operation or backstage communications – a comfortable pair of headphones are essential whenever you need to perform at your best while maintaining your focus for long hours. With the 300 PRO series, Sennheiser launches new headphones and headsets designed with this demanding context in mind, fine-tuned with users to deliver when and where it matters. Alongside outstanding comfort, the 300 PRO series offers precise sound reproduction. Available from August 2018, the new series includes the HD 300 PRO and HD 300 PROtect monitoring headphones as well as the HMD 300 PRO and single-sided HMD 301 PRO communications headsets.

“Comfort was a paramount design criterion for the circumaural 300 PRO series,” said Nicole Fresen, product manager at Sennheiser. “Thanks to multiple field tests and a thorough fine-tuning process, these headsets have met with very high user approval. We found operators and engineers to be incredibly pleased to listen to a pair of headphones that was modelled so closely on the legendary HD 250 Linear.”

Designed for comfort and shielding

The 300 PRO series is a pleasure to wear due to a combination of factors, including new padding material, a comfort zone for the temples of glasses and split headband padding that removes any pressure from the sensitive area of the fontanelle. The headphones have also been given a new fork design that ensures their contact pressure is evenly distributed over the entire ear pad, ensuring both increased comfort and excellent sealing against outside noise.

Sound reproduction modelled on the legendary HD 250 Linear

For inspiration during the design process, Sennheiser’s acoustic engineers turned to the HD 250 Linear, a classic model that is still highly regarded amongst professionals today. Despite the difference in the ear cup shapes, the engineering team was able to get extremely close to the precise, linear sound reproduction of the original model, thus placing the HD 300 PRO at the peak of Sennheiser’s monitoring headphone portfolio. The detailed, linear response makes the 300 PRO series ideal for music-makers, too.

Attention to detail

When superior performance is required, details matter. The 300 PRO series’ detachable cables offer improved protection against handling noise, thanks to a small series of coils that acoustically decouple the cable from the headset. The series come with a rugged, bendable and twistable headband and customizable nameplates to feature a company logo on the ear cups. The new headset models also feature a noise-compensated, super-cardioid boom microphone for clear communications in loud production environments.

Safety in the workplace

All HMD 300 PRO headsets and the HD 300 PROtect headphones have been fitted with Sennheiser’s ActiveGard™ technology, which protects the wearer’s hearing from sudden sound bursts without interrupting the audio signal – an added safety feature that differs from traditional acoustic shock clipping circuitry. For European professionals, these ActiveGard™ equipped models are fully compliant with the EC’s directive on safety at the workplace.

The models at a glance

HD 300 PRO – the new top-of-the-range monitoring headphones
HD 300 PROtect – as HD 300 PRO, with selectable (on/off) ActiveGard™.
HMD 300 PRO – closed, circumaural communications headset, selectable (on/off) ActiveGard™, noise-compensated dynamic, super-cardioid boom microphone, cable to be chosen separately according to production environment
HMD 300-XQ-2 – as HMD 300 PRO, with detachable cable featuring XLR-3 and ¼” jack connectors
HMD 301 PRO – as HMD 300 PRO but single-sided headset with side support

The 300 PRO series will be available from August 2018.

New Sennheiser Essential Headset and Lavalier Microphones

The brand-new 'Essential' range of headset and lavalier microphones are much anticipated microphone solutions that close the gap between the company’s high-end solutions for broadcast, music and theatre and the microphones supplied with its best-selling evolution wireless series. Available from July 2018, the microphones connect to bodypack transmitters with 3-pin and 3.5 mm jack connectors, and are an ideal choice for houses of worship, smaller broadcasting companies, the education sector, corporate customers and small and medium-sized theatres.

“As its name suggests, the Essential range brings the accepted core acoustics of the HSP 2 and MKE 2 to a new audience at an attractive price,” said Jannik Schentek, product manager at Sennheiser. “The microphones are uncomplicated in use and facilitate quick handling.”

HSP Essential Omni Headset Microphone

The HSP Essential Omni features an omni-directional capsule and an elegant stainless-steel headband that easily adjusts to accommodate a wide range of head sizes. Available in black and beige, the HSP Essential Omni offers customers a choice of a 3.5 mm jack connector for use with XS Wireless and evolution wireless, or a 3-pin connector for professional wireless series from 2000 to Digital 9000. The 1.3 m cable is firmly attached to the headset and will not get lost in the hectic of an event. A pop windshield is included.

MKE Essential Omni Lavalier Microphone

The MKE Essential Omniis also available in black and beige and comes with either a 3-pin or 3.5 mm jack connector. The omni-directional lavalier microphone is supplied with a crocodile clip and a pop windshield, but can also be used with the range of MKE 2 mounting accessories. Cable length is 1.6 m to accommodate different wearing styles, from concealing the microphone along the hairline for a theatrical performance to standard broadcast use as a lapel microphone.

The models at a glance