Superlux HD-672 Semi-Open Dynamic Over-Ear Headphone (White)

Just like the HD668B, the HD672 comes in a simple but robust cardboard box. There is an image of the headphone on the front along with the claim “Simple, Light Weight, but extraordinary”. Over on the back is another image showing both available colours (black and white), plus a list of features and specifications.

Inside, the headphone is presented simply, secured by a cardboard insert. The bundled accessories consist of a 3.5mm – 6.35mm stereo adapter and a storage pouch. At first, I thought my box was missing an additional cable (the HD668B came with 2 of them) but then I realized, with some dismay, that the HD672’s cable is fixed i.e. non-detachable. However, the attached cable is quite good albeit rather lengthy at 2.5m. This is good for home use but won’t be at all practical for portable use.

Two flexible spring steel rods make up the main structure of the HD672. These rods attach directly to the earcups, very similar to what we saw on the HD668B. There is a solid plastic joint partway down the rods that adds solidity and prevents the two rods from separating and thus creating pressure where they connect to the earcups.

The HD672 has a more traditional type self-adjusting headband, the same as the one on the HD681 and HD681EVO. Embossed into the top of the headband is the Superlux branding.

The earcups look similar to the ones found on the HD681EVO. They’re made entirely of a sturdy and lightweight plastic. There are 3 large slits acting as vents and just inside of those is a perforated section that surrounds the centre part of the earcups. The earcups pivot slightly to automatically adjust to the shape of your head.

Now, onto the earpads which are sure to be a matter of contention with many users. Rather than the traditional type that most of us are used to, the HD571 adopts silicone earpads. The earpads are made from a single thin sheet of silicone that wraps around itself to form a hollow interior.

The reasons for adopting this new style of pads are perfectly reasonable: they’re easy to clean and maintain and they won’t deteriorate over time like protein leather does when it starts to flake and disintegrate. They’re softer than the old pads so they form a better seal and are more comfortable for those who wear glasses.

The clamping force created by the flexible spring steel rods is minimal, so the headphone doesn’t press in uncomfortably on your head. The headband is very thin but I found it to be super comfortable on the top of my head. In fact, unless I’m consciously thinking about it, I completely forget that it’s even there.

Of course, everyone will be curious to know about the comfort of these new silicone earpads. For the most part, they are very comfortable indeed. The silicone is softer than the foam pads on the HD668B and there’s nothing inside them except air, so they conform more naturally to the shape of your head. The only caveat is that the silicone heats up very quickly indeed, so your ears can get rather warm.

There is one other major factor that will determine your comfort level with this headphone and that is the shallowness of the earpads. Just like all of the other Superlux models, the HD672 has shallow pads. However, unlike the HD668B there is no sheet of foam padding inside, so if you have larger ears they might be pressing directly against the hard plastic driver covers. This bothered me a bit at first, but after a couple of days, I stopped noticing it and now can comfortably wear the headphone for hours at a time.

When it comes to noise isolation, the HD672 has almost none. It has even less than the HD668B so you can still hear the TV or people talking in the background. Of course, this problem is not unique to this headphone and for most of us, it’s a worthwhile tradeoff to get that vast and open soundstage that only an open-back design can provide.

The Superlux HD672 has a very balanced sound signature that leans towards neutral. Its clarity and detail are superb, as is the tight bass, accurate midrange and crisp, non-fatiguing treble. Despite being quite neutral, the HD672 is not in the least bit boring to listen to. Actually, it is an extremely musical and enjoyable headphone that impresses me more and more with each passing day.

Specification:
Driver: 50mm, neodymium

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz

Impedance: 32Ω

Sensitivity: 95dB (1mW)

Connector: Gold-plated 3.5mm stereo mini plug

Cable Length: 2.5m

Headphone Caliper Pressure: 3.5 N