Samson SR850 Semi Open-Back Studio Reference Headphones (2-Pack)
This listing is a 2-pack. Two pairs of SR850 headphones are supplied.
The SR850 is the semi-open member of Samson's SR range, and that one design choice changes everything about how it sounds. Semi-open earcups allow proper bleed, which gives better stereo imaging and a wider soundstage than a sealed pair, so mix decisions translate more honestly.
- Semi-open circumaural design: improved ambient listening with a wider soundstage and better stereo imaging.
- 50mm dynamic drivers: a 38 micron diaphragm with a neodymium magnet, for wide dynamic range and solid bass.
- Frequency response: 10 Hz to 30 kHz, wider at both ends than the closed models in the SR line.
- Impedance: 32 ohms, an easy load for an interface, a mixer output or a laptop.
- Sensitivity: 98 dB.
- Velour cushioning and a self-adjusting headband: a secure, natural fit for long studio sessions.
- 2.5 m cable terminating in 3.5 mm, with a gold-plated 6.3 mm adapter included.
- Weight: 276 g per pair.
Because they are semi-open, keep them for mixing, editing and listening rather than tracking next to a live microphone.
This listing is a 2-pack. Two pairs of SR850 headphones are supplied, and the specifications below describe one pair.
Closed-back headphones seal you in, which is what you want when a microphone is open in the same room. The trade is a narrower, more claustrophobic image. The SR850 goes the other way: a semi-open design for improved ambient listening, allowing proper bleed for better stereo imaging and a wider soundstage.
What semi-open changes
With the rear of the cup partly vented, the driver is not fighting a sealed volume of air. The result is a more natural sense of space, which makes reverb tails, panning and depth easier to judge. That is why engineers reach for semi-open designs when mixing and for closed backs when tracking. The one thing to know before buying: sound leaks both ways, so these are not the headphones for a vocalist standing in front of a live condenser.
Drivers and response
- Large 50mm dynamic drivers with a 38 micron diaphragm and neodymium magnets.
- Frequency response of 10 Hz to 30 kHz, wider than the 20 Hz to 20 kHz of the closed models in the SR line.
- 32 ohm impedance and 98 dB sensitivity.
- Transparent response with airy highs and pronounced depth.
Samson describes them as suited to professional recording and hi-fi monitoring, which is a fair summary. They give you solid bass response and ultra-clear highs without the hyped low end that consumer headphones use to impress in a shop.
Comfort over a long session
The over-ear cups use velour cushioning and the headband is self-adjusting, so it finds a secure, natural fit without a sizing ritual every time you put them on. Each pair weighs 276 g and carries a 2.5 m cable, so they are made to sit on your head for hours rather than for a commute.
Connection
The cable terminates in a 3.5 mm plug with a gold-plated 3.5 mm to 6.3 mm adapter included, so they go straight into an interface or mixer headphone jack as well as a laptop or phone. The 32 ohm impedance means most outputs will drive them to a useful level without a separate headphone amplifier.