Post by solderdude on Dec 20, 2017 21:26:33 GMT
Sennheiser HD58X Jubilee
This headphone is an homage to Axel Grell's first headphone, the HD580 Precision.
In appearance it is closer to the HD580 Jubilee (1995) which had a metal grille rather than the original HD580 (1993) which had a plastic one.
The HD58X Jubilee is glossy black and looks more like a HD660S, well aside from its grille that is.
It comes with an 1.8m cable terminated in a 3.5mm TRS jack and a 6.3mm adapter.
here a linky to the Massdrop product page.
A more detailed description is up on the website
The Sennheiser HD58X Jubilee is an open dynamic over-ear headphone intended to be driven directly from desktop and portable equipment.
It will probably be sold for around $ 150.- which is an interesting price for Sennheiser HD6** line fans.
There is a catch though. This headphone won't be available through the normal Sennheiser distributors nor from Sennheiser directly but is only available through Massdrop in limited quantities.
It is a modern looking, light-weight Sennheiser headphone with a new type of driver.
Like Henry Ford once stated: available in any colour..... so long as it's black. Glossy black that is except for the cups, those are matte black.
The cable is a 1.8m replaceable cable with Sennheiser 2-pin connectors on one end and a straight 3.5mm TRS jack on the other end.
A 6.3mm TRS converter is included which suggests it is intended for both portable and desktop duty.
The cable is of HD650 'thickness' and fortunately low in microphonics so when the cable rubs against your clothes the mechanical conducted noises are soft. The cable feels soft and is supple.
The headband is comfortable and adjustable over a wide range (60mm). It is thickly padded.
Out of the box the clamping force is quite high.
I decided to lower the clamping force as to me the clamping force is much too high. This is quite easy to do and can even be reversed if needed.
To lower the clamping force have a look in THIS pdf
There is no isolation from outside noises. While the 3.5mm TRS plug suggests it is intended for portable usage you won't be able to quietly enjoy music in noisy environments.
It is well suited for home usage or walking around in home environments while using it directly from portable equipment. Others around you can clearly hear what you are playing though.
The ear-pads (cushions) are a bit on the stiff side.
They are the same as the HD660S and current HD600 & HD650.
I have some, less recent, but new unused HD650 pads (bought in 2015) which feel slightly different to the touch and the foam inside a bit softer.
There is only 1 order code for HD6** pads so these stiffer pads will be the only ones available for quite a while.
The HD58X pads feel pleasant to the skin and feel firm.
The cups have enough room to swivel forwards and backwards as well as up and downwards.
No creaky sounds when adjusting. This headphone will fit properly on most head sizes and shapes.
Fit and feel is exactly like the HD6** series so when one wants to try how they fit on the head simply try out a new HD600, HD650 or HD660S in a shop somewhere.
Subjective sound description:
The HD58X has the least bass extension of Sennheiser's HD6** series headphones.
That doesn't mean there is no bass or 'fullness'.
Bass itself is present, 'tight' and 'light' but just a bit lacking in 'body or 'grunt'.
No deep 'rumbles' in this headphone.
* hot from the press *
Sennheiser will try to extend the lower frequency response of the HD58X before they are produced and are working on it now.
Those (like me) who feel bass extension is equally important as the rest of the frequency range will be pleased to hear the HD58X reacts well to EQ.
It still won't rattle your teeth nor appeal to bass-heads when EQ is applied.
Integration from bass into the mids is excellent. No 'dis-attached' or 'fatty' bass at all.
Bass-lines are easily followed and sound very natural.
Mids sound 'open' and have a good clarity/presence. It sounds in between the HD600 and HD650 when it concerns the mids. Well.. perhaps it sounds closest to the HD660S.
The mids sound dynamic and appear audibly 'free of distortion' as in clean and 'natural'.
Sound quality of the mids is something the HD580/HD600/HD650 are highly regarded for.
To me the HD600 is slightly 'brighter', but also slightly more 'boring' than the HD58X.
The HD600/650, on the other hand, both are a bit 'smoother' in the upper mids/treble.
The HD58X (and HD660S) are a bit more 'dynamic' and 'lively', a bit 'fresher' sounding.
The differences are not very big though so don't expect a totally different headphone.
Mids and treble are seamlessly integrated.
The treble is on a 'neutral' level. Not recessed and not emphasised.
Fine nuances are more pleasantly and delicately reproduced by the HD600/HD650.
The HD58X does have good treble though.
It is 'fresher' sounding without becoming splashy or sibilant.
When you are sensitive to sibilance (like me) the HD600 and HD650 are perhaps a more pleasant choice.
There is a solution for this treble 'issue' but this requires soldering skills.
Whether one prefers the (still sold new) HD600, HD650 (HD6XX) or the HD58X remains a personal thing.
To one person the HD600 or HD650 will still be king, others may well prefer the HD58X Jubilee.
A short sound description would be:
Very 'natural' sounding but a bit lean on sub-bass and with a hint of 'sharpness' in the treble.
You might think the HD58X Jubilee as a 'poor mans' HD660S but without its bass extension and very slightly 'sharper' sounding.
This headphone is an homage to Axel Grell's first headphone, the HD580 Precision.
In appearance it is closer to the HD580 Jubilee (1995) which had a metal grille rather than the original HD580 (1993) which had a plastic one.
The HD58X Jubilee is glossy black and looks more like a HD660S, well aside from its grille that is.
It comes with an 1.8m cable terminated in a 3.5mm TRS jack and a 6.3mm adapter.
here a linky to the Massdrop product page.
A more detailed description is up on the website
The Sennheiser HD58X Jubilee is an open dynamic over-ear headphone intended to be driven directly from desktop and portable equipment.
It will probably be sold for around $ 150.- which is an interesting price for Sennheiser HD6** line fans.
There is a catch though. This headphone won't be available through the normal Sennheiser distributors nor from Sennheiser directly but is only available through Massdrop in limited quantities.
It is a modern looking, light-weight Sennheiser headphone with a new type of driver.
Like Henry Ford once stated: available in any colour..... so long as it's black. Glossy black that is except for the cups, those are matte black.
The cable is a 1.8m replaceable cable with Sennheiser 2-pin connectors on one end and a straight 3.5mm TRS jack on the other end.
A 6.3mm TRS converter is included which suggests it is intended for both portable and desktop duty.
The cable is of HD650 'thickness' and fortunately low in microphonics so when the cable rubs against your clothes the mechanical conducted noises are soft. The cable feels soft and is supple.
The headband is comfortable and adjustable over a wide range (60mm). It is thickly padded.
Out of the box the clamping force is quite high.
I decided to lower the clamping force as to me the clamping force is much too high. This is quite easy to do and can even be reversed if needed.
To lower the clamping force have a look in THIS pdf
There is no isolation from outside noises. While the 3.5mm TRS plug suggests it is intended for portable usage you won't be able to quietly enjoy music in noisy environments.
It is well suited for home usage or walking around in home environments while using it directly from portable equipment. Others around you can clearly hear what you are playing though.
The ear-pads (cushions) are a bit on the stiff side.
They are the same as the HD660S and current HD600 & HD650.
I have some, less recent, but new unused HD650 pads (bought in 2015) which feel slightly different to the touch and the foam inside a bit softer.
There is only 1 order code for HD6** pads so these stiffer pads will be the only ones available for quite a while.
The HD58X pads feel pleasant to the skin and feel firm.
The cups have enough room to swivel forwards and backwards as well as up and downwards.
No creaky sounds when adjusting. This headphone will fit properly on most head sizes and shapes.
Fit and feel is exactly like the HD6** series so when one wants to try how they fit on the head simply try out a new HD600, HD650 or HD660S in a shop somewhere.
Subjective sound description:
The HD58X has the least bass extension of Sennheiser's HD6** series headphones.
That doesn't mean there is no bass or 'fullness'.
Bass itself is present, 'tight' and 'light' but just a bit lacking in 'body or 'grunt'.
No deep 'rumbles' in this headphone.
* hot from the press *
Sennheiser will try to extend the lower frequency response of the HD58X before they are produced and are working on it now.
Those (like me) who feel bass extension is equally important as the rest of the frequency range will be pleased to hear the HD58X reacts well to EQ.
It still won't rattle your teeth nor appeal to bass-heads when EQ is applied.
Integration from bass into the mids is excellent. No 'dis-attached' or 'fatty' bass at all.
Bass-lines are easily followed and sound very natural.
Mids sound 'open' and have a good clarity/presence. It sounds in between the HD600 and HD650 when it concerns the mids. Well.. perhaps it sounds closest to the HD660S.
The mids sound dynamic and appear audibly 'free of distortion' as in clean and 'natural'.
Sound quality of the mids is something the HD580/HD600/HD650 are highly regarded for.
To me the HD600 is slightly 'brighter', but also slightly more 'boring' than the HD58X.
The HD600/650, on the other hand, both are a bit 'smoother' in the upper mids/treble.
The HD58X (and HD660S) are a bit more 'dynamic' and 'lively', a bit 'fresher' sounding.
The differences are not very big though so don't expect a totally different headphone.
Mids and treble are seamlessly integrated.
The treble is on a 'neutral' level. Not recessed and not emphasised.
Fine nuances are more pleasantly and delicately reproduced by the HD600/HD650.
The HD58X does have good treble though.
It is 'fresher' sounding without becoming splashy or sibilant.
When you are sensitive to sibilance (like me) the HD600 and HD650 are perhaps a more pleasant choice.
There is a solution for this treble 'issue' but this requires soldering skills.
Whether one prefers the (still sold new) HD600, HD650 (HD6XX) or the HD58X remains a personal thing.
To one person the HD600 or HD650 will still be king, others may well prefer the HD58X Jubilee.
A short sound description would be:
Very 'natural' sounding but a bit lean on sub-bass and with a hint of 'sharpness' in the treble.
You might think the HD58X Jubilee as a 'poor mans' HD660S but without its bass extension and very slightly 'sharper' sounding.