Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 22, 2013 17:00:45 GMT
Having a listen to this one today, reveals a lovely headphone. Really well balanced. The treble sounds more extended than the closed one I was trying yesterday. The HD449 needs more treble extension in comparison and does actually sound a bit dull. This one has more of a shimmer in the top and is perhaps closer to the HD598.
I think this one retails around £100 and I'd say its really worth the extra over the closed one for the more present treble and less of a hump. It has a lovely smooth extension into the treble and I must admit, I am now very curious about the newer HD598. If it's better than this one, then it's probably really good.
Some of these cheaper/mid priced Senns are surprising in how close they are to better headphones.
This one has a really balanced sound with no big bass hump and a nice clean treble response, without turning harsh.
Only thing is that it has a full sized plug with a fat adapter for smaller devices. They should have supplied a Grado like adapter to take the stress off the portable devices. The Senn adapters are quite nasty really.
This one is an improvement on the HD4** series and has a lovely sense of space.
I might even get one of these and pay!!
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Post by techboy on Oct 23, 2013 5:34:12 GMT
There is good news. I have decided to invest in HD 598 as well. Already bought. Cost me dear $280 or so! In the last 2-4 months I have spent more than $5000+ on my audio stuff
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 23, 2013 10:49:33 GMT
The HD558 is a good value headphone since it is very close to the HD600 @ half the cost. I'd say the HD600 is slightly fuller in the bass but the 558 sounds slightly more open at the top. The two of them make a nice combo with the 558 being useful for portable amp stuff at just 50 ohms and the HD600 for full blown powerful amps.
The 558 doesn't show the 'bloom' that the HD449 shows and is clearly a better headphone. It is really well balanced although I'd say the bass isn't too threatening! I think I'll keep one of these for my travels along with my beloved closed Panasonic retro one!!
For £100 or around there in shops, I think this one is a good sweet spot if you're looking at price/performance. It has a civilised sound, not far off(I'd say) from the next jump to HD595/598.
I like the 598 although it's kind of flat sounding with no real oomph (for me). It's a polite sounding headphone. I remember the HD595 sounding a bit thicker than the 598.
So the 558 is a good compromise between budget and performance imo. If I was looking for something good but on a tight budget, I think this would be on the shortlist for sure.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Oct 23, 2013 19:15:09 GMT
HD558 -> HD598 mod. 1: Pull off the pads 2: pry off the 'dust-filter' 3: remove the 3 screws 4: Gently lift off the baffle+driver and mind the fragile wiring 5: remove the piece of foam taped to the mesh inside the cups. (you can always undo this mod if needed) 6: mount the driver back in place 7: mount the dust filter assy back in place. 8: press the pads back on Now you have an HD598 but with the HD558 colour scheme. The HD558 has been on my 'recommended list' for quite a long time.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 24, 2013 18:02:39 GMT
Thanks Frans. For a moment, I thought you were talking about the felt in the front of the cups, like some do with the 650 and 600.
I've seen that mod. Very easy to do as well.
Before keeping this one, I'm going to compare it to the 598. Trouble is, as you go up the HD series (which is what I'm currently doing for a firm, they do actually improve.
I like the HD series a lot and at the price, the 558 is really good value. The 598 is quite a bit more and as you say - same drivers with a different cup.
The 558 is nice and open sounding and I think the 598 opens up a little bit more. (From memory) I had the old version once so I'm looking forward to hearing the new one.
The nice part is I'm getting paid for this!!! So I'll have gone through 400's to 500 to 600's soon!!
Funny that the 558 and the 598 are possible the two with a more prominent top end than the 600 series.
I feel that the 585 is a sweet spot in value and quality of sound.
My main quibble is the plastic housing, which maybe the 598 addresses although I hear that many of the earlier versions crack in the headband. Apparently, Sennheiser have replaced the band with a more flexible version.
Without vat, the HD598 is £124.
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Post by techboy on Oct 25, 2013 6:10:56 GMT
What do you do with so many headphones? The setup I have planned is: Main Headphone for use with Computer when properly amped: HD 650 Secondary headphone for use without an amp, for bedtime or car use: HD 598 Wireless headphone: RS 180 with TX 170 transmitter Earphone if needed Philips SHE 3590 (less than $10) That is it. I am selling my other two headphones. I don't really need more than this. And of course my speakers How can you really spend much time with more than this?
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Oct 25, 2013 7:11:39 GMT
What do you do with so many headphones? Audition and review them. Some may have 'sentimental' value. My old DT990-600 and HD650 stay for that reason (+ they sound good) but are never used unless for making comparisons (so kinda as a reference) My HD681 stays for a few reasons Only a few headphones are used: Portable: Sansa Fuze + KSC75/KSC35 & FiiO X3+correction amp + DT1350 livingroom: PC + ext.DAC + corrected SFI ortho Mancave PC: Filter-amped T50RP (short lead) take along for Demo: filtered-amp + T40RP (long leads) and HD681 the rest is in use with wife and kids or will be put up for sale or live out it's life for parts or in a cubboard.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 25, 2013 12:29:29 GMT
Aakshey, I work in music as a performer and you possibly have CD' s with me on them. I also teach students since I have professorship and am qualified. I also occasionally get involved with magazines and shops as well as technical tv shows by doing reviews. Headphones feature high on my lists because of my work. Ie; normally, I don't pay for them. In fact, they pay ME!! I'm nearly 60 now, so have 45 years of listening on headphones. I can tell you that I'm really not 'precious' about any one headphone set up. They serve a purpose and none are perfect. Therefore, I quickly adapt to them and use them more as a work tool. Having a large array of headphones gives me clear reference points in performance and price so I write from actual experience of a wide array of headphones. The kind of thing that Frans does with them is way more creative and IMO is the future for good headphones.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2013 21:21:40 GMT
HD558 -> HD598 mod. 1: Pull off the pads 2: pry off the 'dust-filter' 3: remove the 3 screws 4: Gently lift off the baffle+driver and mind the fragile wiring 5: remove the piece of foam taped to the mesh inside the cups. (you can always undo this mod if needed) 6: mount the driver back in place 7: mount the dust filter assy back in place. 8: press the pads back on IIRC, this was the same mod you could do with the previous generation 500 series i.e. remove the foam from the HD555 and you had an HD 595, because they shared the same capsules and drivers, the only difference was the piece of foam to give a different FR.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2013 12:53:27 GMT
What do you do with so many headphones? The setup I have planned is: Main Headphone for use with Computer when properly amped: HD 650 Secondary headphone for use without an amp, for bedtime or car use: HD 598 Wireless headphone: RS 180 with TX 170 transmitter Earphone if needed Philips SHE 3590 (less than $10) That is it. I am selling my other two headphones. I don't really need more than this. And of course my speakers How can you really spend much time with more than this? as you have such a good amp are you not tempted to try a planar headphone? as in he-400/500 or Lcd2
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Post by techboy on Oct 26, 2013 13:11:57 GMT
1. I can't stand uncomfortable headphones. 2. LCD2 is super uncomfortable, so are HE400 and HE500. 3. If I had to buy so many hifi headphones I would rather just buy a single HD 800 and be done with it. I have tried HD 800 and LCD2 and HD 800 is a clear step up in terms of detailing. 4. I don't want to waste so much money, I am relatively on a budget compared to others on headfi and diyah. 5. I have tried LCD2 and preferred HD 800. And HD 800 is too expensive for me, and where I live LCD2 is more expensive than HD 800.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2013 17:28:16 GMT
1. I can't stand uncomfortable headphones. 2. LCD2 is super uncomfortable, so are HE400 and HE500. 3. If I had to buy so many hifi headphones I would rather just buy a single HD 800 and be done with it. I have tried HD 800 and LCD2 and HD 800 is a clear step up in terms of detailing. 4. I don't want to waste so much money, I am relatively on a budget compared to others on headfi and diyah. 5. I have tried LCD2 and preferred HD 800. And HD 800 is too expensive for me, and where I live LCD2 is more expensive than HD 800. my Lcd2 are uncomfortable at the moment as i have a heavy cold , normally i dont have a comfort issue. but i know what you mean, i did own the hd600 briefly and it was superbly comfortable.
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Post by techboy on Oct 26, 2013 17:53:26 GMT
I have tried lcd 2. It was too uncomfortable to even try for me.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Oct 26, 2013 18:12:39 GMT
The LCD2 is a bit heavy (in weight) but found them quite comfortable otherwise (didn't have the flu at that moment). With a little 'help' the LCD-2 isn't a dark headphone at all but sparkly and clear with unsurpassed lows and mids. It is one of the best headphones out there together with HE-6/HE500 and AB-1266 and a few electrostats with high-end amplifiers. If you want to get close for a fraction of the price a modified and 'helped' T50RP comes close and is lighter in weight as well.
IMHO LCD-2 are better than the HD800 in certain aspects and when 'helped' they are better period except in weight and comfort.
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Post by techboy on Oct 26, 2013 18:41:24 GMT
Well they aren't. I heard the same song on both setups. On hd 800 I could hear stuff differently, which sounds the same on all setups from hd 439 to hd 598 to hd 650 to lcd2. Only the hd 800 brought out the level of detail which remains equally compressed and absent alike from hd 439 to lcd2. I am not saying lcd2 isn't better than hd 439, but there was stuff which didn't become present except with hd 800 and was absent in all other setups.
And the lcd2 was with a beta22 and high end dac.
Hd 800 is a clear step up from lcd2. You won't feel the same for just any song though. It is a particular song which is very difficult to play and the hd 800 clearly shows its detailing to nuances as a clear step up from any other headphone out there. The only other good ones I have heard are lcd2 and hd 650 are they were very close to each other as compared to the difference from a hd 800. In absolute terms, lcd2 was a big upgrade from hd 650. But when you go to a hd 800 from lcd2 that is a much bigger upgrade than going from a hd 650 to a lcd2, not even in the same league, not even in adjacent leagues.
The lcd2 has a more wet, thick and realistic sound, but hd 800 is so much more detailed that I would call it worth it for 10 times the price of the lcd2.
Ipad 3 - lehmann bcl - hd 800 Ipad 3 - lehmann bcl - hd 598 Ad labs dac - beta22 ch - lcd2 Ad labs dac - beta22 ch - hd 650
Even with the above setup, in terms of detailing all the above were relatively close with hd 800 being a clear step up.
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