Looking to buy the Sennheiser HD598 headphones...

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Looking to buy the Sennheiser HD598 headphones...

pyronical

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#72647 30-Nov-2010 13:44

Hello audiophiles,

I'm about to buy the new HD598 headphones: http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=13813

Before I do, looking for advice if anyone believes there is a better alternative for under $500.

My requirements are basically 90% used at home, watching movies, listening to music and playing games. Crystal clear, high quality sound is important to me as well as comfort. Wireless, microphones, noise cancellation are of no interest / non-requirement.

Also, most reviews I have read, claim that the HD598 is a fair step ahead of the HD558 in audio quality. Unlike the "strip of foam" incident with its precedessors the HD555/595. Is this true?

I appreciate any input, thanks.

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#411213 30-Nov-2010 14:29

They must be pretty new, i've never even heard of them, and I run www.headphonereviews.org . Sennheiser doesn't do review samples though, not to me anyway.

I suspect they're a new version of the 595, which are nice headphones. Just be aware they're open, so you'll be able to hear any noise in the room (people, computer fans), and people in the room will hear your music a little. If you want to block out external noise Audio Technica make better closed headphones then Sennheiser, but in a quiet room open headphones will generally sound better than closed.

You can often buy headphones from overseas a lot cheaper than NZ. The markups here are horrible.

pyronical

150 posts

Master Geek

#411214 30-Nov-2010 14:31

Ok, no offense, but you obviously didn't read my entire post.

I mentioned that the predecessors of the 598/558 were in fact the 595/555.
I mentioned that noise cancellation is a non-requirement. I am happy with them being open.

cgrew

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#411218 30-Nov-2010 14:36

Hey Pyronical, being a Sennheiser HD-595 owner I'd have to say; the HD-598 will no doubt fit the criteria of what you are after. They certainly aren't good for noise cancelation but as for quality and comfort, the HD-595s are outstanding.

So I can't imagine the HD-598s would be any lesser for comfort and quality. Sonically Sennheiser leave a lot of manufacturers in the dust and always have done since WWII.

Regards
Conor

timmmay

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#411261 30-Nov-2010 16:13

I just wanted to point out that open means really open. I've found even fan noise and background noise gets annoying with open headphones, so I mostly used closed ones.

samwooff

219 posts

Master Geek

#412328 3-Dec-2010 04:07

pyronical: Hello audiophiles,

I'm about to buy the new HD598 headphones: http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=13813

Before I do, looking for advice if anyone believes there is a better alternative for under $500.

Depends what music you listen to and what kind of sound you like. What would you be plugging them into as well, you mentioned movies and games is this a computer or something different?

In that price range I can think of Audio Technica AD700/900, Shure SRH840, Grado SR225i and lots more I can't remember at the moment that would all suit different tastes. Best way to know what you like is to try them.

I also agree with the above statement about buying headphones overseas, you do have the extra risk factor but the price discrepancies can be huge.

Desktop: i7 920, GTX 275, asus P6T, antec 1200, 6gb ram, 1tb spinpoint f1, 1tb spinpoint f3, Logitech Z2300, Zero DAC, Shure SRH440
Laptop: Toshiba satellite, T5300, Go 7300
Home Theatre: 32" loewe CRT, Harmon kardon amp, dvd player, image 418 speakers, rega planar 25 turntable :)

timmmay

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#412350 3-Dec-2010 08:23

I don't find grados very comfortable, and I don't really like their sound much either. I have the Audio Technica A900, which is different from the AD900 but still sound pretty good. They're closed, not open.

geekiegeek

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#412355 3-Dec-2010 08:33

Save up and get the HD650. They are just amazing.

I went from HD555's to the 650's and they just blow the lower models out of the water.

I also use HD380 pro's at work which are closed but have a really nice sound, I think they are a closed version of the 595 that you are looking at so I would expect that adding the openness of the 595 would make them a very nice set of cans - just not nice for everyone around me at work!

One thing though - as you get better headphones you need to get bnetter music, i.e. your crappy 128bit MP3's will not cut it. I'ved moved to lossless and 320CBR for all of my music now. Also the 650's require amping, I use a ASUS Xonar SXT card which has a built in headphone amp.

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pyronical

150 posts

Master Geek

#412375 3-Dec-2010 09:31

I'm looking at the 598 not the 595, but I appreciate the input.

I use a ASUS Xonar SXT card which has a built in headphone amp.

Thanks for this info, very beneficial.

timmmay

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#412471 3-Dec-2010 12:52

I have a headphone amp that I could sell. I forget exactly what it is, but it cost me hundreds of dollars.

According to double blind studies most people can't hear the difference between 128kbps mp3 and music from a CD. On my Wharfedale speakers and receiver they sound pretty awesome, better than with my headphones. I've done listening tests with A900s and CD3000s and I can't tell the difference between 128kbps and 320kbps either.

pyronical

150 posts

Master Geek

#412473 3-Dec-2010 12:58

timmmay: I have a headphone amp that I could sell. I forget exactly what it is, but it cost me hundreds of dollars.

According to double blind studies most people can't hear the difference between 128kbps mp3 and music from a CD. On my Wharfedale speakers and receiver they sound pretty awesome, better than with my headphones. I've done listening tests with A900s and CD3000s and I can't tell the difference between 128kbps and 320kbps either.

Interested. Post or PM me make/model/price. Thanks.

geekiegeek

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#412475 3-Dec-2010 13:04

timmmay: I have a headphone amp that I could sell. I forget exactly what it is, but it cost me hundreds of dollars.

According to double blind studies most people can't hear the difference between 128kbps mp3 and music from a CD. On my Wharfedale speakers and receiver they sound pretty awesome, better than with my headphones. I've done listening tests with A900s and CD3000s and I can't tell the difference between 128kbps and 320kbps either.

I try not to use mp3 at all. the difference between mp3 and lossless or CD is huge I cant see how anyone could not hear a difference. Way more mid-range and a much bigger soundstage for a start.

personally I can tell the difference between 128 and 320, not so much on my stereo but with headphones 128 is pretty bad.

cgrew

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#412481 3-Dec-2010 13:14

In today's technology high def driven era, it's gotta be lossless audio. No question

timmmay

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#412499 3-Dec-2010 13:48

pyronical:
Interested. Post or PM me make/model/price. Thanks.

I suspect it's a PPA, though i'm not 100% sure. I'm in Wellington if you want to come have a listen/look. If I don't PM you in a few days just remind me.

geekiegeek:I try not to use mp3 at all. the difference between mp3 and lossless or CD is huge I cant see how anyone could not hear a difference. Way more mid-range and a much bigger soundstage for a start.

personally I can tell the difference between 128 and 320, not so much on my stereo but with headphones 128 is pretty bad.

You my friend have golden ears :)

pyronical

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Master Geek

#412508 3-Dec-2010 14:08

geekiegeek:
personally I can tell the difference between 128 and 320, not so much on my stereo but with headphones 128 is pretty bad.

I can definitely tell the difference between 128 and 192, but I hear no difference above that, ie between 192 and 320.

timmmay

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#412511 3-Dec-2010 14:14

I might try a test with 128, 256, and flac, i'll get my girlfriend to run it so I don't know which is which. I have pretty sensitive ears, but I also have an active imagination, so who knows what i'll work out. I'll try with headphones and with speakers.

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