Which headphones??


Okay, so I'm now leaning towards getting a nice headphone set-up. I am thinking that I'll probably get a couple pairs of headphones when It's all said and done because there just seems to be benefits and negatives about different designs.

Initially, I'd just like to use the headphone amp in my z dac. I am looking at a pair of sennheiser hd 598 new in box for $200 on c-list. These cans seem to get good reviews but I figure I'll want something with a closed design later on so that I can block out exterior sounds also.

I really want something with a great soundstage and imaging, I want it to sound as good as my stereo system, or close to it!

Thanks for your help with this one!!
b_limo

Showing 2 responses by ablang

Step up to the HD580/600 and you'll probably be much happier long-term, as they're much more sonically refined than the lower-tier Sennheiser models. You can pick up a used pair of HD580 (which I own now) for under $150 and the HD600 (which I used to own and should have kept: they're definitely a touch more transparent) for around or just above $200.

For context, I owned the HD555 modded to HD595 (model prior to the HD598), and the HD580/600 series is a huge step up. The lower models have a mid-bass bump and some grainy treble emphasis, but the 580/600 sounds smooth and neutral top to bottom (though some find them too warm).

Here's a great recent comparison of the HD580/600/650 series:

http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/very-important-sennheiser-hd-580-hd-600-and-hd-650
I haven't heard the T70s, but based on the graphs at Headroom and some reviews I've read, they and the Sennheisers could be wildly different sounding. I have heard the HD650, and they're very full and rich sounding, with emphasized bass and a soft but still resolved treble. The T70 has a pretty sharp spike in the treble that could be quite fatiguing. If you really want a sealed can, look at the Sennheiser Momentum (which in my book wins an award for best-looking headphone) or the AKG 550--both very well reviewed. The HD600 is considered by many to be better (more neutral) than the HD650, too.

Headroom lets you use a comparison function to overlay frequency response for various 'phones. In my experience the graphs have been pretty accurate to my subjective experience with most headphones I've heard.

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/beyerdynamic-t70.php

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/sennheiser-hd-650.php

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/sennheiser-momentum.php