I am completely new to all this, so I won't pretend to have any real information to offer. I listened to some terrible wireless headphones while vacationing over the summer, and kind of loved the freedom of movement and listening to sound so personally. I moved and now live with others so needed phones. First looked into wireless models, took note of various Senns, then decided that wireless wasn't for me. After much deliberation, I settled on the Sennheisen HD595 (~$156 w/o shipping, still listed at ~$260 officially), which, strangely, I haven't seen talked about much here. Supposedly an improvement over the 590, does not need to be driven like the 600 or 650, and has a more forward presentation than other Senns, less laid back, polite, etc, and do not reveal flaws quite so much. Although it does not require an amp, one will apparently vastly improve it, a difference from most of the Grados. I cannot really verify any of this, but I can say that I like them quite a bit. I run them through a PC with an M-Audio Revolution 7.1 sound card. Took me a while to realize that Windows Media Player is godawful, switched to Foobar2000 (MUCH better bass than WM, very very slightly unrealistic production of instruments, could be due to the fact that it separates them so well). Even without an amp (which I plan to purchase), I am hearing details in the music like never before with the HD595. They seem to slightly favor acoustic/live/jazz/many-instrumented recordings. Acoustic/live doesn't make up the body of what I listen to but I am leaning towards it now because it sounds so friggin good! I'm listening to Nina Simone, and I can hear the tiny sounds she makes with her mouth, her feet on the piano pedals. You really feel her at the piano, her contact with it. Once I settle on an amp I'll report on the improvement. :eggo:
The Sennheiser HD580s are sub-$200 always a plus, but I added on the Stefan AudioArt Equinox cables for $200 so for about $400, this is the sweetest setup I have tried yet. Rich bass, yet not overwhelming. Excellent treble, and amazing mids. I listen to a lot of jazz, it sounds like you are actually there and the soundstage is the best I have heard. The only drawback is its portability. The upgraded cable provides a warmer and richer tone, velvety. I have it hooked up to my MF X-Can V3 along with Kimber Kables and I won't be upgrading anytime soon.
______________________ http://www.cyreport.com
Technology news on the go (for serious technology and gadget enthusiasts)
Main Rig - Sennheiser HD580 / Stefan AudioArt Equinox Cable upgrade / Musical Fidelity X-Can V3 / Kimber Kable GQ-Mini CU
Portable Rig - Sensaphonics ProPhonic Soft 2X or Bang and Olufsen A8
Home Rig - Creative Gigaworks S750 / PCMCIA Audigy 2 ZS / Creative Decoder DDTS-100
Sennheiser HD650 - drool
Grado SR80 - great quality and not to mention affordable
Grado SR60 - sigh...:580smile:
For portable -
Sennheiser PX100 - great great sound
Koss Ksc75 - great sound for cheap...although if they still make the ksc35- I'll be all over that monkey
Cheapest cans from BigW. $14.95AUD and they're comfortable, plus with burn in, i can notice the difference. Free's up the treble and mid ranges nicely.
After almost 6 months of Head-Fi, I feel it's time for my contribution.
If I was stuck on a deserted Island, I would want my Pillows, that's the two of them covering my ears, but better known as the MDR-CD3000's!! :3000smile
__________________ Only when we are no longer afraid, do we begin to live.
Sennheiser HD595
Sennheiser HD580
Linear Mode
