Sennheiser HD 598

I just bought this headphone and it sound amazing, I did a burn in for about 20hr and the sound improve dramatically compared when the headphone was in the box. The comfort is phenomenal and due to the open circumference design the soundstage is HUGE. Overall this is my first audiophile grade headphone that i have bought even though, I would want to know more about the difference between the hd 598 vs hd 600. Sound quality? Smooth?..etc

These are just wonderful.
I had no idea what I was missing.
I've always listened to lossless music, but had no idea it could sound like this.
I run my music directly out of my 2011 Macbook Pro, and into these, using Audirvana Plus (iTunes integrated mode).
 
I also use these with my PS3.
I plug the PS3's optical audio out in to my surround sound system (Yamaha Amp), and turn the settings to 'straight'
and plug the headphones into the Amp's 1/4in headphone output jack.
 
Call of Duty is about 10x as addicting now.
The soundstage allows me to hear almost precisely where others are.
 
If they broke, I would just buy another pair of these same headphones.

I've had these for about 6 months and I find them to be outstanding.  I think you'd pay double to get anything better.  Natural, unhyped response. Nice full soundstage. VERY, VERY COMFORTABLE. I use them with a Fiio E10 as well as a Focusrite TwinTrak Pro. I have quite a bit 24/96 and vinyl. For reference I also own  AKG K240M (600 OHM), Sennheiser HD439, Superlux HD681 and AKG K55.  The 598s are by far my favorite, no contest.

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Hi, Iam a new member of Headfi and Iam a new to the World of high end audio, so I started with the HD 598 as my sort of ''beginner'' type, for now. The sound of it is extraordinary, I didn't expect it to perform this well !!! 

Value: I got these for $207 and at twice the price they'd be a great buy.
Sound: If the next sentence seems defensive, it's not. it's an assertion of the sound quality of the HD598s. I've been in the music business for over 40 years and I have to assert that anyone giving these a low score on sound would not know a good set of headphones if it bit them on the ass (thanks Frank). These things are very close to neutral with just a bit of warmth due to the fact that they emphasise the lower mids and upper bass just a tiny bit. Bass extension is superb with just enough punch, mids are clear and detailed, highs are effortless and real and the soundstage, considering they are cans, not speakers, is wide and deep. Sonic details, positioning and spatiality are excellent.
Design & Build: Superb. They are phones, not earthmoving equipment. Treat 'em like phones and they'll be OK.
Comfort: Yes, they are comfortable, but I'll add a disclaimer; I find HD 25s comfortable. Anyone finding headphones uncomfortable is a wuss anyway.
Style: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. These look beautiful to me. Real class and something different. I own eight pairs of HD 25 MK IIs for live monitoring. One set is jewelled just in case a certain female drummer turns up, one set is the Adidas. All the rest are plain black ordinary (but cute) looking cans. Oh, and I have one set of Amperiors and I can't hear a difference but I haven't really A/B'd them as I've just worked in the studio with them. Quick work and little time. Now that I have a couple of sets of these the studio has lit up. I got these for assistance on mixdown/mastering alongside a pair of HD 600s and a pair of Adam A77X speakers. Out of all of the gear these look the best, although I do admit that I lust after the A77Xs as well.
Accessories: After the horse has bolted, so to speak (after a million complaints about the 1/4" jack) Sennheiser are NOW supplying a 1/8" adapter.
Summary: If you have a REAL ear for all types of music, these are headphones you'd be nuts not to try.
Feedback for Head-Fi: Those green bars do not operate properly.

These are so easy to listen to for a long time.   Comfortable, not harsh.   Superb mids.
 
I can hear things on these headphones that I never could on my Sony MDRs.     They need amping though (and playing loud) ..or they are a bit too mild mannered.

I am a headphones aficionado and I enjoy collecting good headphones Just got this pair of incredible headphones today after biking for more than 10 km. Was going to buy another make but when I set my eyes on this one and it's the only one in the store, I seized it because I read such good reviews it has. I put them on immediately and rode home on my bike. It was probably the most enjoyable 10km bike ride I ever had with John Mayer crooning away while I push those pedals.
 
I am enjoying Beethoven sonatas just as I am writing this now. Music is so rich and exuberant that it is giving me immense enjoyment and happiness.

Alright, so I am not an audiophile by any means, my entire experience of headphelia is just using cheap IEMs but after trying some expensive beats, I knew I needed something more.
And if your like me you want one pair to be your main man until it kicks the bucket a couple yours down the road.Not knowing what you want makes buying headphones hard, and so you take to the internet expecting some advice but then get thrown words like warm, shimmering highs, soundstage, and then you get caught flat on your face with too many options to choose from.  I am going to give you my honest impressions and experience, not a whole description of each thing you will hear, because no online review will ever truly describe the experience you will have. 
 
And now to the HD 598's.If your reading this review your probably upgrading from some under $100 headphones, since i doubt that your downgrading from some nicer ones, and the 598's are one of your options. 
 
I shall refer to the headphones as 'she' from here on out by the way. 
 
 
Comfort:  
She kisses and conforms to your head, "like a glove". I have pre-historic sized ears and theyre very sensitive but she makes love to them 10/10
 
Looks and Feel:
Very Luxurious, highest of quality, even though its all plastic. I love the look, I feel fancy as fu...I feel fancy while wearing her. 9/10
 
Sound:
I won't even use the words highs, lows, and mids in this review. I will put into more authentic words: You can hear everything, you will hear your music defined and articulated in a balanced area around your head. You will hear new parts of every song you thought you already knew and you will hear the parts you already knew in a better light. I'll summarize my experience with these headphones with a couple words: Balanced and rich accuracy. She won't block any part of a song with another part unless the artist intended that when he/she recorded it. 
 
The songs that blew my mind while using these puppies: "listen to the music" - The Doobie Brothers, "Trembling Hands" -Temper Trap and pretty much anything i through at it actually. 10/10
 
Open Back Headphones:
One of your main concerns about her might be that she's open(yes that sounded dirty, but we're too mature to giggle[Ha yeah right]), which means sound will get in and out of her. I actually prefer sound to leak in, it gives me awareness of my surroundings, although when I am listening at moderate volumes most background and ambient noise is blocked out, so only someone or something demanding my attention will pull me outside of my paradise of music. Now for other people hearing your music, I have found that when you are in quiet places(library, office) if you keep volumes below 50% coworkers and friends won't even hear it, of course if you are at least 5 feet away. And if your in a moderately noisy place(coffee shop, etc.) you can have your music as loud as you want. Fortunately you will get the same amount of rich articulation at any volume. But your smart though, you won't be blaring her full blast in a business meeting or during an exam. 
 
So what I am trying to get at is if the fact that shes open is deterring you from buying, I would go for it anyways. The musical experience you will have will outweigh the small amount of cons. The sound is too damn good to even care that they are open unless you NEED to cancel out noise, then to that I say what the hell are you doing here, get closed headphones.
 
Oh I should mention that she doesn't shake your head with bass, she whispers it right into your soul, which i absolutely love. But if you want to shake your head with bass just get some skullcrushers.
 
 
I got these for $160(Canadian) which was a steal, but i think these are worth it for their full price ($240 on amazon.ca). I wasn't planning on spending as much as I did but I am glad I made the leap of faith.
 
If this is your first upgrade from cheap earbuds, like it was for me, you'll be very satisfied with her.
 
 
 
Cheers,

Well, I just got into head fi. I must say my first impression was just okay.
Then after using it for over 300 hours I could start to tell its superiority in sound quality to my bose qc 25..
Also it is very comfy. the padding is not as comfy as the qc 25, but because it is an open headphone i.t allows alot of air to breathe so I NEVER sweat with this on, while I do sometimes with my qc 25 when walking around on a hot day. 
But when compared to the hd800 it pales in comparison. But thats to be expected, cause hd800 is like 10 times its price.
Very worth the 150 dollars though!

For the price, these headphones have incredible sound quality. Compared to other headphones like the HD 650, this is by no means an 'inferior' headphone just different. Superb soundstage and bass and treble capabilities. out of the box the highs mids and lows are well balanced. 
 
Comfort is 5 stars, light and comfy. The headband is pleather, don't know if it will discolour/rot off over time. Some reports that the wood is real but I doubt it. Absolutely love the retro premium style to bits, needs to win an award for one of the best looking headphones. I took off half a star for design because of cracking for early batches and Sennheiser public commitment to replace defective units within 2 years (nothing special, just honoring warranty nothing more). Also you need to be careful with the the metal grill, it will bend and dent very very easily so you need to baby these headphones. Buy a case/pouch/bag for it and put it away after use.
 
For the price I have no negative points to pick other than perhaps the cable could be ended with a 3.5mm because with the adaptor it might stress your audio port. To address this I bought a gold plated extension cable.
 
Many people talk about amping this headphone but I see absolutely no need for it. Without additional amping the sounds are great no distortion at all. I tried with a 100ohm Amp with no significant improvement. I will try with a 300ohm amp since the frequency charts tells us the bass improves with that level.
 
Overall, I'm very happy with these headphones and they compliment the closed-back portable Sennheiser Momentum very well. 

This wonderful headphone is simply underestimated due to the myterious belief system of audiophiles.
Price simply biases the listener, and human brain is simple an automata that is influenced by every factor especially the cost he or she paid.

I previously had a Pioneer SE-A1000, which was my first pair of open headphones that was meant to be used as a home theater replacement (I've owned lots of IEM's such as Shure e2c, SCL4, UE600vi, HF3). The SE-A1000 was awesome to listen to for movies with a massive soundstage, but it was exhausting to listen to for hours on end because of the V-shaped sound signature. When I first got the HD598, I didn't think that the music was drastically better than my SE-A1000, but the key thing I appreciate now is how I can listen to the hd598 forever. The comfort is perfect, and I can wear my glasses under my headphones all day. For music, movies, or gaming, the sound just seems perfect. The soundstage is just right for gaming and movies.
 
My only complaint is the plug. Since I didn't want to have to fiddle with un-plugging it to switch to speakers or headphone out from my computer, I ended up buying the Fiio e10. The E10 helps the bass a bit, but the main feature is that I can quickly change the audio output from my OS without having to unplug anything. The one time I tried walking with the HD598 connected to my iPhone, I realized how awkward it was with the giant adapter to convert from 1/4" to 1/8". At this price point, I don't think anyone's using the HD598 with a setup that offers 1/4" audio out. Most DAC/AMPs I saw at ~$100 were 1/8" output.

Amazing sound and even better when using an AMP.
 
The 6.5mm standard adaptor is a bit Meh. But a 3.5mm is included. Cable is crazy long, definitely designed to be hooked up to a stereo unit at home. Still sounds great throught the ipad / iphone

Sound leakage is huge and loud and will piss everyone off in the room. These cans are "at home" only use and not for office or when on public transport. My wife complained "what is the point of headphones if everyone can hear what you are listening to!!"
 
If you want aural candy, for the price (got mine on amazon.com) these things are diamond.
 
 

The Sennheiser HD-598 Open-Backed Headphone is a great value for how it's priced. Found mine used with only two hours use, and I must say that these babies are a joy to listed to for any most any genre of music.
 
Sound
The sound of the 598 is warm and detailed, with light emphasis on the low mids and upper bass. I find it quite refreshing, especially after my last phones, the ATH-M50s which give preference to the deep bass. The 598, though not being a rattling bassphone reproduces complex bass lines with ease and control. I've quite enjoyed TripHop on these, especially Heligoland by Massive Attack, but also acoustic singer-songwriters (like Laura Veirs and Sara Jarosz) play very well with the detailed mids. The tone and articulation of Guitar, Banjo, Fiddle, Mandolin and Double Bass as well as the vocals are clear and sexual, and drums are punchy without being obtrusive.  Especially with acoustic, the 598 is quite immersive. I've noticed many details with these phones that before escaped my ears. I don't have any major complaints about the sound of these cans.
 
Comfort
Not much to say here, I've never gotten listening fatigue from these puppies, as they're light-weight and not too tight. My only quibbles are that they're kind of hard to keep positioned when lying down, but that is because there is not a lot of pressure exerted on the head, which serves as an advantage most of the time, and they get a bit warm if you're in a warm setting, but that's pretty unavoidable.
 
Style
Now usually I don't give a rip about looks, but the HD598 simply looks nice to my eyes, with the tan frame and accents, and I understand it does have the potential to make you look like they're over 30 years old, but personally I like it.
 
Build
I've had no problems with these babies yet, but seeing as I've only had them a couple months, I should wait to give an opinion on the durability.
 
Accessories
The 598 ships with only the phone itself, the three meter chord and 3.5mm adapter, which is quite inconvenient should you want to use it with a mobile setup. Now I understand that that's not the intended purpose of these, seeing as they're open-backed, but I find myself going on many walks in semi-secluded spaces and I like to take these with me. I had to get the three-foot chord which terminates in a 3.5mm plug by default, with a 6.3mm adapter, because of problems with the stock adapter, but it's no big deal.
 
That's pretty much it. Love these phones and don't regret the purchase in the slightest.

[size=small]Ive listened to the Ultrasone HFI-780, Sony MDR-V6 (MDR-7506), Grado SR80i, and the Sennheiser HD598. The HD598 wins.[/size][size=small][/size]
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[size=small]The Ultrasone HFI-780 has absolutely terrible sibilance/sibilant. This is a common complaint with these cans. The 780 has better bass than the HD598, but the sibilance ruins these cans.[/size][size=small][/size]
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[size=small]The Sony MDR-V6 (aka MDR-7506) are phenomenal cans, but rather boring. These are some of the most popular headphones ever made, for good reason. They do sound incredible, and they are inexpensive. Every sound is fantastic. However, its boring. People in the audio industry refer to them as flat, and flat is the perfect way to describe them. And some people love this sound, however I do not like flat headphones for overall music listening. The MDR-V6 are studio monitors, which mean they are primarily made to be used in a studio or with other professional applications where you can monitor how loud a particular sound is. These cans heavily emphasize the mids, and thats not necessarily a bad thing. Those who love acoustic music or love hearing vocals will prefer these over the HD598. Some treble and some "hissing" can be heard on occasion, but overall these are amazing headphones if you like flat sound.[/size][size=small][/size]
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[size=small]The Grado SR80i are another great set of headphones, but they are uncomfortable and dont appear to be made as well as the other headphones on this list. Overall they sound great. The bass is almost non-existent, like the HD598. The overall sound signature was not as clean as the MDR-V6. The MDR-V6 is just so clean and precise, very hard to beat. But the SR80i are still great headphones and I would probably prefer to listen to music and game with them more than the Sony's. The Grado's sound like what you are used to, which is not studio monitor headphones.[/size][size=small][/size]
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[size=small]Now the Sennheiser HD598. I have the least experience with these, but they are so good I dont need extensive experience.[/size][size=small][/size]
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[size=small]Pros[/size][size=small][/size]
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[size=small]1. They are extremely comfortable. Even more comfortable than the MDR-V6 which is known for being comfortable. I find myself forgetting they are on. Some might say, "Well if you cant tell they are on, then maybe they are on too loose and will fall off." Not true. They are designed so well that they fit on snugly and have no pressure points.[/size][size=small][/size]
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[size=small]2. They are open air which is a pro and a con, depending on what you want. You can hear most sounds in the environment with these on. The HFI-780 and MDR-V6 do a great job of blocking out noise. However, the open air nature of the HD598 gives better soundstage (you can hear where instruments are; in gaming you can hear where the bullets and the enemy are coming from; it sounds 3D) and better air venting. Your ears are the least likely to sweat with these on compared to all the other headphones listed.[/size][size=small][/size]
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[size=small]3. They sound phenomenal. Of course there are better headphones out there, but for the $200-$300 price range, these are the headphones to beat. A respected audiophile says these are the best cans under $400-$500. The best way I can describe the sound is "smooth and creamy". One of the best ways to understand this is listening to a song where tons of instruments and vocals are going on. One example that I've used while comparing headphones is Mumford & Sons- Sigh No More. Skip to 2:23 and it starts getting complicated and intense. Many headphones cave under this stress, but the HD598 runs right through it with no resistance. It sounds awesome. In comparing the microscopic definition and exacting reproduction of sounds between the HD598 and the MDR-V6, the MDR-V6 takes the edge. But again, I still prefer the HD598 because it sounds better. With the HD598 you can still here the strings being strung, the reverberations of the instruments being used, etc. Although the MDR-V6 reproduces it more accurately, it also reproduces it more flat boring. Again, this is a fundamental difference between studio headphones (MDR-V6) and regular, fun headphones (HD598).[/size][size=small][/size]
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[size=small]Cons[/size][size=small][/size]
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[size=small]1. The bass is lacking. I'm not the listener who loves bass and eagerly tries to blow his eardrums at every possible occasion, but I do enjoy some thump. Bass is an essential part of music, without it, sound would be boring. I would say the HD598 gives you just enough bass to satisfy you. Using an equalizer or bass boost does help and does make a big difference. Open air headphones are notorious for their minimal bass reproduction. The bass that is produced sounds great though.[/size][size=small][/size]
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[size=small]2. The cord, the cord!!! Although detachable, which is a pro, the con is that it terminates into the larger 1/4 plug (which can be a pro for others). I use the 3.5mm plug 99% of the time. The HD598 comes with a 3.5mm adapter turning the terminal end of the cord into a 5 inch plug section. When plugged into a Zune, iPod, etc, it looks ridiculous. Laughably ridiculous actually. I emailed Sennheiser about this and they said that will not make a cord that terminates into a 3.5mm plug for this headphone. Really unfortunate.[/size][size=small][/size]
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[size=small]So when all things are said and done, after comparing the HD598 against several other well known and popular headphones, the HD598 are my favorite. They are not perfect. The bass is too soft, the sonic clarity is not quite as defined as the MDR-V6 (HD598 just slightly less, you can still hear ALL the detail), and the cord is ridiculous. But these cons are very very minor. The excellent sound and extreme comfort of these headphones, all things considered, are better than anything I've listened to.[/size]

I'll be honest, I don't know much about headphones. But for my birthday I decided to look into a new pair of headphones as I previously had the Sony MDR-XD200's which are just terrible! When I saw these headphones I was mesmerised at how good they look! I did some reviews on this site and decided to also get the fiio e10.

As soon as I got these headphones I was so amazed! The clarity, coupled with the fiio e10 was just amazing! I could hear things in my songs which I never even knew they were there!

I mainly listen to Electronic / Dance with a little classical on the side. The e10 has a bass boost which really helps the hd598's. The bass is present but I wish it had more kick to it with my dance music. However the mid range and high range makes up for it for miles! The sound stage is setup so perfectly that every single sound is clearly and distinctly defined. I really didn't think headphones could ever do this!

In conclusion, the Fiio e10 is a great dac/amp product with the hd598 and these headphones. These headphones are just amazing! I have had nearly 40 hours burn in now and the sound stage is just so clear and perfectly set up for all kinds of music. Great all round headset! 

sounds great even from integrated audio card, but with a proper dac/amp it really shines, love them, very comfortable

 
[size=10pt]These phones are worth the retail price of $249. They have a wide sound stage which gives dimension to music. Clarity is strong enough to notice poorly encoded sound files. These don't require an additional headphone amp weighing in with an impedance of 50 Ohms. While they do sound good without one an AMP/DAC will definitely add depth to the music. On the negative I personally think the 6.3MM jack terminating at the end was highly unnecessary. Instead Sennheiser could have had an screw on jack where the 3.5MM jack can be coverted to a 6.3MM one with a simple screw on adapter as found with the Sennheiser HD 380 Pro.  [/size]