Help a Vet decide Hd595 or something else
Jun 19, 2010 at 3:13 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 21
swbf2cheater

swbf2cheater

Headphoneus Supremus
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well, ive got a 130$ budget and would be able to get the Hd 595 here on head fi for around that price
 
my gripe is that I've had it before and wasn't too impressed with it, but i admit i didn't give them a chance to burn in.  I used them for light gaming but not for accurate gaming, just some star wars games and such back then that didnt require pinpointing.  
I would be using them mainly for gaming with pinpointing in Call of Duty modern warefare 2, and rock/metal.  Guthrie Govan types, Hendrix, Shawn Lane, Marco Sfogli.  I don't remember how the 595 sound and only recall them lacking bass kick heavily.  
 
Is the 595 a bad choice?  
 
 
Jun 19, 2010 at 3:23 PM Post #2 of 21
They are very accurate for gaming. They don't resolve all the details like the AD700, but footsteps and similar type sounds don't typically fall in the upper high range where the AD700 is superior, so the 555 is just as accurate. Now I have only used used them with an X-Fi and CMSS-3D, so I can't comment on other setups. I can hear footsteps from very far away and when things are behind you, they are behind you.
 
I don't like them for music, but I don't listen to metal and I haven't tried them with much rock.
 
Curious on why you don't get a new 555 and remove the tape inside. That is the only sonic difference between the 555 and 595. You get a nicer headband on the 595, but the 555 has the same one as the 580/600, so it's more than comfortable enough.
 
Jun 19, 2010 at 3:27 PM Post #3 of 21
I wouldn't say it's a bad choice, I would just say it's not the best choice.
 
Look into the AD700. You can find them $80ish bucks online at multiple retailers. And they tend to outscore the HD595s in most, if not all areas. They are a killer for games!
 
I'm not sure they would be all that great for rock and metal though, but you never know. Some users love them for rock. And don't worry, bass is fine.
 
Jun 19, 2010 at 3:43 PM Post #4 of 21
The AD700 is sadly out of the question, its too big and bulky for me, I tried it a while back and heavily disliked it.  The 555 is certainly an option, i've never used it though, it and the 580 are the only sennheisers ive not ever used  :[
 
I never knew the 555 was as spacious and accurate as the 595, i thought X reason would make them inferior for staging.  Honestly never knew the simple mod made them the 595.  I don't really see any reason for getting the 595 except the small % of comfort increase.  I may be able to snag a mint 595 for like 80 bucks so thats the reason I wanted to try it again.  Unless there is something else out there I am unaware of :\
 
People dont recommend either for rock, but the 595 is forward and bright, which is what I am after.  I never knew the 555 was basically the same, after reading up on it it seems the wiser choice.  
 
Jun 19, 2010 at 3:49 PM Post #5 of 21
Quote:
swbf2cheater said:
The AD700 is sadly out of the question, its too big and bulky for me.
Click to expand...


Which is exactly why I'm going to upgrade.
wink.gif

 
Sounds like the HD555 sounds like a great choice for you then. That is if you are okay with doing a bit of tweaking.
tongue.gif

 
Jun 19, 2010 at 3:58 PM Post #6 of 21
Im good with tweaking but may not even have to, hoping I can snag this 595 elsewhere for cheap
 
if not, well then I may get the 555 on ebay or something, ive not seen a hd555 for sale here on head fi in months 
 
I've actually got a budget of 170$ or so, but planned on rebuying the JVChas700 for my main portable set and having around 130$ to blow on something else closer to hi fi. 
 
hd555/595 come to mind more than anything in that budget :\
 
Jun 19, 2010 at 4:09 PM Post #7 of 21
So let's see. Your budget is around $130, and you want good gaming / rock headphones?
 
If all else fails, I guess just stick with the HD555 / HD595. But there is the possibility of buying two separate headphones. One for games and one for music.
 
I'm taking you want 'comfort' high on your priorities list for games, correct? But I guess you don't want to pay cheaper on two separate sets and reduce overall SQ...
 
Hmm, I'm a bit stuck. Looks like 'comfort' and 'SQ' point to right were you are at.
 
Jun 19, 2010 at 4:20 PM Post #8 of 21
Well again my original budget was like 170$ or so
 
30$ is going to JVChas700 for portable usage
 
I wanted the rest to go to a more hi fi experience, something with a nice enveloping stage.  I remember my old 595 that i rarely used to have that type of sound.  Its forward and bright, wide and driven easily by the amps I do own,  and it can game.  The only lacking thing is that bass.  This is more than enough to make me sacrifice a nice bass experience for nearly everything else as found in the 595, they seem to have 90% of everything I am after.  
 
-smaller design compared to the ad700 at least, sleek and light
-comfy
-open airy and enveloping stage
-good mids and highs 
-easily driven by the amps I currently have and work well with them
-excellent for gaming
-under 140$
 
I don't really know of anything else that has ALL of these qualities.  It seems the 555/595 is my only option.
 
Jun 19, 2010 at 4:42 PM Post #9 of 21
Quote:
swbf2cheater said:
This is more than enough to make me sacrifice a nice bass experience for nearly everything else as found in the 595, they seem to have 90% of everything I am after.    
I don't really know of anything else that has ALL of these qualities.  It seems the 555/595 is my only option.
Click to expand...


What are you waiting for then, the other 10%? 
wink.gif

 
Go for it! It seems to me like that is your headphone of choice.
 
There is always that frustration of ordering a single pair of headphones out of all the chocies, but it must me done. After you collect as much data and information about the headphone as you can, you make a decision based on your preferences. And judging by all that I have read, it looks like the Senn is the way to go! Yeah, there might be 'another choice' for you, but will in the end, I don't think you can go wrong with what you have decided on. It's all up to you.
 
Jun 19, 2010 at 7:52 PM Post #11 of 21
^ I just purchased a set of ATH ws70 that were dark and tinny with immensely bloated bass with 0 soundstage all out of the box, after 1 week of burn in the sound was deep, bright, detailed and sparkled.
 
burn in is 100% real.  Go buy an ATH es7 listen to it right away, then a week later after burn in and tell me its not real.  :D
 
Jun 19, 2010 at 7:54 PM Post #12 of 21


Quote:
swbf2cheater said:
well, ive got a 130$ budget and would be able to get the Hd 595 here on head fi for around that price
 
my gripe is that I've had it before and wasn't too impressed with it, but i admit i didn't give them a chance to burn in.  I used them for light gaming but not for accurate gaming, just some star wars games and such back then that didnt require pinpointing.  
I would be using them mainly for gaming with pinpointing in Call of Duty modern warefare 2, and rock/metal.  Guthrie Govan types, Hendrix, Shawn Lane, Marco Sfogli.  I don't remember how the 595 sound and only recall them lacking bass kick heavily.  
 
Is the 595 a bad choice?  
 
Click to expand...



That is a nice choice,please buy it.
 
Close this thread.
 
Jun 21, 2010 at 5:23 AM Post #13 of 21
I dont wanna close it, im not done asking questions :D
 
Im still on the fence about what to do.  I may try to sell this guitar I own for like 90$ and I'll have a 250$ budget, that must satisfy at least 3 needs.  Gaming, Hi Fi music listening for rock mostly, and portable.
 
with that I thought maybe I should buy the AD700 for pure gaming and pc use, the HD595 for Hi Fi, as its still unclear if I can do better for 125$ or so, and I already repurchased the JVC Ha-s700 just a few minutes ago for my portables
 
I know the ad700 is vastly superior to the Hd595 for gaming, but I really don't know about its usage for rock, both seem to lack the bass required for a good rock/metal experience, at least to my ears anyway.  Im sure I will go after a used AD700 and still have 125$ to spend on something much nicer for music listening.  Hard to find anything that price that isnt a monitor.
 
 
Jun 21, 2010 at 11:34 AM Post #14 of 21
Don't worry, the bass is perfectly fine. If it doesn't fit your needs, it's nothing a little EQ won't fix.
wink.gif

 
Believe me, I've turned those things into Subwoofers with my Cowon iAudio 7...
 
Besides, I've heard the HD595's bass sounds like a ported subwoofer, rather than tight like the AD700.
 
Jun 21, 2010 at 11:52 AM Post #15 of 21
After a few hours research this morning ive come to want to avoid the ad700.  It seems i was correct in saying the 595 is just better in every way
 
a few gamer buddies swear by the 595 over the ad700.  Im told the ad700 has a massive soundstage but the sounds can bleed together and get confusing.  I trust the pro gamer buds ive rolled with for years in that the HD595 is not as wide sounding, but better at pinpointing.
 
:\
 
shame really because I missed a 595 on ebay that sold for 80 bucks.  I put my ws70s up for sale and nobody wants them lol, i dont really know why, I planned on using that $ towards the 595 lol, *sigh
 
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