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Static in Sennheiser HD 558 vs HD 500?

post #1 of 12
8/30/11 at 12:40am
Thread Starter 

Hello all,

 

I am sort of a noob as far as audio technical knowhow is concerned, so hopefully someone here can help me out. I bought a pair of HD 500s five or six years ago and they were wonderful until I dropped them and something came loose in the right ear. The sound still works in the left ear but I saw a good sale on 558s and thought I'd upgrade.

 

Now, when I used the 558s I was really surprised by the level of background static that I'd never noticed before with the 500s. Particularly with simple things like a solo piano. So I tried listening through just the left ear with both headphones, and then some earphones.

The earphones had even more static than the 558s (they were MEE M6Ps). And the 558s definitely had more static than the 500s.

 

So my question is this: did the 500s have something that reduced background static? Is that no longer available in the 558s? If so, should I upgrade to some other headphones, and what would you recommend?

 

Thanks everyone.


Edited by bkkp - 8/30/11 at 12:44am
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post #2 of 12
8/30/11 at 9:25pm
Thread Starter 

Apologies... didn't see the guidance thread. Could a mod please merge this into that thread?

 

I searched the forums and read of someone with HD 558s who had some crackle and pop, and said it might be the driver loosening up? Could this be it? Would that improve over time?

 

If anyone knows what part of the headphone deals with static, I'd really appreciate the info.

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post #3 of 12
8/31/11 at 12:10am

Hi bkkp,

 

Could you describe what you mean by 'static'? The HD 558 comes with an open design so they don't really reduce ambient noise. 

 

As for the cracks, they have been reported in a small early batch of products. Do rest assure that we've resolved this issue early on and have rebuilt the headband with a better material. Nevertheless, we stand by our 2-year warranty and will provide a replacement unit if the headband of your HD 558 ever cracks. 

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post #4 of 12
8/31/11 at 1:06am

I got this one that maybe matches what you describe.

http://yan-er.com/digital-stereo-sound-lightweight_p=339580#

 

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post #5 of 12
8/31/11 at 7:43am

Hmm, backround static...  That static could signify a lack of quality in those recordings as the HD558 is quite revealing, though not overly so.  Also, what is the bit-rate of those music file that you hear static?

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post #6 of 12
8/31/11 at 2:21pm
Thread Starter 

The bit rates are fairly high, ranging from 320 to 550/FLAC.


Yo-yo ma's cello and the Grumiaux Bach violin sonatas sound amazing. Rock, post-rock, R&B, and hip-hop all sound really great.

 

Rosmadi, I am not worried about the cracking problem, but static crackle. It seems only to happen (or at least be noticeable) when piano is played. I can hear it a little with acoustic guitar. The static is not continuous. It's like a fuzzy scratching that accompanies every note, as if there was a plastic bag underneath the keys. Very distracting.

Could it be that the 558s are just a lot more revealing than the 500s?

 

 

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post #7 of 12
9/1/11 at 7:55am

It could very well be, especially if those piano tracks are the only ones you hear static from.  Those piano tracks, were they originally recorded pre or post 1990?

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post #8 of 12
9/1/11 at 9:03am
Most piano tracks I hear have some microphone grain. If it's recorded through a condenser mic, it makes sense.
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post #9 of 12
9/1/11 at 2:14pm

Welcome to the world of bad recordings.  You have two three options.

 

1-Get better recordings.  Who the performer is and your bitrate are largely irrelevant compared to who is mastering and recording.

2-Get worse phones that hide the details of your music.

3-Process all your tracks through a soundcard to removes hiss, pops and crackles.  If you can live w/ the consequences.  

 

Yes, Piano is the most notoriously poorly recorded instrument on the planet by far.  Next would be string sections in an orchestra for me.


Edited by Anaxilus - 9/1/11 at 2:16pm
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post #10 of 12
9/1/11 at 9:08pm
Thread Starter 

I don't think it's the recordings. It's on literally every piano track. And if I listen carefully I can hear it in some stripped down instrumental stuff, like Philip Glass. It's just most prominent in piano songs.


Perhaps it's because my computer is 5 years old? (Though I still don't understand why the older HD500s are better at masking things. The 558s can't be that much more revealing, can they?)

 

As for the soundcard suggestion, why so ominous? What are the consequences I would have to live with?

 

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post #11 of 12
9/1/11 at 9:11pm

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by bkkp View Post

I don't think it's the recordings. It's on literally every piano track. And if I listen carefully I can hear it in some stripped down instrumental stuff, like Philip Glass. It's just most prominent in piano songs.


Perhaps it's because my computer is 5 years old? (Though I still don't understand why the older HD500s are better at masking things. The 558s can't be that much more revealing, can they?)

 

As for the soundcard suggestion, why so ominous? What are the consequences I would have to live with?

 


If it's recorded with microphones, there's a high chance that there will be some kind of light background noise. See if you get any kind of similar background noise with electronically created music.

 

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post #12 of 12
9/1/11 at 9:12pm

I know a bunch of my old albums have that and some music tracks that try to bring a certain graininess into the character of the music.

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