So what would you suggest, B-Dawk?

Price range?

DT990 GOGOGO. You can handle Grados, the DT990 is FWIR like a bass enhanced Grado.

Price range is about the same as the 598's: $200. I know there's a bunch of options a bit higher (AKG 701, Dennon D2000, Beyerdynamic) and I don't know if I want to go there, especially since I want to invest in a headphone amp relatively soon.
 
Would the SR-225i's be worth it? The SR-80's I have are still functional, and I've heard the difference between the two is not huge.

Quote:

mad lust envy said:

DT990 GOGOGO. You can handle Grados, the DT990 is FWIR like a bass enhanced Grado.

Click to expand...

Really? The review on Headroom describes it as the opposite of Grado.

DT990: Bright, aggressive, bass and treble oriented, with a large soundstage. I was under the assumption that Grados were treble oriented with quick attack (but small soundstage). . I haven't heard a Grado, so I'm just going of what I've read before.

A well amped DT990 has quick attack, and strong but well textured bass that doesn't linger or get boomy like bass heavy cans tend to do.

From what I heard cross comparing, the SR60i and 80 differences are miniscule. I only had a couple days with them though. From what I hear from people, the jump up to the 125 isn't huge....and the 225 not too monstrous either. It seems like to me that inbetween the SR60/80 and the 325i, you should invest in something else. The big jumps seem to be SR80 to 325 and from there to RS1 or GS1000 or whatever else they have. I've not done as much research as other grado fans so I say go to them before someone like me.
 
I personally thought the D2000 would be something you might be interested in...maybe the senn HD25-1ii but they may be not as intimate as you'd like. My personal choice after I got my first headphone was to start investing for the future with an Amp/DAC, which I did. Then I got a secondary headphone that was a step up and to the side a bit. One that sounded different but was overall better(the M50). You just skipped my second step and went to the third. If I was you personally, I'd invest in a DAC and amp, see how that does your current cans in terms of improvement. You ARE planning to get better headphones in the future as well so it's not like it's a waste or something. Just make sure your amp/dac choice is known to sound good with the headphones you are considering to buy. The HD650 is supposed to sound good with my D1 and that is what I plan to buy next.
 
So I think if you don't want to get the D2000 off the bat and you like the HD598 still but just don't prefer it for your main listening can, go get the amp/dac you were already planning to buy, try it out with your cans, and then sell off the 598 if you still want to. You were going to sell it off anyway, might as well wait and try it out with your new gear. Plus, it's good experience for you to get to listen to more sounds and variants of them. Unless you planned on returning it, in which case you have time constraints to worry about.

Another good piece of info: I think I've identified, far and away, my least favorite aspect of the 598's: The frequency 'bump' around 125-150Hz. I guess that's where the 'warm' sound comes from, and the graph on headroom supports that. I find strong sounds in that region very unappealing on the Senns; they kind of buzz unpleasantly and distract from the music. I definitely feel the need to avoid headphones with a similar effect.
 

Thanks B-Dawk. I'd love to able to splurge on all this stuff of course, and a D2000 with a headroom amp would be a definite buy if I could. Maybe I will just save up a bit and do that, getting the amp first (or building it).

Quote:

virtuoso80 said:

Another good piece of info: I think I've identified, far and away, my least favorite aspect of the 598's: The frequency 'bump' around 125-150Hz.

Click to expand...

The srh940, does the contrary, with few people complaining of a hole in the mid bass.
I don't find personally they are lacking midbass.
The srh940 are fast and detailed, which I think is nice for metal.
They have a little treble boost, but I managed to get rid of it (at least to reduce to it)  by playing with the ear cup position on my head (more explanation on my review). 
You should test them.
 
 

You should try to use 598 for vocal musics such as Lady Gaga, Celine Dion or just any female singers who have high voice. Maybe you can find this headphone can shine what kind of music and one more thing, try to use Hd 598 on different sources such as other CD players, amplifiers, DAC/AMPs.
 
Finally, if you do not like it really then just go ahead return it or sell it for other guy. That's all.
 
Bye.

Grados have popped out upper mids from what I've listened to. DT990s are bright in the treble area. Not really sure if the two translate to each other. I think its best to ask someone who has tried them both out.

 
 I own the SR80i, 325i and DT990-600ohm ~ of the three, the DT990 is my relax and chill, laid back can.
 
 Perhaps it's because I'm used to the treble but I've never found the the DT990 to be aggressive in attack or sibilant
 in it's treble, it is however quite punchy and quick when amped properly. Amping it properly is a challenge indeed,
 it requires a +6dB gain switch on my Violectric V200 which is really saying something considering it's one of
 the more powerful solid state amplifiers at any price.
 
 Having said that, here's a brief run down of the differences :-
 
 Grado 325i :-
 
 First row presentation - practically sniffing the musicians on stage, attack is very prominent on just about
 every note being played, bass impact is very substantial but it does not extend excessively, everything sounds quite
 forward and the treble extends very nicely to the mid treble. Mids, mids ~ this can rules for that, again guitar
 reproduction is the best I've heard ~ the LCD-2 and LCD-3 are very close to my ears but again the general Grado
 tonality still gets the nod for me.
 
 DT990-600 (100dB/sensitivity):-
 
 Row 10 presentation - sitting further back, mids especially feel like they're coming from further back, nothing
 ever seems too distanced though and it's never washed over by the bass or treble. Ahh the bass, it digs deep, for reggae,
 electronica and other impact bass genres these are very good indeed with sub bass, reasonable impact but
 extension is exemplary to my ears. Treble is very detailed and extended while never becoming harsh, the DT990
 has shown me upper treble detail that was missed by the 325i. Sound stage width is much bigger however in terms
 of sound stage depth ~ it's a close race between the 325i and DT990. It's a popular myth that Grados have no
 soundstage, the width is not huge, there is no height but instruments appear out of the dark musical background
 very nicely nonetheless.
 
 They complement each other beautifully. Please note the DT990-250ohm is a different beast, it's more forward
 and generally a little more sibilant and not as refined as the 600ohm. The big challenge is amping the 600-ohm.
 
 As I said, when you find yourself flicking gain switches on a $1000 head amp, you get the idea of how demanding
 this can really is to drive to 100% of what it can do.

Now I have a new idea: For the a little more than the price of the 598's I can get some Fischer Audio FA-011's and a bithead amp. That a much 'safer' bet than shelling out more for the Denon or the Beyerdynamic, so I may do that instead.

try 100+hours