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Which one to choose ? AD900x vs HD598 vs AKG 550

post #1 of 16
1/11/13 at 6:24am
Thread Starter 

Which one from the title is the best? I listen to Asian female voice and also instrumental music, anime OST a lot.

I have auditioned HD598 in my local store but not the other two. HD598 was good for my taste (very good mid and soundstage, bass is enough for me),  but doesn't seem to get much recommendation for their price lately so I want something better in the same price range (currently own a M50)

I have tried AD700 before, didn't like it! So I don't know how much improvement AD900/AD900x has over them. Is the midrange as good as HD598 ??

No idea about AKG 550, but some people said they have little to no bass...

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post #2 of 16
1/11/13 at 6:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by yamichan View Post

Which one from the title is the best? I listen to Asian female voice and also instrumental music, anime OST a lot.

I have auditioned HD598 in my local store but not the other two. HD598 was good for my taste (very good mid and soundstage, bass is enough for me),  but doesn't seem to get much recommendation for their price lately so I want something better in the same price range (currently own a M50)

I have tried AD700 before, didn't like it! So I don't know how much improvement AD900/AD900x has over them. Is the midrange as good as HD598 ??

No idea about AKG 550, but some people said they have little to no bass...

 

Heya,

 

The HD598 is fine for your choices, and if you already know it's bass level is ok for you, then you're good to go.

 

The only alternatives I would suggest you consider to it, are the AKG Q701 and the Sony MA900 if you wanted options.

 

Very best,

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post #3 of 16
1/12/13 at 3:00am

HD 598 the all-round giant 

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post #4 of 16
1/12/13 at 10:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by yamichan View Post

Which one from the title is the best? I listen to Asian female voice and also instrumental music, anime OST a lot.

I have auditioned HD598 in my local store but not the other two. HD598 was good for my taste (very good mid and soundstage, bass is enough for me),  but doesn't seem to get much recommendation for their price lately so I want something better in the same price range (currently own a M50)

I have tried AD700 before, didn't like it! So I don't know how much improvement AD900/AD900x has over them. Is the midrange as good as HD598 ??

No idea about AKG 550, but some people said they have little to no bass...

What source(s) are you plugging the headphones into?

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post #5 of 16
1/12/13 at 10:24am

I listen to the same things as you pretty much (anime-ost's, vocaloid etc.) and i find the HD598's to be amazing. Jpop is a complicated way to describe the genre as it covers everything - metal, rock, trance, edm and even slow songs. You need a do-it-all headphone for it, which means its decent for everything but not amazing for any genre - the vocals on the HD 598's are amazing though imo.

 

Just my 2 cents.

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post #6 of 16
1/12/13 at 11:02am
Best female vocals in my collection goes to my 598. Really the only downside to them imo is the lack of bass quantity but it is definately their.
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post #7 of 16
1/12/13 at 5:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleAngel View Post

What source(s) are you plugging the headphones into?

I'm currently have an E10

I also want to plug it directly to my iPad

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post #8 of 16
1/12/13 at 5:49pm

What didn't you like about the AD700? Knowing that might help us help you pick the right headphone.

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post #9 of 16
1/12/13 at 6:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by shockdoc View Post

What didn't you like about the AD700? Knowing that might help us help you pick the right headphone.

It sounded weird to my ear, I don't really know how to describe it. From what I recall, maybe the soundstage was too large that everything was all over the place. It sounds distance and not concentrated. Compares to my M50, AD700 couldn't even hold a candle agaisnt it.

I plugged it directly to my iPad at that time so it might be the reason

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post #10 of 16
1/12/13 at 7:17pm

An open can will almost always sound like that compared to a closed one like the M50. Some love a wide soundstage. Some like the closer more congested sound of closed. Sounds like you want a closed phone. Don't get the AD900x. You'll probably be happiest with the AKG 550.

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post #11 of 16
1/12/13 at 7:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by shockdoc View Post

An open can will almost always sound like that compared to a closed one like the M50. Some love a wide soundstage. Some like the closer more congested sound of closed. Sounds like you want a closed phone. Don't get the AD900x. You'll probably be happiest with the AKG 550.

It's not like I hate wide soundstage. Actually, I prefer HD598 as it sounds superior to M50 in almost everyway, especially for being more airy. However, the low extension and details are not as good as M50.


Edited by yamichan - 1/12/13 at 7:33pm
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post #12 of 16
1/12/13 at 7:43pm

I was also going to mention the Q701. You can find them for about $240 online. Unless isolation is somewhat important, then there is no reason to choose the 550 over the Q701. The HD598 is open, so I'm guessing isolation is not a concern. 

Quote:
Originally Posted by MalVeauX View Post

 

Heya,

 

The HD598 is fine for your choices, and if you already know it's bass level is ok for you, then you're good to go.

 

The only alternatives I would suggest you consider to it, are the AKG Q701 and the Sony MA900 if you wanted options.

 

Very best,

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post #13 of 16
1/12/13 at 7:51pm

What HI-FI reviewed a few and 2 of them were the K550 and HD598, they picked K550 as the overall winner.

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post #14 of 16
1/12/13 at 7:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonb View Post

I was also going to mention the Q701. You can find them for about $240 online. Unless isolation is somewhat important, then there is no reason to choose the 550 over the Q701. The HD598 is open, so I'm guessing isolation is not a concern. 

From what I know, Q701 are reference cans so their sound signature is analytical - which means they might sound boring to my genres...  Besides, they are very hard to drive, not without a good setup. I doubt my E10 can drive them. Last time when I used E10 with DT880 250 Ohms, they sound worse than a 50$ can although somebody said that E10 drive them pretty well.

And yes, I don't need isolation as I have my M50 already


Edited by yamichan - 1/12/13 at 8:02pm
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post #15 of 16
1/12/13 at 7:58pm

The 550 is said to sound pretty much the same, but yes the 550 is also said to be easier to drive.

 

The Q701 can be driven just fine from a Fiio E10, E11, or E17 though, so it doesn't cost a fortune to use them properly. I'm very happy with mine used with an E17.

Quote:
Originally Posted by yamichan View Post

From what I know, Q701 are reference cans so their sound signature is analytical...  Besides, they are very hard to drive, not without a good setup

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