[bonethugz]

they've been discontinued right? so if you have the money and can find them new and can only get one. which one?

 

[watchluvr4ever]

Just bought the K501 and don't like the Sennheiser sound.

 

[hciman77]

I have both - I listen to the 580s almost exclusively - the 501s I really do not use anymore - nothing wrong with them ,I just prefer the 580s sound - plus they appear to be rather easier to drive than the 501s, the 501s may be a bit better for vocals and sparsely recorded stuff but for orchestral and rock/pop the 580s are more to my taste. Comfort wise the 501s win.

 

[kramer5150]

Coming from Gradoland... wanting a more open spatious kind of sound, I spent a lot of time demo'ing both. My choice was the HD580. While the K501 was clearer and better at resolving details, its bass-rolloff left me wanting more. For new-age jazz and ambient/spatious kinds of tunes the K501 is a hands down winner though.

Even then, I still had to mod the 580 to get a sound that I am happy with.

 

[a1rocketpilot]

I didn't much care for the HD-600 (which I guess sounds a bit better than the 580) when I heard it, so given the choice, I would certainly go for the K501's. Great midrange and details. When I heard it, I didn't really think the bass was all that bad. I think the bass gets more bad rep than it deserves. If you can, audition it and see what you think of it.

Aditya

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by a1rocketpilot I didn't really think the bass was all that bad. I think the bass gets more bad rep than it deserves. If you can, audition it and see what you think of it. Aditya

Yeah, I agree... readers should note that the Grados I personally enjoy, have a kind of bass-bloat that I have become accustomed too. But lately I have been enjoying cans that are more bass-shy (Koss A250). I'm willing to bet, the K501 would be much more favorable to me now, than a couple years ago.

 

[sbulack]

My most abiding (and most used and enjoyed of all the cans I've owned) is my pair of Grado SR225. I've owned the K501 and HD580 concurrently as a complementary can to the SR225. I kept and further invested in the HD580 (HD600 grills and a Cardas replacement cable), and sold the K501 to a Head-Fier who wanted to use and enjoy them. I find the HD580 to be wonderfully complementary to the SR225, and the two together make a formidable set of listening instruments for all of my favorite music and movies. From my first listen of the K501, I always appreciated their quality, refinement and, relative to other headphone manufacturers, their value. I used the K501 as my main can for about six months, and then drifted away from it back to the SR225 and HD580. I've owned the SR225 for three years now, and I'm coming up on my 1 year anniversary on the HD580 - which are becoming ever more firmly ensconced in the easy-to-reach-for portion of my listening area - right next to the SR225.

 

[Mercuttio]

I like the HD580 more than the K501, but I would have never known without an audition of both. Any way you can hear either one? A lot of audio shops still carry the 501, and it shouldn't be any trouble to find an HD580 yet.

 

[blessingx]

Like most Grados, and unlike the HD580 or K701, I think of the K501 as specialty cans. They're good at what they do (lush forward midrange with really tight top end), but aren't the best all-arounders (across full spectrum and musical genres). They'd be great alternative cans, but not primary in my book.

 

[GlowWorm]

They're both great cans for the money, but the K501's won me over with that amazing soundstage. I don't miss my HD580's at all since I sold them, or the bloated bass that went with them.

 

[bonethugz]

thanks and sorry guys, i forgot to tell. i've a k601 already. this is more like collection. so maybe i should get the 580 because of different sound. although i always want to know how k501 sounded like. i heard great things about both cans. damn head hi

 

[kiwirugby]

I own both. 501s hands down. Better mids, soundstage and instrument separation. Plus more true to the original sound...

 

[Bill Ward]

Depends on the music you prefer and the presentation you find desirable. The Senns are a more rounded headphone IMO. The 501s are better at what they do, but what they do isn't for everyone.

 

[kiwirugby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Ward Depends on the music you prefer)

Bill's right. I think the 501s present well with classcial and jazz. It's an important piece of information.