Resurrected! Seriously though, both of these cans are pretty cheap currently due to all the sales ($99 shipped for the HD558) so here is my question related to this topic because I'm going to grab one of these cans. I've tried a bunch of stuff over the years in the mid-fi range, some examples are: HE-400, HD-595, HD-650, SR-225i, SR-325, ATH-A900/A900x/A900Ti, ATH-W1000, DT770 Premium & Pro, etc.
My absolute favorites were the HD-650 powered by La Figaro 332 Classic tube amp, in the < $400 range the headphones were absolute perfect bliss to me, bass extension was amazing imho with just the perfect amount which is important to me. For hard rock, progressive rock, metal, and the alternative rock that I primarily listen to I felt they were exemplary. This year I found myself with nearly no free time anymore so I rarely utilize my headphone gear so I couldn't justify having the costs involved in that setup just sitting there on my desk. So I sold it all with intentions on downgrading to something "acceptable" for the one time every week or two that I actually get time to sit down and listen to a pair of cans.
I'm looking at < $200 because I hate to spend more than that for such little use and the HD-558 or HD-598 seem like they should have some familiar characteristics of the 650, maybe, hopefully? What do you guys think between the two, or the 518, but with only $20 separating the 518 from the 558 it doesn't make much sense to even consider the 518...
I own the 558 and it is just ok at harder rock, lacking the bass presentation and the attack. It is wonderful at vocal music (Colbie Caillat, Sara Barilles, Ingrid Michaelson, Taylor Swift) . I prefer the Grado SR-80e for harder rock (Trivium, Five FInger Death Punch, Bullet for My Valentine, Avenged Sevenfold) it has better bass, better treble, and electric guitars just sound fantastic.