[vid]

They're not as real as even the cheaper old orthos, though, so don't overpay.

 

[GREQ]

OT:
Fair enough.
Still can't be worse than a Yammie HP3 or most SFI variants..... can it?

 

[vid]

Never heard the HP-3. The modded HP-50 and KWH HOK 80 are better than the HD 530/600. I've not been able to mod the AT ATH-2 to be as good.

 

[Hairspray]

i dont think we have an objective (or consensus) definition of "realism" (even the philosophers would give you different answers...).
Anyway, imo "realism" is something like coherent soundstage+imaging, neutrality, resolving and detailed +... musicality -> quadrature of the circle?
A lot of highly detailed monitoring HP lack musicality (not the sound engineers' priority anyway)
And the so-called and very trendy musical, laid-back, warm sounding and non-fatiguing HPs for long winter sessions (with a glass of Bordeaux and a cigar) arent the most detailed and neutral cans (HD 650, Philips X1 and other sofa-comfort or basstilted HPs must be very lucrative though...).
 
That's why the Senn 540 Ref are IMO exceptional: they offer best of both world
They are detailed and dead flat (yes, some guys still use them for mixing) AND... veeery musical, natural, vivid and ultra-comfortable.
The front row presentation is a matter of preference, but i do love it, especially for folk and jazz female vocals, strings and stuff.
But who is the fool that would buy a 30 year old sounding can with zero "wow" factor? Sennheiser would go bankrupt with that kind of non spectacular heaphones. Some basshead teenies would swear they are defective...

 

[Hairspray]

Quote:

[...] Last week I also bought a pair of HD600. I expected an improvement but it was a agfdisappointment.[...]

 
nongrata, i forgot something...
believe it or not, I was about to pull the trigger on a HD 600 ($ 350 new), hopping they are something like an improved version of the 540/530.
so you wouldn't recommend them since i own the 540 ref and love it?

 

 

[GREQ]

Personally I can sum up realism in one word - timbre. 
Although many recordings are awful because they screw up the timbre more than most good quality headphones ever do. 

 

[Hairspray]

Personally I can sum up realism in one word - timbre. 
Although many recordings are awful because they screw up the timbre more than most good quality headphones ever do. 

"Timbre"... that word never ceases to fascinate me... Engineers cannot measure it.
Imo, it's where the musicality lies. It's all about the magic of music.

 

[Hairspray]

Btw, here's the GoldenEars presentation rating/chart (540 Ref Gold, same headphone as the 540 Ref but with hand selected drivers).
It's pretty much exactly how I would describe the 540, miles away from the 650's signature.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7985007/Head-Fi/Sennheiser%20HD%20540%20Reference/Sennheiser%20HD%20540%20Reference%20PHOTOS/GoldenHears%20-%20Sennheiser%20HD%20540%20Ref%20Gold%20Signature%20Chart.jpg

 

[GREQ]

Quote:

Quote:

Personally I can sum up realism in one word - timbre. 
Although many recordings are awful because they screw up the timbre more than most good quality headphones ever do. 

"Timbre"... that word never ceases to fascinate me... Engineers cannot measure it.
Imo, it's where the musicality lies. It's all about the magic of music.

As a hobbyist musician of 17 years, I've never cared more for what engineers can measure over how something actually feels and sounds. 
Magic indeed. 

 

[Jankson]

Hi there!

I have always loved my Sennheiser HD 540 Reference.
And have changed the pads several times.
My purchased in Karlstad (Sweden) in 1985 and the price then was around 100Euro or 995sek.
They are the first edition.
Reference II, which came later, another more modern design of the headband.
But otherwise everything was unchanged.
I'm so curious to buy HD 800, but will first buy an amplifier.
I'm probably a bit old fashioned that still listen to CD only on my now rather old CD player Sony X505ES, who I think sounds wonderful after it has been on a number of hours.
I'm always happy to listen to my HD540 Ref.
So I am almost afraid of what I will feel when listening to HD800.
There is so much swagger over Sennheiser's new amplifier that you become curious.
Very expensive, but will the sound be better? Or rather color it less than others so it is good.

 

[GREQ]

The HD800 will be technically better. 
Whether YOU actually prefer the different flavour is another matter entirely that only you can decide.

 

[vid]

You'll find that Golden Ears subjectively rate the HD 800 and HD 540 even on resolution. Make of that what you will; I think GE may've also been extra kind in their review of the HD 540.

 

[Marximus]

These too can be yours for the low, low price of $559!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sennheiser-HD540-Reference-Gold-limit-edition-Headphones-with-wood-box-/111176664723?pt=US_Headphones&hash=item19e2a54693

 

[vid]

The Gold version is always expensive. No reason to get it unless you're a collector, I'd say.

 

[Hairspray]

  I think GE may've also been extra kind in their review of the HD 540.

 
Why would GoldenEars do that? With what benefits?