It's not the size of the soundstage that counts ;)   The HD598 has angled drivers (as in, angled to be parallel to your ear, rather than parallel to your head like most headphones) which really makes a difference in positioning. IIRC, the AD700 also has that, but IMO the sound signature is too...

    I think I've finally found my perfect headphone (the foam-modded HD558), and have vanquished upgradeitis for at least a couple years, until I get significantly more disposable income or the next generation of headphones comes out. Yay me... so before I leave, I'd like to address what's...

  Quote: You said the FA003 "wipes the floor" and others "don't even come close", so I find very hard to take your opinion seriously. If you truly feel that way about sound quality, then that's debatable. But comfort? Do you actually believe the FA003 is the most comfortable of those...

Rah rah siss boom bah!   Sounds like cheerleading practice is going well.   Keep it up and we'll soon have a new overhyped FOM. 

  I have a Mini3 already built (high performance version), and I'd like to add a bass boost but I'm hopeless with any electrical engineering. This is as far as I've figured out, which is basically just the PPA bass boost grafted onto the Mini3:     I'm planning to snip the leg of the...

  Update:   I just tried the foam mod on the HD558, and I love it! I don't think it 'improved' the bass/mids so much as it decreased the treble. It's hard to tell without A/B comparing to an unmodded pair, but I can say the frequency balance has definitely shifted from slightly bright to...

tdockweiler: I was actually very disappointed in the K601's imaging :)  Yes, it's big and wide, which is what some people mean when they say 'great soundstage', but it doesn't sound precise or realistic at all. There's a distinct hollowness in the center, sort of a void where sound...

Quote:   Ha! But then I wouldn't have gotten them until tomorrow, and I'd have lost 4 days of my precious headphone-listening life :P  I do agree mostly with what you said about the HD558, but let's take it piece by piece:   Quote:   I might try the tape mod, but...

Quote: Interesting, thanks for the report.... it's weird because the FA003 do have a good amount of bass - it can be full and rumbly while somehow sitting slightly behind the treble in the mix. That's how I hear it at least.   Does anyone else get easily fatigued by the FA003? Since I...

The players: Source - Sansa Fuze through LOD (with Silmic II 220uf 6.3v caps if anyone cares) Amp - Mini3, high-performance version, self-built with stock parts FA003 - 100 hours burn-in, using the leather pads HD558 - 25 hours burn-in, stock foam in place K601 - over 100 hours (all...

Maybe my post was unclear, but yes, I was talking about good vs bad recordings, in addition to high and low bit rates. Even with well recorded music on wav, the highs are still forward and slightly harsh to my ears. From what I've experienced, using a variety of music with both the headphone out...

Quote: I can assure you that's not the case. Well recorded wav files, or low rate mp3s, it doesn't make a difference. The highs are definitely (if only slightly) more forward than what I'd consider 'neutral'. 

If you don't mind answering, how old are you guys? I'm 29 and I too notice the harsh treble. Also, it seems like the high end is forward relative to the bass, making the bass seem slightly recessed. And yes, they've been burned in over 100 hours.   I'm curious about age because it seems like...

Quote: Yes, just like evolution, only it's survival of the loudest. I'm sure that for every 1 person who asks "shud I get teh beats?!" there are 9 polite lurkers reading the archives and comparing previous reviews. But you'll never hear from them... It's not a new phenomenon, but it...

I used to play technically complex passages when evaluating headphones, but I don't care about that stuff anymore. Too many times I tricked myself into getting excited about a technically excellent headphone that didn't do anything for me emotionally. Now I play:   Opening track from...

Quote: Your argument is about quantity - you seem to think head-fi has improved because there are more and varied people/opinions here. However, I believe the quality has gone way down. People seem to think a 'review' means getting sidetracked into babbling on about their life problems...

Quote:   But they are $120, you just have to know where to look ;)  the 598's, however, are more like $170.

I asked the reverse question about the FA-003 (what's the open version of it) and people recommended the HD-600. So....

Quote: Don't forget those who need their hand held through every agonizing decision... I seriously just read someone asking which music he should play when he gets his new headphones. What is wrong with people?

Quote: Thanks for the comparison... I just pulled the trigger on the 558, and every time I feel upgrade-itis pushing me towards the 598, I'll have to remember to read your post again.

Thanks for the crossfeed tip, guys... I'm trying it with foobar right now, and since I've been considering making a bass boost to add to my Mini3, I might have to go the hard-wired DIY route if it works.

First off, I really like almost everything about my new FA-003 now that it's approaching 100 hours of burn in - the tonal balance, bass, detail, texture and even the soundstage once it's been amped... But this is the first closed headphone I've listened to in over 3 years, and it's giving me...

Quote:   I've found that whatever you want to believe, you can find someone with an opinion to support it... modded 555s are the same as standard 595s, or no, they're totally different. I've seen Grados described as dark, and Sennheisers as bright. Up is down, black is white, and chicken...

Yes, you made a terrible mistake. I have clairvoyant knowledge of your personal tastes and I can tell these are completely wrong for you. 

Quote: Haha, forget about the Mini3 then - it's the best portable option for cheapskates, but there's no reason to even look at it if you can make space for a desktop amp.