Sennheiser HD 598

Cybrupt

New Head-Fier
Cons: No Bottom End, No Top End, Overly Pronounced Lower Mids
These are my first pair of headphones since almost 10 years ago. I am used to using studio monitor speakers to judge microphone frequencies. This headphone has a similar mid and lower mid frequency response to a Blue Baby Bottle microphone. Had I known this I would have never bought them. They also have the "sennheiser Veil" This means at around 9khz it drops off the map all the way until 20khz past human hearing. Basically this has a worse frequency range than a shure SM58. No top end frequencies. Overly pronounced lower mids to give it thump since it cant reach sub bass below 100hz. This seems to be a pattern with open back headphones. These are not good for anything other than a toy. It's hard to enjoy these knowing that everything sounds like it was recorded with a Blue Baby Bottle microphones. These are like the opposite of a V shaped headphone. I decided to buy DT770 and sell these. Hopefully I like the DT770.
Dexter22
Dexter22
What amp did you use with these? 
Paulus XII
Paulus XII
Couldn't agree more. lol.
chicken beer
chicken beer
I agree there's no top making those headphones sound dull. But no low end probably means you did not break them in for long enough time, or you did not have proper amplification at the low end parts. If you had not sold them yet, I suggest you try to EQ and see if it'll change your mind. The drivers of HD598 are capable of generating soundwave in sub-bass and bass frequencies.
 
By the way, I also like the DT770 pro-80ohm better than HD598 to my ears for music.

MyFamilyShoppin

New Head-Fier
Pros: Comfort
Cons: Too much seperation, distance, and empty areas. No "immersion".
I got the Sennheiser HD-598 based on all the existing rave reviews.
It's amazingly comfortable. That's all the good I can say about it.
I just hate the sound.
 
Okay, I am no "audiophile". I am not using these headphones on any fancy sources.
First device is my laptop...an MSI GE70. It has "SoundBlaster" lol!
Second device is my old phone...a Samsung Galaxy Ace II x. It has "PowerAmp" app installed lol!
 
So this review is for cheapo weirdo's like me.
 
Yes, it has "sound stage". It's almost like they put different speakers in different faraway sections of the headphones...and each plays one component of the sound.
 
But the problem is that everything is too seperated. The sounds become so distinct & isolated...nothing really blends.
It also feels like there are so many parts of the sound stage where NO activity is going on...as if those sections are empty.
It ends up feeling so unpleasantly clean, technical & robotic, I just can't get "immersed" in what I'm listening to.
 
Yes, it can have "clear vocals". But the positioning of the vocals is terribly queer.
In 90% of the songs I have listened to, the vocals seem to be positioned at the back or middle.
So while you can have clear vocals, the instrumental components at the front overwhelm them.
The best solution I could come up with for this problem is to flip the headphones...whereby the "R" side is on my left ear & the "L" side is on my right ear.
This brings the vocals closer to the front...and the instruments leaning back.
 
Truth be told, my $30 Behringer HPX2000 headphones deliver much more powerful & immersive sound than these $270 over-hyped cans.
Something to contemplate this Christmas season.
 
--------------
 
UPDATE EDIT (22/12/2014): For some odd reason, I cannot find a button to reply to comments. So I'll just say in this space that Ortherion is the only one who seems to get it. The rest of you, in various ways, are simply sticking up for a product that works within your personal contexts. Within my context (which will not be changed, because I listen while lifting & working on a mobile laptop - hence, no amp)...the sound is exactly as frustrating as I previously described. Contrary to Ortherion's suggestion, I will simply return these headphones to Amazon Canada (for those of you who asked - the total was actually 296 with shipping & taxes included).
 
I think what I'm realizing is that - with my sources & the sort of coloured & powerful sound I like - a bizzare headphone (like my existing Behringer's - or perhaps I'll try Grado's next) might work best.
RoMee
RoMee
This is why I don't take reviews from noobs seriously
soundstige
soundstige
As an owner of the HD598 and with a number of expensive headphones in my history and an array of amps and players, the only thing I can pull from this review that I agree with is that the HD598 do indeed have what could be called a "wider than usual" sound stage... but this is a great thing, and immerses me MORE into my music. I don't experience "dead spots". If I want a totally in-the-head experience I'll use an IEM.
mikebirm49
mikebirm49
You are using these Senns to listen to your old phone? And your laptop? And then you're finding fault with the sound? And you're blaming the headphones for that? Any headphone is only as good as its source material. I think we can safely assume your problem lays there and not the phones.

BK201

New Head-Fier
Pros: never harsh sounding, no sibilance, easy to listen to, wide soundstage
Cons: bass rolls off, not very detailed, a bit muddy, dark sounding, overpriced
Firstly, this headphone is the prime example of something I'd love to hate.

I did like the HD595 as a non fatiguing headphone... and yeah the HD598 is better. But that ugly design and MAP restriction left a sour taste.

I'm still saddened they didn't switch to a 1/8 inch connector as most devices use that nowadays. Another problem is the impedance varies among the frequency greatly, especially in the mid-bass. Don't plug these into some receivers, they will get really muddy.

It sounds like the HD595 with better clarity, and more treble. But again much better can be found for the money.

Supposedly Sennheiser fixed the build quality issues, but we'll see...
ringofoaksmusic
ringofoaksmusic
Read my review and learn.
ClearConscience
ClearConscience
The bass rolls off?  Then just turn it up!  It's like you've never heard of an EQ.  The point is that the bass is tight and punchy when it's turned up to high volumes.  For this reason, these headphones have fantastic bass.  I EQ 32 Hz up about 6 dB and it's fantastic.  I actually have to EQ the midbass down about 2 dB to get the sound I like the most.  Saying the bass is rolled off is accurate, but that's not really a negative if you know what you're doing with your audio equipment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TIIu9CERgI sounds amazing for me.
WonWesleyChoi
WonWesleyChoi
I personally think you are a complete idiot. He probably works for Sennheiser competitor's Company and is making up reviews to get paid.

ngominhhoang132

New Head-Fier
Used to be okay headphones 5-7 years ago but overshadowed now by newer headphones
Pros: Comfortability
Good for female vocals
Guitar and violon sound good, pretty realistic
Relatively easy to drive
Non-fatiguing sound
Cons: Slow, can not play fast music well
Poor instrument separation, can sound congested at times
No sub-bass
Mid-bass bloom makes low end sound muddy
Mid is a bit grainy
Treb is rolled off
May get boring during a long listening session
Imo this headphone is outclassed by Hifiman he400i, DT880 and many more similar priced headphones
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voja
voja
I have the HD 6XX. It definitely sounds more open and has more bass, but in no way does it come anywhere near to the build quality of the HD 598 Not even close

When it's matched up to a good source, it sounds good

Sennheiser HD 598 will never be a bad sounding headphone, and I can disagree about it being boring. Without any source it does sound boring, but I know that it doesn't sound boring with my TR-Amp
N
ngominhhoang132
I think hd598 would work best with an OTL tube amp to add more dynamic to the music and more oomph in the bass
N
ngominhhoang132
Hd6xx blows 598 out of the water imo. Cleaner, less grainy mid. Stronger, more defined bass (still almost no sub-bass). Less muted treble. 6xx has smaller soundstage though

dz1000

New Head-Fier
Pros: Comfortable to wear, help you relax.
Cons: Makes your music sound dull and boring.
Had these and couldn't wait to get rid of them. I agree with What Hi-Fi? who gave these 3 stars out of 5 and said they were dull and boring. These headphones do manage to suck the life out of any music.

If you want something to help you relax then these are the right cans for you, but you will get bored and you won't feel much from listening to vocals and music, which for me is like missing the point of music.

I now have Creative Aurvana Live! headphones which are so much better than these. Much more exciting. Much more interesting to listen to. I honestly believe people who rate the HD598 highly don't have another decent set of energetic sounding headphones to compare them with. Once you listen to something like the Aurvana, there's no going back to Boresville.

I would like to reply to some of the ignorant comments made below this review but, for some reason, this website does not allow it. So i will respond to those comments here.

When a respected reviewer like InnerFidelity doesn't even bother to review the Sennheiser HD598 then perhaps it is because he knows they are not worthy of a review. MarcadoStalker7, don't pretend you know my likes or dislikes. I like smooth headphones as much as the next guy, but there is a big difference between smooth and dull.

Negative comments on the CAL! are also way off. Those headphones are praised by the respected reviewers. After all, they made it onto InnerFidelity's Hall of Fame. Go there to read about them MarcadoStalker7, Xinze and skyforger. You all might learn something if you do. Don't even think about comparing the CAL! to Beats and other similar rubbish.
skyforger
skyforger
Great, if you like listening to fun headphones just to enjoy your music you have an immature sound preference.......
MarcadoStalker7
MarcadoStalker7
I have a Grado SR325is, and it's known for being one of the most exciting headphones on the market, not only for me. The Aurvana are almost like 598 in "boring sound" in comparison to any Grado.

Don't generalize your opinion. The 598's sound signature is not for you. That's all. That doesn't means the 598 sound "boring". These are not exciting cans, like some cheap headphones like the Aurvana.

Simple. You don't like smooth cans, you like something like Beats, but even badly. Energy for ear inferno... 598 are not for you.
activebass
activebass
Man...I have to laugh at some of the comments. A lot of butt hurt all because of somebody's honest opinion.
I have BOTH the Sennheiser HD 598 and the Creative Auvarna Live! (1st version) and know exactly where he's coming from. I am listening to both right now as I type this. I have the Centrance Hifi-M8 so have the CAL plugged in to the combo output and the HD598 in the Headphones out. This way I can listen to the same song and swith headphones - and make adjustments to the sound options on the Hifi-M8.
 
GUYS - LISTEN: Some albums just sound better on the HD 598 and some sound better on the CAL. I "didn't" want it to be true either, but it is. The CAL are tremendous value for money. To say that somebody who likes the CAL is automatically a fan of Beats by Dre is just being a jerk. The CAL sounds better than the Beats.
 
I love having both the HD598 and the CAL. The HD 598 has a wider sound stage and offers more details and seperations. These cans are also seriously non-fatiguing. I can listen for hours on end. But listen, some albums just don't sound great on the Sennys. The bass doesn't extend very deep and the highs are rolled off. So for some albums (it's not even genre specific) the CAL work wonders.
The beauty of the HD598 is that it works well with all genres, but that doesn't mean it's going to excel at every genre or album. So sometimes you whip out the CAL and voila! Aural bliss.
 
Peace!

MrTechAgent

Member of the Trade: Kaldas Research
Pros: Natty, Removable 4 Conductor Cable.
Cons: Hits Excursion very early, Poor Headband Ergonomics, High Level of Distortion, Overrated and Overpriced.
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Want to preface this by presenting this picture, I'm not a TROLL or a A-Hole, I just like to mock the fu** out of headphones I dislike.
This time its time for the "Fehlerhaft HD598".
 
I'm a fan of the 580-600-650, I own all of them.
The 598 is interesting because it sounds crude. Coming from Senn I was surprised by how bad it sounded..the first day I got them I was certain I had a defective unit, so I went to Senn and was able to convince them I had a faulty pair.
They gave me a new one after a week, I was sure my first 598 was broken and I was expecting the new one to be just fine but...nope, the new one sounded exactly the same.
So then I was sure, these use cheap "Made In China" low fidelity drivers.
 
Anyway, I'll come to what's completely wrong with the sound soon, let's go over some other things.
 
Build -
 
They slightly worry me, they feel solid, nothing rattles but the headband is one of those bendy weird-like its going to break types. The side articulation spot seems to be the most scary one.
I don't think they'll break but they just feel too bendy rather than feeling solid, there is no metal in the construction..from the fake wood to maybe even the headband, its all ABS, the headband maybe some kind of a composite though.
I have to admit, although the wood is plastic, it looks pretty sharp. The grain detail is obviously not like real wood but looks pretty convincing for the most part.
 
Comfort - 
 
I never have any issues with Senns, due to the oval pads mostly. The Headband never bothers me but with the 598, the Headband is pretty annoying..it sticks out..the headphones fall from my head when I look up or look down.
If you listen on your Sofa while resting your head, the 598 will be quite annoying.
Ther padding itself is pretty good, the Earpads are great..can't go wrong with Senn Oval Velour.
 
Cable - 
 
The cable is removable, its proprietary of course..like we don't have loads of proprietary connectors to begin with.
I found out the cable has 4-Conductors inside, that means you can cut the cable and install a 4-Pin XLR and run it balanced on the HDVA-600 and the HDVD-900, which honestly is quite fantastic.
The stock cable is pretty soft bendy, not one of those sh**** silver conductors which kink and piss you off.
Another advantage is that since it is 4-C, you can make a DIY Microphone contraption, biggest problem the recessed jack on the headphone..the only way I can think of is a CNCd 2.5mm connector or maybe cut the stock cable and solder the wires which is the less elegant way.
 
Efficeny and Scale-Up - 
 
I have no respect for IEMs and Low Impedance dynamic headphones, I really hate that Senn is going away from their High Impedance system for the newer models.
They are 63 Ohms or something..correct me if I'm wrong. They aren't that sensitive to be great out of a iPad or a iPhone, with my Nano 7G I barely get any dynamics due to the lack of efficiency, if you make a efficient headphone..fuc**** make sure its efficient..
If you can't do that, then just make a Non-Efficient one, don't fuc***** make one in the middle.
They have some issues with excursion, that can be cured with Amplifers with Low Output Impedances..I have seen some audible improvements in excursion limits, which is good to know.
I'll come to the excursion soon.
So, time for the Sound now..
 
Bass -
 
Impact-less, weak, slow, low excursion and all that crap.
The bass is abysmal, the bass is worse than the cheap Nexus 5 IEMs, they have zero impact, no extension to be found here.
Only some Mid-Bass, which happens to be pretty ****ty, the bass quality is so Low-Fi that its funny, they make me laugh...in my existence this is the first time a headphone made me laugh, except Japanese headphones -That's a different story, I should dedicate a segment to explain how shi*** those fuc**** Japanese headphones are.
Anyway, the 598s do Stand-Up, the bits are in the form of the bass they reproduce. 
I hate the bass, if people can complain about accentuated bass, I sure can mock these 598s for having poor bass.
I haven't looked at the graph yet but audibly I think they roll-off severly at 120Hz, there is no sub-bass.
They hit excursion quick too, 60Hz at XX SPL, I am not stating an exact number because I haven't measured them, believe me its at medium volume which is pretty bad.
The driver seem to be cohesive in terms of hitting it, 1db tolerance maximum.
Overall, these headphones can't do bass.
 
Mid-Range - 
 
 
Mid-Range works, its fine..nothing too striking from lower-mids, going to the presence region is clean..mostly, presence region and you have a peak at the lower octaves, adding thinn-ness to the overall sound, the upper-half is slightly uneven too, not the cleanest I've heard.
There is audible Break-Up (Distortion) which takes away from the transparency, overall the Mid-Range is NOT High Fidelity, lacks weight and body, slightly honky and grainy as well.
No Musicality here, very thin and Low Fidelity.
 
Treble - 
 
I find the treble presentation to be rather respectable, they extend quite well..detailed high frequency response.
I wouldn't say its having the crazy upper treble resolution because it doesn't but..for the price, its above average in terms of treble presentation.
Like all BoPET membranes, there is break-up and its not free of grain but its not too grainy either.
 
Separation and Imaging -
 
Ooo they are angled, I've seen some idiots go crazy and start to believe a headphone sounds 3D if its angled, that's just stupid.
I mean really?
The 598s are just fine, they aren't congested sounding, they image decently. Nothing noteworthy in the imaging department.
Separation is useless to talk about because it depends on the recording, anyway if you are interested, there is speration, Ooooo.
 
Distortion - 
 
Now I'm not an Engineer, I don't have much knowledge in terms of types of distortion. I don't know if its THD or IMD or whatever, there is audible distortion..thanks to the awesome drivers, thank you Senn!
 
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Overall, I don't like them, its better than the hideously offensive and grainy ma900 but the 598 isn't that far from the ma900 in terms of how fu***** bad they sound.
I think the ma900 wins in terms of ****tyness..followed closely by the 598, wooohooo, congratulations ma900!
Get these headphones if you are a crazy headphone collector like me, for listening to music, I would rather just sleep than listen to these.
Also, owners, don't be offended..I'm just being honest..if you can leave some valuable and relevant comments, go ahead, don't comment and try to educate me.

Thanks for reading, here's my YouTube review - 
 
 
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maxpain12
maxpain12
In many cases sound preferences are subjective. However, the sheer amount of positive review on the internet point to the fact that Sennheiser actually did something right atleast for the majority of people who tried the HD 598. That said, being an owner of the 598 I don't agree with the logic that just because something is made in China it is probably the reason for poor performance. This makes the review sound biased. Now if your intention is to get a knee jerk reaction then your review has indeed achieved some degree of success. However, many people are not so naive to be swayed by a review such as this one. I agree the HD 598 falls short in some areas, however for the current price hovering at USD 160, I think this is a great investment.  
toronto8
toronto8
For a sub $200 headphones these are the ultimate best bang for the buck over the ear headphones out there.The OP should leave his audiophile card at the exit his hearing is shot.
GloriousLettuce
GloriousLettuce
I have a love/hate relationship with them, precisely because of the caveats that you mentioned, which are real and consistent across models (SE included).
 
They are amazing when listened to in quiet volumes, which is something weird but special. I don't like them, but I still can't let go of them.
Pros: Smooths my older, rougher recordings.
Cons: Makes all my music sound like it's been recorded in the same venue, on the same day.
For relaxing with a nice glass of wine while reading a good book, the wash of music from the HD598 is very soothing.
Sadly, its mid bass bloom makes my delicate lute music sound like guitars. In fact, everything seems to have the same over-weighty mid-tone about it, however it was recorded. Deep and full, politely sweet but never exciting. It's as if my CDs are camouflaged in a Sennheiser soundscape, with a feeling that there was a Sennheiser engineer present at every recording session, insisting on the exact same feel, no matter whether the music was classical, rock or jazz. 
wrightanswer@ear
wrightanswer@ear
Apogee Duet, latest version. No such problems with the Duet when used with the Shure 840 and 940, or AKG K550, or even the old Sennheiser HD580.
Wildstar
Wildstar
A low impedance source is crucial for the 598s because not only do they have a "lowish" nominal impedance (60 ohm), but their impedance spike is 6 times the nominal impedance (300 ohm at 100 Hz)!
You will have a 100 Hz boost unless your source's impedance is in the single digits, which isn't the case of the Duet (which is around 30 ohm). The Duet will not play nice with any of the HD5x5 ou HD5x8 series.
wrightanswer@ear
wrightanswer@ear
Thanks. Sounds like a good enough reason for Duet users to steer clear of Sennheiser then. But as I said, I used the old HD580 (300 Ohm) with the Duet for a good period of time and that was better than the 598 in that respect. I've also auditioned the DT880 Pro (200 or 250 Ohm, can't recall) with the Duet and while I didn't like the highs, the lows and mids seemed tight enough.

snapacap

Head-Fier
Pros: Build, look (SE version), complete sound, comfort
Cons: can occasionally be a bit fatiguing, inside touches my ears.
For me the HD598 was a hope that I could get nearly the same sound as the HD558 with more comfort. In short, mission mostly accomplished.
 
Impression/build/: The first thing I noted straight out of the box is how premium the HD598 looks (SE version) and feels The headband is bound by leatheryness, the earcups have mesh, unlike the felt-like material of the HD558 earcups. Putting them on my head, it was clear to see the lesser clamp force compared to nearly every other Sennheiser I have tried (barring the HD700). The pads also felt a bit softer as well. I prefer this headband pad to most others I have used. One thing that I am sure some people have run into is hair getting stuck in velour/fabric headbands. The material used on the HD598SE solves this entirely.
 
Looks: However unimportant, the HD598SE looks sexy. The stealth-black color scheme, the mesh grills with the logo just underneath, the headband with the leathery goodness. *drool*
 
Features: adjustable headband, removable (but proprietary) cable, overall very modular. All of which are standard features that should be available on all headphones. (I do realize some headphones have auto-adjust headbands). Just for kicks, the G4me Zero pads fit on these as well.
 
Sound: Very good. I cannot say they are significantly 'better' than the HD558. In fact, I preferred the sound of the HD558. There is an increase in soundstage, which was already good. The real difference between the two is that the HD558 is darker, and brings musicality to the mid-low end. The HD598 puts the focus solidly in the mids. The effect is musicality on different aspects than the HD558, and possibly a bit better overall. The sound is still warm, but not overbearingly so. I clearly detect the 'Sennheiser veil' that many others have spoken about. This is the reason that they are not objectively the best headphones in the price range. Smooth musicality is where Sennheiser excels for me.The people who I had audition these said that they were 'pretty good' but not the best they had heard. The winning feature was still the musicality. One person said that of all the stuff they tried, they would pick these regardless of their shortcomings compared to other headphones like the SHP9500, Fidelio X2, and SE-A1000. The music was "just so music-y".
 
For me, I prefer the darker sound of the HD558, but also think that most people would find these an improvement over the HD558 in sound. At street prices, I think the price difference is worth it for the build difference. They just feel, look, and are more premium, and are more comfortable than the HD558. The downfall of these for me is I finally got a hold of the HD700, and those make most things (including the HD598) sound like i am listening through a pillow. 
 
If someone is looking for a singular pair of headphones to do everything with, I recommend these highly. They are not sterile at all, they are balanced enough to please most, and clear enough to not be a problem. The soundstage is good, and work great for games like CS:GO. The sound carries music in a very enjoyable way. I find that pretty much every genre is quite good on the HD598. I was particularly pleased with metal, and heavy rock. The top end is good enough for the vocal and guitars, and is still warm enough to carry the bass and drums.
 
Recommended song:
Wrong Side Of Heaven - Five Finger Death Punch
 
 
In the end, these are great headphones. They are musical, warm, fairly clear, fairly comfortable, premium feeling, good looking, and not overly expensive at street price. I highly recommend the Sennheiser HD598SE, especially if you can only have 1 pair of (open) headphones.

whitemass

Previously known as ahnvx
Pros: Comfort, Inviting, Warm Design
Cons: Sound Signature Can Throw People Off
So, if you've read anything by me, good!
I've used many cans.
But I'll never spend over $250 on a pair of headphones.
I don't feel it's necessary. 
 
REMEMBER! Headphones Objects With Their Own Personality
 
On that note, let's talk Sennheiser HD598s'!
 
Quick Personal Overview
When talking Sennheiser, it's definitely easy to say that Open Ear/Back is their profession.
I've never cared for any of their Closed Back design cans.
The HD598 has a personality all of its own, and definitely a unique Detail Headphone.
Before I begin the review, read below.
Never compare a headphone to something that's completely different.
Sennheiser HD598 - Detail Can, Not Meant For Heavy Bass! But If Amped, Bass Becomes More Detailed, Not Very Warm Though It's A Warm Nature Can, Similar To It's Brother The HD558.
HiFiMan HE-300 - Soundstage Can, More Bass, But A Strongly Emphasized Soundstage Headphone.
Don't compare these two just because they come close in price.
 
Sennheiser HD598
 
First off, we're gonna discuss different things from my HD558-HD598 Double Review.
 
This can has an important role for me.
When searching for headphones, you should go for whatever is closest to your preference.
These cans are definitely a Highs, & Mids based cans.
 
Highs:
These Headphones don't pack too much bass at all.
Cymbals are definitely an important part of this headphone, they pierce though. So if you're a percussion guy, I do recommend against.
Unless you genuinely want a headphone that has interesting pierce through bass splash.
I'm going to argue that in the $200, this is the cleanest you can find, and if you decide to buy an amp for these cans, work out an EQ.
Cymbals are gracious, but could definitely sound a bit more realistic for some people. I'd argue they are definitely a bit more colored than explained by others.
Another important thing about the highs is that they are heavily focused on acoustic instrumentation. 
Arguably, the acoustic instrumentation is some of the best you'll find on a $200 & Under range headphone. I will add! If you want a headphone that you plan of using strictly for music that carries an acoustic emphasis, search around! There are headphones meant for this.
 
Mids:
The emphasis on the mids for this headphone are usually quoted as being very forward, and I think this is wrong. 
With this headphone being quite warm, these cans give a very full bodied mid level, for it's standard, it's one of the best for people who like "sharp vocals". 
Details in vocals from females are great, but nothing like AudioTechnica styled female emphasis, but I'd definitely know you in the way of the HD558 if you want a thick female vocal range.
I really recommend giving them an EQ if you wanna use them for portable house listening and not have to worry about amping them. My ending statement, they're beautiful, warm, and can be tuned to come off clean and crisp.
Vocals don't come off too bright, they properly lay in the middle of everything without becoming overpowering, but again, they can be piercing.
 
Lows:
Let's discuss Lows with these.
Lows aren't a huge strong point for these by default. And it makes me wish we all used the same players, because I've got great tuning for these.
So these headphones aren't genre specific by any means, but! I don't recommend these if you're a Hip-Hophead who wants to blare his favorite bangers at top notch volumes, I'd promptly ask you to stop reading and look at the M50, SRH840, or MDR-7506, you're not gonna enjoy these cans as much.
R&B is a smooth genre with these, since a lot of vocals in R&B can be high pitched, but even with that said, they get lost in the highs.
Vocal Coverage is a big focus on these though.
I won't slam it again with "vocals are lost too easily", though they can in some genres. High pitch vocals, Height in singing, or distant vocals are a true standpoint for these.
Guitars work well, but I will argue that you miss the vibration of the brush of strings, you just end up the echo. 
Examples for this are simple. Listen to a few guitar tracks, you'll find that you don't get the slight vibration that some cans give off after a stroke of an acoustic/electric guitar, but you get the stiffening of the strings.
Lead guitar chords can overlap songs, this was a sacrifice I had to learn to make with the HD598 over the HD558.
 
Conclusion:
I recommend this to someone who's chasing detail.
Maybe grab the HD558 if you want more bass, and that dark sound.
They are a warmer can, so if you really want these, make sure to think about what you're getting into.
 
 
If you get the HD598, here are some recommended Albums, & Test Tracks(My Taste):
Remember, I've got my own taste, you can't judge if you don't know me.
 
[track]Rob Crow - Sophistructure[Indie Rock(Provides a good example for the Vocals as I explained)]
[track]Chvrches - The Mother We Share[Synthpop(Not R&B, but this is an example for what I meant)]
[album]The Men - Open Your Heart[Misc. Rock(This album has some good acoustic instrument points. Can be detailed for experienced listeners)]
[album]Treepeople - Just Kidding[Proto Grunge(Album is good for the Highs, and Cymbals I exaggerated)]
[album]Tyrannosaurus Dead - Flying Ant Day[Grungy Indie Rock/Lo-Fi]
beatboroda
beatboroda
Очень красивые уши.Мои глаза хотят их.Мои руки тянутся к ним.Но разум никак не решится.Боюсь разочароваться.Сейчас слушаю с компьютера foobar 2000 через Mysical Fidelity V-90 HPA на Audio-Technica ATH - A500X.

barneypooch

New Head-Fier
Pros: Very comfortable; gorgeous looking, IMO
Cons: They're fine, but nothing special.
Most of my at-home listening is done via speakers, but if I'm in bed and not wanting to disturb the rest of the house, I have Shure SE 530s, via the laptop or a Sansa Clip. However, I've never been particularly in love with the Shures, which have spent most of their life in their case. I'd pretty much stopped listening to music on headphones.
 
I thought I'd try these. I don't know why I expected $250 'phones to sound better than $500 ones, and they certainly did not.  They sound exactly like what they are: mid-range, mid-price.
 
That's not to say they're bad - they certainly aren't; they're just middle of the road. They're lovely and airy, and the sound stage gives a fair illusion of being out of the head. The bass is very nicely controlled (and there's plenty enough extension for this classical music afficionado). The highs are clear without being tiring. The mids... Ah, this is where I noticed where I (hadn't) spent the money. "Transparency" is probably one of the most abused words in audio, but once you've heard it (truly heard it) you're never happy without it.
 
Although I've never spent crazy money on hi-fi I've some decent kit over the years, transducer-wise. I've had Quad ESL 57s, 63s and 998s; Spendor BC1 and SP1 and currently B&W 802. HPs have included Stax Lambda Pro (which I sold because they were just so bloody hot and uncomfortable!). All these transducers have what I think is true transparency - and none more so, IMO, than the positively ancient ESL 57, which I have never ever heard bettered in that department. They didn't have deep bass, and they weren't much use for a party, but I miss them to this day (thirty years after I had to sell them. Sob).
 
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I was stupid to think the 598 would somehow defy the price/performance equation. I should probably simply have got the Visa card out and bought the HD 800s, but I wanted something easy to drive. And that brings me to...
 
The Fiio E17! I bought this little miracle at the same time. Oh, my. Suddenly, I realised just how good the SE 530s can be. I've always shied away from external DACs and amps for 'phones. Too much trouble and bulk for what's supposed to be a neat/portable alternative to my main system. I took a chance (at that price, why not?) on the E17 and to say I'm thrilled is an understatement. In combination with the Shures (and my laptop or Nexus 7) we're definitely in touch with the high-end. I've never been a great believer in the post-1980s philosophy of "spend most of your budget on the front end", but the E17 has made me realise that proper hi-fi does demand a little more than a Sansa Clip (amazing as that little device is), or the headphone output of a Samsung laptop.
 
However, though I'm very happy to discover just how good the 530s can be, I'm afraid the 598s (although improved by the E17) still remain firmly earth-bound, and nowhere near as fine as the Shures.
 
I'm not familiar with all the 598's competitors at their price point, so I can't say if they're a standout in their market segment. What I think I can say is that they're neither a bargain nor a rip-off. If someone put them on my head, blind, and asked me to guess the price I'd say $250 (or £164, in our money).
 
Before I go, I can't stress enough that the 598s are very good - but if you're fussy and spoiled, these won't do it for you. I'm tempted to keep them, though, because I really like the design. They go so well with my few treasured pieces of Art Deco furniture!
 
PS:I'm not sure if the rating system on Head-Fi is absolute or relative, so I've given them three stars for audio quality. If that's wrong maybe a mod could change it to four or five (though I'm not sure how logical that would be).
 
 
 
 
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barneypooch
barneypooch
@xdobermanx
Not sure which Amazon review you mean? Was it the Fiio E17? I didn't buy my se530s from Amazon, thus no review.
That said, I don't really know what you're saying (or why I'm replying, tbh).
AgentCOPP1
AgentCOPP1
@barneypooch
Oh no, I wasn't talking about you. I was just saying that I'm respectful of other people's opinions because I vehemently disagree with your review. I wasn't implying that you were being disrespectful at all. I was just saying that so that people wouldn't get me wrong.
But anyway, I can see your point about the review system. However, it's kind of an unwritten rule on here that you need to base your opinions on the price range of the headphones, not in the entire spectrum. That's just not fair because not everyone is looking for the absolute top of the line pair of headphones. They're looking for what's in their budget, and it's easier for them to get an idea of how good the set is compared to others of the same price range. For example, most of the Beats are priced around $200+. For that reason, they almost ALWAYS get a terrible rating because compared to other headphones in their category, they are absolutely awful. However, if they had been priced anywhere from $50-$125, I'm certain that they would get a much better rating. $200 is a rip off for the quality (or lack thereof) that you get.
Headphones4154
Headphones4154
The guy who suggested the ath m50, you're in the wrong review. These are open back, mid ranged headphones. The m50s are good, but they're closed back and more of a budget headphone

mwhouston

New Head-Fier
Pros: Smart looking and looks very durable
Cons: The white may look dirty over time if not taken care of
While having a listening session with a friend on my newly made valve headphone amp we swapped phones. I was using the Audio-technica ATH700 Air and my friend The Sennheiser HD598s. My tube amp can drive two HPs at the same time with both being close to each other in impedance and efficiency. For the extra $100 over the cost of the AT I would say the Sennheiser are good value. They were not as bassy but good bass extension and mids and treble was airier and cleaner. By no means are the AT a slouch and for $160 they are really excellent value. But if you want something better and happy to pay around $100 more I would suggest the Sennheisers.
Garraty
Garraty
I do believe you can regularly find the HD 598's for regularly at $170-$190. At Fry's, they're usually priced at $150.
mwhouston
mwhouston
That's a good price for a very nice pair of headphones. I'd go for that.

Eckart17

New Head-Fier
Pros: Removeable cable, comfortable, sits around the ear not on, has great mids
Cons: small soundstage, feels semi open
I first started getting into audiophile grade headphones in high school (5 years ago) with Sennheiser HD515 headphones which were (at the time) the best headphones I had ever tried. Since then I have sought other headphones, in pursuit of new sound, new experience, and a perfect headphone. I paid 40 dollars for Sennheiser HD515 on amazon in 2010, and a hundred and fifty for these HD598 now. The quality has gone down in my opinion. Sound stage on the HD598 feels small in comparison, for the money I expected a flat but clear sound and to be honest it sounds very distorted in some songs, and seems to push mids above all else, the highs are no where near as clear as my HD515 and the bass seems to be a good level. I can hear a drum and not a thundering boom in Arctic Monkeys "Do I wanna know?" but in Fireflights "For Those Who Wait" the pitch doesn't get as high as other headphones.
 
The soundstage, the reason I bought these headphones in the first place, seems small not massive like my HD515 and can't reach the highs that I expected. The HD598 seem good but not great, barely worth the one hundred and fifty I paid for these, definitely not worth the two hundred and fifty they retail for.
 
This is my first review, I plan on working on my writing with these reviews.
alynx
alynx
+1 for small soundstage. I dont get why people describe them as having a wide soundstage. 
2
204109
I bought the 598SE for $95 on Black Friday. I'm not sure if they are fake or just a faulty pair but these sound muffled to me, slightly muddy at times, and as far as soundstage goes, these sound just like my Ultrasone hfi580. I honestly don't know much about soundstage but if theres something I am supposed to be hearing, i'm definitely not hearing it with this.

Rafique

New Head-Fier
Pros: Almost very good sound, very comfortable, durable, vocals are almost natural sounding
Cons: Slight graininess, plastic construction
I can wear it all day with no problems and it can last for years.

Sound: Depends on the song and takes time to adjust to. ( 1 day or so )
Bass
It can be deep, rich, and tight or simply present in mild quantities but pleasantly so. It can also be lacking and recessed but this is compensated nicely by the almost very good mids and highs.
Mids
Generally, vocals either have very good tonality/timbre and good details or vice versa. In some cases, vocals are just good. Instrumental timbre is very good. In the case where tonality is good but detail is very good, there is mild graininess.
Highs
Forward and bright. Instruments have a nice texture, a lot of details, and are sparkly and rich with the exception of cymbals, they lack detail but timbre is still acceptable. Computer generated beats like those found in pop and EDM sounds good. Also, it is not fatiguing to listen to.
Overall presentation
Rich, deep, bright, forward, clean, clear, smooth, crisp, and dark. Not veiled at all. The dark sound is not overly so and with it's bright forward signature, it makes these really nice sounding.
Soundstage
It's wide and deep and has good positioning and imaging.

Amplification: Good amps like the Fiio e10k or those found in MacBooks and iPhones is needed for it to sound good. Without a good amp, you should look into other headphones such as the Sennheiser Urbanites or ATH M50X.

SoundTown

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Clear and transparent sound, excellent separation, detailed with precise imaging, tall sound stage, comfort, light weight
Cons: Severe roll-off in mid to sub-bass, narrow overall sound stage (feels square), flimsy feeling build, headband presses slightly on head

Introduction
 
For the Sennheiser HD598, or any of the HD series for that matter, there’s almost no need for introductions. Asking an audio enthusiast if they’ve heard of any of the Sennheiser open back series, from the beginner-friendly HD518 to the legendary HD800, is like asking anyone on the street if they’ve heard of Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga or Madonna – they’ll look at you funny and ask you, “Are you crazy?”

Of course you’ve heard of the HD598, it’s one of the most popular headphones on Head-Fi for a reason – people love this headphone.
“So Josh,” I hear you ask, “what the hell are you writing this for?”
Simple. I’m here to add my two cents and answer the question you might have – Is the Sennheiser HD598 worth buying?
Despite what some people might tell you, the answer shouldn’t always be “YES”.
 
Notes:
1)      I got my HD598 used in a trade for one of my mechanical keyboards. Other than the headphone, the trader had given me the Sennheiser 3 metre cable and the ¼ inch to 3.5 mm jack. The headphones were, and still are, in perfect working order.
2)      When using the headphone, I used the 1.2 metre straight cable that came with the Audio Technica ATH-M50x.
3)      All testing was carried out either using my iPhone 5S or through Foobar2000 w/ Wasapi Event > Fiio Q1 as a source.
 
image2.jpg
Sennheiser HD598
 
Comfort
It shouldn’t come to you as a surprise for me to tell you that the HD598 is pretty darn comfortable. All of the HD series headphones are. The velour pads in particular are just right for the price, soft and breathable but certainly not comparable to pads that, for example, you might find for $60 a pair from Shure or Audeze.
The HD598’s clamp is relatively light and the headphone itself is rather light in weight too. The only gripes I have with the HD598’s comfort lies in the pads being on the shallow side, so your ears might press against the inside of the ear cup or pads. The headband’s thickness also means the headphone tends to press on the top of my head just a little, a somewhat noticeable reminder that I’m wearing headphones – it never quite feels like there’s nothing there.
That said, I’ve worn the HD598 for hours and hours with minimal complaints, so most people shouldn’t have terribly major issues either, just some minor gripes.
 
Build
What Sennheiser would tell their customers is the HD598 was designed to be as light as possible. “With the right combination of strong yet light plastics, the HD598 were fashioned to be as light and comfortable as technology would allow.” … Or something like that.
What I think is more likely to be the case is that Sennheiser wanted to blow their profit margins through the roof, which is why you don’t see so much as a single gram of metal in the build whatsoever. The HD598 is entirely made of plastic and in my opinion, it feels flimsy, insubstantial, and even a little cheap for its price.
 
image1.jpg
The HD598’s plastic ear cups
 
For one, I’m almost certain the ear cups would sport some nasty splits and cracks if you sit on or drop the headphones. The ear cup’s swivel mechanism also makes a squeaky noise when adjusting the cups, but thankfully this doesn’t persist once the headphones are adjusted properly on the head.
The headband also doesn’t inspire much confidence in me. I’m fairly certain it’s not metal (certainly doesn’t feel like it), and while you most probably will never have to stretch the headband very wide given the HD598’s very accomodating shape, it’s just the principle of the thing – it would’ve been nice if the headband at least were a flexible metal of sorts.
While I can’t say I expected top notch build given the street prices, especially from Sennheiser and their extraordinary markups, I can also safely say the build was far from blowing me away. Simply put, the build of the HD598 was rather underwhelming, especially when I sat it side by side with the similarly priced Audio Technica ATH-M50x. There’s no contesting it, the M50x kick the living hell out of the HD598 in the build department.
In short, if you own a pair of the HD598, you’re probably going to want to be a little careful with where you place it or how you treat it.
Quick note on the cable, I can’t say it’s poorly built, but the ¼ inch plug definitely makes it a hassle. The provided ¼ inch to 3.5 mm adapter also seems to affect the sound, with what I perceive to be detail muffling and loss when the adapter is used. For this reason, I used the 1.2 metre straight cable provided with the Audio Technica ATH-M50x, which actually fit, much to my surprise.
 
image4.jpg
The HD598 with the 1.2 m Audio Technica cable (a much neater solution)
 
Buying a new pair of the HD598 Limited Edition, if I’m not mistaken, would also now get you a shorter straight cable that ends in a 3.5 mm jack, so that’s nice to see Sennheiser adding that small touch.
Overall, the HD598’s build isn’t the end of the world or a deal-breaker, but Sennheiser certainly could do better. Improvements in build would definitely be something I’ll be looking out for should the HD598 ever get a proper successor of any kind in the future.
 
Sound
Some people say the HD598 gives beginners the “true audiophile” experience, especially if they make a significant enough jump from something that was much worse. Truthfully, this statement isn’t exactly wrong, but there are several reasons why a “true audiophile” experience like the one the HD598 offers wouldn’t be the type some people might be looking for.
Bass
Most notably, the HD598 has very little bass quantity, rolling off very severely and sharply from the mid-bass onwards. Though roll-off in the sub-bass is common on open headphones, the HD598’s lacking bass extension is comparatively drastic, even taking into account other bass-shy open headphones. If you’re coming from any typical set of headphones, or even Sennheiser’s lower-end HD518 or HD558, the lack of bass will be extremely apparent, even jarring for some.
Some people interpret the lack of bass to be “tight” bass, but I think I have to say, very respectfully, that I don’t think that’s a very helpful way to put it. The simple truth is that the HD598 has extraordinarily shy mid-bass and pretty much no sub-bass, which means it’s not that the bass can’t really be “tight”, because it’s essentially not even there.
In other words, having very little in quantity of something does not mean it is of a “higher quality”.
That said, there is a decent amount of upper bass, which means male vocalists aren’t anemic sounding and electronic beats, drums and the like can still be heard and sometimes felt, depending on their extension and pitch. Kick drums and deep synth bass, however, would be examples of sounds that tended to be missing from the equation, often needing the bass boost on my Fiio Q1 to come to life and be present in any significant capacity.
In practice, this bass presentation means the HD598 doesn’t have punchy, rumbly or, dare I say, accurate bass. It’s the kind of low-end you can hear and, on particularly powerful bass notes, there’s a little bit of umph to be felt, but the HD598 really is the quintessential Basshead’s nightmare. You hear the bass notes when they come and go, but it lacks presence. It’s really not quite ‘there’, if that makes any sense.
Personally, I don’t mind the lacking bass quantity. To some degree, it’s what makes the HD598 what it is. However, I do wish the bass didn’t roll off so quickly, very much wishing it would’ve extended evenly into the mid-bass at least. I’m not an audio engineer, so I can’t begin to tell you if it’s the housing or the driver design, but something is at fault here and I wish it just had some deeper-digging (not necessarily pronounced) bass to keep things sounding grounded.
Mids
There’s not much to say other than the HD598’s mids are pretty much as close to top-notch as you’re probably going to get at the price. Vocals, guitars, and anything in the mid band is extremely well-articulated and very even, creating a detailed yet smooth experience.
For my preferences, the HD598’s mids are a tiny touch thinner than I’d like, since I prefer more lushness, color and/or energy to my mids. For instance, the HD598’s mids are just a bit thinner than my E-MU Walnut’s, which is, at the moment, the headphone I own that I find produces the most natural sounding vocals. That said, both the HD598 and Walnut produce equally detailed and enjoyable mids, I just have a slight preference for the more bodied and lush E-MU Walnut’s rendition.
With all that in mind, there’s practically nothing to complain about, just some splashiness on poorly mastered tracks. Other than that minor hiccup, the mids on the HD598 are really nothing short of great in its technical ability.
Treble
A lot of HD598 users gush about this headphone’s detail and clarity. I’d have to say their feedback, in this instance, is no lie.
The HD598 strike a very good balance between crisp and detailed, yet not being sharp or painful. The treble is mostly very smooth, with some hotter tracks sometimes producing marginally startling peaks at louder volumes, but nothing close to being tizzy or painful.
The HD598’s treble extension and clarity means detail is very much discernable but never harsh or uncontrolled, a feat some headphones that try to go for detail at this price point like the Grado SR125 and AKG K612 aren’t quite able to do.
The HD598’s treble also means separation is pretty excellent – instruments are very well-blended and easy to discern with well-mastered tracks. Again, with very hotly mastered tracks, separation can get a little smeared, but it’s nothing I think a US $150 headphone should be yelled at for.
Sound Stage
We come back to things I find misleading – some people say the HD598 has a “wide sound stage” and I have to respectfully disagree.
Sure, the AKG K612, when I tried it, produced a wide sound stage. The Fedilio X2, K7xx and *insert other headphones I haven’t heard* might have wide sound stages. The HD598 does not.
Instead, the HD598’s sound stage isn’t very wide, never ‘extending’ beyond the cups, but it does have a height I find very unique – certainly haven’t encountered anything similar in other headphones. This means imaging, for me at least, is confined to a sort of square box, kind of like a picture on Instagram.
In practice, elements in a track, in my experience, sound quite a bit larger than they normally would on headphones of this size. Vocals close to a mic, for example, sound like they’re coming from a mouth stretched vertically. For me, this sounded kind of strange at first but it didn’t take me very long to get used to it. The sort of weird sound staging does not, however, affect positioning. Like I said, instruments are very easily picked out and imaged, just that recordings would perceptually seem to have slightly different dimensions when compared to some other headphones.
Overall Sound
The HD598, despite my waffling about on each component of the sound, is truthfully not difficult to describe as a whole.
The HD598’s goal is to focus on clarity, clarity, clarity. Separation is great, detail retrieval is effortless, instrument placement and playback is very well articulated and never strident, sibilant or harsh – the HD598 is just very nice for painless critical listening. Everything’s transparent, even and defined, reminding me quite often of the audio equivalent of a tastefully detailed pencil sketch.
That said, the sacrifice obviously comes with the bass. While upper bass is sufficiently present, with a decent amount of heft and meat, mid and sub bass is very lacking. To get the most out of electronic music, dubstep, or even some bass heavy rock tracks, the HD598 simply does not cut it without an EQ or bass boost. And even with the bass brought up, it’s not a perfect solution, since I’ve noticed the bass boost on my Q1 with the HD598 can make some (not all) tracks sound just a bit wonky and loose, sometimes producing a strange reverb, trembling sound. The HD598 without EQ lacks warmth and color, again, similar in concept to a pencil sketch.
In short, the HD598’s bass isn’t very good. That would turn a lot of people off, but for those left, the HD598 could still be a very attractive option, taking into account the headphone as a whole.
 
The Target – Who is the HD598 for?
The HD598, for one, excels at comfort. While the HD598 may be considered a step back in comfort from the HD518 and HD558 due to its overly thick headband padding, it still is more than acceptable for long hour usage.
It’s traditional headband design also means it’s going to be less fussy than AKG’s and Audio Technica’s auto-adjust systems on the K612 and AD900x respectively. Both are similarly priced competitors to the HD598 that I found rather clumsy to put on, given my small-ish head size. So, if comfort is important to you, that’s a point for the HD598 over its competition.
Another point in the HD598’s favor is the Sennheiser name. Being a brand with global distribution, obtaining the HD598 at retail and getting warranty would not be a challenge for most. For those who want major convenience, that’s another score for the HD598.
Finally, the HD598 is just a good sounding headphone for detail freaks. This is a headphone I’d strongly recommend for people to demo first, because people have varied reactions to the lack of bass and detailed presentation. Some people don’t mind it at all, many clearly love it, while I bet a sizable number of people would not find it to their liking one bit.
Is this headphone’s sound for everyone? No, but that’s why it’s kinda cool and kinda special.
 
Conclusion
The HD598’s sound I felt was quite the unique experience. It wasn’t neutral (if you disagree, sue me), it wasn’t quite lean like an AKG, it wasn’t quite tizzy like practically every Grado, it wasn’t warm and relaxed, and it certainly wasn’t the V-shape signature that most people love.
It was, based on my experience, uniquely HD598.
Zeos of Z Reviews, when describing audio purchases, puts it best, sometimes, you just want something different. And the HD598, for all its minor flaws, is still a worthy headphone in my book.
A more than good option for those who want a crisp, clear but non-piercing or harsh sound, the HD598 is, and probably will be, still a great, easily obtained option for many an audiophile to come.
 
About Me, Josh Tseng:
A self-proclaimed “boring person”, I’m interested in audio gear, music, current events and having thought-provoking conversations with people I meet. Right now, SoundTown is a personal passion project of mine to improve my writing skills while being able to explore all things audio. I also happen to be visually impaired, which is why music has, for me, eventually become one of the most important forms of media I can consume.
If you want to talk to me, feel free to email me at soundtownmail@gmail.com or you can also find me on Twitter at @JoshSoundTown. PMs on Head-Fi, for now, would be rather challenging for me to access so that’ll have to be something I’ll have to work on. Oh and by the way, all feedback on my writing would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for reading and happy listening!
beyersmile.png

Bansaku
Bansaku
Great review! 
Arkstorm
Arkstorm
Hi, I love your review of the HD598, I have some doubts:
-Are the 598 good for rock, metal?
- Are they fast?
- How different are they from the HD650 I was thinking of buying them?
- I have seen versions of the HD598, se, sr, etc. Are they the same or are there differences?
- Is it necessary to use an amp?
- Sorry for so many questions, and thank you

Garraty

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Spacious soundstage, wonderfully airy, non-fatiguing yet sparkly
Cons: Stock cord and adapter, grainy, unnatural midrange, lack of sub-bass, overpriced
Design and Comfort:
 
These headphones are primarily composed of plastic and this contributes to the wonderful lack of weight and fatigue while wearing these. For the price, I would expect better quality material for the frame of these headphones but in reality, without the plastic, it wouldn't be nearly as comfortable. However, if you do buy this; keep in mind that these will not fare well if they're dropped (I've had them accidentally drop and the sound coming from the right cup became a bit wonky, so be cautious). These headphones were designed with looks of retro cars from the 60's and 70's in mind and though I wasn't sure I'd like the look, it's grown on me. 
 
The large velour pads and supple leather headband make sure that it the HD 598's are very comfortable, which was well needed for my large head and ears. The brown velour pads provide comfort for hours and are spacious for larger ears and the headband ensures no certain pressure point of the head is pushed. These headphones can be worn for hours without discomfort; in fact, I often forget it's even on my head! The only flaw in the design is the cord and adapter which is cumbersome to say the least. It's terribly long for those who need a bit more portability and most just use the 3.5 mm jack. However, Sennheiser has come up with a replacement cable that is shorter and terminates into a 3.5 mm plug which I recommend but I do wish that they'd include it as a secondary cable with the headphones.
 
 
Sound Quality:
 
The treble of the phones is for the most part unfatiguing with a small bit of sparkle from 17-20 kHz. This is from a small peak and it adds a wonderful bit of sparkle and glimmer to drums and cymbals but can be a little sibilant in poorly recorded records, with vocals in particular. This can be remedied if you're overly sensitive to treble with EQ but I find this rarely occurs. (this is probably why the HD 598 is considered to be a bit bright)
 
The HD 598 are a mid-tastic phone, as their sound is more focused on the mids than other parts of the spectrum with a very forward presentation. Guitars and vocals are well-done with these headphones and they give a lovely pluck to strings. However, I've found there is an unnatural peak in the upper midrange of these phones, making vocals in particular sound a tad unnatural. Again, this can be somewhat remedied with EQ but it always comes off a little off. 
 
The bass of these headphones are the least noticeable of the whole spectrum but is presented politely and accurately; it's very well defined and tight. However, it's always lacking some physical part of the bass. Upper and mid bass are plentiful but the sub-bass has a noticeable lack in amount of it. At times in bass-heavy recordings, the bass seems too polite in its presentation and as a result, the HD 598 are not especially renowned for their sound in club music, hip-hop and rap. The sub-bass problem can be partially remedied by amping and EQ but in the end, if you prefer a more bassier sound preference, you're better off looking for something else.
 
The HD 598's are pretty grainy for the price and some details are masked thanks to the uneven upper midrange and treble. However, the HD 598's more than make up for this with an airy, spacious soundstage that is perfect for those who want a more natural soundstage than that of the AKG's. The soundstage is balanced in width and depth, never claustrophobic yet never too thin in its presentation, providing a very realistic presentation of sound.
 
The HD 598's in short have a forward mid-focused sound presentation that can come off as convincing thanks to its large soundstage. The bass and treble take to the back burner and are relatively laid back but are presented well to provide a tad bit of sparkle with tight, accurate bass. These are great with acoustic, classical, rock and jazz. But, if you prefer a more exciting sound signature in the treble and bass or a headphone with a more V-shaped sound signature, you may not prefer these. 
 
 
Value:
 
Are these headphones worth it for the price of $250? I don't think so as there are better phones in the same price bracket (SoundMAGIC HP200, HifiMan HE-400, Sennheiser's very own HD 600, AKG's, etc.) but these don't really need an amp or lossless music and this is why it shines. I've tried an amp or two and though I found it gave the HD 598 more body and slightly better bass extension and presentation, I found amping doesn't change the sound all that much.
 
These are still a great value, though maybe not at its MSRP. It can provide easily 80% of its full sound quality potential, un-amped on an iPod. More expensive headphones near this price range require an amp to drive them to their full potential and become more cumbersome. These don't need an amp and if you're bold enough to go portable, why the hell not? The price of these phones fluctuate from $150 to $250 online but I got mine on Amazon for about $190. Now that I've had these for a while, I would be reluctant to buy them again unless they were at a really great deal but ultimately, I don't regret my purchase. 
 
Albums Used: 
 
Too many to name.
 
 
EDIT: Edited this review many times to give more in-depth information and to edit the previous text. Hope this time will be the last!
 
EDIT 2: Changed a lot of things in this one- feel differently about these then when I first got them. Still a killer set of cans, though.
pdrm360
pdrm360
Yeah, they are fantastic for the bucks. I've missed them! 
bugeyed
bugeyed
Great review, thanks.
You may check the first line under sound quality. "The treble of the phones is for the most part unfatiguing and buttery smooth with a small bit of sparkle from 17-20 Hz." I wonder if you meant to say 17-20 kHz. 
Garraty
Garraty
Hah yeah, I did. Thanks for catching that.

DannyRox23

New Head-Fier
Pros: Good pair, for the price, and sounds more than a $200 pair of headphones.
Cons: Exaggerated mids and artificial soundstage.
Review coming soon ...
kman1211
kman1211
Yeah, the HD 800 was better in the treble on high-end tube amps but the treble still got to me after a bit. Well I compared the HD 598 to my K612 for a bit yesterday, and I did hear the midrange issues on the HD 598. The HD 598s sound in general just didn't sound as pristine, detailed, and clear as my K612. Maybe the HD 598 has a bit of the Sennheiser veil many have mentioned.
altomite
altomite
I'm trying to decide between the 598s and the 558s!  Mostly tv shows and movies played through my Onkyo THX 609 plus general music (country, honky-tonk, and easy listening) on Ipod Touch-5th gen!  What say you afficionados to this newbie?  Help. advice, info, etc. greatly appreciated!!!
MarcadoStalker7
MarcadoStalker7
And you say one day that the 598's sounds as good as the HD-800's, oh you.

PoliHigh

New Head-Fier
Pros: big stage,comfortable,accurate,powerfule,removable cord
Cons: lots of plastic
nice sound stage very accurate listen, wish there wasnt so much plastic though VERY COMFORTABLE

Cobaltius

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Decent amount of Details, HUGE Sound staging, Good Sound Imaging, Slightly warm, Great Mids and moderately airy highs, Comfort, Vocals
Cons: Sometimes too bright and aggressive (depends what music), Bass is thin, Headphones get rather boring after long periods of time, slow, Grainy
These headphones are a great pair for home use, and use for movies, videos and ect. They deliver great sound quality, but I wouldn't consider it hi-Fi though.
I listen to mostly Metal and Rock music, and I have to say that these do a pretty good job. They sound pretty aggressive on some metal/rock albums I own such as System of a Down's Steal This Album and Toxicity. They preform pretty Warm along with Rammstein albums, Mutter, Reise, Reise, Rosenrot, and Liebe Ist Fur Alle da and sound very analytical with Rammstein's debut album Herzeleid. Theses headphones in my opinion sound very best with Funk, jazz, and music with a lot instruments in the background due to the massive sound staging and amazing instrument separation. You will be amazed if you gave a listen to Dave Matthews Band's Crash album and Santana's famous Supernatural album. You can practically hear every single instrument playing in the song clearly, along with decent amounts of detail, from the crunchy distorted guitars, to the strumming  of the Bass guitar and acoustic guitars. The drums sound pretty realistic with these headphones, but the only thing I'd have to say is a con (at least for me) is that they don't deliver a "cutting snap" sound that you'd hear on speakers and stereo's. The Cymbals sound pretty airy, and well imaged. Lastly, I have to say that these are one of the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn! I could wear these to sleep for all I care and wake up without any headaches!
LoveKnight
LoveKnight
I have to say that most of your thoughts are correct as my thoughts. These are good start headphones to the audiophile world and to anyone who has low budget but the more I listen to these headphones the boring I get over the time, should not listen to them too much because these are very relax and smooth.

norilink

New Head-Fier
Pros: very nice sound and comfortable
Cons: lack of bass details
i love it this pair it is good for music and games recommended for beginners

Arkyle

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: The sound, comfortable, detachable cable, everything is replaceable, nice design, awesome price, forgiving with lower quality sources, low impedance
Cons: Hanger not included, not even a pouch, the 6.35 jack can be a problem
These are just insane. It has such a flat response, but they are not by any means boring. Every single frequency shines since the instrument separation is great. There is simply no distortion, even at really high volumes, which they can achieve very easily since they have a meager 50 Ohm impedance and very high sensitivity. If that wasn't enough, their best quality IMHO is their HUGE soundstage. Even while being so open, the bass in punchy and unlikely tight! 
 
Everything is serviceable too, from the cable to the headband padding. The ear pads are big, cushy and don't get your ears too hot thanks to the open design of the cups themselves and the velour-type material. They are so soft you can almost forget you're wearing them. The headband is heavily padded with memory foam covered in white leatherette, as well as the headband itself. On that note, I think the design is great. Sober colors make it stand out of any other Sennheiser model out there. 
 
They are forgiving with lower quality sources, although they tend to show off excessively EQ'd signals. Bass can be boosted but only to a certain degree, but I love the bass the way it is out of the box. After burn-in they become even more lush but retain the tight bass. 
 
The ony issue is that cable that ends in a 6.35 mm headphone jack. Sennheiser includes an adaptor which adds a lot of bulk to the connector. I just use an adaptor and then a neutral extension so it doesn't stick out when using them with mobile sources, although their place is at home. I seriously can't recommend these enough.
Sylverant
Sylverant
By "neutral extension" are referring to an adapter and extra cabling rather than one that sits on the 6.3mm jack? If so that was a smart move. Using my old HD560 with a 6.3mm to 3.5mm adapter killed my iPod's headphone plug in a very short amount of time.
Arkyle
Arkyle
Yes, that's what they call these plastic small cords (sometimes the metal housing of the jacks can interfere with cellphones so they include and sometimes sell these).
Arkyle
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