I fully agree with you on the cable part. One day I was listening and I wondered why they didn't sound right. Come to find out it was inserted... just not all the way. I bought the ivory ones and can't believe how neutral they are. It's like a window into the recording process. Bad recordings...

Wow,  I thought I was the only guy in the world who thought the HD598s were bright and analytical. I own them and for a lot of music they sound really nice, but I do not find them forgiving of bright recordings. Cymbals can take your ears off if they are pronounced. If the HD600 have a better...