Each HD 800 has a unique serial number, each one has a slightly unique frequency response. There is baseline response all HD 800s need to meet, however they all vary slightly from it. Some people have noticed a difference between different ones.   In addition, apparently the early HD 800s...

I would still give the 600's a chance even though you're not a fan of the 598's. They are a slightly veiled like another poster said, but nothing like the 598, definitely more detailed, and they are the  most neutral headphone that Sennheiser produces. The highs aren't rolled off either.

Sennheiser Club   1. Sennheiser HD 800 - Class of their own. Don't notice this 6khz drill that everyone complains about... 2. Sennheiser HD 600 - Great for anything I listen to.  3. Sennheiser HD 650 - Liked these when I got them 4 or 5 years ago. They're too dark sounding for me now.

The HD600 paired with a decent amp will outclass the 598 or 595 easily and will scale better than them too.   Have you considered the HD650? Their sound stage is slight improved and are less fatiguing on the ears than the 600.

I have to agree with this as well. I've done some sound engineering work for small live performances and in my experience musicians are sensitive to how they sound in the mix (how loud or quiet they are compared to everyone else), not necessarily how well their sound is reproduced.   Musicians...

I don't have any experience with the F5s, but I did own a pair of A5Xs. Here's a review comparing them both. FYI Adam's ribbon tweeters are very sensitive to your listening position.

I can also vouch for @winders recommendation. I owned a pair of these at one point. Sold them off for an upgrade.   They are a great of monitors; you're getting a lot of bang for you buck. I remember them being easy to listen to, no harsh highs, very smooth and musical.

  I have a pair of desk monitors and the HD650's as well. My experience is very similar.   Soundstage size and sound presence are definitely better from the speakers. Music sounds more natural and indeed is presented differently. The only advantage the headphones seem to have are revealing...

Don't know if this does you any good but I bought mine 5 years ago. The headband didn't start chipping until I had owned them for 3. I suspect that had I stretched the band out properly in the beginning and used a bigger adjustment with the ear cups, the paint would have lasted a lot longer.

How was your room treatment done? There's a-lot of science (and other variables such as speaker angle, placement, etc.) that go into setting up a room for good acoustic performance. Placing some panels on the walls and calling it a day isn't going to do the best job.   I agree with what a...

The HD600 is a great pair of headphones. You'll get the most bang for the buck out of them by getting a DAC/Amp that isn't bus (usb) powered however. With that being said I would go with combo 1. Get the 600s with a D1 or Hp-a3. I don't have any experience with either product, but both are...

Have you looked into the DM Source or it's bigger brother the Convert-2? I have the DM Source hooked up to a pair of KH120As and HD 600s. There was some blind testing done between the Source and Benchmark DAC2 in 2013 here at head-fi; they sounded identical. The independent volume pots (not...

What software are you running your audio through?

If I'm outside of home, sitting somewhere, maybe on a trip or something I'll try the headphone thing and see how the 600's pair up. As for activities like walks, I want to stick with earbuds for sure. Looking for something <$100.   @Pedro Oliveira Like U-3C said, enjoy your music. Everyone has...

Jazz and classical suit the 650's the best. They're good for everything else though too.  I enjoy the 600's more on louder modern music, regardless of genre, that includes Arctic Monkeys . They make the mids stand out more which, for me, distracts from shallow dynamics. When I listen to the...