most of, not all, are very good quality. so IMO it's good enough for mid-fi.

can you tell me a track you are listening to which you think doesn't sound very good on the 598? i am not really into classical music but i love my hd 598 and i want to compare it to my grado 225i (which i also love, even its different)

Hi guys, I am into audiophile equipment for about 2 years now - all started with an grado sr60i which i bought in bangkok. i broke my headphones during travel and was looking for new ones and this guy there said he wants to show me some special headphones... there i had the first WOW effect on...

Best thing that ever happened to me was the 225 with the G-Cush - the soundstage changed a lot for the better & the grado harshness was reduced. But im at the same point as you are: considering an upgrade to.... rs1i, rs2i, ps500.... :)

how important is isolation & the over-ear "size"? I am a Grado lover too, but as you said they probably won't fit your actual requirements. i can give you informations about the sennheiser momentum, hd25 and the audio technica ath-900x   my music is: metal, hardcore, punk, singer/songwriter...

I love the 598. I can use it without an amp on my mac and also on my fiio x3 (ipod also works) - my android phone is not strong enough (don't know about the iphone). but in general i highly recommend at least an amp for the 598. they sound way better... i use the fiio e17 for them and it works...

  I've been using the hd25-1 ii for a long time - in the office and they were my travelling headphone when I travelled 4 months around the world at the beginning of this year. I've always liked them very much. they are very tight - in the beginning its kind of annyoing feeling, but you get used...