Sennheiser HD 598

I just bought this headphone and it sound amazing, I did a burn in for about 20hr and the sound improve dramatically compared when the headphone was in the box. The comfort is phenomenal and due to the open circumference design the soundstage is HUGE. Overall this is my first audiophile grade headphone that i have bought even though, I would want to know more about the difference between the hd 598 vs hd 600. Sound quality? Smooth?..etc

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]

(This is my First Official Review in the Head-Fi Community) 
HD 598 Review
The HD 598's are a worthy headphone of the Sennheiser Brand. As this headphone is rated for audiophiles, I will be reviewing it at that level of sound. This particular headphone's strength consts of amazing highs, and I recommend it for its soundstage, clarity and comfort. However, this headphone is best suited only for classical music, jazz, audio recordings, and genre of that type. More modern music genres, such as hip-hop, rock and pop are not as well suited to this headphone. As I often work at home, often isolated from the other members of my family at my desk, this open ended headphone provides the comfort that is desirable. This headphone is perfect for home use, as for me, these headphones practically live on my desk. I can wear these for at least 5 hours straight, without gaining ear moisture, or headaches.The overall sound of this headphones was very bright and clear, contrasting with my darker sounding  Superlux HD 681 Evo's and TDK ST Hi-Fi 700s. The clarity and presentation of the Highs was the strongest point of the 598's, while I personally found the bass lacking and almost harsh. However the bass is very detailed, and the tight bass contributes the flat sound signature of the headphones. 
 
A description of the Specs, Highs, Mids, Lows, Soundstage, Comfort and Design will be included below.
 
Specs/info:
Weight                          9.52 oz
Type                             Over Ear
Frequency Response     12 - 38500 Hz
Magnet                          neodymium
Sensitivity                     112 dB
Impedance                     50 Ohm
Connectivity type            wired
Harmonic Distort (THD)   0.1%
Special Features            Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement technology (E.A.R.) 
 
 
Highs 
No doubt, the highs are a influential reason as to why this headphone is rated #6 on the Head-Fi list. The highs in this headphones are just mind blowing, and very pleasant to listen to. They are extremely clear and crisp while amazingly do not cause any ear fatigue. Listening to I See You by Leona Lewis and songs by Adele was a phenomenal experience. Female vocals, and high pitched instruments such as the violin, piccolo, flute, piano, and even sounds from electro-mixes sound absolutely stunning on these headphones. No doubt the highs are helped by its open ended design, and the EAR technology. I would highly recommend these headphones for the highs, which I cannot emphasize enough. Compared to the flat tone of my Superlux HD 681 Evo, my muffled Bose Soundtrue OE,  and the artificial metallic tone of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, these are clearly superior. haha "clearly superior". Get it? Sorry, bad pun lol. O.o
 
 
Mids
The Mids on these headphones are pronounced. As expected with audiophile level headphones, the Sennheiser has a flat sound signature, which is present with its detailed Mids ranged sounds. The mid range on these headphones are very enjoyable, extremely clear and sharp, while not recessed like many V-shaped sound signatures.
 
 
Lows
The lows of these headphones are very controlled and tight. This will be a positive for most audiophile listeners, but for the average consumer, who listens to modern genres, this is one of the biggest weakness of the headphones. The base is very controlled, and while it is present, it has a very neutral tone. The base is recessed and will leaving you wanting more of it. It feel very light, and has no impact. The base is there, but unlike the Sennheiser Momentum, it has no power, it is basically the opposite of what the  Audio-Technica ATH-M50x's provides. I personally find the base very lacking and almost tinny and harsh after listening to a pair of ATH-M50's or my Bose Soundtrue's. However, despite its lack of power, it makes up for its impotence by being very detailed. The bass is not sloppy or muddy, but clear and detailed, while providing no impact in the bass.
 
 
Overall Sound
The overall sound of this headphones was very bright and clear, contrasting with my darker sounding  Superlux HD 681 Evo's and TDK ST Hi-Fi 700s. The clarity and presentation of the Highs was the strongest point of the 598's, while I personally found the bass lacking and almost harsh. However the bass is very detailed, and the tight bass contributes the flat sound signature of the headphones. 
 
 
Soundstage
This is another killer feature of the HD 598's that make them so amazing. The soundstage on these is the equivalent of Dolby 5.1 Speakers. Listening to any song that recorded with emphasized soundstage will really make these headphones kill. Listening to audio recordings of bands and orchestras will sound pronominal, and while there are headphones with better soundstage, for its price the Sennheiser triumphs. These headphones will give you a slight edge in gaming, as you will be able to detect the location of sounds, such footsteps, shots and general background noise. Movies are also very enjoyable with these headphones, as you will experience the soundstage that theaters provide. The soundstage is no doubt boosted by the open ended design.
 
 
Comfort/Design 
This headphone is the most comfortable I have ever worn. I have large ears, and the headphones still fit amazingly with its deep ear cups and enormous earpads. While the HD 598's are made out of plastic, this is only a benefit in comfort, as it makes them extremely light to wear on your head. While the all plastic design of its body does not look good on paper, in actuality, the plastic is of high grade, and as mentioned above, make the headphone light and comfortable. The design of these are not made to be portable, as they are not in any way compact, and are open ended. Sennheiser even neglected to pack a carrying case with these headphones, clarifying the intentions that these headphones were made for. As many of us do, I personally find the color of the headphones attractive, however many others will find this color repulsive. It is kind of a love it or hate it issue that has sprung up (see sexy or ugly poll). Sennheiser claims that the color and design were modeled after European Sports Cars, and while I find that statement awfully convenient, I still find the new color refreshing compared to the standard colors of grey and black that are the Sennheiser standard. The included 9 foot cable with an 4 inch bulky 3.5 mm adapter to the 1/4 plug was included in the packaging, and should be considered a major inconvenience for those that listen to their mobile devices and mp3 players. While I find the long reach and flexibility of the 9 foot cable welcome,  I consider it a hassle when i occasionally take the headphones for outside use and had to use the 4 inch 3.5 mm conversion plug. For that use, I simply detached the cable from the headphones, and plug in a separately ordered 1.2m replacement cable with a 3.5mm jack. (see link below) 
 
 
replacement cable 
http://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Audio-upgrade-Sennheiser-Headphones/dp/B00KAKBHKM/ref=pd_sim_e_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1PD5Z9BCFT0DF9PCH3WR
 
 
Conclusion 
I consider these headphones of a great value for their current online price, and would recommend these to a friend. The sparkly highs are extremely welcoming while I do with it had more power in the bass department.  These Headphones are great home use with their comfort and open ended design. 
overall rating: 4.4 Stars.
 
Thanks for Reading! Please rate Review?

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.

 
 
 
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!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 
 
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 - 
 
 

Value: I got these for $207 and at twice the price they'd be a great buy.
Sound: If the next sentence seems defensive, it's not. it's an assertion of the sound quality of the HD598s. I've been in the music business for over 40 years and I have to assert that anyone giving these a low score on sound would not know a good set of headphones if it bit them on the ass (thanks Frank). These things are very close to neutral with just a bit of warmth due to the fact that they emphasise the lower mids and upper bass just a tiny bit. Bass extension is superb with just enough punch, mids are clear and detailed, highs are effortless and real and the soundstage, considering they are cans, not speakers, is wide and deep. Sonic details, positioning and spatiality are excellent.
Design & Build: Superb. They are phones, not earthmoving equipment. Treat 'em like phones and they'll be OK.
Comfort: Yes, they are comfortable, but I'll add a disclaimer; I find HD 25s comfortable. Anyone finding headphones uncomfortable is a wuss anyway.
Style: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. These look beautiful to me. Real class and something different. I own eight pairs of HD 25 MK IIs for live monitoring. One set is jewelled just in case a certain female drummer turns up, one set is the Adidas. All the rest are plain black ordinary (but cute) looking cans. Oh, and I have one set of Amperiors and I can't hear a difference but I haven't really A/B'd them as I've just worked in the studio with them. Quick work and little time. Now that I have a couple of sets of these the studio has lit up. I got these for assistance on mixdown/mastering alongside a pair of HD 600s and a pair of Adam A77X speakers. Out of all of the gear these look the best, although I do admit that I lust after the A77Xs as well.
Accessories: After the horse has bolted, so to speak (after a million complaints about the 1/4" jack) Sennheiser are NOW supplying a 1/8" adapter.
Summary: If you have a REAL ear for all types of music, these are headphones you'd be nuts not to try.
Feedback for Head-Fi: Those green bars do not operate properly.

The Sennheiser HD-598 Open-Backed Headphone is a great value for how it's priced. Found mine used with only two hours use, and I must say that these babies are a joy to listed to for any most any genre of music.
 
Sound
The sound of the 598 is warm and detailed, with light emphasis on the low mids and upper bass. I find it quite refreshing, especially after my last phones, the ATH-M50s which give preference to the deep bass. The 598, though not being a rattling bassphone reproduces complex bass lines with ease and control. I've quite enjoyed TripHop on these, especially Heligoland by Massive Attack, but also acoustic singer-songwriters (like Laura Veirs and Sara Jarosz) play very well with the detailed mids. The tone and articulation of Guitar, Banjo, Fiddle, Mandolin and Double Bass as well as the vocals are clear and sexual, and drums are punchy without being obtrusive.  Especially with acoustic, the 598 is quite immersive. I've noticed many details with these phones that before escaped my ears. I don't have any major complaints about the sound of these cans.
 
Comfort
Not much to say here, I've never gotten listening fatigue from these puppies, as they're light-weight and not too tight. My only quibbles are that they're kind of hard to keep positioned when lying down, but that is because there is not a lot of pressure exerted on the head, which serves as an advantage most of the time, and they get a bit warm if you're in a warm setting, but that's pretty unavoidable.
 
Style
Now usually I don't give a rip about looks, but the HD598 simply looks nice to my eyes, with the tan frame and accents, and I understand it does have the potential to make you look like they're over 30 years old, but personally I like it.
 
Build
I've had no problems with these babies yet, but seeing as I've only had them a couple months, I should wait to give an opinion on the durability.
 
Accessories
The 598 ships with only the phone itself, the three meter chord and 3.5mm adapter, which is quite inconvenient should you want to use it with a mobile setup. Now I understand that that's not the intended purpose of these, seeing as they're open-backed, but I find myself going on many walks in semi-secluded spaces and I like to take these with me. I had to get the three-foot chord which terminates in a 3.5mm plug by default, with a 6.3mm adapter, because of problems with the stock adapter, but it's no big deal.
 
That's pretty much it. Love these phones and don't regret the purchase in the slightest.

..

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!

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.

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.

Spacious:
Absolutely love the spacial sound and madly in love. Big soundstage that would make your other headphones in this price range sound awful. Although it is having a wide soundstage the dimensions are not sharply defined meaning that it could sound a tiny bit confusing at times.
 
Transparent:
The sound detail is great with good separation. Balanced sound that makes listening to orchestral music a bliss.
 
Comfort:
Even if you wear it for continuous hours it doesn't hurt, you start to wonder am I really wearing this?
 
Too neutral??
Sound well across all frequencies but laid of in higher highs and lower lows. Not for everyone who loves to hear fast or punchy music. Bass may not be enough for some even with adequate amplification.

sounds great even from integrated audio card, but with a proper dac/amp it really shines, love them, very comfortable

These are so easy to listen to for a long time.   Comfortable, not harsh.   Superb mids.
 
I can hear things on these headphones that I never could on my Sony MDRs.     They need amping though (and playing loud) ..or they are a bit too mild mannered.

Intro
 
This was my first real pair of headphones, and they satisfied me for two years. So it is only fitting that my first headphone review be on these awesome headphones. The HD598s are a great entry into personal HIFI. They are not picky about amplification, and will not over analyze bad recordings. 
 
Setup
 
For two years I ran the HD598 from my Asus xonar essence stx sound card. They are a decent enough match, you could do better or worse. I have also tried these on my recently acquired Schiit stack (Bifrost, Asgard 2).  
 
Sound
Note: I don't have the poetic vocabulary to do a proper analysis of the headphones, but I can give you a general idea of what to expect. 
 
The mid-range is the star of the show here. They will sound the best with vocals, and acoustic music. The highs are present, but not sparkly. They are not fatiguing at all. The only real problem I had with the HD598s was the bass. It is present, but lacks impact. It is a very enjoyably signature that satisfied me for two years. But alas this is headfi and the itch to upgrade was too strong. 
 
Because of the open design and good sound-stage the HD598s are a great match for Dolby headphone for competitive gaming and movies.  You will pinpoint enemies with ease. However, the bass is the weak link here, and lacks immersion. Mad Lust Envy has an excellent write on these headphones in his thread. 
 
Comfort
 
The velour earpads, light overall weight, open design, and padded headband all combine for a very comfortable headphone. I doubt anybody will be returning these for comfort issues. You literally forget you have them on after a while. 
 
Conclusion
 
The Sennheiser HD598s routinely go on sale for ~$150. At this price I consider them a no brainer. They are great entry level can, and the Sennheiser 'Do no harm' sound signature makes for a great all rounder. They bass is still light for my taste, however the pros far outweigh the cons. There is a reason why this is one of the most recommended headphones under $200. 

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.

The Sennheiser 598 is the new the ruler of the sub-$300 roost. 
 
If you're looking for a headphone with an expansive sound stage that is at once both intimate and expansive...
 
If you can't shell out for a Hi-Fi set of cans like the HD600/650 and the necessary amp to drive them well....
 
If you're looking for a versatile headphone that bring music to life but doesn't punish your ears with poor source material...
 
If you're looking for a headphone that you can comfortably wear all day long....
 
If you're like me, and use your computer as your primary entertainment center for music, movies, and games...
 
Then the Sennheiser 598s are a godsend for you.
 
Many reviewers have described these headphones as being "lush", "warm", "creamy", and "smooth".
 
Forget the audiophile jargon.  
 
Lyrics, especially female vocalists, come in crystal clear and are front-and-center in presentation.  The background harmonics are there, but hey, you paid money to hear someone sing, right?  Movies and television shows benefit from this too - it's almost as if there's a small circular stage with a spotlight on it that the actors are on, and all the background noise just falls away.
 
There's an accusation that these headphones lack detail.  It's not true.  
 
Detail is not hearing every artifact in a recording.  Detail is not having every audible instrument played with equal intensity and volume.  
 
Detail is when the soundmixer thought what was most important to be the star of the show.  For music it's lyrics.  For movies it's dialogue and action. 

What more can you say about a pair of headphones that cost less than $200.Its truly a wonderful pair of headphones that can play all spectrum  of music and fits comfortably and non fatiguing.Soundstaging is the strong point for sure,deep,wide and high,voices and string artist is so spot on with the proper source and hell plugged right into iPod still sounds great.I own a pair of HD 600 also and some aspects the 598 are even better in the mids than the 600's.Overall if the highs wasn't a bit rolled and bright these headphones get a 5/5 considering the price.

Note: This is my first audiophile headphones so i can't compare them to any other headphones out there for the same price.
 
These headphones are well designed, fit your head perfectly and are extremely lightweight. They are made out of plastic but they don't look cheap. They are very solid in my opinion.
You can wear these for a long session and never worry about them.
This is the first reason i decided to buy these.
About the color. You may or may not like it. I love the color combination, they look classy but it's all about personal taste. Since they sound so great you'll forgot about the color soon enough after wearing them. 
 
Second reason, probably the most important, is the sound quality.
I was looking for open headphones. The soundstage you get from that kind of headphones can't be replicated by another. The HD 598 soundstage is amazing. Period.
They sound leak a lot but this is intended and make them sound phenomenal in terms of soundtage. If you plan to use use them for personal listening at home or in a quiet place you shouldn't worry about that. (By the way these are sold for home listening so if you buy them and complain about the sound leak, that's just stupid).
 
Out of the box they sound good but i noticed an improvement with each hour of listening. 
The sound quality in general is amazing and changed the way i enjoy music. These headphones work well with different musical genres. I listen a lot of folk, jazz, blues, funk, rock but i tried almost everything with them (even electronic which is my least favourite genre) and they never failed me.
If i had to describe how they sound i would say "smooth and extremely clear". You can ear every single instruments even when there are tons of instruments. 
I love vocals and these headphones make them shine. I almost cried listening to some songs posted in the "best female vocals" in forum music section.
 
In a word, they are accurate. 
 
Being so precise i noticed the sound source has to be right to enjoy these headphones to their full potential. You can easily spot the difference if a song is not well mastered or comes in poor quality (song's format matters).
An amp is not needed in my opinion but could be useful. 
I tried them with my pc and an ipod. They sound different on my ipod and not so great. I wouldn't recommend them if you plan to use them only with an ipod or a dap in general. And you shouldn't as i mentioned early these work wonder if you use them for house listening. 
 
About the lack of bass response someone point out in some reviews. That's not true. The bass is there how he should be. It's not emphatized compared to some headphones out there.
 
I found almost no cons. My only complain is about the cord: it ends with the larger 6.3mm plug but i use the 3.5mm plug most of the time. However the cord is detachable so you can replace it easily so it's a minor con.
 
In conclusion, these are quality headphones. Sennheiser quality. You won't regret your purchase and you'll start to enjoy music even more.
I give them 4.5/5 stars even if they are perfect for my needs and they are one of my best purchase ever. 
 
I would strongly recommend them to anyone who want a great pair of headphones without paying much. I look forward to use them everyday.
 
Note: this is my first review and my english is not so good. Sorry about that. I hope this could be useful to someone. I'll add some pics as soon as possible