A Concise View of Why The ATH-M50 is No Longer King

[SanjiWatsuki]

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I have compared it to ATH M50, HD 380, HD 280, SRH 840 etc. and the hfi 580 owns all of them. This is my opinion. I stand my ground.

Just saying, it's not a fair comparison unless you level match the treble. Emphasized treble gives the appearance of more detail, when it is in fact not true.Just google "fake detail" in quotes on Head-Fi to find a multitude of posts about the phenomenon. I, admittedly, have not heard the HD380 or HD280, but I would easily put the SRH840 and M50 over the HFI-580.

 

[roma101]

Plus the M50 has better timbre accuracy/decay. Ultrasones have their own unique color to the sound and so comparing them is it bit apples and oranges IMO.

 

[crepuscular457]

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Here's a fun experiment. Equalize down the treble to a regular level. Get a real cheap, but good, headphone like the KSC75. Level match their frequency responses and volumes. Compare the overall sound detail level. The Ultrasones sounded pretty detailed to me at first, but I quickly realized it was all just emphasized treble. What I originally thought was nice highs? Just emphasized treble. Not to mention their soundstage is just weird. Like, the M50 has a narrow soundstage, but it doesn't feel wear. Ultrasone soundstage feels just weird. I'm sure that if I really wanted to and it was the only headphone I owned, I could get used to it, but it's not worth it. I did like the bass presentation, though. 
 
My opinion on the lower-end Ultrasones is just that they are overpriced, uncomfortable (such a high clamping force), weird sounding, overall undetailed headphones that I would pay $25 for, maybe $30. I think they're bested by many low-end headphones like the KSC75 and Incipio Forte F38. 
 
Edit: If you don't mind me asking, what $100-150 headphones have you heard other than the HFI-580? Have you compared it to others in its price bracket?

I've heard the senn hd280's, and shure 750dj's. I havent heard any senns other than the 280's but if they're all that boring then i'll pass. They lack excitement. Detail was ok, but i had no interest in listening to anything. I picked my sr-80's over those any day. The 750dj's, on the other hand, i cant really explain how i felt. They werent bad, but they sounded odd to me. Something in the midrange maybe, idk. i did not spend much time listening to these. As for the highs of the HFI-580, I dont have a problem with them. I wouldnt say thats where the detail comes from. And I wouldnt say the highs are emphasized either. Maybe i just listen to different music than you. Lastly the soundstage. I dont find it to be too weird, but then again i have yet to hear a set of cans with "good" soundstage. My sr-325is has a smallish soundstage, but they have their moments of feeling huge. The hd280's seemed like they didnt have any room. not to me anyways. 
 
so to sum up... "it really is true that everyone hears something different."

 

[Dennito]

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Brainwavz HM5

I'm guessing the HM5 is probaby very good. But is it "Wall of Fame" good?  Because I don't see it on there

 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/innerfidelitys-wall-fame-full-size-sealed
 
I wish I had bought the HM5 when it went on sales recently for $119. I won't make that mistake again.

 

[XxDobermanxX]

Very good article, ive been saying this for the longest while, has any one been following amazon? remember when the hd 448 was $150 dollars ?(ath m50 was $150 for the longest time ) now the hd 449 was relaunched at $120 now al of a sudden the ath m50 prices have gone down to $120 , anyone else feel the pressure?
Note: im on amazon everyday 

 

[tomatoshoe]

I never really did like the headphones. I purchased them before they were "popular" and when they were cheaper in terms of price. Don't get me wrong, they are good cans for the price, but other than that I never enjoyed putting them on. The pleather pads were always too uncomfortable and the clamp was a little too strong. Changing out the pads for DT250 pads made them more comfortable, but in the end made the sound quality go down drastically.
 
There are many more cans in the price range now. Some very nice Ultrasones that I wish I should have bought instead of the ATH-M50's.
 
Oh well, at least they brought me into the "audiophile" world.

 

[cyberalpha11]

With this price range, I would say ATH-M50 is still the best full size sealed headphone in the world. In addition ATH-M50 is featurrd in the wallof fame of INNER FIDELITY, the respected headphone review website. In other hand, Ultrasone HFI 580 is not even comes close to ATH-M50' sound quality unless you compare it with Ultrasone Pro900 S-logic which costs more then 2X.

 

[Currawong]

I think people forget two things most often when talking about headphones: What music they listen with and how loud they listen. I've found most strong opinions, one way or the other, about headphones come as a result of these two things. More technically, it seems to be how the instruments (or sounds with the most emphasis) correlate with the peaks and dips in the frequency response of the headphones. The frequency response is also affected by the loudness.

 

[XxDobermanxX]

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With this price range, I would say ATH-M50 is still the best full size sealed headphone in the world. In addition ATH-M50 is featurrd in the wallof fame of INNER FIDELITY, the respected headphone review website. In other hand, Ultrasone HFI 580 is not even comes close to ATH-M50' sound quality unless you compare it with Ultrasone Pro900 S-logic which costs more then 2X.

Best full sized closed studio monitor at $150, not the best allrounder and ultrasone HFI 580 not close to ATH-M50 recessed mids and poor soundstage? what you smoking

 

[pichu]

580 more clear mids, MUCH better lows ( more tight bass ) ,better soundstage, s-logic owns. Only thing M50 does better is not as harsh highs and confortability.

 

[doublea71]

I'd like to get my hands on a pair and A/B them with DJ100s, another full-size closed headphone that is touted as a good value on head-fi. I certainly like my pair, but I don't have vast experience with a wide array of cans like many on here do. I listen to lots of classic rock and jazz, with a bit of classical music thrown in there. I prefer a fairly neutral sound signature and love detail, a wide soundstage, tight + impactful bass...whatever headphone makes Steely Dan mindblowing to listen to is what I'm after - if it can do that, I'm confident that all my other music will sound pretty damn good, too. (The DJ100s sound good to my ears, but certainly not mindblowing) I was considering the M50 when I first joined head-fi based on the reviews and threads, but the DJ100 is sold here by an authorized retailer of Koss products, so it was a matter of convenience for me. I'm not sure to what degree a herd mentality exists on head-fi, but I read a ton of feedback before I bought the Koss cans, and I don't feel like I was mislead at all. A nice thing was that I was able to compare them to other Koss headphones in the shop before making a decision.
 

 

[LithosZA]

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I have compared it to ATH M50, HD 380, HD 280, SRH 840 etc. and the hfi 580 owns all of them. This is my opinion. I stand my ground.

 
To me the HD280s are more enjoyable than the HFI-680. Haven't heard the HFI-580 yet.

 

[XxDobermanxX]

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580 more clear mids, MUCH better lows ( more tight bass ) ,better soundstage, s-logic owns. Only thing M50 does better is not as harsh highs and confortability.

+2

 

[XxDobermanxX]

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I'd like to get my hands on a pair and A/B them with DJ100s, another full-size closed headphone that is touted as a good value on head-fi. I certainly like my pair, but I don't have vast experience with a wide array of cans like many on here do. I listen to lots of classic rock and jazz, with a bit of classical music thrown in there. I prefer a fairly neutral sound signature and love detail, a wide soundstage, tight + impactful bass...whatever headphone makes Steely Dan mindblowing to listen to is what I'm after - if it can do that, I'm confident that all my other music will sound pretty damn good, too. (The DJ100s sound good to my ears, but certainly not mindblowing) I was considering the M50 when I first joined head-fi based on the reviews and threads, but the DJ100 is sold here by an authorized retailer of Koss products, so it was a matter of convenience for me. I'm not sure to what degree a herd mentality exists on head-fi, but I read a ton of feedback before I bought the Koss cans, and I don't feel like I was mislead at all. A nice thing was that I was able to compare them to other Koss headphones in the shop before making a decision.
 

Lucky you never fell to the ATH-M50 hype, i can make 20 headfi accounts and threads and ask for a headphone, and 90% of the answers i get will be "get the ATH-M50" 

 

[XxDobermanxX]

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To me the HD280s are more enjoyable than the HFI-680. Haven't heard the HFI-580 yet.