[flood5]

I'm having some trouble locating another pair of 540 Reference-II. I gave my last pair to my friend who enjoyed them so much. Is there a good place to find these besides ebay?

What about a good alternative - something more modern that gives the same sound and comfort?

I miss them!

 

[flood5]

^bump!

 

[the_villain]

My local Hi-Fi shop (Sofia, Bulgaria) is selling the HD540II for ar. $120 and the HD530II for ar. $100. They are NOS. Of course that doesn't help you much if you are in America.

 

[sgrossklass]

If you liked the 540-II's sound signature, you'd probably love the HD580, which is similar but a whole lot better. (And before anyone protests saying they're hard to drive, the 580 has better spec'd sensitivity and the same nominal impedance.)

The current equivalent to the HD540 II in Sennheiser's lineup would be the HD555. Or if you insist on something circular

, there's the HD485. (This model has quite a warm, bassy sound though.)

BTW, even here in .de 540-IIs or 545s aren't all that common on Ebay. Ah, while I think of it, currently there's one shop item there, a NOS HD545. They want 49 EUR plus shipping for it, with worldwide shipping spec'd. I'd love to get the thing, but I can't really justify spending that much only for curiosity's sake right now (particularly since I still need different portable cans), so if someone here would like to pick 'em up...

 

[flood5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_villain My local Hi-Fi shop (Sofia, Bulgaria) is selling the HD540II for ar. $120 and the HD530II for ar. $100. They are NOS. Of course that doesn't help you much if you are in America.

Any chance you could help me out with the 540's?

 

[sgrossklass]

At that price (poor ripped-off Bulgarians) and keeping customs etc. in mind you could buy a brand new HD555 or refurb'd/used HD580 or HD595, all of which are better cans than the old HD540-II.
Some search results: HD545 vs. HD580, HD540 vs. HD580 (keep in mind there used to be the "original" 540 as well, the 600 ohm model dating back to the late '80s. 540-IIs were early/mid '90s stuff.)

 

[flood5]

In the past I've owned:
HD540II Reference, HD580, and HD600.

I still perfer the 540 over the other two for long term use (all day at the office).
IMO they were more comfortable and less fatuiging, they sounded great too.

 

[cosmopragma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flood5 Anyone familiar with Sennheiser HD 540's? (

I have a pair of HD 540 Gold Reference lying around here, a fine tuned version with closely matched drivers and a different look.Once upon a time and long ago it was Sennheiser's top model.
These "high-end" headphones were delivered inside a wonderful box made of wood and brass.
I've paid 80 Euro for the box.Expensive, but worth it.
I have only a faint idea how the free cans which were part of the deal sound, I've listened less than an hour through them.These thingies have nothing in common with the modern HD 6x0 series, absolutely no "veil", but definitely mid-fi by todays standards.
At the moment HugoFreire's baby Orpheus' are stored in the box, that's a nice match.

 

[sgrossklass]

The HD540 Reference "Gold" was a special version of the old 540, thus 600 ohm. Must be from the late '80s, maybe very early '90s. Later the HD560 became the new top model, then the HD580.

 

[sgrossklass]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flood5 In the past I've owned: HD540II Reference, HD580, and HD600. I still perfer the 540 over the other two for long term use (all day at the office). IMO they were more comfortable and less fatuiging, they sounded great too.

OIC. It has been noted that Senn's "normal" HD5xx cans tend to be more comfortable than the top models, at least this still was the case with the older HD5x5 series as opposed to HD580/600. The HD650 was improved in this regard. If you can audition cans somewhere, try a HD555. (BTW, if it should be a bit clampy, that usually loosens up with use.)

 

[grokit]

HD555 SUCK compared to the HD540 RII. In My Experience at least. The 555 is the worst Sennheiser I have ever owned, I much prefer my $30 PX100.
 
Yes I know this is a 5YO thread 

 

[Argyris]