Can someone educate me on the history of HD-580?

[ejoy]

Hi guys,
I recently acquired a used HD580 (I think it's latest version), searching the internet I see it's one of the flagship open dynamic headphones from Sennheiser. However, it seems there is little information on the history of HD580. I'm curious to find more information about the headphone, such as:
* When was it first released? And the MSRP in today's equivalent?
* Which headphone the 580 replaced?
* What was the background when Sennheiser released HD-580? What's the response from audiophile magazines? Considering that's many years before pocket headphone amps become popular.
* In terms of sound signiture, what was the design goal of HD-580, what was then audio engineers at Sennheiser looking for? HE90?
* I know it's been discontinued for years, but what sort of place HD-580 has in the whole spectrum of Sennheiser's high-end headphones?
* Lastly, how does HD-580 stack against the latest offers from major headphone makers? Is it worth owning?

Cheers,
John

 

[keyid]

First there was nothing.
A blank dense blackness.
Then a small flic of light, small enough to be held in your hand.
And then an immense BANG, million of particles spread out into the universe.
Then the clouds started to collide into each other making new particles.
As the particles became heavier other particles began sticking together.
After many many years.

to be contin...

 

[DefectiveAudioComponent]

It is basically the same as the HD600 which is supposedly somewhat better.

 

[Chri5peed]

Has the time come already? I thought the knowledge of the legendary 580s would last long after their production stopped.

600s are more direct replacments, than superior upgrades.

 

[DefectiveAudioComponent]

The *somewhat better* is because some people think that the 580 sounds better with the grilles from the 600. I have no idea about that myself

 

[greggf]

Here's a comprehensive, professional review from Wes Phillips, in Stereophile magazine, in 1994:

Stereophile: Sennheiser HD-580 headphones

Also, the HD580 was available - not discontinued - later in the U.S. than in Europe. I think Amazon only stopped carrying it about january of 2007 ??

The HD600 is essentially the same headphone today. There was an intermediate, limited edition HD580 Jubilee. Search on Jubilee here at Head-Fi.

 

[Chri5peed]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DefectiveAudioComponent /img/forum/go_quote.gif The *somewhat better* is because some people think that the 580 sounds better with the grilles from the 600. I have no idea about that myself

Dunno about the SQ, but I put 600 grilles on my 580s purely for the looks.

I thought the default grey 580 grilles looked craptacular. I had a Cardas cable on too.


Does ':580smile' tell you something.

 

[vcoheda]

HD580 > HD580 Jubilee > HD600 > HD650 > HD ?

 

[ejoy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DefectiveAudioComponent /img/forum/go_quote.gif It is basically the same as the HD600 which is supposedly somewhat better.

Today I give my HD580 a go and could not tell the difference between this and the HD600 I sold a while ago. They sound the same to me.

 

[Mudshark]

Are the HD650 more comfortable than the HD580? I am generally satisfied with the HD580's sound, but they are nowhere near as comfortable as my Denon D2000. Thanks.

 

[feh1325]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudshark /img/forum/go_quote.gif Are the HD650 more comfortable than the HD580? I am generally satisfied with the HD580's sound, but they are nowhere near as comfortable as my Denon D2000. Thanks.

they should be about the same

use the same pads except for the headband pad

 

[facelvega]

The HD580 was released in 1994 to replace the HD560II as top dynamic in the Senn line. It was based on the frame of the HE60, in the tradition of top dynamics built into the frame of its electrostatic offering: cf the Beyer ET1000 lending parts to several later headphones; the Koss ESP950 lending its frame to the A250; the Jecklin Float electrostat leading straight to the Float 1 and 2; and of course the many Stax dynamics.

The HD580 instantly outclassed the previous Sennheiser dynamics and in my opinion caught the company up with Beyer and AKG for the first time (I'm under the impression that Senn was already bigger, but its top headphones were never yet as good as theirs). The HD580 Jubilee was an improved limited-edition version commemorating Senn's 50th anniversary in 1995. This rethink led to the introduction of the HD600 in 1996, essentially an HD580 with a carbon fiber headband and metal grilles instead of plastic for both, and drivers matched to 1dB instead of 3dB. Essentially the same frame was used with new drivers and minor modifications for the HD650 in 2003, meeting the trend for much more prevalent bass that had been in place since the late 90s, partially a response to changes in popular music.

Senn has twice developed new frames for its high-end dynamics since the HD580 was introduced: the 'teardrop' frame (top model, HD590, 1999) and the HD515/555/595 in 2004. In both cases, the newer frame ended up being relegated to second string in Senn's lineup, with the old HE60/HD580/600/650 frame staying at the top. (Beyer similarly tried to introduce a more modern frame alongside its DT770/880/990 with the DTx01/x11/x31 series, which although highly-regarded during their run did not outlast the older frame, which lives on now in prettier consumer iterations and in original form for studio purposes.)

How's that for a little background history?

(by the way, re: Stax having made dynamic headphones-- psych!)

 

[greggf]

Thanks, facelvega, for the history.

I find the HD600/580 more comfy than the HD650, the latter of which has a tighter clamp, seemingly smaller space for ears, and a squeakier frame (with my eyeglasses).

 

[Dobro]

Thank you, facelvega, that was great.

Was the HD600 ever Sennheiser's flagship?

 

[dazzer1975]

Quote:

Originally Posted by facelvega /img/forum/go_quote.gif How's that for a little background history?

Superb, is how I would describe "that"

thanks.