ajt976
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
- Posts
- 387
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- 10
So, today I went to a local hi-fi shop that stocks some of the Sennheiser and Grado lines (they are getting out of the Head-fi biz) expecting to walk out with a good idea of what my next set of headphones is going to be...I was gravely mistaken. Here’s their listening set-up: they had a little Denon DM50S CD changer hooked up to a Musical Fidelity X-cans V3 amplifier. I popped in a couple of my favorite cd’s (alt. rock, Metallica, and some jazz) and the gf and I sat in for an hour listening session.
The first can I grabbed, the one I’ve been looking at buying for a Grado compliment, was the HD595. I was really excited, I’ve spent the past week and a half reading up on the 595’s looking over the entire spectrum of posts (advocates and haters alike), also downloading the PDF on a re-cable from Sennheiser. I REALLY wanted to like these headphones, and from what I read, I thought I should have enjoyed them. So, here goes right??? I had to stop partway through the first track to check the model number on the side of the can. “Can this sound really be coming from the HD595?” I asked myself. I really didn't like the HD555's I heard earlier this week in another store, and I really didn't like these any better. I was expecting SO much more from this pair of phones. The bass was pretty good, but the mids and highs really killed me. There wasn’t any impact, the sound just kind of “oozed” from the drivers into my ears. The guitar in my tracks seemed to be muffled and covered up; the vocals were unclear and foggy. I threw in some Arturo Sandoval and was even more disappointed. Being a jazz trumpet player myself, I wasn’t expecting the screaming lead trumpet to be so subdued; it sounded more like a ballad on flugelhorn up a couple octaves than a spicy Latin jazz chart. My 225’s killed the HD595’s even in jazz. I don’t know what’s wrong. Could it be the source/amp? They sounded pretty good with my 225’s and the RS-2’s I listened to. Am I forever in love with the detail and impact provided by my beloved Grado’s, will I never be satisfied with anything else?
I come here to ask you all this…what’s next? I’d really like to get a good compliment for my SR225’s, head-fier’s please help me! These can’s will be fed by an AV-710(probably upgrade that as well
)-->PIMETA. This is what I’m looking for: I’d like a can that can be worn for several hours and excels in comfort, more so than the Grado’s. This is one area that the 595 had down pat; they were VERY comfortable, like velvety pillows gently surrounding my ears. So, something circum-aural is definitely a bonus. I’d really like something nice for jazz and classical, but the real thing I’d like to accomplish is getting something accurate that has the detail I’ve grown so fond of. I need something that can be driven by my portable Pimeta. Budget will probably be sub $250, but if you can really convince me of something better I can wait a month or two and get something more.
Please give me your thoughtful input. I'm guessing that Sennheiser headphones(2xx-595s) just aren't my cup 'o tea, unless you all think I should try the 600s. Maybe Beyer or AKG or Audio Technica? Hell I don't know, should I just add another Grado to my collection and accept the fact that this is what I truely enjoy and NOTHING else? You tell me!!!
Thanks in advance for all your help,
Andrew
The first can I grabbed, the one I’ve been looking at buying for a Grado compliment, was the HD595. I was really excited, I’ve spent the past week and a half reading up on the 595’s looking over the entire spectrum of posts (advocates and haters alike), also downloading the PDF on a re-cable from Sennheiser. I REALLY wanted to like these headphones, and from what I read, I thought I should have enjoyed them. So, here goes right??? I had to stop partway through the first track to check the model number on the side of the can. “Can this sound really be coming from the HD595?” I asked myself. I really didn't like the HD555's I heard earlier this week in another store, and I really didn't like these any better. I was expecting SO much more from this pair of phones. The bass was pretty good, but the mids and highs really killed me. There wasn’t any impact, the sound just kind of “oozed” from the drivers into my ears. The guitar in my tracks seemed to be muffled and covered up; the vocals were unclear and foggy. I threw in some Arturo Sandoval and was even more disappointed. Being a jazz trumpet player myself, I wasn’t expecting the screaming lead trumpet to be so subdued; it sounded more like a ballad on flugelhorn up a couple octaves than a spicy Latin jazz chart. My 225’s killed the HD595’s even in jazz. I don’t know what’s wrong. Could it be the source/amp? They sounded pretty good with my 225’s and the RS-2’s I listened to. Am I forever in love with the detail and impact provided by my beloved Grado’s, will I never be satisfied with anything else?
I come here to ask you all this…what’s next? I’d really like to get a good compliment for my SR225’s, head-fier’s please help me! These can’s will be fed by an AV-710(probably upgrade that as well
Please give me your thoughtful input. I'm guessing that Sennheiser headphones(2xx-595s) just aren't my cup 'o tea, unless you all think I should try the 600s. Maybe Beyer or AKG or Audio Technica? Hell I don't know, should I just add another Grado to my collection and accept the fact that this is what I truely enjoy and NOTHING else? You tell me!!!
Thanks in advance for all your help,
Andrew