[dachdeckererwin]

Hello,
i am looking for some follow-up to my beloved Sennheise HD420 and HD 425 from the eighties.
They had nice warm and clean mids for my traditional metal but were not too bright and worked even with techno/hiphop.
I am testing the HD485 for 2 weeks and it is absolutely crap in every way.
HD 595 didnt delight me at the shop.
I would like to know if the HD 650 sounds like what i am searching for ( if its not too good amped with my mp3s) and i think i wil testbuy allessandro ms1 or grado when i see one cheap.
What about older HD like 540/560 ?
Any other advice?
I would like to wear them for hours, maybe i have to buy two, or i buy the same again but its hard to find.

Thank You

 

[TAF94]

Well I've had HD485 twice and it absolutely was not crap. It's possible you have a lemon. Maybe try HD580 but it does need an amp.

 

[nikongod]

the hd-580/600/650 have a closer sound to the old senn's than the 595/lesser ones. the 595 is good for its own things, but totally different from the 580/600/650.

it is worth note that the older senn's (410, 414, 420, 424) can use the newer cables, and the change to sound is phenomenal. i think the old senns change more because of the terrible quality stock cable, but whatever.

i would give the 580/600/650 a solid listen before you write off new sennheissers.

aside from the clamp-factor on the old senns did you have a problem with them? i find they clamp worse than grados, and the headband cant be adjusted...

 

[sgrossklass]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikongod /img/forum/go_quote.gif it is worth note that the older senn's (410, 414, 420, 424) can use the newer cables, and the change to sound is phenomenal.

Well, there are matching copper cables available, but those are not the same as those for 580 and the like. #37974 fits.
Quote:

aside from the clamp-factor on the old senns did you have a problem with them? i find they clamp worse than grados, and the headband cant be adjusted...

The HD420 and 425 do have adjustable headbands, and more compact models like the HD420SL have earpieces that slide up and down. I would still call the 424 very comfortable for a supraaural model, it's just a bit on the heavy side and slides off too easily (not for headbangers). After some break-in, the 420SLs turned quite comfortable, too (they certainly are very light). I've never had a 420 though.

If the 420SL is any indication, those older Senns are a bit mid-centric but fairly balanced. A bit tipped up in the lower mids and the highs and a little recessed in the upper mids (responding well to EQ), not all too resolving, pretty "supraaural" soundstaging, but quite listenable overall. It is hardly surprising that the DT990-esque HD485 doesn't fare too well in comparison (its bathtub-like response is best suited for gaming and movies and stuff like that). Halfway neutral entry-level cans seem to be a bit out of fashion.

The HD650 would definitely be worth a listen. It's a little on the expensive side of things, of course. Somewhat clampy, too. (I wish they'd make a top model as comfy as the HD590 was! The '650 basically is the latest iteration of the original HD580 design.)

The HD540 (600 ohm) and first HD560 are fairly bright, not entirely unlike the HD580 but a little rough. I would rather look at HD540 II / HD560 II and HD545/565 when considering older models.

dachdeckererwin, you may want to come over to a German-speaking place.

 

[SuperNothing]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgrossklass /img/forum/go_quote.gif The HD420 and 425 do have adjustable headbands, and more compact models like the HD420SL have earpieces that slide up and down.

I think he meant that you can't bend the actual headband to reduce the clamping force like you can on the Grados because the Grados are made of a band of metal. I could be mistaken though.

 

[nikongod]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgrossklass /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, there are matching copper cables available, but those are not the same as those for 580 and the like. #37974 fits.

quick! tell me this isnt a cardas hd-650 cable on the 414...

the 414 cable fits the 580/650 too, but sounds like poop.

 

[ourfpshero]

kind of older- but the hd525 has a very warm sound. 150 ohms- doesnt need an amp for most sources (maybe with an mp3 player)
i also have an hd545- which has very clean mids and highs but not as 'warm' as the 525.

hd 525 and hd 535(better highs than the 525) still pop up on ebay