[fewtch]

Just received these today (thanks to the recent AcousticSounds thing with Grado SR225s), and admittedly they're not broken in (for those who believe in that anyway... I do). I've listened to a whole bunch of recordings so far though... they've been on my head for hours! I figured what the heck, I'd post some impressions even though the HD-580 has been around a long time and the sound is pretty well known by now.

Anyhow... I can hear the midbass hump that's been discussed before (shows up on Headroom's graphs too). It isn't serious, and lends a certain very appealing warmth that doesn't hurt the sound of most instruments (piano and flute in particular sound amazingly realistic with these cans -- nothing sounds downright unrealistic). Damned if I've ever heard a pair of dynamic headphones without at least some slight midbass emphasis... seems to come with the territory.

Low bass issues? I don't hear any -- despite a certain lack of "punch" and chest-rattling lows I get with my closed Denon AH-D950s, it all seems to be there. I'll test this eventually with some 20-40Hz sine waves, since my primary source is a sound card.

Midrange: nice -- and also slightly recessed like many have mentioned. Not recessed enough to turn me off (many cans are far less flat in midrange than these, imo). Perhaps the midbass and upper bass encroaches on midrange just enough to make it seem a bit recessed, it's hard to tell as of yet. More break-in and listening time should clarify midrange for me. As I've heard Grado HP-1000s and felt midrange was slightly to moderately boosted on those, maybe I'm not a terribly good judge.

Highs... well at first, I heard some harshness and "too much" detail (hurt my ears a bit) that now seems to be disappearing after awhile of playing music through these. I suspect this will disappear completely after break-in.

Soundstaging... not as good as I'd expected, but quite good. Could easily improve with break-in, in my opinion it does with most cans. Source dependent too, of course.

Overall -- I'm impressed at the $140 I paid (quite a bit for me with my low budget), and these cans should remain on my noggin a long time

. They're truly a pleasure to listen to. They don't sound as neutral as I'd expected, which to me is basically a good thing (I think a perfectly neutral headphone would bore me to tears, even with classical). They're more neutral than my Denon AH-D950, but not so neutral as to be distant or lacking warmth -- and as a detail freak, these cans satisfy like nothing else (well... AH-D950 is very close in this department, but lacking in other areas). Not sure where the whole "veil" idea came from... these are diffuse field equalized and are basically supposed to put you back a few rows from the stage. They do the job very nicely.

Positives: Sweetness, fluidity, air, transparency, front to back imaging, soundstaging (the latter two probably limited by my amp, perhaps seriously).
Negatives: Somewhat harsh and "too analytical" highs reminiscent of the HD-280 (seems to be vanishing), not as much punch and dynamics with hard rock as Denon AH-D950, not as neutral frequency-wise as they're sometimes thought to be.

Source: M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 soundcard -> Creek OBH-11 with upgraded PS -> Senn HD580 (stock cable).

Music: Variety of musical types and genres (haven't tried any death metal yet

).

 

[r3cc0s]

i'd like to put one thing straight, you can't reference the ahd-950's to an open, natural sounding reference headphones (especially properly amp'd) to the 580's.

I have had the 580's, the akg 501's and the R2-2 (currently my fav)

and I have the V6 w/ velour and the Ahd-950 (which I gave to my bro)

The AHD-950 are pretty nice cans, i'll admit, but comparitively to a high end refernce can, you can tell they can't compare.

you'll notice that the AHD-950 to have insane mid-bass and they can go low, but they just have an extenutated treble, and a very "undetailed" midrange
they have very little (as most closed cans do) stage or width
and overall
they seem to be a phone for a hiphop or bass (dumbass) lol genre of music


The 580's are this (properly amp'd)
Smooth, punchy deep bass w/ amazing detail and soundstage, (properly amp'd of course)

I do prefer my RS-2's to them, because I feel that the detail and synergy that they produce, gives me enjoyment and excitement to the music i listen to
They produce incrediable detail, yet remaining smooth (not sibilent) and just astounding with female vocals
their accurate punchy bass (which grado's are famous for) provide an entertaining listening experience

though you have a creek for the 580's, I am unsure if that is a good combo with the 580's
I use a HPA-1 from Audio Alchemy
but they were great with the Total Airhead, and any CMOY (which can be found quite cheap)

ciao

 

[Geek]

All of the issues you are having with HD580s (midbass hump, a tad too brittle sounding, foggy recessed mids) can be fixed by upgrading your associated equipment. I liked the high end sennheiser sound on equipment that was perhaps thirty times as expensive as the cost of the headphones themselves.

Congrats on buying the HD580. At its current price it's one of the two best deals in audio right now.

Cheers,
Geek

 

[andrzejpw]

Congrats on getting the HD580s, they'll serve you well for a long time. I have noticed that however much time passes, these headphones just keep on growing with my system. They've lasted since I seriously started this hobby (over 2 years ago), and I have had no desire to upgrade them. And yes, I have heard RS-1s, 2, SR-225s, Staxes, HD600s, Orphei, etc. Well, maybe desire is the wrong word

. Anyways, the 580s will not limit you as you upgrade you equipment. Until you start getting into really serious sources and upgrades, you'll be fine.

From what I remember, my 580s improved measurably with burn in. Currently, the highs sound quite extended, although perhaps a bit too much at times (this is very dependent on the recording). The soundstage is literally enormous; you should start hearing it very soon. Hmm, now that I think about it, all lot of my criticisms of the 580s have come from bad recordings. A good recording will really make these phones sing.

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally posted by r3cc0s i'd like to put one thing straight, you can't reference the ahd-950's to an open, natural sounding reference headphones (especially properly amp'd) to the 580's. though you have a creek for the 580's, I am unsure if that is a good combo with the 580's

Well, I did "reference" the two anyway (actually just made a few comparisons), since I'm very familiar with the characteristics of the AH-D950. IMO that's the best way to compare -- use something you're intimately familiar with. Closed, open, whatever... headphones are still headphones, and the AH-D950 is Denon's top of the line. It isn't shamed by the HD-580, but rather put in its place: the boosted low bass, slightly to moderately recessed midrange (it isn't that drastic) and forward quality works better for hard rock, metal and similar forms of music than the HD-580 does, in my opinion. Everywhere else the Denons get their butt kicked to varying degrees, but not to the amount that I ever thought "omg, how did I ever listen to those crappy cans?" They're still good cans, afaic. I think you're overblowing the AH-D950's faults... maybe you aren't as big a fan of bass as I am

.

As far as the Creek, I've read quite a few reviews (off this site, mostly on Epinions and Audioreview.com) with people using the OBH-11 in combination with HD-580s and everyone seems to think it's a good combination. I think so, too, and am getting good volume levels at about 9:30 on the knob. I'm sure I'd get better results with better equipment, but by no means would I call my current results "poor." I do think these cans are being limited by my source and amp, and hinted as much in the impressions I posted.
Quote:

Originally posted by r3cc0s The 580's are this (properly amp'd) Smooth, punchy deep bass w/ amazing detail and soundstage, (properly amp'd of course)

I'm getting everything you noted above except amazing soundstage (could come with burnin, might not because of my entry level amp and source). The bass is punchy and deep when taken on its own, but the AH-D950 crushes it in terms of comparison... in this particular area (and in my opinion) the Denons simply destroy the HD-580. AH-D950 bass is almost as clean, and so powerful that I could swear there's a subwoofer in the room. Nothing like that with the 580 -- low bass is totally there, but polite and gentle. IMHO these are not very good hard rock/metal /hip-hop cans.

Cheers...

 

[gswpete]

I see a cable and amp upgrade in your future

Congrats and enjoy

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally posted by gswpete I see a cable and amp upgrade in your future Congrats and enjoy

Oh, my poor wallet...

Well, it's gonna be awhile anyway - finances don't permit it at the moment, period. Eventually I'll probably upgrade my amp, then do the cable upgrade last. Thing is, I'm not sure how much of an improvement I'll hear from my soundcard (it's a good soundcard, but still a soundcard). My sources are PC-based and will probably stay that way, so perhaps an ART DI/O or something... who knows.

Anyway, I'm enjoying these plenty with my current sources even at this early stage of break-in... not getting a huge soundstage yet, and I wonder if I ever will with these sources (but will be more than happy if/when it appears

).

 

[MusicLover]

Congratulations on another defeat over your wallet!

Quote:

Originally posted by andrzejpw A good recording will really make these phones sing.

An understatement, to say the least. The HD580/600's sound just incredible with really good recordings. I also think the highs calm down quite a bit during burn-in from my experience.

I remember someone saying once that these headphones "engulf you with sound." He/she couldn't have said it better. The soundstage is immmense. You will soon know what I mean.

Btw, good luck with ever getting rid of these. They will grow on you substantially throughout all the time you have them. I got my HD600's around 6 months ago and now I'll never let 'em go.

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally posted by MusicLover I remember someone saying once that these headphones "engulf you with sound." He/she couldn't have said it better. The soundstage is immmense. You will soon know what I mean.

I wish the drivers were a few mm further away from my ears... when I pull them out a little I notice no change in frequency response, but soundstage gets bigger. Hopefully my head shape permits the kind of soundstage you're getting.

 

[r3cc0s]

don't get me wrong, soundstage isn't going to magically make all your recordings sound binaural

but the 580's (maybe cause they were broken in) had just amazing width

to be honest (in my opinion) the reason why I liked the ahd-950 off the rack was because of it's intense bass, just like the technics rpdj-1200

but after listeing to cans, and appreciating the fact that detail, space, vocals and impact and flat yet deep bass, made me enjoy the Rs-2's, 580s, akg 501's and sony 3k's as much as I do

I feel honestly those cans I listed, put the AHD-950 in their place as a good (but still mediocre) can in the huge spectrum of hi-fi

The comparison is more like: a set of good speakers (like energy, infinity, pjb, lower end KEF, Paradigm etc...) and comparing them to
B&W, Martin Logan, and Monitor Audio

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally posted by r3cc0s don't get me wrong, soundstage isn't going to magically make all your recordings sound binaural but the 580's (maybe cause they were broken in) had just amazing width to be honest (in my opinion) the reason why I liked the ahd-950 off the rack was because of it's intense bass, just like the technics rpdj-1200 but after listeing to cans, and appreciating the fact that detail, space, vocals and impact and flat yet deep bass, made me enjoy the Rs-2's, 580s, akg 501's and sony 3k's as much as I do I feel honestly those cans I listed, put the AHD-950 in their place as a good (but still mediocre) can in the huge spectrum of hi-fi The comparison is more like: a set of good speakers (like energy, infinity, pjb, lower end KEF, Paradigm etc...) and comparing them to B&W, Martin Logan, and Monitor Audio

Not sure why a pair of cans has to be both 'good' and 'mediocre' at the same time, or why it has to be compared to other cans at much higher price points (they're about $100 cans, if you recall).

Afaic, the Denons kick booty with stuff like older Rush, Judas Priest, old school hiphop, music like that... I will be listening to them with that stuff, and not my HD-580s. They're good, and not mediocre at all as far as I'm concerned (better than the V6/7506 by a sizeable margin, imo... cleaner highs and lows, substantially better midrange, better soundstage).

 

[r3cc0s]

again it's just preference

though clear and punchy and smooth compared to lesser cans

I just find the lack of detail, the forward presentation, the overwhelming midbass and lack of stage
(of course in comparison with AKG 501/580/Grado RS-2)
to be that I dislike

sorry

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally posted by r3cc0s again it's just preference though clear and punchy and smooth compared to lesser cans I just find the lack of detail, the forward presentation, the overwhelming midbass and lack of stage (of course in comparison with AKG 501/580/Grado RS-2) to be that I dislike sorry

Agreed with everything except "lack of detail" -- unless you didn't burn in the AH-D950 enough (detail increased for me greatly after ~100-200 hours burnin time, finally they are very detailed and analytical headphones).

As far as the other aspects... can you name a pair of closed-back cans at the $100-$200 price point you like a lot better than the AH-D950, and give the reasons why? Or are you just making unfair/nonsense comparisons, like a $30 Koss Portapro vs. a $200 Grado SR-225...

 

[ManiacSmile]

Quote:

Originally posted by fewtch I wish the drivers were a few mm further away from my ears... when I pull them out a little I notice no change in frequency response, but soundstage gets bigger. Hopefully my head shape permits the kind of soundstage you're getting.

You'd have to go with HD600 to get that effect, as far as I can recall the pads on the HD580 have a tendency to become flat, while cushions on HD600 stay firm forever.

 

[r3cc0s]

again it's just preference

though clear and punchy and smooth compared to lesser cans

I just find the lack of detail, the forward presentation, the overwhelming midbass and lack of stage
(of course in comparison with AKG 501/580/Grado RS-2)
to be that I dislike

sorry