[nastyskillz]

Well J&R was selling them for $115, even cheaper than Amazon, but now their website says "sold out" But if you live in the area of their retail stores, you still might be able to find a pair at that price.

 

[sugarkang]

To whoever asked about paying $20 more for the HD-595:
 
1. the 595 comes with a headphone holder; the 555 does not. 
2. the 555 can get screwed up by doing the mod; it happens.
3. if you lose the original foam, you ruin the resale value.  The 595 will retain resale value better.

 

[tlniec]

I was teetering on the edge of ordering a pair of HD555s and doing the foam mod, to replace the AD700s I had to send back due to imbalanced left/right volume.  Just happened to check 595 prices and saw they had dropped to $115 -- sold!  They just arrived today, and I'm listening to them right now.  They are indeed less bright than the AD700s, but still carry plenty of treble.  Seem to have a bit more bass.  Soundstage seems very good (but have only listened to a few songs so far).  Very happy with my purchase, and I feel they were definitely worth the extra $20 over what I paid for the AD700s.  I think they might have been worth it even at the $150 price-point.

 

[pp312]

Quote:

3. if you lose the original foam, you ruin the resale value.  The 595 will retain resale value better.

Need you mention about having done the mod? Wouldn't be unethical not to do so. In fact I've seen a couple of Ebay ads for the 555 that make a virtue of the mod.