hd555 some questions

[RP80]

Hi there, new swedish member here, first post.

I'm on the lookout for new headphones mainly for fps gaming use. I have done alot of searching and browsing here on the forum and have gotten a pretty good idea of what cans to go for.
Although I have one question I need help with before I order. It looks as though I will go for a pair of hd555/50ohm since they are easy to comeby(I want to buy from my local sound shop, and they have a bit limited selection).
I just want to check if you guys think I can get value out of them with my perhaps poor soundcard. I have an Audigy4 and the headphones will go without an amp directly plugged into the card.
I also was planning to perhaps use them for when I play electric guitar(blues and jazz) and dont want to annoy my neighbours +plug them into my dvd for movie watching from time to time.
Will the hd555 be a good buy you think for me?

Hope someone can take time and help, I have been doing alot of searching likeI saide but couldnt find this specific info.

 

[donunus]

I like my 555 yes but I'm a weird person when it comes to gaming. I prefer a more colored and impactful presentation like the grado sr60. The 555 is way better to me for everything combined. Just burn them in for 300 hours to make sure they are well done

 

[RP80]

hehe oki i take it the hd555 is a solid choice then for me.
Although (once again, have done this alot last few days when browsing this forum) I might be going for another pair of cans now.
Read some good stuff about the mdr-xd400. They are abit cheaper then the hd555 and seems to be good for games and movies. How they would do whne playing guitar I have no idea but I'm guessing they are all right.
So for now its Sony all the way.

 

[robertburchell]

You mentioned guitar, at your price point the Alessanddro ms-1's might be a fine choice, I hear that grado sound is excellent for guitar and drum, but at the same time i hear they have NO soundstage, which is far from ideal for gaming.. Hrmmm lol

 

[donunus]

I have both the ms1 and the 555 and the definition of the bass is definitely better on the 555s. Guitars and strings are sweeter too. The thing about games though is that their soundstage is artificial. To me, the ms1s are good enough soundstage wise for games. Its the gun impact and explosions that matter more which the ms1s do better. As Ive said I've also heard the sr60s with games(mine died already) and although I havent heard them side by side I can say that the sr60s are a better value for that purpose. They might even be a little better than the ms1s energy wise

 

[Mikael]

I just auditioned a large number of phones at the local shop:

- Senn HD555
- Senn HD595
- Senn HD600
- Senn HD650
- Senn RS120
- Senn RS130
- Senn PX100
- Grado SR-80
- Beyer DT-880

I'm also a longtime owner of a pair of HD580, aswell as a pair of HD25-1.

Anyway, the HD555 really impressed me. They certainly weren't far from the HD595. They also have some of the qualities of the HD580, but I think the 555s somewhat "fatter" sound reproduction will fit better to games. They still did exceptionally well with music, though.

Also consider getting them from Dustin Home, since they're only 895kr shipped.

 

[Unearthed]

What were your opinions of the 880 compared to the others on the list?

 

[Mikael]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unearthed What were your opinions of the 880 compared to the others on the list?

Please note that I only did a quick listen with a few songs. That said, I thought that they were a little on the bright side. A little too bright for my taste. Other than this, they weren't all that different from the higher end Sennheiser offerings.

That's really all I can tell from this rather brief listen. I didn't listen as much to the DT880s as I did with the HD555s.

 

[milkpowder]

HD555 are incredible. They are just so versatile (much more so than my HD650)! I have unfortunately sold them... They are very good for gaming. I highly recommend them!

 

[Mikael]

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkpowder HD555 are incredible. They are just so versatile (much more so than my HD650)! I have unfortunately sold them... They are very good for gaming. I highly recommend them!

Yeah, I'm almost considering getting these, just to get some variation. There are some types of music that probably sound better with these than my HD580s. Not so much because of shortcomings of the 580, but rather because of shortcomings in the recordings that make the HD555 more suitable. I'm mainly referring to badly/tinny recorded hard rock albums.

 

[donunus]

ALRIGHT, give it up for the 555. I sense a 555 appreciation thread vibe in the making

 

[mattg3]

How would you say the hd555 stacks up against the dt990?I have the hd555 and like it but the reviews and hype on the dt990 on this forum have driven me to put the hd555 0n sale to buy the dt990.Any feedback here appreciated before i sell off my hd555 and end up wishing i didnt.

 

[donunus]

I haven't heard the 990s but from what I have read, they are bassy cans with a recessed midrange but maybe more refined in texture vs the 555 while the 555 might have a more balanced sound from bottom to the upper mids but darker in the treble region and a grainier sound

 

[donunus]

Advice... don't sell your 555s if you love them. Buy the 990s if you want and keep both since they have different flavors of sound

 

[senny-ftw]

Yep - 555s fit the bill nicely for gaming and your computer will power them happily. Also they're some of the most comfortable phones out there. In my opinion 580s will be crying out for an amp.

Guitars sound clearly better to me on the 595s, and even better on 600s...

My advice to anyone buying 555s though is to think hard about your budget - if 595 is not strictly out of budget, consider them seriously. IMO there's no benefit of 555 against 595 - 595 has same characteristics as 555, but better soundstage and separation of instruments.

Having said that, 555 is *very* good value.