Let’s get this out of the way right now. This is the best all-purpose headphone I’ve ever used. And not just for music either. I’m talking music, movies, and games. Their extremely likeable and unfatiguing sound makes them ace nearly any kind of music you throw at them; their huge and precise soundstage gives you the advantage in competitive gaming while enhancing any gaming experience; and their unbelievable comfort makes watching hours of your favorite movies or shows a breeze. Due to their insane versatility, these would be the absolute first headphone I would recommend to anyone looking for a solid performer in all aspects. For those looking for just one headphone to use for everything, this is it. They seriously kick butt in just about every regard, making them truly worthy to be qualified as the jack of all trades.
[..] In fact, I’ll just say it now; these are easily one of the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn, and possibly *the* most comfortable. An
But now, we approach the inevitable. How does the HD598 sound and what makes it so special?
I’ll tell you what makes it special. It simply doesn’t do anything wrong. The sound as a whole is well, whole. Nothing is missing, nothing steps out of line. Bass is here, yet the least present of the trio. Many will complain it’s not enough. Well, it’s enough. If it had any more bass it wouldn’t be nearly as good of an all-arounder, because it would start rendering classical, jazz, and orchestral works overbearing because of the bass. The midrange is definitely here and possibly the most present of the three. Vocals sound stellar on these folks. And the midrange really makes the entire sound come together as a whole, giving the music more life and realism. And finally we have the treble, and it’s here too. But it’s not your ordinary treble; this is some of the most special treble I’ve ever experienced in a headphone.
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. The HD598 somehow manages to have a brighter overall sound signature, which gives it a good chunk of the qualities of good treble, yet it simply does not fatigue the slightest. I’ve never had it cross into sibilance; never have been irritated by piercing highs; and I never once thought about wishing it would cool down a bit, like I frequently think with the slightest of bright headphones. I honestly don’t know how the engineers at Sennheiser did it, but they seemed to have pulled of some of the most wonderful treble I've ever listened to. It's smooth, it's alive, yet it knows it's place.
[...]That said, the HD598 excels wonderfully. The soundstage on these is some of the biggest I’ve ever heard in any headphone, and that includes the K701 and AD700. Typically, headphones with a huge soundstage that I’ve had in the past, had bass that was seriously lacking, but these seem to get it just right by having a huge soundstage on top of having plenty of bass. That alone is something I find hard to achieve -- enough bass, with enough soundstage; yet the HD598 once again pulls it off.
[...]
There is just too much to like about the HD598. I classify it as the best all-arounder, multi-purpose headphone that I have ever had the privilege to listen to. It’s just one of those headphones that are a joy to own, because there is always something that it can be great at. And it's flexible enough that it can *always* be used for something, if not everything. Whether using it for it’s superb long term comfort, utilizing it’s expansive soundstage to gain an edge in gaming, or just simply to enjoy tunes with it’s very special sound signature; the HD598 is sure to impress just about anyone in some aspect or another. Quite the achievement by Sennheiser if you ask me.
