fusedpro
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2008
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Schiit Asgard or Matrix M-Stage are two highly recommended amplifiers in that price bracket. I use the Asgard with my HD580 (AMAZING headphones, by the way) and they pair wonderfully.
Sounds like you may have had some very bad synergy there with the HD-598 and possibly amp overkill. Not sure if that's even possible.
Have you tried any other amps with the HD-598 other than the Burson or E10? Maybe the E10 is too warm/dark for the HD-598?
I understand impressions and ears are always different, but there is 100% no way an HD-598 can have any of the following as you described when properly driven:
"a bit 'thuddy' and overbearing bass" (it's bass is probably comparable in quantity to an Q701 IMO!)
"chocolate pudding bass and warmer mids" (HD-650/600 is WAY too warm for me. The HD-598 is just right)
"too veiled and muddied compared to the HD650" (The HD-598 is the first Sennheiser to me that DIDN'T feel veiled.)
Then how the HD-650 can have shrill highs. Huh?! The HD-650 is the complete opposite of that and the HD-598 has much more treble.
If you ask 100 people here, I think they will agree that the HD-650 is much warmer and more bassy than the HD-598.
Are you sure you didn't confuse the twoWhatyou described is closer to my impressions of the HD-650!
Sorry, I don't mean to come across as a jerk, but those impressions are a bit strange.
I was so impressed with the 598 I thought I'd try the HD-650. Bought a new amp for it and made myself some new cables to get it to sound the way I wanted. Once I recabled my HD-598 with Mogami I sold the HD-650 immediately. It was just that good. Got rid of the HD-650, but at least I found an amp that works great with both the HD-650 and K702.
The HD-650 is a good headphone, but not really an upgrade for me. The HD-598 just does so many things better. None of that bass I hate on the HD-650, more treble, more detail (don't say it!) and a larger soundstage. However the soundstage on the HD-650 may be better, just not as large. The mids of the HD-598 are just too addicting to go back to the HD-650. For me the HD-650 is a downgrade from a recabled HD-598. Sure, with stock cables the HD-650 is technically better...or so they say.
Basically it comes down to the signature you prefer. Me I just prefer the HD-598, that's all. People who want more bass can go with the HD-600 or HD-650.
In the end I think i would prefer the HD650s if I had a choice. But I would miss the great mids and soundstage of the HD598.
I wouldn't say muffled, maybe recessed, or "full" sounding.