[Chronos]

I'm focused on finding the perfect headphones for music, hard rock, screamo, alternative, metal, pop, some rap, acoustic. I don't listen to any jazz or classical so unlike some audiophiles I'd rather get a strong lowend instead of that ultra crisp high end. But at the same time comfortable for long periods, and an excellent soundstage with very clear highs for the occasional game.

I was looking on the ecost website and I'm a little confused about all the different Sennheisers. Whats the difference between these:

HD580 Dynamic Hi-Fi Professional Stereo Headphones -

Sennheiser HD 595 Audiophile Headphone - Why $230 vs HD600 $320? Whats it geared for? Differences?

HD 600 Open Dynamic Hi-Fi/Professional Stereo Headphones - both HD600?

Sennheiser HD 600 Audiophile Headphone

HD650 Audiophile Headphone

HD 555 - cheap, seems like a good bang for the buck! Any Cons?

AT-A900 not enough highs?

Closed would be better but not important, and in the $250 or less range (but might shell out more). I will be using a USB sound card that I bought with a pair of gaming headphones but I might consider upgrading to a Creative X-Fi Xtreme Audio. These will be mostly used with a PC.

New suggestions welcome. Please help ASAP! I was about to order HD555 for $140 or HD595 for $230. Any other websites welcome as well.

 

[speedball]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronos /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm looking for something closed

That puts all of these out of the running:
Quote:

HD580 Dynamic Hi-Fi Professional Stereo Headphones Sennheiser HD 595 Audiophile Headphone HD 600 Open Dynamic Hi-Fi/Professional Stereo Headphones Sennheiser HD 600 Audiophile Headphone HD650 Audiophile Headphone HD 555 - cheap, seems like a good bang for the buck!

btw 595 can be had for about $180.

 

[Chronos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedball /img/forum/go_quote.gif That puts all of these out of the running: btw 595 can be had for about $180.

LOL, ok let me revise that, Closed would be nice but sound is obviously the ultimate goal. So I don't mind closed or open. Sorry about that

 

[meuler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronos /img/forum/go_quote.gif LOL, ok let me revise that, Closed would be nice but sound is obviously the ultimate goal. So I don't mind closed or open. Sorry about that

For the musical genres you listed, you might want to consider Grado or Alessandro, though they won't have the soundstage of the Sennheisers. For the price range you mentioned you could get a Grado SR225 or maybe a used Grado SR325i or used Alessandro MS-2i.

 

[tbonner1]

I would go for the best sounding headphone for your price range and build the source around it.

Senn HD580/600

 

[Pibborando]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronos /img/forum/go_quote.gif AT-A900 not enough highs?

Ahahahaha. Oh man. Ok. Those phones are probably some of the brightest around. No lack of highs there. And they're closed, are great for gaming and for the genres you listed.

 

[Dept_of_Alchemy]

I would recommend the HD595 (it can be had for ~$170 if you shop around online). The Grado SR series won't be very good for screamo because of the sibilance and the MS2i has got to be one of the most uncomfortable headphones around (imagine hanging two blocks of brushed aluminum metal on your head with itchy foam). So, the 595 is the answer. The 600/650 are good headphones but they're hard to drive you'll need to get a proper amplifier to drive them semi-decently and that's at least an extra $200.

 

[Chronos]

Wow thanks for the super fast replies guys. Please keep the suggestions coming, but could someone also point out the differences between the different Sennheiesers, ie: why 595 vs 600 (5 digits off and huge price difference), and whats that other model 600 from the audiophile 600?

 

[s4nder]

There's only one HD600. The HD595 has a different sound signature, it's more upfront and bright. Less bass, more highs. The HD600 is also more refined.

This is the impression I've got from the forum, I've only had the HD555 myself but it's supposed to be somewhat similar to the HD595.

 

[Chronos]

hmm, sounds like the HD600 would be better suited for my music choice and a further out soundstage. Is the HD595 noticeably "weaker" than the HD600's? And according to Dpt. of Alchemy would a USB soundcard / X-fi Xtreme Audio soundcard not be enough of an amp for the HD600? Would the stock form of a HD600 be significantly weaker weaker and muddier than like most headphones like Bose silencing headphones (Best headphones I have experience with). Or is it just to the pure audiophile that notices the difference?

The A900's sound like a good choice too, and they're cheaper than the HD600. Would they be considered more similar to the HD600 or HD595?

Whats the difference between the 580 vs 595 and 600?

 

[Chrysoberyl]

I own the hd 595,and they're really quite good.But the Hd 600 are noticeably better.Bigger soundstage,they feel airier and much more open,and they are also brighter and quite a bit more detailed.The best headphones I've tried so far,and I've tried many.As soon as I save some euros I'll get them and I'll forget about upgraditis. Muddy and Hd 600 are words that should never go together! Some people say that they're dark,and then I start worrying about my mental sanity(but more about theirs,hehe...) And by the way,they sound very good unamped from an xfi xtreme music.
About Bose I don't have any experience,but their headphones are a big joke around here...

 

[troymadison]

I'm simply amazed every time I hear the hd650s with rock (EQ'd a bit)

 

[Rise To The Top]

For all of those Grado people who are sugesting Grados, I prefer my HD650s over SR225s for Rock. To the O.P., you may find Grado's too thin on Bass for some music, I found them very lacking when I tried them out.

 

[Rise To The Top]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronos /img/forum/go_quote.gif hmm, sounds like the HD600 would be better suited for my music choice and a further out soundstage. Is the HD595 noticeably "weaker" than the HD600's? And according to Dpt. of Alchemy would a USB soundcard / X-fi Xtreme Audio soundcard not be enough of an amp for the HD600? Would the stock form of a HD600 be significantly weaker weaker and muddier than like most headphones like Bose silencing headphones (Best headphones I have experience with). Or is it just to the pure audiophile that notices the difference? The A900's sound like a good choice too, and they're cheaper than the HD600. Would they be considered more similar to the HD600 or HD595? Whats the difference between the 580 vs 595 and 600?

The Difference between the HD595 and the HD580/600/650 series is bass, clarity, and soundstage. My 595 went shortly after the arrival of the HD600 to fund proper amplification.

If you plan on buying the HD600/650, plan on investing a couple $100 in a good amp/source combo. A Gilmore Lite would do a good job on the HD600s, around $300.

I think you should go with the 600/650, I do heavy listening in similar genres, and enjoy them. Just make sure you have the right amp/source to go with them.

Also, HD650s can be found for $300 exact, shipped. PM me and I'll give you a list of sellers that sell them at that price that I have experience with.

 

[F107plus5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dept_of_Alchemy /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would recommend the HD595 (it can be had for ~$170 if you shop around online). The Grado SR series won't be very good for screamo because of the sibilance and the MS2i has got to be one of the most uncomfortable headphones around (imagine hanging two blocks of brushed aluminum metal on your head with itchy foam). So, the 595 is the answer. The 600/650 are good headphones but they're hard to drive you'll need to get a proper amplifier to drive them semi-decently and that's at least an extra $200.

Hey; I pretty well agree with most of this. But right now I have to reach up and try to tell if I'm listening to my HD600 or MS2i. Let's see; sound is a little warmer and the pads are made of velour. Guess I'm wearing the HD600.

Yeah; the MS2i are a bit heavier than the HD600, but not appreciably so. Hard to notice actually. The pads are a bit hard to take for the first week or so, but after a few months they break in and become just as comfortable as the HD600. Yeah; it takes a while; but it's worth it.

Which is best for the OP? I dunno, but the two of them together is a team that's hard to beat!