[1Time]

Chronos,

If not buying an amp in the near future, the HD595 is the way to go (and even if you later buy an amp). IMO, the HD595 would be better than the A900 for the type of music you listed. The HD595 holds its value pretty well, so you're not out much if you later decide to sell it. For lots of comparisons of these cans, I suggest using this forum's search function.

 

[granodemostasa]

Hello. May I have a few cents??

The first thing I would like to do is congratulate you on the good research up to this point. I believe that you have stumbled on some of the best cans in the hobby. That being, said, I think alot of this decision is based around the rig you are putting together. Overall, I think I'm going to be simple and say the 595. Please let me explain...

The HD580 and 600 are the original Sennheiser audiophile and studio headphones. the 580 was designed in the mid 90s, while the 600 in the late 60s. When released both cans became the standard by which all other good cans were judged, as a result they are well known. Some of the best headphone rigs out there have been built around these two. For the most part, both cans can be described as hard to drive (meaning they usually need an additional amplifier for decent dynamics and speed) neutral. Both cans are generally thought of as un-colored, laid back, and a bit veiled in their presentation... imagine sitting 15 rows back.

The 595 was built to be a response to the criticisms against the audiophile line up. It is much more up front, easier to drive (with ipods and sound cards), and has very good speed. The cans can be described as very good all around, with all forms of music. My personal gripe with them is that they sounded far better from my soundcard than the HD650... but once I added a n expensive amplifier and DA converter to my system, the HD650 easily sounded better. Additionally, they can be a little dry compared to the full/rich sound of the HD650.

The HD650 is Sennheiser's best current can. It is somewhat difficult to drive. In making the can, Sennheiser wanted to built a can that the listener would fall in love with, and this they did well. It has an exaggerated bass and very soft treble, but it comes across as authoritative and very refined. The can is less veiled than it's predecessors, but still very difficult to drive nonetheless. I wouldn't really recommend this can unless you are willing to pay the money to buy the components that would make it worth while. Like I said, out of my sound card, i liked the HD595 better.

The HD555 is not really an "audiophile can" as much as it is a "mid-fi" can. It doesn't have the dynamics, speed, sound stage or preciseness of the 595. but it sounds very close. It's sound signature can be described as the "little brother" of the 555. There isn't anything too remarkable after that... If you have 100 dollars, the 555 is a great bargain, but if you have 200, I would certainly recommend the 595.

The other thing you might want to consider is the 325i. It is a hard hitting, super fast, bright, but impacting can that can get one's foot tapping quite quickly. It is not really as "audiophile" refined, or neutral as the HD600/650, but unless you are really picky about the texture of drums, I think you'll enjoy the 325i more for rock.

By the way, I currently see the 595 for alot less than the 230 you are about to pay on various places. just do an Amazon.com search.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...216285-5228471

 

[MaloS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Time /img/forum/go_quote.gif Chronos, If not buying an amp in the near future, the HD595 is the way to go (and even if you later buy an amp). IMO, the HD595 would be better than the A900 for the type of music you listed. The HD595 holds its value pretty well, so you're not out much if you later decide to sell it. For lots of comparisons of these cans, I suggest using this forum's search function.

For the music he listed A900 is actually better >.< If he listened to Jazz or Classical, then we would talk, but hd595 low end does not suffice if not properly amped.

Lets put it in perspective - for using unamped, and possibly under-sourced - A900 is the name of the game. HD595 would be fine unamped, but it really can get whacky without a source, it congests in the treble easily. HD600/HD650 are excellent if you want to later get an amp, better source, but they won't show what they are all about without such upgrades.

Anyways, I vote either hd595 or A900 given the presentation. I like A900 better even though I used hd595 for 2 years.

 

[P.J]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rise To The Top /img/forum/go_quote.gif 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.

$300 HD650 + $100 AMP (Which amp?

) = $400 = 2x HD595

(Does $100 enough for a good AMP ?)

 

[Dept_of_Alchemy]

I'm starting to think if maybe what he needs is a pair of PX100 from Senn... I mean, think about it; with the PX100 he can take it with him everywhere he goes, it looks way better than the 595, it doesn't need an amp to sound great, it has a GREAT bottom end and compliments poorly recorded music perfectly (and let's be honest, screamo/alternative recordings are usually pretty compressed).

I own both the 650 and the PX100 and I'd pick the PX100 to listen to poorly recorded screamo/underground/alternative on a soundcard or an iPod over the 650 anyday. The PX100 is just designed for this application. The 6x0 was designed for audiophiles to listen to audiophile recordings on audiophile grade equipment, not screamo on an x-fi soundcard.

So there, HD595 or PX100.

 

[tbonner1]

I would lean toward the HD600 if you cannot find the 580 so you can have more money for an amp.

Senn's will benefit from the best source you can feed them. Look at the Little Dot amp if you like tubes.

 

[Chronos]

Thanks a lot for the help guys. So this is just a little hard to believe but, the unamped HD595 would actually sound better than an unamped HD650? I know I won't be purchasing an amp or DAC for a while, but I might later on.

BTW, what're some cheap but good amps and DAC's (cheap as in minimal I have to spend to get something that sounds good for the average head-fi user maybe ~$200)? And I have a USB soundcard that came with my Steelsound 5H (Gaming headphones http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=13906 ) but I was going to upgrade to a Creative X-Fi, would there be no point if I buy a DAC? And any of the headphones mentioned in this thread would be a significant improvement from my current ones right?

Oh and about the PCX, I figured I might as well get a good one now and upgrade amp, dac, etc later on isntead of upgrading to new headphones again. I've been through a few headphones already even though they were mostly gaming based.

 

[MaZa]

Grados trounce the Senns in hard rock and metal as Senns laidback and veiled uppermids kinda butchers electric guitars, but Grados perfomance is questionable for other genres you listen. It all depending on taste of course.

Get HD595, great for unamped listening and upgrade well when you add amps to your line-up later. For left over money get some Grado headphone, like SR-60 or SR-80, for more aggressive sound and simply rocking out. This way you get a taste from both polar opposites of sound presentation.

 

[Max Minimum]

I think MaZa just came up with THE solution.

 

[Rise To The Top]

If you plan on purchasing a amp in a month or so, just get the HD6x0's. Its worth the 2 month wait for the amp, I had to wait a month for my amp to come in for my HD600's, and even though they didnt sound too good over that one month period, the jump in perfromance was worth it.

 

[Chronos]

Ok so I spent a lot of time reading and I figured out that the Sennheiser 650's may not be what I'm looking for. I like headphones that you can really rockout to, where the bass is heavy, the vocals are crystal clear almost to the point of shrilling but just reserved from it, with good mids so I can hear that string plucking, and nice solos (don't care as much about crazy guitar riffs, more like melodic stuff).

I ruled out the HD650's and I was looking at these:
DT990 - worried mids are too weak
Denon - D2000
Sennheiser - HD595
Sennheiser - HD600

What do you guys think of these for what I'm looking for?

liked the reviews of AKG K701 but heard bass is too weak...

Also I figured the best way to know is to try them, but which shop in NYC would have all these and be best to try them out at?

 

[MaloS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronos /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ok so I spent a lot of time reading and I figured out that the Sennheiser 650's may not be what I'm looking for. I like headphones that you can really rockout to, where the bass is heavy, the vocals are crystal clear almost to the point of shrilling but just reserved from it, with good mids so I can hear that string plucking, and nice solos (don't care as much about crazy guitar riffs, more like melodic stuff). I ruled out the HD650's and I was looking at these: DT990 - worried mids are too weak Denon - D2000 Sennheiser - HD595 Sennheiser - HD600 What do you guys think of these for what I'm looking for? liked the reviews of AKG K701 but heard bass is too weak... Also I figured the best way to know is to try them, but which shop in NYC would have all these and be best to try them out at?

Gah, strong bass, crystal clear vocals, and good mids for guitars - we wish it was that easy, and find alternative to top of the line headphone of one of the major manufacturers...
Beyers are definitely worth looking at - and the fact that are mids are too weak can be fixed by a warm amplifier (I can think of a couple right off the top of my head). Denons sound like something worth a try too. Cross everything else off the list.