Help! Upgrade from V-Moda M-100 / Sennheiser HD598 - Philips X2??

[hundreth]

Hey guys, this is my first post here. I recently got bitten by this addition. Still a newb.
 
As a background, I listen to a bit of everything but I always return to EDM and Hip Hop as my primary genres. I'm definitely somewhat of a basshead, although I can appreciate great sound quality and didn't want the bloated Beats sound.
 
Before I started this journey I was using my trusted SoundMAGIC E10s. I love these cheap little headphones. I pair them with Comply soft foam tips and they give me great bass impact with extension along with a very warm, smooth, and forgiving sound signature. 
 
It was time for an upgrade. I wanted a good full size headphone with some bass presence to play the styles of music I enjoy on the go and at work. The V-Moda M-100s had stellar reviews on Amazon and were highly recommended here as well. They were touted as audiophile headphones with extra bass oomph. Sounds perfect for me. Unfortunately, these haven't really impressed me. For one, the bass impact doesn't even rival the little IEM SoundMAGICs. There's bass, but it doesn't really have a punch to it. It extends low, but feels muddy. This isn't really the kind of bass I enjoy. I'm looking for tight punchy bass that gets me into the music. The clarity on these is fine, but they begin to sound harsh at louder volumes and I can see what many people are talking about when they mention veiled mids.
 
I did a bit of research and thought maybe a more conventional sounding audiophile headphone would suit me better. After reading rave reviews about the HD598 I decided to try them. They aren't very expensive now, so why not. These headphones actually blew me away with their sound. I've never heard such clarity and beautiful sounding midrange. They are so smooth sounding, with great clarity. They are rarely harsh to my ears. On top of it, these also have tight punchy bass that sound great. They don't extend very low, but it still sounds good. The problem is the bass has far less presence than the midrange and treble. I keep wanting to feel that thump and find myself raising the volume to unhealthy levels to get it. 
 
I've been driving both of these cans with the Fiio E10K, which seems fine. I'm not really fond of the bass boost feature. It does sound distorted to me. I really want a pair of headphones with the smooth sound signature of the 598s, but with tight punchy bass. It is simply maddening to me that I paid $35 for a pair of IEMs that sound balanced to me, yet I can't find the same balance for 10x the price. 
 
I've been reading reviews of different headphones and it sounds like the Philips X2 is closer to what I'm looking for. It should have the warm smooth clarity of the HD598s but with added bass presence. The question is, how much of a difference is it really? Is it noticeable enough to warrant the upgrade from the HD598s? Because if not I might just stick with these Sennheisers. I've also heard the X2s can sound harsh at times. Have any of you heard both the 598s and the X2? How do they compare?
 
I've also read a bit about the HE400 variants. They seem like the other popular choice for clean bass. It sounds like these can get pretty harsh though. They are also more expensive and supposedly have a more veiled midrange. I'm not sure I would like the sound of these.
 
If the HD598s just had more present, deeper lows I think it would be the perfect headphone for me. Arghh.
 
Sorry for the long winded post. Please share your thoughts. Thanks in advance!

 

[mysticstryk]

I have the X2, 400i (one of the 400 variants you speak of) and the hd595 (the precursor to your 598).  IMO the X2 will not have as nice of a midrange as your Senn has.  The midrange on the X2 is just slightly recessed of neutral.  I do not find the highs harsh at all.  Not the smoothest of highs, but not harsh.  The bass presence is definitely a step up.
 
The 400i would also be a solid choice.  Deep, well extended bass.  Not quite as much presence as the X2, but extends deeper and is much more detailed with better texture.  It also has a pretty neutral midrange IMO, better than the X2.  The treble is also better extended and smoother than the X2.  They should sound fine out of you e10k, although they will open up even more with better amplification. 

 

[hundreth]

  I have the X2, 400i (one of the 400 variants you speak of) and the hd595 (the precursor to your 598).  IMO the X2 will not have as nice of a midrange as your Senn has.  The midrange on the X2 is just slightly recessed of neutral.  I do not find the highs harsh at all.  Not the smoothest of highs, but not harsh.  The bass presence is definitely a step up.
 
The 400i would also be a solid choice.  Deep, well extended bass.  Not quite as much presence as the X2, but extends deeper and is much more detailed with better texture.  It also has a pretty neutral midrange IMO, better than the X2.  The treble is also better extended and smoother than the X2.  They should sound fine out of you e10k, although they will open up even more with better amplification. 

Thanks a lot mysticstryk. It sounds like you enjoy the 400i more, is that right?

 

[mysticstryk]

Thanks a lot mysticstryk. It sounds like you enjoy the 400i more, is that right?

I do, by a pretty wide margin. The detail, speed, and clarity are all much better on the 400i IMO. The only thing I'd say the X2 has is more bass quantity.

 

[mattvisual]

So I have tried the HD598s, X-2, and 400i recently. It definitely depends on what type of bass you want and most of the time I would say its best to just try them out through amazon (and return) if you can. I'm not that best at describing sound but I know your struggle so ill throw my 2 cents in.
 
From a heavy gamer, movie and music listener.
V-moda m-100: I listened to them for a few hours and was really unimpressed.. Which doesnt make any sense with its price and reviews. The overall headphone was just 'ok' compared to other in the price range. 
HD598: Bass is light compared to the other 2 but is there. You will be disappointed if you like slam in the bass though. It also seems to get boring sometimes when it comes to high energy music.
The Philips X-2: Bass is like a soft pillow punch while the 400i is a more tighter texture. I would say both of these are good choices over the HD598 if you can pay the money but the x-2 being half the price of the 400i.. I would say its not worth the jump in price. 
Even though I prefer the planar bass, I would have to say the X-2 is just a little bit more fun to listen to. Plus I feel like the bass is a little more satisfying in more songs on the x-2.
 
Of course this is all opinions and I recommend listening to them to understand what you like.