Just got my HD580 - first impressions (and comparison to K501)

[CTY]

Hi everyone...

As mentioned in my other post, I shot an HD580 at ebay. I just received it an hour ago and wanted to share my first impressions with you.


First, I want to tell you about my history regarding headphones...

My one and only high-end headphones until this morning was the AKG K501. Before, I used some 80s Sennheiser (don't remember model numbers, 4xx I think) and lots of el cheapo ear buds. So I am able to do a comparison to the K501.

First impression after taking them out of the box: Wow, these earcups look small! And they are exactly that: small. I really appreciated the rounded earcups of my K501s which at no point touched my ear. But I think it's all a matter of getting used to it. And at least they look not as ugly as the astronaut-like K501s. The famous 'Sennheiser clamp' is a bit uncomfortable right now, but I remember my K501s having a similar clamp when they were new, which became loose after some 10 hours of wearing.

Second impression after plugging in and playing some music: Wow, now thats what a closed soundstage sounds like!

Seriously, the difference between the two phones is noticeable even to the most untrained ear. I played some ambient style music, namely Triola, Thomas Fehlmann and Front Line Assembly (Industrial/EBM but with ambient influence), and in a direct comparison I prefer them with the K501s. They sound much 'wider' with them.
Third impression: Wow, what a booming bass

I think I'm not exactly a basshead, I never missed bass on my K501s. For me, they just had the right amount of it. So the bass of the HD580s hits me very hard at the moment, but I think I'll get used to that. Plus it sounds great with D'n'B, Breakbeat and Trance.

I also experienced that i like the HD580s more with mainstream pop / R'n'B music. Nelly Furtado sounds quite nice on these. On my K501s, it wasn't something impressive or special.

Listening to music through my HD580s also seems to be easier for my ears than through the K501s. When listening to rock/hardcore/etc. with them, I feel tired and 'overfed' after a short time. Not so with the HD580s. I experienced these records to be a little smoother with it. Maybe because of the bass being more emphasized on the HD580s, which causes it to be more of a counter-weight to the treble than the bass of the K501s. Not that rock would be much of concern to me; I'm more into electronics.

So at the time, I cannot decide which I like more. I think I like them both

Unfortunately, I had to list the K501s on ebay to raise some money

 

[Blackmore]

On the one hand congrats with your new toy, but on the other ONE AKG FUNBOY LESS

 

[CTY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackmore /img/forum/go_quote.gif On the one hand congrats with your new toy, but on the other ONE AKG FUNBOY LESS

Oh not really. I still like the AKG sound very much. Maybe I'll end up buying a cheaper AKG in some time (read: when I have the money)

 

[Blackmore]

Cool, just keep us informed when you get tired / boring of HD580

And cheap isnt that correct word, I think. I would say One that FITS better

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTY /img/forum/go_quote.gif Oh not really. I still like the AKG sound very much. Maybe I'll end up buying a cheaper AKG in some time (read: when I have the money)

 

[donunus]

the 580 should sound much better after hours of burn in too

 

[forsberg]

great review!!!! the hd580s rock! hope u enjoy them!

 

[CTY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by donunus /img/forum/go_quote.gif the 580 should sound much better after hours of burn in too

It is fully burnt in, said the pre-owner.


Other than hat, has anyone tried to wash the earpads? I've done so with my K501s' pads, but I'm hesitating to expose the Senns' earpads to water, they look so damageable

 

[audiomagnate]

Don't sell your 501s, you'll live to regret that decision. I've got a pair of 580s on the way. I'm going to look for your 501s on Ebay.

 

[Jammin72]

If they were new you should definitely let the drivers exercise for a while. Mine continue to open up as I let them play.

It's also quite obvious that these headphones really need a lot of power to be controlled effectively.

Unfortunately my amp is on the fritz and going back to the headphone jack on the receiver just isn't cutting it.

What are you using to drive your cans?

 

[CTY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jammin72 /img/forum/go_quote.gif If they were new you should definitely let the drivers exercise for a while. Mine continue to open up as I let them play. It's also quite obvious that these headphones really need a lot of power to be controlled effectively. Unfortunately my amp is on the fritz and going back to the headphone jack on the receiver just isn't cutting it. What are you using to drive your cans?

As I said, the headphones are fully burnt-in.

I use a Hitachi HA-4500 desktop amplifier to power my headphones. For my perception, it delivers more than enough power for both the HD580s and the K501s. They suck both unamped.

I made another discovery: The HD580s sound really awesome when being used with a decent source. In fact, I'm just now listening to Buena Vista Social Club playing on my Onkyo CD-Player

I wonder why I didn't notice that much of a difference between my sound card and my cd player when using the K501s

 

[Jammin72]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTY /img/forum/go_quote.gif As I said, the headphones are fully burnt-in. I use a Hitachi HA-4500 desktop amplifier to power my headphones. For my perception, it delivers more than enough power for both the HD580s and the K501s. They suck both unamped. I made another discovery: The HD580s sound really awesome when being used with a decent source. In fact, I'm just now listening to Buena Vista Social Club playing on my Onkyo CD-Player I wonder why I didn't notice that much of a difference between my sound card and my cd player when using the K501s

Tis a good problem to have with Revealing Headphones!

You may still wish to experiment with a dedicated headphone amp. I know it made a good deal of difference for me.


Enjoy the exploration.

 

[CTY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jammin72 /img/forum/go_quote.gif You may still wish to experiment with a dedicated headphone amp. I know it made a good deal of difference for me.

I'm thinking about buying a CMoy in some (not-too-distant) time

I hope it'll do the job, since it is rather cheap.

 

[Mercuttio]

The reason I curl up more often with Sennheisers than any other brand (and I do like Grado more for many things) is because there's just no listening fatigue. Anything short of an RS1 on the Grado side will wear my ears out after a while.

 

[java]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jammin72 /img/forum/go_quote.gif You may still wish to experiment with a dedicated headphone amp. I know it made a good deal of difference for me.

A good amp definitely makes the 580's sound way better, ... , have had mine now for 12 + years, a good amp is definetly the way to go ...

 

[CTY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercuttio /img/forum/go_quote.gif The reason I curl up more often with Sennheisers than any other brand (and I do like Grado more for many things) is because there's just no listening fatigue. Anything short of an RS1 on the Grado side will wear my ears out after a while.

That's exactly what I experienced, too. Maybe the sound of the Sennheisers is more 'rounded'