[trellus]

The first thing my roommate - who teases me often about my excessive headphone collection - said as I opened the box and pulled them out: “they look cheap.”

Comparing them with my HD 600, they definitely look cheaper, particularly the grill looks cheaper and because it hides the driver, it makes the headphone as a whole look cheaper:



As for the sound, it definitely has a “thicker” sound than the HD 600, bass is more emphasized on the 58X. I’ve had very little listening time so far but as it stands right now, I prefer the HD 600 over the HD 58X.

I’ll compare the 58X to the 650 when I get to the office, which is where my 650 lives.

 

[beercanchicken]

The first thing my roommate - who teases me often about my excessive headphone collection - said as I opened the box and pulled them out: “they look cheap.”

Comparing them with my HD 600, they definitely look cheaper, particularly the grill looks cheaper and because it hides the driver, it makes the headphone as a whole look cheaper:



As for the sound, it definitely has a “thicker” sound than the HD 600, bass is more emphasized on the 58X. I’ve had very little listening time so far but as it stands right now, I prefer the HD 600 over the HD 58X.

I’ll compare the 58X to the 650 when I get to the office, which is where my 650 lives.

Is the grill an easy replacement part to find? Swapping a HD600 grill on them may look pretty cool

 

[477621]

Is the grill an easy replacement part to find? Swapping a HD600 grill on them may look pretty cool

The grille is foam backed. I imagine that is how they have tuned them for extra bass. Slow down airflow, sacrifice a little soundstage but increase bass.

I have some pics on my phone taken alongside my modified 580. I can post if you are interested? Personally, I really like the Grey grilles.

Edited to add pics

580

58X

 

[trellus]

Is the grill an easy replacement part to find? Swapping a HD600 grill on them may look pretty cool

From a cursory Google search, I'd say they're not that easy to get, but even if one did, it still might not look as premium because I believe there is a thin piece of foam obscuring the view, unlike in the HD 600 and HD 650.

Here's the 650 and 58X side by side. I just think the 650 (and the 600) look so much more "high-tech" and premium showing off the internals, than the 58X does with its cheaper-looking grill (and foam) hiding them.

 

[477621]

From a cursory Google search, I'd say they're not that easy to get, but even if one did, it still might not look as premium because I believe there is a thin piece of foam obscuring the view, unlike in the HD 600 and HD 650.

Here's the 650 and 58X side by side. I just think the 650 (and the 600) look so much more "high-tech" and premium showing off the internals, than the 58X does with its cheaper-looking grill (and foam) hiding them.

They are about £20 each here at the moment from Sennheiser.

The foam just comes off if you care about the aesthetic stuff though? Will edit this post to add pics shortly, I took mine to bits to have a lookie.

Without foam

 

[beercanchicken]

The grille is foam backed. I imagine that is how they have tuned them for extra bass. Slow down airflow, sacrifice a little soundstage but increase bass.

I have some pics on my phone taken alongside my modified 580. I can post if you are interested? Personally, I really like the Grey grilles.

Edited to add pics

580


58X

Yeah, it definitely seems to be the foam. that was probably all the "re-tuning" really was, haha. So I imagine removing that foam would give it a more HD600 sound for people that aren't liking that bass on these?

 

[477621]

Yeah, it definitely seems to be the foam. that was probably all the "re-tuning" really was, haha. So I imagine removing that foam would give it a more HD600 sound for people that aren't liking that bass on these?

They sound a little harsher without the foam than my 580's which I modified for more bass to distinguish them from my 565 which are still my fave.

With the foam on the grill, they don't sound closed by any stretch but the 580 and 565 are wider. The 58X is surprisingly clear throughout the frequency range and the bass goes plenty deep. I like them and I will definitely keep. I had them running some pink noise for about 12 hours before I listened for the first time.

For the price I paid, I have a cool set of headphones that will prob end up with one of my kids when they start appreciating that stuff. Until then, I will experiment with them and try putting my spare 565 capsule in them etc.

 

[SilverEars]

Yeah, I'm thinking the foam covering is attributed to more subs as well. It would be interesting to see graphs of foam on and off.

Interesting mod. People have been modding to open the grills up even more. This is the opposite.

I believe Mr Speakers Ether flow open wasn't really that open either and had a pretty reactive bass response.

 

[477621]

Yeah, I'm thinking the foam covering is attributed to more subs as well. It would be interesting to see graphs of foam on and off.

Interesting mod.

Sure would. I have no way to graph it out but the difference is not unlike defoaming the 580. I tried removing all foam from the 580. It sounded so open, but the treble hurt after an hour or so. Ended up removing the spider cage and putting the under pad foam back on.

Happy to experiment with anything if interested?

 

[trellus]

They are about £20 each here at the moment from Sennheiser.

The foam just comes off if you care about the aesthetic stuff though? Will edit this post to add pics shortly, I took mine to bits to have a lookie.

Spoiler

Without foam

Spoiler

Thanks, those pics are a great help. They certainly reveal why Sennheiser chose to hide the 58X internals as they, unlike the HD 600 and HD 650, really look unsexy uncovered, honestly. That and I'd wager the foams thicken the sound / increase the bass, so they serve two purposes, aesthetic and sound tuning.

I can see that's one place they saved some money for sure, the internals look a lot more "bare" than the 600 and 650 do. Notwithstanding, I'm still quite impressed by how similar to the HD 6 series these sound, they're quite a great deal for $150 USD.

 

[SilverEars]

Sure would. I have no way to graph it out but the difference is not unlike defoaming the 580. I tried removing all foam from the 580. It sounded so open, but the treble hurt after an hour or so. Ended up removing the spider cage and putting the under pad foam back on.

Happy to experiment with anything if interested?

Hmmm. It seems apparent that the foam is to reflect more energy back that other wise be lost through higher porous material like the grill. I can see this effecting the bass, not sure about the treble. MrSpeakers filters with foam on the other side which filters the high-end for more perception of bass.

I can see the headphone imaging being different, less open. Perhaps slightly more isolation as well.

 

[beercanchicken]

Yeah, basically for the price of a pair from the newer 500 series, we're getting headphones that are being compared to the 600 series. Hard to complain.

 

[SilverEars]

The drop is open for the same price! I just joined the drop. No brainer for the price.

 

[477621]

The drop is open for the same price! I just joined the drop. No brainer for the price.

Yeah, I saw they were doing that. Hope you enjoy, it would be good to hear back on your thoughts.

 

[477621]

Hmmm. It seems apparent that the foam is to reflect more energy back that other wise be lost through higher porous material like the grill. I can see this effecting the bass, not sure about the treble. MrSpeakers filters with foam on the other side which filters the high-end for more perception of bass.

I can see the headphone imaging being different, less open. Perhaps slightly more isolation as well.

Sorry, if not clear I was talking about my 580 Precisions being defoamed. Also the foam I meant was the one against the ear. Hope this makes more sense on the high end.