KopaneDePooj
Headphoneus Supremus
Three months ago I started reading the forums, looking for a new headphone.
At the time I had the Somic MH463, Sennheiser HD 239 and Koss KSC75.
I liked best the KSC75 and didn't like the HD 239.
I was looking for a new portable, because I was bored with the HD 239.
1. First I bought the CAL!
It is described as a very good closed over ear for the money, v-shape, a litle dark sounding.
With the CAL! I learned that I have above average sized ears because the CAL! ear pads were to small for me. I had to return it. I didn't find it dark, on the contrary, good detailed and a bit too bright with some recordings. Generally I liked it.
2. Got the new Sony MDR-100AAP.
It is described as moderately v-shaped, almost neutral, good sound stage a little lack in dynamics, non-fatiguing highs, extremely comfortable. This indeed was the closest description to what I experienced listening to the headphone.
I really liked the sound but the ear-pads fit was also too tight for me so it went back.
3. ATH-M50x, bought it thinking I will also buy some replacement Brainwavz large ear-pads if the originals were too small. And they were... but I knew it
Described as v-shaped, lively, fun, etc. And the fact that I disagree most with is that the highs are supposedly "rolled off" a bit and are "non-fatiguing". vs the old M50.
I found the highs to loud for me, I had to EQ down -5 or -7 db in the highs.
Bass was pronounced too, but I could live with it, but the highs and upper mids were so metallic and unnatural. Also I felt that the sound was pumped to my ears and not let to flow naturally. Everything had the same volume, as if some "extreme loudness" button was pressed. After a few songs it became tiring. Returned it.
4. Got the great amazon.de deal for Black Friday - Sennheiser HD 598SE for 100 EUR!
Having problems with the highs in the M50x, and reading about the HD 598 that it has "no bass" and it is sometimes "too bright", I was very concerned that I won't like it, but at that price, I had to buy it.
I must tell you the HD 598 is everything I ever wanted in a headphone. I'm absolutely thrilled with it. It is gorgeous.
I can't imagine how and why so many say "it has no bass, it has weak bass".
The bass is perfect. With the HD 598 I learned what it means "tight" and "textured" bass, and what detail in bass feels like.
Also I find no brightness in this hp. It is perfectly balanced to my ears. Highs are crystal clear and not exaggerated at all, no fatigue. Mids are also perfect. Tonality, detail, presence, human voice subtleties and warmth, emotion.
Everything in this headphone sings. It never booms, it never shouts. It only sings. The bass sings, the mids and highs sing. The separation, imaging sound stage - also perfect.
I heard some saying that the sound stage in this hp is exaggerated. I find it just perfect.
I tested it with classic rock, prog, metal, pop, edm, industrial, acoustic, jazz. Perfect with everything. It is dynamic when it needs to, and delicate when the song calls for it.
And I only used my Clip+ and fiio E06 with it, and PC with normal on-board sound.
After listening to the HD 598 I tend to think there is no such thing as a "specialized" headphone. A headphone good for rock, another headphone good for trance...
I think a good hp should handle every genre with equal weight and only reproduce what is recorded. If it has enough audio quality, extension and detail, everything will sound good.
Also the comfort is out of this world, after 15 minutes you forget you have it on.
I started looking for a portable and ended up with a hp for home... BUT, I have a 1.2m portable cable with it :> And I WILL make it my portable. Because I don't want to waste one more minute, listening to anything else than this. It is big, but light enough, I will only use it out on late evening walks in quiet places, so it will work for me even it is open-back.
So what I learned from my three months experience in reading reviews, opinions, watching videos, and buying headphones?
It was a waste of time.
You can take everything I just wrote and throw it away. It is useless. This forum is useless. IF you try to use it like i did, that is.
GO AND LISTEN TO THE HEADPHONES!
Find a showroom, find a way to listen to them. Only then will you find what you're looking for.
All this is a very subjective and personal matter, everyone hears differently, and has different expectations. Also comfort matters 120%. It can be the most sublime sound for you, if you have to put it away 15 minutes later, it is all in vain.
I had the luck to find my perfect headphone the hard way.
But again, 90% of this won't aply to you, so sorry for wasting your time. My only advice is written in uppercase above.
At the time I had the Somic MH463, Sennheiser HD 239 and Koss KSC75.
I liked best the KSC75 and didn't like the HD 239.
I was looking for a new portable, because I was bored with the HD 239.
1. First I bought the CAL!
It is described as a very good closed over ear for the money, v-shape, a litle dark sounding.
With the CAL! I learned that I have above average sized ears because the CAL! ear pads were to small for me. I had to return it. I didn't find it dark, on the contrary, good detailed and a bit too bright with some recordings. Generally I liked it.
2. Got the new Sony MDR-100AAP.
It is described as moderately v-shaped, almost neutral, good sound stage a little lack in dynamics, non-fatiguing highs, extremely comfortable. This indeed was the closest description to what I experienced listening to the headphone.
I really liked the sound but the ear-pads fit was also too tight for me so it went back.
3. ATH-M50x, bought it thinking I will also buy some replacement Brainwavz large ear-pads if the originals were too small. And they were... but I knew it
Described as v-shaped, lively, fun, etc. And the fact that I disagree most with is that the highs are supposedly "rolled off" a bit and are "non-fatiguing". vs the old M50.
I found the highs to loud for me, I had to EQ down -5 or -7 db in the highs.
Bass was pronounced too, but I could live with it, but the highs and upper mids were so metallic and unnatural. Also I felt that the sound was pumped to my ears and not let to flow naturally. Everything had the same volume, as if some "extreme loudness" button was pressed. After a few songs it became tiring. Returned it.
4. Got the great amazon.de deal for Black Friday - Sennheiser HD 598SE for 100 EUR!
Having problems with the highs in the M50x, and reading about the HD 598 that it has "no bass" and it is sometimes "too bright", I was very concerned that I won't like it, but at that price, I had to buy it.
I must tell you the HD 598 is everything I ever wanted in a headphone. I'm absolutely thrilled with it. It is gorgeous.
I can't imagine how and why so many say "it has no bass, it has weak bass".
The bass is perfect. With the HD 598 I learned what it means "tight" and "textured" bass, and what detail in bass feels like.
Also I find no brightness in this hp. It is perfectly balanced to my ears. Highs are crystal clear and not exaggerated at all, no fatigue. Mids are also perfect. Tonality, detail, presence, human voice subtleties and warmth, emotion.
Everything in this headphone sings. It never booms, it never shouts. It only sings. The bass sings, the mids and highs sing. The separation, imaging sound stage - also perfect.
I heard some saying that the sound stage in this hp is exaggerated. I find it just perfect.
I tested it with classic rock, prog, metal, pop, edm, industrial, acoustic, jazz. Perfect with everything. It is dynamic when it needs to, and delicate when the song calls for it.
And I only used my Clip+ and fiio E06 with it, and PC with normal on-board sound.
After listening to the HD 598 I tend to think there is no such thing as a "specialized" headphone. A headphone good for rock, another headphone good for trance...
I think a good hp should handle every genre with equal weight and only reproduce what is recorded. If it has enough audio quality, extension and detail, everything will sound good.
Also the comfort is out of this world, after 15 minutes you forget you have it on.
I started looking for a portable and ended up with a hp for home... BUT, I have a 1.2m portable cable with it :> And I WILL make it my portable. Because I don't want to waste one more minute, listening to anything else than this. It is big, but light enough, I will only use it out on late evening walks in quiet places, so it will work for me even it is open-back.
So what I learned from my three months experience in reading reviews, opinions, watching videos, and buying headphones?
It was a waste of time.
You can take everything I just wrote and throw it away. It is useless. This forum is useless. IF you try to use it like i did, that is.
GO AND LISTEN TO THE HEADPHONES!
Find a showroom, find a way to listen to them. Only then will you find what you're looking for.
All this is a very subjective and personal matter, everyone hears differently, and has different expectations. Also comfort matters 120%. It can be the most sublime sound for you, if you have to put it away 15 minutes later, it is all in vain.
I had the luck to find my perfect headphone the hard way.
But again, 90% of this won't aply to you, so sorry for wasting your time. My only advice is written in uppercase above.