Please help! Sennheiser headphones - hd515,555 or 845? for rock/pop music

[HeadphonesUK]

Hello all. I have been browsing this website and the headphones review website you have a link too - thanks for the info. I am thinking of getting some HD515 Sennheiser headphones for £69.99 (although the hd555 one's which are £100 i think, i would consider, depending on how much more i'd get out of them). I was also considering the HD485 but i'm not sure if they are around the ear (and not resting on it! which i find uncomfortable

), plus they are £50 so maybe its worth spending a bit more.

Anyway, I will listen to rock and pop music on my PC and Hi-Fi system using the headphones, which i thought should be fine with the hd515's.. although i noticed on the headphones review it wasn't very clear if they would be fine for rock and pop music. (i will use them for gaming on the pc too, but the music is the main concern.)

The review for the hd555 also says "They are also too 'slow' for rock.".. whether that's similar for the hd515 i dont know.. What are your opinions ? Do you think they would be fine ?

I was looking for something too with not too much bass, not too heavy, cos some Philips headphones i got had an enhanced bass thing and i prefered it when the bass wasn't as in-your-face, for example if i listened to something slower.

My budget is around £80. I am willing to buy a decent pair of headphones, now that a new pair of cheap philips ones turned out to be a bad design, squeezing my head constantly (yes, very uncomfortable, unwearable) because the phones actually point in at 45 degrees futher at your head, as well as the tight band.

Thanks for your help.

 

[realj42]

The HD 485's are fine for Rock and pop, and have a strong bass, smooth upper, with a tight integrated sound that particularly suits techno and club music, but is still fine for all Rock, Pop and Jazz styles. They are a bit small, and will catch the edge of your ears if they are on the large size - they do with mine!

I cannot say much about the others, though the 555's are well respected here, some people say the 485's are better for rock. You can only really telll by trying them all out .

 

[Ypoknons]

If you enjoy fun bass, and if you listen to British Rock/Pop you definately do, I would go HD485. I have its little brother the HD465, and whilist the bass on the 465 is far too boomy, it is huge and would be greater for Franz Ferdinand if it was smoother! The HD485 is said to have the same fun huge bottom end but be far smoother. Alternatively, you can consider Grado SR60's, SR80 or Alexandros MS-1. Also consider looking into an amp.