Sennheiser Choice

[Chris Allen]

I'm looking for a good reference headphone. I was thinking that sennheisers would be good for this purpose (correct me if I'm wrong or if you have any other suggestions. I also wanted to try out the senn sound. I was considering HD 555, HD580, HD 595, HD 600 or HD 650. I was wondering which one of these is the best value with very good sound quality (best value to sq). I'm looking to add another Headphone to my line up and thout the senn sound would be distinctly differant to the sound of my grado HF-1. I plan on buying a go-vibe v4 as well. Also, I would appreciate if these headphones were rated according to just the sq (when disregarding price) as well. If anybody has any comparable suggestions; enlighten me.

Thanks.

 

[Arainach]

Best value to SQ is the HD580 hands down, but you'll need a good amp to drive them properly.

 

[darkninja67]

You can get the 600s for near $200 which is great sound for that amount of cash IMO. The 595s would be a bit more up front IIRC.

 

[mazersteven]

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkninja67 You can get the 600s for near $200 which is great sound for that amount of cash IMO. The 595s would be a bit more up front IIRC.

Where did you see the 600's for $200?

 

[kramer5150]

HD580!! Pretty neutral. pleasant diversion from the Grado house sound. Needs a well designed amp though to make it shine. IMHO PA2V2 and little dot micro are poor matches. REALLY like my 18 Volt mint with the HD580. Its a foreward aggressive little amp that works well with the 580.

Garrett

 

[Chris Allen]

Is the difference really noticable when compared to the lower version senns as mentioned in my previous post or is it worth the money to upgrade to the 580/600.

 

[AintLDS]

It's worth it just to go from the 580 --> 600. But it depends upon the rig you're hanging them on, too. A low end source and amp won't bring out the differences as much as a good rig will.

 

[Chris Allen]

Would a go vibe v4 provide adequete amplification? Also, how do the 600 compare with the 555, 595, 650 and 580? Thanks for the responses so far.

 

[angler31337]

In terms of pure SQ, most people go with the HD650 -- and I would not fault them for it. I'm partial to the HD600 myself; these cans are a little more neutral than the 650s IMHO.

By far the best value set is the HD580. It should shine with an amp, but is perfectly manageable without one. The 595s are nice but probably don't achieve the purest reproduction.

-Angler

 

[VR6ofpain]

How would you all compare the upper end of the 580 to the 600. If anything is one brighter than the other...aren't they the same drivers, just not as closely matched?

So if the Gilmore Light has synergy with the 600, it must have the same synergy with the 580 right?

I really think I might jump on some 580's....which is absolutely INSANE, because I just bought the K601!

 

[jagorev]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Allen Would a go vibe v4 provide adequete amplification? Also, how do the 600 compare with the 555, 595, 650 and 580? Thanks for the responses so far.

Yes, the Go-Vibe would be adequate. And the 600 is very similar to both the 650 and the 580. According to headroom, differences are imperceptible on anything other than multi-thousand-dollar sources and amps. All three are a little more refined and smooth than the 555/595 series.

 

[James63]

Senns are good, but give yourself a long time to adjust. I would only listen to the Senns for a week straight. They will sound very dark by comparison but that will fade after awhile. At that point I would start to really A/B them.

I also would just buy the 650s, if you get something cheaper you will want to upgrade later anyway. If you don't like them the 650s will sell better than lower models.

 

[mazersteven]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AintLDS It's worth it just to go from the 580 --> 600. But it depends upon the rig you're hanging them on, too. A low end source and amp won't bring out the differences as much as a good rig will.

Hello,

When you say "Rig", do you mean Amp, or Receiver?

I have a Denon 4806, and just purchased my first set of headphones, the Senn 600's. Will it bring out the differences? Thanks

 

[donunus]

I think the best thing if you are getting the 580/600/650 is to be able to try them with the amp youre ending up with. I had 580s back before the 600 even existed and was running them with the headroom little more power (also discontinued). The combo felt slow and didn't quite satisfy me as much as when I plugged the 580s to a david berning microZOTL. But I'll be damned cause the cheaper 555s I own now are giving me more satisfaction. I currently also have a PA2V2 and prefer the 555s straight out of a sony portable similar to Jagorevs NE920 but with an analog instead of the new digital amps the latest sony PCDPs come with.
Oh, The 580/Little combo could have also been slow to me at the time because I also had a koss ESP 950 for comparison which was pretty nice(closer in my memory to the 555s balance than to the 580s)

Edit: whoops, when I said the 555 gave more satisfaction, it was compared to my memory of the 580/little combo and not the OTL. The Berning OTL was great. I actually regret selling it. I did it at the time to support other habits.... speakers, cables, etc...

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VR6ofpain How would you all compare the upper end of the 580 to the 600. If anything is one brighter than the other...aren't they the same drivers, just not as closely matched? So if the Gilmore Light has synergy with the 600, it must have the same synergy with the 580 right? I really think I might jump on some 580's....which is absolutely INSANE, because I just bought the K601!

I could not tell the 2 apart, so I chose the 580.

Asthetically the 600 is STUNNING IMHO.

Garrett