[Maitre Renard]

Hello there,
I am considering purchaising hd 560 ovation 1 for around 100 dollars (having outstanding experience with hd540 ref II).
My aim is to use the headset with the mixing board for direct monitoring with musical instruments as well as critical listening (with headset amoplifier)
May I expect better listening experience with the hd560 ?
Here are some photos of the headset:

 

[ArChaos]

Hello there,
I am considering purchaising hd 560 ovation 1 for around 100 dollars (having outstanding experience with hd540 ref II).
My aim is to use the headset with the mixing board for direct monitoring with musical instruments as well as critical listening (with headset amoplifier)
May I expect better listening experience with the hd560 ?
Here are some photos of the headset:

IMO, the answer is definitely-NO. For mixing board direct monitoring with musical instruments as well as critical listening, the 540s should be better in every aspect. There is nothing the 560s do better than the 540s. In fact, to my ears, the opposite is the truth.

I was in the same position as you a few ears ago, being curious to hear with my own ears how they sound. It's not they are bad HPs, their sound signature is very close to the 540, just one small notch down, especially the treble who has too much sparkle to my ears. The 540 are TRUE 'reference' HPs, the 560 are like a student who tries to 'exceed' his master teacher, but fails doing that.

The first thing I tried to do is change the cable to the 650s one, perhaps to tame their sparkle a bit. Then, I tried to change the paper ring (whose purpose is exactly that-to dampen a bit the treble), with a more 'impactful' one - to no avail... In the end, I took out their pads, which were in like new condition, for one of my 540s pairs, and started rolling pads on them until I found that the 540s replacement velour Wang pads (which were nothing to write home for the 540), did them well with the over-sparkling treble.

Last, and not least, I always did my best to buy pairs with good condition original ear pads, so as to have the closest possible PERSONAL experience on how they were intended to sound.
Looking at the pics you send, it looks like they are original ear pads (still worth checking with the seller) and 100$ is a very good price for these HPs with good condition original ear pads.

 

[Maitre Renard]

Hey, thank you very much for this very useful information! Indeed I believe these hd 560 should be equipped by the original pads , based on the photos I only noticed the additional support on the upper part which normally shouldn’t be provided with this model.

Actually I always thought that the ovation should be a superior model over the hd540. I’ve seen also hd580 that were twisely more expensive..

In fact some time ago I could purchase the 540 ref II in very good conditions for 140 euros and was very pleased with it compared to the hd600. I have had a great experience for mixing , monitoring and just for critical listening

 

[ArChaos]

Hey, thank you very much for this very useful information! Indeed I believe these hd 560 should be equipped by the original pads , based on the photos I only noticed the additional support on the upper part which normally shouldn’t be provided with this model.

Actually I always thought that the ovation should be a superior model over the hd540. I’ve seen also hd580 that were twisely more expensive..

In fact some time ago I could purchase the 540 ref II in very good conditions for 140 euros and was very pleased with it compared to the hd600. I have had a great experience for mixing , monitoring and just for critical listening

I bought my HD580 when they went to market almost 30 years ago... I still keep them, and the 600, and the 650 because they are real classics and part of my personal headphones "history".

They have a great timbre and sound great with almost everything, but sonically, the HD540 Reference and the HD250 Linear are on another level, the REAL peak of Sennheiser's sound. Even taking into consideration the HD800... You know what..? Let's give the HD800 what they deserve and put them on the same level...

You want to do yourself a favor? especially that you are into mixing , monitoring and critical listening? Hunt for a good pair of HD250 Linear (1 or 2 is a question of taste, 300 or 600 Ohm is a question of amp), in good condition with as good as possible ear pads and jump on them. once they were very hard to get and twice as expensive as the 540, now a days they became less of a trade secret and there is much more offering on eBay. These were Graham Slee's most favorite headphones (used them to tune his amps) and many sound engineers and musicians used them for monitoring. These are the closed version of the 540s, the same timbre and sound signature but a bit more analytical and focused (some would say 'dry' some would say 'fun'...). The bass is also great although I heard there is some small variation between models. VERY important to get the original ear pads in good condition - this is the reason I said "to hunt" for them..

 

[Maitre Renard]

Great thank you !
And in terms of the resistance what could be expected from additional 300 ohms ? For example hd 540 ref 1 or ref 2 for my system with mixing board condensed mic and guitar

 

[ArChaos]

Great thank you !
And in terms of the resistance what could be expected from additional 300 ohms ? For example hd 540 ref 1 or ref 2 for my system with mixing board condensed mic and guitar

I don't know what the output of your mixing board is. If in doubt-play safe. Ref 1 and Linear 1 have both 300 and 600 Ohmm, Ref 2 and Linear 2 have only 300 Ohmm.

 

[Maitre Renard]

Right thank you!
I actually wondered if the 600 ohms model sounds more neutral compared to 300 ohms or ain’t no sonic difference between the both and it’s just a question of the minimum gain required to drive them ?

 

[ArChaos]

Right thank you!
I actually wondered if the 600 ohms model sounds more neutral compared to 300 ohms or ain’t no sonic difference between the both and it’s just a question of the minimum gain required to drive them ?

Great question.. I also asked myself the same... the answer is like waiting for Godot...
Look, I've got white hairs on the palms of my hands from A/Bing the various models with various amps and various impedances.... Minimal differences if any. I would play safe and go for the 300 Ohmm versions WITH ORIGINAL GOOD CONDITION EAR PADS. the ear pads are very important for the sound. with that said, the Wang alternative is also good - call me if/when it's time to cross this bridge...

 

[Maitre Renard]

sorry for some offtop. I've just recieve another proposition for hd 540 ref I for 90 dollars with non-original pads. Here are some photos in the attachment. Could it be better compared to the hd560ovation 1 shown in this topic before?

 

[Maitre Renard]

Also I could find these Hd540 gold for 300 euros. I believe it could be better option over the both hd540ref1 and hd560ovation1. Is it true that hd540 gold exist also in 300ohms and 600 ohms ?

 

[ArChaos]

Also I could find these Hd540 gold for 300 euros. I believe it could be better option over the both hd540ref1 and hd560ovation1. Is it true that hd540 gold exist also in 300ohms and 600 ohms ?

Production dates:
HD540 Ref.1 : 1986-1991
HD540 Ref.2 : 1991-1995
HD540 Gold : 1987-1991

As you see they were manufactured in parallel with Ref.1, whose early production was on 600 Ohmm and afterwards 300 Ohmm. Both logic and as far as I know/heard, the Golds were manufactured in both versions.

By the way, with the money you'll pay for the Golds, you could buy yourself a second pair of 540s PLUS another pair of HD250, both in good condition by the market prices of today...

 

[Maitre Renard]

Production dates:
HD540 Ref.1 : 1986-1991
HD540 Ref.2 : 1991-1995
HD540 Gold : 1987-1991

As you see they were manufactured in parallel with Ref.1, whose early production was on 600 Ohmm and afterwards 300 Ohmm. Both logic and as far as I know/heard, the Golds were manufactured in both versions.

By the way, with the money you'll pay for the Golds, you could buy yourself a second pair of 540s PLUS another pair of HD250, both in good condition by the market prices of today...

Hey thank you very much for your answer
This is exactly what I would like to understand whether to pick the gold or ref540 ref 1 . I mean could we expect dramatic improvement of the sound of the gold over the reference 1/2 ? Besides the wooden box I noticed only the enhancement of the cable

 

[ArChaos]

Hey thank you very much for your answer
This is exactly what I would like to understand whether to pick the gold or ref540 ref 1 . I mean could we expect dramatic improvement of the sound of the gold over the reference 1/2 ? Besides the wooden box I noticed only the enhancement of the cable

I have all the versions of the 540 and 250 EXCEPT the Golds - I guess this shows EXACTLLY what my opinion is... the Golds are a more "luxurious" version of Ref.1 with 1db. matched drivers and some people speak about a "resonator" that might be there. The Ref.2 are supposed to have inherited this "resonator" themselves. To me, the differences between Ref.1 and Ref 2 are minimal, and so are the differences between the 300 and 600 Ohmm versions . Of course you may find people that think the 600 Ohmm sound better and there are debates between Ref.1 and Ref 2... I NEVER argue with people's ears, so I had to find out myself... I think they are different FLAVORS of the same thing and which one sounds "better" is a matter of personal taste and ears anatomy. IMO, the ear pads make a much more significant difference than the model versions.

Regarding the HD250 Linear-THESE are really worth trying for yourself. There is a full thread here about them', shorter than the HD540 one. And a great review from MonsterZero - Look for HeadKarma channel on YouTube.

 

[Maitre Renard]

Thank you very much!
I have not found yet the HD250 on local second hand market but definitely it would be great to try it one day .

By the way, the hd540 gold has the same price as hd600 but ( according to my personal experience) even hd540 ref II sounds much interesting. Why the headsets made before 1991 are better than the modern ones??

 

[Maitre Renard]

Great question.. I also asked myself the same... the answer is like waiting for Godot...
Look, I've got white hairs on the palms of my hands from A/Bing the various models with various amps and various impedances.... Minimal differences if any. I would play safe and go for the 300 Ohmm versions WITH ORIGINAL GOOD CONDITION EAR PADS. the ear pads are very important for the sound. with that said, the Wang alternative is also good - call me if/when it's time to cross this bridge...

Sorry for another off top , but this could be related to the all modells discussed in this topic . After looking in the local Amazon I could find mainly two types of ear pads available these days: either made from leather or velvet (see enclosed pictures) . Which one should be better with hd540/560 in terms of the neutrality of the sound??