Sennheiser HD 598 - Grado sr60e - Grado sr80e

Sep 25, 2015 at 4:20 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 15

DopeMusic

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Hello, I would like to have a board, listening to almost all kinds of music except classical and rarely pop, music for most format alac m4a iTunes and mp3 at a bit rate good enough ... I was torn between these 3 headset, the headset is for use at home why I opted for a cap open and above who do not have the pavilions leather because I tried it and returned in the past closed headphones as v moda xs and audio technica m50x because after less 20 minutes it proved tiring and annoying listening to the heat. If you have other tips are also welcome up to 200 Euros rather I not have to buy an amplifier for the moment! Sorry for the english :D
 
Sep 26, 2015 at 8:08 AM Post #2 of 15
All 3 are good headphones for most genres.
 
HD598 - amazing wide soundstage, lush and liquid presentation with very good detail and emphasis on the mids and treble.  Bass is still good but doesn't have lots of impact in the lower bass/sub bass.  The only issue you might find with the HD598s is that they are kind of 'slow' sounding, so faster, more aggressive music may sound polite or tame.  Overally, a beautiful listen though.  One of my favourite cans for late nate chill out listening.  Extremely comfortable and look gorgeous.
 
SR60e/SR80e - I haven't heard any of the 'e' series Grado, so I am going off what the older, non-'e' models sound like.  I presently own the SR80, but have owned the SR60 and SR125.  First of all, the only reason not to take the SR80 over the SR60 is if you can't afford it.  If you can, it's worth the extra money.  That should take the SR60 out of the equation, if best sound is what you are after.  Compared to the 598s, the Grados have a slightly brighter, drier and more aggressive presentation.  These are 'fast' cans in comparison, meaning that faster music comes across with more speed and energy for the given volume.  They have a much smaller soundstage, so if a wide and 3D presentation of your music is what you crave, definitely go for the 598s.  If you want more speed and excitement, go for the Grados.  They do sound more alive and raw than the 598s, yet the 598s sound more expansive and luxurious.  Many seem to have comfort issue with Grados, but I've never experienced or understood that.  They are light and fit nicely on my ears.
 
To conclude, I definitely use my 598s more than my Grados, but I will listen to my Grados over the 598s if I need that crunch of guitar and fast, in your face drums.
 
The Grados make the music sound like you are immediately there, enclosed by the music, whereas the 598s sound like you a sharing a nice open space with your sounds.
 
I hope that helps! 
 
Sep 26, 2015 at 8:17 AM Post #3 of 15
  All 3 are good headphones for most genres.
 
HD598 - amazing wide soundstage, lush and liquid presentation with very good detail and emphasis on the mids and treble.  Bass is still good but doesn't have lots of impact in the lower bass/sub bass.  The only issue you might find with the HD598s is that they are kind of 'slow' sounding, so faster, more aggressive music may sound polite or tame.  Overally, a beautiful listen though.  One of my favourite cans for late nate chill out listening.  Extremely comfortable and look gorgeous.
 
SR60e/SR80e - I haven't heard any of the 'e' series Grado, so I am going off what the older, non-'e' models sound like.  I presently own the SR80, but have owned the SR60 and SR125.  First of all, the only reason not to take the SR80 over the SR60 is if you can't afford it.  If you can, it's worth the extra money.  That should take the SR60 out of the equation, if best sound is what you are after.  Compared to the 598s, the Grados have a slightly brighter, drier and more aggressive presentation.  These are 'fast' cans in comparison, meaning that faster music comes across with more speed and energy for the given volume.  They have a much smaller soundstage, so if a wide and 3D presentation of your music is what you crave, definitely go for the 598s.  If you want more speed and excitement, go for the Grados.  They do sound more alive and raw than the 598s, yet the 598s sound more expansive and luxurious.  Many seem to have comfort issue with Grados, but I've never experienced or understood that.  They are light and fit nicely on my ears.
 
To conclude, I definitely use my 598s more than my Grados, but I will listen to my Grados over the 598s if I need that crunch of guitar and fast, in your face drums.
 
The Grados make the music sound like you are immediately there, enclosed by the music, whereas the 598s sound like you a sharing a nice open space with your sounds.
 
I hope that helps! 

Sure, you've been very clear, thank you very much! I think I will go for 598!
 
Sep 26, 2015 at 8:19 AM Post #4 of 15
 
  All 3 are good headphones for most genres.
 
HD598 - amazing wide soundstage, lush and liquid presentation with very good detail and emphasis on the mids and treble.  Bass is still good but doesn't have lots of impact in the lower bass/sub bass.  The only issue you might find with the HD598s is that they are kind of 'slow' sounding, so faster, more aggressive music may sound polite or tame.  Overally, a beautiful listen though.  One of my favourite cans for late nate chill out listening.  Extremely comfortable and look gorgeous.
 
SR60e/SR80e - I haven't heard any of the 'e' series Grado, so I am going off what the older, non-'e' models sound like.  I presently own the SR80, but have owned the SR60 and SR125.  First of all, the only reason not to take the SR80 over the SR60 is if you can't afford it.  If you can, it's worth the extra money.  That should take the SR60 out of the equation, if best sound is what you are after.  Compared to the 598s, the Grados have a slightly brighter, drier and more aggressive presentation.  These are 'fast' cans in comparison, meaning that faster music comes across with more speed and energy for the given volume.  They have a much smaller soundstage, so if a wide and 3D presentation of your music is what you crave, definitely go for the 598s.  If you want more speed and excitement, go for the Grados.  They do sound more alive and raw than the 598s, yet the 598s sound more expansive and luxurious.  Many seem to have comfort issue with Grados, but I've never experienced or understood that.  They are light and fit nicely on my ears.
 
To conclude, I definitely use my 598s more than my Grados, but I will listen to my Grados over the 598s if I need that crunch of guitar and fast, in your face drums.
 
The Grados make the music sound like you are immediately there, enclosed by the music, whereas the 598s sound like you a sharing a nice open space with your sounds.
 
I hope that helps! 

Sure, you've been very clear, thank you very much! I think I will go for 598!

Is there anywhere you can try both headphones?
 
Sep 26, 2015 at 8:24 AM Post #6 of 15
 
  Is there anywhere you can try both headphones?

No, unfortunately where I live there aren't many specialty shops, the only headphones that you can find to try are the momentum or the beats ..

Ok.  Just one other thing to consider, what are you playing them through?  The 598s will work from a mobile device, but they will be a bit underpowered.  They definitely benefit from an amp.
 
Sep 26, 2015 at 8:28 AM Post #7 of 15
  Ok.  Just one other thing to consider, what are you playing them through?  The 598s will work from a mobile device, but they will be a bit underpowered.  They definitely benefit from an amp.

Initially, I would use with the PC, then I was going to buy a FiiO E10K "OLYMPUS 2", you would have nothing to recommend me as an amplifier?
 
Sep 26, 2015 at 8:30 AM Post #8 of 15
I would recommend the Cayin C5.  I don't think you'll find better for the price and it drives even my very hard to drive planar cans and vintage 600ohm AKGs.  So, you'll know that if you upgrade headphones in the future, you'll have power to spare.  Go and read the reviews.
 
Sep 26, 2015 at 8:33 AM Post #9 of 15
Or if you wanted to go with a DAC/Amp, the HRT Microstreamer is amazing and you can use it on most Android smartphones with a USB OTG cable..
 
Sep 26, 2015 at 9:06 AM Post #10 of 15
OK perfect! That other headphones you advise me in that same price range 150-200? I state that listening particularly rap music, but I'm not a lover of excessive bass, and Rock! I would try a headset open those closed because they give me a sense of too much compactness of sound! Especially when I listen to Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd instruments can not distinguish them for good! I state that I have used to date the only Beats HD, which I gave to my brother after hearing the simple earphones mrice100 from 17 euro: D I state that these sound like just enough that I'd rather have something that isolates a bit more but not too much, and most of all I would like to take a step forward in listening to the music!
 
Sep 26, 2015 at 11:33 AM Post #11 of 15
I just picked up a pair of used Beyerdynamic DT990 PRO 250ohm for about £65!  They have amazing sound quality.  They are not the most neutral, but are very spacious, exciting and fast with great impact, speed and extension on the bass.  They sound very powerful on metal music and I imagine they would be great on rap as well, unless the mastering or recording is bad as they may be a bit bright in the treble for some recordings.  I've tamed that down with a bit of EQ though and they are stunning now.  For the money I paid, I could not imagine a better pair of cans.  Maybe you should look used?  I would have still been happy to pay £150 for these DT990.
 
Sep 26, 2015 at 11:47 AM Post #13 of 15
Well, the headphones that I would be looking at (that I either own or have tried) would be-
 
Beyerdynamic DT990 PRO
Beyerdynamic DT150
Yamaha HPH-200
NAD VISO HP50
 
I haven't tried these, but they have great reviews and look amazing to me:
 
Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7
 
Sep 26, 2015 at 11:50 AM Post #15 of 15
I have the smaller MDR-10RC, which are great but slightly too bass heavy for my taste.  Very smooth and warm sounding though.  Sorry, I don't have experience with the 1A.
 
Another Yamaha headphone getting good reviews but goes under the radar is the Yamaha HPH-MT220
 

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