Headstar
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2011
- Posts
- 175
- Likes
- 38
Mine just arrived recently, and because they aren't many reviews, threads or actual photos of the new HD 598's, i decided i'll take a few especially for this community, in order to help the ones that might be interested in this nice pair of cans.
First the photos.



Now a short review.
The built quality seems excellent. Nice finish, nice touch, no harsh edges, paint its good, and i for one i like the colors. The cable its long, has 3 meters, and its quite thick. Yet its soft and very flexible. I say its a quality cable. Original plug is a 6.3mm, and also came with a 3.5mm adapter. You might want to think at that if you plan using them on digital portable players. While they are powered very nice by one, there's a size issue of the plug + adapter, that makes it look like this. See the photo below.

Sound quality on them its excellent. Very clean, with sharp vocals, bass is present and goes deep enough, and it never overpowers the voices. Of course as expected they excel on instrumental works, live recordings, classical music, strings, guitars.
Actaully everything i tried sounds nice on them, from Mozart to Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury to Black Eyed Peas and Alicia Keys. Pink Martini its awesome on them.
Their strong point, as in the cheaper HD 448 are the mids. Which are even better than on HD 448. Much improved over the HD 448 are the bass and highs, both being more present with better extension.
Sounstage wise they do well. There's a level of separation that's superior to HD 448. In certain songs, on well recorded songs, you will find a clearer difference from the leading vocalist and its backing vocalists. As a certain distance between them. And i learn all these being dependent of what songs you listen, and at what quality, much more than your source or amplifier.
While they will shine on proper equipment, they run very well on my hi-fi stereo amplifier and loud enough with good bass from the tiny Trekstor mp3/FLAC player.
So, do i recommend them? Yes, definitely!
Does that means i am pleased with everything? No!
Why? Because while i am very pleasead with the product, that is and delivers excelent quality, i paid 3 times less for the HD 448 and they gave me an extension cable, a 6.3mm gold plated adapter, and a carrying/protection pouch. With the HD 598 you only have the 3.5mm adapter. Nothing else. So my big complaint its the missing of the HH10 headphone holder, that used to be delivered with the HD 595. Not only the HD 598 are more expensive, having the holder will cost me now an additionaly $25.
Disclaimer: If you were too lazy to read everything, the final answer is yes, they worth the money, if you like them buy them!
If you have questions that i could answer, i'll do my best.
First the photos.
Now a short review.
The built quality seems excellent. Nice finish, nice touch, no harsh edges, paint its good, and i for one i like the colors. The cable its long, has 3 meters, and its quite thick. Yet its soft and very flexible. I say its a quality cable. Original plug is a 6.3mm, and also came with a 3.5mm adapter. You might want to think at that if you plan using them on digital portable players. While they are powered very nice by one, there's a size issue of the plug + adapter, that makes it look like this. See the photo below.
Sound quality on them its excellent. Very clean, with sharp vocals, bass is present and goes deep enough, and it never overpowers the voices. Of course as expected they excel on instrumental works, live recordings, classical music, strings, guitars.
Actaully everything i tried sounds nice on them, from Mozart to Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury to Black Eyed Peas and Alicia Keys. Pink Martini its awesome on them.
Their strong point, as in the cheaper HD 448 are the mids. Which are even better than on HD 448. Much improved over the HD 448 are the bass and highs, both being more present with better extension.
Sounstage wise they do well. There's a level of separation that's superior to HD 448. In certain songs, on well recorded songs, you will find a clearer difference from the leading vocalist and its backing vocalists. As a certain distance between them. And i learn all these being dependent of what songs you listen, and at what quality, much more than your source or amplifier.
While they will shine on proper equipment, they run very well on my hi-fi stereo amplifier and loud enough with good bass from the tiny Trekstor mp3/FLAC player.
So, do i recommend them? Yes, definitely!
Does that means i am pleased with everything? No!
Why? Because while i am very pleasead with the product, that is and delivers excelent quality, i paid 3 times less for the HD 448 and they gave me an extension cable, a 6.3mm gold plated adapter, and a carrying/protection pouch. With the HD 598 you only have the 3.5mm adapter. Nothing else. So my big complaint its the missing of the HH10 headphone holder, that used to be delivered with the HD 595. Not only the HD 598 are more expensive, having the holder will cost me now an additionaly $25.
Disclaimer: If you were too lazy to read everything, the final answer is yes, they worth the money, if you like them buy them!
If you have questions that i could answer, i'll do my best.