bmeat
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2011
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void
i see youre saying the hd598 reveals details just as well as a KNS-8400, and i think the krk does a pretty superb job.
you wouldnt say the k240's do just as well as a job as the hd598?
Dear tdockweiler,
May I ask what kind of cable that you used to recable HD598 and you only replaced the HD 598's original stock cable or you modded the cable inside the driver of HD 598?
Thanks for reading this post and thanks for your answer.
Am I the only one here who thinks these are VERY detailed and quite revealing? No, not like a studio monitor, but the level of detail is actually very high. I do have it recabled though (cheap stuff) and this might help a bit.
I remember once comparing them to the HD-600/HD-650 and found them even more detailed and revealing. HD-650 fans will say otherwise, but that's OK
Of course this is with budget (under $350) amps. I won't be surprised if the HD-650 could be made more revealing with a new cable and $1000 amp+dac. Well, duh. I've foun the HD-598 doesn't improve too much with amp upgrades. Not like the HD-600 and HD-650.
Heck, these things can even pick up recording hiss, static and all that other annoying stuff with ease. With my new cheapy recable, there's some details I'm hearing that I've only heard on the DT-880, KRK KNS-8400 and Koss A/250 (detail monster!). I don't even think it's there on my Q701, but i'll need to check.
I think often that some details are easier to hear on headphones with different sound signatures. For example, there's some detail I can hear on the KNS-6400 that's not there on the 8400. Does it mean the 6400 is more detailed? Not really.
It seems like so many people on here say headphone A is more detailed than headphone B, but don't give proof of this. Like does the detail suddenly go missing? To me it seems like when a headphone is fairly revealing, that detail almost never goes missing. Often due to frequency variations, it's easy to get fooled into thinking one headphone is more detailed, but it really is just that this "detail" is more forward and present.
Someone should do a review of all the detail monsters and take notes of each tracks. Maybe I can do this when I get bored. I'm willing to bet money the HD-598 is more detailed than the HD-650. It'd make for a nice comparison. People say the HD-650 is very detailed, but yet say it's not meant to be. Huh?! Isn't that a strength of the HD-650? Not being too revealing and make lower quality recordings sound fairly decent? To me, the HD-598 is good a taming some very bad tracks, but is a bit more revealing than the HD-600/650. A tiny bit more unforgiving. Yes, I said it.
I think the HD-598 holds up very well to the Q701 when it comes to the level of detail. Loses out on sound clarity a bit, but the HD-598 is a bit more musical IMO. I love both about equally though.
I'm really surprised there are not more HD-600 vs HD-598 reviews. I think the 598 is far better than the HD-600 and HD-650 and not just due to preferences. People (me included) say the HD-650 is technically better, but I think this is just an excuse without doing a review. Too bad I no longer own the HD-650.
BTW I know the science guys will love this, but I think all the HD- headphones are held back by their crappy stock cables. I think there is a reason for their selection though. I guess they're not bad, just that it holds back what they're capable of. The HD-598 stock cable is a joke..
Well, my HD598 just got delivered earlier on and so far I'm impressed. I don't know why I put off buying these for so long. They are just what I was looking for in a headphone, a good all around open can with a nice soundstage. These are a big step up from my AD-700.
The one thing that I was wondering is if something like a fiio e9 would net me much of an improvement paired up with my titanium hd with these headphones.
I started a whole thread on that very same premise, and I still don't know the answer. What I gathered is some say it will barely help, some say it's totally worth it and others fall somewhere in between.
edit: so I basically learned nothing
http://www.head-fi.org/t/580108/does-absence-of-an-amp-and-or-dac-really-bottleneck-the-hd-598
I got my HD-598s about a week ago and at first I didn't really care for them. They sounded anemic and the bass was just not there, sure they sounded nice and balanced but I definately expected more for the money. Normal listening habits during the past week had pretty much been exclusively listening to Pandora through my computers headphones jack. Disappointed with my new cans, I started researching more about Grado headphones as those seemed to really get great reviews, as well, specifically the 225is which are in the same price range. So, I went down to my local Hi-Fi shop who is an authorized retailer of Grado to demo the whole prestige line along with comparing them to my HD-598s. I started with the HD-598s and slapped in my copy of Dire Straights Brothers in Arms and let so far away spin up and good lord they sounded sweet! Bass was thumping and the headphones just seemed to open up. It's like the horse blankets had been thrown off my cans! This was what I was expecting! now I put on the 225i's. They were waaaay to bright and bass was not there, not compared to the Senns. For me the HD-598s were far and away the better headphone in every catergory. I even let the owner of the shop listen and he was very impressed. The problem I am now faced with is that my hi-fi shop was using a $700 tube pre-amp and an Adcom amp probably another $700 (didn't catch the price on that one). Anyway, I think the HD-598s benefit greatly from quality electronics and now I need to research headphone amps and DACs in order to get me back to the experience I crave for these headphones.
Anyone have a good recommendation for great bang for the buck headphone amp and or DAC? So far, I've read good things about the V-CANs. Anyone tried those?
In summary, I am now a believer in these headphones if paired with quality electronics
Compare 598 to SR80i? That's a lot like comparing a friendly old St. Bernard to a Jack Russell terrier.