well, I just got the phones by DHL
packaging is VERY basic, not a single paper inside. no transparent window like the "normal" edition.
I made a quick test with it and listed to a few tracks, all on CD or unconpressed Flac on my Denon-M40
I could only halfway on volume because it was already big sound pressure. The system has a phone amp. There's also a low-frequency booster. I listened to all songs on flat.
Overall the phones are on the mid-trebble side, nevertheless the lows will rock your head if the song has it.
Old Man by Neil Young (pono remaster): great stage and separation as always wth this track. The guitar's strings vibration on this are a neat detail. Tough a "little" white noise / hum is noticeable.
Watcher of the Skies by Genesis: I was annoyed by white noise / hum specially on the intro I didn't noticed with my speakers before.. Don't know if this is on every version of this record, but I know it was annalog recording so I tried some modern tunes as well.
Barrel of a Gun by Depeche mode: clean digital sound, deep bass, it just sounds good. Beats have big punch. This is an excellent track to test the low end of any system
Secret Society by Europe: that's a hard track to drive, I used this on purpose, to my surprise the HD598 does an incredible job with it, every instriment sits on it's place, you can evel tell the guitar is being double-channelled (a trick to make it sound heavier). The bass guitar sits on the back but it's clear, when I pushed the bass booster it came right into the front of the stage and wrecked the hall. There's a silent break at this song, it's awesome seing how the sound reconstructs from there. I recommend this track if you're testing any setup
Rattle That Lock by David Gilmour: crystal clear, perfect, ballanced, special effects flying arround, it seems like the music was made specially for theese phones. It actually sounded better than with my speakers.
that's it, just first impressions straight out of the box
