[qawsed]

Got these a few days ago and I really think they are great. Listened to Grado SR60is, the 515 the 595 and some sony cans and I think these are seriously good cans. Im new to this scene but from what Ive read headphones are as good as you like them. I like these a lot.

Nothiced there was no appreciation thread so Im starting my own!

 

[Wraithetc]

Run while you can and never come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lock away your money !!!

 

[pitom]

They seem underrated here..
Notice that they sounded terrible (slow, veiled, muddy) out of the box..
Mine were 700++ hours burned-in and now they improved a lot (I mean it!)

I've also done a light mod..

I took off the crappy black foam that placed behind the driver (just like HD595 now)..
IMHO they sounded better, tighter bass, airy, improved transient, wider soundstage..

Just my 2 cents

My setup: HD555 + iPod Shuffle 1Gen/iPod Classic

PS: sorry for my bad english

 

[lucky]

I thought they sounded good when I bought them, and I thought they sounded good when I sold them. The differences between phones on this forum are vastly overstated.

 

[GosuEric]

Had mine for two years, still love 'em. Kinda wondering if I'd notice an improvement by going to 600/650s but I don't mind these at all.

 

[qawsed]

I would like to see a blind test between the 555s and the 595s. Especially with the foam mod...

 

[pp312]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucky /img/forum/go_quote.gif I thought they sounded good when I bought them, and I thought they sounded good when I sold them. The differences between phones on this forum are vastly overstated.

Absolutely, couldn't agree more. All this, "The so-and-so blows such-and-such out of the water" rubbish I keep reading here, when really we're often talking about minor incremental improvements. Some people need to get a grip.

Regarding the HD555, it's a very fine phone. I couldn't pick much difference between it and the 595 (though admittedly I didn't have both at the same time). I now have the 650, but frankly, good as it is, it still isn't the huge, gobsmacking, overwhelming improvement over the 555/595 that some here would have us believe. Ultimately the 555 is the best value by far and more than good enough for the average person--unless of course that average person lingers around here reading these feverish threads and turns into a damned enthusiast.

And I do mean damned.

 

[Lam3r_co.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by qawsed /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would like to see a blind test between the 555s and the 595s. Especially with the foam mod...

Couldn't hear any difference, but I admit, I am not very skilled at this. Maybe it were the crappy apms. But the foam mod is definatelly worth a try.

 

[squall343]

definitely one of the best starter can

i start with the 555 before moving on to others

 

[qawsed]

starter can sounds dangerous for my wallet! A good side effect of getting good cans is I am listening to lots more music than before! Would a DAC be a good addition for laptop lisening with s fiio e5?

 

[squall343]

Quote:

Originally Posted by qawsed /img/forum/go_quote.gif starter can sounds dangerous for my wallet! A good side effect of getting good cans is I am listening to lots more music than before! Would a DAC be a good addition for laptop lisening with s fiio e5?

definitely

 

[pp312]

Quote:

Originally Posted by squall343 /img/forum/go_quote.gif definitely one of the best starter can i start with the 555 before moving on to others

And many have started with the 555 and not moved on.

They are those who aspire to sanity.

 

[Zaubertuba]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pitom /img/forum/go_quote.gif They seem underrated here.. Notice that they sounded terrible (slow, veiled, muddy) out of the box.. Mine were 700++ hours burned-in and now they improved a lot (I mean it!) I've also done a light mod.. I took off the crappy black foam that placed behind the driver (just like HD595 now).. IMHO they sounded better, tighter bass, airy, improved transient, wider soundstage..

Burn-in *really* is critical for these cans. I can see how they are underrated--it would be really easy to listen to them out-of-the box and be underwhelmed. They were still an improvement over the budget Senns. I started out with, but they kept on getting better--and I don't mean by small degrees.

The "remove the foam" mod. is a really nice reversible mod. for these phones. The HCW/Soundstage mods seem to be well-recommended, but beware as some of these mods are *not* reversible. I'll be doing them myself when I muster up the courage.

I'm actually doing a little experiment on trying to squeeze the most you can out of these cans. For more info. see my blog (link in my sig.).

 

[qawsed]

Just got the Fiio E5 and the bass boost gives these a nice kick. Id imagin a "proper" amp would be a big improvement fot the 555s. They have had about 30 hours now and they are definitely improved from new. They really do sound very very good. Lack a small bit in the mid range for punky guitar rock but its still getting better as the hours clock up!

 

[SayNoToPistons]

Even with HD580's, they are still my favorite.