[omastic]

Hello there!!
 
Well, I am a newbie in the audiophile world, having discovered the sheer joy of pure sound only recently. A few months back I got myself a HD555 with ordnance .25 DAC+amp. I have been using it with my laptop since and I must say, coming from the crappy colored sound of the cheap earbuds this is amazing!!
 
But I noticed something that kind of bothered me. This headphone sounds best at about 50-60% volume roughly; anything higher than that and it gets muddy and pretty harsh with the upper mids completely drowning out the lows, particularly so if the music is inclined towards being a bit heavy. However, at about 50% of the max it sounds clean and detailed with a nice soundstage, even with fast rock and metal music which these headphones don't generally do well in. So, in a sense, I have not been able to really crank up the volume and enjoy. I would love to sometimes you know!
 
Is this a common trait with this can? Or is it my hearing?
 
Let me know what you guys think!
 
Cheers!!

 

[Katun]

It shouldn't be a common trait of the cans, and I don't think it's your hearing...
 
I'm no specialist in this subject, but I think it may be your amp, if not your sound card.
 
Since I can't really tell you what it is, at least I can benefit you with a BUMP.

 

[pedxing]

Quote:

Hello there!!
 
Well, I am a newbie in the audiophile world, having discovered the sheer joy of pure sound only recently. A few months back I got myself a HD555 with ordnance .25 DAC+amp. I have been using it with my laptop since and I must say, coming from the crappy colored sound of the cheap earbuds this is amazing!!
 
But I noticed something that kind of bothered me. This headphone sounds best at about 50-60% volume roughly; anything higher than that and it gets muddy and pretty harsh with the upper mids completely drowning out the lows, particularly so if the music is inclined towards being a bit heavy. However, at about 50% of the max it sounds clean and detailed with a nice soundstage, even with fast rock and metal music which these headphones don't generally do well in. So, in a sense, I have not been able to really crank up the volume and enjoy. I would love to sometimes you know!
 
Is this a common trait with this can? Or is it my hearing?
 
Let me know what you guys think!
 
Cheers!!

 
I sense someone catching upgraditus.
 

 

[headbob]

Some people say that Senns tend to perform better when at "live" volume.
 
However, don't quote me on that.

 

[Young Spade]

So the phones are distorting at a higher volume....If you want to increase the volume you might have to get a different pair of phones then....
Back when I had my 555s it seemed like there was a certain point where it stopped getting "louder" and started getting more crowded. 

 

[Conrthomas]

 
Quote:

Hello there!!
 
Well, I am a newbie in the audiophile world, having discovered the sheer joy of pure sound only recently. A few months back I got myself a HD555 with ordnance .25 DAC+amp. I have been using it with my laptop since and I must say, coming from the crappy colored sound of the cheap earbuds this is amazing!!
 
But I noticed something that kind of bothered me. This headphone sounds best at about 50-60% volume roughly; anything higher than that and it gets muddy and pretty harsh with the upper mids completely drowning out the lows, particularly so if the music is inclined towards being a bit heavy. However, at about 50% of the max it sounds clean and detailed with a nice soundstage, even with fast rock and metal music which these headphones don't generally do well in. So, in a sense, I have not been able to really crank up the volume and enjoy. I would love to sometimes you know!
 
Is this a common trait with this can? Or is it my hearing?
 
Let me know what you guys think!
 
Cheers!!

Not to purposely flame 555's, but that's Senns for you.

 

[Mrcontent]

u are listening to ur hd55 at 50/60 level? hm.. i dont know maybe u lack a sound card...i'm currently listening to mine at 10/100 and it sound loud already

 

[kingtz]

Quote:

 
I sense someone catching upgraditus.
 

I hear it's pretty contagious.

 

[omastic]

Thanks a lot for the input guys!!
 
Quote:

 

Not to purposely flame 555's, but that's Senns for you.

That's disappointing.
 
Quote:

So the phones are distorting at a higher volume....If you want to increase the volume you might have to get a different pair of phones then....
Back when I had my 555s it seemed like there was a certain point where it stopped getting "louder" and started getting more crowded. 

I really don't think it's distortion, but your analogy being "crowded" does fit better. It simply feels like as if the headphone has way too much to handle.
 
I think I am indeed catching upgarditis. My poor wallet!

 

[Young Spade]

Yea if it sounds crowded you are going to want some more phones. Something with a higher impedance will do the trick.