hwc
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2006
- Posts
- 194
- Likes
- 11
There is some good information buried in another thread about the model evolution of Sennheisers. I think I can add some info about drivers. I think it will be useful to branch this off into a new thread. The quoted parts contain info provided by sgrossklass.
If you want to see what these models look like, go to this site, choose Sennheiser, and click the model number:
http://headphones.warzone.org/
Quote:
The HD580 was the top-of-the-line introduced in 1994. An upgraded Jubilee version was offered, which became the HD600. These all use the same drivers (although the HD650 may have some refinements and special matching).
This is good place to show what a Sennheiser driver looks like at this website.
You can see that it is a clear plastic diaphragm, probably mineral-filled polypropylene or a similar material. In basic configuration, it has two sections: a smooth dome in the center with larger "cone" area (the part with the molded fan-like ridges. The voice coil attaches at the dividing line between the dome portion and the cone portion. In practice, the dome portion is optimized for high frequencies and the cone portion moves sufficient air for bass reproduction. The molded ridges prevent flexing and resonance.
This configuration is shared by all 500 and 600 series Sennheisers but there are at least two basic sizes of these drivers (not including minor detail changes like impedance and wiring attachments).
Note that this picture is from an HD-580. The baffle the driver mounts in is largely open to the back. You can see the openings formed by slim bars radiating from the center driver mounting circle.
Quote:
I want to expand this series to include the HD500/570/590 as they share a common design and a well established set of retail pricepoints: $100/$150/$270.
The $270 HD590 used a driver that is identical to the HD580 shown above in terms of its size and configuration. Same dimensions, same voice coil diameter, same dome, same cone area. As in the HD580, this driver is spec'd out to ~38,000 Hz. You can see this driver from the front by going to this German parts listing
Scroll down the list to you find 81468 LAUTSPRECHERSYSTEM. Then, CTRL-Click the "ZOOM" button on the left to get a pop-up window picture.
The two lower priced models use a different driver. It has the same configuration, but the center dome is smaller, the voice coil diameter is smaller, and the overall diamter of the driver appears to be a few mm smaller. This driver is spec'd out to ~21,000 to ~28,000 Hz depending on the model. You can see pictures of it from the German parts listing above.
Scroll down to 75567 HÖRERKAPSEL and CTRL-Click Zoom to see a front view from the HD500. Scroll to find 75504 LAUTSPRECHER 120R for a back view in the HD570.
Note that all three of these models have a much less open baffle than the HD580. It is basically a solid plastic baffle with round holes in it as the only openings.
Quote:
I would add that the HD515 replaced the HD500, the HD555 replaced the HD570, and the HD595 replaced the HD590. The pricepoints remained relatively the same, increasing slightly across the board to $110, $170, and $290.
The HD595 uses the same larger, premium style driver as the HD590 (and the HD580). They've "improved" the spec out to 38,500Hz from 38,000 Hz (almost certainly marketing fluff to tout the "new, improved" model). Although I can't find pictures, the pricepoints and specifications strongly suggest that the HD515/555 use the smaller driver from the HD500/570.
The baffle of these models returns to the HD580 style. It is very open with thin bars forming large openings around the driver. The difference is that the driver is moved forward in the earcup and angled slightly back towards the ear. This is the E.A.R. imaging technology Sennheiser is touting.
In addition, the foam insert between the driver and the ear has been replaced by thin black acoustically transparent fabric.
IMO, the reason that the HD595 sounds somewhat brighter than the HD580 is the location/angle of the driver and the thin fabric attenuating higher frequencies less than the old foam.
To put it into perspective, the evolution of the line was supposed to be HD580 (1994) to HD590 (1999) to HD595 (2004). But, for reasons that probably have a lot to do with the largely closed baffle, the HD590 never replaced the HD580 (and its embellishments the HD600/650) in the audiophile community. The new HD595 returned to the open baffle of the HD580 with modern styling, some updates in driver placement and insert materials, and 600/650 style perforated metal grills.
As of last week, all references to the HD580 have vanished from Sennheiser's websites, so it appears that they have finally killed it off in favor of the HD595.
If you want to see what these models look like, go to this site, choose Sennheiser, and click the model number:
http://headphones.warzone.org/
Quote:
| Originally Posted by sgrossklass Historically it went like this: HD580: *1994, then top dynamic model. Ancestor of 600 (1996, same with different grilles) and 650 (2003). |
The HD580 was the top-of-the-line introduced in 1994. An upgraded Jubilee version was offered, which became the HD600. These all use the same drivers (although the HD650 may have some refinements and special matching).
This is good place to show what a Sennheiser driver looks like at this website.
You can see that it is a clear plastic diaphragm, probably mineral-filled polypropylene or a similar material. In basic configuration, it has two sections: a smooth dome in the center with larger "cone" area (the part with the molded fan-like ridges. The voice coil attaches at the dividing line between the dome portion and the cone portion. In practice, the dome portion is optimized for high frequencies and the cone portion moves sufficient air for bass reproduction. The molded ridges prevent flexing and resonance.
This configuration is shared by all 500 and 600 series Sennheisers but there are at least two basic sizes of these drivers (not including minor detail changes like impedance and wiring attachments).
Note that this picture is from an HD-580. The baffle the driver mounts in is largely open to the back. You can see the openings formed by slim bars radiating from the center driver mounting circle.
Quote:
| HD570/590: *1999, then replacing the previous HD535/545 and HD565 models. While the 590 is generally considered to be a wee bit better than the 565 (if quite different) and is among the most comfortable cans, the 570 didn't fare so well, and this not only because it was awfully hard to drive in spite of being only 64 ohms. The '570 has a pretty bathtub-like response (not at all a typical "Sennheiser sound"), it might still be useful for DVD watching. |
I want to expand this series to include the HD500/570/590 as they share a common design and a well established set of retail pricepoints: $100/$150/$270.
The $270 HD590 used a driver that is identical to the HD580 shown above in terms of its size and configuration. Same dimensions, same voice coil diameter, same dome, same cone area. As in the HD580, this driver is spec'd out to ~38,000 Hz. You can see this driver from the front by going to this German parts listing
Scroll down the list to you find 81468 LAUTSPRECHERSYSTEM. Then, CTRL-Click the "ZOOM" button on the left to get a pop-up window picture.
The two lower priced models use a different driver. It has the same configuration, but the center dome is smaller, the voice coil diameter is smaller, and the overall diamter of the driver appears to be a few mm smaller. This driver is spec'd out to ~21,000 to ~28,000 Hz depending on the model. You can see pictures of it from the German parts listing above.
Scroll down to 75567 HÖRERKAPSEL and CTRL-Click Zoom to see a front view from the HD500. Scroll to find 75504 LAUTSPRECHER 120R for a back view in the HD570.
Note that all three of these models have a much less open baffle than the HD580. It is basically a solid plastic baffle with round holes in it as the only openings.
Quote:
| HD595: Replaced the HD590 in 2004. More related to old HD5x5 models sonically. More neutral than HD590, a bit less comfy. |
I would add that the HD515 replaced the HD500, the HD555 replaced the HD570, and the HD595 replaced the HD590. The pricepoints remained relatively the same, increasing slightly across the board to $110, $170, and $290.
The HD595 uses the same larger, premium style driver as the HD590 (and the HD580). They've "improved" the spec out to 38,500Hz from 38,000 Hz (almost certainly marketing fluff to tout the "new, improved" model). Although I can't find pictures, the pricepoints and specifications strongly suggest that the HD515/555 use the smaller driver from the HD500/570.
The baffle of these models returns to the HD580 style. It is very open with thin bars forming large openings around the driver. The difference is that the driver is moved forward in the earcup and angled slightly back towards the ear. This is the E.A.R. imaging technology Sennheiser is touting.
In addition, the foam insert between the driver and the ear has been replaced by thin black acoustically transparent fabric.
IMO, the reason that the HD595 sounds somewhat brighter than the HD580 is the location/angle of the driver and the thin fabric attenuating higher frequencies less than the old foam.
To put it into perspective, the evolution of the line was supposed to be HD580 (1994) to HD590 (1999) to HD595 (2004). But, for reasons that probably have a lot to do with the largely closed baffle, the HD590 never replaced the HD580 (and its embellishments the HD600/650) in the audiophile community. The new HD595 returned to the open baffle of the HD580 with modern styling, some updates in driver placement and insert materials, and 600/650 style perforated metal grills.
As of last week, all references to the HD580 have vanished from Sennheiser's websites, so it appears that they have finally killed it off in favor of the HD595.
