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I've been following this thread for a while now. Jude's review doesn't seem to mention if the earpads are removable. Has there been any mention of this?
Yes, pads are removable; there are instructions in the box on how to do it.
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Hmmm, I don't consider the ATH-M50 bass heavy. If you are saying Momentum has less bass than those and if a few others share that opinion, I can take these off my short list.
I don't know where that comes from, the Momentum's are more bass heavy. I'm in no way a bass head, so sometimes I find myself eq-ing down the bass; but more likely, I'm eq-ing up the mids. The bass is very nice and I can see why there are bass heads out there; the bass slam and associated PRaT is darned addicting. The ATH-M50 got a nice amount of bass tho, but the momentum kicks it up a notch and I think Jude hits it on the head by describing the bass as 'wide band'; it does cover quite a large range!
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comparing them with the HD598, which one do you think has better sound quality and comfort?
I have a bigger head and find the HD598s VASTLY more comfortable esp with the true circumaural cups and great for stationary use. I would not, however, even considering the HD598s for on the go usage, the clamping force, while comfortable at home, is not strong enough for any kind of rigorous moving. The Momentum, however, has a stronger clamping force that IMO is just perfect balance between secure and comfortable, esp in the context of moving around; I have no qualms about walking around and even doing some light exercising in them.
In terms of sound quality, they are also very different beasts. The HD598s are much more forward and the sound stage is much bigger in both width and depth. While the Momentum is more intimate. Both share the standard Sennheiser mids, but they are less apparent in the Momentums due to the more aggressive bass (but when you EQ the bass down, the mids are very there). Pace and layering is about the same (but then I don't really use my 598s much for music after I got my HD650/LCD2, so I'll have to double check this).
Would I recommend them for a new audiophile? Yes, it's a great place to start, albet a bit higher price point then most new comers may be comfortable with.
Would I recommend them for a stationary home rig for the rest of us? No. For most, there are better options for the price. For a bass head, possibly.
Would I recommend them for a portable can? Definitely, the market for circumaural is very limited in the context of a portable can.