Sony MDR-SA1000 to HD555

[homie]

So I'm moving from the SA1000 to the HD555.

I've loved the SA1000, but unfortunately they are now broken. I mainly use the headphones for music and gaming connected to the X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatality Edition music card.

What can I expect?

How similar or disimilar are the 2?

And how's the high end, bass, and soundstage for the HD555?

 

[TimPrice]

you tell us
I didn't apreciate my sold HD595, because of its 'plastic drums' sound signature...

And I know with Sony cans them sound great

 

[homie]

I just got the HD555 and I'm not impressed.

The SA1000 had a more natural sound to them. The bass didn't kick but the bass sounded real clear. The highs were crisp and clear. The soundstage was superb. I really felt like I was in some concert hearing from speakers that were far away. On 2 separate incidents, I was fooled by the headphones it was great. I was watching a movie and I thought I heard a knock on my own door. Turns out, someone was knocking on a door in a movie. Second time, I thought I heard my own phone ring.

The bass in the HD555 kicks, but it is a dirty kick. Almost muddy. It sounds like some veil is covering my ears preventing me to hear. There's almost no differentiation between the different bass sounds. All the bass notes sound the same. Highs and mids are not really there. The range is really lacking.

Granted, I have to burn in the HD555, but I can't really expect these cans to improve.

Comfort... SA1000 wins hands down. I never felt the Sony cans on my head. These HD555 are not on my head... it's clamping my head.

 

[nickchen]

I found the HD5*5 series a bit...well...trivial. They got quite (over)hyped a lot here between 2005 and 2007, I'm not too sorry that they aren't mentioned as prominent as before.

 

[Roger.McMurphy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickchen /img/forum/go_quote.gif I found the HD5*5 series a bit...well...trivial. They got quite (over)hyped a lot here between 2005 and 2007, I'm not too sorry that they aren't mentioned as prominent as before.

Yeah, I guess I'm not often here talking about it. I'm just too busy using the 555 everyday

I compared it to some AD900, a 250$ can, and I know I'm not missing on anything important there. I'm too fond of them to change them anytime soon.

It probably got hyped because you can find it pretty much everywhere in europe and america, it's fashionable, it's durable, it's light, it stays on (unlike the AT) the pads are comfortable, it is fairly detailed, it has a good soundstage, it's pretty neutral... and it was exceptionally well reviewed. As was the 595. Maybe too much. I also find it extremely comfortable, as far as comfort goes, as with every single pair of headphones, and anything in life, your mileage may vary. I personally have yet to try anything that comes close to how comfy it is.

For a first buy, at around 100US$, I am sure you can do much, much worse for the money. I never had a chance to audition the similarly priced SA1000 though. If ever my HD555 break, I will probably buy a set of the two times pricier DT770... or go with another set of HD555 ...or it's successor, when it comes out

Yeah, DT770, for videogames, maybe that's the pair of phones you want

 

[Ishcabible]

How did they break? Just curious, can't add anything would help, sorry...

 

[x3sphere]

Quote:

Originally Posted by homie /img/forum/go_quote.gif I just got the HD555 and I'm not impressed. The SA1000 had a more natural sound to them. The bass didn't kick but the bass sounded real clear. The highs were crisp and clear. The soundstage was superb. I really felt like I was in some concert hearing from speakers that were far away. On 2 separate incidents, I was fooled by the headphones it was great. I was watching a movie and I thought I heard a knock on my own door. Turns out, someone was knocking on a door in a movie. Second time, I thought I heard my own phone ring. The bass in the HD555 kicks, but it is a dirty kick. Almost muddy. It sounds like some veil is covering my ears preventing me to hear. There's almost no differentiation between the different bass sounds. All the bass notes sound the same. Highs and mids are not really there. The range is really lacking. Granted, I have to burn in the HD555, but I can't really expect these cans to improve. Comfort... SA1000 wins hands down. I never felt the Sony cans on my head. These HD555 are not on my head... it's clamping my head.

Your post basically sums up my experience with the 555. I suppose it is a decent can if you just want to hear all the fine details in your music, but it truly does not excel in any particular area. It's a budget jack of all trades headphone in my opinion.

 

[Zaubertuba]

Quote:

Originally Posted by homie /img/forum/go_quote.gif Granted, I have to burn in the HD555, but I can't really expect these cans to improve. Comfort... SA1000 wins hands down. I never felt the Sony cans on my head. These HD555 are not on my head... it's clamping my head.

Mine really improved during burn-in--and are still improving at about 70+ hours. There are a number of mods you can do to them to make them even better.

I like how mine fit, but fit is a very individual thing that can make a headphone a bad experience regardless of how it sounds. I hear the AD700's are as good (many people say a better) value, and don't clamp as tightly as the HD555's. Note that's just what I've heard.

 

[kool bubba ice]

Step up to the SA5000. The 555 will run to his big brother, the HD800

 

[homie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ishcabible /img/forum/go_quote.gif How did they break? Just curious, can't add anything would help, sorry...

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/rep...phones-419811/

Here's the thread.

The right cup outputs no sound. The cans were great, but they were flimsy. The plastic broke off on 2 different places and they were held together with zipties and crazy glue. I was still using them because they sounded great.

SA5000 is calling my name. The magneisum is calling me.

 

[nickchen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger.McMurphy /img/forum/go_quote.gif If ever my HD555 break, I will probably buy a set of the two times pricier DT770... or go with another set of HD555 ...or it's successor, when it comes out

I doubt that you would enjoy the boombeyer. If you would need a HD555 successor, I guess the K601 or the HD600 would be top notch candidates.