[tdockweiler]

Am I the only weirdo here who thinks the HD-580 sounds better than the 600 in nearly every single way?
I think they're close in sound, but not the same. 580 sounds a little more forward in the treble and upper mids I think. Less mid-bass than the HD-600 perhaps.
Probably just due to being a tad more closed in (less air). Really just minor differences but audible to me. HD-580 sounds clearer too and less "veiled".
 
If you have the 580 with HD-600 grills you might as well post in the HD-600 thread

 
Right now i'd rank my Sennheiser headphones as:
 
HD-650 > HD-580 > HD-598 > HD-600
 
598 kills them when it comes to soundstage size though, but no biggie. It's mids are VERY addicting. I also like how it doesn't really need much amping.
 
BTW I got my 580 used for $90 I think. Expected it to sound 100% identical to an HD-600. Ended up not wanting to stop listening to it for nearly a week.
 
I had an HD-580 back maybe 10 years ago but I was dumb and using it from a portable CD player I think. I clearly remember that back then it had a 1/4" plug!
Maybe they changed the jack to a smaller version.
 
I wish Sennheiser would re-release the HD-580. No I'm not kidding! Wasn't it originally sold for $150 or so?

 

[PETEREK]

The sound changes so much when swapping out the grills. The 580 grill reflect a lot more and push the mids forward and make the bass presence a little stronger. I like the way they sound stock, but... I have modded mine a little to cater to my taste a little more. I made some HD600-ish grills and did the blue tac mod. Those 2 things did it for me. Wider sound stage, more bass, mids are still very forward, and the highs are about the same from what I can tell.

 

[bracko]

The sound changes so much when swapping out the grills. The 580 grill reflect a lot more and push the mids forward and make the bass presence a little stronger. I like the way they sound stock, but... I have modded mine a little to cater to my taste a little more. I made some HD600-ish grills and did the blue tac mod. Those 2 things did it for me. Wider sound stage, more bass, mids are still very forward, and the highs are about the same from what I can tell.

 
What does this Blu-Tack mod actually mean?

 

[HPiper]

If one were to replace the drivers, cable and grills on the HD580 to HD650 models, assuming they would all fit, and I am told they will.
Wouldn't you actually have an HD650 that just happened to say HD580 on the band?

 

[PETEREK]

Quote:

If one were to replace the drivers, cable and grills on the HD580 to HD650 models, assuming they would all fit, and I am told they will.
Wouldn't you actually have an HD650 that just happened to say HD580 on the band?

Yes. Well, some people believe the 600 and 650 cups are made of a better plastic, but I dont think thats true. 

 

[PETEREK]

Quote:

 
What does this Blu-Tack mod actually mean?

That is the tack mod. Mine wasn't blue tack I guess lol The 2 pieces of putty covering holes between the grills and your head.

 

[bracko]

Quote:

That is the tack mod. Mine wasn't blue tack I guess lol The 2 pieces of putty covering holes between the grills and your head.

 
 
Thanks for your answer. Do you believe this mod is possible on HD650? I never heard of it 

 

[PETEREK]

Yes you can do it on any of them. I'm not sure what results it will make in the 650 but I'm sure it will be similar to what I described happened to mine. Give it a try and let us know what differences you heard! The putty is super cheap and the mod is totally reversible, so why not give it a try?

 

[bracko]

My HD580 arrived yesterday. They look nice, mint condition. The ear pads look very nice, almost new. I compared the sound to my HD650 and the frist impression is that HD580 definitely sound darker. HD650 has clearer and more extended treble which makes it a bit airier sounding. The mids and the bass are quite similar.  

 

[tdockweiler]

Quote:

My HD580 arrived yesterday. They look nice, mint condition. The ear pads look very nice, almost new. I compared the sound to my HD650 and the frist impression is that HD580 definitely sound darker. HD650 has clearer and more extended treble which makes it a bit airier sounding. The mids and the bass are quite similar.  

 
I totally agree with this, which is probably a bit off the general consensus. I actually think my HD-580 is closer in sound to my HD-650 than the HD-600. I know the 580/600 use the same drivers.
I don't really like the HD-600 much but like the 598, 580 and HD-650.
 
Oh and I did have a few HD-650's years ago that were too dark and with too much mid-bass. Not sure what was going on there. I even tried them with the same equipment. This latest HD-650 is probably one of my favorite headphones. Not dark at all. Even the K702 Anniversary is darker IMO.

 

[Thujone]

Quote:

If one were to replace the drivers, cable and grills on the HD580 to HD650 models, assuming they would all fit, and I am told they will.
Wouldn't you actually have an HD650 that just happened to say HD580 on the band?

Different drivers and different sound signatures still. I haven't tried the 650's but I can't imagine that they sound much like the 580's from the reviews.

 

[tdockweiler]

Quote:

If one were to replace the drivers, cable and grills on the HD580 to HD650 models, assuming they would all fit, and I am told they will.
Wouldn't you actually have an HD650 that just happened to say HD580 on the band?

Should sound the same as the HD-650, but the drivers won't be matched. Not sure what audible difference there is. Maybe your brain can't tell the difference.
I've actually done this before once.
 
HD-600 and HD-650 grills "should" sound the same, but not really sure.
 
BTW why do they say the 650 grill is more durable than the 600 grill? It dents much easier.
 
Whatever you do, don't use an HD-580 grill with HD-650 drivers! I tried that once. All I remember is that it was awful.

 

[bracko]

These are some really nice headphones no matter what. They sound a little leaner than my HD650 but very detailed anyway. There is a nice shimmering in the upper registers unlike the HD650. HD650 on the other hand has IMHO a more mature, "deeper" sound with more microdetails and more refinement. I am very happy with my purchase. These HD580s are going to be my office headphones.  

 

[Slaughter]

I can't listen to my 580 with the 580 grills. Sounds congested and muddy in the mid-bass after using the 600 grills for a couple years.
 
Quote:

Am I the only weirdo here who thinks the HD-580 sounds better than the 600 in nearly every single way?
I think they're close in sound, but not the same. 580 sounds a little more forward in the treble and upper mids I think. Less mid-bass than the HD-600 perhaps.
Probably just due to being a tad more closed in (less air). Really just minor differences but audible to me. HD-580 sounds clearer too and less "veiled".
 
If you have the 580 with HD-600 grills you might as well post in the HD-600 thread

 
Right now i'd rank my Sennheiser headphones as:
 
HD-650 > HD-580 > HD-598 > HD-600
 
598 kills them when it comes to soundstage size though, but no biggie. It's mids are VERY addicting. I also like how it doesn't really need much amping.
 
BTW I got my 580 used for $90 I think. Expected it to sound 100% identical to an HD-600. Ended up not wanting to stop listening to it for nearly a week.
 
I had an HD-580 back maybe 10 years ago but I was dumb and using it from a portable CD player I think. I clearly remember that back then it had a 1/4" plug!
Maybe they changed the jack to a smaller version.
 
I wish Sennheiser would re-release the HD-580. No I'm not kidding! Wasn't it originally sold for $150 or so?

 

[tdockweiler]

Quote:

I can't listen to my 580 with the 580 grills. Sounds congested and muddy in the mid-bass after using the 600 grills for a couple years.
 

Total opposite for me. When you close off more air you get less warmth. Hard to believe but I experienced this when using Creatology foam on the round "vent" on the back.
Maybe though the slightly smaller soundstage gives you that impression.