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[purrin]

Sennheiser HD598 Measurements

• Frequency Response
• CSD Waterfall
• Harmonic Distortion

This is from old data I had sitting around. (No measurements in this heat with the noisy AC on!) It's possible that the HD598 could be using the same drivers as the HD558. The HD598 does sound a little bit better than the HD558. The marginally better enclosure could have a lot to do with it.

I like these headphones. They are a little bit more aggressive than the Sennheiser classics (HD650/HD600), but the response is still  fairly even. I honestly wished the HD700 could have had the same frequency response as these cans, not that weird ass" Cyber-Grado" sound (as Mav best coined).

Compared to the Senn classics, the HD598 sounds more veiled, less controlled, more muffled, and overall lower quality. Lower fidelity so to speak, much like the SRH1440/1840, but actually not as bad. The HD598 is better than the SRH1840 in my opinion. Better more natural tonal balance, not as low-fi sounding. It also costs $450 less. The SRH1840 does have a sweeter treble quality to it though.

Hmm, I should write a quick review of the SRH1840 to further clarify my position on them.

[ocswing]

Nice, I always hoped these would make it up. It's unfortunate that Sennheiser started enforcing MAP on these recently. They used to go below $200 and that was a bargain. I feel like they're a better buy than the AKG K701. Better balance, tonality in trade-off for some veil and clarity. For me the balance and tonality are more important. All that being said, I wish they came in a different color.

[purrin]

You pretty much called it!

The K701s also sound more clear to me. And they have slightly better distortion measurements too. But I concur with you that the balance of the HD558/HD598 is better. At least compared to the older K701s which seemed to have less bass.

[ultrabike]

The distortion measurements are definitively much higher in these than in the HD650s. I've have the HD558, which may indeed have the same drivers. It may definitively account for my low scores in the Klippel distortion tests... That said, the similar HD558 are far easier to listen to than the DT990s. Thanks Marv!

+1 on the HD598 color!

[hans030390]

I really liked these when I had them. I modded the back grills so that they were open like seen on the HD600/650. My noob-ish ears were even worse back then, so I can't really remember what it did to the sound. I also had them recabled (dual entry). At the time, I thought it sounded better...but that means very little now.

I heard some people complain about the comfort of the ear pads some time after I had sold mine, and I'm wondering if Sennheiser changed the pads at all or anything else on the headphone. Eh, I doubt it's really changed.

I wonder if there's anything that could be done to these to reduce some of that distortion...They're pretty nice cans other than that. I thought they sounded pretty natural and had more of a speaker-like presentation than I was used to in headphones.

[maverickronin]

I've only heard these briefly but I did like them.

Technically I think they're a clear step down from the HD600/650 but still retain the classic Senn flavor.  IIRC maxvla likes the 598s better because of the FR.  With Senn jacking up the prices they aren't as cheap as they used to be but I'd easily take them over the DT880s.  Way to cold and bright.  The Q701s are supposed to be a little warmer than the K701s I remember hearing so I might need a head to head to decide between it and the 598.

The 598s are way better than the 700s though.  The 700s may have less distortion in the mids and treble but you'll only hear it in the treble because it insists on shouting over everything else.

[Anathallo]

I nabbed these for $150 second hand and they have been by far my best headphone purchase.  Such a fun pair of headphones - both to listen to and to look at.  The elevated bass distortion and overall tonal balance give these a fun overall flavour and they're durable, light and super comfortable to boot.  Definitely my go-to pair of headphones when I travel on business or go on vacation.  Modern pop/rock/folk just sounds great on these, with no external amplification requirements.

For a buck 50, what more could you want?

[hans030390]

Yeah, I got mine for $175 (open box) not too long after they were released. They were a good deal at that price. You know, given the FR and distortion measurements, I'm surprised my pair didn't sound like they had more bass than they did. Of course, I was used to my D2000 at the time...

[Deep Funk]

It's a nice headphone. Complex music like the technical Metal Prog of Dream Theater still sounded good enough but the HD598 left me with an after taste of meh...

 

[RudeWolf]

I heard the HD598 two times when I was in Iceland. Once directly compared to a HD600 which seemed noticeably more refined. At one time I planned the HD598 as a stationary listening headphone but in the end went for the HD650.

[Deep Funk]

Agreed, in the HF-threads regarding the HD598 a lot of 'noobs' at the time wanted the HD598 as headphone for home listening with a dedicated set up. I always recommended that the HD600 and HD650 in that case were better options  given on the long term the HD600 and HD650 are better value for money let alone sounded really good instead of just nice.

If I had 500 euros and no headphones for home listening I would put the HD650 + decent amplifier on the short-list (with the knowledge I have now).

[Anathallo]

I find the big problem is the soundstaging on the 598, for me at least, is far superior to the 600/650.  As well, the 598 is way more comfortable - especially for bigger heads.


I guess it depends on where your priorities are with sound signature, etc..

[RudeWolf]

If one does not plan to invest in a decent amp/dac setup then the HD598 might even be a better purchase. I fully agree with Boomana when she said that without decent amplification it is silly to talk about the HD600/650 sound sig. When I first got my HD650 I had only the FiiO e10. Whilst sounding quite decent the HD650 was extremely dark sounding and had a pronounced hump at the resonant frequency. When I got my Dynalo working it was vastly more neutral headphone. The lower midrange hump lessened and overall there was more treble. Also with treble came a wider soundstage.

[catscratch]

That's kinda my findings on the 650. Total waste of time with a FiiO or anything that's not capable of driving them properly. But very good when they open up. 600 is a bit more forgiving but without a good amp the value proposition is still questionable.

Is the 595 anything like the 598? I did have a 595 and it wasn't bad, but not in the same league as the 650/600.

[hans030390]

That's kinda my findings on the 650. Total waste of time with a FiiO or anything that's not capable of driving them properly. But very good when they open up. 600 is a bit more forgiving but without a good amp the value proposition is still questionable.

Is the 595 anything like the 598? I did have a 595 and it wasn't bad, but not in the same league as the 650/600.

They're more similar than not, IMO. Tyll has measurements on Innerfidelity for both.