CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

  • December 31, 2015, 09:20:32 AM
  • Welcome, Guest
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  
Pages: [1] 2 3 4

Author Topic: Sennheiser HD598 Measurements  (Read 17223 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Marvey

  • The Man For His Time And Place
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +555/-33
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6698
  • Captain Plankton and MOT: Eddie Current
Sennheiser HD598 Measurements
« on: September 15, 2012, 11:29:44 PM »

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.
« Last Edit: September 15, 2012, 11:43:37 PM by purrin »
Logged

ocswing

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +13/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 171
Re: Sennheiser HD598 Measurements
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2012, 11:49:43 PM »

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.
Logged
"I find it hard to believe the Nazis conquered Europe w/ just treble peaks. - Anaxilus

Marvey

  • The Man For His Time And Place
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +555/-33
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6698
  • Captain Plankton and MOT: Eddie Current
Re: Sennheiser HD598 Measurements
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2012, 11:56:37 PM »

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.
Logged

ultrabike

  • Burritous Supremus (and Mexican Ewok)
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +4226/-2
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2384
  • I consider myself "normal"
Re: Sennheiser HD598 Measurements
« Reply #3 on: September 15, 2012, 11:57:38 PM »

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!
Logged

Hands

  • Pizza the Hutt
  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +331/-8
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1591
  • Master of Revelatory Bird Calls and Fine Art
Re: Sennheiser HD598 Measurements
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2012, 01:12:37 AM »

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.
Logged
The other master and I invite you to visit our digital museum of fine art and revelatory bird calls: https://www.facebook.com/SchrodsonkMuseum

maverickronin

  • Objectively Sound
  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +58/-2
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 670
  • Your friendly neighborhood audio skeptic
Re: Sennheiser HD598 Measurements
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2012, 02:03:11 AM »

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.
Logged
Heaven's closed - Hell's sold out - So I walk on Earth.

Anathallo

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +7/-2
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 100
Re: Sennheiser HD598 Measurements
« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2012, 02:35:16 AM »

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?
Logged

Hands

  • Pizza the Hutt
  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +331/-8
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1591
  • Master of Revelatory Bird Calls and Fine Art
Re: Sennheiser HD598 Measurements
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2012, 06:50:08 AM »

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...
Logged
The other master and I invite you to visit our digital museum of fine art and revelatory bird calls: https://www.facebook.com/SchrodsonkMuseum

Deep Funk

  • Sure is fond of ellipses...
  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +111/-3
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2344
  • Born in 1988, eclectic 90-ties!
    • Radjahs2cents
Re: Sennheiser HD598 Measurements
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2012, 09:24:12 AM »

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...

 :)p8
Logged
Few things keep me sane: my loved ones, my music and my hobbies. Few is almost an understatement here...

Hroðulf

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +262/-1
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 538
  • MOT: Sonarworks
Re: Sennheiser HD598 Measurements
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2012, 10:19:59 AM »

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.
Logged
If it keeps on ringin', levee's goin' to break..
Pages: [1] 2 3 4