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Author Topic: Sennheiser HD558 (modded) Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots  (Read 14952 times)

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ultrabike

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Re: Sennheiser HD558 (modded) Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2013, 06:06:34 AM »
Just wanted to share some brief impressions and measurements. I have to agree these headphones seem a little midrangy but not too offending to my ears. It is also not the last word in detail retrieval, but really like the tonal balance of these cans and they are fairly pleasant to my ears.

I bought these refurbished for $100, and have no mods AFAIK. The distortion plots are in dB instead of %. I tried to follow Marv's anechoic plate approach when measuring these cans using what I've gathered here and there.

In advance apologies for the zombie thread revival :)p5

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Anaxilus.

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Re: Sennheiser HD558 (modded) Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2013, 06:44:45 AM »
Open them up and take the foam out.  See how that sounds.
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ultrabike

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Re: Sennheiser HD558 (modded) Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2013, 07:06:03 AM »
Just did that... Better!!! headbang

Just from brief impressions, seems a little more open and more bass. Measurements bellow...

Seems to have gone down a little at 3 kHz, and 2.5 kHz ring seems to have decreased. Very impressed on how closely these match with the HD558s Marv measured. Decent driver matching and low product variability.
« Last Edit: April 26, 2013, 07:38:49 AM by ultrabike »
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Marvey

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Re: Sennheiser HD558 (modded) Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2013, 07:36:42 AM »
Awesome. I now appoint you as my successor.
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ultrabike

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Re: Sennheiser HD558 (modded) Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2013, 07:52:13 AM »
 :)p13 Just replicating/confirming measurements, and learning stuff a long the way... :)p7
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shipsupt

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Re: Sennheiser HD558 (modded) Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #15 on: April 26, 2013, 10:47:11 AM »
I never realized these could be had so cheap!  I'd take that for $100!  Well done Ultra.

As for reviving the zombie thread, I like the idea of bringing up the old measurement thread for something like this, it keeps everything in one place.


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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

ultrabike

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Re: Sennheiser HD558 (modded) Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #16 on: April 26, 2013, 05:11:16 PM »
Thanks Ship! Yes, Dakmart/Dahmart and Adgtron (which claim to be Senn authorized dealers) sell these refurbished/used through Amazon at very affordable prices. TBH I was a little afraid of being scammed, but these seem genuine.

Bellow are some overlays of before mod (stock) in white vs after mod (foam removal per Anax suggestion) in green/red. Seems the mod pushes the 2kHz to 4kHz (high mids) down a little relative to the rest of the spectrum. Liking the mod quite a bit. Thanks guys!

EDIT: Added IMO better visualization by aligning at 1kHz...

EDIT: Plots zoomed below for visualization

Right Channel


Left Channel
« Last Edit: August 06, 2013, 06:23:10 AM by ultrabike »
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Anaxilus.

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Re: Sennheiser HD558 (modded) Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #17 on: April 26, 2013, 06:55:23 PM »
Yeah, Sennheiser calls the mod, the HD598 (almost 598).
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donunus

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Re: Sennheiser HD558 (modded) Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #18 on: August 19, 2013, 12:51:32 AM »
So what does the 598 do better than these? I've owned the 555,595, and the 558 but am still curious to know if I am missing something. The 5khz peak on these does bother me a little and was wondering if the same can be said about the 598.

« Last Edit: August 19, 2013, 03:23:56 AM by Analixus »
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Anaxilus.

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Re: Sennheiser HD558 (modded) Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plots
« Reply #19 on: August 19, 2013, 03:24:10 AM »
Quote from: donunus on August 19, 2013, 12:51:32 AM
So what does the 598 do better than these? I've owned the 555,595, and the 558 but am still curious to know if I am missing something. The 5khz peak on these does bother me a little and was wondering if the same can be said about the 598.

598 is a little brighter, more airy and spacious.  The physical difference is mainly a more open web type chassis grill behind the driver rather than a honeycomb.  That change alone is audible.
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