CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
Lobby => Headphone Measurements => Topic started by: Marvey on September 15, 2012, 11:29:44 PM
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Sennheiser HD598 Measurements
- Frequency Response
- CSD Waterfall
- Harmonic Distortion
(http://www.changstar.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=521.0;attach=2317;image)
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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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...
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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
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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.
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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).
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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..
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The FR of the HD598 is rather impressive....
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It sounds good too. Good tonal balance. Just not quite as capable as the HD600/650.
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I had an HD598 which I just sold after getting an HD580. I think the HD598 has a sound sig that sounds passably "nice" with almost any source, while bad system matching with the HD580/600/650 will get you that famous Sennheiser veil which people mention a lot. The HD598 is a good headphone for the price especially if you like the looks.
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I've always liked the HD598.
The sound and the colour scheme. I've so far recommended them to friends who are looking for some entry-mid level stuff and they've all fallen in love with it.
These measurements put to shame alot of cans priced far higher.
I've never thought they'd measure this well. But I guess its sums it up, lushy headphone that doesn't do anything spectacular but never a foot wrong. Wobbly, but never spiking or offending.
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The biggest problem with the 5xx series is their impedance crossing over from the low impedance side of things to high impedance because out of a typical receiver HP jack or a poorly designed amp, they turn from being balanced to V-shaped... and I mean huuuugely V-shaped. I think that the rise in impedance in the midbass region is what makes these cans sound muddy out of a receiver while using the hd600 or 650 out of the same amp didn't give me such results.
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HD558/598 for hall of fame? For $150, couldn't think of any other open headphone than the HD558 I'd rather have.
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You know my sentiments on the 558/598. Great buy if you find a deal. Much clearer than the 555/595 (unless modded).
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I much enjoy the 558, great headphone for its money. I personally hate the 598 and its gaudy color scheme. I'd put it on the wall of same for most ugly color scheme but that's just me.
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I hate the color too, but looks are subjective and do not effect sound (depending on who you ask). It's actually the reason I kept the 558 and modded for the 598 effect.
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heard these recently through my iPod touch, really liked them. would gladly recommend for someone who wants to drive them without amping them up. though did sound quite a bit better through my friends FiiO E17. much nicer than 555/595 IMO.
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Purrin:
I am posting here, because it may have been a long time (August?) since you have been to the HD-650 thread. My question: Why do your measurements look so different from Headroom's and Inner Fidelity's? Are yours uncompensated (or whatever is the proper word)? The FR graphs you posted look nothing like the dark, muddy HD-650s I owned twice and gave up on. And I really wanted to like them (they're so pretty :). I actually like my HD-600s so much better. I think they cream the 650. OK, Thanks.
Jeffrey
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One of the HD650s I measured has a lower mid recess in the FR: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,40.msg195.html#msg195 (http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,40.msg195.html#msg195).
This could contribute to veil, or at the very least a laid back sound. The funny this is that I didn't think this particular pair sounded that veiled. Only slightly slow.
The HD650 (#2) with the better FR (without such strong a dip) had a good amount of bass distortion:
http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,469.msg8390.html#msg8390 (http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,469.msg8390.html#msg8390)
Bass distortion is what causes slow muddy bass. I found this HD650 to have very slow and mushy bass.
Not all HD650s sound the same. I think a few others here can corroborate.
The graphs here are compensated to my and LFF's ears using neutral references, with input from Anax. My personal reference is a near field desktop monitor actively crossed over and EQ'd with a neutral response. There a post someone with the FR and picture of them either on this site or HF. Don't remember the link.
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Not all HD650s sound the same. I think a few others here can corroborate.
I heard one at the T.H.E. Show at Newport and another one at the LA meet, and they did not sound the same to me.
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The HD650 (#2) with the better FR (without such strong a dip) had a good amount of bass distortion:
http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,469.msg8390.html#msg8390 (http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,469.msg8390.html#msg8390)
Bass distortion is what causes slow muddy bass. I found this HD650 to have very slow and mushy bass.
Not all HD650s sound the same. I think a few others here can corroborate.
The graphs here are compensated to my and LFF's ears using neutral references, with input from Anax. My personal reference is a near field desktop monitor actively crossed over and EQ'd with a neutral response. There a post someone with the FR and picture of them either on this site or HF. Don't remember the link.
Thank you.
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A few days ago, someone offered me his HD598 and possibly a T50RP (modified by ?) to trade for my DT880, from which I'm trying to get rid off.
I refused his offer because I have an incoming HD600 and so would like to make some cash from the Beyer.
You guys think that the HD598 has something to offer that the HD600 doesn't?
Should I reconsider his offer?
I believe I could prefer the HD598 tonal balance over the DT880 but I'm affraid that it would make for a very noticeable SQ downgrade... I don't know...
Although I don't consider the DT880 to be particularly impressive in what concerns transparency and timbre...
It doesn't sound to me like the detail monster most seem to label it off, but it sure sounds like it's trying to be so!
If the HD598 has better transparency and not worse timbre than the DT880, I could reconsider his offer...
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hmm from long term memory, I would say that the dt880 may have better bass but wont have mids as full as the senns. Overall i would keep the senns over the beyers for pure music listening
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Thanks donunus.
Yeah, the bass on this beyer is pretty much the only I care about...
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Anyone here have any idea if there are any manufacturer variations here? Has anyone heard of any different sounding 598s? I just thought to ask because apparently there are a bunch of different sounding hd650s out there. My hd600s were all the same though hmm.
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Nope. 650's have gone through a bunch of revisions. 598, not so unless you include the revised headband material.
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HD558/598 for hall of fame? For $150, couldn't think of any other open headphone than the HD558 I'd rather have.
Sony MDR MA900 Purrin for 140$ (current ebay price), I sold them few weeks ago and regret it so much. however HD650 should be financed somehow, I had no other way. First days I thought HD650 was better but I am not sure anymore. :( at least Sony had more engaging sound.
MA900 has some slight less bass texture/definition than HD598/650.
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I really like the MA900 personally, and it would be one of my picks for a full-sized under $200 if I weren't going to do any modding. Very comfy too. Unfortunately the build quality is pathetic.
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I assume the the sound quality is nice and these are durable headphones because they are pretty expensive. I did like the weight of them though too
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I really like the MA900 personally, and it would be one of my picks for a full-sized under $200 if I weren't going to do any modding. Very comfy too. Unfortunately the build quality is pathetic.
How do you like the hd598? Outclassed by the Sony's?