Headphones
Sennheiser HD 558
The HD558 takes over from the old HD555 as the budding audiophile's headphone of choice. Given the nice price, the acoustic performance of the HD558 headphone offers superior audio 'bang-for-the-buck' with improved clarity and excellent musical definition over its former brethren. Expect a well-mannered audio presentation that synergizes cleanly with MP3 recordings and low-bitrate digital files since the smoothly detailed presentation of the HD558 won't overly highlight the flaws of less than perfect recordings.
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Product Features:
- Employs new Sennheiser 'E.A.R' technology for most spacious dimensional headphone sound
- Airy open-back full-size circumaural construction
- Detachable 'twist-to-lock' cord for ease of cable upgrade or replacement
- 2 year Sennheiser manufacturer's warranty
What's In The Box:
- 3.5mm (1/8") mini-plug adapter
Applications:
Outstanding vocal projection and cleanly textured bass reponse mark the HD558's highly involving sound signature. As typical for Sennheiser, the acoustic presentation remains liquid and lush but without undue bloat in the low mids that can mask detail resolution and muddy the waters for audiophile listeners. Sennheiser audio engineers have devised an advanced DuoFol diaphragm technology that minimizes standing waves within the circumaural earcup capsule, resulting in a simple but precise tonal delivery sans harsh edge or grain. A unique Sennheiser 'surround reflector' structure within the HD558 nicely extends the spatial field without the odd mid-range hollowness we sometimes hear with other deep-soundstage, image enhancing headphones. Highly optimized, field-strengthened neodymium ferrous magnets and nearly-weightless aluminum driver arrays deliver excellent quick-throw dynamics and musical definition that belies the attainable price of the HD558. Efficient enough for most portable applications at rated 50 Ohms impedance, listeners employing dedicated amplification can expect audibly improved accuracy, instrumental definition and vocal body under the drive and control of a quality head-amp. Given its strong synergy with any recording or musical genre, the HD558 is a well-recommended investment for getting into awesome high-end headphone sound without an awesomely high-end price tag.
The Sennheiser HD558 comes in matte-black with pewter gray accents and an understated honeycomb finish on the outer earcup grills. The HD558 is an open-back, vented earcup design sans ambient noise-blocking or isolation abilities. However, its open-back construction contributes mightily to the airy timbral transparency of this fine can. The HD558's cool 'twist-to-lock' detachable cord is way sweet and makes cable replacement or after-market cord upgrades down the road a quick, user-serviceable breeze. Plush velour earpads and headband padding complete the comfy ergonomics. The OFC copper headphone cord extends about 9 feet and terminates to a beefy full-size gold-plated 1/4" stereo plug; a mini-plug (3.5mm) adapter for iPod / iPads, MP3 players and laptop computers is conveniently provided in the HD558 package. The excellent 2-year manufacturer's 'repair or replace' product warranty remains in effect ONLY with your Sennheiser-verified, authorized dealer receipt -- like the one you'll get here at HeadRoom!
Specifications:
- Acoustic Seal: Open
- Driver Type: Dynamic
- Weight: 260 grams w/o cord
- THD+N: < 0.2 % (1 kHz/100 dB SPL)
- Impedance @ 1kHz: 50 Ohms
- Detachable Cable: Yes
- Cord Length: 9ft
- Cord Type: Straight Left-Side
- Coupler Size: Large
- Ear Coupler Type: Full-Size
- Headphone Type: Full Size
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2 years
- Warranty: 2 years
- Sensitivity: 112dB
Average Rating
Posted by oceans22 from Orange County, CA on 2011-11-08
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Great clarity
Cons: the fit is a bit tight, I don't hear this
I had a pair of HD570's I purchased back in 2000 but sold them to a friend. Decided to pick up another pair of Sennheisers & opted for the 558's. I just got them today 11/8/2011 & so far so good. I'm not quite sure they're as good as my 570's & maybe I should have bought the 598's, maybe those were the appropriate heir to my 570's but I felt since the 570's were almost 10 years old that a model number down would have the equivalent specs but I'm not quite sure they do. Anyway, I primarily listen through my iPhone 4 ( I know, not the best source to listen through) but I notice I have to turn the sound up 100% which is kind of bad so I think these can's need an amp in order to truly get the most out of them.
11 out of 14 people found this review unhelpful. Did you?
Posted by Jackal from ME on 2011-07-19
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Amazing Comfort and Quality for 180$!
Cons: You may feel like your somewhere your not.
14 out of 16 people found this review unhelpful. Did you?
Posted by el-jandal from Auckland, New Zealand on 2011-04-16
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: comfortable, great sound stage reproduction
Cons: doesn't have the bass delivery I am after
These help create a sound stage that lets your ears see where each instrument is playing from.
I can only imagine how cans higher up on the Sennheiser quality and price scale would sound since these offer great sound reproduction, comfort and build quality
As mentioned in my 'Cons' these cans don't have a heavy bass delivery which is what my preference is - but they do deliver a nice balance of highs, mids and lows so for the price it's great quality sound
15 out of 19 people found this review helpful. Did you?
