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HD 598
Posted by x on 2013-05-11Posted on Sennheiser HD 598
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros:
Cons:
****
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Good all-around headphone.
Posted by MAT from Montreal, QC on 2010-12-24Posted on Sennheiser HD 598
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Comfortable, musical, smooth, versatile.
Cons: average imaging, not very precise.
I will compare the Sennheiser HD 598 with two other headphones: the Grado SR 125 and the (IE) Klipsch S4i. All three headphones have been used with an amp (the Nuforce Icon HDP) and with Apple Lossless files streamed from a Mac Mini via the optical in on the HDP. As another sound reference I've used a pair of Monitor Audio Silver RS6 connected to a NAD C325BEE and to the HDP again. I'm listening mostly to classical (80%) and jazz. All have been previously used for at least 100 hours. For this comparison I listened to the Beethoven piano concertos played by Brendel/Rattle/Vienna Philarmonic; Miles Davis - Kind of Blue; Getz /Gilberto - Samba.
From the very first notes it is clear that the Sennheiser and the Grado are extremely contrasting headphones. The Grado is very open, forward and airy. It's very precise and dynamic. It's imaging is excellent: the sound-stage has considerable width and the localization and separation of instruments in the symphonic pieces is excellent. However, the low end is thin and the highs are aggressive. I also find it uncomfortable despite the fact that it is very light. While the Grado makes music fascinating, I find it very tiring even over periods of the order of half an hour - this is of course purely personal. The Sennheiser by contrast is much more relaxed, and smoother. The low end is very adequate - well controlled and convincing, the highs lack a bit of energy but are reasonably clear and incisive. I also found the Sennheiser reasonably comfortable - much more than the Grado in any case. The sound of the Sennheiser is more balanced and intimate when compared to the Grado. On the other hand, the Sennheiser is much less precise than the Grado and its imaging, while still reasonable, is less impressive: the sound-stage is more compressed, there is less distance between the instruments. The Grado makes me discover new details in my tunes - compared even with my Monitor Audio system - in a way that the Sennheiser does not do, but, for more extended sessions, I definitely enjoy more listening to music on the Sennheiser. In fact, compared with the Monitor Audio Silvers the Sennheiser is certainly less forceful in both the low range and (even more) in the high one but at the same time preserves globally the same tonal balance and adds a certain degree of intimacy. In short, the transition from the speakers to the Senny is natural, it does not detract too much but mainly continues a very enjoyable musical experience. This is in sharp contrast to passing from the Monitor Audio to the Grado. In this case, the bottom end is suddenly lost while the energy, dynamic and detail of the upper mids and highs increases. It's harder to talk about continuation in this case, complementarity would be more appropriate.
A word now about the Klipsch. It's sonic signature is not far from the Sennheiser. Its highs are a bit rolled off compared with the Senny and it is also a bit less open, the lows are also more emphasized. The biggest difference is that the sound is considerably less refined and precise. However, I mention it here because I found it globally to be a very nice travel companion that is not far from the sonic balance of the Senny 598.
I should add that all three headphones benefit from the use of a DAC/amp. They sound clearly less good out of an iPod. This being said, I was impressed with how well the Senny 598 sounded directly out of an iPad. The sound is slightly more metallic and less precise than through the HDP, with a bit more agressive highs and with some lack of definition in the big orchestral pieces. However, the Senny 598 still offers a very enjoyable musical experience that beats the Klipsch by quite a lot. This forgiving character certainly increases the overall value of the Senny as it allows it to be used with good results with a variety of sources and equipment.
The build of the Senny seems very good.
To conclude, in my experience, this is a very enjoyable, versatile and musical headphone without being an analytic champion. If I could, I would have given it four stars and a half !
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