My impressions of Sennheiser HD-580 phones...

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tubedude

tubedude

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Well, got my OWN pair today and got to just sit and listen for awhile (about to go jam on them for an hour or so right now).
1st impression you get from phones like this is that the high end seems cut or rolled off. Actually, after listening for a bit, the high end (and mids) seemed really thick and smooth. The nature of the stuff we are used to is hype in the highs, scoop the mids, hype the bass. Well, that is ok I guess, but when you are totally used to that, it almost sounds as if something is WRONG with these $230 headphones at 1st. The flatness is almost disapointing at 1st, and kinda stays that way for bit. Its when you start to really hear the thickness of the cymbals rather than the presense, start to hear the definition instead of hype, only then that you begin to realize that, yeah, this is how it SHOULD sound. I cant make a complete and total call on them as of yet, but so far they are killing any headphone I ever owned in terms of sound quality.
I think, pretty sure actually, that I'm going to miss the hyped stuff a BIT for a few days, even though its often some harsh hype I'm used to. BUT, after I have these for a few days and get accustomed to how much BETTER the high end sounds in general and un-hyped, that going BACK to the hyped stuff will be irritating, bothersome and cumbersome.
Fatigue rating on these is very good. I listened for a prolonged time earlier at high volumes and I never realized how much time went by and was never bothered by icky freqs. They are pretty comfortable too.
These are some nice headphones. More later.
 
I wish I had some better conversion and a better headphone amp. More things I need to buy. These headphones kind of impart that thing to sound that a nice Neumann mic does to some things. Sounds thick and full. Like em, still missing the hype some though.
 
There's the matter of getting used to something that's different (but no better than the others), and there's the matter of getting used to something that's different AND BETTER.

The first time you eat 50% chocolate, or 70% chocolate, it tastes bitter. Eat it on four or five different occasions, and you start to prefer it. Then Cadbury's Dairy Milk starts to taste like crap.

My guess is that the hype you talk about is like the sugar in cheap chocolate.
 
The thing that makes the 580's sound rolled off in the highs is that they are extremely low distortion so you lose that energy. But they are truly flat and they have been an A rated Stereophile recommended component for several years. I love mine.

You should checkout Headroom headphone amplifiers. They start fairly cheap and they are the real deal in headphone amplification. I don't have a link but I think it's something simple like Headroom.com With some 580s and a Headroom amp........you would have an audiophile quality reference listening system.
 
Already been looking at those amps, gonna get the upgraded version I think, and then a REALLY nice $500 single CD player. Then I'm set for some pristine night time listening.
I know what you mean about the choloate. I am a Godiva chocolate head. Ate some about 20 minutes ago. Other shit just kills me now. I also have some 70% in there that is some strong ass stuff.
Loving these headphones, though.
 
I'm almost kicking myself for not spending the extra $100 for the HD-600's, anything better than these phones has got to be unbeleiveable. I kinda want the Sennheiser Orpheus phones, but I'm like $10,700 short.
ANyone want an AWESOME pair of 580's for, brand new, for $190, shipped?
 
Sorry to hijack the thread but, as a fellow chocolate addict I must chime in. Or I should say, "schokolade". They make the real stuff in Germany and it's neighbors. Most of it you can't get over here. They'll send us some export version to taunt us. "Ja, you enchoy your Hershey's Yankee!"

What exactly do you favor Dobro? Or shall I bugger off and start my own thread?
-kent
 
Lindt 70% is the easiest to get in Singapore. There are others, but you have to be a fanatic to find them.

My wife brought me some Lindt 85% back from England this month - they sell it next to the checkout at Sainsbury's. Very civilized.

Some friends of ours in New York sent us some 98% one time. I mean, why dilute it?
 
Why dilute it? ha... thats like smoking crack... 98% geez...
 
Having just been in Brugge, Belgium, I am no longer impressed by Godiva chocs. They are good, but they don't touch your average small Belgian Chocolatier.

More upgraditis for ya... :D

Honestly though, I own the 600's and have heard the 580's. Although I'm glad I got the 600's, I'd say don't worry about it if you already have the 580's. I listened to a pair recently and compared them to the 600's and it is very difficult to tell any difference.

The 580 and 600 are the same phones, except the 600s get the drivers that measure and match better. With the quality control at Sennheiser I don't think it's any big deal.

Also the 600 has some carbon fiber parts that supposedly don't resonate as much. I doubt that matters much either.

I got my 600's on Ebay for $235 new, so they weren't much more than the 580s, so what the hey...
 
I remembered someone mentioning Lindt chocolate here, so when I happened to spot some Lindt Truffles at Cracker Barrel at 6 this morning, I bought two chocolates and two white chocolates. So far tried the regualr, and although its good (better than hersheys and stuff) I'm not sure I would take it over Godiva in most cases. Not that Godiva kills it, they are just different beasts.
Thanks to whoever mentioned it... gonna eat another right now...
 
Dudes, eating a white one now... at 35 cents a piece they cant be beat by anything else near that price. Kills Hersheys dead, no doubt. Pretty tasty, kinda on the sweet side. Again, a totally different beast from Godivas white (ivory) also. Plenty tasty though.
 
I purchased a pair of HD 590's a few months ago and love 'em

I was monitoring with a pair of Koss $29 phones and one day while i was mixing they broke in half... so I had to go out to the local consumer audio store -tweeter-... my main concern was comfort and these things have plenty of that. I dont think these phones are considered as a monitoring class set of cans, but they work great!
 
The HD590 is meant to replace the 580, which is a shame actually. The 590 is good, but it's not as good as the 580.

I think they discontinued the 580 and started producing the 590 to make it more compelling for people to pop for the 600. The 580 is just too good for it's price. (from a profit standpoint)
 
Phloodpants said:
I think they discontinued the 580 and started producing the 590 to make it more compelling for people to pop for the 600. The 580 is just too good for it's price. (from a profit standpoint)
Click to expand...
Really......there's no reason to kick out for the 600s as long as you can get the 580s. And right now's the time. A lot of the hi-fi places like Music Direct and Audio Advisor still have some for $200. I think everyone should have a pair. And a Headroom headphone amp too.
 
580s, 590s...

Lindt, Godiva...

Yup, as I suspected - you bunch are into fine delinations.
 
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