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I found the Sennheiser HD 598 CS one day looking through Amazon. So I was wondering, I haven't heard of anybody really caring about them or even noticing them. I've brainstormed some random questions about these before I actually buy them (or don't). They may be stupid questions, but: 1. Are they real? 2. What's the difference between these and the HD 569's (other than aesthetics)? 3. Are they worth the buy over the HD 598SE/569? 4. Is that difference between leakage on these vs the open-back HD 598SE that significant? 5. Random: How comfortable are Brainwav HM5 Velor pads for long periods of listening vs stock? (Sorry for so many questions, I'm not forcing you to answer them all, but please make an effort to answer one at least)

Before Reading: I'm not really a fan of using super colorful words because they really aren't helpful for people just starting out so I will try not to use them. Everything here is MY IMPRESSION. This means that some things will not be the same for you. If there's one thing that I've learned from this hobby, it's that everyone is different so my impression will be different from yours. Also my bank account hates me for getting into this. I'm pretty much just writing down whatever I think without paying too much attention to what others may think, kinda like Zeos I guess, but with less "it sounds like UUUUUUGH" - Zeos 2017, and a little more describing of how they sound. Reviews that I write up will most likely not have pictures. I don't think it's worth the effort taking pictures through my phone and moving them to my computer (especially when you can just look them up online for headphones that have been out for a while) unless there are anomalies or things that I think I need to clarify. I buy anything I feel like reviewing, just like pretty much every reviewer on this forum. I am not paid by any companies or sent any products for review. I'm just some guy that likes to share his opinion. Things I Used For This Review: DAC/Amp: SMSL M3 (getting another amp soon, keeping the M3 as a DAC) Comparision(s): Corsair Vengeance 1500v2, On-Board Audio (Desktop, laptop, phone) Program(s): Foobar2000 (using WASAPI Event so that Windows doesn't interrupt me with any notifications), Room EQ Wizard, Sound Level Meter (Android app). Review: Build and Comfort: I'm going to be honest I'm not very good at judging build quality. Many products that are highly regarded as "high build quality" never really seem that way to me. The same goes for the HD598's. It's built using mostly plastic, although I will admit that the plastic does some somewhat sturdy. Any plastic that is exposed seems pretty thick (and dense) so I wouldn't worry about it cracking from low drops or accidentally hitting it on something. I've seen people in other reviews bending the head band almost fully backwards without it snapping, which is really impressive, but I still wouldn't trust this thing to survive a fall from my head. The size adjustment is what I'm worried about the most since they are the biggest failure point in the build. That isn't to say that they aren't good, the easy readjustment feels good and stays without any trouble, but relative to the rest of the build, I would be more careful with them. Any doubts I have about the build are most likely due to how light the headphones are. The leather (at least what seems like real leather to me - certainly smells like it) is a nice touch on the head band. It doesn't feel scratchy and should last a really long time. The stitching, while very uniform and good looking, just looks and feels like it will come apart just from touching it. It hasn't happened yet so hopefully it stays that way. The ear pads are velour and feel very soft and comfortable. I'm not sure how long these will last but I've had cheap (and I mean CHEAP) velour pads last an unreasonable amount of time without any sign of wear, so these will probably last even longer (I'm guessing maybe 8 years before signs of wear). They aren't particularly thick and the ear cups are not very deep, so the tips of my ears touch the inside of the cup and starts to hurt after 6 hours or so; they don't create a complete seal against my head either. I have relatively normal sized ears so this won't be a problem for anyone with smaller ears. For the seal, I wish the pads were thicker but I'm really skinny and my head is not very big so they should be fine for about 90% of people. If you're thinking about pad rolling, I would consider otherwise because I couldn't find any pads that properly fit these and the sound will most likely change. Whether it changes for the better or worse, I don't think it's worth the trouble of finding pads that fit. I mentioned this already, but the headphones are light. VERY light. I would probably forget they were there if I couldn't feel the velour and didn't have music blasting into my ears. I can listen to these for 12 hours straight without feeling any discomfort at the top of my head (a big problem for my Corsair's and my HE560). If it weren't for the fact that I could wear these for extended period of time, I would've rated these at a 7/10 for build and comfort. The ear cups do start to hurt a little but after re-adjusting the cups for a few seconds the irritation goes away. Build and Comfort: 8.5/10 Design: Not a lot of people seem to be fans of the design, particularly the color. The cream and brown color is a real turn off for some people and many go for the black HD598 special edition. Personally I really like this design. I tried to find these all over on Ebay and ended up paying $30 over the black special edition that was on sale on Amazon, just for the original design ($163 was what I bought them for). Worth? "Hell yeah.." -imaqtpie 2016. The brown marble looking ring on each side is really nice around the silver ring and the black outer cover of the driver. These are certainly fashion cans even if they are open and don't sound like SMS Audio Streets by 50. If it weren't for the HE560's I'd give these a 9/10. I'm not sure if other 2.5mm jacks fit into these, but even if they don't, Sennheiser, THANK YOU for making the cable removable. I'm not a real fan of the looking mechanism because it's kind of difficult to remove the cable and put it back in, but the lock is really sturdy so I don't mind it that much. Design: 8/10 Difficulty: These are NOT difficult to drive. Both my phone and laptop have enough power to get them loud enough, and strangely my laptop (Acer Swift 3 2017 if you need a reference point) drives these much louder than my desktop. I had my desktop at around 80 percent and Foobar at max volume to get anywhere between 65-80 dB for any music that wasn't classical, which was around 55-70 dB depending on the piece (these are min-max not averages). My laptop had the same Foobar settings but turned to 25 percent for the same sound levels and my phone was almost maxed out for the same volume levels (LG G3). Side note: I might have sensitive ears but for those of you who think that you listen to music at around 100 dB, I can almost guarantee you that you don't. At most the volume is 90 dB and that is also pretty damn loud. I am aware of the impedance spike to 300ohms at 100hz but in my experience I can't really tell a difference between my on board trying to power them at 100hz and my SMSL M3 (in terms of volume. More on this in the Sound section). Since these are dynamic drivers, they also don't require a massive amount of current to be driven. Difficulty: 9.5/10 (easy to drive) Sound: For sound I used and compared these to the gear I mentioned above. I didn't compare them to my HE560's because A) I had to send them back because apparently my M3 driving them to 85 dB during a SPL measurement made the left driver noticeably quieter than the right (I definitely won't be doing that test again...) B) I haven't spent enough time with the HE560's C) I'm going to get a new amp at some point (feel free to suggest any amps for planars, besides the Lyr 2, unless there are tube suggestions with the Lyr. Nothing over the Lyr 2 price pls) so I'm going to write the review after I get the new amp. I was tempted to write some things about the HD598 that I thought were negative but only because the HE560 did it better (for literally $650 more comparing MSRP's) which wouldn't be fair and might turn some people away from these headphones because they got the wrong idea from my review. This could also make their decision on what headphones to get much more difficult (the problem with headphone reviews is that people like me and the rest of the normal people of this world that aren't @LinusTech or ZReviews, don't have the luxury of trying out headphones, so the purchase has to be an investment, which is why I don't want to deter people looking to purchase a certain pair of headphones by giving the wrong idea, ultimately making it more difficult to make a decision and putting them back to square one by doing more research). I also thought about comparing my old and cheap JVC and Sony headphones but I didn't think it was worth the time. My Sony's developed this weird rattle in the bass region (my dad doesn't seem to hear it but he has them now) after a while and the JVC's... they are just god awful in comfort. I don't remember how either of these sound because it's been a few years. All of my scoring is relative in this section. I compare it to other gear and grade it that way (except the HE560 in this review). This means an 8/10 is good compared to something in the same price bracket or cheaper but might be a 6.5/10 compared to something more expensive. This also means that the number 6.5 is actually equivalent to an 8 (in this example). This is better than rating them on a flat scale that has ranges (1-3 being shit, 3-5 is ok, 5-7 is good, etc.) since rating headphones is subjective and (in my opinion) relative. I'm probably going to update this section if I think the new amp makes a significant difference from the M3. Definitely not going to be for a while. Initial Impressions: These are open cans and leak sound at all times. That's just how they were made. However they aren't as open as some other headphones (There's a noticeable difference in the ambient sound when putting them on). They also don't leak as much sound as some other open cans. If you wanted to take these around, you could, if you listened at lower volumes (around 30-40 dB, or conversation level, in a quiet environment). At 35dB I can still have conversations with other people and still hear the music without it leaking like crazy (you can sort of hear what's being played but not unless you really tried). Desktop on-board: Everyone's said this before, but the high's are recessed. With the ALC892 (on board), they were just boring compared to my Corsair headset, which gave the high's are particular sparkle that I really liked. Classical music with more high end became flat and annoyingly boring. The mids were very forward, like typical Sennheiser headphones (HD558/600/650) and the bass... let's just say that with the on-board, the bass drum had this thump that was satisfying but the bass overlapped the mids and were a little muddy. The sound stage was decent, definitely not mind-blowing, but the mids and bass drum were pushed pretty hard so it was fatiguing after a while. Regardless they were clearer than my Corsair's, which just sounded muffled in everything. Desktop sound: 5.5/10 SMSL M3: A lot of people say that an amp doesn't make a noticeable difference with these headphones. I didn't find that to be true. The M3 pulled the bass back but gave it more detail (the bass was a lot tighter) and was still satisfying to listen to. They didn't overlap with the mids anymore and the bass drum still had a noticeable "thump" to it but wasn't so forward that I felt like my ears were getting annoyingly tapped by someone. The mids for the most part stayed the same. I couldn't hear a difference in terms of detail, but that doesn't mean that nothing was different. With the bass pulled back the mids became center focus of these headphones. They're no longer as forward with the amp, but personally, I think this is better since it's not longer fatiguing. These literally gave me the chills everytime I listened songs with singers as the main focus (for anyone interested, listen to Walkure [especially Walkure], Aimer, Tristam, or Tonight by TwoThirds). If you like songs with singers, then these are the headphones to get. WIth the M3 the high's are brought back. Somewhat. They still aren't sibilant, which my sensitive ears greatly appreciate, but they still aren't all that satisfying to me. I didn't mind this when I listened to pieces with flutes (and piccolos) and clarinets playing in the upper register (because fuck flute and piccolo players) but that was mostly due to the fact that flutes and clarinets have their own "sparkle" with the way the instruments sound(I know I said I wouldn't use words like this because they don't help but I couldn't find another way to describe it). Classical pieces with piano solos still and upper octaves weren't all that fun to listen to. This can also be due to the mastering because these can deliver more high's with other songs. If you like having high's, regardless of mastering, these aren't the cans for you. Many people recommend Beyer's if you want high's. Sound stage was somewhat improved. This is from the bass+mids no longer being pushed into my ears and the high's not sounding like someone put a towel over my head. With the M3, the music sounds like it's being played a from a small room rather than a box around my head (unless I'm blasting the music, then it sounds like it's coming from headphones no matter what). This wasn't noticed immediately though, I just noticed it while I was listening half consciously and something didn't sound the same in some of the recordings. Was it worth spending the $84 for the M3? Definitely. If you've never used anything besides your on-board, you might not even notice that you don't like it (some on-board audio isn't so bad but MSI clearly did something with the ALC892 that was "gaming orientated"). I'm going to score this without trying to take away points from listening to my HE560's. SMSL M3 + HD598: 8.5/10 Laptop + Phone: I'm going to keep this short because there was no real difference in sound quality between these two (might be different for you even if you have an LG G3 or Acer Swift 3). Everything was pretty much the same as the M3 but there was less detail and the bass was clearly thinner and asking for more. I'm guessing this is the 100hz region since that's where the impedance spikes. Neither my Desktop or M3 had trouble with this, which is, again, strange. The laptop drives them much louder but not the bass region as... well? I don't know if it was worse since it wasn't muddy like the desktop audio but it was definitely thinner. Laptop/Phone: 7/10 Imaging: It's ok... like very ok. There's left and right and if you try, you can hear things behind you, but center and front sound the same and good luck with corners. Front and Center sound like they're coming from the top and there is no front or bottom. Imaging: 6/10 Note: Sub-bass basically doesn't exist with these. Other than the bass drum's initial attack, you don't feel anything, and these don't extend down to the lower frequencies very well. Then again, they aren't planars so that's expected. In Games: I only tested two games. Why? Because I only play two games. I'm not a fan of Triple A titles (is Final Fantasy considered one? I do play that) or FPS games. League of Legends: I'm starting with this one since this is where I tested it first. And let's just say... I'm never using these for League of Legends. Everything sounds extremely thin, any low end sounds from the game are gone and no longer give me this vibe that I'm being surrounded by the environment. I think that Riot developed this game with gaming headsets in mind because even the gold noise when last hitting is noticeably lighter. I'm guessing that even that had some kind of mid to low end frequency to it. League isn't very good with positional audio. If you're on the blue side, then everything sounds like it's coming from the center or from the right because of the way the camera is placed. Red side makes everything come the center or left for the same reason. Anything coming from the left (on blue side) is extremely quiet and the gradience (not the best term I know) as you move away from something that's centered to something that's to the left is extremely quick. It's the same for red side only from the right. I would stay away from this game when using these headphones. I prefer my Corsair's much more in this game. I don't fault the HD598's though, I think riot just did an awful job with the game sounds (this includes the client, not just in-game. The client is extremely annoying). I at least remember playing with my JVC's and I didn't hate the audio this much with those. In short, everything sounds hollow and I don't understand how Imaqtpie uses these for this game. Not fun. League of Legends: Don't bother/10 Final Fantasy XIII-I: The HD598 does much better here. I will admit that I couldn't tell a difference in detail between the Corsair and the HD598 (by some miracle that Square Enix pulled off in this game I guess), but the environment was much more closed off with the Corsair compared to the HD598, which was much more immersive. It did have less "rumble" (neither really had any XD), but it didn't affect my experience at all. Clearly positional audio was nothing to Square Enix in this game. I can understand why. The battle scenes don't need any positional audio. All of the character are kind of stationary. If things are far away, they're quieter; if they're close, they get louder. That's about it for imaging. This is subject to change once I try the HE560's but I doubt that it will change. FFXIII-I: 8/10 Overall: I highly recommend at least getting a decent budget amp. The M3, Fulla 2, E10k, or the DAC x6 are all very highly regarded and also have a DAC, which is a nice addition (you can use them purely as DACs with the line outs when you upgrade your amp). It does make a difference compared to on-board audio, which you may not notice at first but you will definitely notice if you have to go back to using on board. It's kind of like when I got my 144hz monitor. Other than occasionally noticing that it was smoother, I wasn't really blown away at the fact that my screen was moving a lot smoother and I could see some spells a split second quicker. I was used to 60hz being smooth so 144hz also just seemed smooth to me. But when I had to go back, I thought I was lagging, only to find out that I had gotten used to the 144hz monitor. I could clearly see the difference between 60hz and 144hz (I have a 144hz as a main and 60hz secondary and there's a huge difference). Ok, so enough padding the 144hz monitor market (and attempting to end those who think that 30-60fps is the same as 144fps XD). What does this even mean to me? It's the same for audio, is that point I'm trying to make. What seems good to you now will make things that are better seem almost the same, initially. Once you go back though, you realize that there is a clear difference because you had gotten used to it (what i've learned is that sometimes it's apparent from the start, especially when you get more and more into this hobby @ HE560). For me, I noticed some difference immediately, like the sound quality and how open these were. But that's because I've tried other headphones in the past that were cheaper and gradually got to this price point (and then I spike immediately for planars. @ HE560. My bank account is crying). At the same time, these are very good for the price. Which is why they a exponentially better than the cheap stuff I tried in the past but not so different from something like the HD600 (thanks to a friend I got to try them). These aren't perfect. I still qualms about the build and I think the ear cups could be deeper (or thicker pads). But... If you want to get into the audiophile world of your bank account hates you but not as much right now since you're just starting, the HD598 is a good starting point. Especially if you like listening to singers and hate sibilant high's. Yes, the bass is lacking if the song is mastered that way, but they can produce more bass if the song asks for it. There's also a closed back version of these apparently, but I've never heard them (HD598 CS I think). I wouldn't try to buy these at MSRP. You can, and they are ok at that price but for $250, you can get headphones that sound much better (arguably) or save up a little more for more expensive ones. The reason I said that they were good for the price is that they are easy to find for less than retail (the HD598 has been around for a while so it's somewhat outdated in driver design compared to some of the newer dynamic headphones and there's the less popular HD599 which is the replacement for these). Sennheiser really loves to put these up for sale on Amazon for around $170-$199, usually for the black special edition. Even on Ebay, which is where I got mine, used the go for $100-$150 or if you're lucky to find them quick enough, $160 new. Just beware of fakes (the difference are well documented so do your research). Overall: 8/10 Edit: I forgot to mention that I was using a different cable from stock. I'm not a believer in cables making a difference as long as they're not made from some super cheap oxidized garbage but using the New Fantasia cable (the 4 ft replacement cable from Amazon), there was a noticeable difference in bass. It was very, very slight, but there was slightly less bass than the stock cable. I'm not sure what in the cable would cause this (length, material, connector, unable to carry the power properly???? I don't know), but it was something I noticed immediately. I couldn't tell if there was a difference in detail or impact, which is good; the bass was only slightly quieter (again, very, very slight and only noticed it in extremely bass heavy songs).

Do I need an external dac to run a pair of hd 598 or is my onboard audio good enough?

Hey everyone: I just rebuilt my PC, so I picked up a new motherboard. I got an ASUS Z-170K, and unfortunately the onboard sound is god awful. I have HD 598s, and they went from sounding very crisp, to very tinny. Now, all audi sounds blurred or muffled. Would a DAC, or an AMP fix this? I assume a DAC, because to my knowledge, the HD 598s do not usually need an amp, correct? Anyways, this is what I am looking at, as it is the least expensive option: https://schiit.com/products/magni-2 Would this correct the issue, or this this the wrong product?

Hi all, I recently removed my sound blaster Zx from my rig because I can't fit it anywhere due to GPU orientation and have been looking at USB DAC and AMP combos. After reading a lot of reviews, I narrowed it down to Sound blaster E5, Audioengine D1 and the FIIO E10K (please keep it to Australian pricing and availability) So what do you recommend to drive these devices? HD 598, Logitech Z623, Shure 215BE and ATH-ADG1

Hi, Where can I find genuine replacement pads for my HD 598 SE? I can't seem to find any replacements by sennheiser. Edit: or are there any pads that would be better than stock? I'm a little scared of changing the sound of these headphones, because I love them so much lol. Thanks, Joe DiCristo

Which headphones is better for gaming? I know the HD 598 is very good for gaming, but the 579 is $100 on Amazon and it made me consider it.

I have an ATLP-60 and want to connect my hd 558's to it, on a budget The pre-amp included isn't quite enough to drive the headphones. I don't want to break the bank but I want to be able to drive my headphones comfortably, what is the best budget (sub $100) option possible? I'm trying to keep it as cheap as possible but I'm willing to pay more if it will be dramatically better. I've checked my local craigslist, OfferUp, and LetGo for amps such as the Schiit magni (to get them cheaper) but I cant find any good options (I'm in Miami FL). (on a quick side not, while I have your attention. Is it worth doing the HD 558 mod? unless it seriously helpsI dont want to do it and I want some opinions, thanks)

Been looking for a good pair of headphones for a while now and recently saw the video Luke did on the Sennheiser HD 598s and thought that they may be a good option. However since they're open back, they have a considerable amount of noise bleed. Which is a problem because I travel fairly often and need them to be silent but also want them to be able to be used for gaming and chatting. A friend of mine recommended I look into ATH m50x's since they make a decent seal but im not sure if they're the best choice out of the plethora of choices. To wrap it up, I need some suggestions or experiences with headphones that can be used for both travel and gaming. Thanks

Can you tell me what dac/amp combo I should get to pair with my sennheiser hd 598. I'm looking for something that I can use for both games, media and music production. It should have a audio throughput for my keyboard, and a mic in. (and should be by the 100-120 price range) I'm heading toward to a ASUS xonar u7.

Greetings. The Audio Technica ATH-M50x has long been regarded as the best audio quality in a pair of headphones south of $200, and are currently some of the most popular headphones in existence. However, I've heard a fair bit about the more recent Sennheiser HD 598s, and was wondering how those compare to the aforementioned M50Xs in terms of audio quality. If anyone here has used both (preferably in the realm of audio production or audiophile criticism), what are your thoughts? Regards, Aereldor.

Updated once again! TL;DR has been added to the bottom! Hello everyone! I own a pair of Sennheiser HD 598 and an Antlion 4.0 microphone which has given me much joy, rainbows and happiness for some time now on my desktop PC - onboard audio! This has been very satisfying, and I would say that I probably don't need anything that is better (This is just to inform you of my current standard and expectation of quality I want from my audio setup). So what's the problem...? I have exchanged my desktop for a laptop, Lenovo Y50, and to my big surprise: There was only one analogue audio port -> A combined headphone and microphone port! I have been through hell trying different splitters, software and "tips'n'tricks" with the purpose of making the combo-port behave properly. I hate it. I disgust it. I give up. So... Now I am in the search of a suitable DAC/soundcard that can love and be loved in return by the company of me and my setup. So far I came up with two options which have almost the same price: Asus Xonar U3: Bitrate: 16 bit Sample: 48hz Is a vendor/manufactuer/etc. that I trust and have never had a problem with. StarTech USB Stereo Audio Adapter bla.bla...: Bitrate: 24 bit Sample: 96hz (Almost) never heard of.... Is actually a bit cheaper. I'm not a total newbie in the field of audio, but I really want to know what you guys are thinking: Are any of these choices sensible? I was not able to find reviews for the StartTech option, and the Xonar U3 reviews were a bit disappointing. Other suggestions would be nice too: I might go as high as 100 USD for a DAC if the extra money makes a difference. Note: I live in Europe and I am not very good at soldering -> DIY from America/Canada might not be an option. Also, if you know how to "really fix" a combo-port, I would love to hear it -> The problem is, that the microphone frequently drops out and I have to re-plug them everytime I restart the PC. Thanks! EDIT : Sorry! I should probably also tell, that my audio is important for my music experience. I like a flat signature. It could be fun to have the option of EQ for boomy explosions in movies and games, but it is not a must. TL;DR : Cans: HD 598 Mic: Antlion 4.0 Suggest a USB and/or SPDIF soundcard that has seperate headphone and microphone jacks If it is better than onboard(Realtek ALC887), then I'll take it!

Today I received my new Sennheiser HD 598's. When I plugged them into my Asus Xonar DGX sound card, I hear some background noise, some crackling. It's always there, even when I'm not playing a song or video. When I turn the volume up, the crackling gets worse. Any thoughts or tips? If not, I'm probably going to have to return them, as this ruins my listening experience.

I just ordered the HD 598 and I have an ok sound card but I was wondering if the o2+odac from would sound better than my current solution.

I was recently looking for headphones and I was wondering which one would be better in terms of sound quality, comfort, looks and features (such as a removable cable). I do listen to listen to dubstep, electro and pop. I also watch a lot of YouTubers that play games such as Minecraft, furthermore I do play games such Battlefield or Crysis, but i mainly play DotA 2. I was wondering which headphones would be better and whether you guys could possibly suggest any headphones that would be even better for around or under £150! Thanks in advance! AKG K550 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/AKG-Closed-Back-Reference-Class-Headphones/dp/B005CNR7B0/ref=pd_sim_ce_1 Sennheiser HD 598 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-High-End-Open-Circumaural-Headphones/dp/B0042A8CW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381780975&sr=8-1&keywords=sennheiser+hd+598

So I know this is't too big of a question but would there be a substantial difference in sound quality coming from AD700's? I know the bass will be slightly improved but will clarity or anything else be better? I already have a Fiio E10 to help cleanup.