Over the past two years, I have been relentlessly preoccupied with headphones and related hi-fi equipments. Started out with a sub $100 pair of headphoens imported from Japan (Audio-Technica ATH-A500), my inventory of gear has grown to include external DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters) and dedicated vacuum tube amplifiers. Even the cables used to interconnect the devices received special attention. I was on a desperate hunt to discover the "perfect" setup. As I have finally landed on an ultimate "musical link" based on a limited budget, my obsession with headphones has also come to an end... for now.
Throughout the time I spent on this journey, I have dipped into the products of numerous high-end headphones manufacturers, including Grado, AKG, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, Westone (IEM), and Shure (IEM). Within these brands, Sennheiser's products intrigued me the most. Regrettably, I have not had the chance to test out any electrostatic headphones, such as the king of all headphones - Sennheiser Orpheus (HE90). Nonethless, I have had the opportunity to audition Sennheiser's high-end dynamic line-up: the HD580 (discontinued), HD595, HD600, and HD650. In this article, I will compare the four giants and at the end, crown one as the best dynamic reference headphones from Sennheiser. Let the showdown begin!
Testing Equipments:
EMU 0404 USB Audio/MIDI Interface
Hosa Pro Stereo Gold TS/RCA Interconnect
Little Dot MKIII Headphone Amplifier 
Sennheiser HD580
MSR Price: $299 (discontinued)
Average Used Price: $160
Out of the four headphones, the aesthetic quality of the HD580 is the worst. Constructed mainly out of plastic, the HD580 boasts two large ear cups with ugly grey plastic grills. The included cable also looks rather flimsy. Fortunately, the poor look of the 'phones is compensated by its comfort. Similar to Sennheiser's top-line models, the HD580 features thick velour earpads for maximum comfort upon contact. Unlike most average over-the-ear headphones, which sport leatherette earpads, velour material significantly reduces sweating of the ears from prolonged usage.
Overall, the sound quality of the HD580 embodies the Sennheiser signature - large soundstage, laid-back, and bass-heavy. In the audiophile community, this quality has been characterized as the Sennheiser "veil." When auditioning the HD580, everything seems to carry a bass note while the presence of treble is blatantly evident, a bit harsh if you will. Although HD580's powerful bass exerts an authoritative presence in music and games with crisp punch and great decay, the overabundance of bass often muddles the frequency scale and creates a "veil" that seems to hold everything back. With the emphasis on low-notes and an overly bright treble, the HD580 seems to be missing something... ah, yes, the mids! As a result, the phones are not great at vocals. The sluggish, bass-bloated sound signature is disastrous at playing rock, but is terrific at classical, hip-hop, movies, and games.
Sennheiser HD595
MSR Price: $299
Average Used Price: $140
If the HD580 was a 250 lbs guy with a sharp punch, the HD595 would be a slim dude in his 20s. Comparing it to its competitors (HD580, 600, 650), the HD595 appears much more compact and light weight. Besides a high-quality leatherette headband, velour earpads, and metal side grills, the HD595 also features a thick single-sided cable. Thanks to Sennheiser, the HD595 package includes a very useful two-way headphone holder that can be clipped horizontally or vertically onto surface edge.
In terms of sound, the HD595 is Sennheiser's Grado-wannabe. Out of the entire high-end dynamic Sennheiser line, the sound of the 595 stands out as the most forward-leaning. Although still embodying the ultimate Sennheiser laid-back character, the sound situates in between, providing a faster signature with lighter impact. Comparing to the HD580, the treble is not as bright and the bass is not as deep and not as extended. However, the mid-range is much more evident with a lesser "veil" over everything. Comparing to the HD580, the HD595 is much more suitable for rock. Couple the 595's wide soundstage and accurate (surround) sound reproduction with a good 3D soundcard, and you'll get yourself a pair of top-notch gaming 'phones.
Some fans of the HD580 complains that the HD595 does not have enough bass. While it's true that the 595 has smaller low-range presence, the bass proves extremely competent when the headphones are properly amplified. Unlike the bass on the HD580 which tends to color all sources, the bass on the HD595 only comes out when the source (music etc.) calls for it. The low notes can even surprise some people when they come out from nowhere and suddenly tremble their world.
One might ask, "Can the HD595 replace those funky, vintage-looking Grados?" Unfortunately, although the 595 embodies a faster and cleaner sound signature, it is no Grado. For now, when both are properly amped, the HD595 exceeds the HD580 in sound accuracy and all-around reproduction.
Sennheiser HD600
MSR Price: $499
Average Used Price: $200
The HD600 and HD650 are in a different class than the other two. The packaging tells it all. Enclosed in a large hardcover box with foam cushions, the HD600 exerts a feel of luxury, the sense you would get from a collector's item. The body of the HD600 is constructed of carbon fibre (stylized in marble pattern), which according to Sennheiser reduces sound vibration and unnecessary feedbacks. In reality, unlike plastic, carbon fibre not only is light weight, but also highly durable. With the exception of a flimsy cable, the build quality and comfort level of the HD600 is top-notch.
So, how does it sound? Some, in the audiophile community, argue that the HD580 and the HD600 are nearly identical as they both utilize the same drivers. While there are no real ways to confirm this physically, my side-by-side auditioning of the two headphones reveals a clear distinction between the two models. In contrast with the HD580, the HD600 has a less bloated bass and sounds less colored. The HD580's recessed mids (especially the upper-mids) are much more apparent in the HD600. The treble also sounds less harsh, with a more crystal feel to it. Although both headphones embody a laid-back character, the HD600 carries a more forward signature. The sound is acceptable when playing rock, but truly shines at vocals, classical, and hip-hop. While the bass is not as prominent and as punchy as the 580, the 600's low-end nonetheless exerts an extremely powerful presence. Overall, the HD600 does everything pretty well. If the 600 truly utilizes the same drivers as its counterpart, then Sennheiser has done one hell of a job masking HD580's true potentials.
Sennheiser HD650
MSR Price: $599
Average Used Price: $280
For now, the HD650 sits as the king of Sennheiser's dynamic headphones lineup. In fact, the Sennheiser HD650 is noted as one of the best dynamic headphones in the world. The physical appearance (size, construction, material, and weight) is almost identical to that of the HD600. The only exception is the better cable, which looks much thicker and more durable.
This $600 beast is considered by Sennheiser as the successor to the HD600, meaning the sound signature of the 650 would not differ too much from its predecessor. However, while in many ways, this is the case, in some aspects, it is not. Unlike the HD600, the HD650 represents the pinnacle of "dark forces." The sound seems to be painted with a layer of dark paint, that of which being the bass. Although this tends to color the overall frequency scale a bit, the treble, the upper and lower mids, and the bass are all very well defined. The highs are never harsh, giving you that crystal feeling of details and timbre. Listening to the HD650 is like eating Haagen-Dazs ice cream - rich and smooth. While the creamy sound may not be the most accurate representation of your music, out of the four headphoens, it is definitely the most enjoyable to listen to.
Finale
So, there you have it. A general introduction to the four audiophile-class headphones from Sennheiser. So, which should be the next Sennheiser Idol? Let's see the category-winners below:
Neutrality:
HD600 > HD595 > HD650 > HD580
Treble:
HD650 > HD600 > HD580 > HD595
Mids:
HD650 > HD600 > HD595 > HD580
Bass:
HD650 > HD580 > HD600 > HD595
Soundstage:
HD650 > HD600 > HD580 > HD595
Build:
HD650 > HD595 > HD600 > HD580
All-Around:
HD600 > HD595 > HD650 > HD580
Putting prices aside, the HD650 stands out as the most competent headphones in the Sennheiser lineup. Whether it is the treble, mids, or bass, the 650 clearly knocks out all its competitors. However, when judging a pair of headphones, not only does the performance of each category of frequency response need to be taken into consideration, the overall mix of sound signature also needs to be evaluated. In the search for a Sennheiser Idol, neutrality - the most important element of a master-class reference headphones - weighs the most. With this in mind, the HD600 stands out as the best reference headphones in the crowd. Throughout the scale of frequency response, the HD600 closely follows the HD650 with slightly less details and extensions to both ends. Nonetheless, unlike that of the HD650, the bass of the HD600 does not overwhelm the entire sound signature. As such, the high-qualty, clean sound of the HD600 trumps all its competitors as the best reference model for serious audiophiles.
Compudio Gadget Reviews officially crowns the HD600 as the new Sennheiser Idol!
Reviewed by Cecil Lau. All Rights Reserved. Average Used Price intended for reference only.
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Thank you for your review. I auditioned the HD650 and had a similar impression to yours. I really enjoyed the smoothness and the full-bodied bass, but I couldn't see it as being neutral. Perhaps Sennheiser see it as their best in terms of it being so enjoyable?
I have and enjoy the HD595 and was mainly looking for something for Classical music, which just sounds too close to the listener on the 595. I ended up getting the Denon AH-D5000, which is a wonderful discovery.
(Sennheiser has stopped selling the HD600 here in Japan, so it wasn't really an option).
Cool writeup! - I'm going to go with the HD600 - they seem to sell for around £140 ($230) on ebay at the moment (yeah, we get ripped off in the UK).
Just wondering, how do they sound straight out of the EMU 0404 USB? - I heard it should be able to power them quite well.
I can't afford the Little Dot MKIII at the moment :(
Like so many audiophile reviews of audio gear, this review fatally suffers from a lack of a fundamental understanding of how electronic components and transducers physically work. The repeated use of terminology that has no true technical definition, e.g., "forward leaning", "faster signature", "lighter impact", amounts to nothing more than jabberwocky.
Most revealing, however, is this: "While it's true that the 595 has smaller low-range presence, the bass proves extremely competent when the headphones are properly amplified. Unlike the bass on the HD580 which tends to color all sources, the bass on the HD595 only comes out when the source (music etc.) calls for it."
This does not make a modicum of sense. If the bass is weak on the 595, the bass is weak regardless of the source material. This is typical audiophile nonsense. And the suggestion that when the 595 is weak in bass it is due to improper amplification, is even more ludicrous. For that to be correct, the 595 would have to have a really severe impedance anomaly at low frequency to which the amplifier would react. Even if the 595 itself actually had such a problem, which is extraordinarily unlikely, you would be hard pressed to find any decent modern amplifier that would behave badly given the very minimal amount of current that headphones draw. It is simply the nature of high-impedance headphones to not exhibit any such problems. Very few loudspeakers even have any such problems. The problem with audiophiles of this sort, which is to say most garden variety audiophiles, is that they never studied any physics or electronics, and don't actually have the first clue as to how any of the stuff that they own actually works. It is all just a big mystery to them, and for lack of any real understanding of any of it, they go around using terminology and phrases that no bona fide engineer or physicist in their right mind would ever be caught dead using.
Dear Anonymous,
I agree with you mostly but I have a couple of questions:
1) The HD600 have an impedance of 300ohms across the range but spike at almost 600ohms between 80 and 140hz (!!) - If the HD595 have something similar (I can't find an impedance chart for them but it's very probable as the HD555 exhibit a spike at those frequencies too), wouldn't that account for reduced bass with poor amplification?
2) The higher the impedance, the lower the current but higher the voltage (ohms law!). So during impedance spikes of 600ohms at the 2mW required to get 96dB (give or take), you are looking at almost 11v to power the headphones - that's some serious voltage swing that no modern DAC I can find can handle.
A generation 5 ipod peaks at 3.6v 20mW. While it can sure give enough current to get some serious volume, it can't give enough voltage which kills frequency response at higher impedance. Doesn't an amp solve this problem?
3) Yes, most terminology is highly subjective (bullshit) but to date, I haven't found any objective way to compare headphones or any audio equipment for that matter. Have you?
Sure there are frequency response charts, SNR, THD and others. But headphones that look great on paper don't always sound "good" and vice versa.
Hello. And Bye.
Anonymous,
You are right only in one part, that sound is physics. However, you fail to recognize that the way we perceive sound is more of an Art than of Science. How we perceive sound and music and what kind of sound we find enjoyable is impossible to define in scientific terms. While you can define a piece of painting using chemical terminology, most people would tell you how they feel about that painting. Same applies to sound. All reviews, including this one, are biased in some ways, and are subjective based on the reviewer's perception. The "objectivity" of this review comes down to how well the readers understand the "feeling" of the reviewer and the reviewer's credibility built with his readers.
...please where can I buy a unicorn?
Hey great review on the fundamental aspects of each headphone. I really enjoyed the personal account along with factory characteristics that separate one headphone from another.
LMAO . . a 595 user myself, want to move to the 650. Havent heard anything else than the 595 so cant say much. But once the 595 are burned in and are running through a good DAC ( Onkyo 192Khz/24bit). they are a slice of heaven.
hey anonymous take your big words and hog wash s%it back to your wifes listening ears while she thinks about how hot the plumber is you f#k face
Great review, but there are some points that I cannot agree with.
The build quality of the 595 is muc worse than the other 3. In fact, nearly every 5xx series sennheiser, which is currently in production has a crack on the piece of plastic which connects the earcups to the headbands. The I didnt hear all of them with the same setup, so i don't want to argue about the sound, but I can say, that my 10+years old 580's are in better aestetical condition than my 2,5yr old 555's, which have the same plastic piece as the 595's.
Hello & it seems like a great review, except I don't understand one thing. WHY did you rate the 600's Best All Around when they only placed 1st in 1 category (neutrality). I would have confidently deducted that the 650's would have easily taken title of Best All Around!
In addition, for all the readers, I owned the 580's for the last 5+ years & loved them, until the sound was cutting out whenever the wires were jiggled. So I went online & figured the 595's would be a step up &... was I ever wrong!!!
I've learned that the cables are EASILY replaceable & since ordered them! Finally, now that I'm bent on buying a new pair, I wouldn't mind replacing my 580's for a better pair (other than the crappy 595's). What I like is razor sharp treble & deep bass, with midrange being less important.
Do the 600's &/or 650's sound like an optimal choice???
Thanks in advance to anyone who has informed input!!!
The HD600 is a way better choice, if it comes to neutral-sound quality. It has a silky sound that the HD650 doesn't have. If you combine the HD600 with a Stefan Art Exuinox cable, IT DOES out perform the qualities of the HD650.
ridiculous analysis of the 580s IMO
To say they are bad with rock music is just absurd. I tested them against the 595s in a studio directly into some high end amps and for guitar tracks the 580s could not be beat.
Though they lack mids...well, most guitarists dip their mids anyway. This is signature metal/rock. Though I assume the 580s cant match the 600s or 650s, they do their job well.
How any headphone/speaker sounds depends upon what you connect it to.
I have both HD600 and HD650 headphones. The 650 has a much more full bodied bass, is coloured and has a warmer sound. If you use a PC or cheap Headphone amp the 650 will probably sound better.
The 600 has more detail in the mid with a clearer treble which gives a better soundstage. This entirely depends upon the CDP and interconnect used. Swap headphone cables over and the 600 retains it's better mid and treble with a fuller more extended bass.
At end of the day everything depends upon the CD player/inteconnect/headamp/headphone&cable you are using as to what you will actually hear.
I use a Lehmann Audio Black Cube Linear amp/HD600 using a 650 headphone cable. Not tried replacement 3rd party cables yet.
I have found the best combinations to date are ...Graham Slee Solo II with HD650, or Lehmann Black Cube Linear with HD600 using the 650's stock cable. Source CDP is a PT Litaural (those of you who don't know ...one of the best sounding machines ever made regardless of price)
Equipment used,
CDP PT Litaural 24bit/HDCD
Townshend DCT300 and LFD Silver Scorpion interconnects
Lehmann Audio Black Cube Linear Headphone amp
Graham Slee Solo II headphone amp
HD600 and HD650 headphones
Should have mentioned, if you want to reduce the 650’s bass connect them to the 600 headphone cable which will reduce the colouration and improve the balance.
The Lehmann amp suits the HD600 better only when the cable is swapped for the 650’s.
Ultimately the sound depends on the rest of your setup. If you like what you hear then leave everything alone and just enjoy the music!!
To respond to the comment by Anonymous from Dec 27, 2010, the reason why I rated the HD580 as bad for rock is because of the overall speed of its sound, that being slow due to the overwhelming influence of bass and its laid back signature. While many headphones can have bass and speed, such as many of the ones from Grado, the HD580 somehow do not seem to embody that.
The HD595, however, embody a more forward sound. When PROPERLY AMPLIFIED, they possess a much faster sound with excellent bass response. Hence, the observation is that the HD595 is more suitable for rock music than the HD580.
As for the build quality, the HD595 is excellent - extremely compact, smooth finish, metal grills, and enduring overall quality.
I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 580's that I listen to all types of sound from. From Classical, to Rock, to Movies. I paid about $125 for them from Amazon, New, about 4 or 5 years ago. They were clearing them out for the 600's and the 650's. Well, to make a long story short I made two mods. I ordered the HD 600 metal grills and the HD 650 cables online from Sennheiser. Tool-less install. Easy.
The metal vs plastic grills opened up the soundstage. Check. Plus they are richer looking. Double check. The heavy duty premium 650 cables made a very noticeable increase in overall sound quality. Faster-deeper bass, more midrange, and exquisite treble. Check, check, check. The 580 Veil has been lifted. I paid $12 for the 650 cable and $22 for the 600 grills.
So for about $160 I have one great looking and sounding pair of HD 580's.
FYI: The premium HD 650 cable (Item # 092885 @ $12.80) will fit the HD 650/600/580/565/545/535 headphones. This mod alone will improve the overall sound quality of any of these headphones. This cable is simply the best bang for the buck when compared to far more expensive aftermarket cables, imo. A comparable Cardas cable will set you back at least $200. Of course if money is no object then just get yourself some HD 800's. ($1,500). I live on a budget so best price point is something I usually consider. If I were buying a new pair of open headphones today (5/7/2011) and I wanted to get the most bang for my buck I would probably get the Senn HD 595's. ($120 at Amazon).
To the guy who said "most guitarists dip their mids": Only asshats with detuned strings hanging off their fretboard go for the scooped sound. In a mix, the guitar occupies the midrange so it NEEDS mids cut through, and if the mids are scooped to begin with, surely having recessed mids on your headphones will only make things worse.