Sennheiser HD580 HOT

[Gautama2]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Must resist becoming a "headphone guy"

How was your christmas jelly?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Tegeril
the HD series is open air. 570, 580, 590, 600, 650 at least.

He wants a headset that's open, these are headphones

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Gautama2

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Must resist becoming a "headphone guy"

How was your christmas jelly?

Pretty good. Not much to report.

Got the sound system hooked up for my parents. TV is coming soon

 

[Gautama2]

Glad to hear.

Things went well here, sister came home from college and her boyfriends coming tomorrow .I received a lot more than I expected this year, Im debating whether or not to spend the unexpected $$$ on a x-fi music or blow it on cd's.....

Oh, and I finally ordered those HD555s, wont arrive until Jan. 12 though

 

[Xyclone]

Might pick these up. I already own and love a pair of Sennheiser HD280 Pro's, should I go for these? The HD280 is closed, think it might be nice to also have an open pair as well.

 

[Gautama2]

Originally posted by: Xyclone
Might pick these up. I already own and love a pair of Sennheiser HD280 Pro's, should I go for these? The HD280 is closed, think it might be nice to also have an open pair as well.

If you've got an amp, I'd say go for it. Otherwise, I'd say no. Since if you buy these, you will inevitably buy an amp for them

 

[Tegeril]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Tegeril
the HD series is open air. 570, 580, 590, 600, 650 at least.

He wants a headset that's open, these are headphones

Ohh.

 

[osiris3mc]

Originally posted by: LuNoTiCK
I would get them, but I would prefer closed headphones.

Me too, that's why I got the 280s. Been trying them out for a couple days now, they are awesome. 80 bones on amazon.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Gautama2
Glad to hear.

Things went well here, sister came home from college and her boyfriends coming tomorrow .I received a lot more than I expected this year, Im debating whether or not to spend the unexpected $$$ on a x-fi music or blow it on cd's.....

Oh, and I finally ordered those HD555s, wont arrive until Jan. 12 though

decisions... decisions

 

[bassoprofundo]

Whoa... I have the EXACT same setup, monkuboy... Senn 580s, Grado SR80s, and a PA2V2... I love it. Jump on these folks.

 

[NautikaL 8]

I think I'm going to get the 595's instead. From what I hear, they're more forward and better for casual listening/gaming. 580's are more for professional audio.

 

[cremefilled]

For those who have read Stereophile magazine, the HD580's were for many years the reference standard for the editor-in-chief, John Atkinson. I believe he uses the HD600's now, but the above comments are correct , HD580's have the same driver. Sennheiser claims tighter tolerance pair matching in the HD600's, but this might well be marketing ad copy rather than an actual difference.

I got my HD580's for $120 maybe seven years ago (I remember I bought it at the same time as the Celeron 300a), and that is probably the best audio money I have ever spent. (And I do have an $8,000 main stereo.) I don't personally think that headphone audio can ever be the "ultimate experience," but HD580's have the kind of neutrality that you would have to spend $5,000 to get in speakers.

The HD580's are the most comfortable headphones I've ever owned. Way, way better than the <$300 Grados.

 

[mryellow2]

For this price everyone should be buying a set of the 580's. You will not be disappointed. I've got a set of 600's which are basically the same thing(something about the drivers being matched more closely so that the sound is extremely balanced). You hear details that you didn't know existed before, the singer breathing, that wet sound when lips separate, fingers moving on guitar strings etc.

 

[Mellman]

I know these aren't noise cancelling...and I know that you dont get quality sound while sitting in an airplane - but how well do these work on a plane? I typically watch movies on my laptop or listen to my ipod while on the plane...do they keep the noise out any? What about volume to those around you, they're open air so I am guessing everyone around you can hear what your're listening to?

I have a very old pair of HD505's i think they are - they need replaced.

I primarily listen to music (all kinds from classical to rap, electronic, rock, etc...) But i'd do some movies on them when i can't turn up the surround at home.

Thoughts?

 

[konakona]

Originally posted by: Mellman
I know these aren't noise cancelling...and I know that you dont get quality sound while sitting in an airplane - but how well do these work on a plane? I typically watch movies on my laptop or listen to my ipod while on the plane...do they keep the noise out any? What about volume to those around you, they're open air so I am guessing everyone around you can hear what your're listening to?

I have a very old pair of HD505's i think they are - they need replaced.

I primarily listen to music (all kinds from classical to rap, electronic, rock, etc...) But i'd do some movies on them when i can't turn up the surround at home.

Thoughts?

HD-580s (or any other pair of open headphones for that matter) will not work at all to satisfaction on an airplane, let alone any portable use, period. Not only you wont hear much past the overbearing outside noise coming from the flight, you would also get a shot at annoying the hell out of your neighboring passengers by letting them know exactly what you are listening to. That, only if you are happy with a)shelling out extra $100+ on a decent headamp like Vibe and lugging it around b)can tolerate piss-poor performance straight out of a portable DAP's pitiful lineout/headphone out.

IMO, these were never meant to be used anywhere other than in a static setting at home or at a studio, though I have used them in the past as earmuff during the wintertime Attempting to use these "reference class" headphones on the go would be like taking a F1 machine to rally racing. For portable use, you may wanna look into closed phones like AKG K81. Better yet, see if you can live with IEMs as some find them irritating beyond tolerance; however, IEMs offer the best efficiency and isolation, bar none

Speaking of HD580s, the fans of HD580 should really take some time examining the newer flagship of the sennheiser dyanmic headphone lineup - HD650. While many point out (myself included) 650s arent necessarily more neutral due to the even more pronounced midbass hump, the newer cans are known to be smoother, richer-sounding and more fun to listen to. To me, they were well worth the upgrade (or a sidegrade, YMMV) from the HD-580s. The foregoing, of course, is only pertinent provided that you have a decent amplifer to pair up the headphones with. With limited budget, definitely get the HD580s with a decent amp over the HD650s.

 

[cremefilled]

Ditto on the 580's being some of the worst-choice headphones for airplane use. These are truly open-air -- there is almost no isolation at all. You could easily wear them and carry on a normal conversation with someone.

Otoh, they are some of the best-choice headphones for home theater use (provided you won't bother anybody else in the same room with their outward sound). Check into the WinDVD surround emulation for headphones -- it is quite good. Creative X-Fi soundcards are also supposed to be awesome for surround emulation on headphones.

 

[monkuboy]

Originally posted by: bassoprofundo
Whoa... I have the EXACT same setup, monkuboy... Senn 580s, Grado SR80s, and a PA2V2... I love it. Jump on these folks.

I guess great minds think alike, haha. I also had the Grado SR-325i and Beyerdynamic DT-880, as well as a Gilmore Lite headphone amp and sold all of these. I guess I don't have "golden ears" but I really could not hear any worthwhile difference between the Gilmore and the PA2V2, certainly not enough to justify the much higher price (although the Gilmore is beautiful). I got caught up in the frenzy over at head-fi.org and went nuts buying stuff but after coming to my senses, figured that the less expensive Senn 580's and the Grado SR80's offered a far better value with no sacrifice in audio quality. Like you advised, people should jump on the Senn's - these are excellent headphones.

 

[Mellman]

thanks for saving me the money guys i would've been disappointed I am sure they are great but for my uses I'll keep shopping..

 

[Gautama2]

Originally posted by: Mellman
thanks for saving me the money guys i would've been disappointed I am sure they are great but for my uses I'll keep shopping..

HD 280s are cheap and have great isolation or so im told.

 

[bassoprofundo]

Originally posted by: monkuboy

Originally posted by: bassoprofundo
Whoa... I have the EXACT same setup, monkuboy... Senn 580s, Grado SR80s, and a PA2V2... I love it. Jump on these folks.

I guess great minds think alike, haha. I also had the Grado SR-325i and Beyerdynamic DT-880, as well as a Gilmore Lite headphone amp and sold all of these. I guess I don't have "golden ears" but I really could not hear any worthwhile difference between the Gilmore and the PA2V2, certainly not enough to justify the much higher price (although the Gilmore is beautiful). I got caught up in the frenzy over at head-fi.org and went nuts buying stuff but after coming to my senses, figured that the less expensive Senn 580's and the Grado SR80's offered a far better value with no sacrifice in audio quality. Like you advised, people should jump on the Senn's - these are excellent headphones.

Yeah... You have to be careful over at Head-Fi. It's the AT of headphones. Before you know it, your credit cards are maxed, and your attic is full of hot deals.

 

[Smartazz]

How would these compare with Bose Triports?

 

[Smartazz]

Originally posted by: Gautama2

Originally posted by: Mellman
thanks for saving me the money guys i would've been disappointed I am sure they are great but for my uses I'll keep shopping..

HD 280s are cheap and have great isolation or so im told.

My brother has HD280s, they do isolate really well and they are relatively cheap. They're very uncomfortable imo though and I still prefer open back headphones.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: monkuboy
The HD580 is excellent. I have this and the Grado SR80's and these two complement each other very nicely. The Grados are much more forward, like you are right in the middle of the music, whereas the Senn's put you back in the audience. The Senn's are also less efficient so an amp helps. My recommendation for an amp can be found here: http://www.electric-avenues.com/. The PA2V2 is an excellent value, plus Gary, the guy who makes each of them, has wonderful customer service. I've had more expensive headphones and amps and wound up selling them and just keeping the HD580's, SR80, and the PA2V2 amp. The current Amazon price on the HD580's is a good one, as has been pointed out above!

Nice... Maybe I'll do that instead... I just don't have the desire to build mine anymore... mostly because I lack the know how to really test it properly.

 

[darkswordsman17]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe these sound similar to the 600 and 650 (although those will have their own unique sound as well) and not much like the 595. Also, while certainly good quality, these are not good for professional audio as they color the sound quite a bit. If you want neutral headphones look elsewhere (such as the Beyerdynamic DT-880s). Also with the 580s you're going to want an amp to get the quality of sound people are talking about out of them. Lastly if you're looking for an all around headphone for watching movies, playing games, and listening to music, then you can do better (although at this price maybe not unless you get into used ones). For that I would recommend the AudioTechnica ATH-A900s (and then do the blu-tak mod which is very easy to do), or the 595s. The A900s will be a little under $200 shipped from Audiocubes, but they are low impedence so an amp isn't going to be necessary to get really great sound from them.

I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from this deal as these are great headphones, especially at this price, but with headphones, they are more noticable when it comes to sound differences and some of them are better for different types of listening. Also each brand has their own signature style of sound, so don't feel bad if say you don't necessarily like it (I started with Sennheisers but after hearing some other headphones realized I wasn't as big of a fan of their sound as I thought I was). If you're not big into headphones and just want a good pair these are far from a bad choice and will sound plenty good for everything so buy away.

 

[Gautama2]

Originally posted by: Smartazz
How would these compare with Bose Triports?

Bose is horribly overrated and makes horrible products, as anynoe in the audio world would tell you.

These blow the triports out of the water.