Personally would prefer the Philips X2 though; equally if not even better sounding and without the need for an expensive amp or DAC. Only £30 dearer too. And if you're into gaming, the V-Moda Boom Pro Mic also works with the X2 with no fuss, which to me is another big plus point.
Latest comments (69)
chrisjackson
19 Jan 16#69
Pop up still informs last purchase was 10.20am this morning so guess this was a real deal; but not for anyone here?
smr1
18 Jan 16#68
OOS for home delivery. Doesn't that mean they are out of stock everywhere?
bob_napalm
17 Jan 16#67
If anyone can get these try code AUDIO10 for 10% off any audio or headphones over £99 which runs until 26th. Oos near me otherwise would have had a punt.
unrealeck
17 Jan 16#63
I was planning on buying these at £200, but Oculus announced the pre-orders for the Rift and I had to get my name down for that and it's costing £520 or something. I know I shouldn't buy these but it's a good price for them. I'd probably buy the 598 for £75 if it comes down again. Everytime I read about the HD 600 and 650, people are talking about the impedance. Apparently though, the HD 598 also need amplification because it has peaks of around 300 ohms (according to tests done by innerfidelity.)
huangxq2 to unrealeck
17 Jan 16#66
I used HD598 with Sony HiFi Walkman without an AMP. They sound great. Do not know how much difference would an AMP make to HD598 if not any.
parkersblock
17 Jan 16#65
Yeah the limited edition black ones were £75 around Black Friday, absolute steal at that price.
parkersblock
17 Jan 16#64
It's all preference really but i'd say the 598s are definitely more comfortable to me (although i'm basing my comparisons with the HD 650 but i've heard ears pads and clamping force are the same as the 600s)
My 650s are by no means uncomfortable but I do find myself adjusting the ear cups a lot as the inner foam seems to rub. If only Sennheiser released a 6XX headphone with the comfort of the 700s (which are the comfiest cans i've had but have a treble only a mother could love)
huangxq2
17 Jan 16#62
Go for AKG K550, good close-back. And can work well with your mobile device without an AMP.
huangxq2
17 Jan 16#61
I am thinking of getting Little Dot 3 from China from the individual who designed Little Dot for £130.
tiptop33
17 Jan 16#60
Yep its another world..... best combo you can get without spending alot....yes you have to build it solder ect but its not difficult ..
full easy instructions all parts are large and its mainly wire soldering so any solder novice can do it ...the skill comes in keeping it all tidy ...wires ect but like i said you are given clear instructions ...
plath
17 Jan 16#56
anyone in north London want a mint hd598 NIB for £75? got one going.
huangxq2 to plath
17 Jan 16#59
Amazon reduce HD598 price every few months, sometime to £80.
If you cannot wait, buy from CeX for £80 used with 24 months warranty, and free instore return. They only have one in stock, can be delivered, be quick.
antemm
17 Jan 16#54
Would the audio technica ath-m50x be a decent plug straight into phone option?
huangxq2 to antemm
17 Jan 16#58
I used m50x, did not like it. Too much bass, not as comfortable as others.
huangxq2
17 Jan 16#57
Yeah, I mis-read, somehow I thought he ask for in-ear earphones.
I agree with you.
Use with phone,
If only use at home, I would highly recommend Sennheriser HD598.
If use outside, wired AKG K550,
If use outside, wireless Bose AE2w.
cheekster
16 Jan 16#8
@ifitsfreeitsmine
Building up a collection of lossless music (Flac plus some hi-res 24/96) which I'd like to listen to via a desktop pc and possibly a laptop in the future.
Obviously the built-in sound of my motherboard (Gigabyte Z77X-D3H) is not going to do justice to my Sennheiser HD 598 SE's, so what would you recommend as an upgraded sound card? USB would probably offer more flexibility as it could be also be used with a laptop and be more from one device to another. Do I require a headphone amplifier?
Bearing in mind the headphones cost £75, I am not looking to go crazy on the USB DAC or upgraded sound card, maybe suggestions for something up to £50 and then others up to £100 but they would need to be significantly better for me to justify that.
RicherSounds have the Cambridge Audio XS (and now the version 2 as well) go on sale at £49 from time to time...nothing come close to it at this price.
I got one myself, and I use it with my phone for music on daily basis and is far better than pretty much all the built-in DAC of the phones in general.
Winspiration
16 Jan 163#7
Great price and a good find. Voted hot.
Personally would prefer the Philips X2 though; equally if not even better sounding and without the need for an expensive amp or DAC. Only £30 dearer too. And if you're into gaming, the V-Moda Boom Pro Mic also works with the X2 with no fuss, which to me is another big plus point.
TheKaledan to Winspiration
17 Jan 161#53
Using this combo now. Sounds great and is super comfortable. The mic is clear and the detachable cable is useful.
TheKaledan
17 Jan 16#52
He said over ears.
HD558/598 is probably the best option for open backs. Versatile, cheap(in comparison) and have a very laid back sound.
huangxq2
17 Jan 16#51
X2 is pricy and too bass heavy for me. Not as comfortable as HD598 or K702. X2 is wrong choice for me.
koimaster
16 Jan 16#14
What's all this talk of needing an amp? Don't they work well just plugged into my phone/laptop/tv?
Tallyho to koimaster
16 Jan 16#16
They will work but not very well, they really need an amp as they are a heavy load to drive.
BigYoSpeck to koimaster
16 Jan 16#19
High impedance (300 Ohm) so they'll be quiet from most sources without amplification. They'll also show up how bad most audio sources are as well such as your phone, laptop or TV's regular headphone out.
huangxq2 to koimaster
17 Jan 161#50
HD600 has 300 Ohms independence.
Plug into your phone will not give you what you expected for the money, you will be hugely disappointed. You need something to drive it properly for it to sound good.
Go for HD598 if want to use your phone directly. I can second it. it sounds brilliant, cheaper and it will work with you phone very well.
It is diminish return, people invest a lot more just to get a little bit improvements.
hotman
16 Jan 16#49
I've read the crack with the HD600/650 is something special. The downsides are the import duty (is there a UK equivalent valve amp?), it is a kit so you need a soldering iron to build it and steady hands.
I second the HD600 for sound quality. HD600 is used in the studio by sound engineers whereas HD598 does not have a hifi sound and is aimed at the mass market.
Tallyho
16 Jan 16#48
Anyone actually found a set in stock to be delivered ?
Tallyho
16 Jan 16#47
I personally find the HD600 extremely comfortable, even for long periods.
cheekster
16 Jan 16#45
Already have a pair of HD 598 SE, not tried them yet, but often hear others rave about HD 600 and HD 650, wondered how much better they sound? Obviously due to the really good past deals of HD 598, it's probably not a fair comparison and I'm well aware of diminishing returns when splashing out on audio equipment, been there done that, lol!
Tallyho to cheekster
16 Jan 16#46
I have both the HD600 & HD598 & to my ears there are clear differences. The HD598 are somewhat closed in even though they are open backed, they lack seperation & openness, slightly muddy presentation.The HD600 though are quite superb, extremely detailed but can be accused of being somewhat lacking in bass. They aren't lacking in bass, just that they replay back bass the way it was recorded without any added emphasis. If you want additional bass then the HD650 are a lot warmer in presentation, somewhat analogue sounding could be a way of describing them, more body with less detail again.
For the price that can be had recently the 598 are excellent but for serious listening on a decent setup the HD600 walks all over them, the HD650 are a step backwards from the HD600 I feel.
All down to your ears at the end of the day, all 3 though are great headphones in their own way.
cheekster
16 Jan 16#3
How much better are these over a pair of HD 598, worth £100 more (based on Black Friday Lightening deal)?
Bomster to cheekster
16 Jan 161#4
They are better but not twice as good.
The law of diminishing returns.
A quick google and you should find plenty of reviews/comparisons.
ifitsfreeitsmine to cheekster
16 Jan 161#5
Depends on what you want from your headphones. The HD 600 will sound really disappointing if you use them with an iPhone or mobile device, use them with a good headphone amp or quality home audio source and they sound amazing.
The HD 598 are more versatile and will sound good with anything.
Be prepared though these open headphones will sound very different to closed back headphones, very spatial and totally different to closed back headphones. Some people like them and some don't and the type of music you listen to makes a big difference.
With sennheiser headphones the build quality gets better as you go up in the range but it doesn't mean they sound better but they do sound very different if you compare them side by side, sound quality is very subjective so it's best to audition them before you buy, the audio source is vitally important when you start spending big money on top end musical headphones.
parkersblock to cheekster
16 Jan 16#44
The HD 600 are better but the HD 598 are more comfortable. Unless you've got some high end equipment i'd save your cash and get the 598's.
You never said you wanted closed headphones. Look on Inner Fidelity's wall of fame for closed headphones as I've found that reviewer to be spot on when it comes to headphones.
parkersblock
16 Jan 16#41
Great price for these! I didn't really Argos even stocked high end sennheisers.
That looks good. Any idea how it compares with the likes of these other portable DAC's that I've seen mentioned before:
Cambridge DAC Magic XS (sometimes on offer for £49 from Richer Sounds)
FiiO E10K (£60ish)
Audioquest Dragonfly v1 (was available for under £70 but possibly discontinued now?)
Thanks.
789HHEELLOO
16 Jan 16#23
Would these sound good with a LG G2 (it allegedly has an in-built DAC)?
basergorkobal to 789HHEELLOO
16 Jan 161#38
In short - no. It's not just a DAC you need, but also some decent level of pure amplification to make them sing.
I believe these are open back? I would be looking for something that I could also use in the office so not sure that would be suitable? Are there any similar that would negate this issue?
bennykoffler
16 Jan 16#35
FLAC players such as the ibasso DX90 and the Fiio players have headphone amps build in and can act as a portable DAC which would sit between a laptop, desktop or iPhone and high end headphones like these. I have the hd650s.
robs1
16 Jan 16#34
Flubit offered me £159.99 - very tempted!
ElGofre
16 Jan 161#33
I know, I'm desperate to try it! My time with the original Orpheus was in a noisey showroom so rubbish listening settings, but you could still tell they were something magical.
antemm
16 Jan 16#27
Can anyone offer any pointers in terms of some decent over ear headphones that would be good plugged straight into an iPhone without the need for an amp? Thanks
dz1 to antemm
16 Jan 16#32
You can't go wrong with Philips Fidelio X2.
Excellent headphones but like all headphones you have to be careful you don't damage your ears with high volume levels.
cheekster
16 Jan 16#31
Sounds great but very pricey...£399!
ElGofre
16 Jan 161#20
Superb headphones, they're stupidly good at this price for anyone looking to put together a high quality audio setup at a reasonable price. You won't make the most out of them if you plug them straight into a phone or laptop, but one of the best things about the HD600s is that they scale really well at both ends of the spectrum- they will sound wonderful with a £60 FiiO E10K for an awesome sub-£250 setup, but will sound better and better with increasingly high end source components. I've used the HD600s for 3 years and they killed my upgrade fever, I've listened to dozens of higher end headphones in that time, and while I can appreciate the improvements none gave tempted me to spend significantly more than my well driven HD600s.
Well, except the original Orpheus, but I don't have £30,000 to spare.
yoghurtlidlicker to ElGofre
16 Jan 16#29
new Orpheus is out!
HD600 is ace.
good deal!
tiptop33
16 Jan 16#28
Nice find have some heat :smiley:
The 600's and 650 go great with one of these great combo
none near me.....typical. ....ill stick with my mint HD 580 then.....
simssmo
16 Jan 16#25
Great headphones. I got the HD650. They need a good headphone amp to really shine.
SCOUSEKEVIN
16 Jan 16#24
I have a pair of Hearing Aids from a superb supplier (NHS) the off switch is really useful, its all in the mind.
djdave2929
16 Jan 16#22
So annoying. Been waiting and waiting for these price levels, for these or the 650's. Anyone on here purchased?
djdave2929
16 Jan 16#21
Not available.
spannerzone
16 Jan 16#18
Yes, only immortals should be buying these.
MeesterX
16 Jan 161#17
Superb. I run these through a dedicated amp and use a dac with digital material.
I bought mine in 2001 or thereabouts. They're excellent. Well well worth buying so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
Do beware if you're not into hifi you need to consider getting decent amplification, some sort of dac and to consider the quality of your source material.
snappyfish
16 Jan 16#12
Not available near me :disappointed:
Tallyho to snappyfish
16 Jan 16#15
Can't find any anywhere near me.
trimax
16 Jan 16#11
Good quality headphones. Heat! :sunglasses:
snappyfish
16 Jan 16#10
Good for gaming? Can a mic be attached?
joedredd
16 Jan 16#9
I have these connected to a USB 24bit DAC valve amp. Excellent headphones.
candyman86
16 Jan 16#6
5% off using nationwide offers
vizta
16 Jan 16#2
Good deal,
NeilC1978
16 Jan 16#1
I have these, should last a life time. They are open back so only suitable for home listening. You will need a quality headphone amp to get the best out of them. Good find.
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
Will need amping.
OoS
- plath
Top comments
Personally would prefer the Philips X2 though; equally if not even better sounding and without the need for an expensive amp or DAC. Only £30 dearer too. And if you're into gaming, the V-Moda Boom Pro Mic also works with the X2 with no fuss, which to me is another big plus point.
Latest comments (69)
My 650s are by no means uncomfortable but I do find myself adjusting the ear cups a lot as the inner foam seems to rub. If only Sennheiser released a 6XX headphone with the comfort of the 700s (which are the comfiest cans i've had but have a treble only a mother could love)
full easy instructions all parts are large and its mainly wire soldering so any solder novice can do it ...the skill comes in keeping it all tidy ...wires ect but like i said you are given clear instructions ...
If you cannot wait, buy from CeX for £80 used with 24 months warranty, and free instore return. They only have one in stock, can be delivered, be quick.
I agree with you.
Use with phone,
If only use at home, I would highly recommend Sennheriser HD598.
If use outside, wired AKG K550,
If use outside, wireless Bose AE2w.
Building up a collection of lossless music (Flac plus some hi-res 24/96) which I'd like to listen to via a desktop pc and possibly a laptop in the future.
Obviously the built-in sound of my motherboard (Gigabyte Z77X-D3H) is not going to do justice to my Sennheiser HD 598 SE's, so what would you recommend as an upgraded sound card? USB would probably offer more flexibility as it could be also be used with a laptop and be more from one device to another. Do I require a headphone amplifier?
Bearing in mind the headphones cost £75, I am not looking to go crazy on the USB DAC or upgraded sound card, maybe suggestions for something up to £50 and then others up to £100 but they would need to be significantly better for me to justify that.
Thanks.
http://www.head-fi.org/products/chord-mojo/reviews/14291
thank me later....
I got one myself, and I use it with my phone for music on daily basis and is far better than pretty much all the built-in DAC of the phones in general.
Personally would prefer the Philips X2 though; equally if not even better sounding and without the need for an expensive amp or DAC. Only £30 dearer too. And if you're into gaming, the V-Moda Boom Pro Mic also works with the X2 with no fuss, which to me is another big plus point.
HD558/598 is probably the best option for open backs. Versatile, cheap(in comparison) and have a very laid back sound.
Plug into your phone will not give you what you expected for the money, you will be hugely disappointed. You need something to drive it properly for it to sound good.
Go for HD598 if want to use your phone directly. I can second it. it sounds brilliant, cheaper and it will work with you phone very well.
It is diminish return, people invest a lot more just to get a little bit improvements.
I second the HD600 for sound quality. HD600 is used in the studio by sound engineers whereas HD598 does not have a hifi sound and is aimed at the mass market.
For the price that can be had recently the 598 are excellent but for serious listening on a decent setup the HD600 walks all over them, the HD650 are a step backwards from the HD600 I feel.
All down to your ears at the end of the day, all 3 though are great headphones in their own way.
The law of diminishing returns.
A quick google and you should find plenty of reviews/comparisons.
The HD 598 are more versatile and will sound good with anything.
Be prepared though these open headphones will sound very different to closed back headphones, very spatial and totally different to closed back headphones. Some people like them and some don't and the type of music you listen to makes a big difference.
With sennheiser headphones the build quality gets better as you go up in the range but it doesn't mean they sound better but they do sound very different if you compare them side by side, sound quality is very subjective so it's best to audition them before you buy, the audio source is vitally important when you start spending big money on top end musical headphones.
In this thread I gave links to Amazon reviews of what seems to be same model :
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/pro-external-audio-controller-fostex-29-music-matters-2341653?p=26683434
I'm probably the wrong person to ask being a bit sceptical about "night and day" differences claims :
http://nwavguy.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/gain-and-headphone-ampsdacs.html
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/high-end-pc-audio,review-32894.html
NAD HP50 here :
http://www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk/c-121-headphones.aspx#pgnum=1&sort=
or
http://homeavdirect.co.uk/psb-m4u-over-ear-headphones
or
http://www.petertyson.co.uk/ebuttonz/ebz_product_pages/yamaha_hph-mt220.shtml
Cambridge DAC Magic XS (sometimes on offer for £49 from Richer Sounds)
FiiO E10K (£60ish)
Audioquest Dragonfly v1 (was available for under £70 but possibly discontinued now?)
Thanks.
http://www.keene.co.uk/digital-to-analogue-audio-convertor-with-usb-promo-price.html
Nice to have an analogue volume control. The headphone out would probably work OK with the HD598. You could later use it just as a DAC if you feel the need to upgrade amp.
Excellent headphones but like all headphones you have to be careful you don't damage your ears with high volume levels.
Well, except the original Orpheus, but I don't have £30,000 to spare.
HD600 is ace.
good deal!
The 600's and 650 go great with one of these great combo
http://bottlehead.com/product/crack-otl-headphone-amplifier-kit/
I bought mine in 2001 or thereabouts. They're excellent. Well well worth buying so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
Do beware if you're not into hifi you need to consider getting decent amplification, some sort of dac and to consider the quality of your source material.