help about headphones - sennheiser HD595

hello.

at the moment i own Sennheiser HD485 headphones, and because i use headphones ALOT i was thinking on buying better ones. im very satisfied with Sennheiser, so i was looking at Sennheiser HD595, they're around 2x-3x (i think) more expensive than HD485 here, so i guess they're better.

would someone be so kind and tell me to find some details on both headphones (statistics/performance..- i cant find any on the net, just selling sites) and tell me if there would be any noticeable difference.

HD485
http://www.electronics-online.co.uk/acatalog/Sennheiser_HD485_Headphones.html

HD595
http://www.electronics-online.co.uk/acatalog/Sennheiser_HD_595__Headphones.html

also, if anyone would recommend anything else for the price of 595, please feel free to post.
bare in mind im not looking for high end DJ headphones, or anything like Sony Qualia 010 heh

thanks

ok i found some stats, dont know what they mean tho :/ , if it helps

HD485
Jack plug 3,5/6,3 mm stereo
Nominal impedance 32 ?
Weight w/o cable ca. 220 g
Transducer principle dynamic, open
Ear coupling circum-aural
Frequency response (headphones) 16.....24000 Hz
Sound pressure level (SPL) 110 dB(SPL)
THD, total harmonic distortion <0,2 %

HD595
Nominal impedance 50 Ohm
Contact pressure 3,5 N
Weight w/o cable 260 g
Jack plug 6,3 mm stereo (3,5 mm Adapter)
Transducer principle (Headphones) open, dynamic
Ear coupling circumaural
Frequency response (headphones) 15.....28000 Hz
Sound pressure level (SPL) 112 dB (1 kHz and 1 Veff)
THD, total harmonic distortion < 0,2 %

can someone enlighten me?

oh one more question, whats the difference in HD595 and HD555 ? HD555 has 15-28000 Hz, while HD595 has 12-38500 Hz. and the price difference is around 80euros which is quite much. do those Hz mean so much?

Of course 595 are better...no brainer here!

Do not (only) look at specifications when buying anything that has to do with sound, especially speakers or headphones.

In my experience (having previously owned 555's and now the 595's) the 595's are in a different league. It's a lot more precise and extended, the overall sound is better across the board.

What kind of music do you listen to? Alot of headphones shine in a specific type of music, so knowing that would make picking a headphone much easier. However, if you go for either the 555's or 595's, you won't be dissapointed.

hardcore and freeform most of the time. a bit of trance.

i never really looked at specs when buying headphones, because i dont know what they mean anyway. i always tried out before i bought, tho i dont have the chance to try out HD595, because its not in my city, but around 100km away in other store, so i would order them over "post office".
tho im sure it sounds very good, due to the fact i think HD485 sound good already heh (probably youre going to title me as a total nub now heh).

Here's a hint: The HD555 is listed on Sennheiser's site as a Home Entertainment headphone, and the HD595 is on the shortlist of Audiophile headphones, as well as Home Entertainment.

You won't notice a huge difference unless you're an audio freak. I had a pair of HD212 Pros and they were amazing .... until i broke them at no fault of sennheiser
I'd suggest getting 515s or if you need .... 555s... the 595s though are pretty expensive and i wouldn't say you'd notice any difference in sound quality.

tim-x said:

You won't notice a huge difference unless you're an audio freak. I had a pair of HD212 Pros and they were amazing .... until i broke them at no fault of sennheiser
I'd suggest getting 515s or if you need .... 555s... the 595s though are pretty expensive and i wouldn't say you'd notice any difference in sound quality.

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Well, I'd like to respectfully disagree.
Given that the OP is into music that could be classified as "bassy", I really would not recommend the 595s. They have a very balenced sound and therefore many perceive the bass to be lacking. It's not that boomy, earthshattering bass that some enjoy and would call "fun". For most music I find the solid, punchy bass to be exactly what I want. Think clean bass drum vs car subwoofer. OTOH, I listen to a bit of electronica myself and am considering getting another pair of cans to compliment my 595's. They're great overall for a lot of music, but sometimes you just want that over-emphasized trance thumping, which they lack to some degree. Someone with more experience, that has actually heard more phones than me, should be able to recommend you one.

so some are saying to go for them, and some not to buy them. im confused now

i need something thats more comfortable than these HD485. i tried them one once, and theyre much more comfortable. sometimes i have those things on like 8 hours a day sometimes.
i need something thats better than HD485.
and that it doesnt look like piece of crap - im a sucker for nice stuff (if its good, but it looks like shit, i wont buy it)
the money is not an object, i could buy 4 of 595's, but thats not what i want. i want decent headphones, like 595s, or anything else in same price range.

and, i got a supreme hearing capability hehe

thanks

580 + amp then

I just recieved my 595s for x-mas and they are EXTREMELY clear. At the same time like the guy 2 posts above said they are not boomy bass. They are more for vocal based music or for competitive gaming. I listen to mostly punk and hardcore though and I'm enjoying my music greatly its just not the whole ear bleeding effect that most shitty cans give you because the bass is so loud and unclear. As far as comfort they are so comfortable that I hardly can feel them. Beware if you do get the 595s you will not be able to hear anything around you, I'm talking if someone is screaming right next to you you're not going to hear them with these cans on. Overall I would say go for it they are great and I'm not dissapointed in the least.

cheers ajax, good post.

personaly, i want my headphones to isolate me from the world. and ive read probably all reviews based on 595s, they say that they arent really boom-bass-tic, tho they arent shit either. yea i listen to hardcore and freeform most of the time, tho i like some easy stuff (conjure one CD style) and similar as well.
and im going to order them. even if i wont like them, i can return them and take another product.

as far as gaming goes, im not a hardcore gamer. i only play some counter strike source, like once a week or even more rare.

now all i need is a new sound card. i have (embarrased as hell) creative SB live! 5.1 , i was looking at "SB Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music". any thoughts on this one? good choice?
(if i wont get any answers, ill just open a new thread )

thanks all for replies on headphones.

Vertigo Acid said:

Well, I'd like to respectfully disagree.
Given that the OP is into music that could be classified as "bassy", I really would not recommend the 595s. They have a very balenced sound and therefore many perceive the bass to be lacking. It's not that boomy, earthshattering bass that some enjoy and would call "fun".

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I disagree, one of the reasons I sold my 595s was the boomy bass that covers the sound on bassy songs. The 595s have strong bass. They are a great all around headphone.

595 + strong bass? lollerz

infiniti029 said:

595 + strong bass? lollerz

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Maybe not compared to the 650s or anything but a lot more of it and muddy compared to the SA5000s. The Senn 457s I have and the AKG 240s are also bass heavy cans and the 595s were not far behind.

Svperstar said:

Maybe not compared to the 650s or anything but a lot more of it and muddy compared to the SA5000s. The Senn 457s I have and the AKG 240s are also bass heavy cans and the 595s were not far behind.

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I think you recieved a bad pair because there is nothing muddy about my 595s sound.

AJaxx. said:

I think you recieved a bad pair because there is nothing muddy about my 595s sound.

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He said compared to the SA5000. I think a lot of cans are going to sound muddy compared to the SA5000...

Edit: And I'll put a vote for 580s and amp.

AJaxx. said:

I think you recieved a bad pair because there is nothing muddy about my 595s sound.

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Nope sorry, the bass on the 595s just isn't that controlled, it sounds much more monotone. That is one of the very few things I disliked about it. Still a great headphone and I recommend it all the time when the conversation comes up. I completely disagree with people that say it has no bass, multiple soundcards and amps have yet to reveal a combo where the 595s don't have strong bass.