Sennheiser HD 598 Special Edition Over-Ear Headphones - Black (Discontinued by Manufacturer)
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Brand | Sennheiser Consumer Audio |
Model Name | FBA_HD 598 SE |
Color | Black |
Form Factor | Over Ear |
Connectivity Technology | Wired |
About this item
- Premium, audiophile-grade over-ear, open back headphones
- Padded leatherette headband and luxurious velour covered ear pads perfect for long listening sessions
- Compatible with virtually every audio device including phones, tablets, computers and stereo components
- Two cable options (3 meters and 1.2 meters) included along with 3.5mm adapter plug.Jack plug-6.3 mm
- Impedance: 50 Ω
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Customer Ratings | ||||||
Sound quality | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 4.0 |
Noise cancellation | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 | — | 3.8 |
Quality of material | 4.5 | 3.8 | — | — | 3.7 | — |
Comfort | — | 4.4 | 4.4 | — | 4.0 | — |
Sold By | Detroit Packing Co. | ARF Tech | Amazon.com | Mega Deals & Savings | HIFIMAN | Amazon.com |
connectivity tech | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired |
headphones form factor | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear |
connector type | 3.5mm Jack | 1/4-inch, 3.5mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack | 3 5mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack |
headphones jack | 6.35 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | — | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
cable feature | Retractable | Detachable | Detachable | Without Cable | Detachable | Retractable |
control type | — | control | Media Control | — | Media Control | Media Control |
material | — | Velour | Aluminum | — | Plastic | — |
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Product information
Product Dimensions | 4.1 x 8.1 x 9.4 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 9.4 ounces |
Manufacturer | Sennheiser |
ASIN | B0126HISOO |
Item model number | HD 598 SE |
Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #248,730 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #5,175 in Over-Ear Headphones |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | October 15, 2015 |
Item Weight | 9.44 ounces |
Units | 1.0 Count |
Number Of Items | 1 |
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Product Description
The HD 598 Special Edition headphones are an open back, over ear, audiophile grade headphone that combines exceptional sound quality with extreme wearing comfort. This premium headphone features a padded leatherette headband and luxurious velour covered ear pads perfect for long listening sessions.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the comfort, performance, weight and value of the headphones. For example, they mention that they're comfortable on their big head, perform well and that the leather headstrap is comfy. That said, opinions are mixed on durability.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the headphones. They say the bass is starting to form, vocals sound stellar, and the bass has a wonderful low frequency rumble. They also say the headphones have far more clarity and resonance than the Bowers & Wilkins P7 I, and have deep solid bass without the boominess. Customers also mention that the HD 598 does not exhibit any creaking noises at the joints when swiveling the earcups. Overall, customers are satisfied with the sound performance of the product.
"...you happen to sing near any strong basses... So there is honestly plenty of bass, and it seems to be finely detailed. There is plenty...." Read more
"...The spatial accuracy is truly remarkable, adding a layer of depth to every note and creating a listening experience that transcends the confines of..." Read more
"...try it out for free and see if you like it; I found that it brought out the sound stage even more for me, and I'm just doing the free trial for now...." Read more
"...the headphones upon them costing less than $300, having excellent accurate sound that is flat (no emphasis on base, etc), that can be used through..." Read more
Customers find the comfort of the headphones incredible. They mention the leather headstrap is comfortable without being constraining or giving them a headache. They appreciate the plush velour ear cushions and lightweight design. They say the headphones make them comfortable with somewhat higher listening volumes and accurately create the feeling of being in front of the stage. Customers also say the earphones have never hurt their ears and have a better feeling of ambiance than the HD 598.
"...I have a smaller head, and in general they are "very" comfortable. There is plenty of room to expand for a larger person...." Read more
"...Comfort is another noteworthy aspect. The plush velour ear cushions and lightweight design make these headphones a joy to wear for extended periods...." Read more
"...Actually, these are the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn, Beats can't even touch this.Some important notes:..." Read more
"...Also, these headphones are perhaps the most comfortable of all, as they actually feel a tad loose when worn, not subjecting me to the clamping..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the quality of the headphones. They mention that it is the best quality set of headphones that can still be used as a pretty solid choice. Customers also appreciate the sound quality, build quality, comfort, and style of the product. They say that the sound and build quality are well worth the cost. Customers further describe the headphones as an audiophile quality product with improved materials over the 595.
"...Well, they were $300 new, so i figured they were good quality. Who can resist a good deal? :)For your reference, these were an UPGRADE for me...." Read more
"...The build quality is superb, as expected from Sennheiser...." Read more
"...Otherwise, they are a 10/10 for build quality. Very sturdy feeling, but lightweight at the same time...." Read more
"...All the headphones I tried are very highly rated, but the competition required that I eliminate the headphones that I did not like s well as others...." Read more
Customers like the value of the headphones. They mention that they are worth the price, fit the budget, and are one of the best valued headphones one can get. They appreciate the open sound, clarity, and decent price for the level of sound quality. Some say that the clarity is excellent at this price point and that the headphones are not overpowering in the least.
"...To summarize:They are a very very good value. I think these are in a totally different league than Bose headphones...." Read more
"...In conclusion, the Sennheiser HD 598 headphones are a true budget audiophile's dream...." Read more
"...Under 100, which I was lucky enough to find these at, the price is absolutely right and if you've never owned a pair of quality headphones, I would..." Read more
"...are saying, but it really can't be overstated, these bad boys are worth it! Provided it ticks a lot of boxes, for you...." Read more
Customers like the appearance of the headphones. They say they are well-designed, render music beautifully, and have the Euro Luxo Car look. The attention to detail in the design is evident, and they look extremely premium. Customers also like the retro look and the open design, which allows the music to be present in the headphones itself.
"...They are not built like a tank. They are merely well-designed and built, but not extreme or super tough...." Read more
"...The headphones feel sturdy and durable, and the attention to detail in the design is evident...." Read more
"...Looks are subjective of course, but I feel like they look extremely premium and I definitely get a lot of complements on them whenever I show them..." Read more
"...trying its best not to stand in the way or change things.*** Looks and comfortPros:..." Read more
Customers like the performance of the headphones. They say they sound incredible, do the job nice, and go well with art deco furniture. They also appreciate the consistent, predictable, and balanced performance. Customers say the headphones work well for listening to podcasts, audiobooks, ambient stereo, violin, and flute. They find the sound smooth and relaxing, not fatiguing in the least. Customers also mention that the headphones are efficient enough that they do not need an external power adapter.
"...There is no booming quality. There was no fatigue at all for me. It was unobstrusive, which I liked...." Read more
"...cushions and lightweight design make these headphones a joy to wear for extended periods...." Read more
"...It nails that fine balance between weight and the feeling of something substantial. You will not be disappointed...." Read more
"...that can be used through an iPod, that are comfortable and can be worn for hours, that are well built and have parts that can be purchased in the..." Read more
Customers like the weight of the headphones. They say they are very light and don't feel heavy on their head. Some mention that the headphones are fairly mid-range weighted.
"...The weight is non-offensive. They are neither feather light nor weighty.To summarize:They are a very very good value...." Read more
"...The plush velour ear cushions and lightweight design make these headphones a joy to wear for extended periods...." Read more
"...Very sturdy feeling, but lightweight at the same time. It nails that fine balance between weight and the feeling of something substantial...." Read more
"...The trade off is *very* light headphones...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the durability of the headphones. Some mention that the plastic seems more solid, while others say that they feel a bit light and flimsy.
"...I can see the audio jack being compromised at some point. It's secure but not armor-plated Now the headband material is fairly nice and I believe it..." Read more
"...reason I took .5 off was because initially, Sennheiser had an issue with the quality of the material used on the side of the headphones, leading to..." Read more
"...It's an audiophile's dream, delivering a natural and authentic sound that caters to a wide range of genres...." Read more
"...You're wasting money if you dont buy these things! They're durable as hell, too. Which brings me to my last point......" Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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Ok, enough; here's my review. I am not an audiophile, but I do appreciate music. After many hours of reading reviews over maybe a year or more, I decided on these because 1) I found them used for about $100 here on Amazon. I know, I know, the time I spent researching headphones...and then I only spent $100? Well, they were $300 new, so i figured they were good quality. Who can resist a good deal? :)
For your reference, these were an UPGRADE for me. I was listening to cheap headphones and was looking at buying Grados, Sennheisers, or other headphones in the $150 to $300 range.
On the various aspects:
First, the Sound:
I'm no audiophile, but here we go. I listen to mainly moderately demanding a capella choral music...on a macbook computer. Think Bach's St. John Passion, Russian Orthodox works, things like that. Classical, Baroque, Romantic. Definitely some orchestral music in there. The overall impression I got was that these are highly capable phones easily driven by a macbook. I don't have amps, DACs, or vinyl, sorry :) They never stumbled or got overwhelmed by the music files. They always mastered them. My main tracks which I use to test a system are: "Mother and Child" from Tenebrae's Gaudete (the organ), Sheremetiev's version of "Nine sili nebesniye" sung by Chorovaya Akedemia in Ancient Echoes (the sheer vocal dynamics and octavist vibration), and various versions of the St. John Passion. This last test I consider to be a good one due to its ability to test a system's separation fidelity and soundstage. There would be many others that would test it just as well. In piano recordings I found the keys to have a decently audible soft thunk, but nothing astounding.
Starting from the top, the highs were fine. I was more than satisfied. They weren't harsh to me. They could have been more bright, but I don't know if I want them to be. They stay within range of "mellow." That being said, they could have had much more space to stretch out the string fuzz and moving air of the soundstage, but, hey, they are NOT the highest-tier headphones.
Mids and mid-highs, like much in vocals, had good clarity and pretty nice "life." They were convincing and thoroughly enjoyable. As far as fatigue, these highly-engineered and dialed-in German headphones will probably serve you much better than many alternatives out there. I would call the EQ both "natural" and "well-rounded" (meaning, not "round," but smooth with no jaggies).
As far as mids, I actually have trouble separating a judgment of the mids from a judgment of the "sound stage" itself so I will just say the mids are just fine. There is no booming quality. There was no fatigue at all for me. It was unobstrusive, which I liked. I think the Grado's might have been a little too much mid for me personally, judging from reviews about Grados.
More about the soundstage...The soundstage is not out of this world. It will not blow your socks off. BUT...it is really good. And, again, the HD 598s have enough guts to give you a great experience. It's like a BMW. It is a serious car. No, it is not a Ferrari. Nor a Mack truck. But it IS a BMW. Never fear. It can handle things. So it is a somewhat tight-handling presentation. By this I unfortunately do mean that it is not the luxury-yacht of headphones. It could have more soundstage and space. It could be more fluid and liberating, more like a Lexus and less like a BMW. So for now it is great, but someday I may upgrade.
Ok, the lows. Disclaimer: I do not listen to rock, rap, or other thumping music, but the music I listen to has plenty of rhythm and you can get a good assessment while listening to an orchestra and especially a human bass or even octavist. That is, if you know what an orchestra should sound like in real life, or if you happen to sing near any strong basses... So there is honestly plenty of bass, and it seems to be finely detailed. There is plenty. I enjoyed it, and it never distracted me, got in the way, or annoyed me. Only complimented the rest of the music, almost like a subwoofer would compliment your actual speakers, seamlessly mixed in and balanced. The headphones definitely had convincing power, although I can see some headphones easily beating the HD 598s for overall power... Now some will scoff at that last statement. (But they will also scoff at a BMW and say "I only drive real muscle cars.") Please, my friend, I don't mean these as political comments. I personally do not drive any of these cars.
Open-back design:
Be prepared that these will leak sound to your roommates, but it is nothing incredible or frightening. I would say that the ability of these to isolate you from the outside is slightly better than their ability to isolate others sitting nearby from hearing your music. This is a subtle difference, please don't let it worry you.
The Build:
They are not unbreakable. So far mine have held up, but I am being careful with them. They are not built like a tank. They are merely well-designed and built, but not extreme or super tough. I can see the audio jack being compromised at some point. It's secure but not armor-plated Now the headband material is fairly nice and I believe it will hold up.
I have a smaller head, and in general they are "very" comfortable. There is plenty of room to expand for a larger person. But my last headphones were also fairly comfortable. I was not flabbergasted by this experience or anything.
The weight is non-offensive. They are neither feather light nor weighty.
To summarize:
They are a very very good value. I think these are in a totally different league than Bose headphones. I am not a huge fan of Bose. I think it's their EQ. These HD 598s are a solid quality headphone and for the price there probably aren't too many direct comparisons to the overall quality you get. I would definitely buy them again, and I'm not dissapointed that I didn't buy the Grados or other headphones. However, listening to these does make me curious :)
Let's talk about the soundstage – it's nothing short of breathtaking. The open-back design creates a wide and expansive audio environment that immerses you in your music like never before. The separation of instruments is so distinct that you can almost visualize the musicians in a live performance. The spatial accuracy is truly remarkable, adding a layer of depth to every note and creating a listening experience that transcends the confines of traditional headphones.
The HD 598's ability to reproduce a three-dimensional soundstage is particularly impressive when it comes to gaming and movies. The spatial awareness it provides adds a whole new dimension to gaming, allowing you to pinpoint the direction of footsteps or the rustle of leaves with uncanny precision. Similarly, watching movies becomes a cinematic experience with audio cues coming from all directions, creating a sense of being right in the middle of the action.
The sound signature is balanced and refined. The mids are clear and detailed, the highs are crisp without being piercing, and the bass is tight and controlled. It's an audiophile's dream, delivering a natural and authentic sound that caters to a wide range of genres. Whether you're into classical, jazz, rock, or electronic music, the HD 598 handles each with finesse.
Comfort is another noteworthy aspect. The plush velour ear cushions and lightweight design make these headphones a joy to wear for extended periods. The breathable materials ensure that your ears stay cool, even during marathon listening sessions.
The build quality is superb, as expected from Sennheiser. The headphones feel sturdy and durable, and the attention to detail in the design is evident.
In conclusion, the Sennheiser HD 598 headphones are a true budget audiophile's dream. The expansive soundstage elevates the listening experience to new heights, creating an immersive world of sound that's simply unparalleled. If you're looking for headphones that deliver an exceptional soundstage and an overall premium audio experience, the HD 598 should be at the top of your list.
Top reviews from other countries
•• Intro ••
This is going to be a fairly large review encompassing many years of trial and error. If you don't want my background or to understand why I ultimately chose the 598's, skip to "ENTER THE HD 598's." Otherwise, I'll cover my headphone background, whether gaming headsets are "good enough," what sound-stage is and why it matters, and a quick comparison of some alternatives - budget and otherwise. Lastly, I'll talk about the HD 598's musical quality, but I specifically purchased these headphones with PC gaming in mind.
•• You don't need to be an audiophile to appreciate the difference ••
Sound quality is one of those often-overlooked areas that can DRAMATICALLY improve your gaming performance. Naturally, this depends on the type of game you're playing. If you like RTS's or MMO's, directional sound won't have a huge impact on performance. I mean, it'll sound BETTER, but it won't typically be the difference between your living or dying. A first person shooter, on the other hand, is where sound can make a tremendous difference. Picking up footsteps vs not picking up footsteps. Getting shot from out of nowhere and then immediately identifying the source based on sound alone. These are the things we pay for, and these are the reasons why the Sennheiser HD 598's are awesome.
•• My headphone & gaming background ••
I've been playing FPS games for over 16 years now. I was never a big CS head, but I've played damn near everything from Quake and Unreal, to almost every iteration of Battlefield and Call of Duty. More recently, I've been playing Titanfall 2 and Overwatch. That said, I specifically bought the HD 598's because I've started streaming Playerunknown's Battlegrounds. Playerunknown's is a perfect example of a game that benefits MASSIVELY from sound-superiority. Because you die so quickly and can't instantly respawn, knowing the direction of your enemies is crucial.
I come from a long line of cheap headphones. I remember playing WoW probably 10 years ago with a $3 microphone/headset from China. Oh, how times have changed. From there, I upgraded to a Logitech G35, which was probably $130 at the time. When I put those on for the first time playing Battlefield 3, I was like, "Holy crap! Such immersion, much wow! Is this what I've been missing?!" The problem is, that feeling of immersion can actually overwhelm and muddy the senses as opposed to delivering crisp, concise, directional information. Bass, in particular, might put you right in the middle of the action... but is it helping you e-murder people to your FULL potential? Not really.
There are plenty of games where you can puzzle things out, but more often than not, I'd be slightly confused. Is he left, right, or literally all around me? The problem with my G35's was that in stereo mode, it was too quiet. In 7.1 mode, it was louder, but I couldn't tell where the heck anything was coming from. I mean, it gave me enough info to guess some times, but I wanted to know if there was a better way.
•• Are Gaming Headsets Good Enough? ••
Gaming headsets are immensely popular nowadays. By gaming headsets, I mean any headphones that come with a microphone attached. They tend to be heavily marketed towards gamers and have flashy aesthetics that do nothing for gameplay. I dove into Hearthstone for awhile, and I noticed that my most-watched streamers had things like Corsair, Hyperx Cloud 2's, or Logitech anythings. Many of my friends have these as well. I consider these "good enough" for specific game genres that are lacking in split second decision making based on sound. Obviously, it's great having a mic AND headphones packaged into one item. However, those established companies have one thing in common: they sell you a mediocre mic and a mediocre headphone... and they charge you a premium. I'm not saying you NEED great headphones. If you go from a $5 mic to a gaming headset, you're going to be thrilled with the difference. But there are several levels above that, and that's what I'm here to tell you about.
Back to Playerunknown's and other shooters, I noticed most of my favourite streamers invested in heavy duty headphones. MrGrimmmz, arguably a top 10 Playerunknown's player, uses Sennheiser HD700's, which sell for something insane like $700-1200. I firmly believe that you can pay MUCH less. Once you start going over $150-200 for headphones, you're going to suffer diminishing returns in effectiveness. They might sound better, but they may not grant you more accurate directional data.
•• So what provides the most accurate directional data? Sound stage? What the heck is that? ••
Sound-stage is an interesting concept in headphones. Basically, imagine you're at a small-ish concert. Your favourite band is playing. The singer is in one location, the guitarist another, the bassist and drummer another still. You close your eyes. In your mind, there is a virtual stage that approximates their proper locations, granting a musical depth that you may not have had simply listening to an album with $10 ear buds.
This is sound-stage. It's a "virtual environment." Certain headphones have much broader "virtual stages" than others. Now, think about playing a shooter game. Think about the sound of gunfire. It's harsh, cacophonous . Bullets aren't BOOMING and BASSY -- unless you're firing a cannon, maybe. They're loud and SHARP. These require an enhanced treble and mid-range that don't get squashed out by too much bass. What we're talking about here is finding a perfect balance.
•• Enter the HD 598's ••
The 598's are celebrated as having some of the best "balance" of sound-stage and bass among audiophiles and gamers alike. I can absolutely confirm this. They're typically compared to their counterparts the HD 558's. They're quite similar, but the 558's have more bass, which is why the 598's tend to be picked for gaming.
Gaming is a treat. It's night and day from my G35's. Locations are accurate, sounds are crisp. I noticed a tremendous difference in my close-range gameplay the very first day I used them. Then, quite the opposite, I got shot from a far hill - behind and to the left - that I guarantee would have had me spinning around blind before. Instead, I knew exactly where the guy was. I flanked and killed him for his effort. Again, I'm not saying that you can't do this with any headphones, but there is a significant difference in my ability to immediately identify the threat and react.
Regarding music, this is why I actually went with the 598's over my alternative choices. The 598's still have enough bass to make most genres sound good. I'm a metalhead, so bass isn't the most important thing to me... but a little goes a long way. They're the best sounding headphones for music I've ever used, but I'll fully admit I haven't gone deeper down the rabbit hole yet. That'll be another review somewhere far in the future.
•• Open-backed or Close-backed Headphones... wait, what? ••
The HD 598's are open-backed headphones. These are undeniably better for FPS gaming. This concept allows for a more robust sound-stage; most would argue music as well. The catch is, if you're playing something very loud, sound will bleed out, meaning others in your immediate area can hear it. Similarly, you can hear things from the outside world more easily. So if you're in a noisy environment, and you NEED utter focus... open-backed might not be the perfect solution. This hasn't been a problem for me. I think it's one of those perfectionist categories where it does make a difference but doesn't realistically cause a problem in most scenarios. For example, my wife hasn't complained when she's literally right beside me watching TV, and I haven't had a problem blocking out other general sounds with the 598's.
Closed-backed are the opposite. They are true "noise-cancelling" headphones. They cup your ears, and the world around you disappears. These are best for immersion and total solitary listening of music. The reason they're not great for FPS gaming is because you're basically in a cave by yourself. What happens when loud sounds occur inside of a cave? They blend, echo, and it's extremely difficult to pinpoint the origin. Not the best concept for gaming.
•• Aesthetic, Quality & Fit ••
The HD 598's feel fairly light. Some would consider this cheap, but considering my wife's PC 350's have lasted 4+ years and are of similar feel... I'm confident the 598's are well-made. The ear pads are velour, whereas the PC 350's have this awful faux leather that cracks and gets EVERYWHERE. Seriously, 4-5 years later, and I'm still finding pieces of black crap everywhere. That was a similar problem with my G35's. The velour will never do that. It's also comfy, but it picks up animal hair like crazy. It's not a huge problem that causes daily consternation, just a minor nitpick.
The fit is something that will be a source of argumentation. Sennheiser definitely makes "huggy" headphones. For some head shapes, this may feel vice-like at first. You can combat this by over-sizing the fit so that they're more loose on the head. Wearing a hat to oversize it helps, as it lessens the pressure. They definitely break in over time. Personally, I was never close to pain wearing them, and I wear them 4-8 hours daily. I wear them with glasses, and they feel like a dream compared to my G35's. Those things literally crushed and hurt my head. I've never had a headache or even close to pain from my glasses being pushed in by the 598's. I have a reasonably small head (5'7, 145lbs), but I like to wear them tight so that no sound escapes.
•• Note on Impedance/OHM ••
The more powerful your headphones are, the more likely they require an amp. The HD 598's have a rating of 50 ohm. Gaming headphones tend to have less. However, my new Z270-A Prime motherboard's onboard sound is able to drive headphones capable of up to 600 ohm. That should indicate that most motherboards from this decade are easily able to power HD 598's. You shouldn't need an additional sound card or amplifier of any kind.
•• Alternatives & Attachable Microphones ••
First, an example of a good pair of headphones that are allegedly awful for gaming. These are a top seller from Audiotechnica, an extremely good brand: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Headphones . They're supposed to have a great mix for music but have a severely limited soundstage that makes picking out directions just plain awful. Surprise, surprise - they're close backed!
On the opposite end, Audio-Technica makes these, which are known as some of the best budget gaming headphones in the world:
Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X . They hit all my thumbs up categories. Extreme sound-stage, check. Lack of bass, check. Open-back, check! The catch is that they apparently have a poor mix and sound mediocre when it comes to music.
These are supposed to be the best of both worlds next to the HD 598's: Audio Technica ATH-AD900X Open-Back Audiophile Headphones . They are supposed to have a better music mix with the best soundstage money can buy. So why I didn't I go with these over the 598's? Two reasons. 1) They have even less bass, apparently. The HD 598's still have some bass and still sound good musically. 2) The style of the wing-band is supposed to be really irritating for certain head types. There's a way to make them less annoying, including pinning the wings onto the band with an elastic band... but I didn't want to buy headphones that I may or may not hate the fit of. Also, be really careful about the name. The AD900X is open-backed, and the AD900 is closed-backed. Not the same experience.
Those are the highest rated for the price. I could go on and on, but those were the ones I considered deeply. For further consideration, I'll point you to reddit. The subreddit /r/headphones has a "gaming headphones" breakdown on the sidebar. One guy tested something like 40 well-known headphones and concluded that the 700x and HD 598 are among the best for competitive gaming.
Update 01/31/2018: More options! I'd heard great things about the Philips SHP9500 that I had to try them. I found them for $75 on a Best Buy Christmas sale. Shop around! They are incredibly comfortable because they sit nice and loose on the head. They're excellent for larger heads, but they're great for small heads like mine, too. The sound quality is almost as good as the HD 598's, which was quite surprising to me. I've tested them extensively on PUBG, Fortnite, and Overwatch. The sound stage is slightly smaller than 598's, but we're talking a marginal difference. You could play competitively with them without issue. I literally bought them to try out of interest. They're now my wife's go-to headset, replacing her aging Sennheiser PC 350's.
The other good news is, you can pair the SHP with the V-MODA BoomPro Gaming VOiP Headset Headphone Mic . It fits directly into the jack on the earphone.
There's one issue. They're so open that they tend to bleed sound loudly, meaning people will hear what you're listening to. You can also hear people around you much more clearly. This is a pro-con depending on how much traffic you have around your gaming area.
•• Mics & Attachable Microphones ••
For plug and play, I heartily recommend something along the lines of the Blue Microphones Snowball iCE Condenser Microphone, Cardioid . I, myself, have a full Blue Yeti setup, but the Snowball and Snowflake are good, cheaper options for desk-mounted microphones.
On the flip side, you can actually buy microphones that will attach to your headphones. Something cheaper like the V-MODA BoomPro Gaming VOiP Headset Headphone Mic or the more well-known Antlion Audio ModMic Attachable Boom Microphone - Noise Cancelling with Mute Switch . I own a Vmoda Boom (cost about $36), and they sound excellent for the price -- highly recommended for budget-mid level purchases if your headset supports it. The mic cable is steelflex, meaning you can adjust its positioning an innumerable amount of times, and it'll stay strong. If you're using Discord or something similar, you may have to play with the "automatic noise detection" in order to stop it from cutting out. It's not an indictment on the quality of the mic. Even expensive condenser mics sometimes have trouble with Discord's automatic settings; my Yeti was pain before I set it manually.
Please keep in mind, I don't know if those attachable mics work out of the box with the HD 598. I'm trying to provide a concept for you to learn! :)
•• Conclusion ••
I went with the HD 598's because they're the best of both worlds: they're good for music, and they're so so so great for FPS gaming. If you followed me all this way, I sincerely hope you learned something. It took me quite a bit of research. If you're not convinced or you want to do your own research, many reviews across tons of websites will corroborate that the 598's and AD900X's are the crem de la crem, particularly for under $200.
Happy murder-spreeing. I hope you find the enemies you were looking for.
Update 07/07/2017:
•• Quick Note On Hyperx Cloud 2's ••
The Cloud 2's are actually a Kingston re-branding of the TAKSTAR PRO-80 . All they really added was a microphone. The lesson is this: if you take an excellent game-tested pair of headphones and add a mic, you're gonna have a good time. The Cloud 2's are a decent all-inclusive solution compared to their competition, but they're still objectively meh compared to cans like ATH-700X's or HD 598's. If you slapped a mic on those, suddenly you'd have a new "best gaming headset."
Update 06/02/2018:
Still absolutely love these. The earpads look and feel brand new. There's no wear on the top band, which wore out CRAZY fast on my G35's. I even hit the top 0th percentile for KDR and Winrate in Fortnite. There isn't AS distinctive of a sound advantage in that game; however, I'd still prefer to have the best :) Also, really looking forward to using them in Battlefield 5.
Reviewed in Canada on June 5, 2017
•• Intro ••
This is going to be a fairly large review encompassing many years of trial and error. If you don't want my background or to understand why I ultimately chose the 598's, skip to "ENTER THE HD 598's." Otherwise, I'll cover my headphone background, whether gaming headsets are "good enough," what sound-stage is and why it matters, and a quick comparison of some alternatives - budget and otherwise. Lastly, I'll talk about the HD 598's musical quality, but I specifically purchased these headphones with PC gaming in mind.
•• You don't need to be an audiophile to appreciate the difference ••
Sound quality is one of those often-overlooked areas that can DRAMATICALLY improve your gaming performance. Naturally, this depends on the type of game you're playing. If you like RTS's or MMO's, directional sound won't have a huge impact on performance. I mean, it'll sound BETTER, but it won't typically be the difference between your living or dying. A first person shooter, on the other hand, is where sound can make a tremendous difference. Picking up footsteps vs not picking up footsteps. Getting shot from out of nowhere and then immediately identifying the source based on sound alone. These are the things we pay for, and these are the reasons why the Sennheiser HD 598's are awesome.
•• My headphone & gaming background ••
I've been playing FPS games for over 16 years now. I was never a big CS head, but I've played damn near everything from Quake and Unreal, to almost every iteration of Battlefield and Call of Duty. More recently, I've been playing Titanfall 2 and Overwatch. That said, I specifically bought the HD 598's because I've started streaming Playerunknown's Battlegrounds. Playerunknown's is a perfect example of a game that benefits MASSIVELY from sound-superiority. Because you die so quickly and can't instantly respawn, knowing the direction of your enemies is crucial.
I come from a long line of cheap headphones. I remember playing WoW probably 10 years ago with a $3 microphone/headset from China. Oh, how times have changed. From there, I upgraded to a Logitech G35, which was probably $130 at the time. When I put those on for the first time playing Battlefield 3, I was like, "Holy crap! Such immersion, much wow! Is this what I've been missing?!" The problem is, that feeling of immersion can actually overwhelm and muddy the senses as opposed to delivering crisp, concise, directional information. Bass, in particular, might put you right in the middle of the action... but is it helping you e-murder people to your FULL potential? Not really.
There are plenty of games where you can puzzle things out, but more often than not, I'd be slightly confused. Is he left, right, or literally all around me? The problem with my G35's was that in stereo mode, it was too quiet. In 7.1 mode, it was louder, but I couldn't tell where the heck anything was coming from. I mean, it gave me enough info to guess some times, but I wanted to know if there was a better way.
•• Are Gaming Headsets Good Enough? ••
Gaming headsets are immensely popular nowadays. By gaming headsets, I mean any headphones that come with a microphone attached. They tend to be heavily marketed towards gamers and have flashy aesthetics that do nothing for gameplay. I dove into Hearthstone for awhile, and I noticed that my most-watched streamers had things like Corsair, Hyperx Cloud 2's, or Logitech anythings. Many of my friends have these as well. I consider these "good enough" for specific game genres that are lacking in split second decision making based on sound. Obviously, it's great having a mic AND headphones packaged into one item. However, those established companies have one thing in common: they sell you a mediocre mic and a mediocre headphone... and they charge you a premium. I'm not saying you NEED great headphones. If you go from a $5 mic to a gaming headset, you're going to be thrilled with the difference. But there are several levels above that, and that's what I'm here to tell you about.
Back to Playerunknown's and other shooters, I noticed most of my favourite streamers invested in heavy duty headphones. MrGrimmmz, arguably a top 10 Playerunknown's player, uses Sennheiser HD700's, which sell for something insane like $700-1200. I firmly believe that you can pay MUCH less. Once you start going over $150-200 for headphones, you're going to suffer diminishing returns in effectiveness. They might sound better, but they may not grant you more accurate directional data.
•• So what provides the most accurate directional data? Sound stage? What the heck is that? ••
Sound-stage is an interesting concept in headphones. Basically, imagine you're at a small-ish concert. Your favourite band is playing. The singer is in one location, the guitarist another, the bassist and drummer another still. You close your eyes. In your mind, there is a virtual stage that approximates their proper locations, granting a musical depth that you may not have had simply listening to an album with $10 ear buds.
This is sound-stage. It's a "virtual environment." Certain headphones have much broader "virtual stages" than others. Now, think about playing a shooter game. Think about the sound of gunfire. It's harsh, cacophonous . Bullets aren't BOOMING and BASSY -- unless you're firing a cannon, maybe. They're loud and SHARP. These require an enhanced treble and mid-range that don't get squashed out by too much bass. What we're talking about here is finding a perfect balance.
•• Enter the HD 598's ••
The 598's are celebrated as having some of the best "balance" of sound-stage and bass among audiophiles and gamers alike. I can absolutely confirm this. They're typically compared to their counterparts the HD 558's. They're quite similar, but the 558's have more bass, which is why the 598's tend to be picked for gaming.
Gaming is a treat. It's night and day from my G35's. Locations are accurate, sounds are crisp. I noticed a tremendous difference in my close-range gameplay the very first day I used them. Then, quite the opposite, I got shot from a far hill - behind and to the left - that I guarantee would have had me spinning around blind before. Instead, I knew exactly where the guy was. I flanked and killed him for his effort. Again, I'm not saying that you can't do this with any headphones, but there is a significant difference in my ability to immediately identify the threat and react.
Regarding music, this is why I actually went with the 598's over my alternative choices. The 598's still have enough bass to make most genres sound good. I'm a metalhead, so bass isn't the most important thing to me... but a little goes a long way. They're the best sounding headphones for music I've ever used, but I'll fully admit I haven't gone deeper down the rabbit hole yet. That'll be another review somewhere far in the future.
•• Open-backed or Close-backed Headphones... wait, what? ••
The HD 598's are open-backed headphones. These are undeniably better for FPS gaming. This concept allows for a more robust sound-stage; most would argue music as well. The catch is, if you're playing something very loud, sound will bleed out, meaning others in your immediate area can hear it. Similarly, you can hear things from the outside world more easily. So if you're in a noisy environment, and you NEED utter focus... open-backed might not be the perfect solution. This hasn't been a problem for me. I think it's one of those perfectionist categories where it does make a difference but doesn't realistically cause a problem in most scenarios. For example, my wife hasn't complained when she's literally right beside me watching TV, and I haven't had a problem blocking out other general sounds with the 598's.
Closed-backed are the opposite. They are true "noise-cancelling" headphones. They cup your ears, and the world around you disappears. These are best for immersion and total solitary listening of music. The reason they're not great for FPS gaming is because you're basically in a cave by yourself. What happens when loud sounds occur inside of a cave? They blend, echo, and it's extremely difficult to pinpoint the origin. Not the best concept for gaming.
•• Aesthetic, Quality & Fit ••
The HD 598's feel fairly light. Some would consider this cheap, but considering my wife's PC 350's have lasted 4+ years and are of similar feel... I'm confident the 598's are well-made. The ear pads are velour, whereas the PC 350's have this awful faux leather that cracks and gets EVERYWHERE. Seriously, 4-5 years later, and I'm still finding pieces of black crap everywhere. That was a similar problem with my G35's. The velour will never do that. It's also comfy, but it picks up animal hair like crazy. It's not a huge problem that causes daily consternation, just a minor nitpick.
The fit is something that will be a source of argumentation. Sennheiser definitely makes "huggy" headphones. For some head shapes, this may feel vice-like at first. You can combat this by over-sizing the fit so that they're more loose on the head. Wearing a hat to oversize it helps, as it lessens the pressure. They definitely break in over time. Personally, I was never close to pain wearing them, and I wear them 4-8 hours daily. I wear them with glasses, and they feel like a dream compared to my G35's. Those things literally crushed and hurt my head. I've never had a headache or even close to pain from my glasses being pushed in by the 598's. I have a reasonably small head (5'7, 145lbs), but I like to wear them tight so that no sound escapes.
•• Note on Impedance/OHM ••
The more powerful your headphones are, the more likely they require an amp. The HD 598's have a rating of 50 ohm. Gaming headphones tend to have less. However, my new Z270-A Prime motherboard's onboard sound is able to drive headphones capable of up to 600 ohm. That should indicate that most motherboards from this decade are easily able to power HD 598's. You shouldn't need an additional sound card or amplifier of any kind.
•• Alternatives & Attachable Microphones ••
First, an example of a good pair of headphones that are allegedly awful for gaming. These are a top seller from Audiotechnica, an extremely good brand: [[ASIN:B00HVLUR86 Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Headphones]]. They're supposed to have a great mix for music but have a severely limited soundstage that makes picking out directions just plain awful. Surprise, surprise - they're close backed!
On the opposite end, Audio-Technica makes these, which are known as some of the best budget gaming headphones in the world:
[[ASIN:B009S332TQ Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X]]. They hit all my thumbs up categories. Extreme sound-stage, check. Lack of bass, check. Open-back, check! The catch is that they apparently have a poor mix and sound mediocre when it comes to music.
These are supposed to be the best of both worlds next to the HD 598's: [[ASIN:B009S331VU Audio Technica ATH-AD900X Open-Back Audiophile Headphones]]. They are supposed to have a better music mix with the best soundstage money can buy. So why I didn't I go with these over the 598's? Two reasons. 1) They have even less bass, apparently. The HD 598's still have some bass and still sound good musically. 2) The style of the wing-band is supposed to be really irritating for certain head types. There's a way to make them less annoying, including pinning the wings onto the band with an elastic band... but I didn't want to buy headphones that I may or may not hate the fit of. Also, be really careful about the name. The AD900X is open-backed, and the AD900 is closed-backed. Not the same experience.
Those are the highest rated for the price. I could go on and on, but those were the ones I considered deeply. For further consideration, I'll point you to reddit. The subreddit /r/headphones has a "gaming headphones" breakdown on the sidebar. One guy tested something like 40 well-known headphones and concluded that the 700x and HD 598 are among the best for competitive gaming.
Update 01/31/2018: More options! I'd heard great things about the [[ASIN:B00ENMK1DW Philips SHP9500]] that I had to try them. I found them for $75 on a Best Buy Christmas sale. Shop around! They are incredibly comfortable because they sit nice and loose on the head. They're excellent for larger heads, but they're great for small heads like mine, too. The sound quality is almost as good as the HD 598's, which was quite surprising to me. I've tested them extensively on PUBG, Fortnite, and Overwatch. The sound stage is slightly smaller than 598's, but we're talking a marginal difference. You could play competitively with them without issue. I literally bought them to try out of interest. They're now my wife's go-to headset, replacing her aging Sennheiser PC 350's.
The other good news is, you can pair the SHP with the [[ASIN:B00BJ17WKK V-MODA BoomPro Gaming VOiP Headset Headphone Mic]]. It fits directly into the jack on the earphone.
There's one issue. They're so open that they tend to bleed sound loudly, meaning people will hear what you're listening to. You can also hear people around you much more clearly. This is a pro-con depending on how much traffic you have around your gaming area.
•• Mics & Attachable Microphones ••
For plug and play, I heartily recommend something along the lines of the [[ASIN:B006DIA77E Blue Microphones Snowball iCE Condenser Microphone, Cardioid]]. I, myself, have a full Blue Yeti setup, but the Snowball and Snowflake are good, cheaper options for desk-mounted microphones.
On the flip side, you can actually buy microphones that will attach to your headphones. Something cheaper like the [[ASIN:B00BJ17WKK V-MODA BoomPro Gaming VOiP Headset Headphone Mic]] or the more well-known [[ASIN:B00R98JVVU Antlion Audio ModMic Attachable Boom Microphone - Noise Cancelling with Mute Switch]]. I own a Vmoda Boom (cost about $36), and they sound excellent for the price -- highly recommended for budget-mid level purchases if your headset supports it. The mic cable is steelflex, meaning you can adjust its positioning an innumerable amount of times, and it'll stay strong. If you're using Discord or something similar, you may have to play with the "automatic noise detection" in order to stop it from cutting out. It's not an indictment on the quality of the mic. Even expensive condenser mics sometimes have trouble with Discord's automatic settings; my Yeti was pain before I set it manually.
Please keep in mind, I don't know if those attachable mics work out of the box with the HD 598. I'm trying to provide a concept for you to learn! :)
•• Conclusion ••
I went with the HD 598's because they're the best of both worlds: they're good for music, and they're so so so great for FPS gaming. If you followed me all this way, I sincerely hope you learned something. It took me quite a bit of research. If you're not convinced or you want to do your own research, many reviews across tons of websites will corroborate that the 598's and AD900X's are the crem de la crem, particularly for under $200.
Happy murder-spreeing. I hope you find the enemies you were looking for.
Update 07/07/2017:
•• Quick Note On Hyperx Cloud 2's ••
The Cloud 2's are actually a Kingston re-branding of the [[ASIN:B00MIH4QGW TAKSTAR PRO-80]]. All they really added was a microphone. The lesson is this: if you take an excellent game-tested pair of headphones and add a mic, you're gonna have a good time. The Cloud 2's are a decent all-inclusive solution compared to their competition, but they're still objectively meh compared to cans like ATH-700X's or HD 598's. If you slapped a mic on those, suddenly you'd have a new "best gaming headset."
Update 06/02/2018:
Still absolutely love these. The earpads look and feel brand new. There's no wear on the top band, which wore out CRAZY fast on my G35's. I even hit the top 0th percentile for KDR and Winrate in Fortnite. There isn't AS distinctive of a sound advantage in that game; however, I'd still prefer to have the best :) Also, really looking forward to using them in Battlefield 5.
Los Sennheiser HD 598 son sofisticados y sobrios, una combinación retro con toques modernos en donde la mayor parte del marco de plástico está envuelto en cuero artificial con acentos negro brillante.
Los auriculares también incorporan el mismo acabado negro con acentos brillantes, Un par de almohadillas de aspecto aterciopelado, grandes y de color negro, completan su aspecto retro.
Se cuentan con dos accesorios de extensión de plástico, escondidos en el marco de los auriculares, estos ayudan a encajarlos cómodamente a la cabeza. Sennheiser también añade un pequeño eje a la base de cada auricular para que puedas ajustarlo según las distintas formas de la cabeza.
Cabe recalcar que Los HD 598 no están hechos para viajar, en estos audífonos no encontrarás articulaciones plegables y el paquete no incluye estuche para guardarlos así que recomiendo un buen sitio sonde puedan ser almacenados.
Los Sennheiser HD 598, cuentan con un solo puerto, localizado en el auricular izquierdo: se trata de una pequeña entrada plateada, forrada en cromo, diseñada para ser utilizada con el cable de audio incluido en el mismo paquete de los auriculares.
El interior de los auriculares se encuentra forrado con una malla negra y en el interior también encontrarás un pequeño transductor triangular cuya localización es clave para la tecnología E.A.R de Sennheiser (Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement o refinamiento acústico ergonómico), la cual es capaz de configurar el ángulo del transductor hasta situarlo en la posición auditiva óptima.
Comodidad:
Los Sennheiser HD 598 son cómodos, tan cómodos como una cama de lujo, tienen una forma suave pero firme de acomodarse sobre la cabeza y el oído que incluso después de cuatro horas de uso, uno no siente fatiga. Otro punto a considerar es el peso, gracias a su marco de plástico, los auriculares pesan relativamente poco, alrededor de 270 gramos.
El Cable:
Los HD 598 vienen con un par de cables de audio, uno de 305 centímetros y otro de 102 cm. los cuales terminan con un enchufe de audio de 6,3 mm, perfectos para ser enchufados a un amplificador para auriculares o a un conversor de señal digital a analógica (DAC o CDA). La parte del cable que se encaja al puerto auditivo de los auriculares tiene un mecanismo de cierre, lo cual previene la posibilidad de que el cable sea arrancado de su enchufe.
Para todos aquellos que no creen necesitar un conversor de señal digital a analógica o bien un amplificador propio – o en el caso de que no tengan presupuesto suficiente – Sennheiser sabiamente ha incluido un adaptador de 3,5 mm en el paquete.
Rendimiento:
Estos audífonos son de diseño abierto, lo que significa que hay un espacio por el que el aire puede ingresar alrededor de los auriculares. Esto es una gran característica ya que este tipo de auriculares proporcionan menos resonancia y más fidelidad de audio, son capaces de aportar un sonido más natural comparados con los auriculares de diseño cerrado. Combinado con la tecnología E.A.R de la compañía y los drivers de neodimio de 40 mm, los HD 598 tienen una calidad de audio bien equilibrada.
Los Sennheiser HD 598 proporcionan un mayor volumen y bajos más consistentes y profundos que otros modelos. Si uno escucha Jazz, éste suena cálido y ofrece una buena separación entre los distintos instrumentos, uno es capaz de distinguirlos por separado. Gracias a su espacioso paisaje sonoro, no hay ningún problema al desviar la atención de un prominente sax hasta el suave sonido metálico pero consistente de los platillos.
Los solos suenan detallados y melodiosos, y las voces aparecen cálidas y dulces. Quizás en algunos instrumentos de cuerda como los violines requieren más detalle, especialmente cuando sólo aparecen como música de fondo. Y a pesar de que la presentación de la música es un poco densa, en general su calidad de sonido es excelente.
La forma de manejo de los bajos en los Sennheiser HD 598 es buena, escuchando música como Metal, Rock, Progresivo y música con un alto impacto de bajos puedo decir que éstos suenan profundos sin sonar abrumadores, dan el espacio protagonismo necesarios a los demás instrumentos, dejando un bajo no tan vigorizado que aporta balance perfecto con los tonos agudos. Es un sonido más acercado a un bajo natural, esto permite escuchar la música con una precisión más acercada al formato de origen.
Conclusión:
Los Sennheiser HD 598 son unos audífonos que proporcionan un nivel de rendimiento más que adecuado incluso para los audiófilos más meticulosos, especialmente porque hablamos de un par de auriculares de gama media con una de las mejores relaciones calidad - precio del mercado.
En este caso no hablamos sólo de calidad, su diseño también destaca. Con los Sennheiser HD 598 los amantes de la música podemos disfrutar de nuestras canciones favoritas con unos auriculares capaces de aportar un sonido profundo y rico en matices.
音楽を聞けば聞くほど音質良くなってる気がする
開封後に聞いた時は音が少し籠って聞こえてた
嫌味が無くて最高な音質
Queste cuffie sono aperte quindi prima di comprarle pensate a dove e come volete utilizzarle. Essendo aperte non hanno isolamento da e per l'esterno (se non in misura minima) quindi non possono essere utilizzate in luoghi rumorosi (non vanno bene per ascoltare la musica in giro). Il fatto che siano aperte sacrifica un po' l'immersività a favore di suoni più naturali e maggiormente fedeli dal punto di vista della distanza della fonte del suono (es. per i videogiocatori: con queste cuffie riuscirete a sentire l'effettiva distanza che vi separa dal rumore dei passi del nemico, mentre con delle cuffie chiuse lo avreste sentito più vicino a voi di quanto in realtà non fosse). Inserisco qui questa caratteristica perchè non è nè un difetto nè un pregio, se non a seconda dell'uso specifico che ognuno ne deve fare.
Queste cuffie per essere sfruttate davvero devono necessariamente essere accompagnate da una scheda audio dedicata (personalmente uso la Creative soundblaster Z) perchè sarebbero sprecate per una scheda audio integrata. Parimenti non sono l'ideale per l'utilizzo col cellulare, in quanto la loro impedenza abbastanza elevata non riuscirebbe ad essere superata dal telefono, e quindi si perderebbero molte frequenze della traccia audio o del film (l'impedenza è la resistenza fisica che le cuffie oppongono al suono, più è alta e più l'amplificatore dovrà essere potente, dando però una maggiore fedeltà al suono finale).
PRO
- il suono è veramente equilibrato e mai sbilanciato verso i bassi, i quali forse sono il "Punto debole" di queste cuffie, com'è tipico per le cuffie Sennheiser.
- sono leggerissime e davvero comode anche per l'uso prolungato.
- esteticamente appaganti e costruite con materiali di qualità.
CONTRO
- il cavo con il jack da 3,5 mm è davvero corto ed obbliga a utilizzare quello, decisamente più lungo (2m direi) con il jack da 6mm e riduttore (tutto compreso nella scatola).
- I bassi che non sono particolarmente profondi, ma le cuffie recuperano sugli alti.
Entsprechend habe ich mich insgesamt knapp 10 Stunden in diversen Foren mit Headphones beschäftigt. Ich wollte es in erster Linie für FPS-Games verwenden. Dort ist mir ein neutraler Sound und eine große Soundstage wichtig. Insofern war die Wahl relativ schnell auf etwa vier verschiedene, offene Kopfhörer eingeschränkt. Entschieden habe ich mich schlussendlich für diese, da sie wohl einen äußerst neutralen Sound, eine super Soundstage und nicht zu viel Bass haben sollen.
Nach ein paar Stunden Tests mit diverser Musik und einigen Runden Battlefield, sowie einigen Spielereien mit der Konfiguration meiner Asus Xonar DG kann ich nun mit Gewissheit sagen: Der Sound ist absolut überragend, so etwas habe ich - der vorher nie Kopfhörer in dieser Preisregion hatte - nicht gehört. Die Musik ist super klar, ich höre Geräusche, die ich vorher nie gehört habe. Der Bass ist auch bei weitem nicht so lasch, wie man es durch manche Kommentare hier annehmen könnte. Ich bin nicht der älteste mit 28 Jahren, hatte aber schon vor zehn Jahren einen Hörsturz. Daher war mir maximaler Bass auch nicht wichtig, es wummst aber dennoch, wenn man die Konfiguration entsprechend neutral hält.
Für mein Primärziel - FPS-Games - ist der Kopfhörer einfach perfekt. Die Echtheit der Atmosphäre übertrifft sogar meine 5.1 Teufel-Anlage um Längen. Die Soundstage ist derart klar, dass ich es fast nicht gewohnt bin, wie gut ich den Standort von Gegner bestimmen kann.
Darüber hinaus: Verarbeitung wirkt sehr gut, Geruch ist sehr angenehm (was nicht selbstverständlich ist) und der Tragekomfort ist von Anfang an phänomenal.
Sehe nicht, was in irgendeiner Weise dagegen spricht, sich diese Kopfhörer zu holen. Große Klasse!