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Showing 1 of 1509 conversations about:
Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee Headphones
ptaaty
10
Jan 31, 2019
My first impressions are that this headphone shouldn't exist. It seems too good for the price. I have the HD6XX, Fidelio X2, L1, L2. Massdrop EDC3, Shure E4. So far I've done a bit of back and forth with the HD6XX and the HD58X out of a Magni 3. I plan to put more of a review together after living with them...but initially these "fix" some of my minor issues with the HD6XX without losing hardly anything I love about them. Number 1, they are just more dynamic, the bass has more of a slam, clearly go lower in a more linear fashion while leaning out the slightly fat mid bass. Treble has more energy - I am not hearing grain (X2 was uneven here with grain in my mind), adding a bit more air, adding a bit more impact and openness. This combo of slight V in contrast to the upper mid forward of HD6XX gets a bit towards the speaker sound of the X2. I need more time, but this might be with a tradeoff of a slight reduction in the part I love of the HD6XX - that near liquid cohesion/smoothness of tonality of upper mids into treble. These are close to my perfect do everything open back....seems almost an impossible thing from Sennheiser at $150. The real tests will be doing some extended time between LCD2C and HD58X and coming back to the HD6XX after I give the HD58X week on my head. The HE-560 and X2 were great for me until I picked off a couple issues, then I couldn't unhear them (became obtrusive). HD6XX might have left me wanting, sometimes a bit missing an edge/bass/slam...but never have offended me with any source material.
(Edited)
PeteMtl
444
Jan 31, 2019
ptaatyI think your initial comments are really up to the point. The HD58X is a great headphone, at a very unbelieveable price point for its quality. I has better flatter deep extended bass and slightly clearer sparklier sound in the treble area. The only significative downside in my opinion, and you covered it well, is the midrange. It is slightly recessed in the 2-4 kHz range and less natural sounding than the HD650/6XX. Personally I find the mids of the HD650/6XX unbeaten at any price point (I haven’t listen to the Orpheus or other ultra high end Senns though). The HD650/6XX has those sweet smooth natural mids that are are unrivalled by the HD58x or by any other headphone in my opinion. That said, I would never replace my HD6XX by the HD58x. At the same time for some music like EDM or other dynamic music I really enjoy the HD58x better. At a combined price of 350$, there is no reason not to own and keep both. That is what I have done. And the crazy thing is that I wasn't too hot about the HD58x when I received it (in the first batch ever by Massdrop). If you look at my initial reviews I wasn’t sold at their sound quality, although I initially recognized that they weren't a bad headphone. They grew on me after a few months and now I like them as much as my HD6xx, but for their own qualities, which are different from the relative qualities of the HD6xx.
(Edited)
ptaaty
10
Feb 2, 2019
PeteMtlI don't think they are recessed in the midrange, the HD6XX/650 is just a bit forward there IMO. I think the HD58X is an overall more balanced signature, just a bit more on top and definitely a more solid bottom octave and a half (<80Hz). That said, I do think the HD6XX has a bit smoother / higher quality mids, just they are overemphasized a touch and can make other cans sound a bit lacking at first listen. It can be a bit tough to evaluate, if you are focused on vocal/mids, added energy outside that area can detract/color the experience, so I try to use something like Norah Jones or Mark Knopfler during a near vocals only sections. Isolating like this IMO closed the gap considerably on mids between HD6XX and HD58X. That said, at the end I go with the primary edge for HD 6XX in the mids being due to slight emphasis, combined with a bit more refinement.
The HD6XX/650 are legendary, and awesome, except IMO the bottom end is weak the weak point - it aligns with the general "audiophile" sound signature, which can be anemic compared with speakers, live music, or the target Harmon curve. IMO HD58X significantly closes this weak point - that can be critical for a lot of the music I listen to. That said, I can also see the perspective where you are squeezing out the last details or want the best possible liquid midrange that you would lean HD6XX.
At this point (for me), the significant improvement in the bottom end outweighs the very minor (to me) in liquid midrange. Minor bonus - actually usable on a smart phone as well. If I could have only 1 it would be the HD58X and I would spend more to do it. That said, the HD6XX/650 has staying power for a reason - so I will be holding on to both for the foreseeable future, it wouldn't surprise me if in 6 months I went back.
PeteMtl
444
Feb 2, 2019
ptaatyMaybe you are right on the HD650/6XX overemphasis of the mids, maybe not, I don’t know. But what I know is that the HD650/6XX mids in my opinion sound more natural, more balanced, more sweet, and gives me more goose bumps on many songs.
In the same league as the singers you suggest to try out the headphones, try Charlotte Cardin’s jazzy/techno/soul sounding music and vocals with the HD650/6XX and compare them with the HD58x. She is an anthor-composer-singer from my Country and City, a rising star in my opinion, she is just starting in the business, not even a full album released yet, but many songs available on an EP and on Spotify/Apple music/Tidal/Deezer .
At the end it’s a question of preference. I love both headphones but I prefer the HD650/6XX with most jazz, vocals, soul, even rock. I prefer the HD58X with dance music, EDM, some grand symphonic ensembles, and most music that benefit from the better extended sub bass and maybe slightly sparkling treble. I also own a pair of HD600 and also like them, but less than both the HD650/6XX and HD58X. More natural mids maybe, but too much lacking bass to truly enjoying them most of the time compared to the two others. I use the HD600 in the lounge when I want to relax, concentrate at the details of music and don’t care for a better bass...I respect and understand your preference towards the HD58x, but I tend to disagree when you say that it has a more balanced mids section. But overall I agree more than I disagree on your overall appreciation of both headphones...
(Edited)
raansire7
1507
Feb 7, 2019
ptaatyHow do you like the Magni 3? I own a Vali 2 fed by a Mimby and am curious at how the Magni 3 sounds. The Vali 2 does sound fantastic to my ears, and has nothing to envy from my Asgard 2. God bless!
ptaaty
10
Feb 8, 2019
raansire7I like it a lot, leaves nothing / no want for more. Lots of power, never a question if more headroom would help, measures very well pretty much across the board (better than all/nearly all from Schitt), yet $100. It's a solid state obviously - it won't really "synergize" in somehow altering the sound. I don't have tons of amp experience, but it performed a fair bit better even at mid volume than a Magni 2U I tried (that was....edgy? a bit). Pre-outs and a gain switch make it fairly flexible. Not for the balanced crowd. I have literally no desire to buy another solid state and can see no need to as I've used it with planers (HE-560 V2), HD6XX and it had lots of headroom.
*edit* forgot to mention one minor (or not) con. Over time it developed some pot adjustment static, sometimes happens sometimes not. From my experience this can be minor/no issue if you aren't constantly on the dial and use higher impedance cans. The lower impedance and more you hit the dial this could be a bigger issue I suppose. Wouldn't trade it in though.
(Edited)
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