Topic: Sennheiser HD-580 headphones

[leegeddy]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=40137&item=5705537966

i just bought a pair from AudioVideoMan on Ebay. excellent service.

i ran a pair of HD570 for about 2 years with Presonus HP-4 headphone amp. the sound was good, but a side by side testing with HD580 revealed some amazing differences.

the transparency is great. the mids are punchier and the bass was smoother.

highly recommended headphones especially with headphone amps.

marc

[Sean Gallemore]

I love mine, too.  That's a great price, I found em on amazon for $162

[George]

Nice price, i picked mine up for about $100 on head-fi and they even came with the box that ships with the HD600's, great headphones all around.  Nothing beats listening to vinyl and a pair of HD580's...very smooth indeed. 

[monochromic]

i too can give a big thumbs up to these cans, had 'em for almost three years now and they still surprise.

and if you're in the market for a headphone amp for the 580's you can't go wrong with a xcanv3 -- http://www.musicalfidelity.com/xcan.html.

[Chuck]

I'm definately sold on the Sennheiser cans. Any of you 580 guys tryed the 595's? I've been able to demo the 580's and was going to get them until I did some reading about the 595's. I can get them for approx. the same cost on eBay. I guess I'll have to find somewhere locally that I can try the 595's...

[Nick Culbreth]

I'm definately sold on the Sennheiser cans. Any of you 580 guys tryed the 595's? I've been able to demo the 580's and was going to get them until I did some reading about the 595's. I can get them for approx. the same cost on eBay. I guess I'll have to find somewhere locally that I can try the 595's...

One thing to keep in mind about the 580s is that they require a decent amp in order to achieve their full potential, without proper amping they're very underwhelming.  From what I've read the HD-595s are more efficient and are probably a better option if you don't plan on adding a dedicated headphone amp.

[Chuck]

With the HD-580's, what headphone amps would you guys recommend? Used is fine too...

[George]

With the HD-580's, what headphone amps would you guys recommend? Used is fine too...

Mmm....tube amp   

Seriously, check out head-fi.org or www.headphone.com for some amps.  I tried the micro stack and it sounded really nice with the Hd-580's, i'm currently using a millet tube amp and the hd580's really sing with it.

[Chuck]

With the HD-580's, what headphone amps would you guys recommend? Used is fine too...

Mmm....tube amp   

Seriously, check out head-fi.org or www.headphone.com for some amps.  I tried the micro stack and it sounded really nice with the Hd-580's, i'm currently using a millet tube amp and the hd580's really sing with it.

Those amps are going to cost me more than the cans. Isn't there a descent cheap alternative?
I see Creek headphone amps cheap on eBay. Are they any good?

[George]

With the HD-580's, what headphone amps would you guys recommend? Used is fine too...

Mmm....tube amp   

Seriously, check out head-fi.org or www.headphone.com for some amps.  I tried the micro stack and it sounded really nice with the Hd-580's, i'm currently using a millet tube amp and the hd580's really sing with it.

Those amps are going to cost me more than the cans. Isn't there a descent cheap alternative?
I see Creek headphone amps cheap on eBay. Are they any good?

Not sure about the Creek stuff but there's quite a thriving market for DIY amps on head-fi that someone could build for you. 

Here's a link on head-fi with some comments and links for affordable amps:

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=149107

[jdawg]

Been reading good stuff on this amp, especially for the price.

http://www.aptecpro.com/Xenos-Prod/xenos-prod-list.html

[George]

Been reading good stuff on this amp, especially for the price.

http://www.aptecpro.com/Xenos-Prod/xenos-prod-list.html

"Designed specially for portable use the X0HA connects to any portable (or fixed) audio source and supports headphones up to 120 ohms."

Hmm, if the ohm thing is true it won't drive the 580's properly. 

[Chuck]

Been reading good stuff on this amp, especially for the price.

http://www.aptecpro.com/Xenos-Prod/xenos-prod-list.html

"Designed specially for portable use the X0HA connects to any portable (or fixed) audio source and supports headphones up to 120 ohms."

Hmm, if the ohm thing is true it won't drive the 580's properly. 

Yes, I saw that spec too.
It seems ridiculous to me that those portable amps are little more than an op-amp a couple resistors, a couple 1/8" jacks and a volume control and they sell for $60 and more. Doesn't someone build a good quality AC/Wallwart powered headphone amp with RCA jacks and a 1/4" headphone out for less than $100? About 17 years ago, I built an NE5532 based headphone amp for the drummer in the band I worked for. It wasn't Audiophile quality, but it was good enough for him to use in performance.

The Go-Vibe, http://members.shaw.ca/storage_2/headsave/index.htm looks good, but again $70 for that thing seems like a rip. If I had the time, I'd built one myself... but who has time? And, why are all these guys in Canada? All these C-Moy single stage amp builders are in Canada... 

[jdawg]

Been reading good stuff on this amp, especially for the price.

http://www.aptecpro.com/Xenos-Prod/xenos-prod-list.html

"Designed specially for portable use the X0HA connects to any portable (or fixed) audio source and supports headphones up to 120 ohms."

Hmm, if the ohm thing is true it won't drive the 580's properly. 

That's only for their lowest priced model. The others go to 300 or higher.

[Chuck]

Been reading good stuff on this amp, especially for the price.

http://www.aptecpro.com/Xenos-Prod/xenos-prod-list.html

"Designed specially for portable use the X0HA connects to any portable (or fixed) audio source and supports headphones up to 120 ohms."

Hmm, if the ohm thing is true it won't drive the 580's properly. 

That's only for their lowest priced model. The others go to 300 or higher.

Thanks for posting that. I didn't look past the first amp on the page.

[Nick Culbreth]

Mmm....tube amp   

Quoted for truth, I think the HD-580 pairs up very well with tube amps.  I powered my 580s with a Musical Fidelity X-can V2 and I was very pleased with the sound after I found the right tubes, though I ended up selling due to the price of the 6DJ8 family tubes.  I'll agree with gloco, do some research on head-fi.org and then keep your eye on their amp sales/trade forum.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

Bumping a really old thread. 

I powered my 580s with a Musical Fidelity X-can V2 and I was very pleased with the sound after I found the right tubes, though I ended up selling due to the price of the 6DJ8 family tubes.

I just bought an xcan V2 for my office, since I live there now.  Do you mind posting which tubes you liked and what you liked about them?

[Nick Culbreth]

Bumping a really old thread. 

I powered my 580s with a Musical Fidelity X-can V2 and I was very pleased with the sound after I found the right tubes, though I ended up selling due to the price of the 6DJ8 family tubes.

I just bought an xcan V2 for my office, since I live there now.  Do you mind posting which tubes you liked and what you liked about them?

My favorite tubes with the Sennheisers were Amperex A-Frame 6DJ8s, followed very closely by Amperex Bugle Boy 6DJ8s.  Both tubes had a warmish sound with excellent treble clarity which really shined with the somewhat subdued Sennheiser headphones.  Unfortunately both tubes are rare, expensive and the X-Can amp isn't very easy on the tubes.  I thought most of the current production 6DJ8 / 6922 tubes were pretty lackluster, though I suppose the Electro Harmonix 6922 wouldn't be bad in some situations.  I found the tube to be rather dull and lifeless but I suppose in another setup that sort of effect might be desirable.  You might want to try a pair of NOS 61NP tubes, they're old Russian military-issued tubes, but in my setup they sounded pretty good and weren't too expensive.  They won't work in all 6DJ8 / 6922 circuits but they worked fine in the X-Can.  Hope that helps.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

Thanks, that helps alot.

The x-can arrived today and I happened to have the 722 and grados at work with me.  It sounds very nice.  I'm listening to a kate gaffney show I recorded blumleim 414s in spot well ahead of the crowd so it's a really clean recording.  The show sounds very nice and airy though the x-can>SR80 combo. 

A lot of people seem to dislike the grados but I'm liking what I hear so far - but this is my first HP amp.