Last Updated: April 12, 2019 (Refresh Now)
Sennheiser HD 598 Cs Closed Back Headphone
Last Updated: April 12, 2019 (Refresh Now)
8.9
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
999
Old Reviews
352
Unverified
83
Spam Test
PASS
118.11 meters
SIZE
Review Analysis - 564 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
Sound Quality
249headphones, hear, price, audiophile, sound quality
+94%
-6%
" ... If you want accurate sound reproduction these are an excellent choice. ... "
" ... The sound quality of the headphones could be better, but you get used to it pretty quickly. ... "
" ... Excellent sound quality. ... "
" ... Aside from this issue - the sound is excellent. ... "
" ... Not too much base but clear sound. ... "
" ... The sound is already amazing as is, ut i also have this coupled with a Schiit Fulla 2 amp/dac for music, and a Logitech soundblasterX G5 7.1 amp/dac for gaming and these really shine! ... "
" ... I used them on an airplane, and the people sitting directly next to me could not hear my music even though I was playing it fairly loudly. ... "
" ... These sound amazing and the soundstage effect is really great! ... "
Comfort
241comfort, discomfort, cups, fit, periods
+93%
-7%
" ... It is very comfortable, and unlike closed back headphones (I’ve used the audiotechnica mth-50x) my ears don’t get too hot from extended use. ... "
" ... BUILD QUALITY & COMFORT: Don't be discouraged by the word "plastic." ... I don't feel Sennheiser used plastic to be cheap -- at least, that's not the primary reason -- but rather to reduce weight. ... The leather headband is very comfortable, yet also thinner than that of the 280. ... I listened for hours and eventually forgot I was wearing them! ... Unlike many circumaural headphones, these do not rotate 90° or fold inwards. ... "
" ... These are the best sounding, feeling, and most durable pair of headphones I've ever owned. ... "
" ... Sound is excellent for this price range .just so comfortable to wear ... "
" ... Best headphones I've ever owned period. ... I've had a lot of headphones over the years but these take the number 1 spot. ... Their comfortable they sound good and their only 120 bucks. ... "
" ... They isolate well and are comfortable. ... "
" ... Aside from audio sound, it is also very comfortable to wear for long durations (Key note: if you wear glasses/sunglasses these headphones may not seal properly and allow outside sound to bleed in). ... Pros: Great sound, comfortable to wear overall ... "
" ... These around the ear phones are comfortable to wear and do a reasonable job of blocking out external noise. ... Other than that negative, I like the headphones and easily recommend them for general listening. ... Although I may not qualify as an audiophile, I do have a fairly well-tuned ear for music and can get fussy about sound quality. ... "
Headphones
153headphone, sennheiser, closed, best, jack
+90%
-10%
" ... These headphones are really amazing! ... "
" ... best headphones ever! ... "
" ... These sound amazing but are not as comfortable as my m50x closed headphones. ... "
" ... The way that the open backs are designed, they make it sound like the sounds are coming from your surroundings instead of headphones. ... It sounds like the source of the sound is right in the room with you, instead of coming from headphones. ... Closed back: The sound quality is not that bad if you have never used open back headphones. ... "
" ... I can barely hear them so I'm super happy with these headphones. ... "
" ... Best headphones I have ever put on BY FAR! ... "
" ... Overall, that pair of headphones would satisfy any audiophile, saying that as one. ... "
" ... I'd pick the OPEN headphones over these in terms of overall quality. ... "
Price
77worth, range, sound quality, worth every, penny
+95%
-5%
" ... They could have some more, which is something I expected from headphones in that price range. ... "
" ... Worth the price without a doubt. ... "
" ... And the price is superb. ... "
" ... Worth every penny! ... "
" ... Worth every dollar. ... "
" ... I have tried other headphones like this in the same price range and none have compared to this set. ... "
" ... They are all well worth the price. ... "
" ... Fantastic headphones, amongst the best in the price range. ... "
For Running
76best, ever, ever owned, pair of headphones, love these headphones
+97%
-3%
" ... Great for first pair of nice headphones. ... "
" ... They are my new go-to headphones. ... "
" ... The headphones are all around spectacular. ... "
" ... These headphones did not disappoint. ... "
" ... These headphones are amazing. ... "
" ... These are good headphones for long listening sessions. ... "
" ... So if you only want to spend around $200 for some headphones, I would definitely recommend these. ... "
" ... Then these are the headphones for you . ... "
Bass
67mids, highs, punchy, balanced, sound quality
+94%
-6%
" ... These sound amazing and the soundstage effect is really great! ... "
" ... The mids are very clear on these, though the bass isn't quite as punchy as some people might expect. ... "
" ... These are balanced headphones (though they favor mids) and you aren't going to get a ton of bass from these. ... I found the bass had a nice presence and could be heard easily without muddying up the sound. ... "
" ... The sound quality is very good with a lot of bass for a closed back set of headphones. ... "
" ... Pare these with a good amp to get the bass it has. ... "
" ... It isn't too bass-heavy which hurts some games, but it is so clear!! ... "
" ... I really like the Blue AKG, These are Even Better than the 280 Pro HD, Fuller bass, Fuller Overall Sound. ... "
" ... Some have stated the bass is lacking but they have more then my M50x did less sub bass but Mid-bass is there, not overwhelming at all. ... They've done great every genre, the bass brings it for the EDM and Pop yet doesn't over power the tones of piano. ... "
Build Quality
58plastic, material, headband, cups, comfort
+79%
-21%
" ... They're super comfortable to wear - very light without feeling cheap and the velour/soft-touch material feels high quality. ... "
" ... They look durable enough with quality workmanship but - truth in reporting - this is a replacement set and in use just a couple days. ... "
" ... They almost feel like velvet with memory foam underneath. ... "
" ... They're made of tough materials. ... "
" ... The open back design makes these things feel like nothing when you put them on. ... "
" ... I bought these during a black Friday sale for about 80$ USD (A friggin steal) The leather band on the top has cracked, but it isn't noticeable when wearing them. ... "
" ... The earpads are made out a really nice material that isn't sticky like leather. ... They're relatively easy to transport, the detachable cable helps but the earcups don't rotate. ... As far as build quality goes, theyre pretty sturdy and they feel high-end. ... They're somewhat flexible, enough to where they won't break easily but are still comfortable. ... "
" ... I will give an update after maybe a week for the long-term comfort and build quality. ... "
Gaming
50headphones, music, pc, gaming and music, games
+98%
-2%
" ... I've had many Headphones over the years, mainly for gaming, and music while working on the pc. ... "
" ... Bought gaming-specific headphones as I’m transitioning from PS4 to PC gameplay lately. ... Bit of a backwards move to PUBG (some may consider) and loving the game. ... But for gaming, look no further. ... For the price, they’re great and I know I’ll keep them for years as my gaming set up changes, moves, and evolves. ... "
" ... They work great for PC gaming. ... "
" ... I use these for PS4 and PC Gaming and they do a great job. ... "
" ... Large depth of sound with the open back design makes for incredible footstep and gunshot positioning in FPS games. ... "
" ... I don't use these for music, these are my go to gaming headphones. ... If you use hyper Xs, Turtle beaches, or astros its time to buy these and stop buying into gimmicky gaming headphones. ... "
" ... Both headsets are hands down the best headphones I've ever used for gaming. ... "
" ... GREAT FOR PC GAMING. ... "
Cables
49cord, short, sennheiser, replaceable, detachable
+65%
-35%
" ... They come with a long and short cable and sound awesome. ... "
" ... Sennheiser make a longer 3.5mm cord and these would be perfect. ... "
" ... I like having both 1.5mm and 1/4" jack cables and that the cable is removable. ... "
" ... The long cable is fine. ... "
" ... As with most Sennheisers of this price-range, the cable is detachable/replaceable and even comes with a separate 3.5mm cable for portable use (relatively little power is required to drive these, but a portable amp probably wouldn't hurt). ... "
" ... It comes with two cables which seem standard quality but can lock into the headphones. ... I'm waiting to see how the cables fare with rugged use. ... "
" ... The mic cable works as well. ... "
" ... Comes with both jacks. ... "
Frequencies
47highs, bass, eq, vocals, treble
+94%
-6%
" ... I bought them to listen to rock, classical, jazz and folk, and they perform well in all these genres, especially when they're getting enough power. ... "
" ... Excellent for vocals and instrumentals. ... "
" ... Fortunately the EQ does a reasonable job mitigating the issue I had with it. ... "
" ... In a tight and punchy, anymore it would overwhelm the vocals and other parts of the track. ... "
" ... Mids are very present highs aren't too bright and bass is surprisingly punchy. ... "
" ... EQ was not modified, I tested these flat and without running them through an amp [was using them with my computer]. ... These are balanced headphones (though they favor mids) and you aren't going to get a ton of bass from these. ... I also tested these with jazz, rock, folk, classical, and ambient, and they all sounded gorgeous. ... "
" ... But even at higher volumes, the depth, clarity, mids, it's just insane. ... "
" ... They are very clean highs and mids are very balanced and the bass is clean, not overpowered and not muffled. ... "
Noise Cancellation
33isolation, passive, noise cancelling, noise cancellation, noise canceling
+94%
-6%
" ... Well balanced in terms of passive noise cancellation (since its cs version) and quality. ... "
" ... They have great noise cancellation BUT you can still hear what's going on around you. ... "
" ... But at moderate to low listening levels (which is ideal for studying or background work in an office) they sound very clear, balanced, crisp, and even have a decent soundstage with good imaging. ... "
" ... This comes at the cost of portability, style, passive noise isolation, and sound leakage. ... "
" ... These do a pretty good job of keeping out outside noise, not 100%, but close. ... "
" ... + Decent noise isolation ... "
" ... These headphones provide no sound isolation whatsoever. ... "
" ... Sound isolation overall wasn't too bad! ... "
Product Reliability
27years, year, every day, 2 years, hours
+74%
-26%
" ... Number One and I have them for last two years and still working and my son using them every day ... "
" ... I've been using it for several hours every day at the office, and never have had any issues. ... "
" ... I ordered a pair 18 months ago and have used them every day. ... "
" ... Had them 3 years now still amazing hold up to some abuse amazing ... "
" ... 2 years of use later and they're still kicking. ... "
" ... an identical replacement was shipped out on overnight delivery and that set has no problems. ... "
" ... I've been using these for about 8 months now with no complaints. ... "
" ... They sound great to me, & still look brand new even though I've used them every day for several hours for over a year now. ... "
Fit
27head, ears, ear, snug, ear cups
+81%
-19%
" ... Little tight on my head, kinda feel like the guy in the movie Casino when Joe Pesci put his head in a vice. ... "
" ... It fits with all kind of music especially rock and classical. ... "
" ... Amazing sound quality, Great fit, Really comfortable(I work graves and during my days off I am up all night[10+hrs per day]), Noise cancelation is amazing, build quality is top as expected. ... "
" ... Fits perfectly, it doesn’t hurt when u wear for a long time. ... "
" ... The FiiO E110K fits this set like a glove. ... I have a large head and this fits no problem. ... They also help vent, so your ears don't get as hot during long listening sessions. ... "
" ... Blocks out my girlfriend when she wants to yell at me, random noises outside, and has great sound quality pumped into your ear holes. ... "
" ... Perfect fit for ears, very light. ... "
" ... Then, it's just a matter of removing that black cover, and that removes the locking mechanism while also allowing you to use any 2.5mm jack! ... "
Device Compatibility
23tested, mobile, dac, mobile devices, fiio e10k
+87%
-13%
" ... Don't get me wrong, they're great with your phone. ... "
" ... I use these with a PC equalizer program and it just pairs very well. ... "
" ... The headphones work fine on my Apple MacBook Air, iPhone and iPad Air. ... "
" ... She plugs them into her phone to listen to music or movies. ... "
" ... Great choice for people who want great headphones but don't want to break the bank and need something to work with their mobile devices. ... "
" ... They sound excellent plugged directly into my laptop or phone, and don't seem to be bottle-necked by my lack of an external DAC (I tested them with a friend of mine through his DAC. ... "
" ... I am powering them from my cell phone, an LG G4, that does not have a powerful DAC, and they perform well. ... "
" ... My test was playing Netsky via iPhone from Apple Music. ... "
Call quality
22people, hearing, headphones, call, able to hear
+91%
-9%
" ... Blocks out my girlfriend when she wants to yell at me, random noises outside, and has great sound quality pumped into your ear holes. ... "
" ... I thought the directional hearing was great then. ... I can hear footsteps, cards, gunfire so well and in such positioning, it’s scary good. ... "
" ... I can hear any footsteps any where around me and what direction they are coming from. ... "
" ... The headphones also do a nice job of blocking out most sound, but you can still hear things around you, albeit very muted. ... "
" ... Call quality and the microphone are quite good when I use these cans for phone calls, though. ... "
" ... Very good product, don't hear nothing around me ... "
" ... I can't explain the difference between these headphones and some of the others clearly enough for most people to understand. ... "
" ... They have a cable with a mic which is super useful when answering phone calls while you're wearing them. ... "
Volume
19loud, hear, volumes, louder, get loud
+37%
-63%
" ... But why no in line volume control? ... "
" ... The sound volume is weak, the quality doesn't worth more than hundred bucks. ... "
" ... This gets worse at higher volumes, it's almost is non-existent though, but it just is there. ... "
" ... the left driver has a little bit of rattle to them but that's only noticeable at uncomfortably high volume. ... "
" ... It does not have volume control & that is little inconvenient. ... "
" ... I expected them to be louder. ... "
" ... The volume is a little lower than I'd hoped at Max volume ... "
Resolution
17hd 598 cs, sennheiser hd 598, sennheiser, hd 280 pro, closed back
+88%
-12%
" ... The sound quality is good for price, although the Sennheiser HD1 and Sennheiser HD 630VB have come down in price lately thanks to Amazon, and are arguably better closed-back headphones now available at a similar price. ... "
" ... Better sound than my HD 280 Pro. ... "
" ... I own the sennheiser hd 212pro and have always been pleased with the sound they put out. ... I was rather dismayed at the lack of power behind the lows at this price cosidering the inexpensive HD 212 pro's sound great at a much lowed price ... "
" ... It definitely gets my vote over the ATH-M50X and M40X, the sound signature with the HD 598 Cs is far more neutral and authentic but not boring at all. ... "
" ... The Sennheiser HD 598 Cs was well worth the money I spent, and I consider it a far better option than many of the alternatives that are available at this price range. ... "
" ... I've had the Sennheiser HD 558's for several years now, which is why I also bought the HD 598 SR. ... "
" ... I'm not the most descriptive compared to my fellow Audiophiles, but these are without a doubt better than my HD 558's. ... "
" ... For reference, my now-previous headphones were the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO, which I've had since 2009. ... In conclusion, though, I **HIGHLY** recommend these, especially for those looking to upgrade from the HD 280 PRO. ... "
Size
13travel, bit, little, fold, bulky
+92%
-8%
" ... It's like a car. ... "
" ... Can’t really take in public, not portable at all but great for detailed relaxed sessions at home. ... "
" ... i chose the closed because i travel for work alot and its nice just closing out the world for a bit. ... "
" ... Great sound and weight? ... "
" ... Sound quality great but not that comfortable if you travel somewhere ... "
" ... I'd really prefer these when I travel though :) ... "
" ... Like others, I was hoping for additional accessories such as a carry case/bag. ... "
" ... Ease of transportation: 6/10 ... "
Design
13look, feel, detail, design, cool
+85%
-15%
" ... Finally, they're aesthetically pleasing. ... "
" ... The detail in albums I’ve listened to a million times is just so cool. ... "
" ... The open back design makes these things feel like nothing when you put them on. ... "
" ... I love the sleek, black, matte finish with silver and white detailing. ... "
" ... >:L OpenBack feels nice and cool, and carries everything on the breeze omitting nothing. ... or at least differentiate in greater detail. ... "
" ... They look great as well. ... "
" ... If you are a metal listener though, keep looking. ... "
" ... Design:9/10. ... "
For Travel
10closed, trips, traveling, fold, flight
+90%
-10%
" ... Although really well built I would not exactly recommend these for travelling as they don't fold into a smaller package. ... "
" ... I needed closed back headphones to use around other people without them being able to hear my music such as on an airplane. ... I used them on an airplane, and the people sitting directly next to me could not hear my music even though I was playing it fairly loudly. ... "
" ... Sound quality great but not that comfortable if you travel somewhere ... "
" ... It's not like I'm using these in a library, on the flight line, or at a NASCAR event. ... "
" ... i chose the closed because i travel for work alot and its nice just closing out the world for a bit. ... "
" ... I use them most days and I have taken them with me on flights and overseas trips. ... "
" ... Maybe next I'll get the open ones, but wanted the closed for use in the office or traveling. ... "
" ... I bought them for travel and occasionally recording in a studio. ... You can travel with them and not annoy the people sitting next to you, but a microphone will still pick up whatever comes through them at normal levels. ... "
For Kids
10son, young, year old, school, pair
+100%
" ... My son ordered these and he says they are pretty awesome. ... "
" ... He loves them!! ... "
" ... I purchased these for my young adult son. ... "
" ... Husband loves these. ... "
" ... These headphones will last a long time, they hold up to my 3 year old and my 8 year old kids, who use them daily. ... "
" ... Owned for over a year and they're still kickin it old school. ... "
" ... This was for my teen son. ... "
" ... You wont regret getting these bad boys. ... "
Cable Length
10short, cord, plug, longer, jack
+60%
-40%
" ... They come with a long and short cable and sound awesome. ... "
" ... The long cable is fine. ... "
" ... Cord is a little short, but love the fact it is replaceable. ... "
" ... The problem is, I didn't want to compromise on sound clarity or quality, and it also had to have a detachable cable so I could use my microphone with it. ... "
" ... The short small-jack cord for pairing with my phone is super cool, and the longer large-jack cord will accommodate those who are more inclined to generate music. ... "
" ... Comes with two cables, a portable cable with a mic, and a long cable with a quarter inch plug on the end. ... "
Returns
9returned, return, replacement, got, sent
+33%
-67%
" ... Either way they are going back. ... "
" ... I returned this product today. ... "
" ... Hopefully I can get a replacement. ... "
" ... Too bad I can only return one pair because I have been getting Sennheisers for so long I never thought there would be an issue with them so I threw the box away. ... "
" ... currently needing to return this. ... "
" ... I returned them. ... "
Cleaning
9dust, easy, fabric, ear, dirty
+67%
-33%
" ... The leather headband is easily wiped clean. ... "
" ... When I clean them up, they look new. ... "
" ... Very durable and easy to clean if necessary. ... "
" ... They also sound quite grainy, even out of an extremely clean, beautiful source. ... "
" ... Everything is crisp and clean, details are easy to pick out, and each instrument can be heard with clarity. ... "
" ... The fabric on the cushions is easy to get dirty and hard to clean, the same can be said about the fabric on the sides where the Sennheiser logo is and the plastic feels a bit cheap to me. ... "
As Gift
7got, wife, christmas, received, loves
+100%
" ... Christmas gift for my son. ... "
" ... Got these as a gift for my boyfriend for his birthday. ... "
" ... Got these for a friend for a friend for Christmas. ... "
" ... I have 2 pairs for my wife and I and bought a couple as gifts for friends and family. ... "
" ... They were a gift- she loves them! ... "
" ... I received these as a gift and absolutely love them! ... "
" ... I got these headphones as a gift for my wife. ... "
Marketplace
7thank, seller, sale, picture, got
+86%
-14%
" ... Got these on sale for $100 off retail. ... "
" ... I contacted Amazon the next day ... Thank you Amazon for respecting a genuine function complaint. ... "
" ... Give it a go if you're on the cheap, you will find them under used - as new by a particular seller. ... "
" ... Although mine came broken but amazon quickly fixed that by sending me a new one witch I perfect. ... "
" ... Thank you for reading¡ ... "
" ... Bought these used from Amazon Warehouse. ... "
Controls
6button, volume, song, play, mic
+17%
-83%
" ... But why no in line volume control? ... "
" ... the mic is not built in it's on the 3.5mm wire and it's control buttons are terrible ... "
" ... The control button on the cable is only play/ stop. ... It does not have volume control & that is little inconvenient. ... "
" ... The volume control adjustment does not work with my V20. ... "
Capacity
6walls, house, never, home, dont
+100%
" ... I don't really care because I have my own computer room so anyone in the room has entered my space anyway. ... "
" ... I've used it mostly in my room. ... "
" ... These sit at my desk at home all the time and never leave the house. ... "
" ... Dont use it if you dont have a silent room etc. ... "
" ... Uses them around the house. ... "
" ... We are moving to a new, better cubical system at work - NO WALLS! ... The noise was already bad enough and distracting with 5 foot high, sound absorbing walls. ... "
Band
6top, loose, leather, wearing, velour
+100%
" ... Main difference is the material used on the band, and these came with some sort of microphone also, that I haven't used. ... "
" ... They cancel enough of the kit out that the sound coming in with the band feels spectacular. ... "
" ... I tried a free 5 band EQ but ultimately purchased an app with 10 bands and no ads. ... "
" ... The 598cs sounds better with band music, like country, but also pop sounds great with it. ... "
" ... I bought these during a black Friday sale for about 80$ USD (A friggin steal) The leather band on the top has cracked, but it isn't noticeable when wearing them. ... "
" ... Great sound, very light and comfortable, I would have preferred a little bit tighter fitting band, a bit too loose for my taste. ... "
Microphone
5records, music, sounds, professional, audio
+100%
" ... My music mainly consists of live recordings, acoustic, and acapella. ... "
" ... Not a professional set but good for starters in recording. ... "
" ... However, I found that the metal records with denser guitar tones sounded absolutely amazing through these. ... "
" ... I've listened to records I've heard dozens of times, and could pick up on sounds and parts that I had never noticed. ... "
" ... I would recommend them to anyone producing, recording, or composing music. ... "
Clarity
5precise, clear, love
+100%
" ... Love the clarity and sharpness. ... "
" ... The clarity is otherworldly. ... "
" ... Clear and precise ... "
Video Playback
4youtube, music, listening, watching, videos
+75%
-25%
" ... I also use the headphones to listen to YouTube videos as well as music. ... "
" ... (There's a great youtube video on this if you want to look at that for more information.) ... "
" ... I'm no audiophile but this works in daily music streaming and video listening. ... "
Defective Delivery
4sent, one, got, back
-100%
" ... I was shocked, could this be a defective unit? ... "
" ... Defective out of box. ... "
" ... I think I have a defective set. ... "
" ... I can only assume my pair is defective. ... "
Hair
4hair, one, cut, headband
+100%
" ... The leather on the headband is a nice feature especially if you have some type of product in your hair. ... "
" ... A Hair too bassy. ... "
" ... I have a friend nicknamed the "Headphone Viking" by the locals of the small town he lives in due to his long hair/beard Norwegian look and the fact that if he is not at home he has his headphones on his ears or around his neck. ... "
Battery Life
4use, every day, day, 2 years
+100%
" ... But note that I also pretty much use them 10 hours a day ... "
" ... I've used them many hundreds of hours. ... "
" ... I have had these for 2 years and use them at work for hours every day. ... "
Setup
3mic, headset
+100%
" ... If you've recently made the jump from a "gamer headset" to a mic/phone/interface setup, these are a solid choice if you prefer punchier sound and don't want to constantly hear complaints about hot-mic'ing from leakage. ... "
" ... If these headphones are this liberating, how much more is a true audiophile setup? ... "
" ... Grab this headset and the Blue Yeti mic for a 1000x better setup than any "gaming" headphone setup. ... "
Ease of Use
3clean, easy to drive, crisp
+100%
" ... Very durable and easy to clean if necessary. ... "
" ... Everything is crisp and clean, details are easy to pick out, and each instrument can be heard with clarity. ... Lastly, the 598C's are very easy to drive. ... "
" ... Excellent headphones for a beginner. ... "
Storage
3case, carry, bag
+67%
-33%
" ... in the right way that touches all the best spots while still allowing enough room for you to say "no". ... "
" ... Like others, I was hoping for additional accessories such as a carry case/bag. ... "
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Specifications
Body
Size: 118.11 meters