Last Updated: November 24, 2018 (Refresh Now)

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Overview

Review Summary

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Specs

Reco

Sennheiser HD 598 Special Edition Over Ear Headphones Black

Last Updated: November 24, 2018 (Refresh Now)

9.2

SCORE

/10

Total Reviews

996

Old Reviews

319

Unverified

Spam Test

118.11 meters

SIZE

Review Analysis - 615 recent, verified reviews

Detailed Mode

Sound Quality

295

classical, stage, hear, dac, hd598

+98%

-2%

" ... They sound fantastic, and you don't have to deal with a bunch of latency and compromise sound. ... Durable, great sounding, can be driven by a pc, but really sound amazing when properly amp'd. ... "

" ... They sound so clear and are perfect for gaming. ... The sound stage is wide. ... "

" ... These headphones are MADE for quality music, if you are creating, editing, or doing anything related to quality sound production wise, these are the headphones for you. ... Great for music-testing and listening as well. ... "

" ... Sound signature is quite neutral so it'll take some time to get used to for some people. ... "

" ... The sound quality is really good and I would suspect a true audiophile would approve. ... "

" ... It's sound quality is exactly what you'd expect from a product of this price. ... "

" ... Sound quality is good, not anything like my custom IEMs but better than beats by dre or something. ... "

" ... I have Martin Logan speakers paired with a Pioneer Elite SC-75 receiver in my listening room. ... "

Comfort

193

wearing, comfort, periods, worn, cups

+97%

-3%

" ... I have had mine for 3 years, used exclusively in an office, and they have not worn or broken at all. ... "

" ... I have used these for 5 hours straight, they are comfy. ... "

" ... A good smack of the headphone fixes the issue for a minute or two but if i move my head slightly it will go back to left only. ... "

" ... These are by far the best headphones I have ever used when it comes to comfort. ... "

" ... Extremely comfortable for longer listening sessions. ... "

" ... Super comfortable, frequently forget they’re on, and you can hear through them perfectly well (the flip side of that is they do leak . ... "

" ... Comfort, Can easily forget your even wearing them, they let your ears breath so they aren't hot in the summer they don't block out any noise from stuff around you, some may say thats bad but I like it so when people want to talk to me they can. ... "

" ... These Sennheiser HD 598 headphones are extremely comfortable, too. ... "

Price

103

price range, pair of CAT, spending, sale, cans

+95%

-5%

" ... Best headphones for under 300 dollars period. ... "

" ... It's sound quality is exactly what you'd expect from a product of this price. ... "

" ... If you're looking to buy audiophile headphones and don't have extra cash for the more higher end offerings, then place an order for these ... "

" ... Good headphones that are often sold at the affordable price of $99. ... "

" ... The best headphones under $200. ... "

" ... Nothing in the price class can even come close. ... The quality of these are worth double what they sell for. ... On par with Bose (at twice the price). ... "

Bass

soundstage, sound quality, mids, overpowering, highs

+93%

-8%

" ... If you love a ton of bass this probably isn't for you. ... Overall it's a great product but personally not for me due to lack of comfort and little to no bass. ... "

" ... It has rubbles in the sub and mid bass areas at high volumes. ... "

" ... If you've never had Sennheiser anythings, they are more for the acoustics, they have amazing highs and mids, but they are not built for Bass. ... "

" ... any explosion, bass drum beat, or Ian McKellen-esque voice is made all the more satisfying when the lower frequencies actually have impact. ... "

" ... Not as bass heavy as most headphones, but what they offer is accuracy, which I appreciate ... "

" ... any explosion, bass drum beat, or Ian McKellen-esque voice is made all the more satisfying when the lower frequencies actually have impact. ... "

" ... I prefer neutral, balanced sound, and love to hear the details. ... The bass boost option on the E10k is a nice add on however, for some tracks. ... "

Cables

long, CAT jack, jack, shorter, detachable

+87%

-13%

" ... Really loved the ability to remove the cord, though. ... "

" ... My Google Pixel 2 sounds excellent with these headphones when used with this: Razer Phone USB-C to 3.5MM Adapter Cable - Headphone Jack Cable Adapter ... "

" ... The included detachable audio cable delivers great sound and is very lengthy. ... "

" ... The cord detaches from the headphones as well, which is a neat little quality feature that you might not think about. ... "

" ... The cord is thick and has stood up to a fair amount of abuse ... the jack ends are well reinforced, and I've never had any issue like the wires getting damaged like you might get with earbuds or cheap headphones. ... "

" ... The sound quality is much better than I expected, I love that you are able to change out the wires so easily if something happens to them. ... "

" ... Replaceable cables and replaceable ear pads for longevity. ... Cable and ear pad replacement isn't too expensive and easy to find - much better than spending another $160.00 - $200.00+ on a new set by far and having to re-burn them. ... The SE version comes with two cables, which is very nice. ... The 3.5mm cable is perfect length (portable), not 6 foot like the bigger 6.3mm (1/4 inch jack) cable, which is fine since I know that particular cable is to be used for walking about (Studio, DJing etc). ... "

Build Quality

headband, cushion, build quality, tear, build

+89%

-11%

" ... I bought these headphones in 2013 FIVE years ago and these are the most durable industrial strength headphones I've ever had or seen and I've used over 30 pairs . ... "

" ... I have had mine for 3 years, used exclusively in an office, and they have not worn or broken at all. ... "

" ... Build quality is typical Sennheiser top notch quality. ... "

" ... Durability is unbelievable. ... I've slept on them, stepped on them, dropped them countless times, and 2 years later still work ... "

" ... I love these earphones, the quality I have with them is top notch, but the build quality was a bit subpar for me, an internal component on the left ear size slider broke (probably a small clip inside) and now the size sliding function does not snap into place. ... "

" ... The build quality is excellent. ... "

" ... I've owned it for almost a year now and still in good shape ... "

" ... these are not tight but they are reasonably secure, which is important for someone with a big head like me. ... "

Gaming

games, soundstage, overwatch, modmic, gaming and music

+100%

" ... They sound so clear and are perfect for gaming. ... "

" ... Use for gaming. ... "

" ... I use them for everything from watching Netflix to listening to Bach's cello suites to blaring Journey to playing video games (especially rewarding when sound design is good) to editing music and videos. ... "

" ... I love using these for gaming and music listening. ... "

" ... There really is no comparison for musical and gaming enjoyment! ... "

" ... They are very comfortable, and if you are into gaming and wanting to buy these I highly recommend it. ... "

Product Reliability

years later, years ago, 3 years, three years, unlucky

+79%

-21%

" ... With other headphones one of the ears always goes out after a couple months . ... "

" ... I have had mine for 3 years, used exclusively in an office, and they have not worn or broken at all. ... "

" ... I've slept on them, stepped on them, dropped them countless times, and 2 years later still work ... "

" ... Two years later and they're still amazing ! ... "

" ... Still works well after 3 years. ... "

" ... I've owned these for five years. ... "

" ... If it ever stops working, I'll probably buy it again! ... "

Design

stylish, plastic, comfortable, 598s, wood

+100%

" ... The build quality is excellent. ... "

" ... Go for the black ones if you want a more low-key appearance. ... "

" ... other than that I love the sound, comfort, and looks. ... "

" ... Plus they look cool. ... "

" ... I like the color, even though some might think black is overrated, but still remains to be elegant and simple. ... "

Resolution

sennheiser hd 598, hd, sennheiser hd, sound quality, hd 700

+100%

" ... I'm saving the HD-598's for my high end Stereo System which is presently being reconditioned. ... "

" ... These Sennheiser HD 598 headphones are extremely comfortable, too. ... "

" ... I purchased the Sennheiser HD 598 over three years ago, and am happy to report that they are as awesome (or more) as the first day I got them. ... "

" ... It is very clear the sound in these hd 598 I use it with a sound card usb encore ENMAB-8CM 7.1 and the sound is decent has good volume. ... "

" ... Another benefit, they are easy to drive and will work with a quality MP3 player -- though they really shine with something like the Marantz HD DAC-1 (which drives them amazingly well on low gain). ... "

" ... It's been four months since I purchased the HD 598's. ... "

Call quality

listening, listen to music, instruments, hear things, sound quality

+86%

-14%

" ... But that can be a good thing if you use then in a quiet room and still want to hear things like a phone or doorbell ring or someone calling you for dinner. ... "

" ... I tire less often wearing them and I can still hear important sounds such as a telephone ring or something in the kitchen I would need to attend asap. ... "

" ... This is particularly beneficial for me because I usually have difficulty hearing human vocals in music, so equalizing and using voice enhancers on my audio card make all the difference, and these headphones actually show results. ... "

" ... Of note, since they are open over-ear, people will hear what you are listening to, so not the best choice for listening to music around others. ... "

" ... Can listen to music for a long time without getting tired of them. ... "

" ... The sound quality of the Sennheiser is the best I have ever heard (normally buying headphones in the $100 to $150 range), I now hear instruments that simply were not heard before ... "

Frequencies

treble, highs, bass, vocals, soundstage

+89%

-11%

" ... If you've never had Sennheiser anythings, they are more for the acoustics, they have amazing highs and mids, but they are not built for Bass. ... "

" ... Gone are the days of rock and pop vocals being drowned out by cymbal crashes and guitars. ... "

" ... But in it's natural state the sound is very neutral, which I find to be good since this allows me to set my EQ and tone to my liking without any fuss of the overall sound signature these headphones are designed to have. ... "

" ... On pop and various years of r&b I found the mids and highs to be perfect, balanced, rich, detailed. ... The M50x's don't have nearly the balance as it provides bass, but the highs sound 'tinty' or scratchy. ... "

" ... It's straight up neutral audio as the musician or software developer intended the audio to be. ... The highs are crisp and clear but they do not have a sonic piercing treble. ... The mids are present and distinct. ... "

" ... The sound reproduction is extremely flat, and compared to most headphones I was familiar with the highs are more pronounced. ... "

Volume

volume, hear, max volume, instruments, sound quality

+80%

-20%

" ... With my Sennheisers on I can listen at what ever volume I feel like. ... They sound fantastic at low volumes and at ear splitting levels. ... "

" ... But that can be a good thing if you use then in a quiet room and still want to hear things like a phone or doorbell ring or someone calling you for dinner. ... "

" ... Better listen to "cool" music while other people are in the room. ... "

" ... The range and volume are excellent for anything ... "

" ... the sound stage is open and clear, the sounds never seem to interact with one another at moderate volume. ... "

" ... They are set toward a different accord of volumes though, these aren't noise distorting but they aren't cheaply open at the same time. ... "

Fit

plastic, held, comfortable, wringer, universally

+76%

-24%

" ... I love these because they're comfortable (fit softly but not loosely) and the sound is expansive, open, and crystal clear. ... "

" ... They have held up wonderfully. ... The size adjustment has a good range, and it locks into place well even after three years of use, no slipping. ... "

" ... They fit great, and every note and sound effect sounds so good! ... "

" ... They have held up wonderfully. ... The size adjustment has a good range, and it locks into place well even after three years of use, no slipping. ... "

" ... And the panning holds up. ... "

" ... That shape perfectly fit my ears (kinda big ones), and the headband support to clamping force ratio is so perfect that these basically feel like they just float on my head. ... "

" ... The fit is more snug than the HD 590s it replaced, which makes it less comfortable, but also less likely to fall off your head at random. ... "

" ... Sounds good, fits well, comfortable even after hours or use. ... Always using with the adaptor to fit my computer. ... "

Device Compatibility

amp, pair of CAT, loud, killing, hotels

+100%

" ... I use them on my desktop computer. ... "

" ... You DON'T need a DAC or amplifier to enjoy this pair of headphones. ... "

" ... I have only used it on my computer for music and gaming, so do not know how it works with any other device. ... But I would recommend for computer. ... "

" ... Paired with Fiio amp ... "

" ... In my experience, most devices play these headphones pretty solid, but won't play the headphones to it's full potential (unless the device has a built-in amp). ... "

" ... If you plan on plugging it into a smart phone, an iPad, and laptop or similar devices, you have to use an adapter (which they provide). ... "

Marketplace

great product, shipping, steal, sale, reorder

+100%

" ... Can't go wrong here. ... "

" ... Great product, Timely shipping, Thanks! ... "

" ... These were a steal for $180 in 2014, and now sell at twice that price for new, at least here on Amazon. ... "

" ... could be my favorite purchase on amazon . ... "

" ... A word of warning. ... "

" ... thank you so much . ... "

Headphones

ear, jack, CAT jack, adapter, sound quality

+71%

-29%

" ... I had been using a pair of Koss headphones, which for a cheap headset have a great sound to them. ... "

" ... The sound quality is very good, those in ear earbuds has nothing on these. ... "

" ... The sound was exceptional with this headset. ... "

" ... They are definitely much better quality when i Plug them in through my Komplete Audio 6 headphone jack. ... "

" ... He said they are significantly better than his previously preferred Bose headset. ... "

" ... my $70 Corsair headset works just as good, if not better ... "

" ... On my PC I had to tune down the output drastically because this headset was receptive much more that the speakers attached to it. ... "

For Kids

loves, wife, musician, loved, likes

+100%

" ... These are perfect for people with kids. ... "

" ... My husband loves these. ... "

" ... My son likes them a lot. ... "

" ... My musician son loved these headphones . ... "

" ... I initially bought these headphones for my wife's birthday. ... "

Ports

amp, CAT jack, usb dac, 3 5mm, p2

+87%

-13%

" ... My Google Pixel 2 sounds excellent with these headphones when used with this: Razer Phone USB-C to 3.5MM Adapter Cable - Headphone Jack Cable Adapter ... "

" ... The headphone is really good, but the plug p2 broke and I bought another plug. ... "

" ... If you plan on plugging it into a smart phone, an iPad, and laptop or similar devices, you have to use an adapter (which they provide). ... "

" ... I also recommend using them with FiiO E10K USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier (Black) It makes the sound quality that much more clear, and it's great for listening to lossless music files. ... "

" ... Make sure you update your setting on your game console to Optical Cable (required). ... "

" ... I have gauges/plugs 3/4 as well. ... "

Noise Cancellation

cancelling, leak, sound isolation, open back, surroundings

+100%

" ... If I'm at work, then I choose the Audio Technicas ATH-M50s for their sound isolation so that sound doesn't spill out and bother co-workers. ... "

" ... the Closed Back (Cs) which came in 2016 and are isolating/noise cancelling ... "

" ... If you are looking for noise cancelling pair of headphones, these are not it. ... "

" ... Better than Bose 25 noise cancelling IMO. ... "

" ... Without a doubt these are much better in every aspect other than noise isolation. ... "

" ... The noise cancelling headphones really make it feel like the sounds are inside your head. ... "

As Gift

gift, loves, wife, musician, loved

+100%

" ... My husband loves these. ... "

" ... My musician son loved these headphones . ... "

" ... I initially bought these headphones for my wife's birthday. ... "

" ... Purchased for my son, who loves them. ... "

" ... A gift that was a huge hit. ... "

Band

wear, tear, headband, head, comfortable to wear

+91%

-9%

" ... Excellent sound: but the head band began to separate without abuse, just ORDINARY use. ... "

" ... The hard plastic and firm headband materials contrasts with Sonys metal and plush faux leather. ... "

" ... Most comfortable headphones I have ever worn, could wear them for days. ... "

" ... Now some of that may be simply wear and tear, but as for the 598s, they fit like a charm and haven't so much as moved an inch on my head. ... "

" ... Very comfortable once you get used to the tightness of the band around the head. ... "

" ... It looks nice and feels comfortable to wear. ... The sound stage feels like listening to a live band. ... "

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Specifications

Body

Size: 118.11 meters

Recommendations

...

118.11 meters

SIZE

Recommendations

...