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More Info About SENNHEISER HD 599 SE Around Ear Open Back Headphone
The Sennheiser HD 599 SE pushes performance barriers. It’s a premium headphone for those seeking timeless design and build quality along with exceptional sound. Powered by Sennheiser proprietary transducer technology and featuring the 'Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement' (E.A.R) design, the HD 599 Special Edition represents a step into the world of audiophile sound reproduction.
Top Review
From my experience so far, these work really well with the set-up that I have. The bass is audible without being obtrusive, and the highs are very clean and pleasant. Mids are not as detailed as I would prefer, but are acceptable. The ear cups are super comfortable, and personally I like the style and colorway. The colors look better in person than they do in the pictures online. I previously bought (and returned) the m50x and 598cs, but I will be keeping the 599.
Anyway, that's my brief opinion of this particular product. For those who wish to read on, I will provide some information about my set-up, which I think will be far more useful to those trying to improve their overall listening experience (spoiler alert: it is NOT just about the headphones that you choose).
When I started shopping for a new pair headphones, I was mostly listening to music through the Spotify app on my phone, connected to a set of decent quality Bluetooth earbuds. That set-up was okay for work, but I was in search of a premium audio experience for home listening. I (mistakenly) assumed that I could just buy some over-ear headphones, plug them into my phone or laptop, and everything would be instantly amazing. That was definitely not the case.
After looking into it a little bit, I found out that the sound output capability of my devices was limiting the potential quality of the headphones. I also discovered that even the "high quality" setting in Spotify delivers heavily compressed audio, resulting in much less detail and sound quality. I searched online to find out if there were any streaming services that were able to deliver higher quality audio, and found a few options. I ultimately settled on Deezer, which has since replaced Spotify as my go-to music app. If you have the premium Deezer subscription and a decent internet connection, you will be able to stream true Hi-Fi audio. It actually made a significant difference for me even with my ear buds, and even more so with the 599s.
While this was definitely an improvement to what I was used to, I still felt that my headphones could do more than my devices were letting them do. I did some reading and found out that most stock sound cards in laptops are pretty average, so I bought a Fiio E10k DAC/amp to bypass the sound card. For me, it made a HUGE difference. I was able to get much better detail, and also listen at higher volumes without sacrificing quality.
I have to imagine that these would sound even better when connected to a real sound system playing a record or a CD, but the set-up that I put together is pretty much perfect for my purposes. So, if you want high quality audio without having to spend a bunch of money on stereo equipment, give these headphones, Deezer, and the E10k a try. I'm reasonably picky, and I am about 97% satisfied with this solution. -
Daniel Rafferty
Top Review
These are probably the best headphones I've ever tried. These have one of the widest, most precise soundstages of anything anywhere near this price range, with anything else that gets close either lacking in sound or comfort.
These are also some of the most comfortable headphones you can get; open backs with big cups, velour earpads, and without a strong clamp.
I'll compare these to some similar headphones
The Sennheiser 6xx/650 has a bit more detail, but almost no soundstage and have an annoyingly tight clamp and get warm on my head. Highs are a bit rolled off, leaving the 599 to sound a tad clearer.
The Philips SHP9500 sound a bit weird in the mids and overall feel like there's two speakers on your shoulders, rather than being truly surrounded in the sound. The massive pads are constantly in contact with half of your face, and they never let me forget that they were still on. A lot of people like these, but imo the 599s are leaps and bounds better, I have no reason to use the 9500s since I have the 599s.
The AKG K702 are also fairly close to the sound of the 599, but I'm not a fan of their build quality or how they feel on my head (pads are a bit shallow, your ears touch the fabric covering the driver). They may be slightly wider, but they aren't the most comfortable, so I find them distracting from what I'm listening to. I'd still pick the 599 over these.
The Fidelio X2HR is probably the closest to the 599 out of everything I've tried. They're a bit warmer and wider, but less precise. They're in the same tier of comfort as the 599, and I use these if I don't want all the precision of the 599. I got the 599s for $100 and X2HRs for $120, but now that the 599s are a bit more expensive, you could save a few bucks and be almost as happy with the X2HR.
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (80 ohm) is the most different in terms of sound (and the only closed pair on this list), but it's in the same price range and at the same caliber. If I need to focus and theres some background noise, I pick these. They have more and tighter bass than the 599, and are immensely more isolating, costing only a bit of soundstage. Well built and comfortable. The best closed-backs I've tried so far. If you want the 599 in a closed back version, I'd recommend these. I tried to like the 598cs for a good year and I could never get used to their sound signature.
I got lucky and got these for $100, and for that price, theres no competition. But at their current price around $160-$200, you can start looking around a bit more (or get them used for ~$120). From all that I've tried and read, these are easily one of the best pairs of headphones under $200 (and under $300 if you like soundstage). Every new pair I try is compared to these, and so far, these haven't been beat. -
Nathan
Warranty & Support
Amazon Return Policy:You may return any new SENNHEISER HD 599 SE Around Ear Open Back Headphone purchased from Amazon that is "dead on arrival," arrives in damaged condition, or is still in unopened boxes, for a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Amazon reserves the right to test "dead on arrival" returns and impose a customer fee equal to 15 percent of the product sales price if the customer misrepresents the condition of the product. Any returned product that is damaged through customer misuse, is missing parts, or is in unsellable condition due to customer tampering will result in the customer being charged a higher restocking fee based on the condition of the product. Amazon will not accept returns of any product more than 30 days after you receive the shipment. New, used, and refurbished products purchased from Marketplace vendors are subject to the returns policy of the individual vendor.
