Currently own Drop 58x as well as my old Sennheiser 558, Looking for a possible upgrade from one or both of these. I enjoy them but looking for a little more width so to speak. Wider sound is what I am after.
I know that open back is probably the way to go but need help here. I listen to just about all major categories of music as well as game a little. I do not need a mic so not interested in that aspect. Now that I have bored one and all !!
I have a budget of around $350-$400. I am wondering do I go planar or stay dynamic? HE4xx, Sundara etc?
A side note my monitors (with subs) are Adam T5Vs with a SMSL SU8 and Magni 3+ on one system and Kali LP6 and a Jotunheim on the other so my perceived quality is what I pursuit. With a ridiculous amount of choices I need help here
Thanks in advance.
Good morning Mon!! I love the overall “tone” of the 58x although a touch more low end could not hurt. I did change the cable to a balanced one for the heck of it to see if it would change much. I find the sub bass is not as crisp as I feel it could be. To me the sound is very close in my opinion . I have run this set on both the Magni 3+ as well as the Jotunheim. I feel the Jote is a little better but maybe I am imagining it.
Hmmm. So the main issue is that the timbre of the sennheirs is pretty great, and other headphones in the price range that are wider tend to not have as good of or not similar timbre as the senns.
Actually, how much can you get a pair of audioquest nighthawk carbons for? They have a bit different signature but are definitely wider and maintain good timbre, and also have more bass (imo they are an upgrade in my eyes). If you can find them under 300 that would be pretty great
Hmmm unavailable on Amazon. . As for the timbre of the 58x they sound round to me
Totally different sound then a speaker. To me it is almost like listen to a sound through a tube if that makes sense to you. I am in Reno NV and I have not found those here
Interesting… The picture you have is totally different then what I find… The pics I see they look more like a Hifiman arya shape… weird… not even close to this. I take it they are being discontinued?
Maybe a stupid question or maybe lack of experience here. What did you mean by significant upgrade as well as “Different”? . Also would a tube amp really create that much of a different sound on its own?
So the sundara will have a different timbre, different presentation, and different sound overall, but that being said it is more capable as a headphone (better technicalities like detail, spatial recreation, speed, etc)
It depends on the headphones. The 58x it would make a noticable but not very large improvement in the sound by adding a bit more bass, adding a slight roll off to the sound, creating a bit more sense of space to the music, but also reduce impact a bit
Appreciate your time and detail in these responses. I recently ordered a better cable for these 58x’s. I have heard a lot of good about Periapt cables. My original (Drop)cable was damaged and I purchased a balanced cable from Amazon. I am not sure and have nothing to compare so I will see. Hoping the new one takes some of the round out of them?. Will think hard on the info you have provided. Not trying to corner the market on headphones but like choices!! LOL!
Yeah lots of choices out there lol. You could upgrade to the 660s and have a similar signature with better performance, but you wouldn’t really gain any soundstage width (although it would be higher preforming).
I personally would say perhaps wait and save, as you could perhaps in the future look for a used aeolus, as imo that sounds like what you are after (and you would want a tube amp later on as well lol), or a used lcd 2 (which would actually be fine off your magni 3+ imo)
A used elex also would be pretty sweet if you can find one