Sennheiser HD595

[teatime0315]

So I just ordered the Sennheisers, which are highly acclaimed. Got a great deal from J&R. 179.99 shipped. Does anyone have these? I was wondering if it would be alright if i plugged them into my Audigy 2 card? also has anyone upgraded from the CX300 or the Ep630's from creative? If so was it a big jump in sound quality, I hope so!? Thanks!

 

[aphex]

The HD595's are SUPERB. You should be fine with them plugged into your Audigy 2, as the 595's don't improve all that significantly when attached to an external headphone amp. The other high end Sennheisers def. respond well to a nice headphone amp, but the 595's work very well from nearly any source since their impedance is very low and works well direct from many sources.

Will it be a big jump in SQ from the CX300/EP630? OH HELL YEA! You are in for a treat buddy, a treat. The sound is light years beyond the headphones you mentioned. Make sure to pick up a good Yo-Yo Ma CD, his music is a superb match with Sennheiser IMO.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

be sure to let it break in for about 100(*est) hours of usage at moderate sound levels

 

[teatime0315]

Originally posted by: aphex
The HD595's are SUPERB. You should be fine with them plugged into your Audigy 2, as the 595's don't improve all that significantly when attached to an external headphone amp. The other high end Sennheisers def. respond well to a nice headphone amp, but the 595's work very well from nearly any source since their impedance is very low and works well direct from many sources.

Will it be a big jump in SQ from the CX300/EP630? OH HELL YEA! You are in for a treat buddy, a treat. The sound is light years beyond the headphones you mentioned. Make sure to pick up a good Yo-Yo Ma CD, his music is a superb match with Sennheiser IMO.

Okay sweet! Just didn't want to b dissapointed. Now wheres the UPS truck.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I got my Sennheiser HD-595s about 3 weeks ago, and I have not been disappointed. The quality is superb, really top notch stuff. I'm running mine primarily as a computer headphone off an Audigy 2 ZS and it works great, so you shouldn't have any issues there.

 

[teatime0315]

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
I got my Sennheiser HD-595s about 3 weeks ago, and I have not been disappointed. The quality is superb, really top notch stuff. I'm running mine primarily as a computer headphone off an Audigy 2 ZS and it works great, so you shouldn't have any issues there.

Wow nice, almost the exact setup as mine. Question though. I know that a good soundcard makes a difference with speakers, but do they have any effect on headphones? Like lets say the Audigy 2 to the Azuntech prelude/Creative alternative?

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: teatime0315
Wow nice, almost the exact setup as mine. Question though. I know that a good soundcard makes a difference with speakers, but do they have any effect on headphones? Like lets say the Audigy 2 to the Azuntech prelude/Creative alternative?

Of course. Once the signal goes through the DAC(s) and other circuitry, its quality is no different whether you're listening to speakers or headphones.

Since a lot of you mentioned Audigys - I just upgraded from an Audigy 2 ZS to a Xonar DX and the difference in sound quality was jaw dropping. I always knew the Audigys (and really most Creative products) were considered garbage, but ignorance is bliss, and unless you've heard better, it's easy to think what you're hearing currently is great. I've even heard of people who think the stock iPod earbuds are great :Q

Ironically, I believe the Xonar and Audigy 2s use the same DACs, which are actually fairly decent. Creative just managed to wreck the sound somewhere between the DACs and the output jacks because everything they do is so god damned bloated, while Asus employed the KISS method

My gear: Sennheiser hd280s, Shure e2cs, Grado sr-60s. I'll probably upgrade to a reference model + amp at some point, possibly 650s, but for now that's what I got.

PS - not sure what the 595s' impedence is, but most higher end phones, especially Sennheisers, really benefit from an amp. Something to consider - and no, the output jack on a sound card doesn't fit the bill.