Mod Sennheiser 555 to More expensive 595

[WalkGood]

Although the guy doing the video is a bad narrator, this is an interesting mod. I would think the sound may not be exact as the 595’s as the housings are different, but I can see how it would improve the sound quality and possibly open up the soundstage. Certainly worth trying if you own the 555’s …

You Tube

You Tube

[CrowdAds]

[Spk282]

Wow now I feel even worse for buying myself the 595's. Atleast they still look a little nicer lol. I already felt the 555's and 595's were very similar after that mod I doubt you would really notice any difference between the 2. Nice find Walkgood

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by Spk282

Wow now I feel even worse for buying myself the 595's. Atleast they still look a little nicer lol. I already felt the 555's and 595's were very similar after that mod I doubt you would really notice any difference between the 2. Nice find Walkgood

I wouldn’t feel bad, whether it makes them sound better or not or even the same is up to your ears, as you know they're not really exactly the same, their housings could be a bit different and who knows what type of treatment is applied to the drivers within, which could make some difference.

Edit: BTW there's another one for the hd650s which I've read and we've discussed on irc before, I can't see modding my hd650s when I already like the sound just the way it is ...

[Spk282]

The 595's are still a good headphone and I am certainly happy with them when my 650's don't do certain songs justice in my mind, but this easy little mod makes the 555's that much better of a deal when you can usually pick them up for under $100.

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by Spk282

... this easy little mod makes the 555's that much better of a deal when you can usually pick them up for under $100.

Certainly I concur

[The DarkSide]

Well I see the 555 for around $90.00, and the 595 for around $170.00. Is it really worth the price for the upgrade in SQ? Or is this mod really that much of a deal to close the gap (I wonder)?

[Spk282]

I have listened to the 555 and have to say the 595 is quite similar; SQ wise IMO the 595 is not worth the extra $80 over the 555. With the 595 you do however get the Headphone holder which is about $20 shipped if you actually use it you can consider the price gap to be $60

[Spk282]

Originally Posted by WalkGood

Edit: BTW there's another one for the hd650s which I've read and we've discussed on irc before, I can't see modding my hd650s when I already like the sound just the way it is ...

yeah I don't think I would mod my 650's either, they sound beautiful and are easy on the ears.

[musichound]

If the absence of the Velcro iyields better audio quality, then why the hell is it installed in the first place?

[Spk282]

Originally Posted by musichound

If the absence of the Velcro iyields better audio quality, then why the hell is it installed in the first place?

Companies do this kind of stuff all the time, they will add or remove something to hinder the performance of a product... it allows companies the ability to sell items at different price ranges, you will see a lot of this kind of stuff in automotive companies and down tuning motors.

[Monoglycer]

Interesting, I always wondered what those strips were.

There are other mods that you can do to increase the sound stage, but sadly they are irreversible.

[BattleBrat]

If you want better sound out of ANY sennheiser headphones, the fix is simple; Smash them into pieces and buy a pair of Pioneer Se-A1000's or Sony MDR-CD2000's or Beyerdynamic DT-880's
I have owned the best Sennheiser makes (cept their new $1k offering, considering how crappy their other ones were, I'm not going there) I started off with the 595's, they blew, horrible bottom end, so I went to the 600's and purchased a new Headphone amp for good measure (the amp cost $1,000 used) They blew as well, so I bought the 650's (keep in mind I sold the old pair to help finance the new pair so I didn't own them all at once) They sucked too, I then said F it and bought a pair of Sony MDR-CD2000's and was blown away, I then bought the CD-3000's and was in Heaven, they are the most perfect headphones I've ever owned, NO HARSHNESS AT ALL, the highs were crisp with out the slightest hint of brightness, the mids were clear, warm and full. and the bass was warm tight and clear. they reminded me of Wilson Audio Speakers. But I don't buy sennheiser anymore, If you have the sennheiser itch - buy Beyerdynamic. Grado is OK too, but I've never owned anything beyond the SR80's

[musichound]

But BattleBrat, everyone hears differently. The way you don't like the sound of the Senns, it's a safe bet there are other people who will not like the phones that you prefer either.

[BattleBrat]

I sold my MDR-CD3000's for TWICE what I paid for them (They help finance a pair of Talon Khorus Speakers, and well, they blow ANY& ALL headphones away)
I recently lost an auction for a pair of Sony MDR-CD2000's they went for $160 USED
that's more than I paid for mine NEW.
YET
Every time I sold the Sennheisers, I lost money.
If you have any suggestions for Sennheiser phones I should try under $100 used or new I'm listening!

There are others out there who have seen the light. I'm trying to show you the light. I haven't tried Sennheisers Earbuds, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt
BTW sony has made some bad phones, The MDR-V900HD's Blew, I couldn't tolerate them, so I gave them to a friend of mine who is a recording engineer.

[EddieE]

Pretty cheeky of Sennheiser if this does expose the only difference between the two models

I heard some HD595 recently, being used to the HD650 I didn't think much of them, just seemed like a emaciated version of the same sound. Objectively though, they are obviously still great headphones compared to anything else.

[dfkt]

Originally Posted by BattleBrat

There are others out there who have seen the light. I'm trying to show you the light.

What's that empty condescending phrase supposed to mean? I would suggest you grow up a little and keep that bullshit to yourself. You might notice that there aren't any absolute truths in something as personal and subjective as audio. Good for you that you like Sony phones. Other people like Sennheiser phones.

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by BattleBrat

If you want better sound out of ANY sennheiser headphones, the fix is simple; Smash them into pieces …

Just like the senn’s are not for you, the sony’s aren’t for everyone either. Certainly not every product that Sennheiser makes is good, but I for one certainly enjoy my hd650s very much! BTW my hd650's aren't even modded, running stock (lappy/Pico/DAC/WA6/hd650). Just to show you I’m not the only one who appreciates them, look here, 1237 post and still climbing and over 107,625 views. BTW interesting piece of advice you offer ... Nuff Said.

[Spk282]

Originally Posted by BattleBrat

If you want better sound out of ANY sennheiser headphones, the fix is simple; Smash them into pieces and buy a pair of Pioneer Se-A1000's or Sony MDR-CD2000's or Beyerdynamic DT-880's

BattleBrat, what you need to understand is music is like food, everyone has different tastes, just because you yourself don't like something doesn't mean that it is bad by any means. Sennheiser's sound incredible to me, the 650 more so then any other pair of headphone I have owned.

[BattleBrat]

You're right, and I apologize, I'm still a little niffed at how the sennheisers performed, and then the CD-2000's impressed me so. I actually planned on buying another pair of HD595's about a year ago, but I bought the Pioneer SE-A1000's and that scratched that itch. I still am considering buying a pair of 595's Does anyone know where I can get a pair, NEW, for a good price. (I always liked the sound stage on the 595's I just thought the bass lacked definition and the hi end was a little muddy) but they worked great for movies and games, that and I didn't need an amp to power them like the 600's and 650's

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by BattleBrat

... I still am considering buying a pair of 595's Does anyone know where I can get a pair, NEW, for a good price. ...

Why no buy the 555's, I can point you to a good mod so you can convert them to the more expensive 595 Both the 555 & 595's are available on the net for reasonable prices.