Sennheiser HD 599 Review - The Audiophile Gateway Drug

[@metal571]

2025 NOTE: This is an old review before the HD 560S existed. You will want to research that offering before buying a 599. FAQ: The monitoring headphone I am wearing is the now-discontinued AKG K553 Pro. Intro 0:00 Build 0:28 Comfort 2:50 Sound 4:07 Bass 4:10 Midrange 6:38 Treble 7:26 Soundstage 8:47 Isolation 9:20 Genre Pairing 9:53 Amp Needs 11:29 Conclusions 12:18 Accessories 13:40

[@Josh-os2px]

metal571 what kind of aftermarket ear pads are good for hd600?

[@Josh-os2px]

metal571 does aftermarket headphones cables really make a sound difference?

[@metal571]

+Its Shanna none of them. Never use aftermarket pads on a Sennheiser, they completely change the sound

[@mortenolsen1111]

metal571 i listen to alot of rock and PsyTrance music, how do the bass function in this headset compared to the Philips Fidelio X2HR?

[@ZOrMitO]

Very good review, sir metal571! I have a question though and I'm not a "connaisseur". I want to buy these headphones for gaming and other activities, but I have no idea how amps work. Would you recommend any amp for this specific model? Thanks!

[@SilentClouds]

I think you are the best headphone reviewer on KZbin (thumbs up)

[@BeyondCuriosity]

He definitely is, I have been following him for a long time. I love Zeos too but now it's all for fun. But this guy is the most accurate of all. There are times when I just watch his videos for nothing. Think I have watched 90% of his reviews lol. The most disappointing thing is people who review headphones but have no idea about sound, are much more popular than him. He deserves to be more popular!

[@SilentClouds]

Beyond Curiosity Zeos tends to exaggerate so much you end up getting a wrong idea.

[@BeyondCuriosity]

Yeah and he tends to talk more about wires than the actual sound quality lol. His analysis of sound is average at it's best.

[@metal571]

This is why I keep making reviews. Thanks.

[@BeyondCuriosity]

And keep doing it. I'm a headphone lover just like you. And I don't think my next headphone will be without your recommendation. You're awesome and the only headphone reviewer that I trust blindly. I would love to see you have more success here ♥

[@ManuSaraswat]

I love the clarity of your mic and voice.

[@metal571]

I know some people out there have some seriously expensive setups so I'm glad it is enjoyable. Rode makes a heluva mic with the NT1

[@Kokkilisa]

LOL I'm glad I'm not the only one who needs headphones to be at the same amount of clicks on each side.

[@CB_here]

Dunno why I’m replying now but me too! I returned my momentum 2’s cause they had smooth sliders and not countable clicks and it triggered my ocd

[@CB_here]

J Thorsson ok den 👌🏽

[@Flightsimmovies]

Me too

[@afrog2666]

On some headphones I go one less click on the right because I`m not symmetrical anymore after crashing my bike hehe xD

[@afrog2666]

@J Thorsson A good whooping and a strugglesnuggle, go ahead, GIVE HIM THE FULL COSBY! xD

[@timgarcia923]

“This is a subjective hobby, man, I’m just telling you what’s there.” 😌

[@metal571]

+Tim Garcia I find not enough reviewers explain the sound relative to a certain reference and then separate that from whether they like it or not. Two separate things indeed

[@rairaur2234]

Truer words never have been spoken

[@TheRedOGRE]

6 years later and thank you for the review. I picked these up for 50% off and it will be my first pair of higher end headphones. I have a couple pairs of cheaper AKG headphones so im excited to try them out! Thanks again, cheers!

[@lochamabro3638]

what do you think of them

[@staezyy]

How are they?

[@metal571]

I'm always interested to hear new impressions too

[@audie-cashstack-uk4881]

Same here and I was mind blown via a g6 dacamp they are mazing and 7.1 or atmos in movies wow just wow

[@grey1883]

Picked these up recently and your analysis is pretty spot-on. The eq preset is also much appreciated, cuts nicely the harsher treble and balances the bass. Thanks

[@clark5401]

I bought the 599 HD SE 2 months ago and I absolutely love them. I use them for my Samsung Galaxy S9. Dolby Atmos sounds absolutely amazing. I am currently looking for a USB DAC to plug in to my S9 to give me the Hi-Fi sound.

[@Katzelle3]

Fiio BTR5

[@mayank78207]

You are the best headphone reviewer there is! So on point and precise. It's an honour to watch your review, I really mean that.

[@audie-cashstack-uk4881]

Great video thanks rocking hd599s for gaming and movies and music for a few months now.

[@msjonyba1234]

First review I've seen for these and it is HELLA detailed. Thanks, man!!

[@metal571]

That's how I do all my reviews, thanks for stopping by

[@antoinep9733]

Great review, I really value your opinions. Some of the other reviewers have introduced me to new music, had me rolling on the floor laughing, and infected me with cable-OCD, but you actually describe the sound well, which is surprisingly rare!

[@metal571]

+Antoine P the whole channel is based on sound description because it's what I found the most lacking in other channels

[@antoinep9733]

Tried these out today at a local hi-fi store, impressive sound and OMG they were comfortable. I'm fairly new to this hobby and although I've owned and tried-out many lower-end pairs over the years, these were the first that were truly circumaural. What a difference it makes when the pad seals on your skull and your ears are just kind of "floating" in there. Can't wait for my 6XXs to arrive for Christmas!

[@oskarabom7126]

Just bought these for music and gaming, fantastic pair of headphones! Especially for 150$ on sale. Blows my old "gaming headphones" out of the water. Looking forward to more videos :)

[@baccarah7010]

Just got em during black friday for 70€ :)

[@ceezare3039]

@@baccarah7010 do you use them for gaming too? I’ve been thinking of snagging these for gaming

[@mitvulf]

@@ceezare3039 I have used these for gaming (as well as everything else) for about 5 years now, and they are a dream. For the price, especially on sale, I wouldn't regret buying these again at all.

[@andrewward3306]

@@mitvulf I was stuck trying to decide between getting the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless or the Astro A50, but I've always wanted to try open-back headphones for gaming. So, I got these. I'm really excited to see what they can do based on all the reviews I've seen.

[@iamrobot396]

Its 80 bucks now, looks like its bang for buck now

[@carloseb.4677]

I've been searching everywhere for a 599 review! and couldn't find it! thank you for the review!

[@TheHexeract]

I've never used an amp with these and they always sound great out of my computer for watching movies.

[@konstantinplotnikov8910]

Does 599 has sharp highs if you plugging it into the computer? I want to find headphones without sharp highs.

[@Accuaro]

Update from when I bought these years ago, the pleather band has eroded away a bit and I cannot replace them which sucks. Now there are speckles of black/burgundy around my home, I don't know If repairing the headband is repairable 1:46 They have served me well, super durable actually despite it creaking and seemingly feeble looking.

[@nikosorf4250]

@Peter Kropotkin that's kinda kinky

[@juddery]

I bought a pair of these recently, after watching and reading reviews and initially was really disappointed at how muddy they sounded compared to my previous headphones. I was missing so much clarity of the higher and mid ranges and the low frequencies were overpowering. It turned out that I had a major case of hardened ear wax, (which is great at blocking higher frequencies), lol. Got that sorted and now I absolutely love how these sound and my previous headphones are now way too bright and tinny sounding. Just thought I'd mention it in case anyone else has bought any headphones that sound really muddy, when the concensus of reviews suggest differently.

[@metal571]

I'm almost 30 and have never been to an ENT. Kinda wonder if I could improve my hearing even further if I had that done now

[@juddery]

@@metal571 I've had to have my ears unblocked multiple times unfortunately. Not sure why, but I seem to be susceptible to wax build up. It was quite shocking the first time, to see a garden pea sized lump of wax come out of each ear! The sudden difference in hearing though, is always quite significant. I used to work in loud environments, so when my hearing first seemed to have deteriorated, (I was struggling to hear high frequencies and voices over background sounds), I thought hearing loss from excessive noise was the cause, so went to get my hearing checked. That's when I was first told that my ears were blocked. Nowadays I just sort it myself. Most people are lucky and don't have this trouble though, as the wax comes out naturally on its own.

[@jari121]

Another problem is if you have flu or allergic flu long time. Ears are unblocked and cans sounds horrible. I have also sometimes that earwax problem, but that can resolve earwax remover liquid or going to nurse getting earwash.

[@juddery]

@@jari121 Yeah, flu really doesn't help with that does it. Thankfully I haven't had it for a few years now, but I get the flu jab every year, so that's probably why.

[@MightBeBren]

Replacing my dt990s for these and cant wait for them to get here. Ive had my dt990s for almost 2 years now and thought it was time to try something new. The dt990s were my first non-"gaming" headset and i was blown away by the sound for a couple months. if i remember, I'll edit this comment to update on my experience with the 599s whether it was worth it or not EDIT: gaming: tie music: 599 movie: 599

[@metal571]

this is going to be way more pleasant to listen to for long periods, but it might sound really dark coming from the enormous treble of the dt990 at first

[@ludwig2952]

How you like it?

[@alcaponescpa]

@mightbebren I'm trying to decide whether to buy the dt990 premiums or these, I'd love to know which one you preferred.

[@MightBeBren]

@@alcaponescpa get the 990s for comfort... 599's for sound imho. keep in mind it takes the 990's a couple months of use so it doesnt feel like you have a clamp on you head, but after the break in period, they are wonderful. i only play fps games, listen to music and watch movies on my headphone so ill tier list them on those categories gaming: tie Music: 599 Movie: 599 side note... i had the dt990 pro 250

[@jasonemanuel9070]

How are they compared to the DT990'S😀

[@timgarcia923]

The color of these ‘phones match your walls almost perfectly.

[@metal571]

+Tim Garcia LOL I can't stand the pale yellow. The cans ivory color looks much better. Eventually will repaint

[@timgarcia923]

metal571 hmmm, wow, I hadn’t seen the 598 and 599 together, but even just pulling up an Amazon listing for the 598 which happens to show the 599 right above it, the color difference is obvious.

[@raadic5260]

metal571 the wall paint is almost iconic by now, expect a subscriber drop after repaint /s

[@antoinep9733]

The colour-scheme in Metals' videos always cracks me up, it's effectively the sepia channel, even his skin, hair and glasses.

[@metal571]

Yeah that's what happens when you combine a bunch of strong 2700K LED lights with pale yellow walls from the previous owner of my place...looks comical

[@nohype-fi6468]

"I wouldn't sit on it" Yeap I sat on my HD650s... Didn't go well ... 😭

[@krypto_9872]

I sat on my HD598s once... I had a mini heart attack but they survived

[@jsharp9735]

Same, I sat on mine, then out of shear terror from realizing what I had done, I fear farted so forcefully that it completely obliterated the headphones and my chair !

[@redduck680]

I sat on the cable of my ad900x’s which pulled it out of the headphone just enough to cut the connection to the left driver. I wish it had a detachable cable:(

[@jimbo396]

@@krypto_9872 this is why i have a headphone stand and i always use it

[@bakarenibsheut12]

@@jsharp9735 I know this is 2 years too late, but may I ask what you ate that day?

[@gourabasis]

I Like how with your review i can correlate exactly what you say about them after getting them. Thank you for helping me make the decision to get the 599's, couldn't be happier!

[@MaGn3zIuM]

The amazon 599 SE version is 99$ atm, was an insta buy for me. for music, movies and gaming. ty for the review!

[@Jaaoood]

same for me :)

[@libertyprime9307]

Same. Fucking outrageous value but just wish they had that natural ivory/leather colorway. Decided to replace my old Astro A40s held together with duct tape with Philips HD 9500. Dumpster quality audio, really shallow soundstage and no bass, way too bright. Tried 599 SE and it's so much better.

[@dietcokefan11]

@@libertyprime9307 Do you think they're an upgrade from the Astros? I'm debating on whether to save for A50's or order the 599s!

[@libertyprime9307]

@@dietcokefan11 I got my A40s back in 2012 and at the time I loved them. The fake surround sound is really enjoyable for movies. Saving Private Ryan made great use of it. however because it's only simulated surround, it actually makes it more difficult to determine sound in video games, so movies were the one and only time I used it. And I usually watch movies on speakers so... it did not get used much. I really liked the build style and comfort of Astros. They have the least pressure of any pair I've used. The audio on Astros is fine but 599s are better in my opinion. I don't really believe you can beat the value of 599s. Audiophile quality at $99 budget. The MixAmp on the Astros had problems, when I would dial it, the volume increase would affect one speaker more than the other, swapping back and forth. I think this was like a dust issue or something, as spinning the dial enough made the issue go away. It was still annoying and other mixamps and preamps I've used don't do this. Currently pairing the 599s with a $50 Fosi Audio DAC and still deciding on dedicated microphone but have it narrowed down to a few dynamics.

[@jaredruiz9344]

@@libertyprime9307 so for gaming, and casual music listening, would you recommend the 599’s over the Philips 9500 you had? I, debating on which one I want to get.

[@royce6485]

I’m a notal newbie to headphones and this review is so easy to understand! I was wondering about the effect of the open back and what genres pair well, and you covered exactly that! Thanks

[@metal571]

Most "normal" people don't know that soundstage is a thing with headphones but that's what this shows off. Very useful for pinpointing enemies in games

[@ceezare3039]

@@metal571 how are they for single player rpg games and sports games? Do they feel immersive, and how’s the bass? I have the hyperx cloud 2 wireless headset for my ps5 and have really been thinking of grabbing the 599s.

[@dylanleff373]

@@ceezare3039did you ever find out

[@investmentking4022]

I got mine in 2023 and they are great. Plus you can get them now on sale for $100 Cad which is like $80 USD and at that price you cannot beat it. The hd6xx is better but its much but they cost generally between $180 - $210 USD or near $300 Cad before the $10 - $20 shipping added on. In addition with the hd6xx you will need to get an amp to drive as with all the 500s you don't really need it. Probably the best value these days id argue.

[@2pingu937]

Hey man! I've been using your EQ profile for a week now and I'm pretty happy with it. Thanks for doing all the work, I'm slowly learning more about sound engineering :)

[@Vash.Baldeus]

What software do you use for EQ?

[@johnhurley8918]

Thank you for talking about accessories at the END, because ain't nobody want to sit through that to get to the sound and comfort.

[@metal571]

This channel was all about a focus on the sound quality, because without that, what is an "audiophile" product

[@marsfuture]

Just ordered them from Amazon for Black Friday for €90! So excited, these are my first semi-pro open ears, and I'll play my new digital piano with them! Thanks for your in-depth review :)

[@TheTechenthusiast69]

Just bought em, amazing sound quality and feels great on the head. Looks sturdy enough to last for years ! Thanks for you video, i can't recommend them enough

[@yellahbe]

Got these two weeks ago in the SE/black color scheme for €95. In 2023 I still consider that an absolute steal. Unpopular opinion alert: I prefer these much more over the newer, more detailed Sennheiser HD 560S. I had the latter for a couple of weeks as well but returned them because I wasn't able to enjoy my music with them. They were too detailed, if that makes sense. The HD 599 is in my opinion the better pair when it comes to music enjoyment. I will try out your EQ, thanks for sharing!

[@metal571]

It's a fairly extreme EQ if I remember right so obviously feel free to adjust to taste, which I always encourage. Use what sounds best to your ears as usual

[@supermeseriasu]

@@metal571 I had Bose qc35 but I returned them because I get very hot and sweat. I understood that these, being open, do not heat up so much. I need something comfortable for PC, music, games, youtube. Do you recommend these or something else up to 150 euros? Please help me with an advice.

[@metal571]

Being open back and having velour pads will definitely help with that but the sound signature will probably be quite a bit different than you're used to as in much less sub bass

[@jimbo396]

Thank you. There isn't many reviews of these cans and the one that i found is the best review i've ever seen. I'm ordering these right now.

[@metal571]

Hopefully you enjoy

[@rvijayteja]

Great review. Bought these for around $110 USD( 8200 INR), my first set of headphones. I like good vocals which aren't drowned by other stuff have a KZ ZST X now, I am looking forward to these.

[@DeusRegum]

These headphones (HD599SE for me) are INCREDIBLE! I bought mine 5 years ago and NOTHING even comes close to sound quality, comfort, and performance. I try using other 'hi end, S tier audiophile' headphones and I keep coming back to these. I don't know what it is about them, but they are perfect for me and I have still to find a better alternative. If they stop making these I don't know what to do except maybe I should buy more and just keep them for standby if these cans ever should fail me.

[@metal571]

The good news is it's unlikely Sennheiser will discontinue this 5xx line of headphones. I'm old enough to remember that they've been around since at least the 2000s with the 555/595, then there was the 558/598, and now the 599. All of these basically have been filling out this fairly affordable open back tier for their product line for quite some time

[@staezyy]

Thank you, I am gooing to try out the HD599SE headphones and let you know my personal opinion on them. I've been searching for a good headset for a long time and I really hope this is the headset that I get attached to. :)

[@metal571]

Coming from your average consumer headphone they will be hugely lacking in bass quantity, but they're a really excellent way to dip your toes into owning an open back headphone if you never have before, which is a unique experience

[@staezyy]

@@metal571 I've never really enjoyed much bass anyways, I feel like it overpowers everything else too much and just doesn't sound very good. Hopefully these are the right headphones for me. If I do end up returning these, do you have any other suggestions? I am looking for wired headphones that are good for both gaming and music, don't require an AMP, and are around $150?

[@metal571]

@@staezyy sounds like just the ticket to me then. The soundstage will be good for positioning if you play competitive games

[@romka4567]

I have these such clarity and amazing quality.

[@markirish37]

you are the most chilled out reviewer I have ever listened to, well done,, Once I hear someone with a loud, excited opening with,,, HEY,, WHATS UP YOU TUBE and a beg for a like and subs, Im out with a pause and a thumbs down and hit the back button. You were to the point, covered everything honestly and fairly and good to listen to. Good job. Im no audiophile, but i like the look and sound of these 599's. I just love good loud music of various genre and era's with clarity at home by myself, hence the open back that wont frizzle my little ears. Again, excellent work, thanks.

[@vitasmile2768]

Thank you so much. Keep up the great work. I just got a pair of Hd 599's and was skeptical about the sound output but your eq made it worth every single penny!

[@Britboy2877]

Ive purchased these tonight, i already have a pair of DT990 Pro's and much prefer the open back. Great review !!

[@dschNgz]

And are the hd599 good ?

[@gullibleskeptic3237]

i own both 599 as well as the 600s. i use a dragonfly red to drive them. without eq i find the 599 noticably more boomy in the upper bass but the bass overall is actualy quite good and the subbass is nice. with eq i can get them to sound very much like the 600 though a little less detailed and clear. i also find them very unfatiguing to listen to, just like the 600. with gaming the 599 are very very nice. in overwatch i can hear exactly where the sounds are coming from and because their soo comfortable and light i forget im wearing them. the clamp is indeed a lot less than hd600 which are still a bit tight after a couple months. i can really recommend these.

[@zimtron9589]

If you think the bass is good, you must be new to this hobby.

[@gullibleskeptic3237]

Zimtron So what would you say is "bad" about the bass? I mean compared to hd600 it sounds pretty good to me specialy in this pricerange. If your looking for headshaking bass then yeah i can see why you dont like it, but thats just subjective cause some people prefer more neutral.

[@metal571]

+grandmaster noob it's not that. Bass gets way way better than the HD 600 or 599. They have a lot of rolloff, both of them. Open back planars extend much further. For an open dynamic type headphone the Sennheisers are fine, but nowhere near the be all end all.

[@gullibleskeptic3237]

metal571 I have never heard a planar magnetic so i cant compare it to that. Without eq i agree the 599 and 600 sound a bit weak compared to my sony mdr-ex650ap which are amazing for the price btw. But with your eq they come pretty close imo. I would love to try some planar magnetics but i need them to be good in the other aspects aswell like the 600s.

[@CyberCheese392]

Has Metal mentioned what his opinion is on the dragonfly series? I would be curious to know!

[@antonio22695]

This is exactly what I was looking for when it came to a review for the 599s. I might have to get these for Christmas. Thank you for the review.

[@1badMucker]

Holy Smokes, your EQ preset is god-tier. Removed a lot of the grain I was hearing and seems to improve resolution (if that's possible). Nicely done my friend. Miss you Metal.

[@metal571]

That's mainly because removing some of the upper mid shout tends to trick you into thinking the headphone is less grainy as harshness there can sometimes fool people, even me, into thinking a headphone is grainier than it is. Have fun and don't forget to play with the filters yourself

[@Murphmonster69]

You’re the best for multiple reasons imo, greatest of which being that you are a guitarist.

[@metal571]

I still play too. Hopefully I'll be buried with my Rectifier

[@henrymarocchi7844]

Just got for 140$ from Amazon I cannot wait to start using them

[@focus0000000]

my EQ Preset (maybe someone wants to try): Preamp: -3 dB 30 Hz Gain 3 dB Q 0.8 200 Hz Gain -3 dB Q 1 1630 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 4.5 3300 Hz Gain -3 dB Q 10 4368 Hz Gain -4 dB Q 10 9122 Hz Gain -3 dB Q 10

[@darklyger64]

This needs more likes, currently using this one

[@wish]

These are £90 on amazon rn for prime day, I feel like that's an amazing deal.

[@nidhaybhatt]

I agree I'm confused about senheiser HD 4.5 or senheiser HD599. You should also check back beat pro 2

[@Wolar94]

Thinking of buying them currently, anything better to go for?

[@ariobarzan776]

Yeah I don't know if I should go for these or 58X Jubilee on Massdrop for $160

[@showtimer_]

I have the hd 569s and although theyre closed back im happy with those. im gonna buy these and I know you wont be disappointed with it

[@TheCisnieniowiec]

I'm still thinking to buy them. 13 hours left...

[@rml53595]

Just got these new for just under $95 shipped. This review has me stoked for their arrival!

[@LynxenX]

HD 599 are one of those headphones that anyone can love. They aren't mind blowing, but they are exceptionally good for the price (especially if you can get them on sale).

[@metal571]

I like them with some well placed EQ. Nowadays they are on the harsh side in the upper mids for me and lack some deep bass extension but this can be adjusted easily and the price is indeed great for what you get

[@Гингко]

I didn't like it, PX / PMX 95 sound much more natural and open

[@Madnick111]

Just won a bid on ebay for these headphones for new-ish $60. Thank you for the solid review of them; gave me a good impression of what to expect when they arrive. Hoping they work nicely off of my laptop docking station until I save enough for an external usb amp/dac combo.

[@metal571]

That is such a steal lol

[@MrJhuang999]

Left side has Braille on it, even better than having to look at L and R. Just feel with your fingers. Love these headphones

[@metal571]

+Justin Huang true. I missed that thx

[@MrJhuang999]

metal571 learned it from someone else just passing it along. Thanks for your review!

[@blairswanson44]

Done deal! I needed something for age related high end hearing loss as a late night movie headphone, that was comfortable. I auditioned them today prior to watching your video & you stamped the passport my friend. Thanks so much.

[@tnetroP]

Great in-depth depth review. Thanks.

[@popamarin7087]

Just bought them and it's love at first sight. Love them.

[@burns0100]

I just upgraded from my HD518's to the HD599 SE. All black and silver version of these and they sound amazing! bit more closed in, smaller sound stage at the moment as I haven't burnt them in yet but they already sound great. Not exactly flat like my 518's but they sound great! Worth the upgrade and I can see myself getting an Amp now to change the sound myself. Plan to go all out on these and eventually upgrade again to a HD600-650 model.

[@sanjaykumar.v8139]

Hey bro 559 is the upgraded version of 518 right. Should i get the hd559 or 599

[@metal571]

559 sounds like a 518, not the same at all as the 599 in tuning. If you already had a 518 and liked it though, then you will be ok with the 559

[@sanjaykumar.v8139]

@@metal571 i am going to buy , i dont own any previously.

[@sanjaykumar.v8139]

@@metal571 so which shld i go for

[@metal571]

Then 599 is a better introduction to the Sennheiser open back house sound signature

[@matthiasmartin4355]

Just ordered them for 79.99€ from Amazon. I hope they're as good as advertised. Thanks for the review.

[@sukhdevr3489]

They're £150 in the UK for me

[@123cserpent]

These were the first real pair of headphones I bought. I fucking love them.

[@kajetan9397]

Me too

[@PartySpock]

This are always amusing and funny reviews.Thank you very much.

[@m.g.i2480]

I do so much agree on the rock/metall coloration. Just lovely. Sometimes i prefer them to the HD660S even. And almost always prefer them to the M1060 for that music.

[@Minace141]

I recently borrowed a pair of HD598s from my neighbour. Your EQ Preset seems to work well with those too. I tried these and your HD558 Presets on them, and the 558 settings boost the bass way over. That was surprising to me because rtings measured the bass to be much "better" on the 599. Side note: Super comfy.

[@metal571]

I should probably update my EQ on these someday again lol

[@theunscoetzee3279]

So this is good for my first attempt at audiophile-esque headphones? I primarily game.

[@dmytrotarasov9477]

dt 990 pro is better at gaming.

[@afungai1649]

@@dmytrotarasov9477 Yeah but you need an amp to drive that and that’s cringe.

[@dmytrotarasov9477]

@@afungai1649 to be completely honest, I didn't notice any striking difference with or without an amp. My hp gaming 15 drives it loud enough. It sounds much better when I use them with dx160, but as for a hybrid amp that I bought for it, it does not make a huge difference. It is much louder, lows are a tad bit more pronounced (i mean the texture is much more refined, they aren't louder), but other than that it is basically the same. I would rather get a DAC/amp to boost the sound quality as the standalone amp is not worth it IMO.

[@christopherhubbard9677]

Picked up a pair today as my first open back headphones, $80 on Amazon deal, look forward to testing them out 👍

[@kaziraiyan97]

i was pondering upon that deal as well, pls post a review on the reply section when u get to use them.

[@princej0]

Thumbs up if you also count your headband clicks! :D

[@kasbien4485]

Solidified my decision in this budget range. Thank you! Very informative video.

[@metal571]

Hopefully you enjoy it

[@kasbien4485]

@@metal571 Just picked up a second hand 599SE for a great price. You talked about amp needs towards the end of your video, my question for you is if you think you'd see much benefit running these headphones through a USB DAC for a PC gaming/productivity setup? I don't have a whole lot of DAC options available to me in Canada right now, so an example would be like a Soundblaster G6.

[@davidulmer3453]

Headphones are like hats, never set them on a chair!

[@Memfys]

Really helpful review, thanks. My trusty 558 is getting old, it's all bruised up but still works great and I love the comfort. 598/599 has been on my radar for a long time. Thinking of finally getting it.

[@metal571]

It'll be about the same so if you're looking to stick with that sound it's hard to go wrong

[@Memfys]

@@metal571 Thanks for the reply. I like the sound as well. I've tried bunch of other headphones but still come back to these.

[@JayNL]

Anyone compared these to the 560S? For gaming as wel as music?

[@JayNL]

Got the 599 for $79 at Amazon this week, so it was a no brainer.

[@alexmatache]

Thanks man! I wasn't sure what to buy for my birthday. You convinced me, just ordered them.

[@metal571]

Hopefully you enjoy

[@alexmatache]

@@metal571 I have received the headphones today. They are amazing, I've been listening to music for the last 3 hours and I can't stop.

[@metal571]

@@alexmatache welcome to the beginning of the end of your wallet

[@sebastianpietrzak7579]

how about for metal music brother?:)

[@hamzah6251]

Dude I absolutely love this review and your style. Great detail and info and good knowledge too. Fun to watch. Subbed :)

[@metal571]

Lol I am retired from doing YT now but thanks

[@moist_captain]

I'm looking for new headphones. I mostly listen to music on my phone and sometimes might plug headphones to my xbox one controller. Am I going to get everything out of these?

[@bymicromize]

And did you?

[@moist_captain]

@@bymicromize In the end I went with the HD 569 because I prefer closed back headphones. I've been satisfied with them.

[@avoney3151]

Good review and thanks for linking your EQ preset, headphones sound so much better now

[@davidepollak3]

Just bought on amazon at 99€ (110$). I really like it, though I find that grain you're talking about is sometimes a litte too audible. but right, speaking of the WHOLE headphones it's really ok.

[@metal571]

For most people buying these it'll probably be one of their first open backs so many will dispute the grain. But it's there - you just have to try a 6XX to realize it. Awesome value at 100 bucks though

[@b00gyman1]

@@metal571 Awesome value with a slight inconvenience? Count me in!

[@PhoggHawk]

Great Review! I have been interested in trying an open back pair of cans and I think I'll give these a try. Thank you!

[@2Big2Sexy]

Do you own the headphones now ? I just ordered them wondering how they are?

[@kaaoi1640]

@@2Big2Sexy I own them currently and i must say switching from gaming headset to hd 599 .... Just wow. Super clear mids, accurate bass, I can hear sounds that i couldn't hear on my previous logitech g430. I paired them with Fiio e10k dac/amp. As for gaming they are pretty good. No problems locating an enemy in games like Apex, cs go, battlefield.

[@geeknproud321]

My HD598s were lacking bass/low-end in the extreme. Like zero impact at all. Way too flat. My HD599s are what I wish my HD598s were to begin with. I don't require tons of bass, but the 598s were just anemic. The 599s are so close in every other respect that I consider them a solid update.

[@metal571]

Hah, just chiming in here to say that you probably shouldn't say a headphone that is missing a lot of bass is "too flat" cause clearly it is not reproducing region of the frequency response properly - exactly why the 599 is improved.

[@geeknproud321]

They were reproducing the frequencies fine, just with no impact or speed. You could clearly hear the bass, but couldn't feel it. Extension and control were fine, just no emphasis at all. So in my mind the best way to describe it is too flat. When you look at a frequency response graph, my ears saw the low end as being a completely flat line. I need just a little more than that. My AKG K712s and my Beyer Dt880s are IMO good examples of "just enough" bass. The HD598s were just short of that. The HD599s are much more in line with those other open/semi headphones. I appreciate the feedback tho, I'm still learning how to describe and critique sound.

[@mentalstanley2191]

Scored a pair of open box from Blinq for $118 shipped, cant wait to get them, great review

[@pancon5]

Nice review, analytical as always.

[@texmo42]

Thank you so much for this review.Just purchased HD599 SE on Amazon India for roughly 108 dollars.Really happy with it.

[@metal571]

Hopefully you continue to enjoy

[@zoltantoth1566]

Please make a new video: compare it to the 560s. Their price are similar. Other serious reviewers have not yet made this comparison. You have not make a new video for years. Despite you was the best reviewer. Get back to us.

[@metal571]

That is because the channel is retired with zero plans to return. I do not own either of those models nor do I have a source to get loaners for either one

[@ghislain6313]

Saw your review after buying one and you made my day. Looks like I’ve picked the right one.

[@metal571]

This review gets tons of comments so I guess these still go on sale fairly frequently. Sennheiser did a pretty good job with these but they've got at least some competition against the 58X and 6XX still, although prices keep rising on those

[@HOTSPEEDMike]

Recently I've got philips fidelio X2's and discovered how flawed 599 sound really is. Basically sennheisers are extreme mid-centric pushed forward type of deal. Had to increase volume to enjoy other frequencies but then mids and vocals became shouty. With fidelio's I can listen at 2-3 times more volume without any fatigue. That's funny considering 599's being 50ohms while X2's only 30ohms. Not saying 599 is a bad headphone, it's just really not that universal all-rounders like I thought they would be. Great at vocals, and that's about it, really mediocore experience at everything else. Sennheiser soundstage feels tiny compared to huge wide spacial Philips sound. Sennheiser bass feels muddy and bloated compared to organic sounding X2's bass. Everything is just better separated and it feels like music, not listening to some congested ball of sound. Wonder if there are other Sennheisers with more natural wider soundstage more refference tuning? After all elevated mids and shouty vocals are not my cup of tea.

[@Tephnos]

I hope you don't mean the X2HR, because those are (imo) awful shouty treble cannons. I also believe the X2 was plagued with quality control concerns, so it is hard to get a good judge on the overall line if people can have wildly different experiences with the same headphone due to variances in the drivers. Sounds like you just discovered you don't like the Sennheiser house sound.

[@davidulmer3453]

Uggh! I've been using the X2's for 2 years now and just ordered the HD599's yesterday to try something new. I like the X2's but you know how it is with headphones ;-)

[@valar8143]

@@davidulmer3453 so did you like HD599 more than X2? for music purposes

[@ShiaAkira]

just ordered these, the come in 4-10 days… I can’t wait!

[@jmancherjeee]

these are $99 today on amazon for prime day

[@playmakerrek6178]

thats why im here

[@Matthew-oo1ko]

Same

[@MrR2185]

hear hear!

[@Blokhead101]

Yeah boi, prime gang wadduuup!

[@SHAJ33]

same

[@suprael]

About the extra cable: I have the hd 598se that came with it and the thing is that at work I have an amp that accepts 6.3mm plugs but at home I have a fiio e07k. I just bought a e09k, but until now all I had at home was 3,5mm compatibility. So, I guess as time goes by, more and more people are keen to spend 200 dollars on headphones, but not on amps. And regular laptops and pcs will only have 3,5mm inputs. So I guess this is a welcome addition since the adapter would bend after some months (plus the massive size).

[@Grozloo]

Whats your opinion on the HD 579? It is hard to find good information on them.

[@metal571]

+Nathan Hood only had a short demo but as far as I can tell the 599 is to the 598 as the 579 is to the 558. So very similar

[@user-vi3tb3bw5t]

The only difference between the 599 and 579 is a piece of foam on the earcups in front of the driver which isn't there in 599.

[@morganrajaonarivony7016]

Hi, how is it for 2024 ? Really want HD600 but can't afford it. So here we go with the HD599.

[@metal571]

It seems like nowadays most people are recommending the 560S which didn't exist at the time of this review, but it still tends to command a bit higher price

[@lordapproximitusthegreat9982]

This or the hd 598?

[@ktxtrain]

thank you and thanks for this review. i listen and listen again hd599 600 650 at my town audio shop. yes of course hd600 hd650 are nice and got more natural sound. more details. but this hd599 has more dynamic sound. the sounds come up more directly. like a young and new version of senn. hd 600 is comfort but hd 599 its really really got comfort. head band is nice and soft. more comfort than hd 650. No clamping like hd600. what a light weight HP. hd 599 is only 250g. while hd600 650 weghts 260g.

[@cajunqueen5125]

Great review, thanks for doing this.

[@BlackBunik]

I have got HD 595s for 15 years perhaps. Still not really tempted to change them. They get the job done and even though the cable is non-detacheable, it suffered so much abuse by running over with a chair wheels I wonder they still work. But they do! And Excellently. These have the same shell basically with some minor tweaks in the design and slightly better drivers. I would also recommend to give the headphones time to burn in. They get better over time.

[@Tephnos]

I wonder if the 599's are really objectively 'better' or if they're just... different.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

"Where is all my Beats bass" Lol the nerd voice is strong with this one.

[@N12458]

Look whose heree!!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@N12458 Haha! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nH2olaN6pdSHiqM

[@jasonmain6398]

Ive been lusting after these headphones for a while now, not only due to quality. but also the look and ease of replacement parts. I just really hope the bass isnt dissapointing in comparison to skullcandy skullcrushers. not a great headphone, but it was satisfyingly bassy.

[@jasonmain6398]

i just ordered them, so i suppose ill find out lol

[@djsoulfilter]

@@jasonmain6398 did you like them and do you still have them?

[@trellusg]

On comfort at mark 2:50: “…the comfort, which by the way, is AH-MAZE-ING, I mean *obviously*, this is a Sennheiser with velour pads and it weighs almost *nothing* [shakes HD599 up and down] and it clamps almost none [opens and closes HD599]… what do you expect, *crap*? You’re not gonna get crap here, this is SENNHEISER we’re talking about… [trademarked metal571 short-laugh]” PROOF that I have wayyyy too much time... I watched this at 0.5x over and over again... silly me!

[@metal571]

+trellusg lol, but this company definitely cares about comfort and they do it well for the 5xx line

[@trellusg]

metal571 oh, I absolutely agree.., I have the HD 558 at work and frequently my colleague borrows them because most headphones he can’t abide due to comfort and those are just so comfortable. I also find the HD 600 and 650 comfortable (clamp doesn’t bother me), and the HD 700 are ridiculously comfy... Sennheiser really does make super comfortable headphones generally, and the 5xx line in particular is superb.

[@ktxtrain]

another one here. no doubt for comfort. its senn. yeahh

[@zetieum]

What do you think of it against an Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X? Mostly for gaming and music (jazz, electro jazz and kesmer) ? Thx for the reviews!

[@otterj4]

Should I cop these for $100? It's Cyber Monday

[@jp93309]

My first pair of audiophile headphones. Bought refurb from backmarket. Like brand new in box. Comfy and pleasantly clear.

[@axaro1738]

I'm coming from a HD598 so upgrading (thanks to Amazon) to a 599 is going to be interesting. The only thing I didn't like about the 598 was the lack of bass, you pointed out that the bass improved and that it is a "refined" 598.

[@metal571]

Yeah it's barely an upgrade, kind of an incremental revision instead. The 6XX is the upgrade path

[@axaro1738]

@@metal571 I paid 118€ for the 598, I got a complete refund and I bought the 599 for 92€ The 600 series frequency response seems much more balanced but I'm on a budget and I can't find any competitor in the same price range except the 770/990 which I don't like due to harshness of the treble. I really liked the 598's soundstage which is honestly insane for spatial awareness (I guess that's why the same drivers are used on the Sennheiser G4ME ONE). The only way I managed to squeeze more bass from the 598 was by using an AMP, but it was barely enough, the frequency response on the 599 seems to have fixed most of this issue. -25€ for the refined 598 seemed like a good deal so I bought it. I'm just sad because Drop availability/delivery cost to the EU is way too high, the 5XX and 6XX seemed like a good deal, luckily the 500 series is much cheaper than in NA, idk why a german brand has to keep SennheiserXdrop stocks in NA and forget about the EU market.

[@Tephnos]

@@axaro1738 So you prefer the HD599 then?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

From now on, whenever people comment on my Grado video and cry, I'm going to simply timestamp 6:56 in my reply and bounce. 😂

[@metal571]

I have no idea what I even said there. Also thinking about removing the entire channel since it's outdated

[@N12458]

@@metal571 id rather have you not do that cause youre videos are super useful,and headphones advance so slowly that years after you made this video someone like me who just began their high grade headphone hobby still finds them extremely relevant and helpful. Whatever suits you though.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@metal571 Dude it was pretty clear what you said haha. I think you may be overreacting a tad. Like Neerav touched on, as long as people are searching for specific products, the articles and videos that discuss them will never be outdated. It doesn't matter how old. If my content from years ago still helps people and they tell me as much, how is it outdated? Same with yours. Just take a deep breath and don't delete the channel lol. If you truly think it is (outdated), you can always upload! 😂😉🙂 Anyways, hope you're well man. Miss your one liners on my vids. Take care.

[@Juanixtec]

I have read a lot of people actually thinking the 579 are better overall than the 599.

[@clay1517]

Juan David Pabon how so?

[@mrber0546]

I tried them both and the 599 are way more clear. 579 sound muddy in comparison. IMO 599s are way better.

[@Harolddespui]

MrBer0 Compared them on the same source/amp? If you're talking about "way better" i guess something was wrong. The 579 ain't muddy.

[@mrber0546]

Harold Andeweg Not the same source exactly but in my opinion they sound better. It is your decision if you want to put in extra money.

[@user-vi3tb3bw5t]

They have the same driver, people saying one or the other is way better is hilarious. The only difference is a piece of foam on the inside of the earcups on the 579 too add a little emphasis on the low end.

[@80espiay]

Heyya, I got the HD599 from a number of recommendations, one of them being your review. And I applied your suggested EQ with small tweaks to my taste to add a tiny bit of treble (3500Hz from -3dB to -2dB, 10000Hz from -5dB to -3dB), and I'm loving it. Currently running it off a FiiO E10K. In general, are you still comfortable with your EQ for the HD599? Or would you move some of the frequencies slightly to the left or right? Would you adjust the gains slightly? Are you still confident that the cans can handle a +5 sub-bass boost with minimal distortion? I'm mainly asking because I found my current preferred EQ settings by slightly modifying yours, so I'm wondering if there are any improvements to be made by modifying an updated version of your EQ settings. Again, thanks for the review, loving it! I also see you post on /r/headphones sometimes too.

[@davezito888]

If you can afford HD600 or HD650, don't even mess with any HD5??. Sennheiser needs to come out with a HD625. Something between the 600 & 650. PLEASE!!!! Or...... A HD675 more colored 650 Ohhhhhh yeah HD700 sucks HD800 is too expensive and good for imagery soundstage, detail. But super analytical. 600 or 650 are Sennheiser bread and butter

[@metal571]

+Dave Zito I think I've reiterated that if they can make an HD 800 with the HD 650 sound signature but even more bass extension we'd actually have a serious catch-all winner

[@davezito888]

metal571 I would buy that immediately. However, would be a $2000 can, so that leaves me out. Lol

[@metal571]

Dave Zito and hilariously enough now that RMAF is over, we now know the HD 660 is the successor to the HD 650. I'll see how soon I can get my hands on one, doesn't look to be officially released yet.

[@davezito888]

metal571 hahaha Interesting, how my crystal ball has been active. Lol Any information gathered? Hopefully not just a remodeled 650

[@erikleonardi6642]

metal571 that sounds like elear ;)

[@keenankenmuir945]

I'm a guitarist looking for a headset so I can practice as loud as I want, without getting told to shut up. I'm mostly playing my electric with the amp off lol. so this video was a massive help thank you so much brother. Dropped a sub and a like for the help.

[@metal571]

Hopefully you end up enjoying

[@keenankenmuir945]

@@metal571 wearing them right now. They are great !

[@zephyeir]

OK you got me I bought them.

[@NicanorVillanueva8]

your eq advise is really really acurate im impresed (ordered a hd599 and testing it) i have a sennheiser PC360 and they sound amazing aswell... i would like to review one of those sennheisers for gaming