SHP9500 vs HD58X | Ft. HD558

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[@drewfromoz2758]

For a moment there Josh, I thought you were going to talk about the star of the show when it came to the 558s, their phenomenal soundstage for gaming and live recordings! Nice reviews!

[@metal571]

Value is a pain in the ass to evaluate. Another person could come in and say both of these are a waste of money when PortaPro exists. The other thing that broke the pricing model is the excessively expensive new 579 and 599. The original pricing model was 100 for 558 and 150 for 598 which made way more sense. I hardly see the 5x9 series come down to those prices nowadays. It's also worth repeating that the 559 is like the 518, not the 558. I heard the 559 579 and 599 at Z's a long time ago. No idea why Sennheiser decided to confuse everyone. Wasn't the SHP9500 like $50 or $60 at some point? That's back when I reviewed it and thought it was fine at that price. $80 is asking too much when the 558 existed and wasn't discontinued at the time. Looks like you agree. PS died at that intro

[@trellusg]

Is the HD 579 the replacement for the HD 558, would you say? Also, I actually recall that the original price for the HD 558 was $179, not $100, and the 598 originally was over $200 ($249?), and the prices you’re remembering I think are what they fell to a year or two on the market before the newer models were introduced. (I paid $99 I believe for my HD 558.)

[@aethertech]

Everything is a waste of money when the KSC75 exists. /s

[@trellusg]

aethertech I have the KSC75 and they’re ridiculously good for the price but they’re not comfortable because those annoying clips start to hurt after a while and soundstage and bass aren’t as good as on HD558.

[@metal571]

@@trellusg it's not me saying the 579 is the replacement - it just is. 518, 558, 598, is now 559, 579, 599 with similar sound signatures analogously. Well regardless what they used to cost, compared to the Drop Sennheisers the 5x9 line doesn't make a lot of sense right now lol

[@metal571]

@ROMERO { 115 } no that's ridiculous. The 558 is just a 598 with perhaps less carefully matched drivers, and a piece of foam in the way, and some different colors and materials used. I don't think much of a difference has been proven otherwise between them

[@its_tunezz]

Ooh you have a very smooth, deep narrator-like voice Subbed only for that The quality reviews are a addon really : )

[@DAVIDCOLSON-er2kb]

Just got my HD 58X today and they are the first set of headphones I have that I can actually feel the bass. I have been ripping myself off all these years, my first open back cans. I love em.

[@trellusg]

I had to “rewind” to the metal571 impression because I thought my brain had malfunctioned processing the audio 😂 Thanks for wedging the HD 558 into this review - it was my first “serious” headphone and I still love it because it’s super comfy, easy to drive relatively speaking vs my other good headphones, and has a pleasing sound signature and soundstage.

[@nonenothing4412]

had the same impression LOL!!!!!

[@Kraiord_]

hahaha, that metal571 impression. subbed :D

[@JoshuaValour]

Thanks!

[@dozer32__]

still got my 558, first pair of headphones i got going into this hobby, and they still hold up. GREAT set of cans for anyone trying to upgrade on a budget.

[@Samkiitt]

same, right now I'm just wondering what would be the next step up. I was thinking 58x but now after this video I am not sure

[@Samkiitt]

@@nhatlam96 thanks, I'll check them out

[@completestrangeronline7284]

Wow, what a great comparison! Love my 58xs! One of the best values in headphoneland

[@SussyBaka-em9rq]

Can't wait till mine arrive!

[@completestrangeronline7284]

@@SussyBaka-em9rq I hope you enjoy them immensely

[@MillennialPatriot]

I got the hd558 on sale at bestbuy a few years back for $50. With some modding, paired them with a 3.5mm adapter and Vmoda boom pro, then removed the back foam. Been my favorite since. I tried the SPH9500 and found their clamp force to be too little for my small head and also not as breathable, they actually made me sweat, and did not prefer their sound signature. Gave them to my Dad and they were perfect for his line of work and head size. Whats great about the SPH9500 is cost and the detachable cable. Just buy them w/ VMODA boom mic and you got yourself a sweet gaming setup for cheap.

[@shoto42]

I do plan on buying a pair Philips but can’t buy them now since I’m about two weeks away from moving to another house so I don’t want to waste space in my suitcase (my parents live in separate states and I’m flying) so I’m gonna wait until then. Really great video, your videos always sell me on philips but it wasn’t until now that I have enough money to actually buy them. Just starting to get into audiophile headphones and I want my first pair to be open back so this helped a lot A little after I watched this video I bought them and threw them in my bag for the plane trip, three weeks later(almost four) I absolutely love these headphones

[@TheQuikMix]

Good job man. This was helpful.

[@curlyfries3449]

Finally the video we all wanted

[@mrdavester]

I own both of these headsets and use them every day. Heres my quick take. The Phillip's are far more comfortable with the looser clamp force and the bigger ear cups. They sound clear and I use them for general PC use and movies. They are a bit harsh for music and that's where the 58x wins. More pleasant sounding and musical. So I use them exclusively for music. I use an audioengine d1 dac.

[@thespanishinquisition7560]

I was never bothered by the harsness, some people are just sensitive to that. and you know that that actually just depends of what music you're listening to right? as long as it doesn't hit the slightly sibilant frequencies it's okay even if you are really sensitive. plus, what does more musical even mean, don't you mean more natural?

[@rodrigo3509]

I own SHP and was thinking of buying the 58x. I will no longer buy it after reading your take.

[@tarapas30]

@@rodrigo3509 I bought 58x and i like my Shp 9500 much more.I do not like 58 x at all

[@peggycarter6460]

Habout for gaming tho which one do you find better!? If you are a gamer of course xD

[@tarapas30]

Alex xx Actually after more testing i realized that 58 x has great imaging in fps games. I bf4 and Bf1 i am much more aware of my surroundings.I can tell where enemies are coming from much better that with my Shp 9500. Shp has better soundstage than 58 x but 58 x is really amazing for positioning. So if you want to have more advantage 58 x does better than Shp in bf1 and bf4.

[@shinku2826]

I'm so glad I jumped on the 579's when they had a $99 msrp

[@sarahswanray9775]

Personally, I like a mix of casual and formal presentation style, depending on the content. A comparison video like this, which includes a lot of subjective content, works well in a more casual presentation. That said, I like to see your intro (this one) every time. It helps me distinguish it as your content, especially if I’m playing multiple video reviews in a series while doing other work at my computer. I mean, I’m not going to mistake you for Zeos or anything, but I still appreciate the intro.

[@JoshuaValour]

Thanks for the input on the intro Sarah! I hadn’t thought about that aspect.

[@joshgoetz2477]

Wow metal really stepping up your production quality! Keep up the good work :)

[@t.7527]

Metal doesn't need the fancy production, he gets straight to the facts !

[@albertxion513]

T. Metal needs b-roll though! Sometimes I want to know how a headphone looks like close up on video.

[@joshgoetz2477]

@@t.7527 That's why we love him as well haha

[@wtfx5757]

Liked the video man. Well spoken and coincise in your opinions. Quite enjoyable to watch. Sub'd

[@codylucente]

9500 were my first, replaced with the 58x. Think I still prefer the 9500 tbh because it's much more comfortable for long sessions. but love both

[@towsifshahriarshovo]

I have Shp9500, wanna upgrade and order 58x. Do they worth extra money??

[@codylucente]

@@towsifshahriarshovo the 58x are less comfortable because of a harder clamping pressure but I'm sure it will break in. They also sound less harsh which is nice for music but indistinguishable in games. But I don't regret buying them. There not like a pair of beats you'll replace in 2 years, you can easily have these 20 years

[@towsifshahriarshovo]

@@codylucente thanks for the reply

[@doritos6548]

@@towsifshahriarshovo Amogus

[@datutturugang666]

i guess clamping force depends on your head size, but you can bend a lil bit the metal arms outwards to make ‘em clamp less, yet not too much to not make the stems slide into their housing

[@Newrecordday2013]

Damn this was great!

[@NiSHAN256]

Not as great as the Oticas tho :D

[@michaelwhitaker1972]

It's funny you brought up the 558's. They are a great sounding and enjoyable headphone. I've had mine for several years and if I'm not mistaken, I got those on sale for 110 or 120 dollars.

[@mastrshok]

I've had the 9500s for a couple years now. I highly recommend replacing the stock cable that comes with it. And yes I'm aware this is about the 9500 but I'm sure there's little difference. They are very good for the price. I use them on console with vmoda mic. I did pick up my pair on newegg for $50 at the time

[@jasonemanuel9070]

Why change the stock cable?

[@jasonemanuel9070]

@Alma bit over the top that m8

[@mastrshok]

@@jasonemanuel9070 noticed an improvement in the audio. It was a little more full and what not. It just felt like they used a basic 3mm cable.

[@jasonemanuel9070]

Nah,that's just in your head,it won't improve the sound just by replacing a cable,that's a myth & a marketing thing!

[@jasonemanuel9070]

@Alma whatever

[@Doggie64]

Perfect timing, I've had the SHP9500 for a couple months. I just ordered HD58X yesterday. If only I had waited till today and watched your video! Great channel btw.

[@1Dub79]

I own both. Both are great, but the hd58x Jubilee is a bit better.

[@Doggie64]

@@1Dub79 I agree that the HD58X sound better.

[@ImTheBoss914]

Cats and Dogs am I able to use the vmoda pro w the hd58x?

[@TheMokedoke]

Try a pad mod on the 9500s. Modhouse sells ring adapters for $10 and get some Shure 1840 pads on Amazon for like $20. Low end gets brought up just enough and the highs are tamed. After years of listening and trying new headphones I still go back to my 9500s.

[@Tigerex966]

Great advice

[@ryanjarrell4359]

Will the Shure 1840 pads go directly on the 9500?

[@spriggan17]

@@ryanjarrell4359 if you dont care about the pads it comes with then you dont need the ring adapters. It takes about 15mins to remove them. I put the 1840 pads on mine and they're so much better now. here is a link to modify kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIiVpat6i5qIhLM

[@anhiirr]

i wonder how the HM5 hybrid pads would go, since they have the leather liner.

[@Immortal__]

how are they for purely classical music~?

[@varunu4176]

I've been watching a lot of your reviews lately, your intros sound amazing :D I use SHP9500s with a Fiio K1 to power the SHP9500 a little bit.

[@sal8697]

the SHP9500s is only 32 ohms why you should use Fiio k1 power ?

[@varunu4176]

@@sal8697 SHP9500s sound way better when I use them with K1 and Shanling M0 DAP (some onboard DAC sound better than k1). Shanling M0 kinda helps the SHP9500s from the bass roll-off.

[@joshuasterling2144]

@@sal8697 They are efficient on paper but they scale with power well. They really wake up with some quality juice. Bass response is super surprising with a bump to the low end.

[@swaguel]

VARUN U how much do you like them? Thinking about getting them

[@varunu4176]

@@swaguel Love them for the price, I recommend dac/amp with the SHP9500S, though I would not recommend the Fiio K1. The pads are fabric and that might get itchy sometimes but overall it's a really comfortable headphone, fits even biggest of heads.

[@samuellord8576]

Josh, I appreciate your production values and that's a big reason I watch your videos. You also are very open to learning, which is really important when others like DMS have much deeper electronic and production backgrounds. I like your "formal" reviews as I like this one. Honestly this felt as formal as your others, but had more light. I really dislike very dark backgrounds in videos. Your others are well made and balanced, but God I hate the cave look, it's very depressing! Zeos makes good use of his window light. DMS and you should. I know that folks need dark walls for their vid production, but that's not good in gear videos! Your sound is very good, as is Z's and DMS's. Actually just a lav or headset mic works fine, they have fewer volume variations when you speak off-axis. I have two more strong recommendations. Please note, I designed and built very high end playback gear for several years and did some production work as well, so this isn't just a layman's POV (valid though that is). First, go to an AES Convention and talk audio with the designers. Last time (admittedly over 10 years ago) the top designer at Sennheiser gave me all the time I wanted: his favorites were HD25s (which he designed). The best people in the business share like crazy and are a wonderful community! Second, check out videos from Uncle Doug, who makes *extremely* fun videos of rebuilding vintage guitar amps and other gear. He has 3 cats and a dog whom he incorporates in delightful ways. But he's also an excellent electronics teacher. Another very competent audio tech (probably an EE) is "Mr Carlson's Lab." Another excellent teacher, the guy designs, fixes, and calibrates audio gear of all kinds. The most *pleasant* audio reviews I've seen on youtube are John Darko's, but geez he pays for a cameraman. But *notice* his use of natural light, it makes a huge difference for the better. Also Currawong (Amos Barnett) mixes pleasant visuals with concise information, and gives good technical info on products. But he often speaks too quickly and softly. Good luck, Sam

[@1Dub79]

As an owner of the SHP9500 and the hd58x Jubilee, the hd58x is more of well-rounded headphone. The tight and clean bass is good. The clean sound and treble, along the imaging is what makes them great. The SHP9500 is great. Airy and ambient soundstage. That treble with the sibilance can be rough on my ears, depending on what I'm listening to. It's not, TOO harsh, but it is there. At times, I brace on those s,t, and z sounds.

[@mattialemboluscari8774]

Love that intro 🤩

[@pliedtka]

Awesome description, .... You get correct headphones.👍

[@fyrnabrwyrda]

ive been daily driving the shp9500 for years and was looking at buying the 58x. this video is perfect.

[@sig4974]

If you want rain?...then the UK especially, Wales, the Lake District and Scotland are recommend...Headphones, DAC's and amps etc are also readily available 👍

[@JoshuaValour]

I WOULD... but I still got family in the states, west coast specifically.

[@thegloriouspotato6223]

I love music in Headphone reviewer's videos. Especially yours.

[@SketchyChicken281]

I chucked a pair of Yaxi pads onto my 58X, made it more comfortable and elevated the bass a little without losing any detail (at least as far as I remember)

[@MrGreed2000]

really like your videos but in this one i gotta know where you got your hat - very hard to find plain good fitting dad caps - waiting on a HD58x i just ordered this morning and watching your reviews in anticipation thanks for the content!

[@mento730]

I have all 3 headphones and others and for some reason I always go to my HD558's. It just sounds right to me.

[@ultravioletxyz]

Best upgrade from the 558/559 imo is the 6xx, nice v shaped but not so v shaped where the mids don't exist, but just enough to have great bass and treble

[@nicholastoo858]

Thanks. Have you reviewed any Audio Technica headphnes? The ATH-R70x is the studio reference monitor. Would love to know how it compares with the DT 1990, and various Sennheisers.

[@agoogleuser9025]

Wonder if you could compare the KPH30i to these as well? I've got them recently together with the KSC75 and been wondering for which open-back upgrade (if I'll ever even need one!) I should go for in the future? I'd like to game and overall use the pair for everything from youtube browsing to spotify listening on a motherboard soundcard, also planning to get some budget/starter amp/dac.

[@thommohawk1216]

Haven't heard the HD58x but I do own the SHP9500 and I adore those for their openness and relaxed but present bass they sound so clear and are great for certain types of music - Michael Jackson sounds amazing on these to be fair.. I would also argue the SHPs are great for immersion gaming due to the openness works great for stuff like Resi 2 remake.

[@shahanv7]

this style of reviewing is better that the other one

[@Yahuah777]

Love the intro

[@FreddyBoyBoy]

that intro is dope

[@jeffberg8015]

I couldn't resist getting the 58X at the current price of $135 plus tax minus the $20 first purchase discount. I decided to upgrade from some cheap but fairly decent Aiwa phones that were about 20 years old and started by getting a Status Audio CB-1 which I was really impressed with. I then got the 58X because of the perceived value and to have a basis to start doing some comparisons. So far I have to say that I prefer the CB-1s. My first impression of the 58X is that it is perhaps more analytical than I'm used to, but seems colder as well. By comparison I find the CB-1s buttery smooth and balanced, with somewhat more assertive but not overbearing bass response and slightly less treble resolution. The soundstage though, while not wide on either, seems more smooth and even on the 58X, while it is more left, right, middle, with the CB-1. I think I'm going to reserve final judgement until I see how they both respond to a better amp. I'm currently running on a Fiio K3, which sounds pretty good to me but is IMO underpowered for the 58X. BTW I greatly enjoy these videos so keep up the good work.

[@RobNotANumber]

Thanks for discussing the 558's. I am even more confused what to get next. My fiancee has grabbed my 558's and I am left with the Momentum Over Ear v2's which hurt my head for long listening sessions. Am thinking the 6xx's but want some deep and accurate bass.

[@thegloriouspotato6223]

The 6xx has deeper bass, just less of it.

[@jakelarntz]

I kinda dig this mic over the other..

[@BunnyslippersEUC]

Ergo 1 or 2 are the headspeakers to get! I got the HD 558 new for 120euro...Score!! I love the wide soundstage and warm signature. More tuned towards male vocals but not a detailed sounding headphone. 9500 is not for sale in The Netherlands or on German Amazon. I also bought the Creative Labs Aurvana Live! 1 for 60euro. And it sounds better than my HD 558. It's ridiculously good.

[@douglepong]

Good review! The Phillips price point is all over the place. They go on sale a lot. Newegg seems to give everyone an opportunity to own these Phillip headphones at 99 dollars Canadian.

[@TygerQB]

Had the 558's for 6 years now. Love them to bits. I have been watching so many review wondering if their is a something else i should upgrade too. Would buy a dedicated headphone amp be a better purchase?

[@totoro6214]

i'd recommend watching his other video about the $10 dac/amp... which is actually an iphone dongle! it's amazing actually with 558 or even 58x

[@mythos000000025]

I love my hd558's, do wish I had a dac/amp to drive them a little better and I bought them new for$80, but they're great

[@SussyBaka-em9rq]

If you still don't have one than the Fosi Audio Dac Q4 is great for a very low price (compared to other Amp/Dac Combos)

[@pedecia]

I have the 58X, 6XX and the 598SE and 598CS. Love them all.... different signature between them... but...... The 58X is the one I use much more often.....

[@v_tourer5713]

Hi Pleiadian..!! Can u guide me which sounds better for the games and movies for better sound stage between hd598 and hd58X. Planning to get one among these.Thanks a ton...

[@pedecia]

@@v_tourer5713 58X all the way. There is not comparison. The 58x Bass, resolution and details retrival are in my opinion outstanding. Having over 20 different headphones I can say that the 58X is the best bang for bucks paid hands down. It is a open back headphone so people around you will listen what you listen also so if you need to play at night around people that are sleeping I would go more for a close back model but if it is not your situation then you will be very happy with the 58X.

[@v_tourer5713]

Thanks Pleiadian..!!! for the advice and quick reply. Since you said u have over 20 phones, I would like to know How does HD58X compares with AKG7XX, does the extra 40 bucks of 7XX makes it real worthy?

[@v_tourer5713]

Are the drivers of 701 and 702 the same?? Some reviews say 702 offer better with vocals and nice soundstage than 712., yet some claim 702 is unnaturally wide...ooh..sometimes I feel these reviews confuse me than clarifying... Is it better that I choose K712 or more flat k702 but with wider soundstage??

[@AlanGonzalez-ev6ur]

@@v_tourer5713 from what ive heard the 598 has much bigger soundstage but ive never tried then so what can I say

[@ChrisB-eb4fh]

hey @joshua - been watching lots of your stuff.. and this content with the environment noise using the yeti mic made me want to suggest you having a look at NVIDIA RTX Voice. AI active noise suppression that would have suppressed all of those noises without any post production needed. Appreciate you may not have the same issue again, you have your D3, or may not be recording to your gaming rig with a GTX or RTX card, but thought I would leave the tip anyway. Its impressive.

[@MrAhuraMazda]

The 9500s are like Street Fighter 2 for Super Nintendo. It's a respectable but inferior conversion. The 58x is like the PS1 version, basically flawless. And the 6xx is the Arcade

[@squidwardstesticles5914]

That makes a lot of sense lol

[@DoctorWhoNow01]

Lol you've said it in a better way than most reviewers

[@dankof]

Great comparison and video ! Just one quick question, should you get 558 or 598 at the same price ? Thanks and best regards !!!

[@thegloriouspotato6223]

598. They have the same driver, but the 558 has a piece of foam behind it which improves bass a little and muffles high end. However, the 598 has better build quality.

[@darkaheart]

Hey Josh, have you ever tried any of the Audio Technica Air Dynamic series headphones? or any Audio Technica future reviews? I been using the ATH-AD900X for a couple of years, so I'm looking for something new. I recently bought the Philips SHP9500 and I was quite disappointed, but can understand why people buy them. I'm scared to purchase the 58x because I'll hate to be disappointed.

[@peggycarter6460]

Which one is better for gaming? Btw I do care about base in gaming I don't want it to be too flat I wanna feel the bombs exploding and all but most importantly I wanna be able to tell where the enemy is standing so which one to pick regardless of the price.

[@charlesshepard6587]

Did you modify the 58X? No foam? - you can see the driver on yours not on mine.. and on the "Drop" site they promote them without foam.. which is weird.. making them look like 6XX.. do you know?

[@mikaelnilsson5912]

Did the 58x foam mod video happen? I can't find it. Would be cool to see If it might be worth to try it.

[@zebardyn]

great video. i have and love both, but my hd58xs are daily drivers - light, balanced and clean, and i like the closer soundstage for most applications (ymmv). what's the aftermarket cable you're using on your hd58x?

[@towsifshahriarshovo]

I have Shp9500, wanna upgrade and order 58x. Do they worth extra money??

[@zebardyn]

@@towsifshahriarshovo personally I would say yes. The SHP does mids very well, but the 58x gives you a bit more of everything. Mids are still great, but you get a bit more treble and bass extension. I recommend some aftermarket pads with some leather or pleather to further enhance the low end.

[@towsifshahriarshovo]

@@zebardyn thanks for the reply. Which pads dekoni one??

[@RLTrane]

Hey. Kind of an old video I don't know if you will see this. I had the shp9500 and I loved them but the loose clamp force was ridiculous so I got the 58x which I can tell are technically better in every way but I prefer the signature of the shp9500. Any recommendations for a better headphone with the shp9500 signature?

[@fAIntlyMusic69]

bought some 558s for $30 off a college kid, and was going to just flip them for maybe double, but wound up keeping them since they sounded better than I expected. Was going to buy the 58x, but after listening to these for a couple months, I don't see...hear a reason to do so.

[@lrerosa]

Believe it or not, the same day i watched this video (like a month from this post) i found a pair if 558s in a pawn shop which was an hour drive from my home. And man, it was totally worth the 60dls i pay. Now, i didn’t have an open back headphones before, but i have compared them to anything else i had around (even the most expensive steel series) and they triumph.

[@jasonandrews7355]

I'm currently rocking 518s (very similar to 558s,) and considering upgrading to 58Xs + a dedicated amp (rather than just straight into my PC.) That said, just saw a local FB ad for $25USD 558s, so I might check those out just for fun. Sell em on if nothing else.

[@aditya50499]

Nice comparison!!! I just wonder how can 58x being 150 ohms still sound pretty good directly with mobile phones... But, the velour pads are quite hard to clean, are the pleather type replacement pads available? The velour pads have been a deterrent for me for buying various open back headphones 😕

[@Hari-kx2er]

High sensitivity of HD58X being the reason

[@dantamulonis5566]

Does anyone know what cables Josh has on the HD58Xs? I don't like the way the cables that come with it look but love the ones he has there?

[@noobdad3216]

I have both, you can replace the pads on the shp9500s and it makes a huge difference.

[@squidwardstesticles5914]

For me personally the 9500’s win because of the value (I got them when they were still around $60) and because of the soundstage. I already have great sounding closed headphones, so if I’m buying open back cans, soundstage is a big factor for me. Plus I love them for gaming and the 3.5mm jack lets you use the vmoda boom pro mic, so they’re great for that.

[@bradhuskers]

Who would buy these, when the fidelio x2hr exists?

[@squidwardstesticles5914]

@@bradhuskers you mean the 9500s? Because they're cheaper and sound completely different

[@bradhuskers]

@@squidwardstesticles5914 I've been told that the x2hr is clearly superior in every aspect. But you have a different perspective?

[@squidwardstesticles5914]

@@bradhuskers well for one, price. And I've never listened to the x2 myself but I've heard it's a very v shaped headphone, which I usually don't like very much for most of the music I listen to. You can't really say one headphone is objectively better than another in every way unless they sound really similar because headphones are so subjective, so comparing headphones with very different sound signatures is an apples to oranges comparison. Some might like the x2’s v shape and think it’s better in every way, but people like me would probably prefer the signature of the 9500

[@bradhuskers]

@@squidwardstesticles5914 Oh. I see. I'm debating whether to get the x3. It's split 50/50. On which is better. Like you said, it's very Subjective.

[@billhepner3398]

I would have loved to have a set of HD 58x but opted for the Phillips 9500s and modded them with BRAINWAVZ XL pads and a V-MODA BoomPro Microphone.

[@dusanluptak4437]

Hello, kind question to Josh or to someone who owns HD558 and Ananda. I am aware of the technology and price differencies but I would like to know if the difference between them in reality is like night & day ? Worthy 700$ (640euro) in sale. 2nd question - would be a dac/amp like FiiO KA3 an improvement for HD558 ? Hopefully someone will reply. Thank you in advance.

[@m4nc1n1]

Thank you for this. I own the 9500's and just ordered the 58x's from eBay for $159 so this was perfect lol. Actually couldn't believe someone did it. I personally think the 58x's will crush my 9500's running off of my Schiit Stack (Heresey/Modi black) but it will be fun to find out.

[@RLTrane]

Hey did you buy them from cymbal communications on eBay? They had a bunch for $159 and I saw a bunch of people bought. I bought them but wondered how they were able to sell for $10 less than massdrop.

[@m4nc1n1]

@@RLTrane yes I did and they are fantastic 👍

[@RLTrane]

@@m4nc1n1 that's a relief. I get mine early next week.

[@beingdreamy1048]

Any comparison for the SHP9500 and 58x? What do you recommend in terms of gaming and music? Planning to buy one 😁

[@DGardn100]

How does the soundstage of the 9500 compare to that of the AKG M220 Pro?

[@gamingfish6773]

Do you prefer your hd58x without the foam over stock?

[@andrewlau0]

I love the new intro Josh! It's real testament to how professional you've gotten at making these videos. Thanks for what you do and keep up the good work. On the topic of Sennheiser's, does a classic DJ headphone like the HD 25 still have a place in an audiophile's collection given all the attention that the HD 580/600s/800s receive?

[@adamnikodem90]

hi what would you recommend. I got hd558 for long time already on 3rd set of ear caps, just bought 9500 but it's disappointing. I think im same boat as you, what would be noticeable upgrade in x00 $ is range, I was thinking about hd800 but i need something to drive Easly on pc without any extra amps.mostly need comfort as hd558 and clear sound,really enjoy my dt demand d11 i do use arcam avr30 as amp for home theater and music

[@unalloyedbee8691]

I’m coming from a razer headset and I am want an accurate, natural, and detailed set of cans. I have an amp and dac stack in mind but I am debating on these two headphones.

[@aethertech]

You're going to want to compare the Sivga SV005 and SV007 to the 9500 and 58X. *and I'd suggest velour pads on the 007.*

[@mattrismatt]

Yes! I put Brainwavz XL Velours on my SV007. (Some thin, soft padding keeps the over-sized pads from coming off.) I also carefully removed all of the coverings over the driver... and added some dampening material on the inside of the wooden earcups. (Had to remove the driver housings first.) Even without these mods - and only a pad swap - these are giant (HD58X) killers!

[@georgeczako7899]

What do you think: The Sennheiser HD58x or the AKG K7xx is better?

[@solsthiem3329]

58x

[@CXLIII]

So I've decided between like 3 or 4 headphones. The sennheiser hd58x, the sennheiser hd558, the beyerdynamics custom studio(or something like the custom one area) or for like replacement of the 558 I found sennheiser hd559 kind of close

[@garyluciani370]

The Senn. 579 is the newer version of the Senn. 558. The Senn 559 is the newer version of the Senn. 518. I own both 518 and 558, they are sort of similar but the 518 has more bass and less treble than the 558.

[@donspenard1652]

what exactly is the mod and model for the fostex cans you speak of...

[@o.f.ftrack3444]

I have the 558, 599 and 660s. The 558 is easily one of the best bargains out their at their current price($50-80). I bought them brand new in 2012 for $179(retail) as my first major audiophile purchase. I didn't even know that the 598 existed so I thought the 558 was the best headphone that sennheiser made. Especially since they were the best headphones i had heard up to that point and it wasn't until I got online and went to sennheisers website that I realized I bought a mercedes C-Class relatively speaking when I saw the 600, 650, 700 and 800.

[@alossson1865]

I have the hifiman hd 350 (Massdrop) and the k7xx and I love both of them. I've seen a lot of hype about the shp9500 and I've always wanted to check them out. Should I get them or would you guys think it's not worth it?

[@tarx1178]

Im no audiophile, but I dont think so... very little if any, clamping force. Headband gets uncomfortable as I have to set it at the lowest number setting to try to keep it on because it just keeps falling off my head thereby making my crown just constantly being pressed down on. Sound is imo, meh. Its clear. Not much bass. Good soundstage. Earpads suck.. modded with hm5 sheepskin to make it better including clamp...still not good enough though.. soundwise, found x2's to be much better.

[@evan9659]

SHP9500 or Status Audio CB-1? For music and gaming

[@krypto_9872]

I had bought the HD598 brand new about 8 years ago for $120 CAD (about 90 US dollars) for a black Friday sale. They still work fine to this very day, except i have replaced the ear pads once. The 5x9 series now is so overpriced at like 330 Cad(252 USD) for a 599. It's actually cheaper to ship a HD6xx from the USA than to buy a brand new 599 or even 579. Too bad the Sundara is $500 over here while the HD600 is about $450.

[@ahmedhq1431]

Is a 9500 good for gaming like pubg or fortnight and is it come with a mic??

[@iowaudioreviews]

I got the Koss KSC75 and KPH30i for under $50. Now I'm selling my SHP9500, Audio Technica M50X-BT, and Steel Series Siberia V2. I like using the KPH30i for gaming as well.

[@agoogleuser9025]

Hey there! Love your review on the KSC75. Wonder if you could also review the KPH30i and compare them to the SHP9500 for gaming? BTW do you have plans to get the 58x in the future as well?

[@noturnleftunstoned72]

I agree with the 558 comments you made. In fact, I may be an absolute lunatic, but I enjoy the 558's more than the 6xx. Crazy huh? I have had both now for over 2.5 years and in terms of just a dynamic, very fun sound with beautiful mids, a nice tight thumpy bass section as well as terrific soundstage, the 558's make me much happier when listening, I forget about being analytic and just have such a ball listening to the music. No fatigue, harshness or lack of anything really. If you can find 558's on the secondary market that you can afford, buy them. Forget about modding them as they are perfectly fine. peace.

[@kevlar218]

Do they make a headphone that has the HD598's huge soundstage and the HD58X sound signature? Is that what the HD660S is all about? I have never heard the HD558 but for reference I love the Sennheiser "sound" and own the HD598 (Open and Closed versions), HD58X, HD600, and the HD6XX. They all possess something I like but at the same time each one is lacking in a particular area. The HD58X has my favorite sound signature but lacks the resolution and imaging that you get from the HD600 and also could be a tad more spacious like the HD598 (Open). I don't even know if a headphone like that exists but it's something I would see as my endgame. Looking forward to seeing what your upcoming video has to say about modding the HD58X and how it changes the sound.

[@rf14dmb]

Great videos...but who LOVES the rain?!

[@jackjack3874]

Hey.. 2 things.. 1. I could not find the video you mention in the beginning about 58x without the foam. Pls point me to it 2. Do you prefer the sound without the foam?

[@dragocat1]

I think it opens them up. Had my foam out and now there my go to headphones.

[@karbonkevin919]

Hey Josh! I want to get an amp but would I also need a dac with the amp? Or just am amp? I'm planning on getting the massdrop thx amp. Yet don't know much about it.

[@dannybos7024]

Do your research before you're going to buy random shit

[@antoinep9733]

I like this casual style just as much as the slick flashy productions. Come here for your opinions. You really need to work on your t-shirt game if you want to improve your Metal571 impressions. Black would be a good starting point.

[@metal571]

Yeah and not enough blocking of the mouth with giant pop filters

[@cybon4687]

Can I get new pads for my HD558 somewhere ? I have a pair but they are totally worn out, both the top and the pads have evaporated xD

[@Leonhart_93]

All the velour pads for the 500 series are the same, as far as I know. There are also some microfiber closed ones for the 569 and 598cs, but those should be the only ones different.

[@zblus]

558s are great!

[@Who_Does]

what's a good jump from SHP9500 where I'd notice a significant difference without having to spend a lot more?

[@dannybos7024]

What's your budget?

[@donvittoriosierra]

For use with a semi low power DAP, I think the 9500 may be the better option

[@Skylancer727]

I have the 598 which I hear has the same driver as the 558. I use it more for gaming than much else (I like the more loose bass for action games). Sony's tend to be pretty good for that. I know I have this really odd pair, the Sony HW700, which wires to your entertainment system with HDMI and transmits at 2.4 or 5Ghz wifi with virtual 9.1 surround. Those things have some of the deepest sound stage I've ever heard with obnoxiously loose bass. Unfortunately, being that it only accepts HDMI and optical, it's uses are pretty limited. Also, you must run it pass through to get audio via HDMI. Running HDMI to it but not to the TV doesn't work. Other good choices would probably be the Sony MDR-Z7 (or the MK2) and the monoprice retros.

[@Isaac_L..]

Bought 558 based off this video. First audiophile headphone. Can’t wait to try them out.

[@noddlecake329]

Nice

[@tmicygon5435]

How was it?

[@Isaac_L..]

I’ve tried about a half a dozen headphones since getting my 558s and I keep coming back. They’re nothing crazy but they’re extremely comfortable and are really good at dynamics in music (the quietest and loudest parts of the song). For me they’re perfect. I’m looking into securing a second pair for when this one dies.

[@Isaac_L..]

Sorry for the late reply

[@zblus]

Wrong b-roll at 11:00?

[@mikediezel0923]

What's the best closed back audiophile headphones under 150 and 100?

[@idk4071]

Go and try the ATH-M40X

[@leadfootfoot1474]

Thanks for a good review and comparison. I do have one concern which you didn't cover. Every good quality pair of headphones I've ever used has a break-in period. Brand new out of the box they usually exhibit one or more of these characteristics: "thin" overall sound, shrill treble, excessive sibilance, "shouty" vocals, narrow soundstage. They need a break-in period of anywhere from 50 to 100 hours of playing time at low to medium volume BEFORE they reach their best performance. Only then can we judge them fairly. While i don't doubt your experience or hearing ability, I am wondering if you gave the Philips SHP9500 a sufficient break-in period at not-really-loud volume settings. If not, maybe you could revisit the 9500 after some additional break-in time. What say you?

[@soilgreen]

What about the HD58X vs Audio Technica WS1100is’s?

[@ThotsAndPrayers]

Too much bass on ws1100 imo

[@Viewer13128]

did you mod the sennheiser hd558 and remove the strip of dampener, or do you enjoy it with the strip?

[@dmarcus1260]

Yeah I love the rain too. Can’t stand California’s long hot dry summers that create a major fire hazard, especially with the Santa Ana winds in the fall. Digging your more laid back approach a little more but either way you’re the best headphone reviewer imho.