Sennheiser HD 590 Prestige High-Definition Headphones + Bonus

 Fantastic Audio Experience!
After one month of listening I say: Wow, these sound great!

Considerations which influenced my purchase: I wanted to plug-in to a variety of sources. I didn't want to mess around with a separate headphone amp. Also, comfort wearing headphones for hours at a time while watching movies was a consideration. Personal trial comparisons were out because the local audio market isn't large enough to support a wide range of options so after reading the reviews of several models I just googled for price and dealer comparisons. Ended up paying $181.24 + shipping through an Amazon affiliate called a_hallelectronics@yahoo.com out of Phoenix (no phone number!). Headphones were sent USPS Priority Mail, a good thing because the padded manilla envelope was totally insufficient... granted, it didn't show signs of having suffered any impacts, but I'm chalking that up to blind luck. A solid box was definitely called for given the price/quality of the item.

I listen to a wide range of music: Classical, jazz, rock, new age, folk and world beat. The sound is transparent and bright with no trace of harshness even with Depeche Mode. Very uplifting!

 Intro to Audiophile Headphones
If you think that you have a discerning ear and you don't want to spend a ton of money on headphones the hd-590s are the best place to get your feet wet. I did a bit of research and chose these over the comp grado's for personal aural peculularities. So, do your own investigation. These Headphones will not disappoint.

 Quite good for the price
These are great, great headphones, at bargain price. I've used them mostly with a NAD C340 amplifier but also did some listening with cheap portable players. They are extremely comfortable, which is always a plus if you plan to listen for a long time. The structure looks good, very lightweight, but I still think some of the plastics used look too cheap, I guess build quality in general looks cheap, the glue under the Sennheiser rubber strip on the top, etc. Maybe Sennheiser decided to focus the cost on the transducers, because they sound a lot better than they look.

Even so, not all that fragile, design is very effective, the headband is large and adjustable, the soft cloth pads are very pleasant. Overall, these headphones are EXTREMELY comfortable, probably the most comfortable headphones I have ever tried. The longevity of the HD590 is assured since all vital components can be replaced when damaged. The OFC cable has the usual detachable mini-jack (one wire only, attaches to left transducer) always useful if you keep tripping on the cable or need an extension. The velour pads are also easy to remove (which is good since they seem to pick up dust like a vacuum cleaner). Also, keep in mind that they are very permeable to ambient noise because of the open design. If you plan to use them in noisy environments, that might be a problem.

When it comes to sound, some people think the treble is inexplicably sharp and intrusive, probably making these more adequate for jazz and classical. They are indeed very bright, but I don't find them fatiguing or excessively harsh. True, these excel in detail with classical and all acoustic, but also sound pretty decent with completely different sounds from Rage Against the Machine to Bauhaus. Very high resolution, with natural bass, not too punchy, but enough to please most listeners.

Yes it is true, the Sennheiser HD 600 are also amazing headphones, a lot darker than these, but still great. There is a catch however, at 300 ohms the 600 need lots of juice, definitely not easy to drive with maximum quality unless you have a dedicated headphone amp or a very good integrated amp. The 590 don't need a dedicated amp, at only 120 ohms nominal impedance, they are easy to drive, even from laptops, portables and other low output sources. When it comes to sound quality, there's really nothing like picking a few models and listening before choosing (to the right CDs). Your opinion might be completely different. To me, while not perfect, these are definitely in my list of favourite non-electrostatic headphones. I also own the pricier Sony MDR-CD3000 (a fairly high-end model often considered superior to such beasts as the Grado RS-1, the HD 600/650 and the AKG K1000) and comparing the two I can say that at about 33% of the 3000's price, the 590 sound very, very good. Ok, so not as good as the 3K, but still great value for money in the market of circum-aural open headphones.

 Sennheiser = Pure Audio Bliss
I originally was educated about the audio beauty of Sennheiser headphones over 5 years ago, having only experienced the most basic of Sony headphones that you would get at a local electronics store. I was under the assumption that headphones are headphones, what could possibly be different about a pair with a name I had never heard of versus a pair made by an electronic giant like Sony? As I slipped the Sennheisers on my ears, I never looked back.

Ignorance was NOT bliss in this case.

Soon after I got to experience what music is supposed to sound like, I quickly purchased a pair of Sennheiser headphones of my own and have enjoyed them ever since. From their cool, velvety feel to the crispness of audio clarity, I challenge anyone to find a headphone manufacturer that exceed Sennheiser.

My Sennheisers have given me hours upon hours of sonic joy and I guarantee you will not be disappointed if you give them a chance. Are Sennheiser headphones more expensive? Are Mercedes more expensive? I am sure if you ask a Mercedes owner to give up their keys for a Ford they would laugh at your just as quickly as I would if someone wanted to replace my Sennheiser headphones with a Sony pair from Best Buy.

You will NOT be disappointed.

***** HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION

 Simply the best!
I'm a radio DJ, and from my experience, Sennheiser is the way to go. While I'd avoid their earbuds like the plague (I hate all buds in general), any Sennheiser phones will do your ears justice.

Near the top of the range, Sennheiser's HD series, specifically, the HD-590's, are incredible. They're light, super comfortable if you wear them for extended time periods, and offer crystal clear reproduction. These phones offer a nice long cord that can be replaced if it becomes damaged.

If this set has a downside, it's that there is some sound bleed from the outside. Translation: People around you will know what you're listening to. I figured at the price that Sennheiser would have included a bag or something to carry them in, but it was not to be. They spent their money where it counts, the sound.

It's important if you are purchasing high-end headphones that you properly break them in. I recommend plugging these into an amplifier and tuning music at a moderate level for approximately 6-8 hours. You'll notice a difference in the sound quality.

Buy Sennheiser and experience the difference.

 The Cleanest, Most Dynamic Headphones I've ever Owned
I use these headphones exclusively on my home computer with the Sound Blaster Audigy sound card, and with my iPod. These are the richest and cleanest sounding headphones that I've ever owned. The dymamic range is excellent, good clean bass and good clean highs. Definitely worth the price of admission.