Headphones at OcUK - An Update

melmac said:
Hi,

It's great to see Overclockers supply decent headphones. I understand that you want to keep the number pretty small at the start, but, don't limit your range too much as there are a lot of people who like open and other people who like closed and there are some decent semi open phones out there are well. I would try to supply 3 or 4 of each type.

Here are some models that I think would sell really well.

Superlux 668B,
JVC HA RX900,
JVC HA RX700,
Beyerdynamic DT990 pro,
Beyerdynamic DT 770,
Sennheiser HD 558,
Creative Aurvana live (both versions, 1 and 2)
Audio Technica AD700,
Philips Fidelio X1

There are other great phones out there, but I think these models would cover most of the bases.
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HD 558 aren't that good and the AD700 is EOL
 
Cookeh said:
Momentum is a waste of time. It's just a more 'stylish' HD25-1 II with metal covers (some claims this affects the timbre of the headphone, but thats absolute crap) with a higher price tag.

HD25-1 II isn't ideal for gaming either, it's a portable headphone through and through and doesn't have the widest of soundstages.

With regards to DT770 vs DT990 for gaming, the latter will be better as it is open, allowing for a greater soundstage and to a lesser extent greater clarity - key factors in gaming headphones.
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Think your being a bit harsh - Momentums are a great set of headphones even if you are paying a bit extra for style over the HD25 (though lately its kind of evened out price wise infact I'll double check later but I think they are pretty much equal cost per unit just different retailer markup). Sure they are a portable headset and application to gaming will be a bit subject to taste but they have decent clarity and a reasonable enough soundstage for what they are.

Problem for OcUK would probably be keeping the pricing keen against the main 2 suppliers for the UK market.
 
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I would agree with you entirely if the HD25-1s didn't exist. They are literally HD25-1 internals and frame with a different casing and a hike in price (admittedly not checked in a little while). Simply pointless as long as the HD25-1s are around :p

Theyvarent bad for gaming, no, and their portability makes them easy to drive but its not really what they are geared up for and I feel that initially OcUK needs to focus on gaming headphones first to establish or gauge a market for them.
 
HD25-1 II are showing as unavailable on our system for some reason so can't compare against current prices for buying in.
 
Psycho Sonny said:
HD 558 aren't that good and the AD700 is EOL
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The 558 are a really good headphone for the price. As good as the 598 after you take out the black tape stuck to the inside of the cup, A very simple mod. The 598 and the 558 use nearly identical housing and identical drivers, right down to the same part numbers.

Yes, the AD700 is EOL but they still can be got and if they can't get them, The new model is called the AD700x. I am pretty sure the staff here would work it out.
 
Cookeh said:
Momentum is a waste of time. It's just a more 'stylish' HD25-1 II with metal covers (some claims this affects the timbre of the headphone, but thats absolute crap) with a higher price tag.

HD25-1 II isn't ideal for gaming either, it's a portable headphone through and through and doesn't have the widest of soundstages.

With regards to DT770 vs DT990 for gaming, the latter will be better as it is open, allowing for a greater soundstage and to a lesser extent greater clarity - key factors in gaming headphones.
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I agree with all of this post :)
 
melmac said:
The 558 are a really good headphone for the price. As good as the 598 after you take out the black tape stuck to the inside of the cup, A very simple mod. The 598 and the 558 use nearly identical housing and identical drivers, right down to the same part numbers.

Yes, the AD700 is EOL but they still can be got and if they can't get them, The new model is called the AD700x. I am pretty sure the staff here would work it out.
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Load of rubbish about you can turn a 558 into a 598.

You could do it with a 555 to mod into a 595.

But with the 558 some parts are completely different, the mod makes it sound better but still nowhere near a 598. Head fi backs this up.
 
Psycho Sonny said:
Load of rubbish about you can turn a 558 into a 598.

You could do it with a 555 to mod into a 595.

But with the 558 some parts are completely different, the mod makes it sound better but still nowhere near a 598. Head fi backs this up.
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Lol, no, sorry. I had both at the same time. Simple mod, remove the black tape that's stuck to the inside of the cup. Look it up and then come back and tell me its rubbish. And if you ever have both the 558 and 598 take them apart, same part numbers, same drivers like identical drivers. The only difference between them is the different pattern on the housing and the black tape stuck on the inside of the 558.

The 558 with the mod comes very close to the 598. And that's why I suggested it.
 
I use Sennheiser RS180 wireless headphones - they're awesome and I couldn't go back to wired.

As desktop microphones are kinda bad - I splashed out on a studio mic with arm (just for gaming). You could offer a blue yeti or something.
 
Psycho Sonny said:
Load of rubbish about you can turn a 558 into a 598.

You could do it with a 555 to mod into a 595.

But with the 558 some parts are completely different, the mod makes it sound better but still nowhere near a 598. Head fi backs this up.
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I've done the mod and they sound really close, hard to say they are identical but close enough that it's a better buy, unless you want the sexy colour.
 
rids57 said:
here's the mod and according to the reviewer it makes the 558 sound even better than the 598
http://www.headfonia.com/sennheisers-new-hd558-and-hd598/3/
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In his opinion the mod gave the mid-range more presence which was his preference - don't think that entirely qualifies it as "better".

Not sure selling something like that on the basis it can be modded to produce better results (even for a company like overclockers) is the most sound :D from a business sense however.

I do think the Momentum range could have potential if OcUK can manage to keep prices keen on them as there is a fair bit of general interest in those headphones, the Creative Aurvana live are always a good bet and wouldn't go amiss to have a couple of options from the Beyerdynamic DT open and closed range.

EDIT: Might give the Momentums a bit more of an extended test for general PC use as I like something comfortable, lightweight and on-ear for longer periods of single player and while listening to music in the background while doing general desktop stuff though I'd never use them for online competitive gaming.
 
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which is why I said "according to the reviewer"
Also, he said "I think the advantage of the modded HD558 will be more beneficial for the majority of music listeners, while the more open HD598 treble only for instrumentals and classical listeners." which, to me at least, would lean towards the modded 558's sounding better (unless I listened to instrumental and classical music exclusively)

ps. this was just in reply to Psycho Sonny and melmac, not a basis for selling them on OcUK.
 
My post in a way was meant more as a general reply to the whole topic on them just quoted you as it was the more recent.

Headphones do look like a complete ballache to deal with - I don't work in purchasing though I have access to some of the system at work as part of my job, so much stuff is showing as unavailable for what _should_ be easily flowing lines its like they (the brands) don't actually want to make money.
 
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Yeah, when it comes to headphones I think OcUK need to keep the choices simple, at least to start with and concentrate on known performers at the entry to lower mid range. Going with the CAL to start with was a good idea, it's cheap, it's a decent performer and it is the unrivalled boss at it's price point. Finding others that can do the same won't be so easy.
 
I'm on my phone atm so I cannot look it up properly but many people say that the HD 558 to 598 mod is not real.

The 555 to 595 mod however worked perfectly.

Also parts like the grill as well as some others are different.

The drivers are also different from head fi reviews
 
Are they wired up exactly the same? Use the same wiring?

Plus 558's are hardly cheap the price difference between them and 598's is a few quid. 598 were as low as £140 brand new a couple of months back.

The mod doesn't make it a 598 but it opens it up more. 598 is still built better.
 
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