HD555 issues

1kiwi · 4 Jun 2009 at 10:31

Guys,

I just recieved the above headphones last night and upon testing them with COD4 i noticed that while the sound was a little clearer (than my old cheep Sonys), however the sound of the AK and bass in general was quite tinny. Is this common?

NB: using Asus Xonar DX

neil_g · 4 Jun 2009 at 10:34

i think they need running in to loosen up the cones or something from reading other threads in here..

gt_junkie · 4 Jun 2009 at 11:09

Yeah, if brand new they'll benefit from running in a little. You might also have to slightly adjust the bass balance as 555's aren't massive bass monsters.

Great headphones though - once you get them run in and the sound tailored to how you like it you'll be dead chuffed with them.

gt

p4radox · 4 Jun 2009 at 11:15

Give them a while to settle in. This is 50% physical and 50% psychological, but I guarantee that after using them for a few weeks, going back to cheap headphones will sound like hell.

TheBigCheese · 4 Jun 2009 at 12:41

Ha ha, I've just changed from using a 5.1 setup to using my (already run in) HD595s via an amp for COD4...let's just say I've had people accusing me of "OMFGWALLHAX!!?!!94 because I can shoot through walls as I hear people running on the other side of them.

And I killed someone in a room above me in the same way the other day lol...give em a few days and there is no way you can go back!

1kiwi · 4 Jun 2009 at 12:57

Ok, sounds good. I havn't really changed the sound settings since installing my Xonar DX - any tips?

Participant · 4 Jun 2009 at 13:40

TheBigCheese said:
Ha ha, I've just changed from using a 5.1 setup to using my (already run in) HD595s via an amp for COD4...let's just say I've had people accusing me of "OMFGWALLHAX!!?!!94 because I can shoot through walls as I hear people running on the other side of them.

And I killed someone in a room above me in the same way the other day lol...give em a few days and there is no way you can go back!

What amp? I'm wanting to amp my 555s.

1kiwi · 4 Jun 2009 at 17:01

What about this guys: http://www.hi-end.on9mart.com/cart/QP_A1.html

^^ don't think the above link is classed as a competitor?

1kiwi · 5 Jun 2009 at 08:51

Anyone?

gt_junkie · 5 Jun 2009 at 09:00

Possibly...

However, since you're using them for your PC i'd consider a Beresford DAC/amp combo. The 7510 is around £137 and the 7520 comes in at around £186.

Great performance and because you're using the digital output from the PC the soundstage doesn't have the inherrant buzz that most PC's produce when an onboard card outputs and analogue signal.

gt

geekyEd · 5 Jun 2009 at 10:08

for one of these external amps Im guessing you would just use the optical output from your motherboard?

gt_junkie · 5 Jun 2009 at 10:34

BluZiff said:
for one of these external amps Im guessing you would just use the optical output from your motherboard?

Yep - if it has a dac the optical or coaxial output would be fine.

I've used my Beresford with several boards and all have worked faultlessly.

gt

geekyEd · 5 Jun 2009 at 10:48

and better sound than a sound card of the same value I'm guessing?

Apologies for all the questions im kinda new to this external amp idea

gt_junkie · 5 Jun 2009 at 11:08

Definately - by a very decent margin in my honest opinion.

I've used X-Fi's and Xonar's combined with a ProJect HeadBox II in the past and the Beresford was in another league.

Both those setups represented similar cost too.

gt

1kiwi · 5 Jun 2009 at 14:03

GT: The 7510, is that not just a preamp - do i not need a separate amp to power it? PS: Can't find it anywhere

EDIT: Found it, can be had from beresford direct for £107

gt_junkie · 5 Jun 2009 at 14:08

No need to worry - it's got a headphone amp onboard.

As for the price it's 'pre vat' and 'pre delivery'. If you go through the checkout on the site the total comes to around £137.

gt

1kiwi · 5 Jun 2009 at 14:09

And you have one? What improvments did you see going from the HD555's -> using a DAC/Head phone amp?

gt_junkie · 5 Jun 2009 at 14:29

Yup,

I saw a pretty big difference when compared to my older set up consisting of a PC soundcard (both an X-Fi and a Xonar DX) and a ProJect Headbox II.

Soundstage and transients were better presented but the most noticeable change came down to the background noise.

PC's are an inherantly noisy environment and so soundcards have a hard time producing a 'quiet' analogue output. The best way to combat that is to send the digital signal outside the case to a DAC and let that convert and amplify it.

During a quiet passage of music i could detect an electronic 'buzz' with the soundcard Project combo. Whereas the Beresford was essentially silent.

When you consider that the X-Fi/Xonar and Project combo cost around £160 the Beresford does very well IMO.

gt

P.S: I've used 555's, 595's and presently 650's on the 7510 and all have sounded excellent.

1kiwi · 6 Jun 2009 at 13:26

Thanks GT - i left them on over night to run them in and they now sound better - i must admit though that they do lack bass, especially when play DnB, Hip Hop etc

skippy2421 · 7 Jun 2009 at 05:01

i had the same first impressions, run them in and tweak your settings to get the sound you desire, my hd555s no longer lack bass. Trust me they get better and better with time, might pay if you run them through some form of amp tho. I often run these through my NAD stereo amp, sound improves greatly.