HD555 (modded) upgrade

tbh i'm not sure there's a big enough difference between the hd598 i had and the k712 i have. at least not enough difference for the extra cost of the headphones and needing an amp on top. Maybe hold off as the hd598 might come up for £75 in the boxing day sales again. It was the all black se version too (god knows who put the cream and brown pair together in a brainstorm and thought they look good)

Just my opinion
 
you can't see them on your head and you shouldn't be out in public with open backs :D

whilst style is important for photos and making people salivate before they test them, What noise they make should be all that really matters.
 
darreny said:
tbh i'm not sure there's a big enough difference between the hd598 i had and the k712 i have. at least not enough difference for the extra cost of the headphones and needing an amp on top. Maybe hold off as the hd598 might come up for £75 in the boxing day sales again. It was the all black se version too (god knows who put the cream and brown pair together in a brainstorm and thought they look good)

Just my opinion
Click to expand...

Really, if it's that close it's not worth £250 on some cans and nearly another £200 on a card then, think I will just go for the 598's, surely they have to be a little better than my old 555's, it's 2 generations newer.
 
Depends did you like the sound of the 555 modded? if so you'll like the senn sound of the 598 if you're looking for something different you may need to look farther afield.
 
Well yeah, the 555's with a sound card blew me away back in the day, I'll look further afield to be blown away again. Playing R6 siege and hearing some-one walk down a corridor with your gun already lined up at their head is bliss. Not sure if this is the SB Z or the headphones or both. Having more of this over the 555's would be worth the upgrade.
 
My advice is get the best you can afford for the type of music you listen to or for games then don't read up anymore on headphones ever lol
 
yeah sounds like a good plan 650's or 712's will be gracing my headphone standing in the next 2 weeks then that's it for me unless i suddenly come into to some cash :D
 
There is only one sure way to make a decision like this - try them yourself, even if you have to send them back, at least you will know. Advice from others can only take you so far because you are relying on somebody else's ears and sense of hearing and we are all different. To me, the difference between my AKG K702s and HD650s is immense, they are at opposite ends of the spectrum, which is why I use the K702s for gaming and the HD650s for music, they are both playing to their strengths.
 
rids57 said:
There is only one sure way to make a decision like this - try them yourself, even if you have to send them back, at least you will know. Advice from others can only take you so far because you are relying on somebody else's ears and sense of hearing and we are all different. To me, the difference between my AKG K702s and HD650s is immense, they are at opposite ends of the spectrum, which is why I use the K702s for gaming and the HD650s for music, they are both playing to their strengths.
Click to expand...

I would have,

but someone bought our 650's for 309.99 lol
 
Hi Born,

I was in the same position you were earler this year - my 555s (albeit unmodded) were in an awful state. I picked up a pair of 650s and run them through a Soundblaster ZX. The first thing you'll notice is that they are very much louder. At first they don't sound as impressive as you'd perhaps you'd hope but that's because they're not adding anything to the music. They're much more accurate than the 555s and are far far better for voices in particular (especially female ones).

With regards to amplification the ZX can handle them with ease - you can do a swap now and then when you have spare cash you can upgrade later and take advantage of its ability to pair with even fairly high end amps.

With regards to gaming it's very good for most things but I suspect there are better headsets for pinpoint triangulation in FPS games (not sure as my last three headsets were all Sennheiser - still have my Anniversary Ovations but they really are in an awful state - I'd send them for repair but I think Sennheiser would just laugh).

The other thing to take notice of is that as these are open backed so they leak far more noise - definitely not cans for people who share a room... on the other hand they are much more comfortable than the 555s and they are well made unlike the appalling cheap plastic used in the 555s.

All in all I definitely recommend them - they're an immidiate upgrade on the 555s with the option to further upgrade via amplification as funds allow - I certainly don't regret mine at all (and they cost more then than now).
 
Hi DinAlt thanks for the great input really handy having some-one that's got the T-shirt.
You say the SB Z(X) can handle the 650's, did you then later upgrade to include an amp as well, if so what was the difference?
Gaming is my main use for the headsets but I do like to listen to music from time to time and enjoy it sounding how it's intended. How do the 650's compare to the 555 in gaming and pin pointing sounds?
Do they leak more than the 555's? My missis already moans at them.

Thanks again.
 
Actually ATM on the PC I've stuck with the ZX - like you most of my pc time is spent on games, when I listen to music I use the proper HiFi in my lounge.

A real warning if your wife doesn't like the 555s she'll hate the 650s - they leak far far more... The other thing is you will turn the volume right down on the ZX as they are far far more sensitive. Personally most of my game time is spent after my wife goes to bed but the PC is in another room so its not a problem. Its hard to sum it up but I'd say they have a definite "family" sound but clearer and with far more detail.

Edit - forgot to answer the query about pinpointing sound - dont think I've played any serious FPS since I bought them so not needed pin point accuracy but there's definitely a lot of directional information - for instance in Diablo 3 you can tell where mobs are even off screen by the sound (thinking particularly of Treasure Goblins if you know the games).
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom