Welcome to my review of the Sennheiser HD598se headphones. 

The Key Specifications 

– Coupling Around-Ear Around

– Transducer Principle Open Back 

– Impedance 50 Ω

– Frequency Response 12 – 38,500 Hz 

– Sound Pressure Level (SPL) 112 dB (1kHz / 1Vrms) 

– Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) <0.1% (1kHz, 100dB) 

– Weight (with cable) 315 g

– In the Box HD 598 Special Edition headphone / Cable 1: 3m copper cable (OFC) / 6.3mm straight plug / Cable 2: 1.2m audio cable 

The Hardware

These are a premium, audiophile-grade over-ear, open back headphones by Sennheiser. The headband is padded and the ear pads and covered in a luxurious velour. You can listen to these headphones for as long as you like. They are extremely comfortable!! Two cable options are provided a 3m and 1.2m included along with 3.5mm adapter plug. The difference between the Special Edition and standard HD598 is the Special Edition come only in black and include the 1.2m cable terminated with a 3.5mm plug for portable devices and smartphones. These headphones do not fold. Sennheiser uses their own engineered transducers that use aluminium voice coils to deliver high efficiency, excellent dynamics and low distortion. Also note that as these are open back headphones, sound pours out of these. So not ideal unless using in private.

The Audio Quality and Sound Experience

Whilst you can connect these and play sound straight from your smartphone, that will be a complete travesty as these open back premium headphones from Sennheiser are magical. First I recommend a burn in of 100 hours minimum. Next if you do use a phone as your source, make sure you have a Chord Mojo, or Oppo HA-2 as a minimum to power these headphones. Better still spend £1,000 on a decent DAC/Amp and get transported into a different world as you listen to your music. The sound stage is HUGE. Layering, voices and instruments are all finely placed. Bass is fast and impactful dependent on the track you are listening too. These are my selfish headphones. Headphones I use when I want to hear my music properly. I say selfish, as everybody else in the room can hear exactly what I am listening too as well.

Conclusion

At under £200 these headphones are brilliant. Ideal for all genres. But they most be powered by a reasonable amp/dac to bring out the best in these superb headphones from Sennheisers. Highly recommended.

More info and deals on Sennheiser HD598 Special Edition Over-Ear Headphones – Black at Amazon UK

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