You've made me desire a pair of HD555... even if I have an almost new pair of HD650 that I never use. Maybe it's...too much respect 🙄
555 is nothing special, just excellent value. They certainly sound better than HD280, though - HD280 are good for sealed headphones, but that's a big qualification. Good bass though, for anyone who finds that important.
I advise you to accept the offer to trial a headphone amp - I've not heard that particular design, but I've heard that it outperforms the BUF634 design I use.
I advise you to accept the offer to trial a headphone amp - I've not heard that particular design, but I've heard that it outperforms the BUF634 design I use.
HD238 is a good portable headphone, although I'm not sure if it's really that much better than the cheaper PX100 (which unfairly cops some flack from its "sealed" (poorly) and "noise cancelling" varients, the PX200 etc. Those are rubbish). The PX100 is a remarkable headphone for the price, and absolutely tiny.
My personal headphones are HD-25-1-II's. I came to have them when I accidentally fried my HD212's when building a headphone amp for a friend - I'd been saving to buy some 555's or 600's for home usage, but I needed to have a pair of sealed headphones for live mixing work. So I forked out the extra and got the best pair of sealed headphones I could afford. They're very nice, but hugely benefit from a good amp.
My personal headphones are HD-25-1-II's. I came to have them when I accidentally fried my HD212's when building a headphone amp for a friend - I'd been saving to buy some 555's or 600's for home usage, but I needed to have a pair of sealed headphones for live mixing work. So I forked out the extra and got the best pair of sealed headphones I could afford. They're very nice, but hugely benefit from a good amp.
It is really much better than the PX100 - much more refined (with a proper headphone amp). I also like the HD485, but kind of prefer my newer HD238.
About time to bring the HD650 back to the daylight...
Thank you for the offer, but I really don't need to chase better sound right now. They are at a level I am happy with. I was never chasing really high end, or I would have gone with a different set. I did want something nicer then the 280s and open aired (I've heard both before) ended up being a better choice. The 555s are not magical, but at $83.80 they were a nice upgrade over the 280s. I didn't want extra bass, and I didn't need or really want sealed. The 555s also get some pretty good comfort reviews.
I'd imagine this could work with a portable player, or maybe with a battery powered amp, but if the 280s are noticeable less then the 555s, then I don't see why they would be so popular, except the whole bass and privacy issue.
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