Eq Sennheiser HD 545 Reference

[Pegwill]

Hi Guys

I’m trying to Eq my headphones, they are Sennheiser HD545 Reference. I searched the lists of Eq headphones and they have not been included. However the HD540 Reference II have and therefore I was wondering if I used the Eq for them that would be close enough. I appreciate that there could be a wide difference between the two, but try as I may I can’t find any information for the HD545.

Many thanks

Regards

William

 

[3125b]

No, those are completely different headphones, one ten years older than the other with different drivers and construction etc.
The 545 Reference was sort of a medium priced (160 Deutsche Mark, 189$ in the US, so it was significantly more expensive there) model, a cheaper alternative to the HD 600 it shares the overall construction style with.
I don't know of any measurements unfortunately, so you'd have to do it by ear, maybe get a curve for the HD 600 and work based on that though that might mislead you more than it helps.

 

[AnalogSteph]

Actually, HD540 II and HD 545 appeared just a few years apart; their manuals are dated 12/92 and 05/94, respectively.

I would suggest using HD565 measurements as a starting point - the main difference between 545 and 565 was the back grille (metal vs. plastic), while drivers and pads were the same, so chances are they'd be fairly close. I still have some HD535s floating around (again very similar)... swapping the stock pleather pads for some velour ones yielded a competent if slightly mid-centric sound much like the HD565 measurements would suggest. Sort of the opposite of a HD590.

This series seems to be somewhat underdamped, similar to the "bass-light" HD595. Maybe for differentiation from the then-flagship HD580 and/or improved output from portable sources.

 

[solderdude]

I reviewed (and restored) a HD 545 Reference.

It is basically a HD600 in another jacket. It shows what Sennheiser already could make 25-30 years ago.

HD540 and HD540-II as well as a (3rd) HD250-Lin-II are in the works but need some restoration before I can publish.
The pads are the most difficult part in these headphones as originals are no longer available.

 

[rocksteady]

I reviewed (and restored) a HD 545 Reference.

It is basically a HD600 in another jacket. It shows what Sennheiser already could make 25-30 years ago.

HD540 and HD540-II as well as a (3rd) HD250-Lin-II are in the works but need some restoration before I can publish.
The pads are the most difficult part in these headphones as originals are no longer available.

"It is basically a HD600 in another jacket."

I own Two pairs of the HD 545 and I completely disagree. The HD 545 is altogether more Neutral and Accurate, despite what measurements might indicate. Tonally, they are actually closer to their forebear and namesake, the HD 540 (II)...

 

[solderdude]

There is something like product variance/tolerance, pad wear etc so YMMV.
The measurements of my HD545 and HD600 don't lie.

The HD540 (and II) measure and sound completely different from HD545.