MASSDROP Sennheiser HD58X JUBILEE Review (Headphone)

[JIW]

The sensitivity differs only 0.7dB. 104.7dB/V for HD650 (measured by you) vs 104dB/V for HD58X (acc. to Drop)
Almost 1dB is noticeable but to me they sound about equally loud.

Measurements align with mine. HD58X compared to HD650 (2017)

A bit more bass extension for HD58X and less energy -2.5dB (forwardness/clarity) around 3kHz

Head-fi measured the sensitivity of the HD58X as 110 dB at 1 V at 1 kHz compared to 104 dB at 1 V at 1 kHz for the HD650.

 

[JIW]

Combined with slightly better sensitivity, it should be easier to drive:

The figure used here is incorrect. It is showing headphone weight and not sensitivity as the text says.

 

[Theriverlethe]

My biggest issue with the HD58-/HD6-- series is the foam inside the earcups touching my ears. I'm used to a large cavity with no contact these days.

Why does Amir use an arbitrary cutoff like 6% on his distortion chart? I suspect this greatly exaggerates the perceptual relevance.

 

[Theriverlethe]

Head-fi measured the sensitivity of the HD58X as 110 dB at 1 V at 1 kHz compared to 104 dB at 1 V at 1 kHz for the HD650.

That would make sense at 1/2 the resistance.

 

[SeriousSam70]

Only when efficiency numbers are given in dB/mW but when sensitivity is listed in dB/V it does not matter.
In fact it makes the 150ohm version harder to drive because at the same voltage double the current is required.

Ah, OK, I understand it now. Thank you for the explanations !

 

[solderdude]

Where do you find sensitivity measurment in this review. I don't find any, I see the weight graph twice.

On the spec sheet from Sennheiser that comes with the HD58X and on the website (states 104dB/V).
My HD58X is no longer stock but indeed it is louder than HD650.
Have corrected my website as well now. It is possible the original HD58X (the original) is 104dB/V and the production model was higher in efficiency.
Let me check I have all 3 here.

The HD58X is 5.4dB more voltage efficient than HD650. Both the proto and production HD58X have the same efficiency.
So when the HD650 = 104.7dB/V I would expect Amirs measurement to be around 110.1dB/V (which is what Jude measured)

As efficiency differs per frequency above the FR plot of HD58X proto, HD58X production (modified + filter) vs HD650 (black screen, fresh pads)

 

[PuX]

Hard to know if Sennheiser attempt to produce a lower quality headphone in dropping the price so much. What is there is very close to HD650 at a fraction of the price. With EQ, this headphone sounds darn good and is a superb value for just $170. This is half the cost of HD-650.

on Drop the price difference is actually $50. ($170 for 58X and $220 for 6XX right now, both used to be cheaper on Drop)
they have a 6XX model, which is exactly like HD650 except for the colour and shorter cable with 3.5 connector.

btw I think wrong image is attached next to sensitivity paragraph?

 

[Patrick1958]

The HD 58X (serial number 000262) is one of the rare headphones i enjoy listening to without EQ (DAP) or minimal EQ. (inline passive eq filter solderdude)
To my ears the HD 58X is the better one in the 6XX series.
For top listening experience i use oratory's EQ settings.

 

[PeteL]

On the spec sheet from Sennheiser that comes with the HD58X and on the website.
My HD58X is no longer stock but indeed it is louder than HD650.
Have some rewriting to do. It is possible the original HD58X (the original) is 104dB/V and the production model was higher in efficiency.
Let me check I have all 3 here.

The HD58X is 5.4dB more voltage efficient than HD650. Both the proto and production HD58X have the same efficiency.
So when the HD650 = 104.7dB/V I would expect Amirs measurement to be around 110.1dB/V (which is what Jude measured)

Thanks, from memory yes it was more sensitive.

 

[knownunknown]

drop ships to europe right? wondering if these would still be good value with custom fees etc

 

[Sombreuil]

Hi,
Here are some thoughts about the EQ.


Notes about the EQ design:

• The average L/R is used to calculate the score.
• The resolution is 12 points per octave interpolated from the raw data (provided by @amirm)
• A Genetic Algorithm is used to optimize the EQ.
• The EQ Score is designed to MAXIMIZE the Score WHILE fitting the Harman target curve with a fixed complexity.
  This will avoid weird results if one only optimizes for the Score.
  It will probably flatten the Error regression doing so, the tonal balance should be more neutral.
• The EQs are starting point and may require tuning (certainly at LF).
• The range around and above 10kHz is usually not EQed unless smooth enough to do so.
• I am using PEQ (PK) as from my experience the definition is more consistent across different DSP/platform implementations than shelves.
• With some HP/amp combo the boosts and preamp gain need to be carefully considered to avoid issues
• Not all units of the same products are made equal. The EQ is based on the measurements of a single unit.
• YMMV with regards to the very unit you are trying this EQ on.

Good L/R match.

I have generated one EQ, the APO config file is attached.

Score no EQ: 75.5
Score Armirm: 80.6
Score with EQ 1: 90.1
Score with EQ 2: 90.1 (identical score but with full compensation of the trough)

MASSDROP Sennheiser HD58X JUBILEE APO EQ 1 Flat@HF 96000Hz
August032021-200939

Preamp: -6 dB

Filter 1: ON PK Fc 35.42 Hz Gain 6.13 dB Q 0.52
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 177.50 Hz Gain -2.53 dB Q 0.84
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1231.55 Hz Gain -1.68 dB Q 1.74
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 2235.63 Hz Gain 2.43 dB Q 2.85
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 4330.18 Hz Gain 3.00 dB Q 4.44
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 5643.65 Hz Gain -3.93 dB Q 4.58
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 7242.96 Hz Gain 4.06 dB Q 1.66

MASSDROP Sennheiser HD58X JUBILEE APO EQ 2 Flat@HF 96000Hz
August032021-201058

Preamp: -6 dB

Filter 1: ON PK Fc 35.51 Hz Gain 6.13 dB Q 0.52
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 176.26 Hz Gain -2.47 dB Q 0.79
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1227.55 Hz Gain -1.64 dB Q 1.84
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 2241.69 Hz Gain 2.40 dB Q 2.85
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 4472.32 Hz Gain 6.45 dB Q 5.15
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 5412.21 Hz Gain -3.71 dB Q 3.77
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 7352.14 Hz Gain 3.77 dB Q 2.07

View attachment 145261

View attachment 145260

That's the first time I'm trying an EQ without needing to tweak some values. It sure is not "transparent" but I like it a lot.

 

[JIW]

That would make sense at 1/2 the resistance.

No. The sensitivity is measured for the same voltage not the same power. Further, halving impedance only doubles power for a given voltage, which reduces efficiency by 3 dB for a given sensitivity. Using the data from head-fi, the efficiency of the HD58X is around 102 dB at 1 mW at 1 kHz, while that of the HD650 is around 99 dB at 1 mW at 1 kHz. Thus, while sensitivity of the HD58X is 6 dB higher, efficiency is only increased by 3 dB over the HD650.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

A straight up steal.

 

[JJB70]

I still have and still use the original HD580, bought over 25 years ago and still going strong. They feel cheap and low rent but are virtually bomb proof. I replace the pads periodically but otherwise they are as bought. There's a lot to be said for that sort of quality.

 

[Robbo99999]

I'm sure this a decent headphone and very similar to the HD600 & HD650 when all are EQ'd to the same curve (eg Harman), I can't get particularly excited about this one though because I own the HD600 and I know the soundstage has it's own limitations in that headphone.....given the almost identical designs I wouldn't expect this HD58X to have any kind of different soundstage characteristics than the HD600/650.

 

[amirm]

Added the sensitivity graph to the review:

Definitely more sensitive than HD-650.

 

[Tks]

Thanks for the review, Amir.
These are going on the Christmas wish-list.

It seems like this is the best bang-for-buck Sennheiser, right?
What would be the reason to spend the extra US$50 for Massdrop's Sennheiser HD 6XX over these?

Two real reasons, if you have a high performing amp, outputting more power reaches higher SINADs (not an actual reason in practice, but is when technically speaking).

First actual reason, is they're not a glossy plastic like these are so much.

The second, and a very hard to explain reason is the headband stiffness, the 6XX are more comfortable since their clamp isn't as severe.

This second reason may be confusing to people who are aware they can just bend the headband into the desired place. The problem with this, is it throws off geometry of how it fits on your head (since the cups don't have complete range to comform with all heads. The other issue with doing this is, is it doesn't really solve the problem all that well. The material used on the 58X headband clamps hard and then falls off in force in a very small window of spread, while the 6XX overall has a lesser clamp force, but maintains a more even force over the constant spread as you widen the headphone before placing it on your head.

By the time you get it to how you want the 58X to sit on your head, the cups may not be perfectly symetrical with all the bending of the headband you did.

Please take my word on it, this last issue is so annoying that I'd buy an HD650 if the 6XX suffered from it as well.

The one benefit (aside from price, which I saw was $120 some weeks ago), is the 58X is great for phone/DAP use, and the driver covers simply make sense from a maintenance perspective (why would anyone want dust falling over the drivers anyway)?

 

[JIW]

Added the sensitivity graph to the review:

Definitely more sensitive than HD-650.

That makes the HD58X 4.8 dB more sensitive at 425 Hz than HD650, i.e. 109.6 dB at 1 V at 425 Hz compared to 104.8 dB. At 1 kHz, sensitivity for both HD58X and 650 seems to be about 1 dB higher.

 

[Tks]

hey @amirm

How does one level match difference headphones btw? Aside from planars which usually show a flat impedance throughout the range, dynamic drivers seems to swing (like we see here to much high than rated ohms). If that's the case, then wouldn't "level matching" to output not be really possible in live music to some degree? I guess it's "close enough" with Sennhieser since all their 6-- and 5-- line of headphones are all basically the same thing anyway. But how would it be done otherwise?

 

[amirm]

hey @amirm

How does one level match difference headphones btw?

At the extreme, it is impossible to level match them. Since frequency responses don't match, we can't use single tones like we do with electronics. Noise is often used with limited bandwidth but research is scant on effectiveness of this. I usually start with electronic level matching but then adjust by ear. Even then, it seems to only hold for one track. Another track with different spectrum may have different loudness.

There is an old research paper on this that I found years ago. Unfortunately I don't know where it is anymore. This is the basis for level match that Harman uses.