HD58X a Cheap HD660S
I already told you that the HD58X uses 150Ohm drivers as does the HD660S. However, both are not the same as this is proven and documented by Solderdude (DIY Audio Heaven).
I know that there are many who believe that they both share the same driver and indeed if you inspect them visually, one might think they’re the same. I thought so too at first. But they’re clearly not.
Removing the HD58X Grills
Out of curiosity, I decided to pop out the grills to take a look at the actual driver, as this is not visible through the grills like with other headphones of the HD6XX range.
Sennheiser used a foam directly behind the grills to hide the drivers, which is according to Sennheiser done purely out of aesthetic reasons. But could it be that this foam actually applies a dampening to the sound signature?
How Does it Sound Without the Foam?
Sennheiser claims that the influence of the foam to the overall acoustics is ‘minimal’. I tend to agree with this, but I still want to express my personal findings.
I went back and forward several times with multiple tracks in high resolution audio format and I could not shake off the impression of an increase in airiness without the foam.
Some tracks I used for testing:
- Daft Punk – Give Life Back To Music
- Daft Punt – The Game Of Love
- Fleetwood Mac – Second Hand News
- John Williams – Rey’s Theme (SW The Force Awakens)
- Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
- Muse – Follow Me
I did not notice any degradation in bass quality, but did notice some minor improvements in clarity with several instruments in the mids and highs.
One last thing to mention is that the absence of the foam did not introduce any sibilance. There’s just a tiny bit more sparkle.
Comparison
Now, I am going to compare the HD 58X to 3 other headphones which are HD 650, Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 250ohm and my old HD 598SE. I’ll be making the comparison a bit easier to read by indicating the superior earphone/earbuds with “<” or “>” or “=” (when they’re equal). So here we go!
- Neutrality: HD598 > DT990 > HD58X > HD650 (I felt the HD 650 tends to gravitate towards darkness, whereas the HD598 were the most neutral and flat sounding in the bunch with the HD 58X somewhere in the middle with its liveliness in its sound signature)
- Timber/Naturalness: HD 58X > DT990 > HD650 > HD598SE
- Detail/Resolution: HD58X = HD650 = DT990 > HD598
- Imaging & Positioning: HD58X = HD650 > DT990 > HD598 (I felt the imaging was slightly better than the DT990 Pro)
- Soundstage: HD598 > HD650 = HD58X > DT990 (again I felt the DT990 were slightly less wide than the HD 58X)
- Bass Quantity: HD650 = HD58X > DT990 >> HD598 (some people, after seeing HD 58X’s graph were thinking that these were going to be darker sounding than the HD650, but that’s not the case. They have similar bass with the HD 58X having a bit more sub bass rumble in it)
- Bass Quality: HD58X = HD650 = DT990 > HD598
- Mids Quantity: HD58X > DT990 > HD650 > HD598
- Mids Quality: HD58X = HD650 > DT990 > HD598
- Treble Quantity: HD58X = HD650 = DT990 > HD598
- Treble Quality: DT990 > HD58X > HD650 > HD598
- Amount of Sibilance:HD650 = HD58X = DT990 = HD598
- Comfort: HD598 >> DT990 > HD58X = HD650
- Apparent Build / Durability: DT990 > HD58X = HD650 > HD598
- Immersion/Engagement: HD58X = DT990 = HD650 = HD598
- Overall Sound Quality: HD58X = HD650 > DT990 > HD598
Build Quality
The entire construction is made of plastic and along with stiff cushion pads, the old HD series discomfort issues play a role in my life yet again. These are not comfortable when you first buy them or use them new. It takes some time for the pads to soften up and the headband to stop clamping. It needs usage.
Upon first use on my head, the clamping pressure is too much for me to handle. It was the same with the HD650, my HD600, my HD580 and even my older favorite the HD485. Time is your friend, let it breathe and stretch on some books or a headphone stand that is wide.
The set creaks a little too much for comfort, but that was again an issue on my Massdrop HD6xx that stopped almost entirely after a few hundred hours of usage. The same will happen with this HD58x.
An all plastic housing and headphone headband is not something I want to see. I want to see some metal and better materials used, even if it is a remake, they should have remade it with better construction. We don’t need a step back to the 90s and early 2000’s when plastic was okay. We needed a real upgrade here with the drivers set in a similar frame that was made of something better than plastic. I am really not okay with a rehash or only a driver update. I want the entire headphone overhauled and upgraded.
Bass
I feel the HD58x and the HD660s are blood brothers that share almost the same sound traits overall. There is a trick of the ear happening though, at least, in my opinion.
I feel like the HD58x houses a smidgen more bass quantity than the HD6xx/HD650. However, the HD6xx/650 have a thicker appeal in tonality, which makes them sound heftier, more weighted. And for that reason, I think sometimes my ear is tricked into thinking there is more quantity occurring than in the HD58x.
The HD58x is more pure feeling, but thinner and harsher on physical strike impact level. The HD65x is wooly and much, much softer in dynamic kick and impact. It is far easier to listen to for extended periods of time than the HD58x.
Who Should Buy This?
The HD58x is a bit dry in tonality and lacks sparkle in the treble and a thick, broad sense of bass response of the HD650/HD6xx. If you are someone who likes a thicker heft to the entire sound signature, then this is not for you. If your ears are like mine and always pick up on the heftiness and sparkle factor overall, then you should drop the extra money on the HD6xx.
Objective
On an objective level, the headphone that has superior audio fidelity and quality, for the most part on the low end, is the HD58x Jubilee by a narrow margin. It feels purer. The treble also feels cleaner and there is no “veil” that is present in the HD650/HD6xx.
Subjective
I personally like a more wool-like appeal with a soft impact from top to bottom though. I also enjoy bass boost and more of a sense of control and depth. However, the one factor I dislike about the HD6xx is that recessive quality the midrange pushes. It is significantly more forward, objectively, on the HD58x. The HD6xx is just more relaxed sounding and less dynamically interesting than the HD58x.
The HD58x houses a superior imaging system inside of the sound void with regard to stage forward realism. That damned HD650 veil is still there and it is bested, again, objectively, by the HD58x on the low end. The HD660s and this HD58x are the closest to sharing a similar presentation. So, if you liked the HD660s and need or want to save some cash, the HD58x Jubilee would provide a better price to performance ratio for you. To my ear, I think the Jubilee is the superior sounding headphone over the HD6xx in raw fidelity across the board, despite being a whole $50usd cheaper.
Our Verdict
8.3
Neutral Sound
Great for neutral listening. The Sennheiser HD 58X have a great sound that is accurate and well-balanced. The bass doesn’t roll off as much as similar Sennheiser models, which adds a bit more punch to these headphones. Vocals and lead instruments are reproduced accurately but might feel a bit forward in the mix. While they are fairly comfortable headphones, they are very tight, and people with larger heads may feel discomfort after a while.
Pros
- Great audio reproduction.
- Comfortable and durable design.
- Better value than the rest of the lineup.
Cons
- High leakage and low isolation, by design.
- Tight fit that can be uncomfortable for some.
See our Neutral Sound Recommendations
3.8
Commute/Travel
Poor for commuting. These headphones are not made for this use due to their open design. This means that they practically don’t block any ambient noise and won’t be suited for crowded areas or public transit. They also leak a lot, which means surrounding people will be able to hear what you’re listening to. Additionally, they are quite bulky and don’t fold, making it hard to carry them around easily.
Pros
- Great audio reproduction.
- Comfortable and durable design.
- Better value than the rest of the lineup.
Cons
- High leakage and low isolation, by design.
- Tight fit that can be uncomfortable for some.
See our Commute/Travel Recommendations
5.5
Sports/Fitness
Sub-par for sports. While the Sennheiser HD 58X are very stable due to their tight fit and allow a decent amount of airflow thanks to their open-back design, they shouldn’t be used for this use. They aren’t easy to carry around and their bulky design won’t be ideal for working out. They are also wired and don’t offer the freedom of a wireless design.
Pros
- Great audio reproduction.
- Comfortable and durable design.
- Better value than the rest of the lineup.
Cons
- High leakage and low isolation, by design.
- Tight fit that can be uncomfortable for some.
See our Sports/Fitness Recommendations
4.5
Office
Sub-par for the office. The Sennheiser HD 58X leak quite a lot and your music will be heard by surrounding colleagues, which can be distracting. It’s possible to use them at low enough volumes that won’t bother people, but you won’t get the full potential of these headphones. Also, they don’t isolate any noise, so you will hear every conversation and won’t block out A/C fan noises. Some may also find them too tight to wear during very long listening sessions.
Pros
- Great audio reproduction.
- Comfortable and durable design.
- Better value than the rest of the lineup.
Cons
- High leakage and low isolation, by design.
- Tight fit that can be uncomfortable for some.
See our Office Recommendations
4.5
Wireless Gaming
Sub-par for gaming. These headphones won’t be great for online gaming as they don’t have a microphone. They also won’t be suited to use in a gaming event, but if you want to use them in a quiet environment and use a stand-alone microphone, or even don’t need a microphone for singleplayer games, these will offer great sound quality and accurate stereo imaging.
See our Wireless Gaming Recommendations
6.5
Wired Gaming
Pros
- Great audio reproduction.
- Comfortable and durable design.
- Better value than the rest of the lineup.
Cons
- High leakage and low isolation, by design.
- Tight fit that can be uncomfortable for some.
1.7
Phone Calls
8.3
Neutral Sound
3.8
Commute/Travel
5.5
Sports/Fitness
4.5
Office
4.5
Wireless Gaming
6.5
Wired Gaming
1.7
Phone Calls
+ Create your own
- Updated Jun 29, 2021:
Converted to Test Bench 1.5. - Updated Feb 05, 2020:
Converted to Test Bench 1.4. - Updated Nov 21, 2019:
Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1. - Updated Nov 21, 2019:
Converted to Test Bench 1.3. - Updated Aug 12, 2019:
We’ve updated the score to better reflect how tight these headphones are. - Updated Jul 31, 2019:
Review published. - Updated Jul 29, 2019:
Early access published.
Качество звучания Massdrop Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee
Почерк очень похож на модель HD 650, но при этом HD 58X стоят почти в два раза меньше, если покупать их в исполнении Massdrop.
Да, учтите, что HD 58X имеют сопротивление 150 Ом, вместо 300 Ом у HD 650. Это делает их более простыми для прослушивания в паре с мобильными устройствами, хотя, конечно, обычный смартфон не сможет раскрыть их на 100%.
Низкие частоты имеют небольшой акцент, он почти идеален: не слишком сильный, чтобы аудиофилы на это жаловались, и не слишком слабый, чтобы не понравится обычному слушателю. Словом, бас у наушников идеален – он глубокий, быстрый, чёткий, детальный и слегка акцентирован.
Благодаря подобной калибровке наушники подойдут как для прослушивания музыки, так и для компьютерных игр и фильмов, звук не будет казаться бедным или излишне детализированным, всё будет в самый раз – золотая середина.
Вокал, как мужской, так и женский, звучит приятно, естественно, без искажений или окраса. Акустические инструменты имеют выраженную текстуру, характер и глубину проработки, хоть и чуть более простую, чем у HD 650.
Высокие частоты чистые, без сибилянтов, без дребезга и визга – такие, какими они должны быть у хороших наушников. Их воздушное звучание подчёркивает открытая акустическая конструкция, благодаря которой они звучат мягко, но уверенно. Хорошо слышны переливы и затухания от ударов по тарелкам, без излишней резкости, с хорошей проработкой деталей.
Резюмирую скажу, что для наушников за $150 модель Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee звучит отлично, обгоняя подавляющее большинство конкурентов не только в этой ценовой категории, но и более дорогих соперников.
HD58X Comfort
If you have or tried one of the other HD6XX siblings, then you know what to expect comfort wise from the HD58X. For those who’ve not had the pleasure, let me tell you I haven’t found any real issues in that department.
The black velour pads are thick and big enough to fit my whole ears in and they’re not touching the inner-part where the foam is. They’re not quite as comfortable as the DT770 from Beyerdynamic or as soft as the Sennheiser HD598, but still, you can’t really complain as the comfort level and quality is good.
The padding on the headband does a great job to release any pressure on the skull and accompanied by the lightweight (hooray for plastics!) of these cans I had no issues to keep these on for several hours.
The only negative point I detect could be the clamping force. This is typical for the HD6XX range and although it doesn’t really bother me as I have a narrow head, I can see this becoming an issue with others. Luckily there’s a solution to this.
You could carefully stretch the headband by putting the headphone on a shoebox for, let’s say 24 hours, and see if this helps. My HD650, which I bought second-hand, is noticeable more stretched, so I know this little trick works.
Для кого созданы Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee?
- Для фанатов Sennheiser. Если вы поклонник звука этого бренда, то модель Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee вам непременно понравится, особенно с учётом выгодной цены около $150.
- Для тех, кто готов слушать музыку всерьёз. Не поймите меня неправильно, мне нравятся наушники Bose QC35 II или Sony MH-1000X M3, они прекрасно звучат и отлично показывают себя в пути или в самолёте, словом, в тех местах, где нужен не только хороший звук, но и активное шумоподавление. Однако, если вы хотите в спокойной домашней обстановке внимательно послушать любимую музыку, не отвлекаясь ни на что другое, тогда HD 58X Jubilee будут предпочтительнее.
- Для тех, кто хочет сэкономить. Да, цена в $150 не самая доступная в нашей стране, но, если мы вспомним, что Massdrop Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee технически и фактически являются копией HD 600, которые стоят $300, сомнения и колебания рассеются, как утренний туман.
Конструкция, материалы и качество сборки
Sennheiser HD 58X по конструкции очень напоминает серию HD 600: мягкие велюровые амбушюры, малый вес, металлическая упругая пластина, одновременно являющаяся оголовьем и основной конструкции, мягкая подкладка для контакта с головой и поворотный механизм чаш для максимально комфортной посадки.
Основа чаш – пластик, основа конструкции – металлическая пластина. Вообще, конструкция очень проста, изящна и надёжна, я сомневаюсь, что их можно сломать случайно, это можно сделать только намеренно, сбросив с высоты десятого этажа.
Чаши не складываются внутрь и это не удивительно, ведь наушники, открытые с точки зрения акустики, а значит малоподходящие для уличного прослушивания музыки.
Однако, они не столь велики для того, чтобы их нельзя было положить в рюкзак и поехать в офис или на место учёбы. Много места они не займут, конечно, в сравнении с другими полноразмерными наушниками конкурентов.
Во время прослушивания нет чувства, что Sennheiser HD 58X исчезли с головы, вы их ощущаете, но в этом нет раздражения. Всё время прослушивания музыки вы их чувствуете, но это комфортное чувство, желания их снять с головы нет. Во время теста я слушал их без перерыва в течение шести часов и никаких проблем с удобством не испытал.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that the HD58X is an amazing headphone and is a great alternative to the more expensive HD660S. You get the same build quality and familiar looks as the rest of the HD6XX family at a fraction of the price.
Sure, you won’t get the premium packaging, instead you get a very cheap and uninspiring carton box. It’s an economical decision as it keeps the price down. And honestly, how many times have you admired the packaging of those expensive headphones? For me, these boxes quickly disappear somewhere in a closet.
If you’re eager to see what a more serious headphone sounds like, but you’re not quite ready to shell out $500, the Sennheiser HD58X is a steal at only $149. I own the HD650 and although they sound a bit different from each other, I honestly cannot say the HD650 is better than the HD58X and vice versa!
Our Rating:
Sound Quality
Comfort & Design
Build Quality
Price/Value
4.9
Summary
The Sennheiser HD58X makes true audiophile stuff available at a never seen before price!
Ergonomics and Fit
Well, compared to the HD 598SE, these are a bit less comfortable. I mean, as a reference, the HD 598SE feels like a soft woolly muffler wrapped around your ears and these feel like 2 cups strapped to your head. Also, when you are using these headphones for the first time, you might experience pain on your temple like I did. This is because, the headphones have a tight fit around your ears. But after a few weeks, as you continue to use the headphones, the headband will loosen up a bit and it will feel more comfortable on your ears.
Also, due to this tight fit, the headphones won’t come of your heads like the HD 598SE does! So, you won’t have any type of fit issues like you had with the HD 598SE (where if you even sneezed, the headphones would’ve come flying off of your head!).
Noise Isolation
Now, even though these are open-back headphones, they don’t leak as much as the HD 598SE does, but still at full volume, people on a crowded bus will easily tell which song is being played.
Also, if you are looking for sound isolation, then look elsewhere because they let in outside noise due to those open grilles on both sides of the headphones to make you feel the sound is coming from the whole environment and not just from the headphones themselves. These are strictly for indoor usage.
The velour ear pads have a nice feel to them and they are detachableThe headband cushioning looks just like the one used in HD 650/6XX and is on the stiffer side
Метод подключения Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee Massdrop
Плюсы такого решения – съёмный кабель, а значит, можно особо не беспокоиться о его здоровье.
Минусы – кабель с фирменным типом крепления к чашам, а значит, дешёвого аналога нет, и, если он оборвётся, придётся покупать настоящий от Sennheiser, а это не дёшево.
Во время теста я подключил наушники к телефону Google Pixel 3, и хоть наушники и играли приемлемо, смартфон, ожидаемо, не смог раскрыть весь их потенциал. Слушать музыку можно, но большого удовольствия вы от этого сомнительного процесса не получите. Другое дело, если у вас есть телефон LG V30/V40 со встроенным усилителем для наушников, но у меня их на руках нет и поэтому в паре с ними я Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee не слушал.
Но зато у меня был интерфейс Scarlett 2i2, который справился с HD 58X без всяких проблем, придав звуку объём, глубину и энергию.
Таким образом, заключаю, что хоть наушники HD 58X и не самые требовательные к источнику звука, всё-таки, он должен быть серьёзнее, чем обычный мобильный телефон.
Mids
If you enjoy a pure and forward midrange, this is a great option for you. The HD580/HD600/HD660s and variants are all forward in the midrange by comparison to the relaxed positioning of the HD6xx and HD650. This lends a very nice experience with Jazz singers and Rock overall.
However, the biggest weakness lay in the Classical and wider feeling recordings, which don’t mesh with a very forward midrange headphone. The HD58x Jubilee is not what I would call a polite sounding headphone. It feels more authoritative and snappy. Fast. Quick on the draw and has a noticeably faster decay than the HD6xx in the midrange.
Quality, again, depends on the rig and amp to scale up. If you are using a lower end system, my HD58x Jubilee sounds subjectively a little cleaner than the HD6xx. However, that changes when I use an expensive amplifier and DAC, where the HD6xx moves out ahead in quality. The HD6xx sounds polite, hyper smooth and of a more dense tonality in terms of physical weight carried.
For the price, I think my older DT880 from Beyerdynamic is the best competition for sound type, along with the HD660s, to compare to the HD58x Jubilee’s midrange purity and tonality factor. By that, I mean the HD58x sounds a well into the neutral tier and is dry overall. It is not very colored and also feels less dense than the HD6xx. With that in mind, it also sounds dynamically more engaging than the HD6xx, more interesting, more detailed sometimes and also better suited for vocalist tracks.
Bass Fidelity
In the way of raw fidelity, the HD6xx scales so much with superior gear that it makes it the better overall value for audiophiles. The HD58x is the better value for casual listeners who don’t have an expensive rig.
This becomes extremely apparent on my Heron 5 Solid State from Airist Audio and when I compare these two headphones directly. The Heron 5 is warm and perfectly meshes with the HD6xx. Both are softer than usual on kick factor, they are a bit boosted and thick feeling in tone presentation and both have a nice sparkle to the treble.
The Heron 5 is also wider than tall and not extremely forward. So, when referencing the HD58x with this amplifier, the experience feels wildly different in a physical sense. However, again, the HD6xx is the scaling champion in the mid-tier world. If you have a very nice middle tier or lower end or Summit level amplifier and DAC already, then the HD6xx churns itself into a more clean and clear feeling experience. But you NEED that for the HD6xx.
On lower end gear, the gap between quality overall in bass between these two is not significant at all and sometimes feels too close to call which is objectively cleaner. The HD58x Jubilee has very low to end of moderate levels of bass quantity and doesn’t respond very well to bass boosting. If you are a basshead, grab a set of JVC SZ2000’s, haha!
Unboxing the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee
Even though they are a $150 pair of headphones, I honestly expected a bit more accessories. The packaging is basic in every standard, although a tad bit more premium feeling than their own HD 598SE. I anticipate it to have at least a carrying case along with these headphones. Even though I won’t be taking them outside of my apartment, still I will rather have it inside a case than it rolling around on the floor!
The box of the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee
Upon opening the box, you will see the headphones themselves and the 3.5mm cable.
The packaging of the HD 58X Jubilee
Stowed beneath the plastic box is the 3.5mm to ¼ inch adapter.
All the accessories that comes with the HD 58X JubileeThe ¼ inch to 3.5mm adapter
So, to summarize, in the box, you’ll get:
- The headphones themselves.
- 1 6’ long 3.5mm detachable cable
- 1 3.5mm to ¼ inch adapter
So, basically, the packaging is again basic just like the HD 598SE.
Treble
This HD58x Jubilee has very little sparkle factor. That means the upper end is, again, in the neutral tier. To my ear, it is overly dry and unappealing. It lacks engaging texture but has plentiful clarity. Side by side with my older AKG Tiesto K267, which has lovely sparkle, probably the best sparkle treble in a mid-tier headphone, the HD58x sounds and feels bone dry in a desert on the hottest day on record.
That isn’t a bad thing. A lot of people love that neutrality. Thankfully, it isn’t at all painful bright or sharp! Usually, headphones in this price (sub $200USD) tend to sound painful, wince-worthy and gack ugly up top. Massdrop’s HD58x Jubilee sounds great up there in quality and never gives off a gross vibe to me. But, it is hyper boring and refuses to change and scale up with better sources.
The treble feels identical when using my Shanling M5s DAP by itself and then using the same DAP as a source through my Heron 5. The same test with the HD6xx yields a superior sound quality everywhere when paired with a great amplifier. So if you don’t have a great amp, the HD58x is probably the better choice for you.
Fidelity
In terms of literal fidelity and purity, the HD58x Jubilee fairs extremely well. In fact, for the price, maybe two or three other headphones exist on the market that are just as nice or can be with sufficient amplifier and DAC quality.
The value and price to performance on this headphone are beyond absurdly great. One quality I did notice was that the HD58x Jubilee at 150ohm fairs much better at low listening levels than the HD6xx at 300ohm, which obviously requires more power to get a nicer experience from. The latter is very soft, so lower listening levels mutes the top end a bit too much, whereas the HD58x still retains good treble quantity at lower listening volumes.
Build Quality
The build quality of the headphones is excellent for its price, even though it is made fully out of plastic except for the headband size adjuster and the large grilles which are made of steel. To be honest, there is nothing much to say about its build quality. It feels rigid in the hand and it can flex to a degree which is great!
Again, like the HD 598SE, the ear pads are made of velour but this time, the pads are a bit harder, unlike the HD 598SE, which were much softer. But overall, these feel sturdy and I think it can take a few numbers of drops and remain as it was before it was dropped!
The headphones themselvesThe headband adjuster is sturdy and long, so there shouldn’t be issues with fit for these headphones
Imaging
Sadly, the HD58x lacks a good sense of width and feels rather closed in. The HD6xx is wider by a significant margin, but the HD58x has better depth of field and realism in stage forwardness. Airiness is also less than stellar but again, for this new $149.99 price? Oh goodness, it changes a lot in value because the original version cost a lot more than this, and this is just a step behind the HD660s, in my opinion.
With the HD580x, you get a sense of height that is noticeably more prominent than the width factor, which hurts separation of instruments and makes it more of a vocalist’s ideal headphone and not one suited for wide sounding recordings.
The HD series was never really known for exceptional staging outside of the HD800. The HD650/600/580 were just good at imaging overall, depending on your needs and desires, purchase accordingly. The HD58x is good for some tracks, the HD6xx is good for the rest.
HD58X Design and Build Quality
Being a tribute to the HD580 it is only normal that the HD58X looks practically the same. Sennheiser clearly used the same mold here, and the only differences to be found are cosmetically and a different kind of grills.
The HD58X sports a black paintjob which for most of the part is glossy. The earcups are matte, as is the lower part of the frame that holds the earcups. The speakergrills are grey and as a whole it gives the HD58X a clean minimalistic look.
On top of the headband there’s the Sennheiser logo and name. Speaking of branding, both left and right sides are labeled “HD58X Jubilee” and on the inside of the size adjuster you’ll find the serial number and the Massdrop branding.
The padding on the headband comes straight from the HD650 and its successor, HD660S. In fact, the HD58X looks suspiciously close to the HD660S and from a distance, they could be mistaken as twins.
Although it’s primarily made out of plastic with only the speakergrills and the size adjuster being made out of metal, I can’t say anything bad about the build quality. This design has proven itself since 1991 and Sennheiser still applies this to its premium audiophile headphones.
I know it’s not using the finest earth materials but this is not that kind of headphone. You don’t appreciate it because of its looks, nor will you impress your friends with it.
These are made to last and therefore you can literary drop these cans on the floor, without the fear of them disintegrating into pieces. You don’t have to baby them, although I’m the kinda guy who does exactly that.
Anyway, my point is that these are rugged and can withstand the typical abuse that could happen in a professional studio or if you’re the type of person who easily breaks things, unintentionally of course…
Our Verdict
The HD58x Jubilee is one of the best ‘price to performance’ headphones in the HiFi world to date. For $149.99, you cannot go wrong. It is forward in the mids and has a good bass response. It is well into the neutral tier in tonality and at 150 ohms you can still drive it well on solid portable music players without the need for an amplifier.
It hardly, if at all, scales up with expensive gear so this is the best stepping stone open back and over-ear headphone on the market at the moment. If you want someone you care about to get into better audio, this is what you should be gifting them.
Massdrop continues to re-release great sets that we all in this hobby know to be excellent products. The HD58x Jubilee is probably the best overall open back option in this price bracket, no doubt about it.
HD58X Sound Quality
So how do these sound? For starts, I can say that they do not sound like the original HD580. While the HD580 sounded rougher around the edges and trebly, the HD58X’s sound signature is much more refined and a tad calmer on the high end of the spectrum.
Testing is done with the AudioQuest DragonFly Red DAC + JDSLabs Objective2 Amp and the standard 1.8m cable with a 3.5mm TRS jack.
Bass
Bass quality is really good and I feel it even gets the upper hand on bass extension to the more expensive HD650, so the HD58X is certainly no slouch and sounds a bit beefier than the 650’s. It’s not the pumpin’ thick bass you get from a high-end closed headphone, but what you do get is a quality enjoyable low end that is great with anything.
And when I say quality, I mean a clean effortless low end that does not muddy up into the midrange whatsoever. Really nice and tight!
Mids
Again, these cans keep on surprising me with their clean and beautiful sound signature.
The low end compliments the midrange perfectly providing the HD58X of the necessary oomph, which makes everything so clear, but still deep and strong.
Highs
Heading into the highs, the HD58X manages to keep its posture effortlessly. No crazy spikes here or eerie shrieking ‘S’ sounds. Nope, Sennheiser nailed it again as it did with the other frequencies.
Compared to the HD650 which has a more nuanced higher end, the HD58X applies a more lively treble range, but still without losing control.
This being said, if you’re more accustomed to the treble of, let’s say, a Beyerdynamic headphone, you’re probably gonna be a bit disappointed.
Soundstage
Do these have the widest soundstage? No. They’re not in the range of the HD800 or even the HD598. They do however compare with the HD650 in that aspect.
Although not the widest, in fact they sound quite intimate for an open headphone, the placing of the instruments is very realistic. Something that always bothered me a bit with the HD598, which has the tendency to do some weird voodoo on placement sometimes…
Does the HD58X Require Powerful Amping?
While the HD580, just like the HD600 and HD650 uses 300Ohm drivers, the HD58X uses the more efficient 150Ohm drivers just like, but not the same, as the Sennheiser HD660S.
So no need for powerful amping here. Although I do recommend at least a nice portable dac like the Dragonfly Red if you’re serious about getting the maximum out of these cans.
Conclusion
Compared to the HD600 (neutral) and the HD650 (warmer), the HD58X is a more accessible headphone that leans a bit more to the bass side of the sound spectrum. It’s not as fun and in your face as the original HD580, but more of a sweet blend of serious and fun.
You could sit there in your posh handcrafted listening chair enjoying the finest single malt while playing some Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue, while the other day you’re doing some virtual clubbin’ on the tunes of Armin Van Buuren or Martin Garrix. The HD58X handles different situations quite well.
