My beloved Sennheiser HD590s have been buzzing during heavy bass :(

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reg411

Weaksauce
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I've had these Sennheiser HD590s for years and have really enjoyed them (especially the bass they deliver). However, over the past few months I've started to hear a buzzing noise when there is heavy bass. So, for example, with every *thump*, there will be an accompanying *buzz*. If there is continuous bass, then there will be continuous buzzing also. It only seems to happen on the right side. This doesn't happen all the time, but has been happening more often than not. I don't know much about headphones so repair is out of the question unless it's very easy :)

The 590s have been discontinued so grabbing another pair is unlikely (and I don't feel like buying refurbished). I guess my next best choice is to buy another pair that sound as close as possible to the 590s.

I was thinking about the JVC HA-RX 90. There were a whole bunch of threads here some time ago claiming they sound like much more expensive headphones with a certain mod. Are they still considered the "poor man's <much more expensive brand>" ?
I was also looking at the HD-555. Googling around shows some complaints about a lack of bass. I guess I could attach a cheap c-moy amp or maybe try adjusting the eq.

My budget is about $150. Like I said earlier, I need something that can deliver about an equivalent amount of bass/overall sound quality as the Sennheiser HD590s. I'm hoping some of you have listened to the 590s and can give some suggestions :)
(I have them plugged into an Asus Xonar DX)

Thanks
 
I think you have hair in the earcups. Take off the pads and see if there are any stray pieces of hair. Blow into the afflicted earcup hard. Might fix it.
 
might also make sure the cables are firmly connected (iirc the 590 has a removable cable, 570 did as I recall), could just be a loose connection (And yeah, check for hair too)

as far as "Something thats like an HD 590 replacement", aside from an HD 590, not really, the 515/555/595 is a new product line, different from the 570/590 line

you can probably get a replacement driver element from Sennheiser (check their partstore (sennheiserusa.com, look around a bit)) if it really comes to that (I know you can get replacement drivers for 565/580/600/650, and 515/555/595, among others)
 
Also, in case none of the fixes work for you, you should consider a set of Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro's (closed) and a set of DT990's (open - like the HD590).
 
I took off the pad (it was in pretty bad shape, there was a large tear and foam was sticking out) and cleaned as best I could. I also reconnected the cable. The buzzing noise was still there. I took off the pads again and took a closer look at the pads as well as the open side of the headphone.

This time I noticed a couple pieces of hair lying on the diaphram-type thing. So, I tried to remove them with tweezers, but accidentally touched the diaphgram and now it has a dent in it. If I'd known that thing was so fragile, I wouldn't have touched it. Well, nothing I could do about it so I just put everything back and now it sounds even worse. Instead of a buzzing, there is a distinct grinding noise coming from the right pad during bass. I took off the earpad again and that grinding noise is still present even without the pad.

Well, definitely time for new headphones I suppose. Sennheiser charges about $60 plus shipping for repairs on the 500-series and I couldn't find a replacement driver (doubt it's cheap anyway) on their site for the 590s. Amazon sells the HD-555 for $91 & the JVC HA-RX for $54.99 both with free shipping. I'll see if there is a local store where I can audition them first. Oh, and apparently the super expensive headphone that the HA-RX are supposed to mimic are called the "Audio Technica A900s".
 
I wouldn't say the HARX900 are going to "mimc" an ATH-A900, but I'd say both are good closed headphones (they wouldn't be similar to what you've got now either)

sorry to hear about your headphones dying though...

good luck finding a new replacement
 
reg411 said:
If I'd known that thing was so fragile, I wouldn't have touched it.
Click to expand...

It's basically thin paper, silk, something like that depending on design. But it has to be membrane-like in order to vibrate at the necessary frequencies.

reg411 said:
Well, definitely time for new headphones I suppose.

Oh, and apparently the super expensive headphone that the HA-RX are supposed to mimic are called the "Audio Technica A900s".
Click to expand...

It's a reasonably close approximation depending on your hearing. They're very good for the money. The Beyers are a very good option as well.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm sure the Beyers sound fantastic but are over my budget. Plus, I don't think I'd be able to appreciate all the nuances it has to offer. I think they call it the "soundstage" ? I listen mostly to trance/house/techno so I just need good bass and rest of the stuff like mids, highs etc., can be "average"
 
Personally I would conside the 555's a downgrade. And I am skeptical that if you have enjoyed Senn's that you would enjoy the change to Beyers or AT sounding can. Personally I like AT's but not Senn's is why I say that but then again I don't like Beyer's either.

Strangely I do own several Senn's but older. In fact I recently sent a beloved old pair of PX100's back to Senn for repair. Seems weird but the PX100's drivers were changed a few years ago just slightly. I sent them back to get the same kind of driver in the old kind. A+ for Senn CS and Repairs.

To me I would send them back for repair. Who knows they may offer and upgraded new can or a NIB 590 that is sitting on the shelf.
 
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