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HD280 Pro vs. HD555

S

siggma

n00b
Joined
Oct 28, 2007
Messages
6
I'm currently looking for headphones, as my Icemat Siberias have gone straight to hell and no amount of duct tape will save them.

I'm looking at either getting the Sennheiser HD280 pro or the HD555. Price isn't a big deal as the difference in cost is only $20. I mostly game and listen to music.

So which one should I go for?
 
I actually have both, the 280 Pro's are mine and I bought the gf a pair of 555's as a present. While the 555's are more comfortable, I'm always amazed at the amount of sound they leak - I'd be embarrassed to listen to anything in public with them. I'm considering trading them in for a nice pair of closed Beyerdynamics.
 
I guess it really only comes down to if you want open or closed headphones. Open ones usually sound better and more correct, while the 280 Pro for example do a very good job at closing out external noise. If your computer case is pretty noisy I would probably go for the 280s, because in some silent games like Stalker it can really help immersion to shut out noise. But if you're ok with letting noise in and out I would get the 555s

Personally I have both the 280s and 595 headphones and love them both. They both have different sound and I enjoy listening to both of them. But when I do voice chat I always use the 280s because the 595s leak out sound to the mic.
 
I actually have both also. I like the sound quality of the HD555's much more. The 280's sound a little hollow.
 
Going to return my 555's and order a set of M-Audio Studiophile Q40's. Dunno if anyone has had a chance to test-drive these yet. Just saw the post on Engadget and realized I can get em locally.
 
Gmok Bonecrusha said:
I actually have both also. I like the sound quality of the HD555's much more. The 280's sound a little hollow.
Click to expand...

That's because they don't color the sound at all. They are super true. I use them for mixing music in my studio setup. I chose the 280's over the 555's for that reason, and because the 555's never showed up on the recomended list from Goodcans.com
http://www.goodcans.com/HeadphoneReviews/recommendations.htm

Add to that the coiled cord which is a big plus to me (not so much slack lying aound when not needed), and the fact that they are semi-collapsable... I was sold. They block out almost ALL of the outside noise. Even with no sound coming through them. My g/f has scared the sh*t outta me a few times while wearing these. :eek:
 
Mase said:
My g/f has scared the sh*t outta me a few times while wearing these. :eek:
Click to expand...

QFT!
Doom3 in the dark when you think you're home alone and suddenly she grabs your shoulder to get your attention. Holy ^%#@! :eek:
 
Mase said:
That's because they don't color the sound at all. They are super true. I use them for mixing music in my studio setup.
Click to expand...

I've had 555s... and they're good stuff. Not sure if I'd go as far as saying that they don't color the sound at all though.
 
Pinipig523 said:
I've had 555s... and they're good stuff. Not sure if I'd go as far as saying that they don't color the sound at all though.
Click to expand...

pretty sure that guy was talking about the 280's.

Personally I have the HD595 and love them, but I just use them in my room so sound leaking isn't an issue.
 
The 280s are actually fairly decent paired with a reasonably good amp. They need a serious boost at the low end, but otherwise, they're capable and pleasing. Detail is actually quite good, and the isolation is practically unbeatable at this price point (not to mention that they're practically indestructible). They're no 880s, but for $99, they aren't half bad.

Great starter cans so long as you have the means to EQ.
 
phide said:
(not to mention that they're practically indestructible).
Click to expand...

My 280's broke in less than a year... the headband is falling apart. All I did was wear them. They are pretty nice, especially amped, though. I built a cMoy for them, helped a lot.

If you can, try both of them and see which you like. Just be gentle with the 280's if you get them.
 
I nearly creamed myself when I first saw the departed. So much McIntosh gear in one place. I still get hard-ons just thinking about it. :p
 
phide said:
(not to mention that they're practically indestructible).
Click to expand...

The 280s are fairly sturdy except for the headband. The plastic on the headband can crack after just a few months, though I found that a little black duck tape works very well in fixing this.
 
Mine have held up just fine, and they've been thrown around quite a bit, too. The build quality is cheap, but it still seems to hold up pretty well in comparison with other cans I've had.
 
Sorry to bring back an old thread. But im also in the process of planning on buying the 280. I also want to amp it, but know nothing about amps. Whats a good amp for about $100-150 to pair with the 280s? I listen to mostly techno/dance/trance so big bass is important to me. I game too, but thats less important when it comes to sound quality i guess...
 
Though I never used an amp, I asked this same question and this uber electrician guy mr x said that the hd 280 won't benefit much from amping. If an audiophile can't discern much of a difference, I decided it wasn't worth my time since I couldn't tell the difference between decent onboard sound and my x-fi (just got it for the virtual 5.1 for headphones and performance).

Btw, I wouldn't use the hd 280 in public. Think about all the comical deaths you would endure: A. Walking when an antique piano suspended by a crane is thrashing loud chords before it falls on you, B. Terrorists open fire, you don't hear it, and you don't duck for cover, C. You're driving and you don't hear that *beep beep* from big trucks backing up, which will result in you being covered by heaps of used diapers and condoms after a garbage truck spills over.
 
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