Killer Open-Back Headphones on a Budget

Key Takeaways

• Sennheiser HD 599 SE are a budget-friendly choice with wonderful sound high quality and luxury for lengthy listening periods.
• The headphones have a glossy design with tasteful silver accents and a simplistic look.
• Regardless of being product of plastic, the construct high quality is strong, though the silver accents can chip simply. In addition they present a large sound stage and spectacular imaging capabilities.

As an enormous fan of good-value open-back headphones, the Sennheiser HD 599 SE buy was the end result of quite a lot of analysis inside my funds vary. A revamping of the unique beige and brown HD 599, this Amazon particular is a contender for the highest spot relating to budget-oriented headphones.

Sennheiser has a protracted historical past of making wonderful audio merchandise, and it reveals with the HD 599 SE. These headphones are comfy to put on and hearken to for hours—they even deal with headphones double their value.

What’s within the Field?

The HD 599 SE are available a recycled-looking field utilizing cardboard tape to seal it shut, which is a pleasant sustainability contact. It’s simply recyclable; nevertheless, inside you may discover quite a lot of plastic. The headphones themselves are wrapped in a plastic sleeve. The paperwork and cables are available separate plastic pouches of their very own.

I’m uncertain if that is intentional, however lifting the cardboard that flaps over the headphones tilts the merchandise up and in the direction of you as if in a presentational method. Regardless of the modest packaging materials, I’m shocked they thought so as to add some aptitude to the unboxing expertise.

It comes with one pair of headphones after all, however it additionally comes with two cables; a 3m (~10ft) cable that ends in a ¼ inch jack, and a shorter 1.2m (~4ft) cable that ends in a 3.5mm headphone jack. Sadly, these removable cables are proprietary as the top that plugs into the headphones are tiny and have a locking mechanism.

Look

The Sennheiser HD 599 SE are primarily black with silver accents which can be positioned tastefully. The accents aren’t overwhelming, however the entire design is a bit understated in comparison with its non-SE older brother in beige and brown. Nonetheless, the beige and brown/wooden of the non-SE was fairly polarizing; some cherished it and a few hated it. Sennheiser performed it secure with black and silver, however I do want it had a bit extra character.

I just like the flowy earcup arm and the way in which it blends into the oval of the earcup. The silver oval accent across the barely offset steel mesh can also be fairly fairly. There’s some branding in the midst of the oval, however it’s not an excessive amount of to be distasteful.

It’s a really simplistic design with not a lot drama. As somebody who isn’t a fan of the everyday “gamer” aesthetics, I respect this being on my desk as a substitute of one thing flashy.

Construct High quality

For one thing that’s priced this low, you should not anticipate finding the highest-grade supplies in its development. All the things is product of plastic aside from the steel grills exterior the earcup.

Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply it isn’t constructed effectively. The plastic is strong and scratch-resistant and it’s not the kind to get sticky after being within the solar. It simply would not really feel very beautiful whenever you’re holding it.

My solely grievance about its development is the paint they used on the silver accents. Whereas the plastic beneath is nice, the silver paint chips off fairly simply, as you possibly can see within the picture above.

The silver accents are additionally in a susceptible space, because the components that contact the desk probably the most and are the probably to get nicked by your nails.

Consolation

Earlier than I had the HD 599 SE, I used the Philips SHP9500 and the Hifiman HE400se. I wore them for hours at a time, however I had my fair proportion of complaints about them each.

The SHP9500 foams have been too shallow, so my ears would contact the diaphragm and turn into sore except I adjusted them. The HE400se earpads have been too itchy on sizzling days and the hinge would typically pull my hair.

The HD 599 SE didn’t have any of these points. The earcups are deep sufficient to offer my ears area; they do not get too sizzling, nor do they tug on my hair.

The clamping drive can also be not too tight. It’s tighter than the opposite headphones I discussed, however these headphones have been so unfastened that simply trying down to choose one thing up from the ground would make them fall off my head. The HD 599 SE are light-weight, and the tightness of the band is simply sufficient to not fall off my head.

You possibly can bend the scarf somewhat tighter or looser if you wish to regulate the clamping drive, however do that at your individual danger. Nonetheless, I believe that is unlikely, contemplating how versatile it’s.

Sound High quality

The HD 599 SE aren’t the costliest pair of headphones round, and the value places them within the decrease mid-range bracket together with the cans that I’ve talked about beforehand—the SHP9500 and the HE400se, each of that are open-back headphones.

The HE400se have planar magnetic drivers although, which is extremely spectacular for one thing within the $120-ish value vary. It’s onerous to beat the pace and accuracy at which the HE400se ship sound, however the HD 599 SE are way more comfy to hearken to in comparison with the HE400se, with a barely hotter and extra pleasant sound, which I’ll get into element about beneath:

The lows are raised up a bit and good for a mid-range pair of open-back headphones. The lows are normally the place open-backs are weak. I’m not a bass head, however I respect punchy bass the place applicable.

The bass is definitely extra current on the HD 599 SE than the HE400se with planar magnetic drivers, that are recognized for having higher bass response. As long as you aren’t listening to it outdoor with quite a lot of interfering sound, the decrease frequencies are wonderful.

The mids are effectively balanced on the HD 599 SE, however equally to the HE400se, they have a tendency to drop off at across the 1.2-2kHz vary, although not almost as a lot. I suppose that is performed on goal to scale back the “shouty” frequencies that are likely to make the listening expertise a bit harsher.

Vocals are clear for probably the most half except there are quite a lot of devices simply earlier than the 1kHz mark that may overpower feminine vocals like guitars.

The highs are clear and sparkly with out being painful to hearken to. I respect good high-frequency response and the HD 599 SE fulfill me there. I take pleasure in quite a lot of element within the increased frequencies in my music, which is why my first pair of open-back headphones have been the SHP9500 due to the “brilliant” frequency response. Nonetheless, over time, I discovered that it was only a bit an excessive amount of.

The HD599 is well-balanced within the increased frequencies, offering loads of element that you simply don’t need to hearken to so intently to establish however isn’t harsh. These are positively the open-back headphones I’ve been searching for in my quest to seek out headphones that swimsuit my style.

Sound Stage

The sound stage is kind of good on these. I gained’t discuss it when it comes to listening to music, because it’s hardly ever ever recorded in a approach that makes you respect the sound stage of headphones.

However I do wish to discuss in regards to the sound stage relating to media the place positioning issues, like in gaming and flicks. These shine in that regard. I normally do sim racing in Assetto Corsa Competitizione and play FPS video games like Valorant and Counter-Strike.

Assetto Corsa Competitizione has wonderful sound design, and you may actually respect it with these headphones, particularly utilizing the in-car view. It feels such as you’re within the automotive, and you may precisely hear the curbs, different automobiles, and even how your tires are doing based mostly on the sound alone. Grenades exploding within the distance, footsteps, and gunshots round you in Counter-Strike are goosebump-inducing with how huge the sound stage sounds on these headphones.

Imaging

I’ve been spoiled by the HE400se with its planar magnetic drivers, so transitioning to the HD 599 SE wasn’t that thrilling when it got here to imaging.

Planar magnetic drivers are simply on one other stage relating to distinguishing between totally different devices and finding them within the sound area. Nonetheless, the HD 599 SE are not any slouch both.

Listening to Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon, you possibly can nonetheless establish all of the devices surrounding you. The deep bass on the precise, the flute on the left, the trumpets, saxophones, trombones—all whereas Frank Sinatra’s voice is crystal clear regardless of different devices throughout the identical frequency vary as his voice.

It might not be as fast as planar magnetic drivers, however the dynamic drivers on the HD 599 SE can nonetheless ship wonderful separation.

Ought to You Purchase the HD 599 SE?

The HD 599 SE are unbelievable worth for the cash. I’d even say they’d nonetheless be price it at $200 with simply how nice the entire expertise of proudly owning this pair is.

These are sometimes on sale for simply $119-129 on Amazon, and at that value, they’re the most effective headphones you will get on your cash.