SennheiserHD 599 SE Around Ear Open Back Headphone - Black

I’m still relatively new to collecting headphones, but I do have a small collection for reference. I have used the Samson SR850s, SR860s with after market earpads, Moondrop Chu’s, Moondrop Chu II’s, Tanchjim Zeros, and both iterations of the AirPod Pros. These in short the HD599s are good enough that I can easily tell the difference in quality from listening to an MP3 on a iPod verses the same MP3 on my phone. So if you want these for listening to your old iPod you are overspending. I can also tell the difference in quality in certain FLAC files verses their MP3 counterparts, though I will admit the difference is slight to my untrained ears. I bough these on sale for ~$120 which I feel is more than a fair price for the product I received. Now for the compare and contrasting…In terms of audio quality the HD599s and the Chu II are my favorite sounding headphones. (If you want less bass and a more sparkly sound get the original Chus or the Zeros. Lofi, classical instruments, and female vocals in particular sounds amazing with them) They are both fairly balanced with a warmer bass. They both have a very different quality of sound thanks to these being an open back headphone and the Chu II’s having more of a passive noise cancelation. I can’t put it into words. Some say open backs sound fuller thanks to their open nature, but that word doesn't hit the spot for me. Needless to say, I find myself switching between both frequently to scratch the itch each of the qualities provide depending on my mood. The HD599s are naturally a harder to run so I have to crank the volume on my phone more, but they are still perfectly drivable without a dedicated DAC/AMP. The Chu II’s start at $20, but if you are cursed with small waxy ear canals, like myself, then you will have to replace the filters fairly frequently (every ~5 days) which would cost me around $4 a month with my average use case. That is a bit of a hassle and a hidden cost that is rarely mentioned. The HD599’s always sound good since they are not subject to the same moist conditions. Can you get competing sound for cheaper if you go the IEM (in ear monitor) route? Yes, but sometimes you just want over the ear headphones for the sake of comfort, lack of hassle, and sharability.If your not interested in IEMs like the Chu II’s then here is a comparison to the SR850s (the SR860s are basically identical, but have another color way and are usually more expensive). In terms of comfort the HD599’s are far more comfortable out of the box. The pads of the SR850’s touch my ears which felt fine until I experienced better, now I don't care for them and wouldn’t wear them for long periods of time. The HD599’s actually sit around my ears with the inner pads being deep enough that they don’t touch my ears. The ear cups also swivel to conform to my head which also improves the experience. Where things get interesting is if you splurge for after market velour pads for the SR850s which cost an additional ~$20 (I got mine from TRANSTEK). These increase the total cost to around $60 but feel equally comfortable (if not slightly more so) than the HD599s. I haven't seen any aftermarket pads that look as thick and soft for the HD599s yet, but if I do, I will definitely give them a try and update this review.The sound quality is a matter of preference between the two, I like the warmer and slightly fuller sound of the HD599s and I think the top end sounds slightly more crisp/accurate.In terms of sound leakage the HD599s are definitely worse. You don't want to use these if you don't want people to listen in to your content. With the SR850s you can tend to avoid people listening in if you’re at a moderate volume. If you are in a noisy house with children then both of these may not be right for you. You would want to look into closed back or IEMs. I personally like open backs because you can still hear the world around you when you’re working. You are not in your personal bubble.The removable cable is the greatest quality of life feature of the HD599s. It comes with two cables out of the box: a long boi with a chonky 6.3mm jack with a step down adapter to 3.5, and a reasonably sized 3.5mm cable. The SR850s in contrast have a non removable long 3.5mm cable with a step-up 6.3mm adapter. As a result the SR850’s don’t leave my desk and the cables stay cable managed underneath it. The HD599s offer way more flexibility. I use my short cable for around the house listening on my phone, handheld game consoles, and occasionally on my AMP/DAC on my PC while reserving the long cable for watching TV on my sofa or bed.If you’re looking for solid stationary desk headphones for work and general use with a flat sound get the SR850s with the aftermarket earpads are fantastic for the money and will beat pretty much any “gaming” headphone on the market in terms of sound quality. They also dont have much audio leakage so they may work well in an office setting as you can still hear what is going on around you. If you want convenience buds for daily use that you keep on you 24/7 get the AirPod Pros (the first gen had better connectivity and range but the second gen sound slightly better). If you want great affordable sound (with some maintenance) go the IEM route and snag the Chu’s or Zeros for a flat accurate sound or the Chu II’s for a warmer sound that maintains the accuracy on the top end. If you want excellent open backs that can be driven without an external DAC/AMP that are slightly warm then the HD599s are great.I don't think I would buy the HD599s at the retail cost of $250 considering the HD600s (the de facto benchmark for over 20 years) often drop down to $300 on sale or $250 in used like-new condition, but at $120 I think they are a fair price for what they offer as a package. They are versatile, comfortable, and accurate enough that you can hear the differences between good and bad mp3 playback and (depending on the file or the quality/accuracy of your hearing) the difference between a FLAC and MP3.Welcome to audiophile country, open your wallets and enjoy the process of nitpicking sound quality to justify your purchases. I hope you enjoy your descent.

If you're looking for premium sound quality and comfort, the Sennheiser HD 599 is an excellent choice. These open-back headphones offer an incredibly wide soundstage with crystal-clear mids, detailed highs, and balanced bass. Whether you're listening to music, watching movies, or gaming, the audio feels immersive and natural.The comfort on these headphones is outstanding. The velour ear cups are soft and breathable, and the lightweight design makes it easy to wear them for hours without any discomfort. Plus, the adjustable headband ensures a perfect fit.The open-back design does mean sound leaks out, so these are best suited for quiet environments like home or private offices. However, this design is what gives them such an amazing, spacious soundstage.Build quality is solid, and the detachable cable is a nice bonus for added convenience. They look sleek and feel durable, living up to Sennheiser's reputation for quality.Overall, the HD 599 is perfect for anyone who values high-quality audio and comfort. If you're an audiophile or someone who enjoys long listening sessions, these headphones are worth every penny. Highly recommended!

great sound on these, though the volume will not feel as substantial as with closed back headphones. it goes a long way for my anxiety because i am able to hear what is around me and not be caught unawares. these are lightweight and very comfortable, fitting around the ear in a way that doesn't bother my piercings (of which i have several going all the way up both ears and an industrial). it's been an hour and so far no fatigue, no sweat in or around my ears, and no soreness from my piercings. i also wear glasses and no issues there either.the original cord is extremely long, and it's a bit tricky to swap to the smaller one. you have to twist then pull, it should come out easily so if it doesn't then twist the other direction and try again. if you like your music loud, then everything will be heard outside your headphones. at mid volume it's less noticable, but if you blast it, these headphones more or less will sound like an old 90s stereo to everyone around you. great for at home, but not public transport, planes, or gym.sound off, i can hear everything just the same as if i weren't wearing headphones. in use, outside sound is muffled and nearly disappears at higher volume, depending on what it is. for example my voice sounds muffled but clearly understanable when i speak while listening to Bach's Cello Suites at volume 60 on my mp3 player. but at the same volume listening to Papercut by Linkin Park, i can just barely hear my voice when speaking at normal volume.MUSIC and MOVIES: music sounds great with these, i've tried classical, EDM, acapella, rock, pop, cinematic, metal. not true basshead level but can be made so with eq or DAC. movie audio is awesome, as long as you slightly modify your bass level on equalizer and turn off all "enhancement" settings/plugins on your device. sounds nearly like being right there in a movie theater, it's awesome! Dune, for example, sounds absolutely insane. as do the Marvel movies and the original Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), Nope, and The Thin Man (1934).GAMING: surround sound in games works with these! using Genshin as a lowest-denominator example, in-game i set audio and SFX to maximum and muted vocals and music, surround sound and full dyanmic range with my PC (Win11) volume set to 50. being right in front of a waterfall keeps the sound in both ears no matter the camera direction. but moving away, and slowly moving the camera as the waterfall sound very clearly in different directions. muted when camera is fully away(waterfall behind me), fully in one ear when left or right and quieter in opposite ear, facing the camera full toward the waterfall brings the sound forward in both ears again. the further away, the lesser the sound but the degree of difference remains the same. slowly panning the camera in a circle gradually alters the direction of the audio in sync with where the waterfall is.directly plugged into PC has full, crisp clear audio. when connected to a PS4 DualShock controller (via USB, not wireless), the surround sound effect is less substantial. it's comparable to limited/stereo where all sound is either left/right ear, behind, or in front with not much in between.