Sennheiser HD-555 measurements

My first mid-fi headphones were a pair of Sennheiser HD-555s. I pulled them out of storage today and did some measurements, and for fun compared them against my modded HD650s on a few tracks. Measurement rig, measurement process. Listening chain is FLACs --> Audirvana+ --> warmed up for days Gungnir Multibit --> Vali. When comparison listening I turn down the amp volume to 0 at the start of each track then increase it to a comfortable listening level rather than volume-matching the headphones which would require equipment I don't have.

Basic Information:



Years ago I did the "rear grille foam removal mod" on my HD555s. Compared to my HD650s (also modded), the HD555s are bright and thin sounding, and sound pretty much like they measure. I got these in 2008 and used them a lot for a few years, so pad degradation may be partly to blame.

Measurements




Subjective Impressions

The family resemblance between the HD555s and HD650s is apparent. They seem to me to be similarly resolving and present a roughly similar sound stage, though it's hard to tell because the 555s are so much brighter. They emphasize the attack of notes, which may be a sort of false resolving ability? Dunno, really. I listened to the same track 2 or 3x through each headphone and made some notes.

Beck's The Golden Age, from Sea Change:

650s: The accoustic guitar sounds real with a nice balance of steeley strings, warm wood, and thumpy resonance. The electronic chime-ey things at 00:18s sound bright but are balanced by the mid and low end of the recording. Beck's voice sounds smooth and not overly close to the mic. Harmony and doubled vocals at 01:51 and 02:21 are easily distinguished from each other. Bass guitar sounds taut and well-integrated throughout.

555s: The accoustic guitar sounds thin and more stringey, much less full bodied. The electronic chime-ey things are piercing. Beck sounds like he's singing further from the mic; still relatively smooth but with less chest sound to his voice. Harmony and doubled vocals at 01:51 and 02:21 are very easily distinguishable because the more whisperey doubled vocal track stands out even more from the main vocal part. Bass guitar seems turned down--higher overtones still come through but the fundamental notes are way soft.

Bruce Springsteen's State Trooper, from Nebraska:

650s: Tape hiss from the 4-track it was recorded on is immediately apparent. Springsteen's voice is warm. Pulse quickens when he leans deeper into strumming the guitar during the section between verse and chorus at 01:00. Tape overload in the verse starting at 01:48 is obvious. Tape delay echo is clearly distinguished from vocals throughout. Printthrough of the final whoop at 3:01 is clearly heard.

555s: Tape hiss is even more immediately apparent. Springsteen's voice is more intimate, a bit more whisperey sounding. Tape overload in the verse starting at 01:48 is obvious. Vocal whoops at 02:28 cross the threshold into painful. The tone is right, but they jump out from the recording in a painful way. Printthrough of the final whoop at 3:01 is clear.

Cowboy Junkies' 200 More Miles, from The Trinity Session:

650s: Not every "s" from Margo's mouth is sibilant, but some are. Harmonica, steel guitar, and snare brushes seem very balanced. Chorus crescendo at 02:40 is energetic but balanced. Clearly louder than the adjacent verses. The feeling of a band playing in a large, reverberant space is very moderate. Reverberation is apparent, but integrated with the music. Bass guitar is perceived as fundamentals and overtones together while being somewhat receded overall.

555s: Overall very sibilant and bright. Every "s" from Margo's mouth is sibilant, every reed on the harmonica emphasized, and the steel guitar, snare brushes, and cymbals are very prominent. Attack of electric guitar notes is quite emphasized. The feeling of a band playing in a large, reverberant space is somewhat more emphasized vs. the HD650s. Bass guitar comes through as 80% overtones 20% fundamentals. Chorus crescendo at 02:40 is overwhelmingly loud and bright.

 

These were my first good headphones bought on an amazon sale at the time when I was debating whether to get a 5.1 headset (multiple drivers not VSS). Not sure why I got these ones but remember using them with an X-Fi Titanium HD (CMSS-3D 7.1) which has a 35Ω output impedance. Sennheiser was including that idiotic adapter and still is to this day. It has killed so many soundcards but when does Sennheiser ever have any interest in getting feedback.



Learned about the foam mod a few months later. Then they succumbed to the dreaded cracking. Such is the life of a HD5x5.