[Nielo TM]

I bought the HD595 three days ago, and well… it seems to crackle/pop/break-up during heavy bass scenarios. I did manage to stop it by reducing the 30Hz on my X-Fi EQ by 90%, but for the price, it should be able to handle very low frequency without any problems. In fact, my previous MDR-CD380 can handle even the most deepest bass levels without any audible distortion and it only cost me £30 (back in 2004). However, the HD595 did beat the CD380 on everything else.

This is not a problem with music, but only with movies.


I am using PinkNoise to burn-in the headphones, but will it ever be able to produce clean deep bass?


PS: Does anyone know the drive size of the HD595?



Thanks for reading

[Tejstar]

I have the HD 595's and whilst I don't listen to too many movies with them I do listen to hip-hop on occasion and haven't noticed any problems with the bass. The Sennheiser HD650 is meant to be much better in this regard, but as I said I've not had any issues. Mine are properly broken into though.

[Nielo TM]

hmmm...

What device are you using with the HD595, (e.g. soundcard, hi-fi, MP3 player, active speakers etc...)?

[Tejstar]

The main use is through my PC soundcard but I also use it on occasion with my hi-fi setup (Musical Fiedlity Amp, Cyrus CD player).

[Steven]

Originally Posted by Nielo TM

This is not a problem with music, but only with movies.

Then I would suggest the problem is not with the headphones but rather the films themselves (unlikely), your source (unlikely as music is fine) or the software player

If I come up with more variables I will update...

Edit: Actually you use EQ? Because strictly speaking EQ itself is distortion

[Nielo TM]

I only use EQ to remove the problem when viewing movies


In music, its perfect, but if I increase the bass to a very high level (with the help of the EQ), then it distrotes.

[Steven]

Originally Posted by Nielo TM

I only use EQ to remove the problem when viewing movies

In music, its perfect, but if I increase the bass to a very high level (with the help of the EQ), then it distrotes.

Your posts conflict...

Previously it would appear you lower bass to eliminate crackling. But this quote suggests the crackling occurs when you use EQ to bump the bass up

If the answer is the former, then we still need to solve this...
If the answer if the latter I would suggest you are using too much EQ boost in bass

[alexs2]

Originally Posted by Nielo TM

In music, its perfect, but if I increase the bass to a very high level (with the help of the EQ), then it distrotes.

Most,if not all systems will distort at some point when excessive levels of bass EQ are used.

The point about decent headphone systems such as the HD595 and similar is that they do not require hideous amounts of EQ to deliver an accurate result....without EQ,you get the music as it was intended to be heard,gievn that they have a pretty flat response across a very wide frequency range.

A lot of people do mistake the absence of large amounts of upper bass/mid range bloat as a system short on bass.....this is often not the case at all.

[Nielo TM]

I apologize; I should have provided an in-depth answer


I use X-Fi XtremeMusic, and thanks to the latest up-date, the sound quality has jumped to an all time high. Also, the EQ embedded in X-Fi is one of the best there it. Reason: it doesn’t distort the sound in any way regardless of the configuration, (but ultimately this is where most software EQs fail). Even with 31 and 62Hz set to maximum (+12db), the bass level still remains free from all forms of distortions. The same can be said for the higher frequencies as well.


I used to enable the X-Fi EQ for my Sony HDPs, and it managed to provide very strong distortion free bass (even when increasing the lower frequencies of the EQ to the maximum).


The HD595 completely fails in this regard (test). I can increase the 62Hz to +6.1db to obtain puncher bass but at higher levels, the HDPs begins to crackle (right can first, quickly followed by the left).


I prefer the music to sound natural, which is why I have purchased the HD595 and it hasn’t failed in that regard. I don’t actually use the EQs during listening periods, only when testing (and watching movies, which I’ve explained below).


During movies, the HD595 crackles during heavy bass scenarios. For example: At near the end of the Matrix: Reloaded where the Mjolnir (Hammer) comes in search of the Nebuchadnezzar and in Terminator 3 when the HK hovers above the ocean bay and returns to the battle field.


During those scenes, the HD595 crackles/pops very strongly. However, I found that enabling EQ (flat) and lowering the 31Hz to -10.1db helps to solve the problem without greatly impacting the over-all sound quality.



At the moment, I’m using Pink Noise Generator with 15 minutes rest period every hour. I usually run the application 5-8 hours a day. I just hope one day, it’ll be able to produce wide range of lower frequencies without any problems.

[Broosta]

Dude there is no way that crackling/popping noise is the HD595.

It's the sound card, your card is rubbish and is well known for having this problem.
There may be a conflict with your sound card or video drivers drivers as this is known to create the problems you are hearing, but creative have not been too helpfull with driver updates on this front.

[Nielo TM]

Trust me, it is. I know cos it's the sound of the diaphragm/s under heavy stress.


The X-Fi card itself was excellently designed. It was the drivers (both creative and 3rd party) and BIOS that caused the problem (mainly on nVIDIA-chipset based systems). Luckily, I haven't experienced any problems and I had it well over 2 years (with two different systems). My previous system was WinXP Pro X86 with ASUS K8V SE Delux mobo (VIA chipset), and my new system is Vista Ultimate X64 with Intel DP35DP mobo.


PS: The pure sound quality of the X-Fi still manages to impresses me tbh (that is after the July update). And if the culprit was the soundcard, I’d be able hear crackle/popping with my other headphones and speakers


PPS: Creative fixed most of the problem with the July driver update. Even though I wasn't affected, it certainly did improve the overall sound quality of my X-Fi.

BTW, I have the original 2005 card, not the 2nd reversion or XtremeAudio.

[alexs2]

There are two problems here...firstly,the amounts of bass EQ you are using are excessive,and even if they are not responsible for the popping and crackling,they certainly will utterly colour the sound.

Secondly,I'm no expert on PC soundcards,but the poster above is correct in saying that there are a large number of blogs and sites filled with reports of exactly this problem on your soundcard.

[Steven]

Am I to understand this problem only occurs during films with this one headphone?

HD595 are fine in all music, and all films when there is not a "subwoofer" moment?

That being the case, the cans are not faulty as it is hardly selective. So either the sound card is faulty or you are unnecessarily altering the low freq's in films...

[Nielo TM]

It is not the sound card or the movie or the EQ. And I’m not a nubie when it comes to electronics and diagnosing problems.



I know for a fact it is caused by the HD595. But since the HDP is new, I suppose it may take some time to produce low frequencies more clearly.


I had the same problem with HD485, but it was much worse. It couldn’t even handle normal bass levels.


It is very hard to transfer the problem into words due to many variables. And thanks for helping.


PS: I doubt the HD595 has 50mm drive units. IMO I think they are either 30 oe 40mm, which could be problem.

[alexs2]

Originally Posted by Nielo TM

I use X-Fi XtremeMusic, and thanks to the latest up-date, the sound quality has jumped to an all time high. Also, the EQ embedded in X-Fi is one of the best there it. Reason: it doesn’t distort the sound in any way regardless of the configuration, (but ultimately this is where most software EQs fail). Even with 31 and 62Hz set to maximum (+12db), the bass level still remains free from all forms of distortions. The same can be said for the higher frequencies as well.



The HD595 completely fails in this regard (test). I can increase the 62Hz to +6.1db to obtain puncher bass but at higher levels, the HDPs begins to crackle (right can first, quickly followed by the left).

This is the problem...excessive amounts of bass EQ resulting in distortion.

Originally Posted by Nielo TM

I prefer the music to sound natural, which is why I have purchased the HD595 and it hasn’t failed in that regard. I don’t actually use the EQs during listening periods, only when testing (and watching movies, which I’ve explained below).

If you want things to sound natural,and the same applies to watching movies and testing......dont use excess EQ.

Also,using pink noise will not significantly alter the drive units characteristics.

[Nielo TM]

Originally Posted by alexs2

This is the problem...excessive amounts of bass EQ resulting in distortion.

I wouldn't call it excessive, and the Sony handles it extremely well.

At times, I would prefer a bit bass in the mix but 99% of the time, the EQ is disabled.

During movies, I enable the EQ (flat) and (only) lower the 31Hz to -10db. If I don’t, the speakers crackle during low bass scenes.

Originally Posted by alexs2

If you want things to sound natural,and the same applies to watching movies and testing......dont use excess EQ.

I don't, and I was only using it to compare the HD595 to the MDR-CD80 (bass wise)

[Nielo TM]

I've conducted further settings and it would seem the HD595 can’t handle deep bass levels (or at least from my setup).


I won’t be returning the HD595, but out of curiosity, would you be able to suggest an alternative to the HD595 (with similar impedance and price range)?

[barjoysee]

I also get crackling through my Sennheiser HD 600's with the same sort of setup even through my Denon 3808 amp I hear some crackling...butmy £20 creative headphones don't ...strange

[Broosta]

I still think its the sound card/drivers - 1,000s of posts on many websites relating to exact problem you are complaining about.

HD595 are good headphones that definitely can handle bass - no posts relating to known issues with bass on these cans.
However, you seem convinced its the cans, which could be true if you have a faulty set, which means you should send them back and get a replacement surely? And yet you've announced you're going to keep them?! Why?

[Nielo TM]

I had similar problems with HD485s some time ago (with multiple sources)

and Amazon no longer has HD595s in stock


If the time comes to a point where they need to be replaced, then I need to what are the alternatives to the HD595

[Nielo TM]

I'm returning the HD595 back to Amazon


I tried with other sources and I can still hear the distortion. Looks like I'm going back to my Sony.


But I have an eye for this Pioneer

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pioneer-SE-A...934745&sr=8-14

[Broosta]

Fair enough.

Those Pioneers look interesting, never seen them before.

So you're after some good, open cans, that can handle bass, for music and films then? Sort of in the £50-£90 range?

Alessandro MS1 $99.00 free delivery worldwide. http://www.alessandro-products.com/headphones.html

Audio Technica ATH-AD700 £79 http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-lis...&condition=all

Beyerdynamic DTX900 £49 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyerdynamic.../dp/B000F2BLQU

Goldring DR150 £58 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Goldring-DR-.../dp/B000R98E66

[Nielo TM]

I want though all of them, and the Pioneer seems to be best as it ticks all my requiments requirements

e.g.

Low impedance
Good price range
Dispatched and sold by Amazon
Large 50mm drivers
Higher power handling (1500mW)

[Broosta]

Out of all the cans on this thread those Pioneers are probably the worst and definitely the least well known. All the others are very well documented and universally respected as good cans.

Problems with Pioneers:-
Bass distorts http://www.headphoneinfo.com/content...Review-312.htm
http://reviews.washingtonpost.com/pr...r/SE-A1000.htm

Your requirements:-
1)Low impedance
2)Good price range
3)Dispatched and sold by Amazon
4)Large 50mm drivers
5)Higher power handling (1500mW)

1) all cans in list have the same 32 ohms impedance
2) they are all cheaper than the HD595s you are returning
3) Ok the Allesandros aren't.
4) Irrelevant. Large drivers don't mean they are at all good. They are all good enough in this list.
5) What!? Aren't you just going to be running them off a normal consumer sound card? All these cans will be fine with regards to how much power they can handle!

In a nutshell, the pioneers are the gamble. The Allesandros are not available from Amazon so they're out. The others are all good so its down which you like the look of.

[Nielo TM]

I see your point

I did read the headphoneinfo review but...



Headphones and PSUs are the hardest to choose due to far toomany variables. Also, the store needs to have excellent customer service just in case, which is why I prefer to buy from Amazon directly.

I admit, the audio-technica is very appealing

Only problem is, I cant find a good (well known) store

[Nielo TM]

I've just ordered the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 from hifiheadphones.co.uk for £96 + Del.

I know I could have gotten them (much) cheaper considering they are only $103 USD, but it's not like I had many choices.


Anyway, here's the link

http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/audi...rodid-214.html


PS: It was this thread that sealed the deal

http://headphones.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10

[Hashim]

would not recommend sennheiser. I used them a while back did not last very long. Well the in ear versions arent that great. Sony ones perform longer.

[Nielo TM]

Sony headphones are excellent. But it would seem they are less focused on that department atm.

[joeyjojo]

Bit late to the party..

I noticed this problem, and have identified a solution as turning the volume on the soundcard down.

Foobar (with advanced limiter only) -> Xonar DX -> Cambridge Audio Azur 540R -> HD595 (via headphone jack).
With the xonar at full volume and the azur lowered to listening volume I was getting crackling on bass heavy music (testing with Colourless by Venetian Snares, smooth, low, swooping bass).
However, with the xonar turned down to say 50% (the limit hasn't been found yet) and the azur then turned up to listening volume, the crackling is gone.

Any theories on this one?

Edit: possibly I turned off some dsp on the azur when I was fiddling with it (it's new for me), but unlikely.

[Steven]

How is the sound card being connected to the receiver?