Greetings friend and Welcome aboard!!
Before we get into the Sennheiser HD 598 vs. Beats comparison, grab a snack, sit back and relax because…
You’ve come to the right place!!
What I will bring you in this review
Today I will outline only the models worth your money, and then compare them with the Sennheiser HD 598 towards the end. 🙂 This is going to be an extremely comprehensive review, so strap on (I mean strap in) and enjoy the ride!
- Iterations
- Ratings/Price
- Specifications
- Summary
- Pros
- Cons
- Video Review
- Amp/DAC requirements
- Who these headphones benefit?
- Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- Consensus/Conclusion
- Similarities & Differences
- HD 598 Video Review
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!
Iterations
Wow. Okay. So before we even get into the specifics, let’s go over all the different versions of this headphone so we have a clear idea of what we’re getting into. This review will not cover any In-ear models. The models underlined in green are the only ones that have received at least overall positive reviews on amazon. I honestly wouldn’t even bother with the other models.
That said, if I’m missing anything, please let me know!
Beats Studio Wired (Discontinued)- Beats Studio 2.0 Wired Over-Ear (Circumaural)
- Beats Studio Wireless Over-Ear (Decent)
- Beats Studio Wireless 2.0. (Decent)
- Beats Studio Wireless On-Ear (Supra-aural)
- Beats Pro Wired Over-Ear (Decent)
- Beats Executive Wired Over-Ear
- Beats EP Wired On-ear
Monster Beats Solo (Discontinued)Beats Solo HD Wired On-Ear (Discontinued)Beats Solo HD “drenched in color” 2.0 (2013). Really? No.- Beats Solo2 Wired On-Ear (Good)
- Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear (Better)
- Beats Mixr Wired On-Ear (Decent)
Out of all these, the Beats Mixr Wired On-Ear get the highest ratings. I will review these today as they are the headphones most worth your dollar.
Update: I do think the Solo 3’s are the best out of the bunch. Learn more: Beats Solo 3 Review.
Beats Mixr Wired
Ratings/Price
Specifications
- Type: Closed back.
- Weight: 210g
- Inputs Supported: 3.5mm
- Cable Length: 1.6m
- Additional Features: Detachable cable, Microphone, Noise Isolating.
Summary
If there were one word to describe the Beats Mixr, it would be uncomfortable. Many people really enjoyed the sound but could not get over how tight fitting they are.
In comparison to the other Beats by Dre models, the Mixr stand out because their sound is superior and not quite as intense. It’s more even and balanced than some of its other bass heavy counterparts.
I would advise you to be really weary if you do decide to purchase these, as there are a lot of counterfeit models floating around. Make sure that you’re buying from a registered/authorized seller.
To sum it up, you may be paying more for the name than a good set of headphones. A few people also pointed this out. Keep in mind though that they have come down considerably in price from a few years ago.
Pros
- Good bass, not too overpowering.
- Good mid-range and highs.
- Good design. Swiveling ear cups are handy.
- Good sound isolation.
- Durable headphone case holder.
Cons
- Too tight. Become very uncomfortable after a short period of time, causing pain and red ears. This was pretty much unanimous. They also aren’t good for people that wear glasses or have a big head.
- Break down over time. Paint chipped, stopped working on one side, frayed wire. These were all common complaints.
- Static.
- Parts aren’t user replaceable.
Video Review
Amp/DAC requirements
None. The best headphone amp for the money.
Who these headphones benefit?
Endorsed for:
- EDM
- Rap/Hip-Hop
- R&B
Not for:
- Metal
- Country
- Classical
Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- Stretch them first. Many users noted the increased comfort factor after doing this for a few days.
- The covering on the ears will wear down over time, or fall off.
- They aren’t as comfortable as the Studio or the Solo. But they have better sound than either of those 2.
- As mentioned in the summary, beware of counterfeit or fake models. I do feel like a lot of the negative reviews were from people that may have gotten a bad pair.
- Fashion over substance? A lot of people liked the look of them but not much else.
- Wire connection problems. Sometimes if the plug is connected to the left ear, you may only hear that side. Likewise with the right side.
- These are not DJ cans. They aren’t nearly comfortable enough (or durable enough) to become your long term DJ headphones.
- They come with 2 cables: 1 coiled and 1 straight. One is L-shaped and the other is straight.
- The microphone cables’ full abilities only work with certain Apple Devices. These abilities include: Return to previous, skip, rewind, and fast forward). Features that will most likely work with any device: Speaking into the mic, pausing, resuming. Rather unfortunate oversight if you ask me.
- They are hard to plug into sources with a big phone case like an Otterbox.
- They do come with: A hard case, a pouch for the cables, and a micro fiber cleaning cloth.
Consensus/Conclusion
Pretty good sound, bad comfort level. Tight on the head. A lot of fake models floating around.
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
Honestly, there really are no similarities. This is like night and day.
Differences
- Bass. You will get more bass with the Mixr, but it won’t be as textured, nuanced, or detailed. The 598’s bass is lean, but complex.
- Genre. The Mixr’s will do much better with bass heavier music, while the 598 does well with all types of music. They are more of an all-around type of headphone.
- Detail and mid-range. The 598’s mid-range is very detailed, and you will be able to hear the subtle nuances of things like vocals, instruments, etc. The Mixr’s are a lot muddier in this regard, and even though more detailed than some of the other Beats models, they will pale in comparison to the 598.
- Comfort. The 598’s are touted as some of the most comfortable headphones you can buy. This is in part due to their design, as well as the material. The ear-cups are made of velour, and they do not clamp down on your head like the Mixr’s do.
- Color. The 598’s are available in Maroon/Cream, and Black. The Mixr’s come in a lot of colors.
- Fit. The Mixr’s are Supra-aural (On-ear), while the 598’s are Circumaural (Around the ear).
- Type. The 598’s are open back while the Mixr’s are closed back. Closed back vs. Open back headphones. Basically the 598’s are meant for studio use while the Mixr’s are more portable.
- Amp. The 598’s sound good without an amp, but the sound is even better with one. How to choose a headphone amp! The Mixr’s by contrast are meant for your portable device and wouldn’t really benefit from an amp.
- Cable. Both have a detachable cable, but the Mixr’s come with both a coiled and straight. The 598’s only come with a straight and no L-shape. Another weird caveat with the 598 is that it’s termination ends in a 1/4″ plug and comes with a 3.5mm adapter. Usually with headphones it’s the opposite: The plug terminates into 3.5mm and comes with a 1/4″ adapter. Kind of strange if you ask me, but then again the 598’s are meant for the studio and not really on the go.
- Soundstage. You will get excellent soundstage and instrument separation with the 598 and not so much with the Mixr. What is Soundstage?
My Video Review
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Final Word
I think even though the Mixr’s are the headphones most worth your money out of the Beats series, they still aren’t worth your money overall. There are a ton of better options if you crave a heavy bass response but don’t want the muddiness that sometimes comes with it. The comfort factor is a huge turn off too. There are many other models out there that won’t break down quite as easily over time, and will last you years without becoming obsolete.
Looking for an excellent on ear DJ headphone? Need something portable? Learn more about the Sennheiser HD25!
SENNHEISER HD25 REVIEW!!
Looking for just a bass heavy monster that is light years better than the Mixr? Check out the M100!
V-MODA CROSSFADE M100 REVIEW!!
Finally, if you dig the sound of the HD598 as described in this article, check out my official review!
SHOULD YOU BUY THE SENNHEISER HD598?
If you’re looking for an open back headphone that won’t break the bank, the HD558 is the solution for you. The HD598 is a little better overall, but there’s a trick that you can employ to make the 558’s sound really open up. It’s the foam mod, and it’s very simple. So if you don’t want to pay the price for the 598, but want roughly the same sound, go with the 558. Interested in learning all about them + the foam mod?
CHECK OUT MY OFFICIAL SENNHEISER HD 558 REVIEW!!
Well that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on the Sennheiser HD598 vs. Beats.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
Which of these is more up your alley? I would love to hear from you. Until next time..
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
Can’t decide which headphones to purchase? Interested in a complete buyers guide outlining over 40 of the best options on the market? Click on over to the best audiophile headphones to learn more!!
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