Home Open Back Headphone Reviews Sennheiser HD 558 Review – A 598 Clone?

Sennheiser HD 558 Review – A 598 Clone?

by Stuart Charles Black

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Hello there friend and Welcome aboard!!

Before we get into the Sennheiser HD558 Review, grab a snack, sit back and relax because…

You’ve come to the right place!!

What I will bring you in this review

  1. Quick View
  2. Specifications
  3. Summary & Sound
  4. Pros
  5. Cons
  6. Video Review
  7. Amp/DAC requirements
  8. Who do these headphones benefit?
  9. Thoughts from Stu’s Notepad
  10. Foam Mod Tutorial
  11. Foam Mod Impressions
  12. Consensus/Conclusion
  13. Final Word

Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!

Quick View

  1. Lightweight and Durable. These don’t feel like they’re going to break, despite being extremely light.
  2. Extremely comfortable. The velour earpads and perfect clamping force make these a force to be reckoned with as far as comfort over long listening sessions.
  3. Genre happy. They do well with almost any music you throw at them, especially after removing the rubber strips inside. It’s really easy and I provide a short and quick tutorial in the review. 🙂
  4. Magnificent sound signature. A mid-range oriented headphone with emphasis on instrument separation, detail, articulation, accuracy, and enjoyment.
  5. Great out of a phone, amp, or audio interface. Though these babies really shine with an amp or interface of some sort, they will also work great out of your mobile device.
  6. Great Soundstage. These will frequently have you wondering if the sound just came from outside of the headphones.
  7. The price-to-performance ratio is startling. For the price, it’s hard to get a better sound. I frequently talk about the law of diminishing returns in my articles. The 558 is going to provide you 90-95% of what a headphone is supposed to sound like.

Onto the review!


Sennheiser HD558

Specifications

  1. Price: Check Amazon! | Check eBay!
  2. Type: Open back.
  3. Fit: Circumaural (over-ear).
  4. Impedance: 50 ohms. What is Headphone Impedance?
  5. Frequency response: 15 – 28,000 Hz.
  6. Sensitivity: 112dB. What is Sensitivity in Headphones?
  7. Material: Plastic, Velour.
  8. Color: Black.
  9. Weight: 9.17 oz.
  10. Cable Detachable: Yes.

Build & Comfort

Sennheiser HD 558 Review

The Sennheiser HD558 is an open-back, circumaural headphone that specializes in making you feel at ease. Lol.

If I had to use one word to describe this extremely comfortable set of cans, it would be Non-threatening.

First off, the headphones feel rather light in your hand.

Putting them on is like resting two mini pillows against your ears. The reviews don’t lie; they really are that comfortable.

While I think the HD600’s clamp force is rather tight at first, the HD558’s clamp is pretty comfortable right off the bat.

In fact, it’s near-perfect as both the earpads and padding feel like pillows.

Also, while the build is pretty decent, they do feel a bit flimsy in your hand and definitely feel cheaper than an HD 598.

That said, comfort is probably the best aspect of these. This is a headphone that you will not have to adjust 99% of the time.

Sound

Sennheiser HD 558 Review

Overall, the 558 is a great headphone because the sound is extremely balanced and pleasant, and works incredibly well for stuff like Jazz, Classical, Acoustic, Folk, and more laid-back genres.

That said, it can also work with stuff like Rock, Pop, and Hip-Hop, but won’t be your go-to headphone for harder stuff.

The best way I can describe them is nonconfrontational and warm. They’re not the type of headphones that you’re going to rock out with really hard.

They’re more for analyzing music, relaxing with it, and kind of observing sound. They enable you to take a step back and be a little introspective about it.

The bass here is very light and has a difficult time registering low bass notes. As far as sub-bass goes, just forget about it.

However, the rest of the sound signature is fantastic, but a great trick to make the sound really come alive is the rubber strip/foam mod.

More on that later.

The mid-range here is what you’re purchasing these for.

It’s revealing but not too in your face, rendering vocals and instruments in an incredibly natural way.

The treble is on the darker side but still has a nice crisp character about it without being too overbearing or sibilant.

Pros

  • Honest, straightforward, and balanced sound signature.
  • Very comfortable. You’re not going to have to adjust these very often.
  • Durable and lightweight.
  • Great Soundstage. What is Soundstage?
  • Detachable cable.
  • Detailed sound. You start to hear things in music that were previously lost or obscured by sounds that ran together and became muddy.

Cons

  • The 1/4″ to 3.5mm adapter is a bit of an annoyance. I got these with the NewFantasia Replacement Audio Upgrade Cable and it’s extremely solid. It’s a standard 3.5mm jack and comes with a 1/4″ adapter.
  • The sub-bass is lacking a bit and will come across as slightly muddy at times. There are times when the bass just can’t keep up, especially after taking the strips off.

My Video Review

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Click to see the HD 558!

Sun bathing.
Sennheiser HD 558 Review
Dope.
Sennheiser.
HD 558.
I got lost in your dirty pillows.
Aftermarket special.
The Road Warrior.

Amp/DAC requirements

At 50 Ohms Impedance and 112dB/mW Sensitivity, you won’t need much to get these pumping as they’re very efficient and don’t require much power from an amp.

I’ve personally used them with the Schiit Magni/Modi combo and a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, but it’s been quite a while since I owned these.

Who do these headphones benefit?

Endorsed for:

  • Jazz
  • Classical
  • Acoustic
  • Folk
  • Indie
  • Gaming

Sennheiser HD 558 Review

These headphones do best with more laid-back genres, but I still think they can be used with many types of music, as long as you accept the fact that they’re not going to blow you away.

If you buy these specifically for stuff like EDM, Rap/Hip-Hop, R&B, Reggae, Dubstep, etc. you’re going to be disappointed. Just know that before purchase.

They are meant for quiet days in the studio, really analyzing the sound and relaxing with it.

For instance, I’d probably take a bubble bath and listen to jazz with these before I threw on some Rap and tried to jam out. 😛

I really love these for Jazz specifically. With most headphones, it sounds okay, but the instruments tend to sound kind of distant with not much clarity.

With the HD558 it’s like the band was moved from 20 feet away to about 6 feet away.

I can hear everything going on, and not only that but it’s got this laser-like precision and detail. Drums start to sound fantastic and to top it off, there’s no sibilance whatsoever. What does Sibilant mean?

What you’ll find is that the bass and kick drums are extremely textured and clear. It’s quality over quantity here, but the sound is very full, lively, and intricate.

Sennheiser HD 558 Review

Thoughts from Stu’s Notepad

Cable

Many headphones terminate in a 3.5 mm jack.

Of those, most audiophile headphones come with a 1/4″ adapter as well.

This enables you to plug them into various devices such as receivers, headphone amps, audio interfaces, etc. The 558s are a bit different in that they actually terminate in a 1/4″ jack and come with a 3.5mm adapter.

This can become a bit of an issue with cell phones specifically.

For instance, if I want to listen with my Android device, I have to take off my Otter Box because the plug won’t fit. A small inconvenience in my eyes, but for others, it may be more of a hassle.

My pair actually has an after-market NewFantasia LYSB00KAKBHKM-ELECTRNCS Replacement Audio Upgrade Cable for Sennheiser HD598/558/518 as I mentioned before, and I absolutely love it.

I got the 1.2m which not only cuts down on cost but saves me a lot of headaches.

I really don’t like long cables because they tend to get tangled and end up just getting in the way.

This cable feels very durable because it’s only the second one to have that protective spring at the end.

The M50x and CB-1 are the only other headphones to feature this, and it’s made a world of difference in the overall build. I’ve had zero problems with it since January of 2013.

Jack Insert

One thing to keep in mind: If you’re not getting sound out of one ear, it may be because the headphone jack is not actually plugged in all the way.

It must be plugged in correctly and twisted to lock it into place.

I had this issue with the Audio Technica ATH M40x as well.

I thought I got a defective pair until I plugged them in correctly.

Sennheiser HD 558 Review

Sound Leak

Just so you know, these are open-back headphones and will leak sound.

Many of the negative reviews online were ignorant of this fact and left 1 star because they didn’t know better.

The headphones also don’t emphasize bass or any frequency for that matter.

I would say they are mid-range oriented, so you get that nice clarity and instrument separation. These aren’t for bass-heads. It’s a balanced overall sound.

To sum it up, they are made for the studio and aren’t that portable (Though I know a girl at work who wears them and loves them).

Soundstage

A secret to getting a better soundstage and a bit of a punchier, more pronounced bass is modding them.

The ear pads on both sides can be taken apart and a small piece of foam can then be removed.

Some people say that doing this enables these headphones to sound identical to the HD 598, while others claim it does not at all.

It does however make a difference in sound regardless.

My Foam Mod Tutorial

Please let me know if you like this sort of video and what you would like to see in the future!!

Foam Mod Impressions

In actuality, the strip is actually made of a soft rubber type of material.

I found that without the strip, the sound is more aggressive, fuller, and also crisper. The mid-range in particular seems to really come to life.

I did notice an increase in the bass response, but it tends to get more bloated in the sub-bass regions and isn’t quite as tight without the strips.

They have a hard time handling very low bass notes.

Aside from very deep bass, these babies perform almost magically without the strips as far as the overall sound of the bass. If you tend to listen to more bass-heavy genres, the foam mod will work quite nicely for you.

In listening to Chon’s “Waterslide”, I was able to detect an even greater amount of detail that I had not heard with some other more expensive models, namely the SR80e, Focal Listen, Focal Spirit, etc.

The 558 is a pretty special headphone indeed!

They seem to be more revealing with the mod. I can hear more going on, but it’s not all necessarily good. You tend to hear more strange artifacts from certain songs.

For instance, I’m listening to John Coltrane’sTraneing In – Live” from Bye Bye Blackbird, and there’s some strange fuzz going on in the background.

It doesn’t make me want to change the song or take them off, but it’s present regardless.

This could simply be due to the source quality. I was listening to the song on Spotify. Regardless, you’re going to hear a lot more of what’s going on in any song.

Is the 558 a clone of the 598 without that rubber piece?

I would say that’s as close to a yes as it gets. With the piece inserted, it sounds more laid back, relaxed, and somewhat veiled.

Without the piece, the sound really comes alive and plays almost exactly like a 598.

Consensus/Conclusion

The HD558 possesses a balanced overall sound with a great Soundstage. It’s durable and comfortable, and does better with more laid-back genres, but still remains a versatile headphone with most music selections.

It’s not for bass heads, and while the 1/4″ to 3.5mm adapter is strange, these are meant for the studio and aren’t that portable (in theory).

Final Word

Sennheiser HD 558 Review

I did enjoy my time with the Sennheiser HD 558, but it’s a bit outdated and has pretty much been discontinued.

In other words, the price of them will likely be sky-high from 3rd party sellers attempting to cash in.

Nowadays I’d look to the HD560S if you’re interested in all the updates Sennheiser has made.

Learn More:

 


Well that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Sennheiser HD558 Review and came away with some valuable insight.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

If you love what I do here and want to support the blog and channel in a more personal way, check me out on Patreon and discover all the value I have to offer you.

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Any experience with the HD 558? What are your thoughts on the 560S? I would love to hear from you. Until next time..

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

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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Save

Sennheiser HD558

4.8

Build Quality

4.5/5

Sound Quality

4.7/5

Comfort

5.0/5

Soundstage

5.0/5

Pros

  • Good Soundstage
  • Great clarity and detail
  • Comfortable
  • Durable and reliable overall
  • Balanced sound overall

Cons

  • Bass isn't that well extended and rolls off

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2 comments

Chikie April 9, 2022 - 2:45 am

I’ve had my HD558’s since 2016. They were my first ever pair of over-ear headphones, and I spent weeks agonizing over which ones to get before finally settling on these. I love them to death. It makes me happy to see them get such a fond in depth review here; I agree with pretty much everything you described them as. I’ve fallen asleep wearing mine more times than I could count. Comfortable as sin and quality of sound is pure bliss! At this point my ears feel naked without them, ahaha. ^^

Reply
Stuart Charles Black April 9, 2022 - 10:16 pm

Hey Chikie!

That’s awesome! Thank you for the kind words. I loved my time with them and what was interesting to me is that they sounded identical to the 598 after taking out those strips LOL. Kind of deceptive in a way if you think about it, but hey, it is what it is.

I used to love falling asleep with headphones! Check out this video for some LOL.

Reply

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