Sennheiser - HD 558

Similarly went with a 558 almost fifteen years ago now. Kinda miss them still. 

I've had my Sennheiser HD 558 for 11 years. Only had to change the ear pads, otherwise the headphones are as good as new. Granted, they don't leave my room ever, but I've dropped them on the floor about a thousand times.

I have the HD558 model. They've seen a lot of use, but it's so easy tos replace worn parts.. I've replaced the cord, replaced the ear cushions. They are connected to my Marantz NR-1603. I wish I had DTS Headphone:X (the pre mixed track on Crimson Peak sounds great), but funnily enough, most reciever manufacturers don't stress their headphone capabilities.

Honestly using a pair of good Bluetooth headphones with ldac will sound great but wired is always better unless you use aptx lossless what's pretty dam close but you can get some very nice Bluetooth dac amps like the fiio btr5 or btr 15 fiio also make great iems and some very good headphones Genuinely you can get nice USB c dacs For your phone some by hidiz or hibby or fiio as the btr 15 and 5 both can be used as a USB dac and Bluetooth Alot of price ranges you can get a pretty good USB c dac for 100 to 200 pound and great quality earphones or headphones for around 150 to 400 If you want a more dedicated setup you could go for a dap a Digital Audio Player there are a many good ones from hibby and fiio with a price range from 500 to 1000 thses players run android but have powerful headphone amps and high quality dacs in with the ability to expand storage to 1000s of gbs 1tb personally I use the hibby HiBy R6III what's currently. On sale for 350 pound I use a plethora. Of headphones and iems from the HD 660s from Sennheiser to the hd 620s 558s 559 to fiio iems and Cambridge audio Bluetooth iems I'd be happy to help you out with any questions you have my my apologies for my terrible grammar I'm legally blind so it's pretty hard to see on a phone

Ya, that is what I expected TBH. Figured it was worth asking to see if the landscape had changed, and to see if anyone had experience with this '3D Audio' that I see in some option menus. I had HD558s and a Blue Yeti back in the day, they still work but I am considering upgrading the 558s to the 6xx and getting a ModMic. Can't be assed to mess around with an arm for the Blue Yeti, and it sounds like shit unless it's right at your mouth.

Thank you! I had a feeling they were mostly still garbage, but figured it was worth asking, haha. I used to rock a Blue Yeti on an arm, with some old HD558s, but I just can't be assed to mess with the boom arm anymore. Figured I'd explore my options before I pick up a ModMic and just refurb my old 558s with some new earpads/headband. Or pick up the 6xx with ModMic. !thanks

This is what I expected, thank you! I had a feeling the 3D audio was a bit gimmicky and probably not worth it. I used to use HD558s and a Blue Yeti. The 558s are a bit worse for wear, but easily refurbed with some replacement earpads/headband. The mic on the other hand I've decided I don't want to deal with. When I was younger having an arm to deal with was whatever, but now I just don't want to mess with it, haha. The mic sounds generally OK, but is really quiet if it's not super close to your mouth. Have you had any experience with the ModMic? I know that was the go-to back in the day, and they're still around, so I've been eyeing one of those. !thanks

Budget is variable. For reference I was looking at HD6xx, ModMic (either wired or wireless dependant on DAC/AMP having a mic-in), and a budget DAC/AMP. I used to use HD558s, a Blue Yeti, and a Micca Origin. The 558s can be refurbed easily, but I need something else for the Blue Yeti as I don't want to deal with a mic arm nowadays, and the Micca Origin was dead when I plugged it in. Open backs are vastly preferred. PC gaming, though PS5 compatibility is a plus, as if I get a new console anytime in the future it will be a PS5. Discrete mic is fine, but it needs to be able to sit on my desk, or be attached to the headphones in some way. My Blue Yeti works, but sounds like crap unless it's within a few inches of my face, and it's not something I want to deal with during my shorter gaming sessions, compared to my old marathon sessions with friends when I was younger.

>Any good headphone can become a gaming headphone with the right EQ What sort of EQ are you trying to apply for gaming on normal HiFi headphones? >although open back headphones will excel at sound stage and spatial positioning/ awareness. I am considering just refurbing my old HD558s or getting a pair of the HD6xx I was eyeing back in the day that I see they still make. Love me some open back headphones. Just need a DAC/AMP, and a mic that isn't obnoxious. >The inverse is not true,however. Most gaming headphones are RGB lighting and colored plastics on a poor to mid piece of tech with an EQ slapped into it. Sounds like nothing has changed then, except now we have some decent options like the PC38x and the Maxwell, alongside the Beyerdynamics. I guess that's an improvement over back in the day where there were literally no gaming headphones even worth considering. >separate microphone I have an old original Blue Yeti, but it has issues without being on a stand right near my face. Just not something I want to deal with nowadays when I'm just trying to chill and game with buddies to be honest. I've been looking at the Antlion ModMic, which were the go-to back in the day. Do you have any experience with them, or other alternatives? >DAC/amp combo I used to use a Micca Origin back in the day, when trying to use it recently I found out that it's sadly dead :(. Any recommendations for budget options to replace it?

I've owned a pair of HD558 for 10 years. Only thing I used. I own probably 20 other budget headphones and nothing beats my old 558. I've been telling myself for a decade I would buy something better and expensive but I don't see anything being better than my 558. Love those things.

My Sennheiser HD558's are close to 15 years old now and still work marvellous. Been through a few sets of pads and 3 cables in it's life time but the plastic and headphones itself are in great condition. Dropped many times, walked away from the desk forgetting I had them on a bunch of times. Replaced them 2 years ago with HD650's only for the upgrade, but they still do their work great in my simrig.

I haven't used a gaming headset in about 15 years. Went from Sennheiser HD298s to Sennheiser HD558s, to my current cans, Sennheiser HD6XXs with defenestrated sheepskin velour cups. They're incredibly comfortable and despite daily use for about 5 years and a total of 5 house moves, they're still holding up with zero damage. I've paired all three sets with Antlion Modmics and have never been let down. I goddamn love this setup. Congrats on the killer set of cans, OP (phrasing)

A lot of great entry stuff! I would add the HD558 for it's used price, but I'm not sure if it's that cheap everywhere. For 50€ it was amazing when I got it.

Koss or used HD558 are so good for the price. Samson and Superlux headphones can sound surprisingly good though. Also I can't get rid of the modern retro because every now and then i just really want to listen to exactly that bass sound lol.

SENNYS HS 55X 56X always