Out of the box, clamping force is very strong so use them for a couple days before returning them (they feel a lot better after a week or so)

It’s hard to nail down the right classification for these headphones because they’re technically all of the above. Yes, the HD8XX comes off as fairly warm due to the contrast between the lower and upper mids; yes, the HD8XX is technically “V”-shaped due to its mids being less emphasised than its bass and treble; and yes, all of these characterisations basically revolve around a distinct centre-midrange “hole”. Very easy, this is just an amazing recommendation for anyone wanting to get their first pair of audiophile headphones for under 200 dollars. There a few minors flaws but considering the price, it's okay If the clapping and screaming of people is placed at completely different places in the soundstage, he is totally okay with that if this is the price for the piercing treble he likes. The catch is that these same flaws actually work in the headphones’ favor (for the most part). In other words,

How do the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee sound?

On the headband there is a foam padding, which prevents pressure pain as far as possible and allows wearing the headphones for a long time. Despite the open design of the HD58X, the stage does not set any standards and moves on the same (good) level of the HD6XX with slight subjective advantages in all directions on the side of the HD58X, which certainly creates more tension, but is only a nuance. A few weeks ago, I got my ears around the Massdrop HD58x Jubilee and have been in a conundrum of my own ever since. I have owned every Sennheiser model in the HD over ears series and enjoyed pretty much all of them, save for a few. Fortunately, everything else is mostly right, which is what has allowed me to keep these on my head almost indefinitely since I received them.

the 560S is almost too correct if that makes sense (read: it can sound kind of dull), while the HD58X adds some coloration to the mix (more on that in a bit).

Frequently asked questions about the Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee

The mids have a good presence and play clearly and directly. However, I find them a bit demanding in the upper range with a slight shrillness in some songs. But they have the desired energy, which I sometimes miss on HD6XX. Vocals are a bit more in the foreground and have mostly a natural timbre, but are sometimes a bit garish, which can lead to symptoms of fatigue. Qualitatively they are however in sum quite high, both in resolution and tonal. However, you should keep an eye on the volume. This midrange presentation can be a curse and a blessing at the same time, especially if you love vocals. But for me the (upper) mids are still absolutely in the tolerable range. It’s comparable to something like a Sundara or 400 series headphone – above average in terms of Soundstage, but not exemplary. In fact,

One difference you’ll notice here vs. others in the line is the bass; there’s more of it for sure, but it’s still not over the top. Soundstage is one of the most peculiar things about the 58X, and something I was fairly surprised by. Clamping force is good, there’s hardly any headband dig, and you can wear them for long hours with minimal adjustments. The problem for some is that the direction of said sounds can be a bit hard to pinpoint, but I personally don’t have much of an issue with it. FilmIf you’ve heard the HD800/S then you should have a pretty good idea on how the HD8XX performs technically. Top-class resolution with some of the widest (some say the widest) soundstage in a headphone are the prime reasons why the HD800 series still remain relevant more than 10 years since their release in 2009. I come from a Sennheiser Momentum (Over-Ear 2.0) which has a slightly warm but very faithful sound IMO. Upon first use on my head, the clamping pressure is too much for me to handle. It was the same with the HD650, my HD600, my HD580 and even my older favorite the HD485. Time is your friend, let it breathe and stretch on some books or a headphone stand that is wide. I’m thankful to be one of the very first to have the final production units in hand, and as a HD800 fanboy myself this is certainly one of the more exciting releases in my book. But I’m sure you’re all tired of the expositions so let’s just cut to the chase. Still, the pattern manifests itself on quite a number of songs so I’m inclined to think the 58X is just a little overexcited at times, like your 8-year-old who just drank an entire 2-liter of Surge and won’t stop talking. Bass & Treble