Most of my at-home listening is done via speakers, but if I'm in bed and not wanting to disturb the rest of the house, I have Shure SE 530s, via the laptop or a Sansa Clip. However, I've never been particularly in love with the Shures, which have spent most of their life in their case. I'd pretty much stopped listening to music on headphones.
I thought I'd try these. I don't know why I expected $250 'phones to sound better than $500 ones, and they certainly did not. They sound exactly like what they are: mid-range, mid-price.
That's not to say they're bad - they certainly aren't; they're just middle of the road. They're lovely and airy, and the sound stage gives a fair illusion of being out of the head. The bass is very nicely controlled (and there's plenty enough extension for this classical music afficionado). The highs are clear without being tiring. The mids... Ah, this is where I noticed where I (hadn't) spent the money. "Transparency" is probably one of the most abused words in audio, but once you've heard it (truly heard it) you're never happy without it.
Although I've never spent crazy money on hi-fi I've some decent kit over the years, transducer-wise. I've had Quad ESL 57s, 63s and 998s; Spendor BC1 and SP1 and currently B&W 802. HPs have included Stax Lambda Pro (which I sold because they were just so bloody hot and uncomfortable!). All these transducers have what I think is true transparency - and none more so, IMO, than the positively ancient ESL 57, which I have never ever heard bettered in that department. They didn't have deep bass, and they weren't much use for a party, but I miss them to this day (thirty years after I had to sell them. Sob).
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I was stupid to think the 598 would somehow defy the price/performance equation. I should probably simply have got the Visa card out and bought the HD 800s, but I wanted something easy to drive. And that brings me to...
The Fiio E17! I bought this little miracle at the same time. Oh, my. Suddenly, I realised just how good the SE 530s can be. I've always shied away from external DACs and amps for 'phones. Too much trouble and bulk for what's supposed to be a neat/portable alternative to my main system. I took a chance (at that price, why not?) on the E17 and to say I'm thrilled is an understatement. In combination with the Shures (and my laptop or Nexus 7) we're definitely in touch with the high-end. I've never been a great believer in the post-1980s philosophy of "spend most of your budget on the front end", but the E17 has made me realise that proper hi-fi does demand a little more than a Sansa Clip (amazing as that little device is), or the headphone output of a Samsung laptop.
However, though I'm very happy to discover just how good the 530s can be, I'm afraid the 598s (although improved by the E17) still remain firmly earth-bound, and nowhere near as fine as the Shures.
I'm not familiar with all the 598's competitors at their price point, so I can't say if they're a standout in their market segment. What I think I can say is that they're neither a bargain nor a rip-off. If someone put them on my head, blind, and asked me to guess the price I'd say $250 (or £164, in our money).
Before I go, I can't stress enough that the 598s are very good - but if you're fussy and spoiled, these won't do it for you. I'm tempted to keep them, though, because I really like the design. They go so well with my few treasured pieces of Art Deco furniture!
PS:I'm not sure if the rating system on Head-Fi is absolute or relative, so I've given them three stars for audio quality. If that's wrong maybe a mod could change it to four or five (though I'm not sure how logical that would be).
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Buyer Beware!! This product is *NOT* by Microsoft as Advertised!!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2010
If you have already bought this item skip to `The work around' to get the device to workMy Story:I purchased this item because my original Microsoft receiver stopped working after the manufacturer's warranty time of 90 days. The device simply was not working one morning. So I searched online for a replacement and thought I was getting the original Microsoft Xbox 360 receiver because it was advertised that way. (at that time this item was called a "Microsoft Gaming Receiver for Windows" but since has had to change the name because of my warnings and letters) Unfortunately the product did not work right off so I had to contact Microsoft gaming for support. Then after trial and error we discovered that Microsoft did not produce this rip off of their product.Also Microsoft doesn't print the Words "Xbox 360" on the front of the real product,rather they print "Microsoft." On the back the words Microsoft there will be an 'R' in a circle and behind the words Xbox 360 will be a small 'TM.' This product came with a receiver and packaging that looks VERY similar to the real one but it is not. The genuine item is pictured by other buyers, but they are not what you will get. And that is also not what the advertiser is showing in their sell photo, as noted by the words "XBOX 360" printed on the advertiser's sales photo, so the seller is NOT advertising the item to be by Microsoft anymore. So please post a positive vote for my pictures in the item's gallery to have them posted first and more people don't buy this item with that expectation.)So that's the bad news, but there is good news too........The good news is, that this product does still work. I have now had mine for way longer than the original Microsoft version, and it still works with everyday usage. (Originally ordered in Feb. 2010 and it is now July 2010)However the installation was not as simple as the real one. They send the receiver with a driver disk that doesn't work at all with common Operating Systems or OS.The work around:Is to use your common driver by Microsoft already installed on your Windows or Vista Disk Drivers area and install the driver manually. Unfortunately this also means you have to reinstall the driver each time you unplug it.Go to:Start Menu and open Control panelThen open'Hardware and Sound' from control panel for Windows usersfor vista usersselect 'Additional options'then from the left hand side open 'Hardware and Sound'.Then open Device Manager for windows or VistaThen click on the "Unknown Driver"Then click on search for additional options and manually install the driver yourselfThen select the 'Microsoft Common Controller for Windows class'Then it will give a list of drivers for you...... pick the one from Feb of 2007 and install that one.Then you are good to go and able to play the games you want using your Xbox360 controller.I completely give this product a SOLID 3.********Update 6/17/13:Originally I rated this item at 2. For a few reasons..... 1) I was lied to about the item being from Microsoft. 2) I couldn't get the item to work with the drive disk they sent with it and had to find my own work around.However, I still have the item plugged in to my computer and use it almost daily without any other flaws. 3 and a half years later!! While the product was 'sold' to me under false pretenses, it 'does' what Microsoft couldn't, and worked/s longer than 4 months. Not to mention that Amazon is no longer allowing the item to be advertised as a Microsoft item, and it is now being sold as the knock off it truly is........So for that I upgraded the rating to a 3.However, had I been sold the item as it is currently being advertised.... I would have rated it a solid 4 with the only flaw being that I had to find out how to make it work myself.
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2010
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 23, 2013
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 27, 2010
My Story:
I purchased this item because my original Microsoft receiver stopped working after the manufacturer's warranty time of 90 days. The device simply was not working one morning. So I searched online for a replacement and thought I was getting the original Microsoft Xbox 360 receiver because it was advertised that way. (at that time this item was called a "Microsoft Gaming Receiver for Windows" but since has had to change the name because of my warnings and letters) Unfortunately the product did not work right off so I had to contact Microsoft gaming for support. Then after trial and error we discovered that Microsoft did not produce this rip off of their product.
Also Microsoft doesn't print the Words "Xbox 360" on the front of the real product,rather they print "Microsoft." On the back the words Microsoft there will be an 'R' in a circle and behind the words Xbox 360 will be a small 'TM.' This product came with a receiver and packaging that looks VERY similar to the real one but it is not. The genuine item is pictured by other buyers, but they are not what you will get. And that is also not what the advertiser is showing in their sell photo, as noted by the words "XBOX 360" printed on the advertiser's sales photo, so the seller is NOT advertising the item to be by Microsoft anymore. So please post a positive vote for my pictures in the item's gallery to have them posted first and more people don't buy this item with that expectation.)
So that's the bad news, but there is good news too........
The good news is, that this product does still work. I have now had mine for way longer than the original Microsoft version, and it still works with everyday usage. (Originally ordered in Feb. 2010 and it is now July 2010)
However the installation was not as simple as the real one. They send the receiver with a driver disk that doesn't work at all with common Operating Systems or OS.
The work around:
Is to use your common driver by Microsoft already installed on your Windows or Vista Disk Drivers area and install the driver manually. Unfortunately this also means you have to reinstall the driver each time you unplug it.
Go to:
Start Menu and open Control panel
Then open
'Hardware and Sound' from control panel for Windows users
for vista users
select 'Additional options'
then from the left hand side open 'Hardware and Sound'.
Then open Device Manager for windows or Vista
Then click on the "Unknown Driver"
Then click on search for additional options and manually install the driver yourself
Then select the 'Microsoft Common Controller for Windows class'
Then it will give a list of drivers for you...... pick the one from Feb of 2007 and install that one.
Then you are good to go and able to play the games you want using your Xbox360 controller.
I completely give this product a SOLID 3.
********
Update 6/17/13:
Originally I rated this item at 2. For a few reasons..... 1) I was lied to about the item being from Microsoft. 2) I couldn't get the item to work with the drive disk they sent with it and had to find my own work around.
However, I still have the item plugged in to my computer and use it almost daily without any other flaws. 3 and a half years later!! While the product was 'sold' to me under false pretenses, it 'does' what Microsoft couldn't, and worked/s longer than 4 months. Not to mention that Amazon is no longer allowing the item to be advertised as a Microsoft item, and it is now being sold as the knock off it truly is........So for that I upgraded the rating to a 3.
However, had I been sold the item as it is currently being advertised.... I would have rated it a solid 4 with the only flaw being that I had to find out how to make it work myself.
Buyer Beware!! This product is *NOT* by Microsoft as Advertised!!!
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 27, 2010
If you have already bought this item skip to `The work around' to get the device to workReviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 27, 2010
My Story:
I purchased this item because my original Microsoft receiver stopped working after the manufacturer's warranty time of 90 days. The device simply was not working one morning. So I searched online for a replacement and thought I was getting the original Microsoft Xbox 360 receiver because it was advertised that way. (at that time this item was called a "Microsoft Gaming Receiver for Windows" but since has had to change the name because of my warnings and letters) Unfortunately the product did not work right off so I had to contact Microsoft gaming for support. Then after trial and error we discovered that Microsoft did not produce this rip off of their product.
Also Microsoft doesn't print the Words "Xbox 360" on the front of the real product,rather they print "Microsoft." On the back the words Microsoft there will be an 'R' in a circle and behind the words Xbox 360 will be a small 'TM.' This product came with a receiver and packaging that looks VERY similar to the real one but it is not. The genuine item is pictured by other buyers, but they are not what you will get. And that is also not what the advertiser is showing in their sell photo, as noted by the words "XBOX 360" printed on the advertiser's sales photo, so the seller is NOT advertising the item to be by Microsoft anymore. So please post a positive vote for my pictures in the item's gallery to have them posted first and more people don't buy this item with that expectation.)
So that's the bad news, but there is good news too........
The good news is, that this product does still work. I have now had mine for way longer than the original Microsoft version, and it still works with everyday usage. (Originally ordered in Feb. 2010 and it is now July 2010)
However the installation was not as simple as the real one. They send the receiver with a driver disk that doesn't work at all with common Operating Systems or OS.
The work around:
Is to use your common driver by Microsoft already installed on your Windows or Vista Disk Drivers area and install the driver manually. Unfortunately this also means you have to reinstall the driver each time you unplug it.
Go to:
Start Menu and open Control panel
Then open
'Hardware and Sound' from control panel for Windows users
for vista users
select 'Additional options'
then from the left hand side open 'Hardware and Sound'.
Then open Device Manager for windows or Vista
Then click on the "Unknown Driver"
Then click on search for additional options and manually install the driver yourself
Then select the 'Microsoft Common Controller for Windows class'
Then it will give a list of drivers for you...... pick the one from Feb of 2007 and install that one.
Then you are good to go and able to play the games you want using your Xbox360 controller.
I completely give this product a SOLID 3.
********
Update 6/17/13:
Originally I rated this item at 2. For a few reasons..... 1) I was lied to about the item being from Microsoft. 2) I couldn't get the item to work with the drive disk they sent with it and had to find my own work around.
However, I still have the item plugged in to my computer and use it almost daily without any other flaws. 3 and a half years later!! While the product was 'sold' to me under false pretenses, it 'does' what Microsoft couldn't, and worked/s longer than 4 months. Not to mention that Amazon is no longer allowing the item to be advertised as a Microsoft item, and it is now being sold as the knock off it truly is........So for that I upgraded the rating to a 3.
However, had I been sold the item as it is currently being advertised.... I would have rated it a solid 4 with the only flaw being that I had to find out how to make it work myself.
Images in this review
