[Part 2] In the vid you highlighted the mod to bring the sound quality of the HD 555 closer to the HD 595's. To this, we'd like to share with you that there are other factors such as varied kinds and qualities of materials, different processes, as well as design and finish differences to separate these two products and their intended sound images. Nevertheless, we note and thank you for your interest in our products. Should you have any other queries, please do not hesitate to get back to us.
*This sounded like a lot of marketing jargon. The matter of fact is people have discovered both 555 and 595's use the exact same speaker model for parts. The only difference is the 555 has the sticky foam to retard the quality as mentioned in this video.*
@@AzNightmare Why would they add foam, adding materials and labor cost, to sell a cheaper pair of headphones compared to the 595? Thats like selling two sports cars with the same engine, but one car has a governor installed to be sold cheaper.
@@DrunkDuckXD *While cars are not exactly the best direct comparison because of how much more complex of a machine they are compared to headphones... that actually is true already in some cases, where a lower and higher trim share the same engine, like the GTI and Golf R, but R being tuned more aggressively to "unlock" more power from factory. Along with various components to support that power increase. As for Sennheiser's case, the cost of labor and foam would be a fraction compared to designing and manufacturing two separate models of speakers. With just one model, they're capable of reducing costs by mass producing just one model of speaker. The reason to "nerf" a lower model is to create tiers. When you have different tiers, it gives the illusion that there is a premium model for more hardcore enthusiasts, and a lower, cheaper tier, for consumers that are more casual listeners that don't want to spend "premium" money. Ultimately, businesses sell more when they give the illusion of options. To not flat out lie though, they use a sticky foam to make the 555 technically worse, so technically the 555 is worse than the 595. So you get what you pay for. It's just that it's very easy to remedy this.* *As for what Sennheiser mentioned in their reply, and to elaborate what I said previously, people have written blogs, dissecting the headphones down to the actual part # that are engraved into the speakers. They're exactly the same parts on the 555 and 595. While there is differences in finish, such as leather vs cloth, I cannot comment on the "qualities of materials". Maybe the 595 uses higher grade plastic... "Different processes", I don't even know what that's supposed to mean other than marketing jargon. The design shape of both headphones are the same physically. But anyhow, that's all besides the point as the comparison isn't the physical differences, but the actual sound quality... which would be the same if they are using the same speakers, minus the sticky foam.*
@@DrunkDuckXDI did a double-take on how your comment is only six months old since it's not at all a secret how some car companies have justified doing this thing where they manufacture a model in identical configurations yet sell them at different tiers with certain functions/equipment disabled or "optional" under subscription plans. So if you buy the lowest tier version of some BMW, your vehicle physically _has_ everything the top-tier one has; but since you either didn't pay the 15k extra up front or turned down the heated seat subscription or whatever, they wirelessly disable it. Absolutely fucking heinous, but that's where things are. Concerning your disbelief of Sennheiser doing this: you're looking at it the wrong way. If they can make the extra effort of R&D, materials and labor _on top of_ what it took to make the top-tier model, then that means they've got an incredibly low cost of production _to begin with._ With much of Sennheiser's lineup, you're not paying for any particularly remarkable manufacturing processes or craftsmanship; you're paying for the engineering leading up to the quality of sound they make.
hello from 2017! is' been 5 years since I got my set (was already used); one of my earpads just broke, going to replace them - sounds like a good opportunity to do the thing too!
Same here, but i bought mine somewhere around 2007 and they are still going strong and solid! Also had one of the padded bits come off a bit, was looking on how to fix it and found this vide!
The foam is not there to make the 555s sound worse, but you're right that it is there to tailor their sound, generally so the sonic signature and presentation matches that of other headphones in the same price category. But that's ludicrous right? We all want the best sound for our money, right? If you could make a $100 pair of headphones that sounded like HD800s they'd fly off the shelves, right? Wrong. The customer is a strange beast. My friend has a pair of Beats Solos that I think absolutely suck ass, but he heard my HD580s and said they were bass-less trash compared to his Beats that cost a third of the price. In retail it's actually possible to make a product that's 'too good' for its price point, in so far as the people buying at that price point couldn't give a shit about the qualities it might exhibit that those spending twice as much will prize highly. Strange but true.
@assimilation The foam pad is there to absorb some of the energy from the rear waves, to help prevent any reflections that bounce around inside the cup from re-entering the driver and smearing the sound. The trouble with the metal grille at the rear of the cup is that it isn't particularly open so sound waves can reflect back off of it. I tried different stuffing methods, with acoustic wadding for loudspeakers, measuring the frequency response of the headphones as I did it.
Indeed, both the HD 555 and HD 595 share a similar platform. The HD 555 provides a spatial sound field while the HD 595 with its exceptional clarity and musicality, has been positioned for the audiophile target audience. However, do note that our product prices are based on the values they provide to their specific customers, and not just on the costs to produce them. This is common practise amongst manufacturers to serve different customers and their differing requirements. [tbc]
Thank you so much. I have 10 year old hd 555s, and i was always underwelmed by the bass. After doing this procedure, I not only increased the bass, but discovered that both drivers had come out of their socket. My headphones are now better than ever.
Just did this yesterday to my 555's. Before and after comparo does indeed give an increased low end extension, and a bit more of an open soundstage. Quite a nice improvement given the 5 minutes required and it's reversible if for some unknown reason you want to undo it. One negative is that along with the widened soundstage you also let a bit more ambient noise in. If your after isolation then you'd be better off with closed cans, but this mod opens up your open cans a little more. Just FYI.
@@user-bm4gb6lr8d It's fairly subjective I think. If you have sound going through them then it shouldn't be much of an issue. If you have a loud listening in environment, then maybe avoid. There's much better options nowadays. :P
Excellent instructions. Just bought me a pair of HD 555's, I had them out of the box listened to a few songs etc.. Then decided I'd try the mod. Took me about 10mins to get both sides done, VERY EASY. Results are a much richer bass, and the mid's are a lot crisper as well. Great Vid!
555 sound good for the price. And you can mod them to sound even better. I don't see problem with that. 595 owners may be cross about that, but I didn't compare them. Same driver doesn't exactly mean same sound. Many manufacturers use same driver for different products, using top product cut a little is a common practice in electronics.
Holy crap, the difference is *HUGE*! Especially the base is *SO* much better. I've had these for 10 years and I wish I tried this trick earlier! The HD555 were GREAT to start with but the difference feels like like switching from €50 headphones to €200 headphones! I first switched only the left one and tried listening before switching the other one. The right (with foam) feels VERY muffled compared to the left speaker. After switching them both you will also only need 50% of the volume output to achieve the same experienced sound compared to the muffled - this indicates how extremely retarding the foam is! The top highs do however get slightly too high when at louder volumes, so you might want to adjust it slightly in your sound card.
+Davidow1 I, too, have had the HD 555's forever and just found this mod tonight. WOW! I'm going through my music library and enjoying it as if I discovered music all over again. That may sound crazy, but these things just earned my respect all over again. I had no idea they were so powerful this whole time! I have to lower the volume quite a bit but they aren't distorted at the higher volume, I just need to protect my ears lol.
Snagged a pair of these at a thrift shop for $5 several years ago and since they were the most awesome sounding headphones I'd ever owned I was reluctant to try doing surgery on them. Audio is such a subjective and personal taste thing after all, and I couldn't believe that a company would actually ADD something to a product in order to make ir sound worse and sell it for less money...but apparently that is exactly what they did! I stumbled across this video last night, decided to give it a shot, and the difference is quite amazing. I won't be putting the little rubber strips back in for lisyening to music, but I can see why some people might prefer the more muffled effect for other listening purposes. So my question in 2021 is whether anyone has tried modding the mod -- ie maybe cutting the rubber strips to smaller size, repositioning them, or any other variations to achieve some customized hybrid result? (And ps, as for the videoitself, I do wish you had done a little better camera work showing exactly where to pry to get the outer screen off. I eneded up puncturing the fabric on the inner layer by inserting screwdriver into wrong hole.)
Yes, i saw somewhare in internet that they use the same trick ( or ''marketing strategy'' if you will) with 558 and 598; even though they have actually different shaped grills ( which does not affect the sound that much, bu the way). But yes, 558 has this piece of foam on it's grill inside and once it's removed - the sound comes very, very close to 598. You can google it and find detield info with pictures.
@RobDaKid87 There is no matching 6 ft cable available for this product. However, we can replace the initial one. You may want to check with your nearest Sennheiser service center. Where are you from?
Wow. Thank you! This mod took about 10 minutes tops, and I noticed the difference immediately. It sounds WAY better!! thanks for turning my $200 headphones into $350 headphones.
@sacflies - 1 - by not restricting the driver movement, the more the cone can move (say 7mm vs 3mm) the deeper the base will be, 2 - by allowing for a more equal air pressure one either side of the driver (more holes open less air buffering). Everything is personal, if you prefer the sound with the foam in then leave them in. However why you might perceive there being less base is because of their being more holes open thus allowing more ambient noise in.
Just did this myself, tore a little of the pad from the mount on the first half, but just a dab of glue fixed it up. On the second cup, I wedged a very fine flat tipped screw driver between the pad mount and the headphone housing and popped it out that way. I really wouldn't advise just pulling them out by hand, I could really feel it wanted to tear right away. Other than that, excellent video! Worked like a charm, and I did notice the difference in sound! Thanks man!
@flatspinach Thats exactly why foam is there. 555/595 drivers go trough identical production process. After they're produced, they get measured. Those drivers that perform better and have no faults or peaks, or unwanted imperfections in frequency range are put into 595. Those that aren't performing perfectly and their measurements aren't as good, are put into 555. Then the faults in frequency response of the driver are artificially masked by damping foam and different grill.
that was even easier than it looked like! big thx man!!!! just got my new HD 555 and made the mod right away. As I removed the first foam I compared the left and right speaker, and it makes defenitly a big diference! Even so my headphones are not "played in" I'm so in love with them... thx man!!
This mod definitely worked for me. Now my cans more closely approximate the low end which I typically hear from my monitor speakers. Thanks for this excellent vid!
@tuskenc You're right. They have completely the same driver, as they actually sell a replacement driver for these "for 555 and 595". There's small differences in the structure, the foam, etc.
I've had a pair of Grado SR80's for 13 years. I've always wanted a pair of Sennheisers and bought the HD555's. My wife thought they were crap and took my Grado's, and so I was left with the 555's. It's not as open, it's a bit more muddy, and overall not as good as the Grado's. But at least they are comfortable. But both bands have cracks in them. But after watching this video, I just did the mod; I hope they transform these headphones. Thanks for the video.
Did the mod.. Sounds great.. It did improve the bass.. I think the reason they put the foam in there is to limit sound leakage from the phones.. Doesn't really matter when you only use it at home
@aqwayne Well, I caved and tried the mod based on your reply. Did one can at a time. Honestly, the only difference was I could "feel" the bass more without the foam. Meaning the cans vibrated and shook much more during lower bass. There was no change that I could determine in actual bass quality or soundstage. Also during bass spikes, such as when an explosion kicks the LFE in a 5.1 movie, I would get harsh clicks as if the driver were hitting the grill. Bottom line, foam went back in.
Same thing for me. I love these and use them all the time and, although I had heard about this mod long ago, I wanted to wait until my warranty had run out because I have sent them back once to get repaired. Just did the mod and listened with one new and one old like you did, man could I tell the difference.
This mod is doing two things at once. Because you're allowing the driver to breathe more you're are essentially retuning it's enclosure. Also,while taking out the sheet foam you're reducing dampening of the driver. If you put this is perspective to say,building a subwoofer enclosure,the results/actions of the headphones are going to be similar. I'd offer up trying to find that exact same foam and cutting it in different variations to further personalize the effect. It may be a solution for some.
@dueric1 My justification for doing it was the idea to let the speaker "breath" more. While I was skeptical at first about the mod too, it does make the 555's sound more "open" and increased the bass just a little bit at low volumes and a lot more bass at higher volumes. Yes it does distort the bass at high volumes ( 70%+ on my 2nd gen nano with no amp) but I never crank it up that high anyways. So my conclusion? I left the foam out and never went back.
Just did the mod. worked perfectly, and they sound slightly better. I'm a producer (amateur) and have been using the headphones for 2 years now, so I'd say my ears are pretty closely tuned to them ... so I can notice a difference but it really isnt that much! 5% better if you had to quantify it to a random number
Just did the mod and I'm glad to report that it's working. Didn't break my headphones and the soundquality is the same as with the HD-595. Thanks for the video, big ups!
Enjoying that mod from the day you post it. Thank you very much! :) It's not just difference in bass, with mod they are better in many ways. Especially with adequate (not necessarily expensive) amplifier.
Wow thanks for this dude. Have had these for around 4 years and im sickened i didnt know about this sooner. Better late than never though! Now my Gunther - Ding Ding Dong has some serious bass rocking ;)
@P4INKiller In ear phones produce a very loud bass affect becuase of the concentrated sound waves within the ear canal. This headset will respond well below 20hz, a dam sight lower than "In ear" phones. Another point, high quality in ear phones should not sound "bassy".
Regarding the sound itself, I don't know how much placebo there is in my feedback but it seems to me that it's a great improvement. On Satriani's "flying on a blue dream" trebles subjectively sound less "harsh" yet more present, low frequencies have more clarity. When I first tried it I was satisfied with the sound quality but that was just not quite what I expected. Now that does it. Thanks for the video.
@FUCK202 TBH, the biggest difference between HD558 and 598 is the clamping force. HD558's grab your head much tighter, thats why the appear to have slightly more bass and sound a bit darker, while HD598 have a really light clamping force, which makes them sound a bit more airy, sparkly and opened, and ofc they're more comfortable. But you wont miss out too much if you go for HD558, just don't remove the foam, because you will ruin the sound.
Thanks for showimg me how to open them up. one of the drivers on my 595's had come out of it's socket so it was actually free inside of the earcup and causing weird vibration noises. It took 5 minutes and now my 10 year old headphones are as good as new. Can save the money i would have to spend on a new pair of headphones instead. i also replaced my ear cushions for 10 bucks or something.
@BloodMech21 No worries. I'm pretty sure they're being discontinued to be replaced by the 558s. Same goes for the 595's. So it's a good thing you got yourself a pair (as did I).
OMG, dude, thanks. I am looking for headphones and was advised to buy 555 ones but then loads of guys said 595 are better so I went for review of 595 and noticed you r headphones have 555 on a side, so I said what a fake, but than noticed this video and now are going to buy 555s and mode them. Big thanks for saving me money (as I could not afford 595s) and helping me with a choice of what to buy.
I did he mod, and it sounds pretty good. Defo more bass, but I can't compare to the 595s since I don't have em. But I did listen to my own music and I noticed a touch up in the low frequencies.
Great video! Informative, thorough, and easy. As a basshead I couldn't be happier. I'm about 95% sure that my headphones now sound more open, and the bass definitely has more oomph than before.
@assimilation The wadding noticeably improved irregularities or peak-dip combos, leaving the frequency response quite a bit smoother. If I remember correctly I placed a thick ring of wadding directly behind the driver, the ring being of similar size as said driver. Then loosely filled the rest of the cavity. This did produce a noticeable improvement to the sound and yes I removed the rectangle of foam also.
@alexjensentx They are open back headphones. That means they allow sound in and out. In a studio/listening area this is not really a problem. Get closed back headphones if you want to be isolated.
It's taped with thin double sided tape. You can gently get one corner up and peel it off. I used a piece of plastic food wrap to stick it to while I washed it.
I'll refrain from going into whether this makes them "higher quality" headphones but I thought it relevant to report that this mod does, indeed, make the sound "better" on a consumer amplifier. IOW, playing through a typical iPhone or computer headphone jack. I modded one side and a/b tested with some various music and the modded side definitively had a cleaner and more pronounced bass and clearer highs. The stock side was distorting terribly on bassy songs. So I modded the other side :)
@timboslice942 sorta. they use a binning process with processors whereby the less effective processors get labelled the lower models, whilst the ones that pass the binning tests become the better models. however sometime sthey need more of the lower model so they will make some of the ones that pass the binning test lower models anyway. you can then overclock those yourself back up. could be wrong, just what ive read!
@TheMoparDrvr They do this with every processor and video card as well. They benchmark the individual product and the ones that mark high such as a video card are sold as "overclocked" and similar thing with processors is that they tune them down when they are capable of running faster without any risk of damage.
they sound better! its actually pretty amazzing! i found out there are other mods but i dont have a solderingrod so yeah this really does work and is soo simple if u dont believe it look it up on some forums like on head fi or w/e
@WWoodyW - If you're a heavy gamer and competitive, having headphones with more base is the wrong thing to do as dedicated gaming headphones actually go in the opposite direction you want to take. Manufactures focus on the sounds frequencies that help win games, footsteps, movement direction, gunshots which are mids to highs. Base sounds (explosions) cover these sharper sounds and distract making it harder to hear where a threat might be. Just an FYI. And I truly hope you're a David fan.
@flatspinach The replacement part for 555 & 595 headphones are the same exact part from sennheiser. There is definitely an improvement in low end in terms of what frequencies can be reproduces when you remove those foam pieces.
@5windlz i know. porsche does the same thing. look at how many models they have and they all share the same basic flat six cylinder engine design but with prices ranging from 60 grand to 200 grand. they could consolidate their model range down from about 30 cars to maybe 3 cars no problem, but they like to be able to have a car at every single price point in about 5 grand to 10 grand increments.
Just did the mod. It's easy enough to do that there's no reason not to do it if you own the two screwdrivers you'll need for it. I listened to some dubstep (Funtcase and Level 67, for those of you wondering) and it seems to be bassier. Definitely louder on the outside of the headphones now. I'd say it was worth it.
@avgoris I agree but its not the pading that degrades the product, their not the same loook at the 595, the driver has more clearance , their for more vibration. IT is the same driver and speaker but the foam is actualy a dapiner for the distorted bass it gets.
after 12 years i just did it. and well, it's true definitely more bassy sound, and different space - but from this new view you can hear the limits of the headphones better as well. stonewall me but i've put them back
The bad contacts on my 15 year old HD535 were starting to really annoy me, so I bought some HD555 today. Can't say I am impressed. I felt there was a decent improvement after the mod above, but my old HD535s still blow the HD555s out of the water in the same way that they destroyed all the other headphones that I compared in the shop 15 years ago. Piano through HD535 sounds like live piano, compared to the HD555s which sound like piano through headphones. My HD535 never needed a burn in. Ideas?
Seems to be a good improvement but not to imply these sound like different phones, they're just a bit more versatile in low-mid IMO. Also, don't forget that the drivers are magnets, and screws may stick to them if you foolishly leave it over the top of where you placed the screw. luckily, after removing the screw carefully with a stamp collectors tool designed to move wet stamps (thank you uncle) they havn't suffered any damage.
Thanks a lot, the instructions were super clear, didn't have a single problem doing it myself! You can definitely hear a difference. Everything sounds sharper since the speaker can vibrate more freely. I have to say, I was really disappointed when I saw the HD-595s were that much more expensive, so I got the HD-555s instead, now I don't regret my choice!
I talked to the guy that worked for Sennheiser at one audio store in my country, he said that drivers in 555 and 595 are exactly the same. Produced the same way. The only difference is, the drivers that are made and perform perfectly, go into 595's, and those that dont perform perfectly , go into 555's. Its a similar thing like with CPU production....some AMD's get to be x4 955, some get to be x4 945, but they're exactly the same.
Alright completed the mod & trying it right now. Regarding the mod itself : first part is really easy, just do as explained and don't be afraid of breaking anything. When you remove the part just above the soldered wire, that's when you want to be careful ; I had bad luck, on the right side I wouldn't be able to remove it because the wire was kind of wrapped around a small plastic pin :x but I was able to take it off. Just don't use force if it blocks & carefully look for the source of it.
Upon doing my own research, I found out that the only difference between the 555 & 595 is this: "Highly constant, compressed cellulose fleece reduces total harmonic distortion" - from the sennheiser site pdf Which is basically the little black peace of foam... that alone, while avoiding distortion, does adversely affect the frequency response of the drive head, lowering the overall HZ potential, thus making the difference between the models. the only other differences are cosmetic & in price
Excerpt quote from sennheiserofficial reads "we'd like to share with you that there are other factors such as varied kinds and qualities of materials, different processes, as well as design and finish differences to separate these two products and their intended sound images" In plain english, this means that they made them look different ie. using leather head padding instead of foam. If you do the mod, they sound almost if not exactly the same. They just put a nice PR spin on it, Nice try!
Someone named "silverstone" wrote a review on the 595's over at head-fi.org, and he talks about how the drivers are identical - he not only took a pair apart, but also found a link to driver(s) online.
Just did it to mine. Fucking awesome. Sounds way more clear and the bass is much more potent. Thanks for the guide. And if anyone is wondering-- it is as easy as it looked in the guide, I'm usually skeptical about doing stuff like this to my new hardware, but it's really hard to mess up.
@ji3200 yup I do like the mod. The headphone covers your ear, like sits around it (not on top of your ear) but it's considered "open" cuz there are sound grills on the outside if you look at it where sound will travel out, it allows a more natural sound though.
I've had my HD555's for several weeks and made the mod change and yes I can hear a difference. The low end is more prevalent but also the music is less bright or as accurate pre-mod... post-mod sound is warmer and richer. Bass notes seem to linger longer. The jury is still out if I like the mod as it is going to require more listening with a greater verity of music before I can say but at this time I'm leaning towards reverting as I like the brightness and accuracy over booming bass.
I did this just yesterday and youll sacrifice a few things for a few more hz, first youll notice less sound isolation and the headphones themselves leak more noise than before well a tiny but more, but thanks for this skikarl.
Definitely a difference. Do the mod onto just one side if you don't believe the video. Bass is definitely deeper, and the soundstage has improved. However, I'm noticing that the treble is little more harsh. I'll try the headphones for week this way, and see if I like it better overall. Thanks for posting the video!
@FUCK202 And people say modded HD558's have more bass. Not true. They have boomy uncontrolled bass, not more bass. It just appears to have more bass because its not as tight and it affects other frequencies as well. The foam is inside for a reason. HD558's drivers dont meassure as well as those in 598's, even though they come from the same production line, thats why there's a foam inside, to artificially fix the imperfections in frequency response. Trust me, Sennheiser engineers know whats best.
@TheMoparDrvr Yes there was quite a price gap, but this was more because the 595s were a new model and the 555s had been around for a very long time. I assure you I don't own any sennheiser head phones. I've simply demo'd all of them. I'm still saving up for the HD 800s and In the meantime I'm using Yamaha speakers and a $20 headset for late night.
[Part 2]
In the vid you highlighted the mod to bring the sound quality of the HD 555 closer to the HD 595's. To this, we'd like to share with you that there are other factors such as varied kinds and qualities of materials, different processes, as well as design and finish differences to separate these two products and their intended sound images.
Nevertheless, we note and thank you for your interest in our products. Should you have any other queries, please do not hesitate to get back to us.
i fucking love sennheizer man these guys care and comment on every video god bless you
*This sounded like a lot of marketing jargon. The matter of fact is people have discovered both 555 and 595's use the exact same speaker model for parts. The only difference is the 555 has the sticky foam to retard the quality as mentioned in this video.*
@@AzNightmare Why would they add foam, adding materials and labor cost, to sell a cheaper pair of headphones compared to the 595?
Thats like selling two sports cars with the same engine, but one car has a governor installed to be sold cheaper.
@@DrunkDuckXD *While cars are not exactly the best direct comparison because of how much more complex of a machine they are compared to headphones... that actually is true already in some cases, where a lower and higher trim share the same engine, like the GTI and Golf R, but R being tuned more aggressively to "unlock" more power from factory. Along with various components to support that power increase. As for Sennheiser's case, the cost of labor and foam would be a fraction compared to designing and manufacturing two separate models of speakers. With just one model, they're capable of reducing costs by mass producing just one model of speaker. The reason to "nerf" a lower model is to create tiers. When you have different tiers, it gives the illusion that there is a premium model for more hardcore enthusiasts, and a lower, cheaper tier, for consumers that are more casual listeners that don't want to spend "premium" money. Ultimately, businesses sell more when they give the illusion of options. To not flat out lie though, they use a sticky foam to make the 555 technically worse, so technically the 555 is worse than the 595. So you get what you pay for. It's just that it's very easy to remedy this.*
*As for what Sennheiser mentioned in their reply, and to elaborate what I said previously, people have written blogs, dissecting the headphones down to the actual part # that are engraved into the speakers. They're exactly the same parts on the 555 and 595. While there is differences in finish, such as leather vs cloth, I cannot comment on the "qualities of materials". Maybe the 595 uses higher grade plastic... "Different processes", I don't even know what that's supposed to mean other than marketing jargon. The design shape of both headphones are the same physically. But anyhow, that's all besides the point as the comparison isn't the physical differences, but the actual sound quality... which would be the same if they are using the same speakers, minus the sticky foam.*
@@DrunkDuckXDI did a double-take on how your comment is only six months old since it's not at all a secret how some car companies have justified doing this thing where they manufacture a model in identical configurations yet sell them at different tiers with certain functions/equipment disabled or "optional" under subscription plans. So if you buy the lowest tier version of some BMW, your vehicle physically _has_ everything the top-tier one has; but since you either didn't pay the 15k extra up front or turned down the heated seat subscription or whatever, they wirelessly disable it. Absolutely fucking heinous, but that's where things are.
Concerning your disbelief of Sennheiser doing this: you're looking at it the wrong way. If they can make the extra effort of R&D, materials and labor _on top of_ what it took to make the top-tier model, then that means they've got an incredibly low cost of production _to begin with._ With much of Sennheiser's lineup, you're not paying for any particularly remarkable manufacturing processes or craftsmanship; you're paying for the engineering leading up to the quality of sound they make.
Who else is doing this in 2016 to their ancient but still amazing HD555's? Thanks for the clear guide!
Me I have these remarkable headphones.
I been rocking them for 6 years now, still banging. Too bad I didn't find about this mod until now
2017!
hello from 2017! is' been 5 years since I got my set (was already used); one of my earpads just broke, going to replace them - sounds like a good opportunity to do the thing too!
Same here, but i bought mine somewhere around 2007 and they are still going strong and solid! Also had one of the padded bits come off a bit, was looking on how to fix it and found this vide!
The foam is not there to make the 555s sound worse, but you're right that it is there to tailor their sound, generally so the sonic signature and presentation matches that of other headphones in the same price category. But that's ludicrous right? We all want the best sound for our money, right? If you could make a $100 pair of headphones that sounded like HD800s they'd fly off the shelves, right? Wrong. The customer is a strange beast. My friend has a pair of Beats Solos that I think absolutely suck ass, but he heard my HD580s and said they were bass-less trash compared to his Beats that cost a third of the price. In retail it's actually possible to make a product that's 'too good' for its price point, in so far as the people buying at that price point couldn't give a shit about the qualities it might exhibit that those spending twice as much will prize highly. Strange but true.
@assimilation The foam pad is there to absorb some of the energy from the rear waves, to help prevent any reflections that bounce around inside the cup from re-entering the driver and smearing the sound. The trouble with the metal grille at the rear of the cup is that it isn't particularly open so sound waves can reflect back off of it. I tried different stuffing methods, with acoustic wadding for loudspeakers, measuring the frequency response of the headphones as I did it.
Indeed, both the HD 555 and HD 595 share a similar platform. The HD 555 provides a spatial sound field while the HD 595 with its exceptional clarity and musicality, has been positioned for the audiophile target audience.
However, do note that our product prices are based on the values they provide to their specific customers, and not just on the costs to produce them. This is common practise amongst manufacturers to serve different customers and their differing requirements.
[tbc]
Thank you so much. I have 10 year old hd 555s, and i was always underwelmed by the bass. After doing this procedure, I not only increased the bass, but discovered that both drivers had come out of their socket. My headphones are now better than ever.
Just did this yesterday to my 555's.
Before and after comparo does indeed give an increased low end extension, and a bit more of an open soundstage. Quite a nice improvement given the 5 minutes required and it's reversible if for some unknown reason you want to undo it.
One negative is that along with the widened soundstage you also let a bit more ambient noise in. If your after isolation then you'd be better off with closed cans, but this mod opens up your open cans a little more. Just FYI.
forgot this was an open back, do they leak that much?
@@user-bm4gb6lr8d It's fairly subjective I think. If you have sound going through them then it shouldn't be much of an issue. If you have a loud listening in environment, then maybe avoid. There's much better options nowadays. :P
@@kazmeyers any budget recommendation tho? Close back if possible
I just finished doing these to my 555's, and I can confirm that there is a noticeable difference on the bass end. Very satisfied, thank you skikarl.
Excellent instructions. Just bought me a pair of HD 555's, I had them out of the box listened to a few songs etc.. Then decided I'd try the mod. Took me about 10mins to get both sides done, VERY EASY.
Results are a much richer bass, and the mid's are a lot crisper as well. Great Vid!
555 sound good for the price. And you can mod them to sound even better. I don't see problem with that.
595 owners may be cross about that, but I didn't compare them. Same driver doesn't exactly mean same sound.
Many manufacturers use same driver for different products, using top product cut a little is a common practice in electronics.
Holy crap, the difference is *HUGE*! Especially the base is *SO* much better. I've had these for 10 years and I wish I tried this trick earlier! The HD555 were GREAT to start with but the difference feels like like switching from €50 headphones to €200 headphones!
I first switched only the left one and tried listening before switching the other one. The right (with foam) feels VERY muffled compared to the left speaker. After switching them both you will also only need 50% of the volume output to achieve the same experienced sound compared to the muffled - this indicates how extremely retarding the foam is!
The top highs do however get slightly too high when at louder volumes, so you might want to adjust it slightly in your sound card.
+Davidow1 I, too, have had the HD 555's forever and just found this mod tonight. WOW! I'm going through my music library and enjoying it as if I discovered music all over again. That may sound crazy, but these things just earned my respect all over again. I had no idea they were so powerful this whole time! I have to lower the volume quite a bit but they aren't distorted at the higher volume, I just need to protect my ears lol.
bought mine in 2005. cant believe i found this today after having them for 11 years already
Snagged a pair of these at a thrift shop for $5 several years ago and since they were the most awesome sounding headphones I'd ever owned I was reluctant to try doing surgery on them. Audio is such a subjective and personal taste thing after all, and I couldn't believe that a company would actually ADD something to a product in order to make ir sound worse and sell it for less money...but apparently that is exactly what they did! I stumbled across this video last night, decided to give it a shot, and the difference is quite amazing. I won't be putting the little rubber strips back in for lisyening to music, but I can see why some people might prefer the more muffled effect for other listening purposes. So my question in 2021 is whether anyone has tried modding the mod -- ie maybe cutting the rubber strips to smaller size, repositioning them, or any other variations to achieve some customized hybrid result? (And ps, as for the videoitself, I do wish you had done a little better camera work showing exactly where to pry to get the outer screen off. I eneded up puncturing the fabric on the inner layer by inserting screwdriver into wrong hole.)
I just did this and am absolutely stunned by how much difference it makes. Thanks!
Yes, i saw somewhare in internet that they use the same trick ( or ''marketing strategy'' if you will) with 558 and 598; even though they have actually different shaped grills ( which does not affect the sound that much, bu the way). But yes, 558 has this piece of foam on it's grill inside and once it's removed - the sound comes very, very close to 598. You can google it and find detield info with pictures.
Now if I could get a headband with "595", the deception...I mean "upgrade"...would be complete! Great vid!! Many thanks! :)
@RobDaKid87 There is no matching 6 ft cable available for this product. However, we can replace the initial one. You may want to check with your nearest Sennheiser service center. Where are you from?
Wow. Thank you! This mod took about 10 minutes tops, and I noticed the difference immediately. It sounds WAY better!! thanks for turning my $200 headphones into $350 headphones.
@sacflies - 1 - by not restricting the driver movement, the more the cone can move (say 7mm vs 3mm) the deeper the base will be, 2 - by allowing for a more equal air pressure one either side of the driver (more holes open less air buffering). Everything is personal, if you prefer the sound with the foam in then leave them in. However why you might perceive there being less base is because of their being more holes open thus allowing more ambient noise in.
Just did this myself, tore a little of the pad from the mount on the first half, but just a dab of glue fixed it up. On the second cup, I wedged a very fine flat tipped screw driver between the pad mount and the headphone housing and popped it out that way. I really wouldn't advise just pulling them out by hand, I could really feel it wanted to tear right away.
Other than that, excellent video! Worked like a charm, and I did notice the difference in sound! Thanks man!
I just opened my mid 2010 555's brought straight from sennheiser,
THE MOD WAS ALREADY THERE :O
....... just shows sennheiser do listen !!!
used this tut to open up my 595 to clean up and small repairs, cheers.
@flatspinach Thats exactly why foam is there. 555/595 drivers go trough identical production process. After they're produced, they get measured. Those drivers that perform better and have no faults or peaks, or unwanted imperfections in frequency range are put into 595. Those that aren't performing perfectly and their measurements aren't as good, are put into 555. Then the faults in frequency response of the driver are artificially masked by damping foam and different grill.
I've had my HD-555s for ages, sound much improved so thanks!
dubsetp has been sounding better latelyy since the switch, muuch appreciated
Thanks!! The bass is quite a bit richer now.
that was even easier than it looked like!
big thx man!!!!
just got my new HD 555 and made the mod right away. As I removed the first foam I compared the left and right speaker, and it makes defenitly a big diference! Even so my headphones are not "played in" I'm so in love with them...
thx man!!
This mod definitely worked for me. Now my cans more closely approximate the low end which I typically hear from my monitor speakers. Thanks for this excellent vid!
@tuskenc You're right. They have completely the same driver, as they actually sell a replacement driver for these "for 555 and 595". There's small differences in the structure, the foam, etc.
thanks a million dude, the difference is staggering!
worked great, dude. i tried it out on a song after i'd gotten the foam out of one ear, and there was a huge difference.
i just modded my 12-year-old (!!!?) HD555s this morning and they sound AMAZING! Thank you!
I've had a pair of Grado SR80's for 13 years. I've always wanted a pair of Sennheisers and bought the HD555's. My wife thought they were crap and took my Grado's, and so I was left with the 555's. It's not as open, it's a bit more muddy, and overall not as good as the Grado's. But at least they are comfortable. But both bands have cracks in them. But after watching this video, I just did the mod; I hope they transform these headphones. Thanks for the video.
Did the mod.. Sounds great.. It did improve the bass.. I think the reason they put the foam in there is to limit sound leakage from the phones.. Doesn't really matter when you only use it at home
@aqwayne Well, I caved and tried the mod based on your reply. Did one can at a time. Honestly, the only difference was I could "feel" the bass more without the foam. Meaning the cans vibrated and shook much more during lower bass. There was no change that I could determine in actual bass quality or soundstage. Also during bass spikes, such as when an explosion kicks the LFE in a 5.1 movie, I would get harsh clicks as if the driver were hitting the grill. Bottom line, foam went back in.
Same thing for me. I love these and use them all the time and, although I had heard about this mod long ago, I wanted to wait until my warranty had run out because I have sent them back once to get repaired. Just did the mod and listened with one new and one old like you did, man could I tell the difference.
This mod is doing two things at once. Because you're allowing the driver to breathe more you're are essentially retuning it's enclosure. Also,while taking out the sheet foam you're reducing dampening of the driver. If you put this is perspective to say,building a subwoofer enclosure,the results/actions of the headphones are going to be similar. I'd offer up trying to find that exact same foam and cutting it in different variations to further personalize the effect. It may be a solution for some.
Thanks alot, just did the mod on my 558s. Definitely less muddy
Oh wow... And I have been using my HD555 for 3 years without knowing this. Will bring this little sucker to the modbench later today. Thanks mate.
its not just the frequency this effects, it opens up the sound-stage a lot more. well worth the $0 investment.
Hey Skikari; what about the warranty? Would it be void if someone did this?
Thank you for the video. Just did the mod and I'm enjoying the results.
@dueric1 My justification for doing it was the idea to let the speaker "breath" more. While I was skeptical at first about the mod too, it does make the 555's sound more "open" and increased the bass just a little bit at low volumes and a lot more bass at higher volumes. Yes it does distort the bass at high volumes ( 70%+ on my 2nd gen nano with no amp) but I never crank it up that high anyways. So my conclusion? I left the foam out and never went back.
Just did the mod. worked perfectly, and they sound slightly better. I'm a producer (amateur) and have been using the headphones for 2 years now, so I'd say my ears are pretty closely tuned to them ... so I can notice a difference but it really isnt that much! 5% better if you had to quantify it to a random number
Just did the mod and I'm glad to report that it's working. Didn't break my headphones and the soundquality is the same as with the HD-595. Thanks for the video, big ups!
Enjoying that mod from the day you post it. Thank you very much! :) It's not just difference in bass, with mod they are better in many ways. Especially with adequate (not necessarily expensive) amplifier.
Wow thanks for this dude. Have had these for around 4 years and im sickened i didnt know about this sooner. Better late than never though!
Now my Gunther - Ding Ding Dong has some serious bass rocking ;)
@P4INKiller
In ear phones produce a very loud bass affect becuase of the concentrated sound waves within the ear canal.
This headset will respond well below 20hz, a dam sight lower than "In ear" phones.
Another point, high quality in ear phones should not sound "bassy".
It works! Perfect man thanks for the upload! Bass increased in clarity and the mids and highs are much more cleaner. Props to you bro
This actually does make them sound better, I was half expecting it to do nothing. Thanks, I am pleased.
Regarding the sound itself, I don't know how much placebo there is in my feedback but it seems to me that it's a great improvement. On Satriani's "flying on a blue dream" trebles subjectively sound less "harsh" yet more present, low frequencies have more clarity. When I first tried it I was satisfied with the sound quality but that was just not quite what I expected. Now that does it. Thanks for the video.
Thank You, so simple but effective. Noticeably more bass extension and more of an open soundstage, also they're even lighter!
@TheDenger
The 595 has foam in it too.
Thats something a sennheiser employee told me. Probably not the thrustwothiest source of information.
Just did this mod...
wow...
So simple, yet the difference is jawdropping...
@FUCK202 TBH, the biggest difference between HD558 and 598 is the clamping force. HD558's grab your head much tighter, thats why the appear to have slightly more bass and sound a bit darker, while HD598 have a really light clamping force, which makes them sound a bit more airy, sparkly and opened, and ofc they're more comfortable. But you wont miss out too much if you go for HD558, just don't remove the foam, because you will ruin the sound.
I've heard 'element', 'driver', 'transducer', but it's the first time I've ever heard "Drive Head".
i have done this mod 10 minutes ago. The sound quality improved a lot. Thank you.
Thanks for showimg me how to open them up. one of the drivers on my 595's had come out of it's socket so it was actually free inside of the earcup and causing weird vibration noises. It took 5 minutes and now my 10 year old headphones are as good as new. Can save the money i would have to spend on a new pair of headphones instead.
i also replaced my ear cushions for 10 bucks or something.
@BloodMech21 No worries. I'm pretty sure they're being discontinued to be replaced by the 558s. Same goes for the 595's. So it's a good thing you got yourself a pair (as did I).
Hey dude, I've just did the mod right now on my 555, and I INSTANTLY recognized a difference. Thank you very much for sharing this.
Just did this and WOW did that little mod really improve the low sounds. Way easier to notice subtle things in music as well.
OMG, dude, thanks. I am looking for headphones and was advised to buy 555 ones but then loads of guys said 595 are better so I went for review of 595 and noticed you r headphones have 555 on a side, so I said what a fake, but than noticed this video and now are going to buy 555s and mode them. Big thanks for saving me money (as I could not afford 595s) and helping me with a choice of what to buy.
I did he mod, and it sounds pretty good. Defo more bass, but I can't compare to the 595s since I don't have em. But I did listen to my own music and I noticed a touch up in the low frequencies.
Great video! Informative, thorough, and easy. As a basshead I couldn't be happier. I'm about 95% sure that my headphones now sound more open, and the bass definitely has more oomph than before.
Just did the mod. the sound finally sounds "open" instead of contained. thanks for the vid!
@assimilation The wadding noticeably improved irregularities or peak-dip combos, leaving the frequency response quite a bit smoother. If I remember correctly I placed a thick ring of wadding directly behind the driver, the ring being of similar size as said driver. Then loosely filled the rest of the cavity. This did produce a noticeable improvement to the sound and yes I removed the rectangle of foam also.
@alexjensentx They are open back headphones. That means they allow sound in and out. In a studio/listening area this is not really a problem. Get closed back headphones if you want to be isolated.
It's taped with thin double sided tape. You can gently get one corner up and peel it off. I used a piece of plastic food wrap to stick it to while I washed it.
I'll refrain from going into whether this makes them "higher quality" headphones but I thought it relevant to report that this mod does, indeed, make the sound "better" on a consumer amplifier. IOW, playing through a typical iPhone or computer headphone jack. I modded one side and a/b tested with some various music and the modded side definitively had a cleaner and more pronounced bass and clearer highs. The stock side was distorting terribly on bassy songs. So I modded the other side :)
@timboslice942 sorta. they use a binning process with processors whereby the less effective processors get labelled the lower models, whilst the ones that pass the binning tests become the better models. however sometime sthey need more of the lower model so they will make some of the ones that pass the binning test lower models anyway. you can then overclock those yourself back up.
could be wrong, just what ive read!
@TheMoparDrvr They do this with every processor and video card as well. They benchmark the individual product and the ones that mark high such as a video card are sold as "overclocked" and similar thing with processors is that they tune them down when they are capable of running faster without any risk of damage.
they sound better!
its actually pretty amazzing!
i found out there are other mods but i dont have a solderingrod so yeah
this really does work and is soo simple
if u dont believe it look it up on some forums
like on head fi or w/e
Works. Sounds better.
@WWoodyW - If you're a heavy gamer and competitive, having headphones with more base is the wrong thing to do as dedicated gaming headphones actually go in the opposite direction you want to take. Manufactures focus on the sounds frequencies that help win games, footsteps, movement direction, gunshots which are mids to highs. Base sounds (explosions) cover these sharper sounds and distract making it harder to hear where a threat might be. Just an FYI. And I truly hope you're a David fan.
@flatspinach The replacement part for 555 & 595 headphones are the same exact part from sennheiser.
There is definitely an improvement in low end in terms of what frequencies can be reproduces when you remove those foam pieces.
@5windlz i know. porsche does the same thing. look at how many models they have and they all share the same basic flat six cylinder engine design but with prices ranging from 60 grand to 200 grand. they could consolidate their model range down from about 30 cars to maybe 3 cars no problem, but they like to be able to have a car at every single price point in about 5 grand to 10 grand increments.
Just did the mod. It's easy enough to do that there's no reason not to do it if you own the two screwdrivers you'll need for it. I listened to some dubstep (Funtcase and Level 67, for those of you wondering) and it seems to be bassier. Definitely louder on the outside of the headphones now. I'd say it was worth it.
@avgoris I agree but its not the pading that degrades the product, their not the same loook at the 595, the driver has more clearance , their for more vibration. IT is the same driver and speaker but the foam is actualy a dapiner for the distorted bass it gets.
after 12 years i just did it. and well, it's true definitely more bassy sound, and different space - but from this new view you can hear the limits of the headphones better as well. stonewall me but i've put them back
The bad contacts on my 15 year old HD535 were starting to really annoy me, so I bought some HD555 today. Can't say I am impressed. I felt there was a decent improvement after the mod above, but my old HD535s still blow the HD555s out of the water in the same way that they destroyed all the other headphones that I compared in the shop 15 years ago. Piano through HD535 sounds like live piano, compared to the HD555s which sound like piano through headphones. My HD535 never needed a burn in. Ideas?
Seems to be a good improvement but not to imply these sound like different phones, they're just a bit more versatile in low-mid IMO.
Also, don't forget that the drivers are magnets, and screws may stick to them if you foolishly leave it over the top of where you placed the screw. luckily, after removing the screw carefully with a stamp collectors tool designed to move wet stamps (thank you uncle) they havn't suffered any damage.
Thanks a lot, the instructions were super clear, didn't have a single problem doing it myself! You can definitely hear a difference. Everything sounds sharper since the speaker can vibrate more freely.
I have to say, I was really disappointed when I saw the HD-595s were that much more expensive, so I got the HD-555s instead, now I don't regret my choice!
I talked to the guy that worked for Sennheiser at one audio store in my country, he said that drivers in 555 and 595 are exactly the same. Produced the same way. The only difference is, the drivers that are made and perform perfectly, go into 595's, and those that dont perform perfectly , go into 555's. Its a similar thing like with CPU production....some AMD's get to be x4 955, some get to be x4 945, but they're exactly the same.
Alright completed the mod & trying it right now.
Regarding the mod itself : first part is really easy, just do as explained and don't be afraid of breaking anything. When you remove the part just above the soldered wire, that's when you want to be careful ; I had bad luck, on the right side I wouldn't be able to remove it because the wire was kind of wrapped around a small plastic pin :x but I was able to take it off. Just don't use force if it blocks & carefully look for the source of it.
I just saw this video and decided it was time to do this mod. Other than a few little mess ups..it was painless and it sounds alot better now!
Upon doing my own research, I found out that the only difference between the 555 & 595 is this:
"Highly constant, compressed cellulose fleece reduces total
harmonic distortion" - from the sennheiser site pdf
Which is basically the little black peace of foam...
that alone, while avoiding distortion, does adversely affect the frequency response of the drive head, lowering the overall HZ potential, thus making the difference between the models. the only other differences are cosmetic & in price
Excerpt quote from sennheiserofficial reads
"we'd like to share with you that there are other factors such as varied kinds and qualities of materials, different processes, as well as design and finish differences to separate these two products and their intended sound images"
In plain english, this means that they made them look different ie. using leather head padding instead of foam. If you do the mod, they sound almost if not exactly the same. They just put a nice PR spin on it, Nice try!
Someone named "silverstone" wrote a review on the 595's over at head-fi.org, and he talks about how the drivers are identical - he not only took a pair apart, but also found a link to driver(s) online.
Soundstage and bass improved dramatically. I still can't believe they would purposely handicap these headphones!
Just did it to mine. Fucking awesome. Sounds way more clear and the bass is much more potent. Thanks for the guide. And if anyone is wondering-- it is as easy as it looked in the guide, I'm usually skeptical about doing stuff like this to my new hardware, but it's really hard to mess up.
@ji3200 yup I do like the mod. The headphone covers your ear, like sits around it (not on top of your ear) but it's considered "open" cuz there are sound grills on the outside if you look at it where sound will travel out, it allows a more natural sound though.
I've had my HD555's for several weeks and made the mod change and yes I can hear a difference. The low end is more prevalent but also the music is less
bright or as accurate pre-mod... post-mod sound is warmer and richer. Bass notes seem to linger longer. The jury is still out if I like the mod as it is going to require more listening with a greater verity of music before I can say but at this time I'm leaning towards reverting as I like the brightness and accuracy over booming bass.
I did this just yesterday and youll sacrifice a few things for a few more hz, first youll notice less sound isolation and the headphones themselves leak more noise than before well a tiny but more, but thanks for this skikarl.
@iiTipsy Its the audio card inside your computer not the headphones. If you're using onboard audio on a low end mobo, forget about it...
Definitely a difference. Do the mod onto just one side if you don't believe the video.
Bass is definitely deeper, and the soundstage has improved. However, I'm noticing that the treble is little more harsh. I'll try the headphones for week this way, and see if I like it better overall. Thanks for posting the video!
Was so happy after doin this. How bout a 595 to 800 mod :P
This video was great! I've had the 555 for years and just now came across this mod while comparing the 555 to the 558. No reason to upgrade now!
WOW, I just did this mod and the bass is so good now, plus everything sounds so crisp now!
@FUCK202 And people say modded HD558's have more bass. Not true. They have boomy uncontrolled bass, not more bass. It just appears to have more bass because its not as tight and it affects other frequencies as well. The foam is inside for a reason. HD558's drivers dont meassure as well as those in 598's, even though they come from the same production line, thats why there's a foam inside, to artificially fix the imperfections in frequency response. Trust me, Sennheiser engineers know whats best.
Huge difference and most of it aint placebo. It really sounds more crisp and the bass, omg the bass is awesome now, it used to lack but now more.
@TheMoparDrvr
Yes there was quite a price gap, but this was more because the 595s were a new model and the 555s had been around for a very long time. I assure you I don't own any sennheiser head phones. I've simply demo'd all of them. I'm still saving up for the HD 800s and In the meantime I'm using Yamaha speakers and a $20 headset for late night.