Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely fabulous
Review: The number of lukewarm reviews of the 580 surprises me.I've owned a lot of headphones, both as an avid listener and semi-professional musician and recordist: AKG, Grado, Sony, Sennheiser, Koss, a wide variety of models of each make. The 580 has become my preference for all applications except portable listening, where a portable amplifier would be necessary (I don't need one more thing to lug around). The build quality of the 580 is outstanding, and while I have heard of cable/connector problems with Sennheiser headphones and even experienced them myself with lesser models, such as the HD 497, the 580 seems to have a very good cable and the connectors are as firmly seated as can be. Sennheiser has a good warranty and I obtained warranty service for my 497s without difficulty. Those who have had trouble with their cables should give Sennheiser a chance to make things right. These are the most comfortable full-size headphones I've owned. Aside from the weight, one can almost forget one is wearing headphones. The idea that these are somehow a mid-fi product is puzzling, to say the least. Back when the 580 was introduced, Stereophile gave it a glowing review and even included it in their "recommended" list. It was the first headphone to ever make the list, and it's still on there even now that there are (arguably) better headphones available. The 580 belongs in the hi-fi category. The differences between the 580, 600, 650, and comparable models of other makes are slight, and going from one to another could be thought of more as a lateral move than a significant upgrade. The 580 and its competitors are all so good that they can expose defects in your source, amplifier, and recordings - this may be why people sometimes have mid-fi experiences with them. The 580 cannot be adequately driven by most portable music players and PC soundcards, which can be another reason for disappointing performance. What some have called the "Sennheiser veil" may well be a side-effect of inadequate amplification or other system problems. At least a good receiver or pre-amp is necessary, and some 580 fans hold that the 580 can only be properly appreciated when driven by a dedicated headphone amplifier. The 580 is sometimes pigeon-holed as a headphone for the classical music listener, but in fact it works well with any type of music, though confirmed bassheads won't like its relatively neutral bass. The 580 sounds great right out of the box, but it develops a certain effortlessness after many hours of use have elapsed. It has great treble extension without being too bright or shrill. Bass reproduction is well-controlled and realistic and the midrange is slightly warm, with a realistic level of detail. Some observe a slight mid-bass hump, but the response curve is one of the flattest you'll ever see. Microdynamics are great, and instruments are easily distinguished, even with a very complex program. Listening fatigue is a non-issue. The 580, despite offering good detail, is more forgiving of a poor source or recording than many other hi-fi phones. People like me who enjoy older recordings may prefer them for that reason. Listening to the 580 makes the shortcomings of other headphones more obvious. Other advantages of the 580 are a replaceable cable and ear cushions. The 580 is built for longevity as well as great sound. This is a headphone that grows with you. It will audibly reflect almost any change you may make to your system, and the better your gear, the better the sound from the 580. The 580 makes a great introduction to hi-fi headphones, and for many it's also the last headphone they purchase. All gear involves some compromises, but the 580 makes good ones and it represents one of the best values in audio. If your system is already quite good, consider the 600 or the 650 instead. If you need a good headphone that can be easily driven by low-power devices, consider a Grado, such as the SR-60. For portable use, anything from the Sennheiser PX series is a good choice, though the Koss Sportapro might be the best value.
Rating:
Summary: Review below is unfair
Review: The reviewer below says that these are five-star headphones with one-star connector cables and therefore rates the headphones three stars. I have not myself have any problems whatsoever with the connector cables, but from what I've read it does seem that these headphones have a somewhat higher than normal rate of problems with the connector cables. But two things make up for this. One, the connector cable is easy and inexpensive to replace. Two, to my knowledge, Sennheiser has been very good about replacing connector cables under warranty. So I don't think the connector cable is such a big issue when the sound quality and comfort are so great.
Rating:
Summary: Great Mid-Range Headphones
Review: The sound quality on these headphones is REALLY good even better when you consider the price. They are comfortable and the parts can be replaced. One reviewer had problems with the connectors but I've been using/abusing mine for a year and havent had any problems. Really a good buy.
Rating:
Summary: HD580
Review: These headphones are great especially considering the price. I've had mine for a year and after all of the use/abuse they are still working without any problems, another reviewer had problems with the connector but I have not experienced that. Most of the parts that get worn are replaceable so I expect to get a lot more use out of these headphones.
Rating:
Summary: Comfortable to Wear and to Listen to
Review: This is an excellent headphone. I typically hate headphones, both the way they feel on my head and how they sound. The 580s are very natural sounding and dynamic and I'm very hard to please. The fit is so comfortable, I can listen for a solid hour without remembering they are on. The open design allows one to hear people that are speaking to you.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Balance
Review: Very, very pleased, even unamped. Need a little more power for portable devices but literally kick on a good reciever or sound card. Another nice feature is replaceable parts (pads, cords) for an extra long life. Bottom line, they are an excellent mid market headphone.
Rating:
Summary: Awsome Headphones
Review: well. This is just a first opinion.
The highs are clear, yet the lows are lacking. I believe this is because of my setup(non-amp'd) + the fact that they havn't been broken in. So it can only get better from here on in. I do suggest that you look into getting yourself an amp...Good source of audiophile info. Thumbs up for these Sennheiser HD580's
Rating:
Summary: best buy in terms of quality/price
Review: Yeah, there are better headphones in terms of quality in this universe, but sold at the cost of your arm and leg. The HD580 really shines when you get audiophile quality sound at a bit over $100 (I bought mine at $130).
The phone delivers silky and solid feeling sound in all frequency ranges I can hear. Listening music from this headphone could become an addiction.
The con side? I found almost all computer sound cards should be thrown into junk yard since the headphone reveals all kinds of weekness (dullness, flatness, etc.) in the sound decoding and amplification. In other words, if you mainly use computer sound card for your music, don't bother buying this headphone. It will ruin your feeling. A $10 headphone is a right match.
The headphone has no trouble driving my portable CD player (I use a SONY D345 which is a very old model) since the player delievers ample power. Nowadays portable CD players delivers less power to headphone so it may sound weak on these CD players. But don't blame HD580, just blame these manufacturers - deliever a CD player with better sound and power!
Another issue is the headphone enclosure gives plastic feeling which does not really suit its quality sound. I wish Sennheiser could design a better looking one. But hey, a headphone's most important task is to deliever quality sound, and HD580 certainly delievers 5 stars.
The final issue may be this headphone may be liable for thefts due to its popularity. My HD580 was stolen some months ago - someone might really like this and took it for free without my consent. I am looking for HD595 which is the supposedly next version from Sennheiser. But really miss HD580.
Rating:
Summary: Very good!
Review: You want good headphones? Then buy this!
Very comfortable, and very detail in sound! Outstanding!!!
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