Sennheiser and Massdrop a.k.a. Drop collaborated yet again to make the Sennheiser HD58X which is an incredibly well-received open-back design headphone. Just the number of rave reviews and accolades that it has garnered already gave us a huge indication of how exceptional the HD58X’s sonic performance will be. The attractive price tag of the Sennheiser HD58X also contributed to its huge success.
A remarkable headphone such as the HD58X certainly deserves to be driven by the best matching amp and in order for us to get our hands on the right one, we will need to first learn more about its’ sonic prowess. By learning more about the sound characteristics of the Sennheiser HD58X and their sonic strengths will greatly help with our endeavor in finding matching headphone amps. We will be planning to list out the best amps to pair with the Sennheiser HD58X open-back headphone later on please do continue to read further.
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Sound Characteristics and Strengths of Sennheiser HD58X
The Sennheiser HD58X Jubilee looks absolutely stunning and sleek, thanks to its glossy black finish and the gray metal grilles. The HD58X has its own unique visual identity, it is both elegant and modern with an iconic style. This headphone looks more expensive than it should be. It is a pity they are not really meant for outdoor use though. If you do not mind hearing environmental noises interrupting your music listening experience then it wouldn’t be an issue, but others around you may not feel the same way. Due to the open-back design, the Sennheiser HD58X has poor noise isolation properties and is prone to sound leakage. They are not really portable either thus the HD58X is more suited for indoor listening environments.
Having an open-back design has its advantage as usually, these types of headphones have a bigger soundstage. The frequency range is really wide for a headphone at this price point which is from 12Hz to 38,500Hz (-10dB). The impedance of the Sennheiser HD58X is 150 Ohms and this shows that it is not very difficult to drive. Before we start looking at headphone amplifiers, we will need to find out more about the HD58X Jubilee sonic characteristics.
There is a high level of clarity in its music delivery where the musical details and nuances can be clearly heard without needing to strain your ears. The vocal reproductions sounded natural with highly distinct differences between a male and female vocal. Instruments are also authentically reproduced with plenty of subtle details that can be heard with clarity which is amazing for critical listeners. The highs are bright and grainy, working cohesively together with the mids, providing an even richer-sounding music presentation. It may be a bit too bright for some listeners though especially those who are used to warmer-sounding headphones.
Sennheiser HD58X bass performance is not as great though, as it lacks the weight and prominence. Still, the bass reproduction is accurate and agile, blends in seamlessly with the higher frequencies without muddling the overall sound reproduction. The overall accuracy is superb with amazing stereo imaging where the Sennheiser HD58X precisely places each instrument and musician on the soundstage. It is a pity that the staging is not as spacious and open as we have expected. Fortunately, the punchy music performance and great dynamics help to provide an engaging listening experience.
The Sennheiser HD58X has a neutral sonic character leaning towards bright sounding. It is an open-back headphone that is capable of delivering a clean and detailed music presentation with astounding clarity. The deep bass reproduction lacks the impact and won’t be satisfying enough for bass fanatics but the overall bass performance has a taut delivery and is quite solid too. It is wise not to pair the HD58X to a very bright-sounding headphone amp as it may lead to overly bright sound quality. We will be sharing with you a list of the best headphone amps which you can choose to partner with the Sennheiser HD58X and the amplifiers’ retail prices will be taken into account as well.
Sennheiser HD58X Specifications
- Wearing Style: Headband (Over Ear)
- Transducer Principle: Open, Dynamic
- Frequency Response: 12Hz-38,500Hz (-10dB)
- THD: 0.1%
- Connector: 1/8″ (3.5 mm) gold-plated stereo jack plug
- Impedance: 150 Ohms
- Weight: 260g (0.57lbs)
Best Amps to pair with Sennheiser HD58X
The Drop O2 + SDAC will be one of the best headphone amps to pair with your Sennheiser HD58X. Since the headphone amplifier is made by Massdrop/Drop, it should match really well with the HD58X Jubilee. Furthermore, it has a built-in D/A converter that supports up to 24 bit/96 kHz resolution and is sufficient enough to drive the Sennheiser HD58X efficiently. The sonic character of the headphone amplifier is neutral and also widens the soundstage by a little. It will also be cool for listeners who want their music presentations to have a bit more clarity. We will suggest hearing them out first before making your final decision.
The Schiit Audio Vali 2+ is one of the best tube headphone amps to partner with the Sennheiser HD58X especially if you want a warmer sound quality without compromising the accuracy. It is also a powerful amplifier that can drive the HD58X with ease and you can play your favorite tunes at high volume levels. The Vali 2+ is a musical-sounding tube headphone amp, adding more texture, providing a smoother mids, and makes the treble sound a bit sweeter. It will match really well with the Sennheiser HD58X and also helps to ease the edges a little, allowing you to listen to your music for a longer duration without listener fatigue.
When it comes to tube headphone amps, the DarkVoice 336SE is one of the absolute best in its price range. The 336SE is also well-match with Sennheiser headphones and is powerful enough to drive most of them. It has a nice big sound with a relaxed and musical sonic delivery which will fare really well with the Sennheiser HD58X. Giving the overall sound reproduction a fuller sound quality, providing you with a more intimate music listening experience without worrying that it will sound harsh as you crank up the volume. You can also tube roll the DarkVoice 336SE so to further improve the sound quality to your liking.
More Info at Amazon – DarkVoice 336SE Headphone Tube Amp
The Drop + THX AAA One is another incredible headphone amplifier to pair with the Sennheiser HD58X and is really powerful for an amp at this price point. It is a highly accurate sounding headphone amp with a high-resolution music presentation, not to mention, a well-defined stereo imaging and separation. This helps to provide a better distinction between various instruments and musicians been played on stage, helping the HD58X to produce a clearer soundstage. The insight and transparency of the Drop + THX AAA One headphone amplifier will be a delight for critical listeners, as it digs out plenty of details and producing them out with clarity.
More Info at Amazon – Drop THX AAA ONE Headphone Amplifier
The JDS Labs EL Amp II is an absolute powerhouse for the money, it can easily drive your Sennheiser HD58X headphone and making them sing at high volumes. When compared to its smaller and more affordable sibling the JDS Labs Atom, it is a level up, with better sound quality and sonic performance which is worth every penny invested. The JDS Labs EL Amp II is capable of delivering a very detailed music presentation with high accuracy and precision. The alacrity performance of the headphone amp provides an impactful and engaging music presentation that you will enjoy.
For listeners who have a tight budget, the Schiit Audio Magni 3+ will be an excellent choice for you and your Sennheiser HD58X open-back headphone. It may be an affordably priced headphone but it is still powerful enough to drive the HD58X Jubilee headphone. This is a well-regarded headphone amp and is highly praised by critics. Furthermore, the Magni 3+ is well suited to pair with the Sennheiser HD58X as it will add more weight into the overall sound reproduction, making it fuller sounding and the accuracy to deliver an exemplary music performance. At this price point, we really have nothing to complain about and you should really check this headphone amplifier out.
To Sum It Up
You can select the headphone amps that best suit your budget or requirements, from there, we will suggest arranging an audition to find out more about their sound quality and see which one you like the most. You should bring along your favorite music CDs/digital files for the headphone amp audition so that you can immediately tell the difference in sound quality. You might want to bring along your current headphone amp for a side-by-side comparison if it is portable enough and not too big of a hassle.
