This is one of the most highly rated open-back headphones with an affordable price point that will easily fit most listeners’ budgets. The Sennheiser HD 599 is praised by thousands of satisfied owners and there is plenty of positive feedback regarding its sound quality. It may be affordable but the stylish design of the HD 599 makes it look more expensive than it should be. You can go for HD 599 SE if you prefer the black color finish.
If you go with the Sennheiser HD 599 SE, it will cost more though. Since it is an open-back design and is not suitable for outdoor use due to its poor noise isolation capabilities and sound leakage. Sticking with just the Sennheiser HD 599 should suffice. And you don’t really need to choose a portable DAC model as your digital-to-analog converter to match your Sennheiser HD 599 headphones. You should be listening to your music privately in a quiet indoor room where you won’t get interrupted by unwanted environmental noises and/or disturb the people around you. So going with a desktop DAC would be a good idea and it usually has more connections than a portable model.
More Information at Amazon – Sennheiser HD 599 Headphone Ivory
This is just one of the potential DAC requirements you might want to seriously consider and then there is the type of sonic traits you would want from a D/A converter. For an open-back headphone, the Sennheiser HD 599 has pretty high bass outputs and its midbass punch does make it sound more entertaining. Analytical audio enthusiasts probably wouldn’t find the HD 599 appealing enough as the overall accuracy is not comparable to higher-end models. Still, there are many musical details that can be heard as its level of clarity is rather amazing for the price.
More Details at Amazon – Sennheiser HD 599 SE Headphone
It is an excellent headphone choice for casual music listeners, the Sennheiser HD 599 is not fussy with bad recordings and is far from sounding clinical. Is easy to enjoy listening to music through this pair of headphones as long you are not a critical listener. The sound quality which the HD 599 possesses is really difficult to nitpick on and it is certainly worth every penny invested in them. You can choose a DAC which could alter the sonic characteristics of the Sennheiser HD 599 by a little such as adding a bit more warmth, increasing the overall clarity, more pronounced bass outputs, etc. There are also more DAC requirements to consider and we will be listing them out to you now.
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More DAC Requirements
You may want to work out a comfortable budget that you are willing to spend on a DAC. We suggest giving it a bit of headroom, just in case you need to increase the budget a little so as to get the D/A converter you really want. This is also an opportunity to see what other audio components you might want to get together with your DAC. The type of connections you’ll require is quite important and you should also think about the future where you might buy a new device to connect to your digital-to-analog converter.
The sample rates and the type of high-res audio files you need the DAC to decode/support are important too. Some DACs also come with a Bluetooth connection and you might want to consider if you need such a feature. The dimensions or size of the D/A converter can be crucial especially for listeners who are facing space constraints. In such cases, getting a portable model can be a good idea since it is usually small and compact.
Are you sharing the DAC usage with someone else? If yes, you might want to seek opinions from the other party as it will help to add more requirements. As the saying goes, the more the merrier, and this will give you a clearer picture of what type of DAC you really require. We have prepared a list of the best DACs which you can choose and match with your Sennheiser HD 599. Please take a look once you are confident with what you require.
Best DACs to match with Sennheiser HD 599
The FiiO New K3 is a fantastic choice for your Sennheiser HD 599 open-back headphones. It has a very modest price tag and also comes with a built-in headphone amp which provides even more value to its users. FiiO New K3 supports up to 32-bit/384kHz (PCM) and decodes DSD256 (Native). It is very compact for a desktop DAC and will be great for listeners who have tight spaces. The bass reproduction of the New K3 DAC is well suited for Sennheiser HD 599 as it helps to add more impact without losing control.
More Details at Amazon – FiiO New K3 USB-C DAC
Schiit Audio Modi 3+ is another entry-level DAC with an affordable price tag and has the sonic performance to match with the Sennheiser HD 599 headphones. The Modi 3+ provides an even calmer approach when it comes to music presentation. The smooth music delivery will help to ease down any harshness coming from the HD 599 and also add a bit more weight to the overall sound reproduction. Schiit Audio Modi 3+ bass performance is excellent for the price and will complement the Sennheiser HD 599.
More Info at Amazon – Schiit Modi 3+ D/A Converter DAC (Black)
Topping E30 is a high-quality DAC that supports up to 32Bit/768kHz (PCM) resolution and decodes DSD512 high-res audio files. It also comes with plenty of connections and this is probably the only DAC you’ll ever need, not to mention, the E30 has a modest price tag as well. The sound quality you are getting from this D/A converter is well worth the money and will be an amazing partner for the Sennheiser HD 599. The stereo imaging and separation are good. Do remember to use the Topping E30 DAC mode when auditioning them.
More Info at Amazon – Topping E30 DAC AK4493 HiFi XMOS XU208 Decoder
For listeners who are gamers, the Schiit Audio Fulla 3 will be an ideal choice for you. This is a highly rated gaming amp/DAC that not only matches well with the Sennheiser HD 599 but is also capable of driving the headphones efficiently. Schiit Audio Fulla 3 is a very compact size DAC where you can easily carry it to different venues. The spatial accuracy and sound quality are really good for a DAC/amp at this price point. Listeners who are serious with their competitive gaming will certainly find the Schiit Audio Fulla 3 worth it.
More Info at Amazon – Schiit Fulla 3 Gaming D to A Converter
The JDS Labs Atom DAC+ is another entry-level DAC that will match well with your Sennheiser HD 599 headphones. This is an exceptional DAC choice for listeners who want their HD 599 to stand out more as it has hardly any audible colorations. The clean overall sound reproduction also increases the clarity level by a little. JDS Labs Atom DAC+ bass performance is pretty powerful and will complement the low-end delivery of the Sennheiser HD 599 very well. We have nothing to really nitpick about the affordable Atom DAC+.
Massdrop X Grace SDAC has a minimalistic design which gives it a very low profile and will blend in nicely into any listening room setting. The clean midrange reproduction of the Grace SDAC will match well with the Sennheiser HD 599 midbass performance. The overall bass performance of the DAC is taut and detailed, further complementing the headphones’ low-end performance. The Massdrop X Grace SDAC also helps to widen the soundstage and improves the spacing. This does give us a more highly defined stereo imaging.
More Details at Amazon – DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced – Black
To Sum It Up
The DACs shown here are all closely priced and are well worth your time to pick a few for an audition. Do use your favorite music and your own Sennheiser HD 599 headphones during the auditioning of the DACs. Feel free to use this list as a reference when searching for other D/A converter brands/models but we highly suggest you at least listen to a few of these listed DACs first. When you know how well some of the listed DACs sound when paired with your Sennheiser HD 599, they will make better references.
