The Sennheiser HD595 was one of the top open-back dynamic headphones to go for years back and still holds a special place in our hearts to this day. It is a modestly priced stereo dynamic headphone and when paired with the right headphone amp, it can provide us an excellent sound quality for the money. We are planning to share with you a list of such headphone amps which you can go for and if you are currently looking for one then do continue to read on.
In order to match the right amps, we must first learn more about the Sennheiser HD595 such as how they sound, what are their sonic characteristics, do they have any limitations, etc. With enough information, we can then prepare a list of matching headphone amps that can be paired with Sennheiser HD595 and so without further ado, let us start.
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Sound Characteristics and Limitations of Sennheiser HD595
One thing for certain, Sennheiser really knows how to make stylish-looking headphones and the HD 595 is a great example. The Sennheiser HD595 still looks good even with today’s standard and you wouldn’t be shy wearing them out in the public. It is an open-back design and we are certainly expecting an open spacious soundstage to be produced by this headphone. The low noise isolation and high sound leakage will be as expected as well, which also means it is wise to use the Sennheiser HD595 headphone in a quiet indoor listening room. Since the HD595 is bulky and cannot be folded, it won’t be easy to carry them around.
It is very comfortable to wear and the earpads don’t feel very warm when wearing them on your ears. The Sennheiser HD595 is very well-padded and feels premium, the headband is not tight too. We can wear them for hours without feeling discomfort but it is recommended not to move around too much as it is not stable enough for workouts and exercises. The Sennheiser HD595 is perfect for casual listening though. It has a frequency range of 12Hz to 38,500Hz (-10dB) and an impedance of 50 Ohms which is terrific as it indicates the HD595 is easy to drive. This does give us plenty of headphone amplifier choices to choose from.
The stereo imaging of the Sennheiser HD595 is amazing, it can precisely place instruments, musicians, and details accurately on the open soundstage. We would have wanted the soundstage to be just a bit bigger, still, there is enough stereo separation and spacing without making the overall music presentation sound congested. The bass performance of the Sennheiser HD595 is agile and accurate, the low frequencies never once overstep their boundaries thus blending in seamlessly with the higher frequencies without muddling the overall sound reproduction. The bass response is a bit lightweight though.
The deep bass reproduction is even more lacking, it can be a turn-off for bass fanatics and would not be suitable for bass-heavy music genres such as EDM, trance, movie soundtracks, and others. The tonality and timbre are very well-balanced, giving us natural vocal reproductions which are smooth and almost completely uncolored. Musical instruments are authentically delivered as well and coated with intricate details to make your mind engaged to the wonderfully rich presentation of your favorite tunes. Even with this level of clarity, the Sennheiser HD595 never once sounded harsh or lean sounding.
Sennheiser HD595 is capable of delivering a clean and clear overall sound reproduction with a polished background. The accuracy and neutral sonic characteristic do make this Sennheiser headphone awesome for video gaming especially when you are playing games competitively. It is a neutral-sounding and insightful headphone, and at this price point, critical listeners may find the HD595 worth the investment. We have gathered enough data and it is time for us to share with you a list of the best headphone amps which you should get and pair them with the Sennheiser HD595 dynamic headphone. The prices of the amps will play a part in this selection as well.
Sennheiser HD595 Specifications
- Wearing Style: Headband (Over Ear)
- Transducer Principle: Open, Dynamic
- Frequency Response: 12Hz – 38,500Hz
- THD: 0.1 %
- Impedance: 50 Ohms
- Audio Connection: 6.3 mm stereo jack with 3.5 mm adapter
- Weight: 270g (0.6lbs)
Best Amps to pair with Sennheiser HD595
The Schiit Audio Vali 2 is one of the best headphone amps to pair with the Sennheiser HD595. The Vali 2’s warm and rich sound quality will complement the HD595 headphone really well, giving it a fuller sound and adding more textures. The added warmth helps to make the Sennheiser HD595 sound more musical rather than analytical, providing that allure to pull you into the music. The headphone amplifier is also capable of detailed music delivery. The bass control of the Schiit Audio Vali 2 is pretty tight and well-handled too. It is an affordable headphone amp that should fit most listeners’ budgets.
More Info at Amazon – Schiit Vali 2 Tube Headphone Amp
The Hifiman EF2A is an amazing entry-level tube headphone amplifier with a built-in Burr-Brown DAC (PCM2702) and is strong enough to drive your Sennheiser HD595 headphone. There is also a USB input which makes this headphone amp suitable to be part of a desktop setup. The sonic characteristics are quite similar to the HD595 which makes them a suitable match with one another. You can try tube rolling to alter and tune the sound quality to your liking but the stock tube should be sufficient to provide you with an enjoyable music listening experience. It also adds a little more weight to the overall sound reproduction.
More Details at Amazon – HIFIMAN EF2A
If you want a better and more powerful built-in DAC then the FiiO K5 Pro will be the headphone amplifier for you. The K5 Pro uses an AK4493 DAC chip which can support up to 768kHz/32bit and decodes native DSD audio files. With this headphone amplifier, you will be able to playback your high-res audio files in pristine clean sound quality, not to mention, it is more than enough to drive your Sennheiser HD595 headphone to high volume based on the gain levels you have chosen. The compact size and digital connections make the FiiO K5 Pro an ideal desktop headphone amp and will match well with the HD595.
More Details at Amazon – FiiO K5 Pro Deskstop DAC and Amplifier
As mentioned earlier, the Sennheiser HD595 will be an excellent headphone choice for video gaming use. What you will need is the EPOS | Sennheiser GSX 1000 a gaming audio amplifier to drive the HD595 and to provide you with the sonic performance that will give you an edge in competitive gaming such as improved spatial details and audio effects which will inform you of other players locations. There is also a built-in D/A converter, providing you with even more value. The imaging of the EPOS | Sennheiser GSX 1000 is superb and along with the clarity of the Sennheiser HD595, you got yourself an incredible gaming audio setup.
More Details at Amazon – EPOS | Sennheiser GSX 1000 Gaming Audio Amplifier
The iFi Hip-dac is one of the best headphone amplifiers to match your Sennheiser HD595 open-back dynamic headphone. The iFi Hip-dac is an award-winning headphone amplifier with a premium DAC built into it and has a balanced music presentation. It does not add additional brightness to the overall sound reproduction which fits the HD595 really well and the pleasing sound quality also provides its listeners with an energetic performance, thanks to its wide dynamics and punch. The XBass feature of the headphone amp can help to slightly improve the overall bass performance without muddling the midrange reproduction.
More Details at Amazon – iFi Hip-dac Balanced DAC Headphone Amplifier
For listeners who have tight budgets, the FiiO E10K will be a fine choice to go for as it is a highly rated headphone amplifier and is very well-received by its owners. It is an ultra-compact headphone amp and has enough power to drive the Sennheiser HD595 headphone. Furthermore, it is a very affordably priced amplifier and certainly worth the effort to hear them out. The Sennheiser HD595 works well with tube headphone amps and if budget is not really an issue, we will suggest checking out Schiit Audio Valhalla 2 which is a powerful Triode OTL amplifier that can easily drive the HD595 and make them sing.
More Details at Amazon – FiiO E10K (Black)
More Details at Amazon – Schiit Valhalla 2 Triode OTL Tube Headphone Amplifier
To Conclude
The Sennheiser HD595 is a neutral-sounding headphone and does lack bass weight, the warmer characteristics of the tube amps may help improve the situation and give you a heavier musical presence. Or you can go for headphone amps that have presets or switches to boost the bass gains. No matter which headphone amplifier you choose, it is best to audition them first before making your final decision. You should take some time and effort to listen to them either one by one or side by side, to see which headphone amp sounds the best to you.
