At this time, Louis opinions the Sennheiser HD 505 ‘Copper’, a brand new set of competitively-priced open-back 120Ω dynamic driver headphones. They’ve a present MSRP of $279.95.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in alternate for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or companies. I thank Sennheiser for this chance.
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Sennheiser HD 505 Evaluate
Abstract
Sennheiser took my most popular method and tuned the HD 505 to have a number of the greatest virtues of a number of HD 500 fashions with no undesirable adjustments from the final product lineup. Sonically, they’re my favourite up to now. I’ll cope with balanced connectivity later.
Execs
Element manufacturing at this stage is nice.
Snug match with a variety of adjustability.
Cons
Underwhelming unboxing expertise.
The cable system makes it onerous to acquire third get together cables.
Sennheiser not too long ago launched the HD 505, nicknamed ‘Copper’. This launch is an try to refresh the HD 500 collection line and entice extra prospects to the Sennheiser 500 line of headphones, notably those that are on the lookout for a headphone with analytical traits.
I’m fluent and conversant in the HD 500 collection beginning with the HD 518, the HD 569, the HD 598, and the HD 599, and owned all of them at one level. I additionally had the chance to briefly take heed to the HD 560S however by no means owned a pair.
Every mannequin I owned has their virtues and I assume that Sennheiser would try to hold over all these mannequin’s good traits into the HD 505 and elevate the collection standing. That’s what I’d have achieved.
Options
On the within, the Sennheiser HD 505 appears to make use of a few of its massive brother’s implementations beginning with Sennheiser’s proprietary open-frame structure which supplies their headphones an general tonality that’s broad and open sounding, sonically talking.
The HD 505 is technically an open-back headphone, however it’s not as open because the HD 600 collection of cans that use a mesh with bigger holes. The grill strikes a steadiness between extreme bleeding and supplying sufficient breathability.
The driving force is an angle-mounted dynamic transducer that’s made in Eire and tuned for analytical listening functions.
I did get to mess around with them by including some colour and the HD 505 appears to love that and that raises the enjoyable stage. In different phrases, there’s a stage of enjoyable inside this set and never simply all enterprise.
Design
Aspect by aspect, the HD 505 seems to be just like the HD 560S aside from the Copper accents. The styling, development, and supplies used are all too acquainted however I say, if it really works why repair it?
All of the strains and curves are carried over from all of the earlier HD 500 collection releases. I do like their curvy design.
The driving force assist arm, or one-sided yoke resembles the Sennheiser brand and I’m stunned nobody has ever observed that design side. Was this design intricacy achieved on objective?
The grill can be carried over from the HD 560S together with the aspect and center-mounted Sennheiser brand.
The grill is the one carryover as a result of the entire earlier HD 500 collection fashions had extra trim work. Nonetheless, that makes the HD 505 look extra streamlined in look this time.
Sennheiser makes use of an all-polymer development and a few would possibly complain about that however not me as a result of I’ve skilled this design’s longevity hands-on and its sturdiness.
I’ve by no means had any points with the just about half dozen cans I’ve owned from the HD 500 collection. I by no means had one break unexpectedly.
Consolation
The Sennheiser HD 505 is extraordinarily light-weight and comfy. The clamping drive appears to haven’t modified a lot from the HD 500 lineup and this design can accommodate many nugget sizes.
It’s straightforward to acquire simply the best adjustment with the sliders as effectively. I counted eighteen clicks on either side.
The pinnacle cushion has sufficient padding to really feel comfy. Nonetheless, for those who have a look at the pinnacle cushion it’s one stable piece with no crease within the cushion.
That creates a stress level within the middle, opposite to the HD 560S which has a slotted head cushion that relieves that middle stress level.
The general weight of the headphones is 237 grams which is significantly decrease in comparison with the HD 560s which weights 280 grams.
These HD 505 headphones are very mild and if it wasn’t for the slight quantity of stiffness of the pads and that high middle spot, you wouldn’t really feel these on, not on account of weight.
Inventory Pads
The pads, as soon as once more, are a carryover from the HD 500 collection. They use the clip-on system by which to take them off, you simply pull them off and click on them again on. They’re straightforward to exchange which is all the time a plus.
The opening form is oval and my whole fist matches in there comfortably. The openings are fairly massive and I doubt they are going to current discomfort for many.
There’s a lump on one aspect of the within of the cups, as in earlier fashions simply the identical, however that doesn’t negatively have an effect on consolation, at the least for me.
The pads are constructed from artificial Velour materials and the froth appears to be fast-acting foam and never the reminiscence variant. The froth stiffness is taught however I wager they are going to give in some with long-term use.
Inventory Cable
Because the saying goes, there’s all the time one thing. Sennheiser packs within the field a mean high quality cable that’s round six ft in size which is an effective size for a desktop situation, however a bit lengthy for moveable use.
The enter tip is a TRS 3.5mm gold-plated plug and Sennheiser features a step-up screw-on adapter that takes the cable to a 6.35mm TRS full-size plug. It should do however it left me unfulfilled.
What I dislike concerning the cable is the half that inserts into the cup. Sure, that design is exclusive, modern, and all that however I do know many producers that embrace balanced connectivity, which is offered from Sennheiser however at an additional value.
I’m contemplating it at this level as a result of I do know these cans will profit from balanced cables however I couldn’t check my principle.
Packaging & Equipment
The general presentation could possibly be higher. Sennheiser went bare-bones on this one. If it weren’t for some printing on the aspect of the field it will simply be a plain corrugated cardboard field.
Maybe the within had one thing attention-grabbing I believed however there was simply extra plain cardboard.
The headphone comes cradled in, you guessed it, a cardboard cutout that holds the headphones in place. You get the cable and a foldable product guide with an attention-grabbing twist.
It mentions the HD 550 mannequin which has been talked about in boards however by no means launched till not too long ago. This line of headphones is shortly rising and hopefully, one mannequin won’t eclipse out the opposite too quickly. Sennheiser ought to simmer and stir.
Sound Impressions
I used the Rose Technics RT-5000 for not solely its potential to be revealing and candy sounding, however the filters are efficient on this mannequin, and I believed it will be enjoyable so as to add some colour to this neutrally-tuned headphone and I used to be proper.
I additionally used the SMSL stack consisting of the SU-X and the SH-X for a large and highly effective perspective and to see how effectively the HD 505 handles upscaled excessive output energy. For a low-power perspective, I used the ONIX Alpha XI1 dongle.
Abstract
Sennheiser tuned the HD 505 to be analytical they usually do produce a excessive stage of element, particularly for a headphone on this worth class. I believe that’s their area of interest as a result of there are not any excellent frequencies or any space that stands out.
My pair did current some small peaks, one round 2.5kHz, and one round 5.3kHz. I’m undecided if it was my pairing or one thing else however I additionally heard an uneven output stage round 7kHz.
I couldn’t check my principle however I wager this headphone would change by merely altering the cable.
To my ears, the HD 505 sounds one diploma on the darkish aspect of the size, with a ahead midrange enhanced by a bass response that appears to offer option to the opposite frequencies, enhancing their presence and accuracy however holding again on itself.
The HD 505 comes with a cohesive tuning that’s well-balanced, however it strives for accuracy. It’s not as correct because the HD 600 collection of headphones however it’s the closest in that respect inside the HD 500 line.
General, they produce sonics with transparency and steadiness and a timbre that may enchantment to most.
Bass
The Sennheiser HD 505 bass response is responsive, or shall I say efficient all the way down to 23Hz and under that time, it takes a tough dip the place it’s ineffective under the 20 Hz level. Nonetheless, it was audible all the way down to 11Hz.
The potential for rumble is there however they have to be teased. I like to spice up the decrease frequencies under 60Hz by 3 or 4 dB. That raises their enjoyable issue by a rise in weight and presence within the decrease than 40Hz ranges.
Many of the bass power is produced above that 40Hz level however thereafter it appears flat by way of the bass frequencies in output. There are not any peaks within the bass area that I can detect and no over-emphasized frequencies in any space.
The bass has only a small quantity of physique and is delicate giving option to accuracy. The bass is well-controlled however as talked about, it wants a little bit of augmentation to get it to the place I prefer it and for the bass notes to be felt.
Midrange
The HD 505 has a forward-sounding midrange that’s well-rounded and pure sounding, notably when producing vocals. This forwardness offers option to element and nuances that a number of the legacy HD 500 collection headphones couldn’t produce.
These peaks beforehand talked about don’t get in the best way of the accuracy in tonality. Midrange tones are well-defined and pure in timbre.
There’s a trace of ardency that retains the mid-band vary attention-grabbing, however once more, these peaks give origin to the ardent character.
The midrange is offered with an eagerness to carry out effectively in that the midrange space produces a number of element and nuances exceptional within the HD 500 lineup.
That is the place the HD 505 shines above the remainder of the collection, within the functionality to supply delicate nuances and element at the next stage.
Treble
The treble response is just not overly sharp and tends to have a fatigue-free character. General they do have a pleasant sparkle and an general sonic profile that’s sharp and clear.
There’s at instances a small quantity of harshness when there’s loads of power in a recording at across the 5kHz space and it’s as a result of peak in that space.
The treble response does come throughout with some chew to it however it stays ethereal and presents the listener with traits that promote high-frequency width which promotes an outlined place inside the sonic scape.
The HD 505 produces excessive frequencies which can be broad aside however they’re produced with a darkish side in that they’re pushed again in output simply sufficient to stay under a sure threshold. That character retains them from coming into into extreme vociferous territory.
Staging & Dynamics
The HD 500 collection of Sennheiser headphones have by no means been slouches in that division. They’ve all the time produced a large, deep, and open soundstage, and the HD 505 follows go well with by producing a soundstage that’s extra exact in comparison with its predecessors.
Sennheiser did a fantastic job tuning this headphone to have a number of depth whereas conserving parts well-defined, punchy, and targeted.
The sonic scape produced is expansive, nevertheless, what I observed was a rise in top and opulence over the remainder of the HD 500 clan.
Click on on web page 2 under for my really helpful pairings and chosen comparisons.
