Sennheiser HD 598 SR vs Oppo PM-3

The large ear pads feature a velour surface and a soft foam material underneath. The comfort of the headband is also notable. It features a synthetic leather material with a thick foam inside. In combination, these cushioned parts feel like pillows on the head.

These headphones are in a price range that is quite affordable, yet offers sound and build quality that is beyond the standards in its price bracket.

The bass takes a bit of a back seat compared to the other frequencies, yet is still enough to give fullness and punch to the sound. The mids are the star of these headphones' sound signature. They are clear and a little bit forward, which give a lot of extra detail and presence to guitars and vocals. The highs are pretty crisp and clean, and complement the other frequencies really well.

Even for open back headphones, the soundstage that the HD 598 produces is amazing. It is quite wide yet natural at the same time, which makes it feel like you're listening to the artist perform in front of you live. This wide sound stage and great imaging also make these ideal for games and movies, as these can enhance audio immersion.

This makes the headphones quite easy to store, and the cable easy to replace. Also, the attachment mechanism is a twist to lock system which minimizes the chances of the cable getting disconnected while in use.

Treble is quite detailed, but lacks a bit of sparkle on the highest frequencies as they are rolled off. The mids are just right, not too forward and not too rich. The bass has good presence and punch, but is not very powerful.

Its closed back design along with the fairly thick, leather-surfaced earpads are very effective at keeping the music in and the ambient noise out. This is very useful in tracking situations, and will also help you focus on the audio even when in a busy, noisy place.

The headband and ear cups have fairly thick padding to ease the pressure on the head. These are covered with leather material so they feel smooth.

A headphone amp is not required in order for these to pump up good volume and sound details, so these can work well off of portable devices. There is a noticeable improvement in sound quality and volume when used with a proper amp though.

A combination of high quality plastics and metal are used for these so there is minimal flex and rattles. The headphone joints and yoke also have smooth movement, which make these feel premium when held.

The cables can easily be detached, with 3.5mm jacks as ear cup connectors. This makes looking for new/replacement cables very easy.

Stock cable has an in-line microphone. Not only is this convenient for taking calls while listening to music, but the mic's sound quality is good, with voices sounding clear, full and with good volume.