Sennheiser HD 599 SE Review: Can They Beat the Competition?

Are you searching for your first pair of audiophile headphones that offer exceptional sound quality without breaking the bank? The Sennheiser HD 599 SE might be exactly what you need.

These open-back headphones have captured the attention of music enthusiasts and casual listeners alike with their impressive performance at an affordable price point.

In this comprehensive review, we will examine every aspect of the Sennheiser HD 599 SE, from their build quality and comfort to their detailed sound performance across different music genres.

Key Takeaways

• Exceptional Value: The HD 599 SE offers near-audiophile sound quality at under $100, making premium audio accessible to budget-conscious enthusiasts
• Outstanding Comfort: Features large velour ear pads and lightweight design at just 240g, allowing for extended listening sessions without fatigue
• Warm Sound Signature: Delivers a slightly warm and smooth frequency response with enhanced bass presence, perfect for enjoying various music genres
• Open-Back Design Benefits: Provides excellent soundstage and imaging for immersive listening, though this means sound leakage in quiet environments
• Easy to Drive: With 50-ohm impedance, these headphones work well with smartphones, laptops, and dedicated amplifiers without requiring powerful equipment
• Premium Build Quality: Includes detachable cables, replaceable ear pads, and solid construction that ensures long-term durability and maintenance ease

Sennheiser HD 599 SE Design and Build Quality

The Sennheiser HD 599 SE immediately catches your eye with its sleek black and silver color scheme. This Special Edition variant differs from the original HD 599 only in its paint job, offering the same exceptional build quality in a more modern aesthetic. The headphones feature a predominantly plastic construction that might seem budget-oriented at first glance, but Sennheiser has engineered these materials to deliver surprising durability.

The headband design incorporates a padded leatherette covering that distributes weight evenly across your head. The adjustable mechanism feels solid and provides precise sizing adjustments without any wobbling or loose play. The distinctive grille pattern on the ear cups not only looks attractive but serves the crucial function of allowing air flow for the open-back acoustic design.

Build materials include high-quality plastics that resist wear and maintain their appearance over time. The hinges and adjustment points show excellent engineering, with smooth operation that inspires confidence in long-term reliability. The cable connection points use robust 2.5mm locking connectors that prevent accidental disconnection during use.

The overall aesthetic appeal strikes a perfect balance between professional and consumer-friendly design. These headphones look equally at home in a recording studio or your living room, making them versatile for various environments and use cases.

Comfort and Ergonomics

Comfort represents one of the HD 599 SE’s strongest selling points. The large circumaural ear cups completely encompass your ears without touching them, creating a comfortable seal that enhances the open-back acoustic experience. The velour ear pads feel luxurious against your skin and resist heat buildup during extended listening sessions.

Weight distribution at just 240 grams feels remarkably light for full-sized headphones. The padded headband spreads this weight evenly, preventing pressure points that commonly develop with heavier models. The clamping force has been carefully calibrated to maintain a secure fit without creating discomfort, making these headphones suitable for glasses wearers.

The ear cup size accommodates larger ears comfortably, while the depth provides adequate clearance to prevent your ears from touching the drivers. This design consideration significantly enhances comfort during marathon listening sessions that can extend for hours without fatigue.

Long-term wearability remains excellent even after several hours of continuous use. The breathable velour pads and open-back design promote air circulation, preventing the sweaty, uncomfortable feeling that often develops with closed-back headphones. Users consistently report being able to wear these headphones for 4-6 hours without needing breaks.

Sound Quality Overview

The Sennheiser HD 599 SE delivers a sound signature that exemplifies the brand’s house sound philosophy. These headphones present music with a slightly warm and smooth character that enhances musical enjoyment without sacrificing detail retrieval. The overall tonal balance leans toward a more relaxed presentation that favors long-term listening comfort over analytical precision.

Frequency response spans from 12Hz to 38,500Hz, providing excellent extension at both extremes. The impedance rating of 50 ohms makes these headphones easy to drive from various sources, from smartphones to dedicated headphone amplifiers. The sensitivity rating of 106dB SPL ensures adequate volume levels without requiring excessive amplification.

The soundstage presentation benefits tremendously from the open-back design. Music feels spacious and three-dimensional, with instruments positioned clearly within the stereo field. This expansive presentation makes orchestral music, jazz ensembles, and acoustic recordings particularly engaging and immersive.

Detail retrieval remains impressive for the price point, revealing subtle nuances in well-recorded material without becoming fatiguing or overly analytical. The HD 599 SE strikes an excellent balance between revealing musical details and maintaining listening enjoyment across various genres and recording qualities.

Top 3 Alternative for Sennheiser HD 599 SE

Bass Performance

The bass response of the HD 599 SE showcases Sennheiser’s understanding of musical balance. The low-frequency presentation emphasizes the upper bass region, providing warmth and body to music without overwhelming the midrange frequencies. Sub-bass extension reaches down to the specified 12Hz, though the open-back design naturally limits the deepest bass impact compared to closed-back alternatives.

Bass quality emphasizes musicality over raw quantity. These headphones reproduce bass lines with good definition and control, making them suitable for genres ranging from jazz and blues to modern pop and electronic music. The bass never sounds bloated or muddy, maintaining clarity even during complex passages with multiple low-frequency elements.

Impact and slam remain moderate due to the open-back design philosophy. While these headphones won’t satisfy bass-heads seeking powerful, room-shaking low frequencies, they provide sufficient bass presence to maintain musical balance and engagement. The bass response complements rather than dominates the overall sound signature.

Genre suitability for bass-heavy music depends on your preferences. Electronic dance music, hip-hop, and modern pop benefit from the controlled bass presentation, while acoustic genres like folk, classical, and jazz sound particularly natural and engaging with the HD 599 SE’s bass tuning.

Midrange Clarity

The midrange performance represents perhaps the HD 599 SE’s greatest strength. Vocal reproduction sounds natural and engaging, with both male and female voices presented with excellent clarity and presence. The vocal positioning sits slightly forward in the mix, enhancing the emotional connection with singers and spoken word content.

Instrumental timbre sounds convincingly realistic across various instruments. Acoustic guitars display proper body and resonance, while piano notes maintain their natural attack and decay characteristics. String instruments benefit from the smooth midrange tuning, sounding warm and musical without harshness or artificial coloration.

Detail resolution in the midrange allows you to hear subtle elements like breath sounds, finger movements on guitar strings, and the mechanical sounds of piano actions. These details enhance the listening experience without becoming distracting or overly analytical. The midrange strikes an excellent balance between resolution and musicality.

Frequency balance within the midrange region avoids common problems like nasal coloration or hollow sound. The transition between lower and upper midrange frequencies sounds seamless, creating a cohesive presentation that serves various musical styles effectively.

Treble Response

The treble presentation of the HD 599 SE follows Sennheiser’s tradition of smooth, non-fatiguing high-frequency reproduction. The upper frequencies extend well beyond audible range while maintaining control and refinement. Sibilance control remains excellent, preventing harsh “s” sounds from becoming uncomfortable during vocal-heavy tracks.

High-frequency detail retrieval allows you to hear cymbal shimmer, acoustic guitar string harmonics, and the ambient details in well-recorded material. The treble never sounds rolled-off or dull, maintaining sparkle and air without becoming bright or aggressive. This balance makes the HD 599 SE suitable for extended listening sessions across various music genres.

Harmonic accuracy in the treble region helps instruments sound natural and realistic. Brass instruments maintain their metallic timbre without becoming harsh, while string sections display proper texture and spatial positioning. The treble extension provides adequate presence for modern recordings while remaining forgiving of older or poorly mastered material.

Fatigue factor remains minimal even during long listening sessions. The smooth treble tuning prevents the listening fatigue that commonly develops with brighter headphones, making the HD 599 SE an excellent choice for users who spend hours each day listening to music or audio content.

Soundstage and Imaging

The open-back design of the HD 599 SE creates an impressive soundstage that enhances the listening experience across various musical genres. The spatial presentation extends well beyond the physical boundaries of the headphones, creating a sense of listening to speakers in a well-treated room rather than wearing headphones.

Width and depth of the soundstage provide excellent separation between instruments and vocals. Orchestra recordings benefit tremendously from this spacious presentation, allowing you to perceive the positioning of different instrument sections clearly. Jazz ensembles and acoustic recordings gain significant realism from the three-dimensional soundstage.

Imaging precision allows you to pinpoint the location of specific sounds within the stereo field. This characteristic proves valuable for both music listening and gaming applications, where positional audio cues enhance the experience. The center image remains stable and focused, while stereo effects display proper width and positioning.

Layering capability enables the HD 599 SE to present complex musical arrangements clearly. Multi-layered pop productions, symphonic works, and progressive rock compositions maintain their complexity while remaining easy to follow and analyze. This capability makes these headphones excellent for both casual listening and more analytical music appreciation.

Gaming Performance

The ** gaming capabilities** of the HD 599 SE extend well beyond their primary music-focused design. The excellent soundstage and imaging characteristics translate directly into competitive gaming advantages. First-person shooters benefit from the precise positional audio, allowing players to locate enemies and environmental sounds accurately.

Microphone compatibility works well with external gaming microphones or USB sound cards that provide microphone inputs. While the HD 599 SE doesn’t include a built-in microphone, the open-back design allows you to hear your own voice naturally, preventing the shouting that often occurs with closed-back gaming headsets.

Comfort during gaming sessions remains exceptional even during marathon gaming sessions that extend for many hours. The lightweight design and breathable ear pads prevent the discomfort that commonly develops with heavier gaming headsets. The sound leakage characteristic of open-back designs may limit their use in shared gaming spaces.

Audio quality for game soundtracks, dialogue, and effects surpasses most dedicated gaming headsets in this price range. The balanced sound signature reproduces game audio clearly without the artificial bass boost that many gaming headsets employ. This natural presentation enhances immersion in story-driven games and provides tactical advantages in competitive scenarios.

Cable and Connectivity

The Sennheiser HD 599 SE includes two detachable cables that enhance versatility across various devices and use cases. The primary 3-meter cable features a 2.5mm locking connector at the headphone end and terminates in a 6.3mm plug, making it ideal for home audio equipment and professional applications.

The secondary 1.2-meter cable includes an inline remote and microphone, terminating in a 3.5mm plug designed for smartphones and portable devices. This cable enables hands-free calling and basic playback control with compatible devices. Cable quality feels substantial and durable, with proper strain relief at both connection points.

Locking mechanism at the headphone connection point prevents accidental disconnection during use. This feature proves particularly valuable during active use or when the cable might experience tugs or pulls. The connector quality uses gold-plated contacts that resist corrosion and maintain signal integrity over time.

Adapter compatibility works well with various devices through the included 6.3mm to 3.5mm adapter. The 50-ohm impedance makes these headphones compatible with smartphones, tablets, laptops, and dedicated audio equipment without requiring additional amplification in most cases.

Price and Value Proposition

At approximately $90-100, the HD 599 SE represents exceptional value in the entry-level audiophile headphone market. This price point provides access to genuine high-fidelity audio reproduction that typically requires significantly higher investment. Cost-per-performance calculations strongly favor the HD 599 SE when compared to similarly priced competitors.

Feature set includes detachable cables, replaceable ear pads, premium materials, and proven acoustic engineering from one of the most respected names in professional audio. These features typically appear only in much more expensive headphones, making the HD 599 SE an outstanding value proposition.

Long-term investment considerations support the HD 599 SE’s value equation. The replaceable components, durable construction, and timeless sound signature ensure these headphones will provide years of listening enjoyment. Resale value remains strong due to Sennheiser’s reputation and the HD 599’s popularity in the enthusiast community.

Market positioning places the HD 599 SE in direct competition with other entry-level audiophile options, where it consistently outperforms alternatives in sound quality, comfort, and build quality. The combination of features and performance justifies the price premium over basic consumer headphones.

Pros and Cons

Advantages of the Sennheiser HD 599 SE include their exceptional comfort for extended wear, natural and engaging sound signature, excellent build quality with replaceable components, and outstanding value for money. The soundstage presentation and imaging capabilities exceed expectations for this price range, while the easy-to-drive design ensures compatibility with various source devices.

Disadvantages primarily stem from the open-back design philosophy. Sound leakage prevents use in quiet environments where others might be disturbed, while the lack of noise isolation makes them unsuitable for noisy environments like public transportation or busy offices. The bass response, while well-controlled, may disappoint listeners seeking powerful low-frequency impact.

Build quality concerns focus mainly on the extensive use of plastic construction, though durability hasn’t proven problematic in real-world use. Some users prefer the premium feel of metal construction found in more expensive alternatives. The cable management can become cumbersome due to the longer cable lengths included with the headphones.

Target audience limitations exclude users who primarily listen in noisy environments or require maximum bass impact for electronic music genres. The open-back design philosophy serves specific use cases well while limiting general-purpose applicability.

Comparison with Competitors

Versus Sennheiser HD 560S: The newer HD 560S offers more neutral tuning and slightly better detail retrieval but costs significantly more and may sound less engaging for casual listening. The HD 599 SE provides better value for users who prefer a warmer, more musical presentation.

Versus Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X: The Audio-Technica model offers even wider soundstage and lighter weight but sacrifices bass response and overall tonal balance. The HD 599 SE provides a more complete and balanced listening experience across various music genres.

Versus Philips SHP9600: The Philips alternative costs less and offers similar comfort but lacks the refined sound quality and build sophistication of the HD 599 SE. Sound quality differences become apparent during extended listening comparisons, favoring the Sennheiser model.

Versus Beyerdynamic DT990: The DT990 offers more bass impact and brighter treble but costs more and requires more amplification power. The HD 599 SE provides a more balanced, easier-to-drive alternative that works better with portable devices and modest amplification.

Best Use Cases

Home listening represents the ideal application for the HD 599 SE. The open-back design, comfortable fit, and engaging sound signature create perfect conditions for relaxed music enjoyment in quiet environments. Critical listening sessions benefit from the detailed presentation while remaining enjoyable rather than analytical.

Gaming applications work excellently for single-player story-driven games and competitive multiplayer where environmental audio cues provide tactical advantages. The soundstage and imaging capabilities enhance immersion while the comfortable fit supports extended gaming sessions.

Content creation and audio editing benefit from the balanced sound signature and detailed presentation. While not designed as studio monitors, the HD 599 SE provides sufficient accuracy for basic mixing and mastering tasks, podcasting, and video production work.

Music genre suitability spans classical, jazz, folk, rock, and pop music effectively. The warm sound signature particularly complements acoustic instruments and vocal-heavy material while remaining engaging with electronic and contemporary genres.

Maintenance and Durability

Long-term durability of the HD 599 SE depends primarily on proper care and maintenance of the replaceable components. The ear pad replacement process proves straightforward and cost-effective, extending the headphones’ usable life significantly. Velour pads typically require replacement every 1-2 years with regular use.

Cable care becomes important due to the detachable design. Proper storage and handling of the included cables prevents damage and ensures reliable connectivity. Replacement cables remain available from Sennheiser and third-party manufacturers, providing long-term serviceability.

Cleaning procedures for the velour ear pads require gentle methods to maintain their texture and appearance. Regular dusting and occasional gentle cleaning with appropriate materials keeps the headphones looking and feeling fresh. The plastic surfaces resist wear and maintain their appearance with basic care.

Component availability through Sennheiser’s parts department ensures long-term serviceability. The popularity of the HD 599 series means replacement parts and upgrade options remain readily available through official and aftermarket sources.

Final Verdict

The Sennheiser HD 599 SE stands as one of the most compelling entry points into high-quality audio reproduction available today. These headphones successfully balance sound quality, comfort, build quality, and value in a package that serves both newcomers and experienced listeners effectively.

Sound quality delivers the engaging, musical presentation that Sennheiser is known for, while the comfortable design enables extended listening sessions without fatigue. The open-back design provides excellent soundstage and imaging that enhances various music genres and gaming applications.

Value proposition remains exceptional at the current price point, offering features and performance typically found in much more expensive alternatives. The replaceable components and proven durability make these headphones a smart long-term investment for serious listeners.

Recommendation strength depends on your specific needs and listening environment. For home use where sound leakage isn’t a concern, the HD 599 SE provides outstanding performance and value. Users requiring isolation or maximum bass impact should consider closed-back alternatives, but for most applications, these headphones excel.

Where to Buy

The Sennheiser HD 599 SE is widely available through major retailers, online marketplaces, and audio specialty stores. Amazon pricing typically offers the best value with frequent sales that bring the price below $90. Official Sennheiser dealers provide warranty support and authentic products, while audio specialty retailers offer expert advice and comparison opportunities.

Sales events throughout the year, particularly Black Friday and holiday seasons, often feature significant discounts on the HD 599 SE. Price tracking tools help identify optimal purchase timing for maximum savings. The headphones’ popularity ensures good availability and competitive pricing across multiple channels.

Warranty considerations favor purchasing from authorized dealers to ensure full manufacturer support. Return policies vary by retailer, making it important to understand exchange and return procedures before purchasing. Most reputable retailers offer 30-day return periods for headphone purchases.

Bundle deals sometimes include additional accessories or extended warranties that add value to the purchase. Refurbished units occasionally become available at reduced prices, though availability remains inconsistent and warranty coverage may be limited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the Sennheiser HD 599 SE require an amplifier to sound good?

The HD 599 SE features 50-ohm impedance and high sensitivity, making them easy to drive from most devices including smartphones, laptops, and tablets. While a dedicated headphone amplifier can provide benefits like improved dynamics and lower noise floor, it’s not necessary for good sound quality. Most users will find the volume and sound quality satisfactory when connected directly to their preferred audio sources.

What is the difference between HD 599 and HD 599 SE?

The only difference between these models is the color scheme. The HD 599 SE features a black and silver design while the regular HD 599 comes in ivory and brown. All specifications, included accessories, sound quality, and performance characteristics remain identical between both versions. Choose based on your aesthetic preferences as both offer the same exceptional audio experience.

Can I use the HD 599 SE for competitive gaming?

Yes, the HD 599 SE works excellently for competitive gaming due to their outstanding soundstage and precise imaging capabilities. The open-back design provides excellent positional audio for first-person shooters and other games where environmental cues matter. However, the sound leakage may be problematic in shared gaming spaces, and you’ll need a separate microphone for voice communication.

How long do the ear pads typically last before needing replacement?

The velour ear pads typically last 1-2 years with regular use before showing significant wear or compression. Replacement pads are readily available from Sennheiser and third-party manufacturers, making maintenance cost-effective. The ear pad replacement process is straightforward and doesn’t require special tools or technical expertise.

Are the HD 599 SE suitable for music production and mixing?

While the HD 599 SE offers good detail retrieval and balanced sound, they’re designed more for music enjoyment than critical studio work. The slightly warm sound signature may not provide the analytical accuracy required for professional mixing and mastering. However, they work well for basic content creation, podcasting, and casual audio editing where their comfortable fit and good sound quality prove beneficial.

Can I replace the cable if it gets damaged?

Yes, the HD 599 SE features detachable cables with 2.5mm locking connectors at the headphone end. Replacement cables are available from Sennheiser and various third-party manufacturers. This design feature significantly extends the headphones’ lifespan since cable damage is one of the most common failure points in headphones. The locking mechanism also prevents accidental disconnection during use.