Sennheiser hd 598
We typically scoff and prepare for the worst whenever we see the word "audiophile" in the marketing for any headphone that we see cross our desks, because we've been exposed to some of the crazy things that people will buy simply because it's branded as such. That being said, the Sennheiser HD 598s are actually a very decent set of cans for home use. Their open backed ear cups allow for an open soundstage, and they are certainly easy on the eyes. Their pricetag is a little high, but their performance might be enough to justify the cost for some discerning audiophiles, as many shudders as that word may give us.
I’d always wanted a pair of HD650s or HD800s but at the time couldn’t swing it financially. I opted instead for these - the HD598s - which, on paper at least, looked like a very viable alternative at a fraction of the price. sound quality is very important to me, and I have an exceptional audio system which will bring out the best and the worst in both music and audio gear
The headphones are very well packed. In the box you get a couple of cables and a screw-on quarter inch adapter. Build quality is exceptional as you would expect from sennheiser; and they’re certainly very comfortable, with plenty of soft plush padding.
The Sennheisers have an impedance curve that varies significantly with frequency. This is true of most headphones, but it's more pronounced with the HD598s. This means that you need a headphone output with low impedance to ensure the headphones sound their best. Most amplifiers and receivers, even expensive ones, skimp on the headphone output by using a cheap resistor circuit that results in a high impedance output
The problems start, however, when you plug them in. I left mine running in for a week, playing constantly via the headphone out of my preamp. Consequently they were run in for a period of roughly 168 hours, using various pieces of musical material including test tones of various frequencies, burn-in discs and many genres of music.
Right off the bat, I noticed a very forward, harsh mid range, coupled with a bright tremble and a distinct gap between the low end and the lower registers of the mid range. The 598s can do low end, but with the mids being so overpowering it’s something you rarely get to appreciate. They sound tinny and boxy, with a hint of the openness inherent with them being an open back design.
I couldn’t listen to them for long periods of time, and certainly didn’t enjoy listening to an album through them. Contrary to their advertising I did not feel like I had a front row seat at a concert; rather like i was listening to a cheap hi-fi system with a woollen hat covering my ears.
Fortunately, another week past before mine developed a dodgy connection in one of the cans and i was able to return them. 2 stars because they’re well made and come with a detachable cable and because, for the most part, I like the sennheiser brand. But these headphones were a major disappointment.
Windows Repair Toolbox
this a software created to help you repair a Windows system, by making the process faster, easier and uniform.
Features:
- Download and run "on-the-fly" the best free portable software when it comes to diagnose and solve several kinds of Windows problems. The tools are categorized by their function, and the program will automatically download the correct version for the Windows edition in which you're working. When you finish, simply uninstall the tool, and all downloaded software it's also removed.
Note: there are 3 tools that aren't portable, those are marked with an [ i ] (stands for "installer");
- Displays relevant information about the computer to be repaired: CPU temperature, name and % of use; amount of RAM installed on the system and % of use; amount of free space left in C:\ partition; Windows edition and install date.
- Allows you to perform quality assurance tests after the repair is complete;
- Allows you to save notes about the repair process;
- Provides 1-click access to some useful Windows tools (chkdsk, sfc, regedit, msconfig);
- "Unattended fix" option, automatically performs: malware removal, system cleaning and repair and disk defragmentation. A email letting you know that the automatic repair is complete, and containing the logs, can be sent to you.
-Provides you with a bundle of system optimizing tools
The program comes with a clean and well-structured interface that consists of multiple tabs featuring different functions that can repair, clean, test and improve the performance of your operating system. The main window enables you to preview and select the tool that can diagnose or correct processes, recover lost data, create backups or safely uninstall programs.-Despite the fact that they are neatly organized in categories, the app could have used a better function to provide more details about the software solutions that you are about to download and install. It is important to note that the applications you use via this tool are still bound to their respective licenses.
-Allows you to remove malware and test the files' integrity
The application also comes with several malware removal utensils that you can run in the eventuality that you suspect the slow responsiveness is due to a virus infection. Some of the tools that you can use to detect and remove malware include trustworthy names, such as Hitman Pro, ComboFix, Kaspersky or Microsoft Safety Scanner.-The Final Tests is a further noteworthy tab, as it enables you to verify the files' integrity and overall functionality of components and applications after cleaning and repairing them. Moreover, the app allows you to retrieve the product key for Window as well as email accounts from the Notes tab. Unfortunately, the functions are displayed as very tiny icons, which can make it hard for some users to notice they are even there.-A handy utility for maintaining your system clean
Windows Repair Toolbox provides you with a comprehensive bundle of applications that allow you to repair, update, clean and improve the performance of your operating system.
All 3rd-party tools you might download using Windows Repair Toolbox belong to their respective owners and authors, and are bound by their respective licences. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to determine if you have the rights to use those 3rd-party tools in whatever environment you use this software.
