Beauty that's more than skin deep
If your ears are golden but not your budget, Sennheiser's HD 598s should be at the top of your short list. These outstanding headphones can deliver a listening experience that's close to Sennheiser's own highly regarded HD 650s — a performance benchmark in the headphone world — for a fraction of the price. In our book, that makes 'em an audiophile bargain. They combine handsome good looks with high-gloss wood accents and an extra-comfortable fit. And their high-accuracy sound will bring you closer to the the heart and soul of your music.

Sophisticated design for exceptional sound
The '598s smooth and balanced sound is true to the original recording, without the sonic coloration that sometimes plagues other headphones. Sennheiser's advanced drivers and open-air design help eliminate distortion, superbly re-creating the dynamics and details of your music. The end result is a spaciousness and accuracy that will amaze you, and keep you listening far into the night.

So comfortable, all you'll feel is the music
Plush velour earcups gently cover your ears (even if you wear glasses) allowing you to enjoy long listening sessions in total comfort. The single-sided headphone cord is detachable, so you can easily untangle it. Plus, if the cord gets damaged, you can simply replace it rather than purchase a whole new pair of headphones.

From the review Comfortable acoustics: relaxing with the Sennheiser HD 598 headphones

"I thoroughly enjoyed the long listening sessions I had with the Sennheiser HD 598 headphones. Even after four or five hours, they felt just as comfortable as when I first put them on. Regardless of what genre of music I chose, the headphones reproduced the songs with fidelity and clarity. And for active listening, that's all I need."

— Ralph Graves, Crutchfield Blog Editor and A/V Writer