i bought the HD598 in 2012, (at that time my wife thought I went nuts spending $250 in a pair of headphones, wait until she finds out I have pre-ordered the H8xx coming in November, will let you know... if i am still alive, haha) i was aware of the shortcomings of the HD598 lack of sub-bass and poor soundstage, but boy, they are comfortable, for a guy like me, with very sensitive earlobes it is a blessing. i still used them for podcasts or casual music listening, I was not aware about the upper bass issue tough, they sounded balance to me, but i do not have the experience or clinical ears of Amir or many of the guys here, i am just an aficionado, or maybe the non-stock pads are the issue, i don't know. But Thanks Amir for the review.
What make me sad and mad is reading some of the comments here complaining about how Amir does his stuff, please stop, don't tell a guy how to spend his leisure time, and most specially if giving a valuable FREE service to this community, words like "misleading" "what is the point" "don't waste your time..check instead" are rude and coming from otherwise self-entitled people, i don't mind suggestions or polite petitions ; be better human beings people