HD 650 vs HD 700 Review

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by techboy, Mar 10, 2016.

  1. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    Genius!
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2016
  2. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

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    It doesn't take really trained ears to know from first listening that the HD700 took the worse parts of the HD650 and HD800 and put them together : the worse drivers from the HD6x0 (relative to the 800's drivers, still one of the best) and the enclosure from the HD800 (really good comfort and modern design elements, but somehow always manages to cause resonance ). The best combination theoreticaly would be the HD800 drivers put in a bigger HD650 enclosure with the glass plastic (more mass+less resonant material = less distortion+better csd). When you imagine it, it kinda looks a lot like the new Orpheus ;). I like to imagine that Sennheiser are working on the new 6x0 or 7x0 headphones with such a design, emphasis on the imagine :(. Maybe I should write a review about the HD650 to criticize what's lacking (design) instead of stating the obvious (sound quality).
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2016
  3. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    These are probably more fun though.
    gamesters2.jpg
     
  4. wnmnkh

    wnmnkh Friend

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    I kind of understand why manufacturers are keep making bright-sounding headphones when I see reviews like this.


    Anyway, for a long time HD700 was cheaper than HD650 in Amazon, which tells a lot about the headphones.
     
  5. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    For people who like that sort of thing ... it's the sort of thing they like ...
     
  6. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

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    Yeah, when people still write reviews like this, nothing's going to be changed for the better. It's like those people you know who are "beer lovers" yet drink stouts exclusively :mad:. I'm not going to praise the HD650 like the end-all-be-all of headphonedom since it has quite obvious flaws like slightly bloomy bass that does bleed into the mids somewhat or the ancient design with lack of notches for the adjustment (it's seriously annoying to have to pull out a tape measure every time I adjust that thing). But not just saying, STATING IN WRITING that going from the HD650 to HD700 is a bigger jump than going from the 598 to 650 ( more like suicide jump ) is simply a sin, especially considering this is SBAF where we have measurements stating exactly the opposite and the lack of experience with upstream gear of the author.
     
  7. Tyll Hertsens

    Tyll Hertsens Grandpappy of the hobby - Special Friend

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    The first thing to note is that the concha peak in response for the HD 600 is at 3.2kHz, which is just about perfect. The peak ing the HD 700 response is at 6kHz, which we know from the HD 800 is a really bad place to have it. Also note the HD 600 raw FR plot is much smoother looking 2-8kHz; less wiggly is almost always better.

    The initial 3-cycle ring of the HD 600 is probably not really ringing as we think of it. I think it's a natural cause of the 3kHz peak, possibly with a little undesirable phase shift in the resonance. I've seen this 3-cycle ring in a lot of headphones (Focal Spirit Pro, Skulcandy Aviators and numerous others. I think it's sort of like the ortho wall in that while it's not perfect, it doesn't produce an annoying result.

    Also look at the purity of the 3-cycle ring: it's very clean and sine wave looking. The HD 700 leading edge transient and following cycle looks not like a square wave, but more like spiky points. My experience is that misshapen, spiky looking 300Hz square wave and impulse response result in nasty listening.

    The HD 700 is shit in my book. Maybe not as bad as the T1 or K812, but it's in that group of ear bleeders.
     
  8. therealjay

    therealjay New

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    It's just hard to keep on your head for more then an hour. Makes it difficult to enjoy the things it does well.

    I feel like a potential HD 700s retune could be an awesome headphone but Senn doesn't seem to be in any hurry.
     
  9. Pyruvate

    Pyruvate Friend

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    Keep what on for more than an hour? The 650 or 700?

    The 650 is by far the most comfortable headphone I've had the pleasure in owning. Maybe because I'm used to the Audeze torture devices, but I can keep the 650s on forever.
     
  10. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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  11. TMoney

    TMoney Shits on SBAF over at Head-Case to be cool

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    Looks like my interpretation of the measurements was wrong on this one.

    Thanks to @purrin, @ultrabike and @Tyll Hertsens for pointing that out.

    You learn something new every day. ;)
     
  12. techboy

    techboy New

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    I would like a HD 700 level headphone with a FR like HD 600 at HD 700's current selling price. :D

    I liked HD 700's sound. But.

    They feel artificial. Apart from the vocals that is.

    They are way too bright. I'm unable to listen for longer than 10-15 mins or so at a time.

    That is why I prefer the HD 650 with Sonarworks. Not for their technical prowess.
     
  13. therealjay

    therealjay New

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    @Pyruvate

    I'm talking about the 700s. Just due to their sound not neccesarily the physical comfort. 650's are basically open pleasure cans in my opinion. Great for a long listening session.

    It's kind of funny though because physical comfort wise HD 700's are hard to beat. That's why I say a retune could probably make them into a decent headphone.
     
  14. techboy

    techboy New

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    Agreed!
     
  15. wnmnkh

    wnmnkh Friend

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    Please.... I am not even certain how you can say you 'like' the sound despite the fact that you cannot listen for longer than 10~15 mins. I mean you can't even listen to a average length CD album with HD700. Heck, you can't even listen to full-length of one side of vinyl.
     
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Star Trek TOS

    Morg: "givers of pain and delight"
    Kara: "Brain and brain, what is brain?"
     
  17. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    LOL! I learn something every minute. I was joking about that with a co-worker last week.

    As one learns (or re-learns) more, one refines one's own understanding of things. IMO, this is fun.
     
  18. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    Looks like we need to cook up a HD700 curve as well. Once, we buy enough samples, there's no telling if we'll be able to sell them.
     
  19. Tyll Hertsens

    Tyll Hertsens Grandpappy of the hobby - Special Friend

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    Just a little note: When you see these types of treble problems (3-8kHz) I think they usually come from the area very close to the driver---space between driver and grill,if any; the space between the driver and magnet; etc. These kinds of things, in my opinion, will be very hard to cure with DIY methods. Sennheiser can make a headphone that looks and feels a lot like the HD 700, but the area around the drive needs a complete redesign. IMO.
     
  20. Mikoss

    Mikoss Friend

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    I agree the 700's are shit, but I also don't enjoy using Sonarworks with the 650's... it seems to take away too much. What exactly do you EQ the 650's to? If you want a more neutral sound, I'd just go with the 600's, or actually physically mod the 650's. I just bought new pads, so I was going to try the coin mod on mine... but I also have hyperacusis, so I'm wary of more treble energy.
     

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