Sennheiser HD650 Love (Appreciation Thread)

This is probably an observation borne of a nice combination of alcohol and general "desire to draw conclusions", but there's a lack of input from the common big important names on the HD650 discontinuation thingamabob. I think It'd be fair to expect more commentary from the 'higher ups' so to speak if this just wasn't a mundane event- if they weren't already in on it that is.

So I guess time will tell, as they're either busy people with better things to do than contribute to the rumour mill, or they know something but can't talk about it for the time being.

 

Finlands largest electronics store Verkkokauppa.com seems to be able to get new stock from Sennheiser basically every week, new ones just arrived. I strongly doubt these are being discontinued, it´s an evergreen product like the HD-25 (sold for 25 years now!)

Even if they are replaced later this year, commercially it would make sense to first evaluate the reception for half a year or so. I would love to see a HD 750 though, the 700 is the most comfortable headphone I´ve ever used.

 

If the 650 stays available and they release an update that only does what the KISS mod does, it wont be worth it considering the 650 is now < $300 and the new one will be $499 or so. Thats one reason to discontinue the 650 (although i hope not, since they didnt do it with the 800)..

1. take idea from community, make new product at higher price
2. discontinue old one
3. ???
4. Profit!

 

I would want an HD750 with HD650's sound signature and HD700's technical capability. And make the bass linear down to 20 hz please.

 

Can't imagine a discontinuation with as much momentum as it currently has in the market.

 

Another data point: http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item...rade-Hi-Fi-Professional-Headphones-HD650.html. Authorized retailer. I emailed my sales guy there for more info.

Scary thing is they also say the same re: the HD600.

 

Maybe SBAF should consider allocating funds for a Strategic HD6X0 Reserve.

 

If the HD600/HD650 are discontinued, I hope Sennheiser continues making the spare parts.

Edit: Amazon is selling new HD650 for $300. The unusual part is "Usually ships within 1 to 2 months."

 

Still no input from those who may be more in the know. They're probably laughing, watching us squirm with fear and uncertainty ...

 

Maybe Massdrop used up their stock of HD650 drivers...

If they do make a new one hopefully it doesn't follow the exponential price increase of another headphone maker...

 

Even though Sennheiser might mark up the price for a new model, they have the reliability and quality to back it up. I'm more worried about new headphones losing what made the HD6x0 line special but after the HD700 (which unlike the HD6x0s and HD800s are not Axel Grell's preferred headphones according to his Massdrop interview) hopefully they have learned their lesson. Analog stuff, so it seems, is more tradeoffs than straight gains. I'm fine with gaining some weight, like going from about 250g right now to 330 like the HD800, if it results in gains in sound quality (stronger magnets, mass loading, etc)

 

I'd say it's plausible. At shows they seem to look weirdly at those asking for an HD6X0, and try to push Momentums instead. I'd say this is clear sign they don't want to lose HD800S "audiophile" sales to cheap HD6X0; and for the 300 bucks bracket the Momentums have better marketing mojo and is more geared towards the "general" populace... Not many companies keep manufacturing the same model for more than 15 years, even when it is and has been a big hit.

 

Perfection consists of doing the same "boring" thing again and again (ask the tennis pros who groove their forehands). All Sennheiser has to do is to continue to keep up the fantastic quality reproduction of the 6x0s. Our forum completes the rest (at a minimal cost) to get to a truly world class HP. Win-win !

 

This is a good analogy. But I would be one of many in line if Sennheiser could update the 650 with "better" materials, even if it meant a $200 or so price increase.

 

+1

Tune the SYS-40 driver on the HD 700 to match the frequency response of the stock HD 650 as much possible and I would gladly pay 600e for it. Should be possible to implement a similar gentle treble roll off with their acoustic absorbers and all. Everything else except the sound is already close to perfection in the current HD 700. Most comfortable headphone ever made by far in my experience.

 

Probably not news to most, but: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/5myhy6/confirmed_by_sennheiser_hd_650_is_not_being/

In short, Sennheiser USA support confirms HD 650 is not discontinued and there are no known imminent plans to do so.

 

Time to cancel orders at 18 different websites now...

 

I recently broke one of my hd650 drivers. I have bought a replacement driver at Sennheiser canada. so I now have one driver that is from 2007 and the other from 2015.

My measurements shows clear FR difference around 2-3khz between the 2015 and 2007 driver. and a slightly more deep dip at 5khz... Ill assume thats why both drivers dont measure exactly the same once modified?

EDIT:
the 2007 driver has written on it: 049785
the 2015 driver has written on it: 600129
I have two pairs of hd650, and my new pair of hd650 also has the drivers with 600129 serial number...
can anyone help here?
is the 2007 driver a genuine hd650 driver?

EDIT: Nevermind guys, I just ordered 2 more new hd650 capsule. im thinking of not removing the spider and foam but apply dynamat everywhere I can. and trim the original foam around the spider so I can put as much dynamat on the magnet as I can.

 

Just this week, I finally received my HD6XX, and immediately performed the foam removal and dynamat mods. Leaving the headphones to settle in overnight, but my initial impressions of these are very promising.

Kudos to everyone on SBAF who have in someway contributed to the resources available to perform the mod and document the associated sonic changes/improvments.

 

I have been a bit perplexed of late with my HD 650's! They sound wonderful but there seems a bit more overlaying grain and subtle smearing that I wondered if
it might have to do with resonance/vibration in the frame. I have damped them to hell and back...and front...all out damplifier pro done a bit thicker than most on this site. I prefer them with a bit more damping. I then damped the front of the cups with a combination of damplifier pro and dynamat extreme. I was out
of damplifier pro. This helped a bit more. I have foam diffraction on the edges of the cups and on the outer perimeter of my diy grilles. Which I like better than
stock. I have merrino wool on the back frame around the baffle area. Everything has improved the sound bit by bit. Oh yeah and paint brush foam dougnuts
around the back of the magnet. I have my own suspension which pulls the clamping tighter...which I also prefer. So what can I do. Luxury Liner mass loaded
vinyl sound barrier. Came with my Second Skin kit! Wrapped three pieces around the edge of the cups. Played with two, like three better! They are further
clamped with the small stretchable hair bands. I use these all over my headphones. They are part of my suspension clamping system, looks kinda similar to
what Luis does with the Slants. They are wrapped around the outside and clamp down on the Luxury Liner which is lightly tacked down with dynamat extreme
rubber goop. It required a lot of fiddling and is a bit weird...but hey who cares...the sound is what matters.

I have been accused of waxing lyrical so I will not. I will just tell you the limitations of the 650 are not the drivers. It is the frame. More mass and more damping bring out the true resolution and clarity of these beasties. Until you have thouroughly damped these babies and the std damplifier or dynamat
approach you have seen here does not fully do it. It just doesn't. There is more I assure you that you have not heard. Play with damping the outside
of the cup and even the connection point between the headband and the cup suspension. That also helps a bit. I had done that before doing this. This is
a bigger difference.

I dont know if damplifier or dynamat on the exterior cup would accomplish this. Maybe the Luxury liner is better. Not going to remove it...to complicated to install. Not really just required patience to get the hair bands to hold it all down and stay in place. A bit of selectively placed dynamatt rubber goop helped
at the risk of looking a bit kludged.

The grain and noise floor have dropped noticeable. Everything is more open and focused. More involving and lyrics and subtle nuances of beat, rythmn, and tempo are much more articulated. It is all just a matter of killing the resonance in the headband and suspension assembly.

Wow if someone made the whole assembly out of a carbon fiber molded ceramic who knows what these things might sound like with a properly acoustically inert material holding them on the head. Hmmm!

Don't have the money or resources but there are some remarkably inventive folk out there. Any Industrial designers out there who might consider doing this?

Results could be remarkable and perhaps even worth the cost! Oh well whats a poor audiophile to do? I will post pictures of my crude but surprisingly effective mod if anyone is really interested.

I don't do simple but I simply love better sound even if it requires some complication!

Happy Listening, Happy New Gear!

jgwtriode!