Mid-range Open backed headphones

In my set-up the HD650 was heavily focused on the midbass and lower mids with roll off in both ends from there. I never liked them one bit. I know that you're a fan of the HD650, as are many here, but the tuning doesn't sound good to my ears. I tried my damndest to like them, but they never caught my ears.

I was never able to directly compare the R70x to the HD650 as I sold them ages ago, but the R70x sounds a little brighter to my ears than the HD600, a little more lively in the treble as well.

 

What's your setup? I wouldn't dare plug the HD 650 into anything warm or rolled off. Out of a Schiit Uber stack they're great. Out of random old "audiophile warm" receivers, they suck.

 

I had the Oppo HA-1 and a Schiit Magni+Modi stack at the time. Both having a bright edge to them in my experience. I also had the Woo Audio WA7 Fireflies at the time with the upgraded tube option. I liked it best out of the WA7, then again I liked the WA7 more than the HA1 and MM.

 

Of those you listed, I would choose the HD600. It is slightly less expensive, but it will probably require an amp. It sounds pretty good with a decent amp, and it sounds really good with a good amp. I can't say anything about the HD650 because I haven't heard it. The HE-400s would come in second probably, and you might not require much of an amp to start with. Again, I can't say much about the HE-400s specifically, but I do have the HE-400i and it requires EQ at the very least to be enjoyable (very bright). As far as the HD600 is concerned, it is pretty neutral so it will pick up the character of the amp. The only other things I would say about the HD600 is I don't have any problem with sibilance unlike the HE-400i and it is a little light on bass. It can still hit pretty hard with the right amp and song, but if you look at the frequency response graphs you will see that it rolls off on the bass end. The planar magnetic headphones seem to do a little better with bass impact generally speaking if that is your thing.

 

I would go with the HD600 myself. The 600 and the 400i I enjoy for different reasons, but the 600 is all around a better headphone for my personal tastes. Nothing I've really tried yet sounds as natural.

 

If you mean the HD650, the HD600's 3kHz behavior is a lot worse. The HD650 is more well rounded on either side of it and generally just smoother up top altogether.

 

I meant the AT R70x. I have HD 650s.

 

To the OP, I wouldn't get too caught up in the specifics of any individual frequency response graph. In fact, you will find various graphs here, Innerfidelity, headphone.com, goldenear.net, and etc. They all will be different, and they all typically use different methods to measure and report frequency responses. I look at frequency response graphs a lot too, but only to get a general idea of a headphone's performance and to see trends in performance. For instance, if you constantly see a dip or a spike in a range across multiple graphs from different sources then you can rely on that to probably be a consistent problem or good detail depending on your perspective. In addition, as I understand it (and I believe at least Tyll at Innerfidelity and I believe there might be others that have stated as such), as the frequencies increase the measurements are not nearly as reliable. In short, it probably becomes a bit more problematic to evaluate the treble frequency ranges as accurately as some would like.

 

I've been lucky enough to try out both the Sennheisers at the Mook festival, along with the HD800, Orpheus, AKG K1000, Audeze LCD 2/3 and Fostex THX-9000. Both the HD600 and HD650 are really splendid pieces and can really hold their weight up compared to the flagships. Thanks for all the help guys!
(Grado's didn't really do it for me, sounded unnaturally harsh)

 

wat

 

Sorry sorry Fostex TH900

 

Aw, here I was thinking I somehow missed a new Fostex.

 

My bad. The fostex is pretty damn gorgeous

 

hello,

MrsForBin really liked the X2's we are fortunate enough to be on the loaner tour for, so i pulled the trigger on a pair for her for the major December holiday when the Big River had their flash sale.

the earpads on hers are completely removable and NOT glued.

edit: and i think they sound pretty good too!

 

Ps the only amps I have now are a fiio E07K and a Sony PHA-1

 

Personally I'd take the K7XX over the HD650. Both have a slightly annoying coloration in the upper midrange/lower treble (rough and dry, repsectively) but I found the K7XX a bit less unpleasant sounding. The 650 resolves better, but still wasn't as enjoyable to me.