Need more bass than HD650, what do you like?

I bought the HD6XX and I dislike it. The AKG 7XX was also a disappointment for me. I prefer a thicker, bassier fun sound and I don't listen to much acoustic music nowadays so neutrality is irrelevant to me. They'll both be up for sale soon. I could keep my Sony MDR1A for a long time (and maybe I will) but the bass is somewhat boomy and I sometimes find myself wishing for more highs too.

So, those you who also dislike the HD650, which headphones do you like?

 

This is a bit of a crappy topic for a new thread, sounds like one for the general advice thread, honestly. However, you also might like to mention what the rest of your chain is, to give people some chance of knowing what you're talking about. "I don't listen to much acoustic music nowadays" is also vague the the point of being meaningless- do you exclusively listen to Grateful Dead soundboards? Skrillex? Anime soundtracks? When you say that you like "a thicker, bassier sound" are you really trying to express preferences abou attack? Extension? Are you preoccupied with sub or midbass in the FR balance? (etc. etc.)

 

Your chain is important, especially with the HD6xx (or HD600 or HD650)

But you might like the Fostex TH900 or TH600 or Fostex/Massdrop THxxx as a "bass lively" alternative. Keep in mind all of those options are mid-suck out by comparison...

 

What general advice thread? Search didn't return anything.

As for your questions, when I said bass I mainly mean quantity. I don't care about speed if I can't tell the kick drum in the mix. I'll give one example because it's a well knows band: SOAD. It simply sounds lifeless on these headphones.
I'm using them with the Bruce Bender OTL amp and AD Lalbs RD-25 DAC.

On a general note, I meant this as a general discussion for the ones that ended up not preferring the HD650/HD6XX. I'm curious what the ones that don't adhere to the consensus like.

So I've heard. How badly so though?

 

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?forums/leaderboard-overboard-gear-advice-and-deals.7/

 

Oh, it's in the lobby section. I thought that's for off-topic discussions. So maybe the mods will want to move the discussion there?

 

FYI, the Schiit Jotenheim really made the bass more lively on the HD650 for me. Now, it still might not be enough for your tastes. But if you can listen to one, I would highly suggest it before ditching you HD6xx...

...and yes the Fostex lack of mids was a total deal breaker for me. But that's just my tastes.

 

I live in Europe, it's harder to listen to Schiit products here.

 

I dislike the HD650 and decided to give up headphones all together. I find that real sounds like that of fingernails on a chalkboard or glass breaking to be far more engaging to listen too. We are all wasting our time chasing headphone nirvana when the answer is to let nothing get between your ears and the sounds of the real world.

On a more serious note I think you will get three general answers to your question around these parts...
1) "Your source is the issue, please tell us more about it so that we can help you"
2) "Try the HD600 on for size, if that doesn't do it for you there is nothing else better in the price range and you need to alter your expectations or move up to a TOTL HP"
3) "Please use the search function, this does not deserve it's own thread... etc."

The other posters have pretty much covered these angles but I thought I'd summarize them for you because I think you need the help.

You joined a long time ago so I'm surprised you haven't picked up on all of this already... spend more time reading and you'll find all the answers you need.

 

It remembered me one thing. Lows tend to bring this "presence" associated to "I hear something so these headphones are freaking good". Lows have this special that if you remove them, you look like a junky saying : "What the heck are these headphones a joke ? I didn't payed for that", you'll throw away these without noticing how detailed trebles or medium can be.
I would suggest that you follow all advises provided before but also that you give yourself the time for a "Lows's recalibration". Take it easy, go through the frustration of hearing less lows and start noticing other details in the music. If it doesn't work just go for the THx00 or Philips Fidelio X2 (lack of mid too but it's a matter of preference I would say, lows have warmth).

Note on Schiit in Europe : I'm also based in Europe but they have a retailer and you can order from it. Prices are a little bit more expensive though :
http://www.schiit-europe.com/index.php/?___store=schiiteng&___from_store=default

 

Yeah, I know. I was pretty reluctant about posting this because I know how it goes but I guess I'm naive

 

Same. The THX00 sounded weirdly hollow to me at the time. I'm getting a Jot soon, so I'll be able to comment on the pairing with HD6XX.

 

Also, modding them does kick the bass up a notch. I actually had to dial it back somewhat on mine while modding, as it was swamping the mids somewhat, and I like to hear most of the frequencies at once. Now they sound pretty good, and if I want some sort of stupid giant bass for specific music, I just punch it up with a couple of clicks in Sonarworks.

 

Sounds like the OP just wants more deep bass than the HD 650 can deliver. It does have limitations, after all. I would describe the sound as a bit thick at times (stock), which suggests they either need to let the pads break in more, or else they just desire even more warmth and low end. I don't think an amp will necessarily do enough in these areas.

 

This will save you money: Koss PortaPro.

 

I don't dislike the HD650, but I find it unexceptional. It is tuned beautifully, sure, but it's not the best performer in the two extremities of the frequency response, not to mention I also found its soundstage and comfort average (wish it had larger earpads).

Having said that, for someone like you who wants a deeper bass, first and firemost I would get a fostex headhpone, whether it's a Denon 2000, Fostex TH-X00, or TH-900.

 

More money than the HD650, obviously, but wouldn't the Focal Elear bring more bass to the party (relative to the HD650) with less mid-range suckout than the Fostex units?