Sennheiser HD650 Love (Appreciation Thread)

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by purr1n, Sep 27, 2015.

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  1. Friday

    Friday Friend

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    The Mojo DAC is quite alright with the Valhalla 2 actually. @microCuts if your friend is considering getting one of those amps anyway, he might want to try the hd650 with them first before selling it.

    Edit: the Mojo is darker though (than the Bifrost Multibit at least) so that might further de-emphasise the details in the highs but unlikely to mask them entirely.
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2016
  2. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Let us know how you like it. As @Armaegis said, it's hard to beat the prices of cables from Chinese ebay sellers. They actually sent me 2 by mistake and I've been tempted to dissect the Y-join to see if there's a solder connection there, but I also want to hang onto it as a spare.
     
  3. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    While I have not yet heard the Mojo and, thus, can't speak on how it pairs with the HD650, it's possible you and your friend just prefer a brighter sound. Despite all the HD650 love around here, we'll still encourage each person to seek out what works best for them. Some become acclimated to other gear and end up preferring it, some need specific DAC/amp setups to make things sound to their tastes, and some just go a different path.
     
  4. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    I doubt an amplifier will fundamentally change the 650s if you don't, at least in some respects, enjoy their sound. You'll get farther going where you want to go if you do the mods, and save some money too. The 650s are extremely transparent and even with some very basic amplification are true to the source. They are the only headphones I can consistently listen to when my speakers are off. Most other HPs try to put you in a headlock of detail which, apart from being offputting, can only be tolerated for so long. It ain't natural. Could be you're looking for something else.


    On a side note, the 650s have been sublime fed by the velvety dynamic
    r a n g e
    of the spacedeck.
     
  5. Ryu

    Ryu Friend

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    What does this mean?
     
  6. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    @Ryu - just meant that I've really been enjoying the 650s on my turntable rig. Especially the records that have good dynamic range, it's a treat.
     
  7. Ryu

    Ryu Friend

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    I understand. I noticed the same thing when listening to my Chon records.
     
  8. BrettMatthews

    BrettMatthews Friend

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    Funny enough just above I was actually talking about this. At first I wasn't a fan of my HD650. I was driving it with my O2/ODAC and I was preferring my DT880 to it by a fair margin, I couldn't understand why it was so highly praised.

    Since then I have spent some more time with them, heard them on a couple tube amps, and bought a Schiit Lyr/ Bifrost. Let me say that my opinion has changed greatly! Initially the bass seemed really muddy and the mids recessed. But after giving it some time to burn in (about 100 hours), and a lot more time on my head (this might be the bigger factor)I much prefer the HD650 to my DT880's, I no longer have those complaints and am starting to find the DT880 more and more bright sounding.

    To be honest I haven't tried the HD650 back onto the O2/ODAC since getting the Schiit stack, but I still enjoy the DT880 with the O2/ODAC as my work/ travel setup. It seems that the HD650's just didn't have good synergy with the O2.

    I would definitely try the HD650's on a different amp (possibly a tube amp), and give it some more time to break in/ to get used to the sound. I think you will come around just like I have! But we do all have our own opinions on this stuff so in the end it could be that it is just not for you, but definitely give it a second chance before coming to a final decision, I know that I almost dismissed it too quickly and now I would have regretted that now.
     
  9. iDesign

    iDesign Almost "Made"

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    I would echo this as well. I feel the Chord Mojo is not the issue-- in fact its my experience that the Chord Mojo has a sound that is thin and it lacks low end with headphones like the HD 800 and HD 800 S. When you consider how the those characteristics would affect a dark headphone like the HD 650, its seems the listener prefers a brighter headphone in general.
     
  10. GettingBuckets

    GettingBuckets Almost "Made"

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    Different strokes for different folks. I'm pretty upper-mid to treble sensitive, so the couple of brighter headphones that I've had felt like someone was piercing my eardrums. Once I transitioned to the 650s, I knew I had a winner.
     
  11. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    First: Stay the f**k away of Woo amps for HD650. I thought a WA22 (supposedly better version of WA6) made even HD800 too warm and rolled off.

    I have K701 and two different era HD650 here to compare for now.
    While both AKG and HD650 are probably difficult from a portable amp like Mojo (never heard this one), the HD650 gains more from a proper amp than K(whatever). With half way decent amplifiers they're roughly equal for me in SQ, in most cases I'd still take HD650, as the AKG-s midrange is hard to stomach, despite the HD650 being dull and lifeless.

    With top shelf amp like EC 2A3 or Stratus: The AKG will ultimately still have larger headroom and have more clarity than HD650. If these are highest priorities, then I'd take HD800 :p.
    Macro-dynamics are comparable b/w HD650 and K701, maybe a hair in K701 favor, but micro-dynamics are so much better on HD650. The dynamics background is darker on HD650, no contest (LCD-2 is your benchmark here? your' in for a treat, when you amp the HD650 properly).
     
  12. microCuts

    microCuts Acquaintance

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    Thanks for all the kind comments here. Guess my Mojo cant drive the HD650 properly, a good amp is still required for the HD650 to scale well.
    I prefer brighter cans for more dynamics. However I enjoyed very much with my very dark LCD3 before as well. Thick and lush mids with sparkled highs, sold it due to its weight. If the HD650 can improve to the level of LCD2 then I am happy enough already.
    Anyway, I think I will settle with the ECP T3. Read that the designer built it based on HD650 & H800 specifically if I am not mistaken.

    Thank you all once again. You guys are great.
     
  13. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    You need a better amp to really hear what the HD 650 is capable of. Portable amps tend not to do it much justice (not counting the Grace M9XX or LH Labs V2 or whatever but those aren't recommend for various reasons). The Q701 is honky and brittle with audible mid-range distortion and the soundstage is artificially wide. Try the Asgard 2 or Valhalla 2 for a better amp to make the HD 650 open up a bit. Even on a Schiit M2U stack, the HD 650 are very quick with soundstage depth reflecting the recording.

    Or mod a used HD 800. You can get them for under 800 dollars.
     
  14. BrettMatthews

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    The one other headphone that might be worth trying is the HD600, you might find that the HD600 sound is a bit more suited to you. Either way make sure you try the HD650 properly amped before making any decisions, then if you find it too dark still maybe give the HD600 a go, can't hurt to give the HD600 a listen anyways though. I haven't heard the T3 but I hear it's quite good, might eventually end up building one for myself.
     
  15. Mikoss

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    The Q701 is voiced differently, so a comparison side by side with the 650 will probably reveal that AKG has more treble energy. Unfortunately, I doubt that changing the amp would give you the supposed improvements you're looking to hear.

    In my opinion, having owned a couple of AKGs including the K702, I've found the AKGs may sound "clearer" and the 650's "muffled" as well. Taking the comparison beyond a quick take is where things can change. I would say it may come down to overall preference, however the treble of the AKGs has a tendency to come across as quite dry. The overall top to bottom presentation balance of the 650's, and ability to resolve without sounding treble heavy is also something that kept me from holding onto the K702's. The 650's have the ability to sound more realistic/organic in tonality than AKGs; while at the same time, the "muffled" impression tends to disappear after spending a couple of days away from AKGs.

    Have you and your friend tried HD-600's? They may be a bit more in line with what you're looking to hear at the present time... a slightly illuminated treble, where the 650's tend to gracefully bow down. My recommendation is to try the 650's for a solid week, and/or modding them for a bit of clarity/dynamic weight. Ultimately, I will suggest that if you decide to go with the Q701's, you may find in a few years, your upgrade may take you to the 650's again. It somehow just tends to work that way sometimes.
     
  16. iDesign

    iDesign Almost "Made"

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    It seems Sennheiser still loves the HD 650-- they just issued this press release about a new HD 650 + Apogee Electronics USB-D/A amplifier bundle ($762.95). Although Sennheiser has previously shown the Apogee Grove, the HD 650 bundle is being launched today at Munich High End.

    For those that do not speak German you'll need to use Google Translate:
    de-de.sennheiser.com/news-perfekte-partner-fuer-hochaufloesende-audiodateien

    Link to Sennheiser USA product page:
    en-us.sennheiser.com/audiophile-headphones-high-end-hd-650
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2016
  17. Ryu

    Ryu Friend

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    I have to beg of you to try the HD650M on a well modded Bottlehead Crack+Speedball setup. I think it will change your mind after an hour of listening.
     
  18. Ryu

    Ryu Friend

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    Here is a link to the Apogee Groove. Looks like you can order the black one for $295.00 and what looks to be a gold or silver 30th anniversary edition for a whopping $595.00.
    http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/groove
    http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/groove/buy
     
  19. JoshMorr

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    While I mostly agree with this statement, where did this HD650M nonsense come from? Who put the M there and why? Can't we just say its a modded 650, and if people want they can continue to describe the mods they performed? This is not a new model of headphone, just a modded version. I havn't seen this on HD800's, HE-6's, HE-500's, AKG's, Stax etc.

    Sorry for the old man is grumpy and doesn't know what these fandangled kids are talking about rant.
     
  20. Ryu

    Ryu Friend

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    No problem. I am the young kid of the site and the answer to your question is I simply saw it mentioned a few times back and thought it fit well. I am just lazy and didn't feel like typing out "modded HD650". In my eyes, a modded HD650 is a completely new can compared to a stock HD650. After putting in the Dynamat, doing the Coin mod to the k240 foam and removing the foam from the back of the spider it simply feels and sounds like a new pair of headphones to me. I can sort of see the reasoning on why you don't like the naming convention but I see more pros than cons.
     

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