Sennheiser HD650

Went with that Venus Audio cable (on eBay) -- just a warning the headphone side connectors annoyingly like to pop out... I hot glued them in.

@SoupRKnowva, thanks for the neutrik XX suggestion, reworked my grados to balanced... so nice! And now have an extra adapter to go back to SE on the HD650's






As an aside, those grados sat around for 5 years unused, never liked them, until the Jot

 

my attempt on the 650. Sound is so far so good, (for my untrained ears at least) Material used is metal foil tapes (kudos to @Bill-P) instead of dynamat (dynamat is not availble in my region, unfortunately)

 

I've been too busy to report here, but I while ago I picked up a pair of HD 650, removed the rear spider and foam, and added dynamat. I got these to complement a very old pair of HD 600, but they have also almost entirely supplanted my LCD-3Cs as well. I'm running them balanced from Mjolnir 1 and Gungnir Multibit, which seems to work really well. The Audeze's only get used when I really miss the bass clarity that they have.

As to the difference before and after the modifications, I had read this whole thread and the one with distortion measurements, but I was still surprised much difference getting rid of a little foam and adding some heavy goo made. Bass is just way way tighter, and the treble is slightly more "lively". I'm a complete noob when it comes to verbalizing what I hear, so apologies.

One curiosity I encountered is that it took a few hours for the dynamat to settle in. Initially the sound was quite muffled and murky, but after 3-4 hours playing them while not listening, it had all tightened up. Makes me wonder if I didn't press the dynamat on firmly enough or something like that. Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

Huge thank you to SBAF for developing, measuring, documenting, and raising awareness of this modification! I had not done any modifications before, and can only encourage everyone who hasn't tried yet to take the plunge! It's really not difficult, and makes a massive improvement.

 

Just received my new 650s. Waiting on my Valhalla 2, but gave them a quick listen on my Cowon P1. Sounds pretty good. Can't wait for the amp to arrive.

 

I think you are going to be floored. The Valhalla 2 immerses you in the music. A good DAC completes the trifecta

 

Yes, that's the next step. Just not sure which one. Modi Multibit, gimby or Yggdrasil. Very difficult decision. Might just get the Modi Multibit because my girl and I are buying a 2nd home...trying to be financially responsible. Which never works. Lol

 

Anyone tried sorbothane instead of dynamat?

 

@Warrior, I learned the hard way that it's best to spend the most you can the first time around. I could have bought an Eddie Current, a Yggdrasil and f**k knows what else with all the money I wasted on half-hearted purchases.

 

I agree, which is why I was leaning towards the Yggdrasil. The Modi Multibit is cheap enough that I wouldn't feel bad. Plus, I can keep Yggdrasil at home, Modi Multibit in my office. Not buying two Yggys...at least I say that now.

Trying to listen to my headphones at work...f'ing people every minute. Can't eat lunch, can't do anything in peace. Listened to one song, which sounded great. Almost was able to enjoy it. Really good sounding...even out of my P1. I'm shocked at how good it is.

 

@Warrior, this continues to be my experience with these headphones - surprise at its ability to reveal as it scales with equipment upgrades. Listening to Time by Pink Floyd, I could hear in detail the whirring of clockwork mechanisms before the barrage of chiming and ringing - a real pisser!

 

I really can't wait until tomorrow. Valhalla 2 should really do nice. I'll try them with my mojo tonight, forgot my optical cable at home. If there isn't enough power, I'll hook up the Vorzuge portable amp that my friend let me borrow. Great little amp BTW.

 

@Warrior, Happy Listening!

 

Thanks bro!! I'll be home within the hour...then I can have a little play time before I help my girl with some work stuff. I've had a very stressful day, pounding headache. I hope I will be able to enjoy them tonight.

 

Damn, these are good. Finally home, relaxing. Using the Mojo and a Vorzuge Duo. Love what I'm hearing. Soundstage is quite good, especially when coming from iems. I don't use my Th900s that often. They are out in loan, but when I receive them I'll do some abing. The 650s seem very special though. Guess it's time to check out the mods. Hopefully I don't screw them up.

 

My new setup! ! !

 

@Warrior, very cool! Do try at least the Dynamat mod. If I can do it, anyone can do it. It will focus the bass nicely and it's easily reversible.

 

Definitely will brother. I'm going to try and research the mods this evening. Right now, at work and really enjoying the new setup. Sent most of employees home early, Friday and all. So, I have peace and quiet.

I'm extremely impressed with this setup. I don't have my fostex to compare, but like everyone else has stated these headphones are extremely engaging. I'm toe tapping and everything.

Right now using P1->Mojo->Valhalla 2. Absolutely incredible setup. Tubes have been heating up for approximately 3 hours or so. I definitely hear a difference between P1 to Valhalla opposed to P1 to Mojo to Valhalla. Seems to be clearer, possibly more separation with Mojo.

Can't wait to get a nice desktop dac. If it sounds better than the Mojo, I'm going to be extremely pleased. Treble extension is pretty good, mids are very smooth, and the bass hits fairly hard, but very tight and controlled. It's quite good. Considering my normal need for copious amounts of bass, I'm extremely happy.

 

@Warrior, look no further than @zonto's master compendium

 

Has anyone tried these generic earpads on their 600s or 650s?
https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-...qid=1478307258&sr=8-2&keywords=hd+650+earpads

 

No, I haven't, but there was a lot of pad swapping talked about here in earlier posts. The consensus is to stick to genuine pads although they are pricey.