Sennheiser HD650

Hey guys! Thanks for the awesome information on modding the HD650. That said, I believe I have something valuable to contribute to the mod list. A couple notes on mods I use and ones I tried but rejected:

I currently use:

-Removed back spider and back foam
-Dynamat damped back of driver
-Nickel sized coin hole mod in stock front foam
-Removed front spider
- Front felt ring mod that I will describe below

Rejected:

Shelf liner mod. The reason I rejected multiple versions (different types of liner and different cuts) of this mod is that while listening fatigue is reduced and bass presence increased slightly, on the whole, detail is smoothed over too much. Sounds just a tad smeared and bloated. I tried cutting sections out of parts of the shelf liner to reduce the negatives and keep the positives, but it still sounded just a little off.

Not so much a mod that I rejected but software. I was using Sonarworks with my HD650 because it really brought out the sub bass that wasn't quite there enough, even with my Schiit Jotunheim. The tradeoff with Sonarworks is that soundstage is reduced a little and the highs and mids become a little more laid back, which isn't necessarily bad, but to me it removes a little of the HD650 tonal magic. I was living with the tradeoffs, depending on the song, until I tried the felt mod below. The felt mod totally makes EQing for more bass unnecessary.

Here it is:


1. Take cheap square of felt (bought mine at Walmart for 40ish cents) and place flat on a table.
2.Take earpad off of the HD650. Press earpad on the felt and trace with a pen around the plastic that clips the earpads in. After this, give the earpads a good, even press against the felt. Remove the earpad.
3. Take the pen and trace the inner ring you've created by pressing the earpad into the felt.
4. Using an Xacto knife and cutting pad or just scissors, cut out the ring you have traced.
Place the ring on the front of the driver baffle, underneath the stock foam.
5.Place the stock foam back.
6.Press the earpads back on. You are done.

I love what this mod does to the sound. Much more substantial but still tight bass now with these out of my Jotunheim. Tonal balance is improved and highs also seem slightly smoother without becoming smeared or losing detail. It also seems to make imaging more striking and might change the soundstage a little. I think it focuses the sound on the center stage a bit.

Here is a pic of what the felt ring looks like before putting the foam and earpad over it:

 

I got some about a year ago. They are exactly the same as the stock ones.. in a chinese knockoff way. Seriously as good as stock to me anyway.

 

Are the mods better or more natural sounding than using eq? Specifically for the highs. I'm fairly happy with the bass response, but would appreciate a bit more treble extension or presence.

 

EQ tends to constrain the soundstage a bit. I do recommend the mods for "opening up" the sound of the headphones and adding clarity.

 

I always eq, so not sure if that matters in my situation.

 

Hmmm I am going to have to take back some of the praise of the felt ring mod. Makes the HD650 sound a bit too constrained compared to no felt ring. I will continued tinkering with materials and do more long term testing before before posting more suggestions lol.

 

I just read a post on HF. Dude bragging about his £5k sound system, name dropping, price dropping, and criticizing the "mid-fi £300" headphone.

I'm far from a headphone expert, but from what I've heard from this headphone, the only thing mid-fi is the price.

I haven't compared it to my Th900s yet, but from memory I think I prefer these, that's coming from a hard core basshead.

 

@Warrior, here's a @johnjen post about EQing with Sonarworks

 

Thanks bro, I will check that out. I've heard of Sonarworks, but haven't paid it much mind. I don't use my computers as a source, but I may give this a try at work. I love using eq, so looks like fun for me.

 

Did that dude happen to go by the name of GUTB?

 

So I should have both my ZDS and HD6XX by sometime in December... I think its safe to say SBAF has finally acclimated me.

I plan to start with the coin mod and rear foam mod then attempt the Dynamat mod after I see how the first two go. Is it worth listening to the HD650 stock at first or is it generally recommended to dive straight into modding?

 

Listen stock for a while. Then do the dampener mod as it is easily reversible. Then decide on the other two.

 

By damping mod you mean applying the Dynamat, correct?

I can't seem to find if this has already been asked before - my apologies if it has - but what exactly are the sonic differences between the coin mod and rear foam mod?

 

There are probably more mod impressions that are broken down. Here are a couple:

Hands - http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...ove-appreciation-thread.44/page-25#post-41055

Marvey - http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...ove-appreciation-thread.44/page-25#post-41045

 

I think @zonto gave you the best advice on how to proceed with the order of the mods.

I'm just focusing in on the last part of your question. I also think that it is worth listening to the HD650 stock first.

I had the HD650 for months before I read about the mods. I loved the sound of the stock HD650. Then read about the mods and decided to give them a try. I am very pleased with the results.

As far as the stock vs. the modded HD650. I have a pair of each. I find myself listening to the modded pair more often, but I also still enjoy the stock pair.

I think that I may be the only one that feels this way.

P.S.
dampener mod = Dynamat (or Damplifier Pro)

 

Personally, I'd leave the coin mod until the end (or not do it at all). A few people (myself included) found it was too forward/fatiguing after the other mods.

 

How viable is it to do without snipping the spider out? I've never been 100% sure about that (and why I haven't done it yet, was a bit bummed at not getting into the Massdrop for a spare pair to mod).

 

Completely doable - if you look at @zonto's post for example, then everything except the dynamat on the driver can be done without snipping the spider out. That's plenty enough to have a major effect. There are mixed views on covering the vent holes, but if you just stick to where @zonto did his you are certain to be good.

 

I'm definitely going to mod mine as I'd prefer some additional treble presence/extension. Still amazed at the sound of these. Of course I'd prefer more bass, but if I added more bass and treble, I'll be right back at my Th900s, which isn't the point. I may do mods to tighten the bass up as well. The mods seem easy enough. Might be a fun project too.

 

Asking all who did spider removal & driver dampening: Is it advisable with Jotun?

Right now, my HD650 is modded with Damplifier Pro & it sounds great. Perhaps treble is quite peaky (IOW the treble is subdued - typical 650 - but not quite smooth). Some said removing spider elevates treble. Again, my problem is peaky treble not emphasized treble.