Sennheiser HD650

@gixxerwimp I've since reverted back to stock KISS because the heightened sharpness didn't jive well with my preferred tastes, but I'll dig them out and show you in a sec..

I folded the bamboo circle into a taco and stuck that to the magnet using tiny balls of dynamat, then placed the foam disk (also in a taco shape) directly on top of the cotton. The taco stack extends to the headphone cup, which sandwiches everything in place.

All that fuzzy stuff is the bamboo shedding, so you have to be extra careful not getting any of it into the driver.
Here's an album because big camera pics: http://imgur.com/a/ZmG5z

 

@Yeskey Thanks for the pics. Maybe I missed it but what exactly is "fully inserted" and "halfway Inserted"? Assume this is how far you're pushing the cotton into the magnet orifice.

Also, have you done the coin mod (forgot if you mentioned that previously? Just want to get a full baseline of your mod for comparison. I'm finding mine a bit too forward and the vocals slightly shouty on some tracks and regret doing it on mine, though I do like the increased air it gives.

 

@gixxerwimp No coin with my current KISS mod because I feel the treble is in the right spot w/ the Jot. My methodology for "full" and "half" insertion involves using the length of the headphone connector to push the material into the magnet hole.

Full insertion is applying force on both sides of the foam/cotton material, and half insertion is applying force on one side. My stock kiss mod is typically full insertion.
Incoming more camera pics + explanation: http://imgur.com/a/KuxeV

 

Bijou came in today. Not the largest soundstage but highly detailed & engaging.

 

Good review. I give it a 9 out of 11 stars.

 

I got my HD650 yesterday after a year of playing around in the mid-fi wasteland.

My God.

This is the most realistic representation of jazz I've ever heard, and I'm running them out of my phone! This is such a fantastic headphone, thank you SBAF for convincing me I needed one.

I can't wait to hear this bad boy out of a proper setup.

 

I had a similar experience. Depending on your budget and needs go for Fulla 2, Jotunheim + Moby or GO2A.

 

@JoshMorr is graciously loaning me his Fulla 2 for a little bit while i figure that out.

@OJneg (rip) is loaning me his gamma2 so I think my DAC situation is sorted, also.

At this point I'm thinking I'd like to build a Jonokuchi as its a cheap SET tube amp and that seems fun. I've had the hankering for some DIY for a while.

Did I mention I love how awesome this community is? So many people helping me out and loaning me things.

 

My HD650 looks pretty funny, at this rate I don't know if it's worth it to perform mod on this or not

Spoiler

 

Looks like you have a nice HD650 to compare silver vs. black baffle sound with a mono recording and balance control.

If you keep the modding material black, it is pretty discreet looking. DamplifierPro or black tape over the Dynamat.

Spoiler: Ninja Disappear © (All rights rights reserved Zonto)

My example is with flash from my phone. It looks less noticeable in normal lighting.

 

A Valhalla 2 will make you feel like you are sitting in with the musicians. @fraggler has one up for sale with a good set of tubes.

 

I second the Valhalla 2. Great amp and I live the pairing with my HD650.

 

It sounds like you've settled in quite well with your amp and DAC, really nice to see.

 

Most of the time I don't notice whether they sound different or not but there were times I noticed one side felt bassier(?) than the other. Could be the recording though.

Welp, I got it for dirt cheap so I guess I could try tweaking it next month when I have free time.
But yeah you gave me good idea. I could cover the grill with some black thin screen and that wouldn't be noticeable (except if someone takes off the pads).

 

I was sort of half joking. Most say that the black baffle HD650 sound darker than the silver baffle HD650. Some suspect that it is more likely pad wear that is causing the difference. Some have said it may be the driver difference causing a sonic change (yours look a bit different). When I saw yours, it made me think of that controversy. If I was not noticing a certain difference, I wouldn't worry about it myself (probably ).

I listen to my HD650M more than my HD650. But I still like listening to the stock HD650 a fair amount. I find the stock HD650 to be more forgiving of bad masterings for one thing. I waited until I picked up a second HD650 before I modded the other pair. I am in the minority here on finding that the stock HD650 has it's good points, though.

I would want to have that screen be something reversible in case it had a sonic effect. These headphones seem to respond to small changes. A silver baffle on one side and a black baffle on the other would never be seen at the same time so that would not get to me aesthetically. But that is me.

 

It's not an exact match, but this is reasonably close if you need to patch up a flaking HD650 headband:
http://www.nailpolishcanada.com/products/gunmetal-by-sally-hansen.html

edit: removed image because it was friggin huge

This one has slightly more blue and has some shimmer but not quite the same speckle/sparkle. It's hard to tell unless you're holding it under a light.

 

I decided to use the HD650M until I find the perfect high-end headphone (which might never happen). But honestly I could not imagine to pair it with high-end electronic. I got my first HD650 more than 13 years ago and still like it but imo it is nowhere near the modern high-end headphones. It sounds a bit veiled, even with coin mod and it sounds kinda grainy / distored, what I never experienced with other headphones. Still a pretty good headphone especially considering it's very low price but not on eye level with phones like hd800, audeze, stax, elear/utopia etc.. But the problem is, every high-end headphone still has it's weaknesses which are annoying for me. Like the HD800 sounds dry, lifeless and bright, Audeze sounds very realistic overall but are extremely uncomfortable, stax sound very agressive, Elear is not smooth enough in the highs and the bass sounds weired and all other high-end headphones ... just get it off the mind. So the HD650, for me, is the only acceptable headphone at the moment because it doesn't cost much and doesn't annoy you like other headphones.I still need to listen to the Utopia and Ether Flow what is nearly impossible in Germany at the moment.

 

IMHO one needs to perform the following to get the full benefit:
- Dynamat
- Foam Removal
- Coin Mod
- Spider cage removal

I was very skeptical of the HD650, included modded versions, until I heard this combination of mods. No veil to me, and I like grado and beyerdynamic signatures

 

Ironically, you won't hear what the headphone is capable of if you don't pair it with "high-end electronics".

If you are setting the volume to the bass level, it may sound veiled to you. At which point, KISS mod to reduce the mid-bass. Also, you might need new pads.

 

Can you use different dampning other then Dynamat? I dont really have any available...