Sennheiser HD650

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by Jeangenie, Sep 27, 2015.

  1. Cos

    Cos Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    45
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    New York, NY
    Sorry to change tack with a question. Anybody converted the standard Senn 650 cable to balanced recently? I am trying to figure out what wire goes where. Thought there was a link on changstar on how to do it but could not find it and did not have much luck finding a tutorial elsewhere.

    I guess the 2 orange wires from each channel are the ground (or negative) and the red and green are the hot (or positive) for right and left channels respectively. Found a diagram of the 4 pin connector but I a afraid I will mess it up. Appreciate any help!
     
  2. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    Red is R+ and Green is L+. Bare copper is the - for each channel. You need to melt the color coating to get to the bare copper for each if the + channels, a lighter or soldering iron will do the trick. I converted my stock cable to balanced and can confirm the color coding.
     
  3. Cos

    Cos Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    45
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    New York, NY
    Thank you very much! This thing is a pain to solder!
     
  4. Flatfi$h

    Flatfi$h New

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Vancouver, Canada
    Are the two orange wires identical in color? If so, how do you tell the right and left negative channels apart?
     
  5. No_One411

    No_One411 Fired by Jude

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    560
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Saratoga, CA
    Continuity testing from any multimeter will help.

    Also, the orange wires are respective to the Red (+) and Green (-) of each channel.
     
  6. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
    HD 650 bass is cleaner but the headphones only really start performing differently around 3 kHz or to my ears. It's been a few months since I ABed them but HD 650 stays slightly dark, HD 600 gets a tiny bit bright. If you use them out of tubes, warmed over, or rolled off gear ymmv of course.
     
  7. Prydz

    Prydz Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    210
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Norway
    Yeah it would be interesting to test a SS amp with them, which I unfortunaly do not have atm...
    Guess I should get a Mjolnir 2! lol
     
  8. Prydz

    Prydz Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    210
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Norway
    I put my Woo up for sale.
    Meier Corda Classic FF or Schiit Mjolnir 2?
    Or any other amplifier thats excellent for HD6XX?
     
  9. Omophorus

    Omophorus New

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2015
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    United States
    Not the most expensive amp in the world, but I am absolutely loving how the Valhalla 2 pairs with HD600s, and I imagine it'd play nice with 650s as well (haven't heard the combo, don't want to talk out my ass). Worth trying, at least, if the opportunity presents itself.

    Smooths the treble just a bit (not really laid back, just not hard/etched), and has great bass character (well controlled, punchy, and plentiful without being overwhelming). Might be a little too laid back with 650s, but at least to my ears it's very nearly perfect in tonality and balance with 600s.

    If I listened to more EDM, I'd probably still be looking at other headphones and amps, but for an "all 'rounder" setup, I can't really find any faults.
     
  10. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYC
    The Valhalla 2 isn't laid back with the HD650s or HD600s with stock tubes or Amperex Orange Globes. If you use the Telefunkens though, you'll get a more laid back sound. @jowls found that the preferred the Valhalla 2 over the Mjolnir 2 with the hd6xx.
     
  11. Prydz

    Prydz Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    210
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Norway
    Interesting!
    The Ragnarok is pretty good with HD650 tho?
    Atleast from what ive seen from Purrin's Ether impression
     
  12. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    805
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Ottawa, Canada
    Ragnarok is great with 650. I use this combo all the time. For best result get or make a balanced cable for the 650;balanced out is strongly preferred with Rag as the SE output is summed.
     
  13. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,495
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    42°S
    Mojo2 is a great amplifier. With Gungnir Multibit, I preferred if to Val2 for HD600 as it seems to smooth the treble and lift the low end. For HD650, which is my primary headphone, it takes this too far for me and everything became syrupy/slow. Val2 on the other hand just has this linear drive to it that keeps HD650's lows and highs a little more defined. A disclaimer here would be that HD650 is unmodded, Mojo2 was running stock tubes with very low hours and Val2 was running burned in 6N1P Gold Grids. LISST mitigated this to a certain extent, but it seemed a little lifeless and detracted from the overall engagement of both headphones for me. In the end Val2 did so well with my HD650 that I couldn't ignore the price differential with Mojo2 being 3x as much.

    A surprise for me recently has been hearing Liquid Carbon which has a really dynamic, engaging sound. I haven't had a lot of time on it but HD6x0 sounded great. It's a cliche but, apart from a touch of euphony, it really seems to 'get out of the way' and showcase whatever headphone you are driving with it. The spatial cues and nuances of Gungnir Multibit go to 11 too. Unfortunately, it is currently sold out as far as I know. Given its relatively modest price, I would be interested to know why LC only scores a G in the 'Best of 2015' awards...
     
    Last edited: Dec 28, 2015
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,777
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Your Woo WA6 SE is not bad. It's one of my favorite Woo amps. You may end up sidegrading.
     
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,777
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    To leave room for better amps like the Liquid Crimson. It should be a G+, but so such category exists. Also I feel that amps like the V281 are on par or slightly better (different sounding, but slightly better in terms of technicalities). The V281 is badly overpriced though.
     
  16. Prydz

    Prydz Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    210
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Norway
    Yeah I guess I could maybe do some tube exploring.
     
  17. PoochZag

    PoochZag The Shadow knows - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,272
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Boston
    Just got these today, brand new with that Amazon HD650 + $200 gifcard for $500 that's still active from the holiday sales. Black box inner and outer

    Any recommendations on loosening up the clamp? It's tighter than I expected, and unlike many other headphones, I don't feel comfortable bending this rigid plastic headband forcefully
     
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2016
  18. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Just wear it when you're sitting at your computer or something for an hour or two at a time and eventually it will be firm but comfortable. I've seen so enough weirdly bent HD 580/600/650 cans or people accidentally cracking the plastic on the headband that I don't believe in breaking them in except on your head. That's what I do with HD 25s. Sennheiser makes lightweight headphones that clamp; the opposite of Audeze.
     
  19. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Take off earpads. Extend cups all the way. Put them over something about 8-8.5" in width, and leave them for a few days.

    And/or extend cups all the way. Bend the exposed metal, not the plastic part of the headband itself.
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,777
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Pull out cups to expose metal band. Bend metal ever so slightly. Don't overbend.
     

Share This Page