Sennheiser HD650

The HM5 velour pads measured like ass on the 650 with or without foam and other front damping. Fatter low-mids, less bass extension, big dip in midrange, large lower treble spike, rougher treble overall. I didn't even bother listening after seeing that. Almost ruined one stock pad trying to make the HM5 pad work and didn't want to risk possibly screwing up the other stock pad too much.

 

Well, suit yourself. I only went to measurements first because I couldn't get the mounting ring off the stock pads without slightly destroying the stock pad, and those are pricey to replace. Was thankfully able to barely get the stock pad to work again. Only tested one pad.

I didn't save the results. The HM5 velour pads really screwed up the response...yes, that bad to warrant not saving measurements. Just went right back to stock pads. Of course, I'd be biased having seen measurements first (not the method I usually take), but I guarantee you I would not have liked it.

 

@Ice-man, have you thought about trying a set of cans, other than the 650s, that may be closer to what you are looking for in terms of punch and signature?

EDIT: also I agree with you in that old and new HD650s IME are not too different from eachother. Same with HD600 (HD580 inclusive).

 

Yes. I'm not sure I heard the SR007 mkI. I think I only heard the MKII, and it's my favorite stat.

Don't think I've ever heard an 007 with a KG amp other than with the BHSE and the Aristeus, of which I prefer the Aristeus.

I heard the SR009 with a DIY T2 and I though it was pretty good. I did not hear this rig next to the 007 + Aristeus rig. But I feel I would still prefer the 007 + Aristeus rig.

I feel an 007 and an HD6x0 rig are somewhat different sounding. Each with it's own character. I do not think they are upgrades from eachother, regardless of price and technology. They each have their signatures and characteristics. I have more experiense with HD6x0s, and find their tone and mid-bass to treble pretty good. Distortion-wise one cannot complain about it much in those regions. But bass is indeed not the HD6x0 greatest strength.

It would definitively be interesting to see a stat that had the HD6x0 tone, and was not north of $30k. I believe such a thing is possible. But somehow, at the < $500 price point, all I see are Lambdas and ESP950s when on sale, all of which give me fit issues and whose signature I do not prefer perhaps partially due to said fit issues.

All in all, I would love to see a can that would provide all the benefits of an HD6x0, but with better bass quality and perhaps even better tone. At reasonable prices of course. I don't really care about which technology it uses.

 

Note that we are mainly dealing with headphones in this thread. But since the KGSShv was brought up, which is a "DIY" (not really) stat KG headphone amp I would like to point out that most folks here don't necessarily think KG amps are shit nor Stax products in general. This in light of what I read today here:

http://www.head-case.org/forums/topic/786-the-headcase-stax-thread/?page=419#comment-716869

I personally feel that Head-Amp electrostatic amps are pretty well build. And again, I find the Aristeus a great and often neglected amp. That said, I have yet to see a stat headphone amp that represents value other than the SRM-252S. KG, Cavalli, EC or whatever. It maybe due to volume and company philosophy. I really don't know.

As far as "group-think" and hostility, I'm not sure what to say. I have not met TMoney in person yet, but I disagree with him somewhat (BTW, I don't think he is banned, nor will be banned for his thoughts). I read all kinds of attacks to SBAF from HC people complaining about hostility: "Chang2.0", lack of "brain matter", "mindless morons" ... Now that I would call hostility. But who cares. Folks are free to think whatever they fancy.

Here I personally don't think Kevin and Birgir are morons, or lack brain matter. But they do tend to have very high opinion of their electrostatic stuff, and very low opinion on any other electrostatic amp stuff in general. And they are pretty vocal about it. IMO their stuff is not shit, but it is not value either (lets say $300 range). With all that in mind, saying you like KG amps here will not result in your banning. They are IMO not bad at all. Saying in HC that you like Cavalli amps may result in some pain however.

Regarding HD6x0, most folks around here know that I like them, and I believe The Merv, OJSimpson, Hands, and many other folks like them. Are they the bestests in all departments? No. But they are IMO quite good, and bestest all around for me, and they are indeed not $4k. I don't like Beyer cans. But there are folks here that like them and they don't get hazed for that.

 

I guess there goes the mindless "group-think" theory.

Possible there are differences. But the HD650s I heard so far sounded similar to me.

Tode's HD650 had an issue (one driver was not properly seating in it's slot) that made it sound fairly different, but once that was fixed, it sounded similar-ish. Not going to say things are not different though. I likely did not hear the exact same cans Atomicbob heard.

 

Having owned the 007 mk1 and KGSSHV, I'd take my HD600 out of a ZDS.

 

I think HD6X0 are bestest around even if not perfect.

 

LOL! I should have said they (HD6x0) are not bestest in all departments (corrected my post above), but are bestest all around for me.

Obviously, folks that feel the 007 or the 009 are headphone's sonic "Mount Everest" will not agree. But who cares. Enjoy what you like.