Sennheiser HD650

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

  1. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    There were other cans, SennGrados, that I didn't listen but measured and will post about them later.
     
  2. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    Man, you do give me new things to do.... Now I need to do the 007mk1+KGSShv comparo to the HD 650+ZDS...Thanks Ravi.
     
  3. KurtSvensson

    KurtSvensson Friend

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    What the hell kind of mod is that? It surely can't be the SBAF ones. All the treble just disappeared into a freaking hole.
     
  4. chakku

    chakku Friend

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    Maybe they were aiming for the EL-8 sound
     
  5. KurtSvensson

    KurtSvensson Friend

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    Yes of course:sail:, and while we are aiming at the best possible FR curves in audio I might add that this is the curve I'm trying to achieve with my HD800.:)
     

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  6. daytripper

    daytripper Friend

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    Still enjoy my stock HD650s too much to even think about modding:cool:. I have done very similar mods (to what I've seen posted here at SBAF) on a FA-003 clone with good results to my ears. Don't have any gear for measurements.
     
  7. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    LOL! I dunno. Folks have different targets in mind. I think the goal of the mod was to improve on bass distortion. Because of meet conditions I was not able to verify this.
     
  8. PerfectAnalog

    PerfectAnalog Acquaintance

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    Is there an official SBAF mod for HD650?

    I'm thoroughly enjoying mine. I wish they were a bit faster, but I don't think I'll get that unless I jump to something much more expensive.

    I would like leather ear cups. I am NOT a fan of the plastic band. I'd happily pay an extra $50 for a better band (Big Head). Looks be damned. The HE1000 is super comfy, despite its cringeworthy look.
     
  9. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    Ravi:

    I've been doing the comparo between the HD 650 and the 007mk1 the last few days (same amps as you have listed). To me, there's no clear-cut winner. The 650 I own is definitely more veiled though. I need to do the quarter mod at a minimum.
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Don't say that. Because you yourself and @ultrabike happen to prefer that combo, SuperBAF will be accused of groupthink; and those who lack confidence with their own choices will accuse me of leading sheep and lemmings.
     
  11. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    Marv,

    I actually prefer zero saying this because it actually helps (me anyway) to really decide on items to keep. Not that I can resell stuff in India :cool:. I misread the 600 in zero's post as 650 (since this is a 650 thread) and spent more quality time with it than I can remember. One good outcome is to overcome my hesitancy to mod anything and do the quarter mod. Now I need to switch HPs to the 600 (which I prefer to the 650).
     
  12. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    Modding the HD650 is absolutely necessary to get the best out of it. Overcome your fears of modding like I did, and you will never go back (not that you'll want to anyway). Before modding anything I understood why some people would prefer the HD600 over HD650. After modding the HD650, however, I have a good feeling you'll take back what you said about HD600.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Pretty much. I won't listen to stock HD650s FWIW.
     
  14. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    We might have different tastes :) I actually prefer the 600 to the 650. I find the 600 to excel in some technical areas while still sounding excellent tonally. The HD650 is not my cup of tea tonally and seems a bit more veiled to me.

    The funny thing is people think we follow you blah blah. Honestly, I strongly disagree with a lot of your gear preferences. I like the 600 over the 650, I like the HD800, I dislike the jupiter, and I HATE that you love dark cans and thin ass amps (*cough* 445 *cough*). Hell, after two weeks, I can't come to love @CEE TEE's fitears either.

    It's funny, so many people in this hobby follow the big personalities and take their word as gospel. I've found that I don't care if you or CT don't agree with me, but I do like hearing your opinions on gear since I both respect your experience AND understand your tastes and perspective (plus you guys are my friends). All of us are secure in the things we like and don't really give a crap who agrees/disagrees with us. It's super rare to see people who are secure in what they enjoy in this hobby. Disagreements are treated as personal attacks and everyone has to violently argue that their gear is the best.
     
  15. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    We are on the same page on the 600 versus the 650 actually...
     
  16. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    I prefer stock HD 650 to the HD 600: the HD 600 has slightly shouty upper mids and emphasizes metallic percussion slightly. I don't really have a reason to mod it other than clean up the bass a bit. I don't care that much to open it up though; the headphone is good enough. All I can do is f**k it up more in an attempt to boost the area around 11 khz. Removing the circular filter won't bring forward slightly recessed cymbals in mediocre mixes that are recessed on the 650.

    Everyone should read Solderdude's giant HD 650 mod guide at diyaudioheaven. Only damping the back of the headphone more and using thicker, AKG 240 foam in front had any real effect and even then it was only minor and on the order of 1-2 db at most changes. The HD 600 and HD 650 are so close now I don't see how anyone could like one and hate the other even if they have a preference as to which is better

    Finally I hate the HD 800. Even if someone fully modded away the 6khz resonance/spike completely while lowering the treble that prevents me from listening to it at a reasonable volume, I still wouldn't like the headphone that much due to the way the housing diffuses the sound. Sennheiser needs to stick their ring drivers in an HD 580/600/650/Orpheus type housing.
     
  17. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    Probably very few know this... But I'm an HD600 fan.

    There. Phew! Feels great to come out of the closet!

    EDIT: Seriously though, I do honestly like the HD600 cans. I would have gotten rid of them and find something else if I didn't. Therefore, I do not hesitate to recommend them unless it's obvious that someone is not looking for what they offer.
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2016
  18. cocolinho

    cocolinho Acquaintance

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    Yep, I fully agree. That's why I decided to let my HD600 go to buy (again) HD650.
    I bought new pads to my 2nd hand HD650 and I feel it makes a big difference. Actually I'm listening more HD650 to my HD800. Waiting to perform "french mod" on my HD800 though.
     
  19. Muse Wanderer

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    I have an HD800S paired with a Yggdrasil/Rag.
    I listen mostly to classical music and feel that compared to my Monitor Audio GX100 speakers fed by the same DAC/Amp combo the high strings are recessed.
    This is probably a result of the dip in the mids of the HD800S.

    I wrote about this on the HD800/S thread when I listened to a string trio that I had just heard live in the same venue the recording was produced. The violin was recessed compared to the viola and double bass. http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...he-hd800-hd800s-thread.206/page-26#post-28815

    I simply want to listen to music and forget about audio equipment.
    With my speaker system when positioned well I am completely entranced by whatever music I play, be it good old Wolfgang or badass Wagner.

    Equalisation may be another option but it may reduce fideliti. The HD800S was a step in the right direction from the HD800 but it still feels unnatural at times.

    It looks like the HD600 or HD650 is a valid option to complement the HD800S. I would rather not mod headphones unless the difference between modded HD650 and HD600 is worthwhile.

    In order to have complete neutrality and finally get lost in the music on headphones (rather than just speakers) would the HD600 be a better option compared to stock HD650? Or should I just equalise and forget about it?

    Edit: Spent a day listening to Wagner's Ring cycle conducted by Solti. The balance is difficult to perceive due to the wide dynamic range but feels just right. The voices and strings are nicely rendered but still recessed. It's not neutral but very enjoyable.

    It looks like the mastering is part of the problem with some other recordings I've tried (e.g. Mahler's 2nd symphony conducted by Klemperer).

    So the options I have is equalise or use something like the HD600 / HD650 whenever the mids are too recessed to be enjoyed.
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2016
  20. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

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    This. Ring drivers in the new Orpheus housing which is most likely a bigger and angled HD6x0 housing using the high-quality plastic used in the HD800 ( that's not to say that HD6x0 plastic isn't already miles ahead of the competition in terms of acoustics ). That's something I'd buy in an instant. However, the ring drivers will still boost the treble regardless of housing. Can @purrin post raw driver measurements of the HD800 from the old site?
     

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