Sennheiser Massdrop HD6XX Afternoon Yak Devolved into Shitposts

From Nov 2014 to Dec 2015 Massdrop was the top seller of AKG headphones in the United States with three SKUs (K553, K7XX Blk, K7XX Red). I find your lack of faith disturbing : )

edit: english

 

I liked how massdrop changed he300 to he350 in terms of ergonomics (headband changes).
Really hope them to similarly try for hd600 or hd650!

 

@Will , AKG and Senheiser are a totally different story. Not even worth the gloat in the context imho. Also, have some faith in your consumers and slow down on the marketing, yuck.

 

Perfect timing! Just sold my K7XX and was going to meet someone to hear their HD650D again (and possibly buy it) sometime this weekend or next week.

It all depends on pricing now! Also, a better color would be awesome

 

I've been gazing into my crystal ball long enough to make some wild guesses about these new HD6XX.

They will be satin black.

Based on HD650 (I have been picturing them based on HD650, but I don't really know why. Could be HD600 for all I know. But, I will go with the HD650 in this list of "predictions".)

The headband looks like it is shaped a little differently than we are used to. Maybe reduce the brightness/change the color (gray?) of the Sennheiser logo on the headband to blend a bit with the black. Could even make the headband all black with something similar to the HD800/S on top.

Do something "special" with the cable. Maybe terminated in balanced XLR with a couple of short cables - Female XLR to 1/4" and 1/8". Maybe do something less than that, but still something to make them different than stock in order to list it as a feature.

Replace the silver with black HD650 logos on the headband to black with gray or white HD6XX. (I'd like to see them use the flat print type logo like on the original HD580. But I am trying to not do a personal wish list here.)

Market them as a special edition at a good price (but not a really low price). Maybe higher than Amazon has been selling these, if they look better, maybe sound a little different and the SE thing.

Maybe some mild tuning: Dampening to the back. Something like a coin mod, but with some more acoustically transparent material covering the hole area.

Maybe change the grilles just a bit, because that would easily set the look apart from stock.

Made in Ireland. (Sennheiser is a privately owned company and does not have to squeeze every last penny of profit out of their products.)

Spoiler: Disclaimer

Of course, I don't know what I am talking about. Just having some fun imagining.

 

I was thinking about this. I think the easiest way to replicate the coin mod would be to just change the overall thickness/porosity/acoustic transparency of the front foam. Should end up giving off the same effect, rather than try something more complex

Ofc, I'm just an armchair "expert" in this field

 

That crossed my mind. Then I thought about the reports of bad sound when the front foam is completely removed. So if one piece of foam is used it seems like it would have to have varying acoustical transparency. I thought maybe two layers would end up being simpler.

I am just speculating.

 

Goddamn f**k this and f**k me I just bought HD650 a week ago

 

Very rare to see anguish expressed over getting the 650 ! Mate, try the mods out and you will have no angst over your purchase.

 

Still selling that T3?

edit - sorry for the mild troll there, but still...

 

I didn't feel any regrets. My wallet is just screaming that I have to buy this

 

Shipping status and serial number when available plz

 

Ok, assuming the price isn't stupid, I might be about to make my first Massdrop purchase. I love my stock 650s out of my Jot, but am open to whatever weird buggery that Massdrop have performed.

I'm with @Huxleigh, thinking it's a day one purchase, unless they do something stupid like make the cable non-removable.

Hell, if it's not impressive, I can see a brutal modding thread spawning.

 

Considering the fact that the HD650 (if that what Massdrop offers) is $333.00 on Amazon Brand new, I am curious to see what the lowest unlocked price is.

One thing I learned the hard way, was selling my HD650's - I really miss them.

 

Lessons that I have seen people learn around here include "don't sell your HD650" and "don't sell your Vali 2". While there are more expensive and fancy options, you'll miss either when they aren't sitting on your desk.

I'm more relaxed about a second 650 for modding, if it comes it it, though- been threatening to do that for ages.

 

Well I wouldn't complain if someone gave me a used pair

 

Well f**k me.....I thought this thread was a joke!

Surprised that the 70 year old headphone company needs Massdrop to give them a kick up the ass to basically print money.

Please guys do what's right, higher quality materials, deeper, more defined bass etc etc, just refine an already great product and we will make this the biggest audio related drop ever...

 

This will either be meh or the best value in audiophilia. Hope for the latter!

 

Had a few more thoughts this morning:

• No reason to think these won't be made in Ireland.
  • Current production/parts are already there.
  • Moving production to China would likely cost more money.
  • This isn't the same situation as with AKG and the K7XX because AKG had already moved production of the revised K702 from Austria to China.
• No reason to think there will be extra pads. Just one set of the same pads.
• A driver retool is possible, but in my opinion not likely. Cost vs. benefit.
  • If they did, it may be to add a little treble presence to the HD650 (more like HD600) or to cut some of the slight midrange peak of the HD600 (more like HD650).
  • Would be surprised if subbass performance changed much. Heaven help us if they made a closed HD6x0.
• Different headband color is probably a given. Assuming black out.
  • Leather is wishful thinking, but would be amazing. Headband is known for chipped paint over the long haul.
• I hope that the sound quality tweaks go into damping the enclosure/baffle and lollipop.
  • This is feasible. Second Skin and other manufacturers have damping coatings that can be applied. (example)
  • As an extra step in production, the main baffle could be coated in something like this and after a drip/dry not look much different than the plastic now. Increased size post-dampening may cause parts to not connect properly though.
  • On a phone call earlier this year, Second Skin told me that at least one headphone manufacturer uses their products for dampening. They didn't say who or what product. Doubt it was Sennheiser given the call timing, but who knows.
• Changes to front foam or spider are unlikely.
  • Hassle with dust and debris outweigh from their perspective. Warranty.
  • Changing foam pad thickness increases cost and is unlikely.
• May see tweaks to rear foam as we have already seen variation there (I.e., two vs. three discs).
• Hope balanced cable is happening. Stock HD650 cable and factory-reterminated-to-4-pin-XLR HD650 cable. Or XLR adapter mentioned before. Not sure which would be cheaper. If the latter, they'd also need to redo the 1/8" adapter or not include one. I'm hoping for a 4m cable.

 

I suppose that I had the same reaction as most here....damn it to hell. There is no way that I can resist whatever is announced tomorrow. Just no way. My personal list of hd6x0 tweaks I'd appreciate:

*bring on the freakin' wood cups!! Massdrop does have experience with wood, right? (insert your own joke here)

*balanced cable...f**k no. Look at that cheap piece of shit that is the ch800 s. Most overpriced piece of crap I've used since I've been in the hobby. There are lot's of very nice balanced cable options.

*Color...hmm. The dark pearl grey color already looks pretty good to me. I guess that black (matte) would be nice. But NOT glossy, for the love of all that is holy...please just no. AND no color coded matching, ie red cable and headband pad.

*Pads can make a substantial difference as we all know. I would certainly be interested in new pads or alt pads. Take the he60 pads are slap them on here and I'd buy this until my cc is canceled.

Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile."