UK HD650 appreciation mini meet

Discussion in 'The Meeting Place' started by m17xr2b, Jun 4, 2018.

?

When to meet this June?

  1. 9/10

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  2. 16/17

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  3. 23/24

    4 vote(s)
    80.0%
  1. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    Got my gear in order but I decided to change the theme of the meet from the original post

    As my love for the HD650 knows no bounds I want to share it with you guys. I promise you this is the best that the HD650 can be and for my tastes the best headphone
    I have two moded HD650 to prove there are two revisions as they sound quite different from one another.
    Any extra gear is still very welcomed but not necessary.
    Friends and contributes welcomed, no randos.
    Must like cats. Cats liking you is optional.

    This is still the same meeting but I want the HD650 to be the main focus. Most likley I will get rid of the TV to have more space for gear.

    [​IMG]

    There is also a very good chance I will sell the Yggdrasil and LG after the meet if you want to hear them first.

    Here is the confirmed gear so far:
    Amps:
    DNA Stratus
    DNA Stellaris
    Apex Teton
    Cavali Liquid Glass with BGRP

    Dacs:
    Yggdrasil A2
    Metrum Pavane Lvl2

    HP:
    HD650M V1
    HD650M V2
    HD800SDR hardwire
    AKG K1000 bass heavy
    Grado PS1
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2018
  2. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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  3. pedalhead

    pedalhead Friend

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    Sorry mate, I'm flat out for June weekends now so won't be able to make it. Nice load of gear in that picture!
     
  4. saint.panda

    saint.panda Friend

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    Can bring Grado PS-1 if June 23. 90% likely, but will depend on whether I can route a business trip through London. Alternatively could bring ZMF Atticus if it's returned to me by then from loaner. But I think PS-1 is the more interesting headphone (the bass on that headphone..).
     
  5. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    I voted for 23/24th. I'm arriving in London on 22nd, though, and do feel a certain wish/obligation to spend that first weekend with my hostess.
     
  6. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    Looks like there's a good chance the Stellaris will arrive just in time for the meet.
     
  7. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    Date set for the 23rd. Those that want to attend pm me for details.
     
  8. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    I don't think I can make it but... remind me whereabouts you are?
     
  9. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    Basingstoke
     
  10. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    DNA Stellaris and Grado PS1 will also be available.
     
  11. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    Finished setting up everything. Eager to hear my first Grado.
    This most likley is the peak of my madness in this hobby. Never imagined I would have so much fine gear. See you tomorrow.

    [​IMG]
     
  12. pedalhead

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    Hope you have fun, chaps! Looks like a great setup :)
     
  13. saint.panda

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    Thanks again for hosting, great opportunity to listen to all that great gear. Quick impressions:

    Pavane vs. Yggdrasil A2: Using Stellaris, I slightly preferred the Pavane. More natural attack on notes and possibly slightly better depth, less fatiguing to listen to. Minute differences though and not enough reason for me to sell my Yggdrasil.

    HD800: hardwired, modded and with darker input tubes on Stellaris, quite impressive. Still prefer HD650.

    HD650 bass light (newer version) vs. bass heavy (older version): differences quite audible. I prefer the bass heavy version, maybe because that's what I'm using myself. Both 650M.

    Stellaris vs. Apex Teton vs. Liquid Glass: Using mainly Pavane as source, Stellaris wins. Difference between Stellaris and Teton smaller than between Teton and Liquid Glass. I'll be keeping my Stellaris order. Incredible transparency coupled with a nice inner bloom and great 3D staging.
     
  14. Donald North

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    Is there an approximate serial number range to distinguish when it transitioned from bass heavy to bass light?
     
  15. mrflibble

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    Many thanks to @m17xr2b and his cats for hosting the HD650 mini meet. A shame not more people could make it.

    I much prefered the Stellaris to the Teton Apex. The Stellaris had better body, whereas the Apex was a bit dull, flat, and less lively in comparison.

    At the end of the meet I had a quick listen to the Liquid Glass with the Millard tubes and stock HD6XX. Listening to my favourite Turrican orchestral music was such a pleasure on this amp, very holographic and very liquid (as the name of the amp would suggest).

    Preferred the stock HD6XX to the modded HD650's, but I think this was down to the pads on the modded headphones being worn / flatter and the fit not being so snug (I have a narrow head).

    The modded HD800 impressed me. I think its brighter character would make it a nice alternative to the darker sounding HD650. May be one day, when funds allow, I will pick up one second hand and mod it. Or maybe lookout for HD540, which reputedly has a similar sound signature.

    On another day I would have liked to have spent more time listening to the Liquid Glass. And would have liked to listen to the modded HD800 a bit more as well. But, unfortunately, I have been unwell recently and was feeling very tired today.

    Sorry that I can not be more insightful with my impressions, but having the opportunity to listen to so many great pieces of equipment in a short period of time was a bit overwhelming for me :)
     
  16. saint.panda

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    Sorry, don't know. @m17xr2b mentioned something about different packaging.
     
  17. m17xr2b

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    Two years ago I bought a new HD650 in the black box with a high res on it. That pair to me sounds airier and more natural. The second pair is a in new condition but old style silver box. Same mod applied to it, bass it fuller while maintaining the same level of control, and it has a slightly different character to to the treble, a bit more aggressive.

    I've also heard something similar at Negura's place with different year HD650. I don't know if this is a fluke, unicorn or if there's been a revision I'm not aware of.
     
  18. Type35

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    So bummed I couldn't make it to the meet. Looks like you guys had a lot of fun.
    You can find the version of the Sennheiser headphones you have printed on the box.
    The latest revision for HD600 and HD650 that I am aware of is 20140120REV01.
    It could also be the version of the packaging itself (I don't have a definitive answer on that one).
    Till also showed when Sennheiser changed internal front damping from black to silver grids.
     

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