HD 650 vs HD 700 Review

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by techboy, Mar 10, 2016.

  1. Ray

    Ray Friend

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    I had the entire hd series in house this past year. And I strongly felt the hd700 was the worst performer but quite a margin. Really don't know where senn. we're going with that. Definitely worse than t1 also. With a pad swap and tubes the t1's can be enjoyed.
     
  2. therealjay

    therealjay New

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    That's what makes me curious as well. You'd think if anyone knew what a good headphone would sound like it'd be Sennheiser. Just surprised the damn thing ever made it out the door.

    Then again there are a lot of expensive headphones that I'm surprised were ever released. In particular though bright piercing headphones just make me wonder.

    My assumption is that it must be seen as a good thing. I'd imagine there's an element that finds these 'detailed sounding'. Could be that that element exists within the manufacturers as well.
     
  3. techboy

    techboy New

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    I have updated the review on my blog. This is what I have added:

    BOTTOMLINE


    Go for the HD 700 if you want:



    More clarity, a clearer sound, a tighter sound, tighter bass, more treble, better transients and speed, better soundstage and a more airy sound, better comfort.


    Go for the HD 650 if you want:



    Most of the above (HD 700's strengths but just 90% of the HD 700) along with a more musical sound that is lusher, sweeter, smoother, better for extended listening while also retaining 90% of the HD 700's strengths but not quite 100% of the HD 700. Also, the HD 650 scales better I think. And is more amp dependent. Of course, this experience is with Sonarworks for the HD 650. So it may differ for you.



    Also, the HD 650 sounds more natural and real with Sonarworks. Even though HD 700 does produce more realistic vocals and extremely tight bass.



    I prefer the HD 650 personally. But it does come down to personal preference. There is no doubt that technically the HD 700 is a more capable headphone and Sennheiser nailed the comfort and design part. But the HD 650 just sounds more natural and right.



    But again, many people prefer the HD 700 over the HD 650 and over even HD 800.
     
  4. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    Many people prefer lots of terrible things, that's why we have measurement to confirm why HD800 or HD650 are superior products.
     
  5. Mikoss

    Mikoss Friend

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    Go for the HD-700 if you want
    Bleeding ears
    Tinnitus
    An awesome headphone for your Chord Hugo

    I still don't get the recommendation to use Sonarworks to make the 650's more natural sounding... How exactly are you EQing them? Just wondering as I found it seemed to make them sound flat/closed in/less resolving. I've been listening for 5 years with mine, so maybe I'm just overly picky and prefer stock?
     
  6. techboy

    techboy New

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    Have you tried Sonarworks?
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Just use EQ. It's really not that hard even without measurements.
     
  8. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    Sonarworks is more useful for closed, studio headphones with major flaws and eqing near fields instantly than stuff like the HD 600/650 which are rare for headphones in that they don't really have anything hugely offensive about them even if you can nitpick the bass, the HD 600's + 3-4khz bumps, etc.
     
  9. techboy

    techboy New

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    Sonarworks is pretty much EQ. :)
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I like keeping things simple and don't believe in excessive EQ. A driver (or an enclosure) wants to do what it wants to do. If people find the HD650 too bassy, just a light touch of a few db to 100Hz works wonders. For HD600, again, a light touch around 3kHz. Anyway, the point of the HD6X0 is to not have to do anything. Precision / surgical EQ is nothing more than a masturbatory exercise. Transient response, decay, distortion, cup resonances, internal reverb and refraction, etc. are each just as important and collectively more important than FR.
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2016
  11. Mikoss

    Mikoss Friend

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    That pretty much sums up what I was trying to say about using Sonarworks to try and EQ the 650's flat.
    I don't mind using hardware EQ; I just find Sonarworks neuters a lot of the perceived resolution of the 650's, to my ears.
     
  12. Ray

    Ray Friend

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    I haven't used eq since I was a teenager. I had a 67' mustang my father paid 200$ for & I put a 1000$ system in it. Those were the days. I've always felt the 650's had the most natural sounding vocals I've heard. I can't see changing anything about them. 700's just didn't grab me in any way. I just checked those prices on sonar works. Ouch! That's a start up fund for an Eddie current amp
     
  13. Dadracer

    Dadracer New

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    I fully appreciate that any negativity shown towards the HD650 is considered sacrilege and that many consider the HD700 is a piece of garbage or worse. Nonetheless and as an overall headphone I prefer the HD700.........I'll get my coat...........
     
  14. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    Time to walk the plank...

    Having heard both myself, why do you prefer the HFD700? I agree with above comments that it sounded too harsh, had weird unnatural peaks, and overall not that enjoyable. I put my HD650's back on and let out a sigh of relief that the whole ordeal was over. Measurements seem to confirm what I was hearing.

    I'm not being sarcastic here - What was I missing?
     
  15. Dadracer

    Dadracer New

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    I prefer the bass which feels less in quantity but better in quality and extension. I also prefer the treble extension which while certainly not perfect is a better compromise as far as I am concerned than the HD650 which sounds slightly rolled off by comparison. The biggest difference to me is the sound staging/imaging which I prefer with the HD700. On the other hand the mid range of the HD650 is more neutral and vocals are very good. I found that the HD700 was a more comfortable headphone to wear for extended periods. I don't think either headphone is perfect or indeed that either one is rubbish, they are both high quality, but taken overall I prefer the HD700. You probably aren't missing anything and are fully entitled to consider my thoughts worthless.

    In any event I much prefer the HD800 in terms of sound quality and comfort to both of these headphones, but that's just my viewpoint.
     
  16. joeexp

    joeexp Don't ship this man FD-X1 ever

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    Nothing wrong with a bit of Hardcore Torture - if that's what you are after!
    You deserve it - you HD 700 FaceTweeeter Slave! LOL

    [​IMG]
     
  17. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    Remove your coat. Sit back. Relax. Enjoy the music through your HD700s.
     
  18. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    Well, all frequency domain changes are pretty much EQ. However not all EQ filter architectures are the same, not even all FIR, IIR or mixed ones. You can get a good sounding linear phase filter, or one that sounds like banging on old radiators - we wrestled for quite some time, until we nailed down ours.

    Marv, you're saying that in a forum which praises 1500$ headphones, rolls tubes and builds power supplies for USB decrapifiers. If a masturbatory exercise didn't yield any results, then no one would do it. If you're applying any EQ, then why not surgical/measurement based?
     
  19. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Needs a small derailment...

     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    $1500+ headphones, power supplies for USB gizmos, rolling tubes. Those are masturbatory too. I've already been on record for hating tube rolling (excessive).

    I'd rather mess with VTA for each record... Even more than implementing the final tweaks to the RLC EQ circuit on the Fostex BLHs.

    Simple rules:
    1. Roll no more than two additonal tube(s) or opamp(s). Then decide. If you must, one set more per year.
    2. Implement no more than two PEQ settings. No high Q narrow band shit.
    3. Try no more than one different brand of cap. Then decide. If you must, one more brand every two years.
    Anything more means your gear sucks (beyond redemption or correction) or that you enjoy f'ing with stuff more than you enjoy listening to music. I only say these things because I've been there before.
     
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2016

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