Sennheiser HD650

I had been reading about all this Schiit and how the HD650 scales for quite a while and last month I finally took my HD650M down to a dealer here that has demo models. Here's my report. There were subtle differences between the units I tried, but the biggest difference I noticed was between the DAC on my iDSD and the Bifrost. This was rather surprising to me as I'd always thought the DAC would make the least difference. The next biggest difference was between the Mjoinir 2 and the Jot. Both very punchy but with different tonal balances and character. They didn't have a Modi Multibit to try, but from what I've read here (and experienced with the Bifrost regarding Schiit DACs), it's my next purchase for sure as it seems to be the no-brainer best bang/buck DAC in their line. Then, for only the HD650, I'd go with the Jot. But I need to go back and try it with my Andromedas before making my decision (plus save up some $ ). Hopefully by then Schiit'll have come out with a SE Pivot Point amp trimmed down of all the stuff on the Jot that I don't need.

 

Yikes

HD650 took a nice $60 price-hike on amazon

was planning to pick up an extra pair at some point to A/B mods with, but it looks like that day will not be today

 

Probably something like Senn temporarily running out of drivers after the 6XX drop causing low stock (like other stores showing the 650 as discontinued a week ago). Amazon automagically price inflates when stock is low. Thanks, algorithms!

 

FWIW, I still like the stock HD650 quite a lot (I have it in 6XX form). It's good for relaxed listening, or for music that focuses on the extremes like digitally produced hip hop. The 650M (mine is currently a hybrid of the older mod and KISS mod... dynamat placed according to KISS, but without the rear magnet folded-over foam, and with the coin mod) brings mids and vocals [relatively] forward after taming the mid bass with dynamat and removing some foam. I've found the 6XX is a good match for a Lyr 2 + LISST and the 650M is a good match for the Valhalla 2. Which do I prefer? Depends which is on my head at the time...

 

My guess was that during the little "HD650 discontinued ???" scandal, enough people went in on backups to knock amazon's supply down

Same thing tho

As soon as they hit 300 or less again I'm in

 

Tomorrow may be the day. If the past is any indication, you will not have to wait too long.

Also, keep an eye on amazon.com for "Used like New" from Amazon Warehouse Deals and www.amazon.co.uk.

 

I think that is a good target price.

 

Yeah, they've actually been out of the warehouse deals on the 650s in US for the first time since I've started checking

People must've gone incredibly hard with the doomsday prepping

Kind of irritating because I have some stuff that's just mastered too terribly to sound great on pairs with the foam removed, but I don't want to add a layer to the foam because for the other 80 percent of my stuff sounds much better to me without it

Is this what it's like owning the HD800???

 

I agree with you about wanting both a HD650M and a HD650, @kittenuwu . They are different enough, enjoyable enough and cheap enough that I have no reason not to.

 

I picked one up this week on a Warehouse deal. Listed at $290 in Like New condition. Combine it with some Amazon gift cards from Christmas, and I picked up a pair for $187 net. The warehouse deals go fast, so you've got to stay on top of it.

They're growing on me...I still prefer the HE-500, but once my ears adjust to the 650 sound I can really get into it. At this point I can't see any desire to mod them at all. I don't get any hint of the "veil".

Pairing it at work with my Modi Multibit/Vali 2 stack and keeping my 500s at home with the Bifrost Multibit/Ember II combo.

 

I wish I could always have 650 sound with me. In comparison, using my RHA MA750i IEMs is tortuous. Music just isn't fun to listen to on those. I haven't even been putting new music on my phone because the MA750i sounds so goddamn rolled off and boring in comparison to my home setup with 650's. I'm spoiled. I can't afford the Andromeda right now, and besides I'm waiting on a Noble X, but that's still 3 or 4 months away... first world problems, right?

Lesson for the casual lurker: you owe it to yourself to try something like the Modi Multibit + Vali 2 + HD6XX before you die.

 

Yeah, so far I haven't really been motivated to mod mine. If I do end up doing so it will probably be more out of curiosity than dissatisfaction. Sounds awesome through Modi Multibit + Vali 2.

 

I told myself I wasn't gonna mod 'em for a few weeks at least, but that changed pretty quickly after the first hours.

I'm kind of a fuckin sperg, so they were too calm for me. Like I could definitely listen to them forever and be happy, but the tradeoffs people mentioned with the foam removal spoke to me enough to pique my curiuosity, and the jotun really helped bring the balls

 

Just buy on Amazon UK. Mine came to $262 shipped to MA after FX conversion. Posted about the deal here: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/the-deals-thread.87/page-47#post-111577

 

Since so many are using the Vali 2/650 combo, are you folks listening on high gain or low?

 

Would have, but you can't use US Amazon gift cards on the UK site.

 

I'd disregarded this because I thought the exchange rate was still like 1.5 but I just gave it a shot and it came out to under 270, tyty

 

I always use Vali2 on high-gain even when I use the Jotunheim as a preamp for it.

 

High