HD650 or HE6

I figured it's a powered system: must have an amp. I forgot it's line out and the monitors have their own amps. This isn't my area of knowledge, obviously, which is why I ask other people who know more than I do.

 

In my case, with powered speakers + sub it's easy to get just the sub - just turn off the monitors! If I also enable playback for headphones & speakers from my Apogee Duet, I hear the hp's + sub.

But, I'd have to use the hp out of the Duet soundcard... Oh well.

 

HE-6 is probably my favorite headphone. It has a very very lively signature that suits my tastes and breathes life into everything. Certainly not neutral but also not that far off. Give it good power and you will be rewarded (as long as you like a slightly brighter signature). HD650 is certainly easier to recommend though, excellent all around and probably pleasing to a wider variety of people. I've owned the HD650 before, auditioned the HE-6 several times (9-10 times), and owned a heavily modded HE-400 (which I feel is pretty close to an HE-6 FWIW). An HD650 rig will most likely be cheaper in the end, but the HE-6 doesn't need a crazy amp IMO, only lots of power.

 

100% Agreed, even after the SDR mod and EQ the HD800 on certain music merely went from holy shit awful to meh. The HE-6 on the other hand just shrugs off bad recording, not so much smoothing over the warts ala Audeze, but it doesn't make me hate my old metal & punk albums like the HD800 does.

To OP

HD650: Cheap, easy & cheap to amp, easy to live with. Natural to warm in sound, I still find them slightly dark, though I've not heard a modded pair. Excellent value.

HE-6: Requires mods and seriously amplification to truly preform. Tonally the Musclebound bastard child of the HD800 and the LCD3. Neutral to slightly bright while still giving instrument incredible impact and body. Plan on buying a speaker amp, plan on buying vegan pads. Excellent can, but it basically requires it's own amp that won't be optimal with any other cans you may likely end up with, but could always form the base of a nice stereo rig

 

Fair, cheap is a relative term, I guess I mean I've heard the HD6X0 sound wonderful on amps well under a grand. As always in audio the sky's the limit.

 

Everyone's experience is unique. I personally think HD650 sort of sucks up until over 1k in amp. While I have not yet heard HE-6 perform in a totl level.

 

Part of my friends say hd650 is veiled as hell, they prefer hd600, he6 or even dt880...

 

So they are. Out of a cheesy stereo receiver they can be super veiled.
But DT880.., I've never understood the affection for those, at least next to HD650.

 

I love that lean and dryness! A neutralish amp (Magni 2, Asgard 2, Valhalla 2 etc) with something like the Modi 2U into the HD 650 is a lean, mean machine with barely any added warmth.