Sennheiser HD650 - The classic beauty in a grey dress Appreciation thread!

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These are hands down the most popular headphone in the world, that isn't beats anyway.


It deserves it's own thread for anyone interested in this headphone, all information can be found in one place :) I've bought and sold this headphone so many timers. I've always sold it knowing it would return back into my collection.

Review

There's a review in my guide but I'm starting to see the benefits of reviewing a headphone after really long use.

I've said it many times, this is a special headphone. It was made in 2003 and is still a flagship level headphone. When I see people buying flagship headphones like the T1 and Hifiman HE-560 it really amazes me that the HD650 isn't considered as it's hands down a better headphone than those.

The LCD-2F & 3F are equal or inferior to the HD650 depending on the luck of the draw. This is amazing when you consider how old it is! The older LCD-2's I think was better than the HD650 because it had equal mids but better bass extension with similar resolution.


Sound

A gift from god. If god could come down and sing in your ear, you'd be freaked out and amazed at the same time..I get that a lot with the HD650. I don't get it all the time, my moods change like every other human. This headphone provides me with a lot of joyful moments. This headphone is very cohesive! most headphones I can pick them out in sections but the HD650, just like the LCD-2PF presents the music as a whole. Looking at graphs, you would see a lack of low bass, I don't get that feeling as much as other headphones because I'm getting a headphone that puts everything together and presents the music as one.

When a singer is has their guitar, and sings, you get this sense of intimacy, a voice sounds real, engaging. Nothing sounds like it's forced or false. When a string is flicked, you get this realistic decay that again, I could only name a handful of headphones replicate well. Now I love my Nighthawk, a lot! but when switching between vocalist, you get the Nighthawks tone injected in your ear to the point it's coloured, like I can separate one singer from another as I'm listening to the Hawks. When I listen to the HD650, they adapt to the different tone of a voice better than the Hawks.

I was blown away by the Nighthawk, but as time as gone on I've found it's faults. The bass, warmth overtook me. Everything I've said positive about it still stands! but the way it portrays the human voice isn't correct. If you look at a HD650 graph you won't find one peak, it's so smooth. You know what?! who cares about the tech talk, this headphone is amazing on emotion alone!

I've recently found the Chord Mojo, without an amp pairs really well with the HD650. I call it my lazy boy set up and it's fantastic. By the way have you heard of the Sennheiser HD650 veil? yeah it's BS. Treble is great, present, smooth a little rolled off right at the top.

Soundstage? Cohesive, good width and depth. Imaging? yes. It does what a top level headphone should do. Build quality? for god sake you ask too many questions! yes it's built so well and it's modular. Cables? please stop...yes good.

How does it compare to the Q701? It destroys them

How does it compare to the HE-400i? it wins here too.

HE-500? Equals, I think they both do everything brilliant but the HE-500 has better treble detail and better bass texture. HD650 has better mids, micro detail and resolution.

What sounds better than the HD650? Emotionally, nothing except neck and neck with the LCD-2PF. Technically I'd have to say some of the top headphones like the HE-1000, HE90, HD800(This actually a closer battle than you think) LCD-3PF and some of the Stax(hate the tonality of the SR009)

On lower end gear, the AKG K712, Annie, HE-400i, Nighthawk could be considered better headphones and I reviewed them as such as not everyone wants to build a big system for the HD650.




So that's my review thing...
So thinking about the HD650? any concerns? ask away and let's talk 650!
 
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Soldato
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i know man I've gone full circle but I happen to have some money that isn't required for anything and I've recently had some bad news which has actually freed up some funds for me so silver linings and all that. So christmas present to myself will be the 650's which sadly have risen in price in the last 24 hours but i won't worry about that till next week.

I figured I'll get the 650's first then I'll probably look at buying the vali2
 
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i know man I've gone full circle but I happen to have some money that isn't required for anything and I've recently had some bad news which has actually freed up some funds for me so silver linings and all that. So christmas present to myself will be the 650's which sadly have risen in price in the last 24 hours but i won't worry about that till next week.

I figured I'll get the 650's first then I'll probably look at buying the vali2

It will be money well spent! the Vali 2 is looking like another awesome bit of kit! slap some Mullards on there and I bet it will be heavenly.

I've seriously got to stop reading this stuff. Do I sell the 712s and get a pair or don't I?

The HD650 is flat out better, thing is if you gear is entry level the K712 will thrive better. Mids are better on the HD650 no matter what the gear. I like the AKG driver, it's a classic driver but it's lower in technical performance than the Sennheiser.

650 has this sound that just feels right and homely.
 
Soldato
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I have a real love for the 650's. wouldnt change them for anything other than more of the same with a better sub-bass extension. Had mine 6 & 1/2 years and there's barely a mark on them.

Very very very very very good headphones.
 
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These a good upgrade from the K7XX's? Are the HD700 not worth the extra money?

Honestly the the HD700 are the biggest load of crap Sennheiser has put there name on! terrible headphone..

The K7XX shines on lower equipment better than the HD650. On mid-high end equipment the HD650 is in a different league. The K7XX is a great headphone though, really enjoyed it.
 
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By the way have you heard of the Sennheiser HD650 veil? yeah it's BS. Treble is great, present, smooth a little rolled off right at the top.

I have a theory about that, though I could be completely wrong, the 600 series seems to thrive on voltage gain - more than typical while not being very current demanding - if your equipment driving them lacks the voltage gain or ability to swing the voltage as required efficiently enough the treble collapses (and the bass loses a bit of control) which IMO is where the talk of them being veiled comes from. With some half decent equipment driving them they really open up.
 
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I've used mine for gaming but wouldn't be my first choice for i.e. competitive online play where you want something that is artificially revealing really to separate sounds more.

EDIT: Sorry I've used my 600s - never tried the 650s for gaming I suspect similar story however.
 
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Yeah I've noticed the HD650 are more N shaped when they are not powered.

Compared to the X2 the HD650 images better. Soundstage is about equal. The X2 struggles with separation and can sound a bit blurred when things get busy. The problem with the 650 for gaming at least on consoles, is that it isn't as resolving as it can be. When I had the Bottlehead Crack, I connected it to my Mixamp and found it really good.

I personally would rather an AKG or AD700x for gaming.
 
Soldato
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With the HD650 for music and the AKG K702 for gaming, my full sized headphone journey is done, until something significantly better appears at a sensible price and that may take quite a while. :D
 
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