Sennheiser HD650 - The classic beauty in a grey dress Appreciation thread!
- Thread starter Ryanr1987
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I'm thinking of getting a nice cable, I'm liking the look of the toxic cables for the 650 but the Moon audio Black/Blue Dragon cables are tempting. I never used to be a cable believer but recently I've been hearing differences between them. I don't think it's worth the price though if s lot of these cables and the differences is tiny.
Ive got three Audioquest cables here. All three sound different but I would say it's such a tiny difference that it's not worth it unless you really like the look of the cable and the feel of it. I do like the stock cable just setting a bit sexier.
There's been some speculation that because of the mass drop deal that Sennheiser maybe coming out with a successor. People have been saying that for years though.
I really don't know what they can really do apart from clean up the bass but even then you lose out on that lushness. The 650 is already neutral through the mids and treble IMO. I'd love to see them maybe come out with an open headphone hat can produce bass like the Elear with the rest of the 650's balance and elegance.
I really don't know what they can really do apart from clean up the bass but even then you lose out on that lushness. The 650 is already neutral through the mids and treble IMO. I'd love to see them maybe come out with an open headphone hat can produce bass like the Elear with the rest of the 650's balance and elegance.
This makes me realise the HD600 series are probably the only flagships that has never needed an upgrade. I quite like the idea of headphones being timeless which they really are in most cases. I think "Upgrades" for already well made headphones is all in most users heads in my opinion; influenced by companies, review sites which harbour god knows how many paid reviewers.
Yeah the comfort could be better for sure. After a while though I find they fit like a well used glove, so cosey. I would always welcome more bass extension but judging by how Focal did it with the Elear, it would be one expensive headphone considering the driver that would have to be used.
Yeah the comfort could be better for sure. After a while though I find they fit like a well used glove, so cosey. I would always welcome more bass extension but judging by how Focal did it with the Elear, it would be one expensive headphone considering the driver that would have to be used.
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I got a pair just before xmas and to be honest i wasn't overly impressed, they felt a bit sluggish to me. However, I picked up a Little Dot II last week which has made a world of difference, just listening to Abbey Road - pretty nice. Gonna upgrade the dots valves, liking valves but I sense a disturbance in the wallet
Don't go crazy with tube rolling so many people get sucked in and it just gets to a point where you are just listening to tubes.
Grab some Mullard M8161 tubes, if no luck then grab the M8100 as an alternative then call it a day.
Depends on your preference. Both have the typical Schiit sound, lean, mean and a bit aggressive. Valhalla 2 has better depth, spaciousness while the Jot has more immediacy, speed. Bass on the Jot is much more defined, hits harder, cleaner and tighter. I didn't find either particularly warm. Both are about on par for detail.
The Jot has a metallic, treble that bothered me but it's an improvement over the Magni models! overall the Jot is an end game amp at a good price and I've been tempted to order one for a while but I'm going to see if there's an Asgard 3 as the seem to do treble better than their other amps a long with the Vali 2.
The Jot is a really fun amp!
Sorry for late reply I don't check forums as much, been addicted to Ark on PS4 LOL
The Vali 2 is a bit cleaner, more spacious resolving and has a bit more of a laid back sound. I find the original Vali more musical, more involving. It's probably the most fun amp I've tried along with the Bottle Head Crack for the HD650. The Vali 2 is the better headphone amp technically but if I see another Vali 1 I'd snap it up asap.
The Vali 2 is reoslving musical and engaging amp though, I just find the original Vali pretty special in regards to fun. The Vali 1 has a roughness to it's treble although not as bad as the Magni. Vali 2 has one of the best treble I've heard from Schiit, prob the best.
Just how good are these? I realise that is a very open question as it'll come down to personal opinion and the official thread on these might be pretty biased. Would these be an upgrade over my K7XX's? Whilst I enjoy listening to them I find them uncomfortable after awhile and if I was to sell them on to fund the HD650's then I've had my money's worth out of them. Then comes the decision what to power them with as I'm still rocking the Vali 1.
They are fantastic. I've tried probably every high end headphone there is and the HD650 is the only headphone that just has this presence and emotion that surprises me every time.
They do require a good system but a Modi Multibit + Vali 2 can give you a taste of what they are capable of. I use this setup for my HD800 as it's tonally laid back with good impact.
Yes they are superior to the K7XX, the HD650 is in the same league as headphones like the HE-6, and somewhere in between the Ether Flows and HD800. They don't have the most textured and cleanest bass though but they have pretty much the most cohesive and tonally correct sound there is IMO
I like the Mojo + HD650 paring. Might be a bit too warm and cosy for some it reminds me a bit of the Lyr2 in that regard. It's still not as good as a TOTL tube amplifier which will give you more slam, dynamics, better staging and detail.
A good HD650 upgrade tree would be
Modi Multibit> Vali
Modi Multibit> Vali 2/Valhalla2
Modi Multibit >Elise/Moj2/Icon HP8
Modi Multibit/Gumby/Yggy> Zana Deux
Gives an example of how high you can go but most won't get past number two which is absolutely fine as it provides more than enough. Those who want to really see what they can get out these drivers might proceed further and possibility grab a HD800 to tag team.
The Modi Multibit is worth getting even of you have to save up as it will play fine with higher end amps and does great the 600 series. The Vali 2 is good for those who like a laid back sound with a bit of punch and the Valhalla 2 is great for those who want to see what the HD650's famous micro detail Is all about and experience a nice airy, stage with lots of inner detail throughout.
Going that little bit higher isn't really a massive jump but it's a next step in resolution with amps like the Elise. I would still say overall you are playing a game of flavours as the Valhalla 2 arguably could out point it in some areas.
The Zana Deux which isn't cheap is pretty much end game on terms of the HD650's performance. I really only listed it for those crazy folk with deep pockets who literally want to upgrade their HD650's to god tier. At about 1.7k it's better than going for a Ether Flow/LCD-3 as the HD650 is a better headphone on that system.
Hope this helps some of you don't take it literally because on the end your ears may be content on something like a Modi + Vali which is still a damn good system for the price.
A good HD650 upgrade tree would be
Modi Multibit> Vali
Modi Multibit> Vali 2/Valhalla2
Modi Multibit >Elise/Moj2/Icon HP8
Modi Multibit/Gumby/Yggy> Zana Deux
Gives an example of how high you can go but most won't get past number two which is absolutely fine as it provides more than enough. Those who want to really see what they can get out these drivers might proceed further and possibility grab a HD800 to tag team.
The Modi Multibit is worth getting even of you have to save up as it will play fine with higher end amps and does great the 600 series. The Vali 2 is good for those who like a laid back sound with a bit of punch and the Valhalla 2 is great for those who want to see what the HD650's famous micro detail Is all about and experience a nice airy, stage with lots of inner detail throughout.
Going that little bit higher isn't really a massive jump but it's a next step in resolution with amps like the Elise. I would still say overall you are playing a game of flavours as the Valhalla 2 arguably could out point it in some areas.
The Zana Deux which isn't cheap is pretty much end game on terms of the HD650's performance. I really only listed it for those crazy folk with deep pockets who literally want to upgrade their HD650's to god tier. At about 1.7k it's better than going for a Ether Flow/LCD-3 as the HD650 is a better headphone on that system.
Hope this helps some of you don't take it literally because on the end your ears may be content on something like a Modi + Vali which is still a damn good system for the price.
I've compared the HD660S to the HD650 and they're similar but the difference is the HD660s doesn't boost the bass as much but as a result the 5k area is a little rougher, it doesn't sound as smooth in FR as the HD650 despite being similar. Another difference is on higher end amps the HD650 starts to pull away those HD700 drivers have their limitations. If anyone plans to stick to cheaper amps and dacs I feel they will get more use out of the HD660S than the HD650. On high end OTL and OTC amps I would stick with the HD650.