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

james.miller said:
It was the box that changed from silver to black. They havent done anything with the drivers for a long time. I know head-fi was all OMG the 650's have changed but at least one guy revisited his post after putting a good amount of use through them: http://www.head-fi.org/t/197776/sennheiser-hd650-impressions-thread/31440#post_12192490



So i dunno, not convinced.
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I've owned numerous HD650's from the black drivers to the black box the differences I found were..

Black drivers: Darker, warmer with a more lush presentation.

Silver drivers silver box: Warm but less so than the black driver version, cleaner sounding, less murky same everywhere else.

Black box version with silver drivers: bass is less woolly than the others but is equally as deep, cleaner sounding. Because the bass sounds less elevated the little 9k peak sounds like it has more energy.

I think the changes are down to the ear pad material, the newer versions are a bit more dense feeling. Also possible changes to the materials in the driver but I'm just speculating.

All 3 sound exactly the same in extension, resolution but the older versions sounded more lush, but a bit more sleepy sounding. The silver box and silver drivers and the current black box are probably the same and the materials just need time to settle but there is a difference in sound especially fresh out the box for quite a while.

I do def hear less mid bass with the current black box versions although one I received was very bright and brittle to the point I thought they put HD600 drivers in my 650's but I noticed the ear pads were very thick on that one so maybe again pad material.

I don't think there's any point worrying about which one you get, I wanted a silver box version but because one of my black box version seemed to have started to sound similar I just didn't bother. If you want a headphone that has tight bass then you should ether get a closed back headphone or look into the larger planar magnetics but neither will have the resolution and mid range voicing the 650 has.
 
Dicehunter said:
Good idea but I'd rather not gamble £100 for a cable :p

I'll be getting a braided 650 cable from customcans simply for the aesthetics.

On a separate note my 650's came in, They are the ones in the black box with the new drivers and odin be praised it's like the gods are singing into my ears :D
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Thanks for the trust message, just pulled the trigger myself. Mine will arrive at work tomorrow, we have an Amazon Locker onsite. :D
 
Nope. Maybe I should do something about that. Not going to lie I love my Nighthawks they have been one of the best purchases I've made with headphones but the 650 is always on my mind. I don't even want to count how many 650's I've bought and sold.
 
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Ryanr1987 said:
I do def hear less mid bass with the current black box versions although one I received was very bright and brittle to the point I thought they put HD600 drivers in my 650's but I noticed the ear pads were very thick on that one so maybe again pad material.
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I do actually wonder if they screwed up on drivers at some point and got them switched around - my newer HD600s are darker and smoother sounding (and have more in common with my old 650s) than my old 600s which have a more raw sound. But the newer 650s I've heard are different again - nothing like possibly switched with a 600 driver.
 
It's the kind of incompetence expected from someone like Audeze haha. I personally think it's the ear pads, I don't think it's a coincidence that the most brittle 650 also had the thickest, stiffest ear pads - I think over time it would have evened out. I've also seen reports of people complaining that their 650's sounded bright and lean when they bought new ear pads so it sounds like that's the cause. I do think they may have dialled the bass back a tad with the black box versions which isn't that much of an issue as it's still a good 3db or more over the mid range.

I tend to like a bit of a bass boost over the mids I think it's needed to give voices weight and emotion..nobody ever praised the K701 for it's enchanting and gripping vocals.... I think the 650 can pull off a bass boost because it's resolving and fairly quick.

I've listed my Nighthawks for sale to get another HD650, I really miss open headphones and had to resort to putting my K702 on yesterday and while it's response was a bit grating I appreciated the air and space the open headphone always provides..Don't get me wrong the Nighthawks sound pretty open and airy themselves but there's always that sound with closed/semi open headphones that keeps the mids from breathing how I like, still the Nighthawk are incredible.
 
Oops

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I was thinking of selling them too. TBH I am not that impressed, they don't sound much different than the 598 I abuse. And they can't even compete on a weight and comfort level. It's either the Xonar Xense soundcard or the cheap ear pads that I use. I'm on the fence about getting some genuine pads from amazon that I can return if they don't change anything.
 
The ear pads are all part of the tuning, so if you are using cheapos I'm not surprised they are not sounding their best.
 
I have the originals but they are well worn, almost flattened. I will buy some genuine pads, test and decide. But right now I am loving using the 598 again. Even if they are battle scared.
 
It may just be that the HD598 signature suits your tastes better, we all hear sound differently. The HD650s are technically better and are more resolving but the HD598s are no slouches either.
 
I don't really know much about sound stuff and what I like without hearing it. I know I like my 598 and momentum on ear but I think they are opposites in how they sound.

I was hoping that the 650 would be my jack of all trades...

However I bought them for £140. I hope I can get close to that even with the crack in the headband.
 
Doubtful, replacement headbands don't come cheap and you can buy them brand new for £230.

Until recently they did a full service, that restored them back to "as new" quality for £55 but they have put it up to £90 or so now.
 
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