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

I'm not convinced a new DAC & Amp will give you what you want. The Xense uses the PCM1796 DAC chip, which while not as high end as the PCM1792A used in the Xonar STX, is still a very good DAC chip. The Xense actually uses the same headphone amplifier chip as the STX, the TI6120A2 and the STX has no trouble at all in driving the HD650s and the resultant sound is clear as a bell.

I'm wondering if it might just be a case of not becoming acclimatized to the sound of the HD650s? When I bought my HD650s I had been using AKG K702s for months and so when I first started listening to them they sounded as though I had cotton balls in my ears, very muffled indeed. However, I knew what to expect so I stuck with it and kept on listening for a couple more hours and gradually the sound began to clear up and by the time I'd listened to them for about four hours that night, they were clear as a bell and my brain had been enlightened.

Thing is, if you spend most of your time listening to the HD598s and only try the HD650s here and there, your brain won't have chance to adjust to the different sound signature as it will be expecting the brighter sound of the HD598s. Once you are used to the sound signature of the HD650 they will sound very clear and detailed and the signature will be filed away in your long term memory, so you won't have to reacclimatize if you spend a period without them.

Of course, if you have used them for extended periods then I am talking cobblers and it's more likely that you just don't like the signature. :D
 
^^ TI6120A2 certainly shouldn't have problems driving HD-650s its way more responsive to voltage and current demands than required.
 
I haven't used the 598 in a long while. The 650 has been my daily driver for 2 months.

Maybe it's the pads, maybe it's me. What I have done is remove the foam inserts from the ear cups and I think they sound better.

I have also ordered some genuine pads. I'll see what difference they make.

EDIT: SO MUCH BETTER WITHOUT THOSE GOD FORSAKEN FOAM INSERTS.
 
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Most people who have heard my HD650s are instantly amazed. They are usually shocked by how rich and 'full on' the midrange is, something which many top tier headphones costing way more can't compete with, let alone the off the shelf rubbish they've most likely been using. Despite this, you'll still get people who just don't find the sound pleasing. It all depends on what your musical tastes are, what sound signature your brain has become accustomed to and the condition of your ears, but I think it's fair to say the HD650 is a great all rounder.
 
PapaLazaru said:
Ok this is my second night with them and the missus has gone out so sitting back with a V&T listening to some Alabama Shakes.

I was not 100% sure about them last night but these are keepers. Everything I was hoping for and more. I am normally disappointed with most things I buy, they are never as good as my expectations but I have now have two in conjunction. TEAC UD-H01 DAC and my 650's.

Just need to get hold of some studio masters to give the DAC and the 650's a proper workout. :D

L8KgVy1.jpg
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Glad your enjoying your new phones, interestingly though you say you wasn't 100% sure about them intially, do you mind if ask why that was? I'm thinking of grabbing the 650's one day, if you can remember how would you say they compared with the Grado's? I see a lot of people say they sound quite different?

I know you sold me the Grado's so I don't mean to put you on the spot, I'm still loving them so you can be brutally honest :p
 
I think most people, especially those coming from bright headphones, are always a bit unsure at first. The 650 presents the music in a non aggressive, non forward way and it's not until you listen for a few days that you realise you have something special. So many people try to look for an upgrade over the 650 then come back to the 650.

Give them time and I bet that other headphones will sound wrong in comparison. Grados are the complete opposit, boosted highs and lack of low bass, more metallic and rough.
 
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So I will say that removing those foam inserts have hugely improved my experience with the headphones. Listened to a bunch of random songs from my playlist and they all sounded amazanig, like the 598 without the painful harshness and some more bass.
However the kicker was playing Mirror's Edge Catalyst. I spent a good couple minutes crawling back and forth through a vent just for how it sounded.
 
lowrider007 said:
Glad your enjoying your new phones, interestingly though you say you wasn't 100% sure about them intially, do you mind if ask why that was? I'm thinking of grabbing the 650's one day, if you can remember how would you say they compared with the Grado's? I see a lot of people say they sound quite different?

I know you sold me the Grado's so I don't mean to put you on the spot, I'm still loving them so you can be brutally honest :p
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I do like those Grado's, I wish I could have kept them as for the price I paid and then you paid they are a steal, but I would then have four pairs of headphones which is a waste. I liked the closeness of the audio with some types of music and the highs and mids are excellent, even the bass extends low enough for most music and it is so clean. I love the design, so simple but it works and I think they look good as well!

I was wondering how to explain how the 650's sounds different, but I have no need as Ryan has explained it perfectly already below.

Ryanr1987 said:
I think most people, especially those coming from bright headphones, are always a bit unsure at first. The 650 presents the music in a non aggressive, non forward way and it's not until you listen for a few days that you realise you have something special. So many people try to look for an upgrade over the 650 then come back to the 650.

Give them time and I bet that other headphones will sound wrong in comparison. Grados are the complete opposit, boosted highs and lack of low bass, more metallic and rough.
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The 650's are laid back and just so smooth, I kind of get the 'veiled' signature but it in no way takes away from the detail. The incredible detail. It seems quite amazing to listen to music sounding so laid back but with everything sounding amazing and so detailed and every detail is separated perfectly. It is actually a little odd, but a really good odd. it's quite hard to explain to be honest as I have never heard anything like them before.
 
650's arrived this morning. Ear pads are very dense and I can hear a slight bit of rawness I experienced with another pair that had stiff, thick pads. apart from that which is very slight and it will go away, they are nice and open with beautiful 650 mids. It's amazing when you own closed/semi open headphones for a while you forget about the lack of restriction to the sound with open headphones.


I have a lot of test tracks and one of my R&B tracks I like the 650 sound really good, the track doesn't go particular low but low but the 650 do really well with this type of music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urJNO82hTwQ


This track is very nice and some of the most beautiful vocals I've heard from an indie singer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jxw_NAKUn0


650 really shines with this music! every sound is separated nicely but never feels detached! The vocals are also blended slightly(The way the track is recorded) but the 650 is so resolving that again you can pick out every detail in her voice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=areUIoaxEZ4

This is also fantastic with the 650.
 
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The nighthawks arrived today, they feel very delicate.
Sound wise they appear to be slightly v shaped compared to my hd 650.
 
Angst said:
The nighthawks arrived today, they feel very delicate.
Sound wise they appear to be slightly v shaped compared to my hd 650.
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A lot of people always comment about they needed a good few sessions to adjust to the hawks. I love the Biocellulose sound so didn't really need to adjust to them personally.

I look forward to hearing your impressions vs the 650 when you've had more time.
 
TQ-Coming Home sounds very good on my Sony MDR-100AAPs due to the more extended sub-bass (my brain is still bouncing) but the Dark Horse cover is absolutely sublime on the HD650s, amazing vocals from the two of them.
 
The Dark Horse cover is one of my reference tracks to see how headphones handle two singers and the 650 is beautiful with no mid recession at all. Brilliant work from the guys and the production is spot on.

Here's some for you guys


This one sounds spooky with the 650 in the sense of how real and holographic the 650 can sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya-kUZdoleY


This is also a HD650 track, Nighthawks not shabby on this either - makes me want go go hunt dragons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpcXr5LtsYA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnmpfpa07HY

Just beautiful




I tried the Dark Green 100AAP and apart from the roughness in the upper mid range area I thought they were a good sounding headphone. I don't think Sony's agree with my ears the Z7, 1R,1A all had a similar thing but they all are good headphones. I nearly bought the 100AAP's as I thought they were a good deal but the easier on the ears Solo2 were more to my liking.




Oh here, for you sub bass lovers..

R.I.P your ears https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLyYqmPbX8NR-MhMI9yv8N6WvVOQFxk31J&v=hmP7TYtDVUU

I use this track on my Nighthawks a while back and jaysus.
 
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