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

I like the T50RP driver although it does have a universal peak and a little bit higher distortion. I've not heard the newer model but I've seen measurements that show similar characteristics to the MKII. If you plan to mod them to bring the rolled off bass up then I think they would be a good investment, otherwise good mid tone, vocals are nice on the T50RP's.
 
I don't think pink noise would damage a well made driver. I think burn in is a mix of these.

- Driver loosening up
- Brain burn in
- Recordings used(Obviously can be ruled out if you use one or a few recordings to test)
- Gear used(Obviously again, ruled out if same gear is used)
- Drivers and materials


I think the majority is brain burn in. I believe the HD650 uses Myler with Neodymium, no rubber surround so I don't see where burn in would come in to play after a few hours? I also don't see how Planars could burn in. Take the Denon D2000 driver and yes, I can see the argument because it's built from materials that can be stiff with minimal use.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
Last edited:
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.
 
They are different headphones. I think the HD598 is a bit rough and brittle up top. It is also on the brighter side so if your sources are not running the 650 good the HD598 may appear cleaner, more open. 650 has a darker background it's very full sounding and a lot of people are not used to fullness.

The 650 is more accurate but the thing with accuracy, is it is not always exciting. Most people like a more coloured, exciting sound and there's nothing wrong with that but if you want a more complete sound, you'd struggle to find it with an open dynamic headphone and the 650 does very well.

The 650 on my Mojo alone, sounded on par with the LCD-2 I had and bested it in resolution and tonal balance. On a better amp, the 650 would have beat it in every area apart from sub bass extension.
 
Yeah when they state that it really doesn't mean all that much. The 650 is sensitive to source because it's so resolving. At £150 you could buy a used Modi and Vali and that would be a nice little set up.

Search around Classifieds there's always something going at a good rate. The better your gear though the better they sound. When I had my Bottlehead Crack the 650 sounded just incredible. I would also recommend trying the Audioquest Dragonfly Red at £169 or the Black at like £89 and see how you get on. Buy from a place that allows returns like The Rain Forrest.
 
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.
 
Last edited:
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.
 
Last edited:
Angst said:
The nighthawks arrived today, they feel very delicate.
Sound wise they appear to be slightly v shaped compared to my hd 650.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
Yeah, both the X1 and the X2 are very similar to each other . They don't sound like the 650 though, they are more U shaped with a large upper end peak so a bit wonky. The impact is similar but the HD650 are quite a bit superior to them.

I see lots of comparisons to the 650 and it really surprises me because they sound nothing alike to me. The closest I've heard sounding like the 650 are the older LCD-2's, AKG 65th Annies(To a degree) and the Hifiman Edition X. I think people just hear a bit of bass and think yep they sound like the 650's lol
 
Haha yeah Japanese can go a little high. I think it's because I've played the game and get the emotion from it.

Sometimes I wear my Beats on the tube and there's always the M50X guys eye balling me to say Hah! Beats lol - don't want to get into portable audio wars on my commutes.
 
That was cool. I remember a guy did a binaural recording in his tent listening to the nature around him. Being a nature lover and a camper, I must have listened to that a 1000 times.
 
Last edited:
Oops I've actually given away my day job, being devilishly handsome has it's career paths Haha

I've been using my HD650 hooked up to my X7 for gaming and it sounds really good. The full sound isn't as spacious as the 702's but I feel much more in the game if that makes sense.
 
Has anyone seen Z Reviews(Zeos) Of the HD650, HD600 and HD700. I really don't understand his ear....Basically the HD650 are the HD600 with more width and geared more towards treble.....WOT

I watch his reviews and I still don't know how a headphone sounds lol
 
The 600 has peak in the upper mid range the 650's are fairly flat through there. HD600 is bright in comparison also. Tone is different, HD650 has a wooden character, smoother, can handle busy cues without problem while the 600 blends them in comparison. 600 is leaner, grainier a bit more treble clarity due to its rise but it isn't as refined.

Both are great headphones and both are different.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom