Sennheiser HD650 - The classic beauty in a grey dress Appreciation thread!
- Thread starter Ryanr1987
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I believe it's because people are used to a sound that boosts the higher ranges with a lack of bass. How many people call a headphone that rolls off below and boosted in the treble neutral? Lots. The 650 doesn't hide things like imperfected bass in a recordings but the 600 does to a degree. I have a track that is recorded to be a bit muddy, the 650 will show that muddy recording while my K702 will thin it out and won't show as much imperfections.
So I think it comes down to people not being used to accuracy.. they need that boosted treble and subtle bass because they think it's neutral when in reality it's altering the recording. The 650 doesn't really boost anything apart from the mid bass a bit, but I think that's needed.
I think the 650 is a more controlled driver, smoother more resolving than the drivers found in the HD600. Don't get me wrong the HD600 is very good, I just think the 650 is a more refined 600 without that "Audiophile Tuning"
There's too many opinions in audio so it's difficult to find out what's what, Id either find someone you trust or go by your own ears because it will drive you crazy reading so much. Take headfi and r/headphones with a grain of salt IMO
The D2000 doesn't get enough credit for how balanced they are. If I was going to choose a headphone for mixing it would be the D2000, D5000, D7000 or Audioquest Nighthawk.
The D2000 has potent sub bass, just shoots down like a rocket and meets the mids and stays flat. That upper mid notch is absolutely necessary as that's a difficult thing to get correct and especially on a flat headphone if that area was more elevated it would be pretty nasty on the ears. This is the reason that all headphones that measure like that will have that notch.
A lot of people call them bright but it's just the roughness in upper ranges that a lot of Biocellulose headphones have, the treble is quite flat. The 1540 measures ideal and the bass sounds exactly like the graphs IMO, soft, isn't potent and jaw rattling like the D2000, Nighthawk, LCD-2 etc it's closer to the HD650's bass without the impact. By the way, that peak just under 10k on the Shures gives them a grainy character and the only way around that is to pair them with an amp that elevates the mid bass.
No one does bass like a Biocell driver. The Fostex TH900 has ****in incredible bass and I joked about it in my review but it's an example of elevated bass with amazing control. If that headphone was more balanced it would be a D7000 killer.
The 650 still in a different league to all of them
and sounds like music, more surreal like you are lost in the music. The Little Dot MKIII I own is prob on par with the likes of the Vali 2, Bottle Head Crack without Speedball but with the right tubes just gives vocals this insane focus, I can taste the voices.
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It also depends on the gear used especially with the 650. The 990's sound muddy, bright, bassy all at the same time no matter the system but Beyers(minus the 770) do not agree with my ears.
The 650 are not for everyone, some people just cannot get on with the natural, accurate sound they produce and prefer those brighter highs and that's absolutely fine, everyone has their preferences
Listening to some excellent Final Fantasy 9 vocal covers at the moment and oh my lord, it makes me feel connected to the game; the voices just haunt you and grab you. No other headphone does this! I think my ear pads have really settled because they have zero brittleness and are effortless.
The 650 are not for everyone, some people just cannot get on with the natural, accurate sound they produce and prefer those brighter highs and that's absolutely fine, everyone has their preferences
Listening to some excellent Final Fantasy 9 vocal covers at the moment and oh my lord, it makes me feel connected to the game; the voices just haunt you and grab you. No other headphone does this! I think my ear pads have really settled because they have zero brittleness and are effortless.
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Well it depends how the recording is processed. If there's sharpness in a recording the 650 will show it and same if the recording is weaker in those frequencies.
The X2 roll off as well unfortunately. What recordings are showing a lack of low bass? I've tested over 100 re ordinance and it's surprising how many don't actually go low or high for that matter. If you want a more Sub bass than the 650 you will have to try something like a Fostex closed model, Nighthawks or one of the larger Planars. If you want impact then it's hard to be the 650 and you would need a good closed headphone.
Two phones I'll never get rid of...
HD650
Denon D2000
I have a pair of DT 770 aswell but I use these for tracking stuff in my studio
Surprised you don't use the D2000 in the studio, they are so accurate.
I'm surprised at the bass comments with the 650, sure they don't have the extension or clean bass like the 400i, LCD-2 or a Biocell driver but they have some of the best impact you will find in a headphone.
You won't find better impact without shedding some serious money.
You won't find better impact without shedding some serious money.
I get really good impact on my Little Dot and Mullard M8100, not as much on the Mojo alone. I'd generally give the advantage to closed headphones when it comes to any aspect of bass if they are made well just like I'd give open dynamics an advantage on planars for impact but planars for bass extension.
I couldn't go three weeks without the 650's myself, even when I had my LCD-2's with that juicy bass the 650's were always in my mind, thinking hmmm this would sound good on 650. I'm still waiting for a HD650S but I'm thinking what can they really improve on?
I couldn't go three weeks without the 650's myself, even when I had my LCD-2's with that juicy bass the 650's were always in my mind, thinking hmmm this would sound good on 650. I'm still waiting for a HD650S but I'm thinking what can they really improve on?
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The driver is the same as the ones in the silver box but the ear pads are more dense in many of the 650's so I believe that is making them sound different to the older 650's. My 650 are starting to settle in terms of pad softness. Bought Uncharted 4 the other day and the 650 with the X7 is fantastic with the game, K702 even more so due to it's soundstage.
I'd love to find the mix in a higher bitrate sounds great with the 650!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVY_9MpvQmA - Sineads voice is so haunting in this song.
I'd love to find the mix in a higher bitrate sounds great with the 650!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVY_9MpvQmA - Sineads voice is so haunting in this song.
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Ryan do you have an original invoice for the new HD650 that've sold me in MM?
Couldn't seem to get hold of you so figure I might try here
Oh yea, sorry man I'll get it out to you in a min.
Yeah you'd spot a fake from miles away, not only would it not have the made in Ireland on the side, hologram and other subtle details - it would prob suck. Sennheiser have amazing engineers they would not be able to replicate the sound without having a good team and research.
I've never heard, or seen a HD650 fake.
I've never heard, or seen a HD650 fake.
That's true. This is what makes me think many who complain about them sounding muted, closed in and veiled have not experienced them on a system that opens them up.
If you pair and unresolving amp with the 650 that is also dark, rolled off then that's exactly what you will hear. The 650 can pretty much range from a midfi headphone all the way to a end game headphone depending on the system.
It won't ever be as technically impressive as a HD800 but what is? I still feel on a modi + Vali 2 you are getting a headphone that is close to the Audeze LCD-2 or on par.
If you pair and unresolving amp with the 650 that is also dark, rolled off then that's exactly what you will hear. The 650 can pretty much range from a midfi headphone all the way to a end game headphone depending on the system.
It won't ever be as technically impressive as a HD800 but what is? I still feel on a modi + Vali 2 you are getting a headphone that is close to the Audeze LCD-2 or on par.
Spotify would depend on the individual tracks or albums but most I've listened to have been great and I think it's a great source for for music.
Our minds really play tricks on us and sometimes when I'm listening to a FLAC recording I'll think there's a difference but then that difference will dissappear I don't think there's much of a different between high quality recordings on Spotify.
Our minds really play tricks on us and sometimes when I'm listening to a FLAC recording I'll think there's a difference but then that difference will dissappear I don't think there's much of a different between high quality recordings on Spotify.
About 85% of my music(That mainly listen to) is 320kbps, I also own many uncompressed files, CD'S etc.
Sometimes when I play a FLAC file I think I can hear a difference but other times I cannot tell the difference and it's probably all in my head. If a high quality MP3 sounds bad next to FLAC then something else is going on like crappy processing.
I've compared FLAC files vs MP3'S on the HD800 and they've sounded the same. I can tell minute difference between headphones fairly easily so I'd easily be able to tell the difference and so would many here. I've listened to FLAC files that sound atrocious before so it's not always about the bit rate.
I'd take Spotify 250-320kbps over anything right now as it's so convenient and has tracks I can't find anywhere else.
Sometimes when I play a FLAC file I think I can hear a difference but other times I cannot tell the difference and it's probably all in my head. If a high quality MP3 sounds bad next to FLAC then something else is going on like crappy processing.
I've compared FLAC files vs MP3'S on the HD800 and they've sounded the same. I can tell minute difference between headphones fairly easily so I'd easily be able to tell the difference and so would many here. I've listened to FLAC files that sound atrocious before so it's not always about the bit rate.
I'd take Spotify 250-320kbps over anything right now as it's so convenient and has tracks I can't find anywhere else.
When I get back I'll measure both recordings and let you know if one has obvious compression then I'll do a listening test. I seriously doubt there will be a difference unless the processing has influenced it. I'll use the 650 + Chord Mojo and the K702.
I'm currently listening to Spotify and one of my reference tracks has a very subtle cue that isn't audible on many headphones and it is there clearly just like my FLAC version on Spotify.
I'll sign up tomorrow to Tidal as I'm in a really lazy mood but I'm listening to Tango in the Night on Spotify and there's no compression, slight colouration when I measure the recording which is prob from my Tube Amplifier that is quite warm, euphoric - I doubt I would even notice the difference when playing it uncompressed because there's not going to be any missing information.
I'll sign up tomorrow to Tidal as I'm in a really lazy mood but I'm listening to Tango in the Night on Spotify and there's no compression, slight colouration when I measure the recording which is prob from my Tube Amplifier that is quite warm, euphoric - I doubt I would even notice the difference when playing it uncompressed because there's not going to be any missing information.