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I used a stock Senn cable reterminated to 4-pin XLR, which was then connected straight to the speaker terminals via an AKG female 4-pin XLR to speaker leads adapter that came with my K1k. Later, I got custom-built Senn cables that terminate in spades and can be connected directly to the speaker taps.
Also... I guess since they are 2 monoblocks, you must connect the left channel to one, and the right channel to the other amp - correct?
__________________ Sources: Marantz SA-8001 SACD/CDP - California Audio Labs Delta Transport - California Audio Labs Alpha Tube DAC - Monarchy Audio M24 Tube DAC - Monarchy Digital Upsampler - Sony Walkman EJ612CK & JD01 Portable CDPs -- Sold: Musical Fidelity XDAC v3 -- Music Hall MMF CD25 1+ CDP - California Audio Labs Sigma II Tube DAC.
Phones: Senn HD580 (new version modded & de-veiled) w RAL Senn Cryo-Silver cable - Grado RS-1 - ATH AD2000 - Denon AH D5000 w Markl Mods -- Sold: Bose Tri-Port ("the beginning”) - Senn HD280 Pro - Senn HD600 x2 (old versions) & HD650 x2 (old and new versions) w Cardas, Zu Mobius, Headphile Senn v2 Blacksilver cables - Grado SR125 - Grado SR225 - Grado SR325i - Grado GS-1000.
Accessories: Signal Cable Black Magic PCs x2 - Iron Lung Jellyfish PCs x2 - CT Cryo Silver ICs x6 - Shellbrook Silver Mini IC - RnB Audio Sky Blue Mini IC - Caig Pro Gold - Walker SST - Herbie‘s Tube Dampers.
1. Have you defoamed your HD600? I understand that this mod is more popular with HD650.
2. What aftermarket cable do you use with HD600? I've got this feeling that Cardas would be very popular for HD600. Is it the best option for HD600?
1. No,I haven't.I'm afraid of dirt and hair messing with the drivers.
2. I bought a Headphile BlackSilver cable and I liked some changes but not all.I went back to the stock one.There's definitely a sonic difference between the cables,but not necessarily an improvement,it depends on your tastes.If you live in Helsinki you can try it,I still keep it just in case.
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"Every nation ridicules other nations, and all are right".
Arthur Schopenhauer
Last edited by Chrysoberyl; 04-17-2008 at 05:36 AM.
Interesting findings by some of you, especially Zorander who has HD650 with less bass than HD600. Weird indeed.
Chrysoberyl: I do live in Helsinki, but I'd first like to hear the Cardas cable. I've owned Headphile V2 and didn't like it very much.
It seems that you must spend some serious money before you can make HD650 sound what they're capable of. Well I don't have that kind of money ATM and probably not for a while so I'll go with HD600 for now.
Quite interesting the note about the different variations of the headphones. Is there a general consensus about what the changes between the variations are? [for both 650 and 600]
I don't think I've seen much mention of different variations up to now, or I've got much reading to catch up on.
I've always held the HD600 in more regard than the HD650, and the tonal balance was the main reason. The HD600 is simply much more neutral, it is to my ears one of the most neutral headphones around, with very good instrument tone. The HD650 always sounded thick, heavy, with sloppy bass, an overly warm midrange, and a recessed treble. Its attack was too soft and its decay was too long, but at the same time it didn't sound lush - just thick. The bass was boomy and overpowered everything.
That all changed when I hooked mine up to the Dared VP-20 push-pull monoblock amp. Yes it's a speaker amp and isn't designed to drive these things, but it did it regardless, and the sound that came out was like no HD650 I've ever heard before.
It had no sloppy bass, no excessive thickness or heaviness; it was fast, aggressive, with a deep, tight, generally amazing bass, a fluid, euphonic midrange, and a treble that while a bit recessed was very extended and very detailed. I simply couldn't believe my ears.
Catscratch, over here on the po' side of the audio tracks, I'm currently going through a very similar, sort of trailer park version of the same experience .
Inspired by Boomana's warnings against under powering 300 ohm Senns (I was coming out of a Mac laptop through an Airhead), and a post by Uncle Erik recommending vintage receivers as high-powered headphone amps on the cheap, I went and reposessed my 70s Harman Kardon A-402, a 45-watt pch, dual mono integrated from my dad. Now it's Mac>HK>HD580>my head, and I owe dad an amp...
The 580s sounded good out of the Airhead. Heck, they sounded good straight out of the Mac, which has pretty respectable sonics for a laptop. But out of the old HK, everything is a bit different. The most dramatic change, of course, is bass control, but the mids are more open and transparent, the highs are more present, and best of all, it delivers all of its goodies at very moderate volume levels. Before the HK, the system sounded closed and constricted at low volumes.
Gain, however, is an issue. I don't think the resistor in the HK that is supposed to knock down the output of its amps on the way to the HP jack is doing much. 9 o'clock? My ears would be bleeding at 9 o'clock. I have about an inch of travel in the volume knob from silence to the loudest listening levels I'm comfortable with.
Of course with the Mac as source, attenuating the volume is easy enough. I can turn it down in preferences or iTunes, before it goes to the HK. But I don't know if there are any adverse effects to doing that. Does anyone know if there is an impact on signal quality if you attenuate output from a computer or from iTunes?
Soon, I'm going to get around the Mac's soundcard via an Apogee Duet. When I do, I would assume I would attenuate there?
I am not surprised you are now going for the HD600s after listening to speakers a lot for the last year. The 600s have a very natural tonal balance very similar to good speakers. As you have found, the 600s produce music. I am using mine with Cardas cable and it seems to be a perfect match. I would advise against defoaming; I have tried and it only kills the magic. Congrats!
I am not surprised you are now going for the HD600s after listening to speakers a lot for the last year. The 600s have a very natural tonal balance very similar to good speakers. As you have found, the 600s produce music. I am using mine with Cardas cable and it seems to be a perfect match. I would advise against defoaming; I have tried and it only kills the magic. Congrats!
Can you tell me more about the change in SQ from the stock, or 650 cable to the Cardas cable? Thanks!
I am not surprised you are now going for the HD600s after listening to speakers a lot for the last year. The 600s have a very natural tonal balance very similar to good speakers. As you have found, the 600s produce music. I am using mine with Cardas cable and it seems to be a perfect match. I would advise against defoaming; I have tried and it only kills the magic. Congrats!
Yeah my current speaker setup is on the neutral side. It also has extremely detailed and fast sound. ProAc TR8 Signature is the best monitor speaker I've heard to date and s300iu does excellent job driving them.
I know one guy from Helsinki who owns the new Cardas cable. Should I ask it for audition.
I'm also quite surprised that no one has discovered the difference between the black covered and white covered 650s before. The difference in sound was so obvious to me and the owner of the newer pair.
I'm also quite surprised that no one has discovered the difference between the black covered and white covered 650s before. The difference in sound was so obvious to me and the owner of the newer pair.
I have two 650's and the older pair do sound different to my newer ones. I put it down to settling in/quality control differences. The older pair are slightly 'fatter' sounding so I assigned them to an electric piano a long time ago. It never occurred to me to look inside.
I don't want my current ones to go the same way - I'm happy the way that they are now. My 600's are lighter sounding than my new 650's so I've got 3 shades of darkness .....
Ian
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Musicians are friendly guys, be nice Sennheiser HD 650,HD 600 + Equinox,HD 250 II Linear, HD 595, HD 25-1, px100, Alessandro MS1, Grado sr60, Denon AH-C751, Shure E2 and E4, Superfi 5, Graham Slee Solo amp + PSU1. Headfive. Porta Corda III, Go-Vibe 2, 3 and 6. Total Airhead, Xenos 3HA, Move, Pocket Amp 2
Can you tell me more about the change in SQ from the stock, or 650 cable to the Cardas cable? Thanks!
In my system the stock 600 cable is much lighter sounding. I wouldn't go so far to say it's "thin" sounding but in comparison the Cardas gives everything a rich, full body. There is a reduction of anything approaching a "hashy" sort of sound. The effect is similar to going from zip wire on a pair of speakers to some good speaker cable. Or switching stock interconnects for a decent pair.
The only drawback of the Cardas is that it is stiffer and heavier to wear.
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