HD650s with Perreaux rolled off high frequencies?

[seefeel]

I have read that the HD650s are somewhat rolled off in the high frequencies. It's also been said that the Perreaux has a warm and rich sound.

When the two are paired together, does this end up being a bad thing in some ways? Is there a lack of crispness and detail with this combo?

[danaa]

Perhaps, a little bit. I'm kind of new to the headphone/amp thing, but I feel the combo generates plenty of detail. As to any roll off, this might also contribute to the non-fatiguing nature of the combo, which I personally prefer.

[Sean H]

I've got this combo and I hear no rolling off of the highs at all. I think people are obsessed with treble and it's seriously skews ones perception of what a balanced treble really is. I had a very interesting discussion with Ray Samuels about this and he's also convinced that too many people have some sort of obsession with treble. The minute people who are used to most CD players of the last couple decades, boom boxes and MP3's hear a well balanced and realistic treble presentation they cry that it's rolled off!! It has to be growing up with all the trebly, tinny sounding car stereos, MP3's, mass market CD players and such that has skewed things. What do you want to hear the treble for!! Makes sense why silver cabling is so darn popular now! Arggghhhhhhh

[Vedder323]

Sean H... I agree. All these kids need to listen to vinyl and hear treble the way it is supposed to be.

[sacd lover]

I agree as well. I grew up with vinyl and gradma's tube radio. I am always bothered by to much treble the way they voice most equipment these days. Treble is just not that present when you listen to live music at any distance from the instruments; or vinyl either. The treble should be integrated not at the forfront of the music. The new PPX3 amp I got recently has been described as not that detailed in comparison to some other amps. Now that I have listened for many hours I know all the detail is there, its just not OVEREMPHASIZED and the unit is extremely natural sounding. As a side note, its also interesting my sacdmods 555es/222es were modded by a person who grew up with a father who exclusively listens to tubes and vinyl; I think that is a major contributor to why his units have such balance and musicality. If you listen to the 650 or other phones with equipment that can reproduce treble naturally, and become accustomed to the sound, you will never go back to the fatiguing, treble dominant sound so in vogue today.

[00940]

Originally posted by Sean H
Makes sense why silver cabling is so darn popular now! Arggghhhhhhh

Silver cabling is about perfect.

Silver plated copper is ******** aggressive thing.

[JeffL]

Originally posted by Vedder323
Sean H... I agree. All these kids need to listen to vinyl and hear treble the way it is supposed to be.

Feel free to hook us all up, lol. I couldn't afford it, much less anything else I've bought with regards to these forums...

[tom hankins]

Originally posted by 00940
Silver cabling is about perfect.

Silver plated copper is ******** aggressive thing.

This is a pretty generalized statement. The Zu cable I'm using is silver plated copper and sounds great. Also all the LAT cables I've used are very good and they also use copper and silver.
Back on subject: The HD650 and Perreaux amp sound VERY good together.

[00940]

Originally posted by tom hankins
This is a pretty generalized statement.

Indeed. But as such, it's a fair one.

[Wodgy]

I agree 100% with Sean H's statement. Before I got into the audio hobby, I used to prefer listening to copies of my CDs on cassette tapes. At the time I didn't understand why, though I did understand even then that there was something more "listenable" about the sound, but now I realize that I just preferred the gentler, more analog treatment of the highs on those cassette transfers.

[Sean H]

Originally posted by sacd lover
Now that I have listened for many hours I know all the detail is there, its just not OVEREMPHASIZED and the unit is extremely natural sounding. As a side note, its also interesting my sacdmods 555es/222es were modded by a person who grew up with a father who exclusively listens to tubes and vinyl; I think that is a major contributor to why his units have such balance and musicality. If you listen to the 650 or other phones with equipment that can reproduce treble naturally, and become accustomed to the sound, you will never go back to the fatiguing, treble dominant sound so in vogue today.

Agreed. What's vogue is exaggerated treble, pounding bass, spot-lit extreme detail and soundstage! I like all those things but it's not what I focus on, it's not what I care the most about. Gotta have top shelf midrange and tonality above all for me. I'm not trying to pick on anyone, it's just a general feeling I get which is more so here than on other discussion forums.

[Sean H]

Originally posted by tom hankins
This is a pretty generalized statement. The Zu cable I'm using is silver plated copper and sounds great. Also all the LAT cables I've used are very good and they also use copper and silver.
Back on subject: The HD650 and Perreaux amp sound VERY good together.

Hang on, Tom, you aren't getting away that quickly! You must have got my PM. Sounds like you enjoyed your experience with the Perreaux and I thought since you have so much experience with some pretty darn nice gear it would be interesting to hear more of your impressions of the Perreaux.

Silver and silver plated copper cables are notorious for very high levels of detail and and what seems to often be elevated treble. But it may just be that it is ultra revealing and unforgiving of the source to the fullest extent and in that case it is not a matter of being colored/having an elevated treble. I just think that silver is becoming so popular because of all that detail and treble it gives or lets through and people want to hear the hi-fi and the fireworks the gear can give you.

[ppl]

Originally posted by sacd lover
I agree as well. I grew up with vinyl and gradma's tube radio. I am always bothered by to much treble the way they voice most equipment these days. Treble is just not that present when you listen to live music at any distance from the instruments; or vinyl either. The treble should be integrated not at the forfront of the music. The new PPX3 amp I got recently has been described as not that detailed in comparison to some other amps. Now that I have listened for many hours I know all the detail is there, its just not OVEREMPHASIZED and the unit is extremely natural sounding. As a side note, its also interesting my sacdmods 555es/222es were modded by a person who grew up with a father who exclusively listens to tubes and vinyl; I think that is a major contributor to why his units have such balance and musicality. If you listen to the 650 or other phones with equipment that can reproduce treble naturally, and become accustomed to the sound, you will never go back to the fatiguing, treble dominant sound so in vogue today.

We had Trebel Heads in the LP Analog Days thay used Moving coil Pic-up's Me I am A Bass Head Real bass not that 100Hz Bop But 40Hz and below. I want my old Sure V15 Type II Back.

[sacd lover]

LOL Your right about treble heads ppl. My brother never listened to my stereo without turning the treble up 6 db. In fact, he turned the bass up too; just not as much. I had a Dual belt drive turntable, Kenwood KA-7100 integrated amp and Large Advent speakers. One of the best systems I ever had.

[Sean H]

Originally posted by ppl
We had Trebel Heads in the LP Analog Days thay used Moving coil Pic-up's Me I am A Bass Head Real bass not that 100Hz Bop But 40Hz and below. I want my old Sure V15 Type II Back.

LOL!!