HiFiMan HM-650 High Fidelity Portable Music Player with Standard Amp Card

General Information

Features

1. WM8740 High Quality HIFI Decoder Chips
Although HM-650 is designed as a simplified version of HIFIMAN's flagship HM-901 and HM-802 players, it still utilizes twin High Quality HIFI Decoder Chips WM8740 (one in each channel), for reference quality sound. With its state-of-the-art OPA627 used in filtering, HM-650 delivers remarkable sound quality with fine detail and imaging.
HM-650 incorporates a Step Potentiometer Volume Control. Despite its high cost, HIFIMAN is focused on performance and will not compromise by using cheap volume controls.
Plus or minus 7.4 v battery pack design

2. 14.8v power supply supports high quality sound.
HIFIMAN pioneered the high performance portable player and was the first to use balanced outputs. When paired with the balanced version of our critically-acclaimed RE-600 in-ear monitor,
the result must be heard to be believed.

3. Perfect combination. Exquisite sound and outstanding value.
Expandable design
HM-650 features an expandable design. Several amplifier cards can offer a variety of listening experiences to satisfy even the most demanding audiophiles and music lovers.
All-new operating system with a Taichi user interface provides ease of use with rapid response.

HM-650 is compatible with WAV, FLAC,APE, Apple lossless. It can also support 24bit/192KHz, 24bit/96KHz new music formats.

Specifications
Dimensions:4.6〃(117mm) W x 2.8〃(72mm)D x 1.1〃(29mm)H
Weight: 0.551b(250g)
Battery life: 9 hours
D/A Chip: WM8740
Frequency response: 20HZ-20KHz
Distortion: 0.008%(Line out)
S/N: 106±4dB
SD Card Memory: 128G
Acceptable music formats: MP3, ACC, WMA, OGG
APE(16Bit/44.1KHz,48.0KHz,88.2KHz, 96.0KHz,192.0KHz)
16Bit & 24Bit: WAV, FLAC, AIFF (except 176.4KHz)

Accessories
Line out cable with 3.5mm plug
Charger, for charging HM-650
Battery: Li-ion + 7.4v 1600 mAh, -7.4v 500 mAh)
Owner's Guide/Manual

Latest reviews

mrstrangeguy

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Power, Sound Sig, Modularity
Cons: Bulky, UI, Short Battery Life, Gets Warm when turned on
Overview:
 
A high-end DAP by Hifiman, it shares the same platform as the HM802/HM901/HM901s in terms of looks and amp card interchangeability, which make it very unique in terms of DAPs in terms of customizing to the person's needs.
 
Non-sound bits:
 
This thing is very bulky and thick, don't expect it to fit in most pants pockets, and even if it does, keep in mind that it can get pretty warm when turned on, it's class A amplification after all. The UI is....passable I guess, it's not going to win any awards for smoothness or features but it has most of the things you want...except playlists, which it doesn't have, instead, you get a favorites feature to lump all the songs you like.
 
Perhaps the biggest thing against this DAP is the short battery life, in my experience, running mainly balanced mode, this thing is all outta juice in 7-8 hours, this isn't 7-8 hours of listening to music, this is 7-8 hours of the thing being turned on, it's battery drain doesn't seem to be much affected by playing music or not, so for those who want long battery life, stay well away.
 
A plus in Hifiman's favor is the modularity of the thing, in terms of it's ability to swap amplification cards to suit the owner's needs, driving sensitive IEMs? Go IEM card! Driving balanced headphones? Go for the balanced card! There are a total of 7 (incl Normal) amp cards to choose from, this customisability sets Hifiman's DAPs apart from other brands.
 
Sound:
 
Before talking about the sound sig, an aside on the power of this DAP. It has a ton of power at it's disposal, the specs say that with the balanced out, it can push 0.5w into 30 ohms, a ridiculous figure for a portable DAP. I believe it, the HM-650 has no problems driving inefficient planars, I listen to the HE-400i out of the DAP at ~4.5/8 in high gain, balanced mode, and the Talos (T50RP mod) at ~5/8 in high gain, balanced mode, and there's no sign of underpowering them at all (lack of bass, peaky treble), with slamming, authoritative bass as needed, I actually use the HM-650 more with headphones than IEMs, so if that's your preferred way to go, be assured that the DAP has plenty of power to drive just about anything under the sun.
 
The Sound signature is what one would expect from a Wolfson DAC, in that it is a warm and smooth sound, like the edges are sanded off. This helps greatly when listening to more harsh recordings prone to sibilance with more analytical sources, but it also takes some of the visceral nature of the music off, as if you're listening with a slight haze. The DAP is plenty resolving and does technicalities well enough, with good imaging and great separation when called for, it's just that the warmish tone and the smooth tonality means that it is not the most revealing portable source out there. But overall, the sound signature of the HM-650 makes for an easy listen with most genres.
 
Value:
 
With the Balanced amp card fitted, the HM-650 is ~$650 from Hifiman, that's a lot of money for a DAP with the shortfalls discussed earlier, if your goal is to drive full-size headphones well, this is probably one of the only DAPs that can drive inefficient planars with power, but if your goal is to use this with IEMs, there are likely more user-friendly DAPs out there that can do the same thing without the compromise that the HM-650 has.
 
TL;DR - Niche, High-end DAP uniquely suited to drive inefficient orthos with a warm, smooth sound signature. 
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Pros: Pro’s: Sounds exquisite. Smooth and hyper liquidy.
Cons: Con’s: Crap battery life. ugly. Meh UI.

HiFiMAN HM-650 Quick Review
 
Thanks to HiFiMAN for the samples.
 
Full Review here http://www.head-fi.org/t/753944/hifiman-hm-650-review-by-mark2410
 
Brief:  High end audiophile DAP.
 
Price:  US$449 or about £286
 
Specifications:  Dimensions:4.6〃(117mm) W x 2.8〃(72mm)D x 1.1〃(29mm)H Weight: 0.551b(250g) Battery life: 9 hours D/A Chip: WM8740 Frequency response: 20HZ-20KHz Distortion: 0.008%(Line out) S/N: 106±4dB SD Card Memory: 128G Acceptable music formats: MP3, ACC, WMA, OGG APE(16Bit/44.1KHz,48.0KHz,88.2KHz, 96.0KHz,192.0KHz) 16Bit & 24Bit: WAV, FLAC, AIFF (except 176.4KHz) Accessories Line out cable with 3.5mm plug Charger, for charging HM-650 Battery: Li-ion + 7.4v 1600 mAh, -7.4v 500 mAh) Owner's Guide/Manual
 
Accessories: You get a line out connector, so dock connection to 3.5mm. Then you get the charging unit to dock connector to charge the thing.  The charger connects to the mains via a standard figure 8 connection.  Mine came with a most of Europe plug, I would hope though that UK retail units come with a UK one.
 
Aesthetics:  Erm. It fell out of the ugly tree and hit a fair few branches on the way down.
 
Build:  It may look naff but feels really rather solid in the hand, plastic but weighty and firm.
 
Power:  It has shedloads of power.  It very happily drove my big HD600’s on high or low gain and even then, I wasn’t getting past 6 out of presumably 10.  By reaching 6 my ears were telling me that quite loud enough thank you.  Loads of power here and loads of volume.
 
Sound:  Exquisitely lovely.  HiFiMAN make a big play of its Wolfson innards and your ears will notice why.  They have that traditionally Wolfson sound of a hint warm, a hint smooth and rather refined in the uppers but with just the tiniest of spikes.  So that, but as good as I have ever heard it.  It’s all that you expect but here it’s more flowing and liquid than I have found before.  The warmth and serenity often make things feel a little obsfucative.  That faintest of soft focus filters over things.  While there may be that hint there is just masses of detail.  Everything is in there with just that harsh reality ever so slightly rounded.  It’s a greatly beautiful sound.  It feels so pure, just ever so slightly warmed.  Bass though I might say at the bottom feels a little restrained.  The same with the very top end, it doesn’t always capture the most engaging or invigorating grip that the Studio V does.  Its isn’t a flaw, it’s just a tuning choice.  What you end up with is an extremely liquid and flowing sound that is deeply captivating and soooo smooth.
 
Value:  Err.  It’s a very narrowly specialist device.  It only one thing but it does it so achingly well.  Given it shares much with its 802 and 901 siblings you could possibly persuade yourself at only US$450 it’s a bargain next the US$1000 HM-901.  I doubt most normal people would agree though.  Having heard it though, I’d pay its asking price.
 
Pro’s: Sounds exquisite. Smooth and hyper liquidy.
 
Con’s:  Crap battery life.  ugly.  Meh UI.

TheDreamthinker
TheDreamthinker
Now this is what I call serious LACK industrial design...probably Mr. Ive just felt involuntary bowel movements...
mark2410
mark2410
lol, to borrow quote.  i could not possibly comment :wink:  though Apple do spend so long making things pretty it often feels like they treat audio quality as some sort of afterthought.  sad really, their old 5G ipods were not bad and the oooold 1G shuffles were nice too.  i guess its more sad that that so many people dont care and pick them anyway.

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