HD-650 burn-in? - Page 3

I am amazed by all the teases and laughs, I just wonder if that's due to my patience to play with props or what. Nevertheless I would post my log here:

 

1/8/11

Purchased. Bad plastic smell out of the box, sound great but definitely need time to open up.

 

4/8

~70 hrs, got better

 

6/8

~100 hrs, better but still muffed

 

10/8

~200 hrs, much better but can hear the stiffness and tightness of low and high

 

15/8

~300 hrs, really opened up mucho better. Everything's there.

 

23/8

~450 hrs, soundstage and extension got truly better.

 

29/8

~600 hrs, with high volume running thru last night, things got much better

 

5/9

~750 hrs, high volume cont. There's still something...

 

13/9

~900 hrs, need a better amp (than Fiio E9).

 

I guess volume/ sound pressure definitely play a role here. My listening and run-in volume is much lower than average cans lover around (at max like ~50% only). Afraid of "breaking" the drivers, it wasn't until nearly a month later I raised the volume to average listener's level, and that definitely make a difference. http://www.hkvwet.com/viewthread.php?tid=45703&extra=page%3D1&page=1

 

However, I do not find the lower end gears need this long time to open up. PX-200 ii, DTX300p, MX580, DTX100 and others I've played with and forgot, 100 hrs is truly enough and things hardly improve after that.

This sounds exactly the same as my experience with them.

 

I wonder if Connnorrrs' HD650's had been burnt in at the factory or maybe had been demoed in the shop before he got hold of them?

Perhaps Sennheiser burn in some at factory and not others to get us all talking about it!?

 

Either way the difference between how my Hd650's sounded fresh out of the box and how they sound now is very different, 100% no question and definitely not just my ears becoming accustomed to the sound signature.

 

What exactly changes electrically that they require a better amp after 900 hours?

It may simply mean that he's familiar enough with the phones that he can tell the limiting factor is now the amp.  Sennheisers are well known for their scalability with better amps.  It doesn't have to imply that anything changed electrically.
 

 

Well, if 7 Vrms and under 0.05% THD and IMD is a limiting factor, I gotta get me an HD650.

They are not a demo, and I don't believe they were treated any differently at the factory than what you have.
 

 

If after a year anyone is still subscribing to this thread, thanks. As the ownrer of 2 day old HD650's this thread is very helpful.
I have 20 hours on them now. Out of the box i was very disappointed with the sound. Now they sound "better". I'll be rolling the tubes this weekend.

This is my first headphone kit.
Sennheiser HD650
Schiit Biford
Schiit Lyr
1969 Amprex Orange Globe 6DJ8 ECC88 tubes
MacBook Pro retinas
Sonic Studios Amarra HiFi
TosLink 96kHz clock

My room has Thiel CS1.2 speakers
Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus
Anthem AVM20
Mac Mini
Sonic Studios Amarra Full Version
USB2 DM Plus is clocking 196kHz

I any of the original posters see this, let us know how the 650's sound after a year

Thanks

I now have 140 hours on the HD650's

It really makes a difference

 

 

My 650s sould be arriving today. Anyone here who can link me to any article or posts showing any scientific objective evidence or results from burn in. I would be interested in reading it. Thanks.

I would point you to the sound science forum, and just silently nod and let the subject of burn-in pass by in other places ^^

I went with Urban Legand.
Figured I'd be listening to them anyway so I put a pillow over them overnight.

Post in the Sound Science forum at your own risk.

Lol. I must say I liked her answer though.

I'll just listen to them and enjoy when they get here.

I found there to be a marked improvement as the hours went on.

That's a nice looking setup!