[ac500]

Software, just the one my sound card has built in. The downside is that even though I'm happy with that, my laptop has no such equalizer, so my headphones are left essentially tethered to my desktop computer permanently.

 

[B-Dawk20]

Mind posting up your settings


Also how is the soundstage on the 650 say in comparison the the AD700

 

[upstateguy]

Quote:

thats fair.  ive had them with a little dot mk2 up to a ZDSE and i thought they scaled well but i can see where youre coming from. i loved them with the mk2 also.  but in the end, the T1 gets a lot more head time.

+1

 

[jtaylor991]

OK, would the Audio Gd compass be a good amp for the 650s? I have a Darkvoice 337 but I want to try a solid state and someone offered it to me in a trade for my D4 mamba up for $175. Deal? I couldn't find ay reviews on the thing and it's no longer on Audio-gd's website but I've seen it on there before when I first looked at them when I joined Head-Fi and I've heard of the thing. I saw one guy recommend it for 650s and others said they heard others say it was good with 650s. Thoughts? Will it pair well and/or is it worth the money?

 

[upstateguy]

Quote:

OK, would the Audio Gd compass be a good amp for the 650s? I have a Darkvoice 337 but I want to try a solid state and someone offered it to me in a trade for my D4 mamba up for $175. Deal? I couldn't find ay reviews on the thing and it's no longer on Audio-gd's website but I've seen it on there before when I first looked at them when I joined Head-Fi and I've heard of the thing. I saw one guy recommend it for 650s and others said they heard others say it was good with 650s. Thoughts? Will it pair well and/or is it worth the mon
 

 
You might want to check out an O2 amp.

 

[Twinster]

Maybe what you are looking for is an upgrade to the HD800??? They should give you the high you craving for.  

 
Quote:

Yeah I don't want to downgrade, and for tonal balance I have an equalizer I'm happy with.
 
Many people have just said the NFB12 isn't great for HD650s despite what the specs imply - although they say it sounds okay. I don't want to color my DAC/amp, I'm just curious what people mean by saying the NFB12 not good for HD650s, and if its true then what else should I "up"-grade to at least synergy-wise in the SS realm. I know the NFB12 specs are good, but it's the complaints of real-world performance concerns with the HD650 I'm curious about.
 
I just want a really good solid state DAC and Amp for the HD650 under about $600 ish total (assuming $400 extra budget and $200 if I was to sell my NFB12). 

 

 

[Austin Morrow]

Quote:

I'd like to hear an HD600 but I don't want to buy one just to return it if I don't like it. Also I don't like the idea of losing bass quality or quantity vs the HD650. My EQed HD650 has both great bass and treble, and I like that. 
 
A DAC/amp upgrade for me actually wouldn't be to modify the sound signature. I would want my DAC/amp to be as neutral as possible anyway. Any "fixing" of the sound signature will be done through EQ.
 
Rather, the only reason I consider upgrading or sidegrading is due to the multiple reports of the NFB12 sounding not so ideal synergy-wise with the HD650, despite its specs being more than enough technically to power it. Honestly I absolutely love the sound of my HD650 with proper EQ so it's more or less flat sounding, on my NFB12, but I guess it's just the reports of people saying how well it scales up that make me want to see what else is out there.

I've auditioned the HD650 and the HD600 more than enough to give a pretty dry comparison. HD650: Deeper bass, more rumble, more surge. Smoother mids and highs with a lot more lushness than the HD600. It's what people would call easy on the ears. As for the HD600...not as laid back, but definitely not very forward.  More extended and sparkly treble, less smooth mids (albeit not as enjoyable), and a smaller bass response overall. Both tested through a WA2. 
 
Regarding to the NFB12, have you read Headfonia's? review. Remember, just because it looks good on paper, does't necessarily mean it sounds good in real life. And yes, I've tried the HD650 with some very high end amps (Manley Stingray, Woo Audio WA2, Cavalli Audio Liquid Fire, etc.) and it's pretty joyful how much magic the HD650 can ooze. 

 

[jtaylor991]

I wasn't looking for a new amp for the time being as I have begun using my stereo now that my vinyl rig is back in business. It was offered up for a trade. I wanted to know if the Audio-gd Compass would synergize well as an amp with the 650s and if it was worth like a bit under $200.
 
Quote:

 
You might want to check out an O2 amp.

 

 

[LugBug1]

Quote:

More and more I hear people complain about the HD650 and classical music....is it really not great for that stuff? I was under a complete opposite impression before.

mmmm? believe me, there's nothing to complain about with the 650's and classical music! I've used them for a lot of years for classical and no other headphone that I've heard in the same price bracket compares. They can handle the most complex orchestral pieces with ease. And ease is the word. They effortlessly deal with big choral passages and dense orchestration in their laid back fashion. Nothing is falsely brought to your attention. Piano music sounds natural and full without any hardness, especially if you are listening to old classic recordings that could sound harsh on more clinical lighter sounding phones. Opera is particularly pleasing with the 650's, again everything is balanced with nothing brought unnaturally to the forefront. String quartets sound real as if in the same room, but not as if you are sitting in the middle of them  Cello's sound deep, grainy and warm, how they should... Violin's sound bright and textured but never harsh.. Brass instruments sound sweet without the slightest hint of sibilance.. etc etc
 
I think I've made my point

    

 

[LugBug1]

Quote:

I usually get flak for saying this, but I wouldn't say the HD650s scale up much.  

Suppose it all depends on where you are scaling from? I think alot of peeps think they scale well because they buy these once high end phones and then buy an amp as an after thought... Then every amp they buy afterwards sounds better each time. I personally think the 650's have their limits, and especially with amps. One area in particular is the lower frequencies, the bass does tighten up with good powerful tubes but never that much, and I'd like to hear an amp that could give the 650's a tighter bottom end, because I think they could then be the perfect headphone.. For me anyhow.  

 

[B-Dawk20]

Quote:

mmmm? believe me, there's nothing to complain about with the 650's and classical music! I've used them for a lot of years for classical and no other headphone that I've heard in the same price bracket compares. They can handle the most complex orchestral pieces with ease. And ease is the word. They effortlessly deal with big choral passages and dense orchestration in their laid back fashion. Nothing is falsely brought to your attention. Piano music sounds natural and full without any hardness, especially if you are listening to old classic recordings that could sound harsh on more clinical lighter sounding phones. Opera is particularly pleasing with the 650's, again everything is balanced with nothing brought unnaturally to the forefront. String quartets sound real as if in the same room, but not as if you are sitting in the middle of them  Cello's sound deep, grainy and warm, how they should... Violin's sound bright and textured but never harsh.. Brass instruments sound sweet without the slightest hint of sibilance.. etc etc
 
I think I've made my point

    

 
Opinions on the soundstage? Compared to the AD700? It's the widest and deepest I've heard(I've not heard much

). How about staging in general? Such as positioning.

 

[LugBug1]

Quote:

 
Opinions on the soundstage? Compared to the AD700? It's the widest and deepest I've heard(I've not heard much

). How about staging in general? Such as positioning.

Havent heard the AD700's, but the soundstage of the 650's is probably their best attribute. It's natural, not stretched. You automatically forget the stereo image with the music coming not from the sides, but just there, and not in your face. A perfect distance, giving you ample space to turn it up without it being annoying. Great soundstage, but that in my experience is what Sennheiser excel at, even with their IEM's.
 

 

[B-Dawk20]

What other cans have you experienced?

 

[LugBug1]

Quote:

What other cans have you experienced?

In the same price band, I've owned the D2000's SR225's and have heard HD600's K701's. The 650's are better than all of these IMO, the only headphones that I've heard that can compete are my RS1i's but they are twice the price. 

 

[jtaylor991]

I hate the narrow soundstage of the 650s. I have a Darkvoice 337 and PS Audio DLIII as a DAC. It looks like the DV337 is the best the 650s can have and I'm not impressed. It must be the amp though. With the two volume knobs, I can never get the imaging right.