Sennheiser HD650 Appreciation Thread!! - Page 588

 

What's the problem with specifications?

Edited by HamilcarBarca - 11/22/12 at 10:47am

My point is that sometimes people rely on specs rather than listening. Specs can be a starting point but once you combine other gear you need to see how it all comes together rather than assume what it will sound like exclusively by the numbers.

That's the official audioquest specs at the bottom of this pdf, keevs original observation was that the sound was underwhelming from the dragonfly dispite having volume with the hd650's.

 

http://www.audioquest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DragonFly-4pg-Brochure-EN-R1.pdf

whats a good portable amp to pair with the hd650's ? I own the o2 amp but I'm not sure if It's hitting its potential with my dragonfly>O2 amp combo.

I also use the 650's with the Fostex HP-P1. More power than the DF and a great DAC besides....

the O2 has bags (177mw/300ohm) of power especially when fed from a proper line-out, its just not to everyone's taste, the Dragonfly dac is rather good it has some special patented clock system going on.

 

what do you mean from a proper line out ? I wonder If my setup is right... I put the volume to max on my computer and I adjust using the amp honestly I love the sound and I don't really believe I need to upgrade at all I think my next purchase is going to be a he-500 and but the q701/hd650 combo I have seems to be the best at this price range to own. If the he-500 don't impress me over my hd650's I'm probably going to return them and save for the hd800's and move on to a speaker system for the future. lmao sorry for posting my master plan :P LOL.

Hi! I just thought that I might share my opinions on some of the 'phones I own, particularly on the HD650s and the AH-D2000...
I have a few mid- to high-end and portable headphones, which I bought in the last 6 years, namely (in order of buying date, oldest to newest): HD280Pro (too boring sound, I use only for DJing, even though I look like mickey mouse with them on), PMX100 (quite good), PMX200 (love the bass, not so good treble), HD650 and AH-D2000.

I must say, everything from my headphone collection is far behind the AH-D2000s and HD650 in terms of sound quality (the price reflects that well). Now comparing the AH-D2000s and the HD650s is a bit harder. My "rig" is: Computer (Windows 8 Pro x64 (O.T.: I LOVE the new WINDOWS 8!!! :P ), foobar2000, WASAPI, Mostly 16/44.1 CD rips) -> EMU 0404 USB -> Graham Slee NOVO -> 'phones.
Generally, I prefer the HD650s to the DENONs. They (HD650) sound so clear, so natural, so detailed and musical, I just can't resist their sound and usually spend many hours listening to my favorite music (Grunge, Alt. Rock, Classic Rock, Psy-Trance, sometimes Classical, etc) with them. I never really understood why some people think they're veiled, in my opinion they have JUST the right amount and quality of treble, bass and mids, I cannot imagine any flaw in their sound... Sometimes (after long sessions of listening to my speakers, the M-Audio BX5a Deluxe, or after being out listening to the PMX100s or PMX200s) I even find myself surprised by the high amount of treble the HD650s have got. Now I tested my hearing with the ASIO signal generator and I can hear clearly up to 18kHz and not so clearly up to 19.5kHz, so I think my perception of treble is quite good. If I should say it as I feel it, the HD650s sound like magic. I LOVE their sound. I tried comparing them when being fed from the NOVO and from the 0404's headphone amp and they lose some of they magic when plugged to the 0404's headphone amp, so I guess the Novo gets some credit for the sound. They sound a bit more playful/musical from the Novo. Anyway, I don't know about any song which I like and which wouldn't sound great from the HD650s.
Now comparing them with the Denon AH-D2000s...the first thing I noticed about the Denons is that they have extremely loud treble, kinda harsh; at higher volumes (which are absolutely fine with the HD650s) the Denons' treble even hurts my ears. Not very pleasant thing, but after a while of listening I can get used to it (at not very high volumes). I even found this feature quite beneficial on older recordings and/or recordings with not-so-loud treble. I feel that the Novo reduces slightly the harshness of the headphones' treble compared to the 0404's headphone output, but it's still not enough for music with loud high freqs (the cymbals and sibilants still cut through my ears). Now the great thing that I love about the Denons is the deep bass, now man, that's something! As the HD650s' overall sound is just magical (to my ears at least), so I feel about the AH-D2000s' bass...

Short version: I love both the HD650 and the AH-D2000. The HD650's are like a irresistible drug to me, with their clean, balanced, natural, detailed and just "magically musical" sound; in my opinion, they don't lack anything, neither they have anything in excess (except for greatness). The AH-D2000s can sometimes sound too harsh (to me), sometimes their treble tries to pierce my eardrums , but their bass (deep bass) is absolutely excellent, I just love its punch, accuracy and amount (high amount)...

That's my opinion on the HD650s and their comparison to the AH-D2000. If I should go on a long trip and could take only one of them with me, I would take the Sennheisers.

This is the first rating of any headphones I ever wrote :P

P.S. I have read that there are two versions of the HD650s, with different screening colours or something like that, now could someone please tell me how do I know what version do I have and what are the differences between them?

Thanks!


tom

A proper line out has a 2v peak to peak voltage swing, I should imagine the Dragonflys primary purpose is to satisfy this so running at max volume is the way to go, I was reading a review today and the reviewer was comparing the DF's dac section to something costing 3 times as much, I'm getting pretty tempted myself, I only have the O2 amp so I cant comment on other amps, Ive heard it can be a bit treble happy with other headphones but plays reasonably well with the hd650's.

I had a chance to try the HD650 on my main system which is MBP -> Audio-GD DI -> Rega DAC -> Rotel RA1520 2 channel amp. I used the headphone out from the RA1520. Not sure the ratings for it, but the sound was better through this combo. Not hugely better, and as I discover through my journey in HiFi/Head-Fi, most of the differences are subtle.

 

The sound seem fuller and deeper. Not sure if this is due to the DAC or the headphone amp. Every addictive sound with this combo and the HD650. I'm glad to say that the HD650 are certainly very sultry and smooth headphones.

 

I have to say that for what it is, the DragonFly is a super device. The portability and the SQ for $250 is really great. Great for home office and office use, and for hotel rooms, I'd be more then happy with a laptop -> DragonFly -> HD650 all for its convenience.

Nice review Tom. The Novo is an amp I'd love to try as well. Is the Novo sound dark, balanced or bright?

 

I have a Graham Slee Phono Stage, which I think is very good for the money.

Well...it's only my opinion, but I would say that compared to the 0404's headphone out, which is really the only thing available to me to compare it to, it tightens up the bass and slightly (very slightly) emphasizes mids and removes harshness of treble. It also adds some dynamics to the music. The most notable difference when comparing it to the 0404's headphone out with the AH-D2000 is that with the Novo there is very very slightly less deepest bass, but the bass overall is also more controlled and punchy with the Novo, the Denons' bass sounds muddy from the 0404usb's headphone out. With the HD650s the most notable difference is that with the Novo the music is slightly more dynamic, controlled and vivid, and also the treble sounds kinda smoother (better than from the 0404usb's head.out). I would definitely not say it's dark, and it does not sound bright to me either... Sorry I probably didn't quite answer your question...
Edited by TomKure - 11/22/12 at 2:36pm

 

 

 

I have just ordered it from amazon.co.uk. I didn't see your post....

 

Could it be cheaper than 350 euros or 295 british pounds?
 

Take care though

Edited by Thanasis - 11/22/12 at 2:52pm

Hi people,

 

I don't have any experience with the HD650, but I feel that many people are rushing to judge HD650 as dark, veil, with rolled off treble.

I suspect that they rather give a biased description of the treble on the HD650.

At least Can someone re-establish how the treble response extends on the HD650  ?

 

I read that HD650' s treble extends even better than many other sets.

This leaves me with the impression that I will not experience a cut in the treble's upper edge. It is only the brightness that is cut. The highest treble frequencies are there.....

 

Is it true how I imagine it ?

 

It's hitting at least the DF's potential.