Sennheiser HD650 Appreciation Thread!! - Page 626

Ultimately the price difference being 100 btwn hd600 and hd650 208 vs 308 and you figure at least 20 off that since I would be getting the 650 cabling to eliminate any doubt. Then 80 difference for the look, 650 styling seems less unique but more long term. Then 220 vs 326 after tax for those refurb models might as well spend the extra 30 or so (after getting a 50 amazon gift card ill use, it's like I paid 360 today) for a great return policy good reputation I know and love and new. And I had 555s and would have not gotten 595 if it weren't for having them stolen and finding a good deal on 595. Sonically 600 vs 650 , 650 sounds better to have less listening fatigue and more smoothing of harsh sources/mastering. Plus I've heard it has more bass and a bit brighter. It seems like either way ill be happy with a 600 or 650 but the 650 deal seemed good enough to try it out.

Plus I want headphones I won't upgrade possibly ever. Can't see myself spending over 1k for hd800s even 650 was a bit pushing it on my stinginess factor

Especially considering I'm pretty sure ill get an amp sooner rather than later. Might keep the udac2 a while if I can otherwise I'm sure I could sell it and get a hifimediy sabre for cheap
Edited by earphiler - 12/11/12 at 1:56pm

^^ +1 one the stinginess factor. I get uncomfortable on any audio purchase over $400. Funny thing is, I bought three $400 hp's without batting an eyelash. 

 

I'll have to wait another few months at least. Stupid economy and have less money these days.

I'll have to do several hours of checking reviews. I want the Lyr to be good for EVERYTHING, which is probably not going to happen. No, I don't means IEMs!

I don't mind some slight warmth, but not too much. I guess i'm picky about this.

 

Somehow the HD-650 doesn't degrade in sound if a source is too warm. Not this pair at least! Seems like it would, but it doesn't. I'm even using Mogami wiring for interconnects (won't go there) and am going to make an HD-650 cable with it too.

 

The warmest source I have is the PS1 with RCA jacks. Haven't tried that yet, but it should be amusing!

 

As long as the Lyr is good with my Q701, HD-650 and DJ100 (really), i'll be happy. I'm guessing it'll be fine with the ODAC.

 

BTW don't know why, but the Clip+ and Fuze seem pretty awful with the HD-650. Maybe i'm extremely picky. Who would have known the Clip+ is very warm..how is that even possible.

^^ The lyr and odac are a good combo. I used this very combo for months and was very happy. I had a chance to grab a bifrost at a really good price and couldn't resist. 

 

But I liked the odac a lot. Also, I wouldn't call the lyr overly tubey and warm. It's a hybrid amp technically. My end game amp as far as I can tell. Right now I own the 650, MD and he400 and the lyr works beautifully with all three. Couldn't ask for more...

just won a RA1 18v (2x9v) cmoy jrc4556 altoids can amp. should be nice for the money! ($36 shipped)

 

I'm hoping these & udac2 will be a decent tie over for a while until I one day decided to splurge for O2+ODAC or something like that.

Edited by earphiler - 12/11/12 at 7:46pm

 

Save up until you can get an ODAC, then save up until you can get a Lyr. Just do it. It's the only way. It gets a looooot better beyond the uDAC and a cmoy with the HD650s, man.

Edited by yokken - 12/11/12 at 7:55pm

Hey Tdock or anyone else looking for the lyr or the HD650..... I am willing to relinquish my Amazon exclusive coupon code for %10 off of $500 if someone is ACTUALLY GOING TO USE IT. Just mentioned this in the deals thread but if you want it, no one has contacted me yet.

My only criteria is that you send me a copy (vetted as needed) of the receipt page so I can be sure that it actually got some use

I don't plan on ordering anything that pricey by the 16th when it expires. I would prefer if the coupon is used to help someone get some audio gear than anything else. Thanks.

Doc

Right after I ordered the JRC4556 RA1 18V Cmoy Altoids Tin from ampedup77 on ebay, and $10 in 2x 2-pack 9V ($5 for each 2-pack and buy one get one at toysrus now), I read somewhere how certain overseas cmoy amps with 2x9V can cause damage to headphones if they don't drain at the same rate.

 

I don't have voltage testing equipment but is this something I should now be worried about, and maybe even sell my new equipment before even giving it a good test drive?

 

What's best practice for these dual 9v powered amps? put two fresh ones in and use them til they stop powering the device then replace or what?

 

The description from eBay sounds like the guy uses nice parts and tests the equipment before sending it off, and people seem to be quite pleased with it in user reviews.

 

Eventually I want to go O2+UDAC, but I think my wallet needs some breathing room first and UDAC2+this cmoy will hopefully be a decent (and benign, I can't handle a risk of my headphones being damaged when I don't do anything wrong) solution until then.?

 

Thanks for your input. I'm always OCD about researching my stuff before trying it out, but I guess that 'cmoy damage' concern slipped past my searches until now. Still, doesn't seem like it was something I saw when scanning the 'sub-100 amp' thread with lots of nice headphones being paired with new cheaper devices.

I had no problem with the cmoy I used from AmpedUp... I recently broke it, but it worked well and didn't damage my headphones.

 

He uses good parts and it's made state-side. I doubt you'll have any issues.

I see.

 

I just emailed him to see if he could respond to the concern, but glad to know.

 

How did you break them? And how often did you replace batteries on the 18v (2x9v) version? Is there a rhyme or reason to it or only when it stops working?

For those of you fellow HD650 lovers of Jazz, check out the artist Sophie Milman... she's an artist based here in Toronto with some serious vocals!  The nuances in her voice are brought out so nicely with the HD650s and a great way for these cans to shine!
 

You can tell when the batteries are dying, sound quality gets distorted or starts getting fainter. It doesn't cause damage as the batteries die.

 

Anyway, I broke it because it was my go-to portable amp and it didn't take getting thrown around in my bag, dropped numerous times, etc. too well. Well, I say that, but it really did. It worked completely fine for a long time and then it was one drop too much.

Thanks!

So if you were me, you wouldn't worry about potentially damaging HD650's with that kit?

 

Paranoia does sometimes get the best of me, but exclusively with electronics.

 

I'm sure emailing him my concerns earlier will elicit some response. My friend ordered them for me on eBay anyways so I doubt my concerns will delay the order.

Helloooooooo....... Nobody wants this^^?????

$10 off $500 is ok but you'd have to top up to $500 first. Amazon has some good deals occasionally but maybe not currently?

Edited by jerg - 12/12/12 at 12:22am