Sennheiser HD650 & Massdrop HD6XX Impressions Thread

[ccash]

Yep, comments like yours James are what I'm talking about.
 
But then I find a comment from Bob Katz (a famous mastering engineer) who says the HD600s were more bassy than the 650s. Huh?? I guess the only to find out for myself is to hear them.

 

[Lorspeaker]

hd600    --------->     hd650/SPCcable      <------------- HD650
 
not enufbass............................................................... too loose a bass
wish4somesweetness----------------------------------------too mellow
neutral-----------------------------------------------------------kinda veiled
 
 
All must finally converge at the sweetspot...it is somewhere betwix the two !
 

 

[Solrighal]

You guys think I'm in for a nice surprise or a disappointment?

Short answer? I think you're in for the shock of your life.

If I had to give an example of burn-in as a fact it would be the 650's. I didn't put my pair to the stopwatch or anything but I worked it out to be somewhere around 200 hours. The sound has opened up dramatically! Treble has finally broken free of the mids & the bass is tighter. Imaging is much improved.

I don't want to get into an argument about the "veil" but I do wonder if those who complain about it actually give the 650's enough time to open up.

If I had spent money on partnering equipment on day one I might be very disappointed by now, the change in signature is that great.

As ever though, YMMV.

 

[Jeff Y]

I recon this "veil" issue is gonna be a topic talked among everyone for years to come but I really love the veil. If you don't like the veil of the 650 I say you should be leaning towards Audeze.
If you dislike the bass, veil, and the "darkness" of the HD650, you shouldn't be trying to compensate it with other equipment(amps, cables) imo, you should rather be looking for different phones.
Now stone me to death for saying Graham Slee is the best amp for HD650 and all the things that I said^.

 

[ccash]

The cable, huh? I won't go into what I think of that, but I'm willing to try! (later though)
 
I hope you're right Zorrofox, because you can just tell these are great phones, despite what I found lacking at day one.
 
Again, sorry about 

! I hear the veil, don't like it, and hope it will be lifted with break-in. Thanks for your feedback. I'll be sure to report back in a couple hundred hours 

 

 

[Jeff Y]

Just curious but what music (or sound like pink noise) do you guys play usually for burning in phones?

 

[dmxvz]

Any recommendation on where to buy these right now? I mean the cheapest option ? Cause I see them at 499 everywhere, with an exception at 429...
Any cheaper ?

 

[dmxvz]

Just curious but what music (or sound like pink noise) do you guys play usually for burning in phones?

There's an album specially designed to burn in headphones and is a completely free download.. Is late though and this is the last post I'll check, if you want to find it is somewhere under ULTIMATE BURN IN ALBUM look for it in the forum. If you want to avoid it just send me a PM Tomorrow and I'll send you the link from my laptop (I'm in the cellphone)

 

[ccash]

I'm using music because I think that'll give the drivers more of a workout. Pink noise is too constant and doesn't fluctuate that much dynamically.
 
Regarding price, I got mine on a sudden Amazon drop to $439, but from what I'm reading Sennheiser has a tight grip on what they can be sold for by Authorized Dealers. If you find them cheaper, they are probably not authorized (or worse) and you'll run into hassles should you need repairs.

 

[Solrighal]

I'm using music because I think that'll give the drivers more of a workout. Pink noise is too constant and doesn't fluctuate that much dynamically.

Regarding price, I got mine on a sudden Amazon drop to $439, but from what I'm reading Sennheiser has a tight grip on what they can be sold for by Authorized Dealers. If you find them cheaper, they are probably not authorized (or worse) and you'll run into hassles should you need repairs.

That's what you think. Pink noise is precisely that - noise. By definition it fluctuates.

I've had a folder of noise on my PC since years back. Three 1 minute tracks of white noise, pink noise & brown noise. Rinse & repeat.

I used that method for the first 100 hours but I gave up because it was already clear that these were the headphones for me. I just listen to music now. Lots of music.

They continue to improve too. I'm having a lie-down after my Sunday morning coffee & smoke and really, even if it never gets better than this, I'll be content. I have arrived.

 

[whirlwind]

These cans do take a long time to burn in, I actually like to listen to the music when burning cans in so I can hear the transformation.....it is a wonderful thing to experience.
 
I am over 300 hours now and I really feel like they are still getting better and better.
 
Thee headphones perform well beyond their price point, imho.

 

[hodgjy]

Don't underestimate the amplification.  For example, this last week I've been listening exclusively to the HD650 being driven by the TEAC HA-501.  The sound was very crisp, precise, and transparent.  My ear burned in nicely.
 
Then, last night to change things up, I switched to my DT990 600 ohm being driven by my Woo WA3.  The DT990s traditionally have deep, tight bass and sizzling highs.  Well, compared to the TEAC HD650 combo, the DT990 and WA3 was extremely warm, laid back, flabby, and wooly.
 
Amplification makes a big difference.  In last night's example, the DT990 was more laid back, mellow, and euphonic. 

 

[connieflyer]

  @connieflyer: The HD600 was very good but it just was lacking a little in the Bass area for me. It had good Bass but not as much impact as the HD650. The HD650 felt like a warm blanket around you. It had good Bass, excellent Mids and pretty good Highs. The HD700 just seemed a bit harsh sounding to me and I did not favor it at all. The HD800 on the other hand was fantastic and if I was able to spend that kind of money I would have gotten that over the HD650. It was extremely detailed and huge soundstage and although a little bit brighter than the 650 not in a harsh way at all. The HD800 was also much more comfortable than the HD650.

thank you for the information,  that is about the same as I have heard in the past.  I am going to keep the 650's until I can afford the 800's, but for now these will do quite well.  

 

[Krutsch]

Thanks Lorspeaker, I hope so!

Krutsch- I know. It sounds a little nuts to me too, but since so many people say it, I have to respect it. So instead of just concluding that the 650s aren't what I'm looking for -- out of the box -- I'll do the break-in for a few days with continuous music and then make another evaluation.

I just read an article where they took measurements before and after 100 hours, and there aren't any real changes in frequency response. The main difference was in pad wear, which they say will affect the sound more than anything by making them more bassy.

I apologize if this is a tired subject for some of you. I'm chasing the holy grail of sound for my ears and I'm afraid its going to be Goldilocks syndrome: "These phones are too bright. These phones are too bassy..." For the reviewers that actually say there's a difference, the 600s sound like they may be what I'm looking for: not as sweet or flattering, but more natural, with less bass and a little more bite up top.

 
Thanks for making that point.  My theory is that the sound may change a little after use (after all, they are physical transducers), but my ears/brain adapts to, and expects, the sound it hears.  So, after time, the sound becomes more pleasing.  I suspect that's sacrilege to say, but that's my opinion of what constitutes break in.  Granted I have had limited exposure to different phones and IEMs over time.
 
As such, I've noticed that it's hard for me to A/B headphones; especially from different manufacturers.  Assuming the cans are of good quality, what I've been listening to the most are what I tend to prefer.  And, it takes me time to get to that place.
 
I was up late last night listening to favorite tracks on the 650s and I am getting to that place with these phones, fast...

 

[spiderking31]

100-200-300 hours for break in?  I've been away from my head-fi rig for a while, but just got my HD 650 today - used from a seller on eBay that claimed very little use (they do appear unused).  I am coming from Grado RS2i and the change in sound is really dramatic; lush is one way to put it, but I see what folks mean by the veil.

Looking forward to experiencing the "break in".

I've owned my hd650's for about 2 and a half years now, and listen to them at least a few hours a day. Mine are well over the 1000 hour mark, and they are way opposite of being muffled, and sounding like a 50 dollar pair of headphones! When brand new, they sound like an ordinary pair. Wait a month or two, and you will literally have your mind blown away! You will say, OMG! They're completely awesome headphones! And when paired with a good tube amp....well....you'll experience total audio nirvana! I know I have! here's to a happy listening.