[BobG55]

  Has anyone here heard significant improvements by throwing more expensive/powerful solid-state amplifiers at the HD650? I used it with a Fiio E10K (High Gain), O2, Schiit Magni 2, Violectric HPA V90 and JDS Labs The Element. Changes were extremely subtle, almost non-existant.

What really appears to bring the very, very best out of the HD650 is an amplifier w/ a damping factor of 50 +.  In my case I use the HD650 exclusively w/ my vintage Kenwood KA-8300 integrated amplifier (1976) & I'll tell you, with the right amplifier, as I believe my vintage amp to be, the HD650 is as good as just about any headphone on the market including orthos.  I've owned & listened to the following headphones over the years : the HD600 (like that one also), HD598, HD700, HD800, HD800 S, Beyer T1 Gen.1 & Gen.2, DT990/ 600ohm, AKG K702, K712, K702-65th annies, Grado PS1000e, PS500e, GS1000e & i, GH1, SRS325e, RS1i, & e, LCD 2 rev.2, Shure SRH1540, SRH940 & a few more mid-high end which I can't recall & based on my personal taste & based on the "perfect" amplification for them : the HD650 is my personal favourite headphone amongst all of those headphones I've listed.  
 
One important point which at times seems to be forgotten about these headphones is that for a number of years, the HD650 was Sennheiser's flagship headphone.  Grant you, that was a few years ago but that doesn't necessarily mean that headphones with newer technology are much better or simply better than the HD650.  Price isn't always a true indicator either.  
 
 
A former member of Head-fi who really knows his stuff put it best when it comes to the HD650 (copy & paste from "a part" of what he wrote on another Internet audiophile site, 3 years ago ) : 
 
Quote : First off, the HD-650 is not a mid-ranged headphone. It was Sennheiser's flagship for years and is still a better headphone than quite a few in the $1,000-$3,000 range. Yes. Seriously.

For those here who don't know me, I usually run the setup in my flair. However, I also have the AKG K-1000, Stax Omega II Mk. 1, Grado HP-2, and a dozen other headphones. I have owned the HD-650, HD-600, DT880, K-701, K-501, and a bunch others. I've been to several large meets and have listened to pretty much everything on the market. Yes, even the Orpheus. My other amp is a Moth Si2A3 and I'm bringing a Barbour Brute Force and Cuiffoli SESS (5842) online pretty quick, followed by a Pete Millett SRPP ECC99 in the grounded cathode configuration. I like speakers, too, and run ProAc Response 2.5 clones I built and Quad ESL-63s. 

So when I say that the HD-650 is a high end headphone, I mean it. It's a great headphone and a tremendous value considering that some of the expensive headphones are just ordinary headphones tarted up with aluminum and leather and a really big price tag.

The HD-650 is picky about amplification. This is where the veil myth comes from. The HD-650 is not veiled; amplifiers are veiled. Use a good one and it can sound almost as quick and transparent as an electrostat."

 

My favourite part of what he wrote & that I happen to agree with is the following :

 

"The HD650 is picky about amplification.  This is where the VEIL MYTH comes from.  The HD650 is NOT VEILED; AMPLIFIERS ARE VEILED.  Use a good one and it can sound almost as quick and transparent as an electrostat."

 

I fully agree with this opinion because I'm experiencing it now with the proper amping.  This headphone is an exceptional piece of audio technology.

 

[mysticstryk]

I'll add that you don't even have to spend a lot of money to make the HD650 truly sing.  Listening out of my Vali 2 and Modi 2 Uber 4490 right now and it is an exceptional pairing, almost as good as my Bifrost/Valhalla 2 setup. 

 

[jimmers]

 
What really appears to bring the very, very best out of the HD650 is an amplifier w/ a damping factor of 50 +.  In my case I use the HD650 exclusively w/ my vintage Kenwood KA-8300 integrated amplifier (1976) ...

Not saying it won't sound good, but if you are using the headphone output of the amp there is a 330 Ohm series resistor which pretty much negates the damping factor of 50 + and will give approx. 1.5dB boost around 90 Hz
 
 
Edit: Ooops, looks like I killed the thread.

 

[mysticstryk]

Edit: Ooops, looks like I killed the thread.h34r:

When the universe implodes and time and space cease to exist, this thread will remain.

Got a Bimby at a crazy good price. Going to compare with regular 4490 Bifrost.

If I like the Bimby, I'm going to swap the chassis so I can still have a matching black Bifrost. Any tips for taking it apart? Do I need to unscrew every screw on the bottom and back side?

 

[lenroot77]

When the universe implodes and time and space cease to exist, this thread will remain.

Got a Bimby at a crazy good price. Going to compare with regular 4490 Bifrost.

If I like the Bimby, I'm going to swap the chassis so I can still have a matching black Bifrost. Any tips for taking it apart? Do I need to unscrew every screw on the bottom and back side?

Looking forward to ur comparison.

Isn't it just the cover that is black?

 

[mysticstryk]

Looking forward to ur comparison.

Isn't it just the cover that is black?

Yes.

 

[MattTCG]

When the universe implodes and time and space cease to exist, this thread will remain.

Got a Bimby at a crazy good price. Going to compare with regular 4490 Bifrost.

If I like the Bimby, I'm going to swap the chassis so I can still have a matching black Bifrost. Any tips for taking it apart? Do I need to unscrew every screw on the bottom and back side?

 
Cover slides off with removal of screws from top and bottom...iirc. Kind of difficult to get the lights to line up again after taking the unit apart. 

 

[Samut89]

Hi guys,

Does anyone know who is willing to sell a Mod HD650.?
Please let me know.

Thanks,
Jonathan

 

[MattTCG]

Hi guys,

Does anyone know who is willing to sell a Mod HD650.?
Please let me know.

Thanks,
Jonathan

 
Maybe post an ad in the sale forums? Or buy a pair and get a friend to help with mods. They are not very difficult. 

 

[Tuneslover]

   
Cover slides off with removal of screws from top and bottom...iirc. Kind of difficult to get the lights to line up again after taking the unit apart. 

For a very good illustration on how to open and upgrade a Bifrost, see post by toschek
 
Go to:  Schiit Bifrost Uber Analog Upgrade THREAD, Page 2, Post #25.

 

[castleofargh]

to link to a particular post, you can copy/past the link location of the post number on the top right side of said post.

 

[mysticstryk]

Cover slides off with removal of screws from top and bottom...iirc. Kind of difficult to get the lights to line up again after taking the unit apart. 

For a very good illustration on how to open and upgrade a Bifrost, see post by toschek

Go to:  Schiit Bifrost Uber Analog Upgrade THREAD, Page 2, Post #25.

Thanks guys, looks easy enough. I won't have to unscrew the circuit board or anything fancy it looks like. I'll keep an eye on getting it lined up properly.

 

[Stereomojo]

HI guys. I've had a new pair of 650's since Thursday and in the process of break in. Out of the box, they reminded me of a senior citizen riddled with arthritis who has a severe case of constipation - so stopped up, congested and tight sounding.
 
The enclosed booklet says very little about the makeup of the phones, especially the driver(s) and I haven't seen anything definitive here or elsewhere. So my question is, Is this a single driver phone or perhaps concentric? I think probably single, but I don't want to assume. I know the material is aluminum.
 
And I have one other very basic question: I know there are tiny markings for left and right, but in low light, how do you know which way to position them on your head? The pads are not angled and the cables are centered....
 
Thanks!

 

[Koolpep]

HI guys. I've had a new pair of 650's since Thursday and in the process of break in. Out of the box, they reminded me of a senior citizen riddled with arthritis who has a severe case of constipation - so stopped up, congested and tight sounding.

The enclosed booklet says very little about the makeup of the phones, especially the driver(s) and I haven't seen anything definitive here or elsewhere. So my question is, Is this a single driver phone or perhaps concentric? I think probably single, but I don't want to assume. I know the material is aluminum.

And I have one other very basic question: I know there are tiny markings for left and right, but in low light, how do you know which way to position them on your head? The pads are not angled and the cables are centered....

Thanks!

Funny description.

The pads and cables are slightly pointed forward on the bottom so very easy to "feel" if you have it right or wrong in your hands before you put them on your noggins.

 

[DavidA]

  HI guys. I've had a new pair of 650's since Thursday and in the process of break in. Out of the box, they reminded me of a senior citizen riddled with arthritis who has a severe case of constipation - so stopped up, congested and tight sounding.
 
The enclosed booklet says very little about the makeup of the phones, especially the driver(s) and I haven't seen anything definitive here or elsewhere. So my question is, Is this a single driver phone or perhaps concentric? I think probably single, but I don't want to assume. I know the material is aluminum.
 
And I have one other very basic question: I know there are tiny markings for left and right, but in low light, how do you know which way to position them on your head? The pads are not angled and the cables are centered....
 
Thanks!

Easiest way is the "Sennheiser" name on top of the headband faces forward when you put them on and as @Koolpep noted the cups are mounted with the bottom faced a touch forward.