[Jason36]

I nearly bought a pair of HE-400 today to try against my new HD650....just to be sure and make sure I had made the right decision. I managed to stop myself at the last minute 

 I would like to try a pair, but still just really worried about the additional wieght / size and also reliability to a certain extent.
 
I must say though I am really impressed with my HD650.....I've read a lot of reviews from people saying they lack bass, but I must say I havent heard that yet......the bass just seems to be right for my listening preferences and female vocals are just so...hmmmmm.
 
Currently listening to Paloma Faith's Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? via Spotify Premium and it sounds amazing as does Adels' 21!!
 
Just as an aside...... I am looking to purchase a desktop amp and posibly DAC to use with the HD650. I have seen a lot on here about the Schiit Lyr and Bitfrost (both of which I have on my wishlist when funds and a UK distributor arrives).....but other than those can anybody recommend anything else, I was potentially thinking of the following if anyone can comment:
 
ALO PanAm and possibly the standalone power supply
 
Little Dot III - Mainly because it has RCA in and so I could connect my DIY Modded iPod directly to it.
 
Cheers

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

You sold the hd650 already?

HE-400 (away for replacement) | KSC35 | KSC75 || SA-31 | ODAC | E17 | Mixamp 5.8

No HD650, lol.

If the HE-400 I get is defective again, I'm gonna just return them and swear off Hifiman. I'll be going with the K702 65th Anniversary, or HD650. I'm actually quite done with the headphone game, and just wanna settle with one. That one was the HE-400, but with these issues... I may have to search yet again. I love the HD650s, but they aren't jack of all trades, which is the only strike they have against them.

 

[wazzupi]

what about the he-500's ?

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

I'd never get used to wearing a dumbell on my head. No thanks. Comfort is priority one. I find the HE-400 the limit when it comes to weight.

 

[wazzupi]

I actually have a question for you why did you get rid of your lyr ? 

 

[MattTCG]

Me or madlustenvy? I still have the lyr.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Back then, I sold the Lyr and D7000 because I needed the money for my TV.

That and I wasn't impressed by the Lyr. I wasn't a fan of the tube sound (two different pairs of tubes). I prefer the clean, crisp sound of solid state amps.

People swear by the Lyr, but it wasn't for me. For around the same price, I'd definitely take the Audio-GD SA-31...every time. That and it's even more powerful... like 40% more powerful. That and it has 5 inputs.

 

[wazzupi]

Quote:

Back then, I sold the Lyr and D7000 because I needed the money for my TV.
That and I wasn't impressed by the Lyr. I wasn't a fan of the tube sound (two different pairs of tubes). I prefer the clean, crisp sound of solid state amps.
People swear by the Lyr, but it wasn't for me. For around the same price, I'd definitely take the Audio-GD SA-31...every time. That and it's even more powerful... like 40% more powerful.

interesting <.< were you able to compare with the hd650's ? 

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

No, I didn't have the Lyr recently. I'm 100% sure I wouldn't have liked the HD650 off the Lyr.

 

[BobJS]

I find the HE-500 extremely comfortable.... don't really feel the weight--- it's cushioned nicely.  No remorse about selling my HD650 either.... but it's not because of the HE500 (too different an animal) --- it's because the HD600 is still competing for my favorite, most head-time set of phones.
 

 

[wazzupi]

bob did you have the silver driver hd650 because I can't imagine how the hd600 can beat them. I might have to buy them I get them at a pretty cheap price so I don't mind... I can't honestly imagine how anyone can get rid of the hd650's unless you just go higher tier headphones. 

 

[Velocity]

Quote:

bob did you have the silver driver hd650 because I can't imagine how the hd600 can beat them. I might have to buy them I get them at a pretty cheap price so I don't mind... I can't honestly imagine how anyone can get rid of the hd650's unless you just go higher tier headphones. 

You should try the HD600. 

 

[BobJS]

Quote:

bob did you have the silver driver hd650 because I can't imagine how the hd600 can beat them. I might have to buy them I get them at a pretty cheap price so I don't mind... I can't honestly imagine how anyone can get rid of the hd650's unless you just go higher tier headphones. 

 
Yes, I had a relatively new silver driver hd650 and preferred the hd600 after quite a bit of back and forth.  I was driving them direct out of a dragonfly dac/amp, as well as a schiit asgard.  Just my presonal taste, but compared to the hd600, I could never get the idea out of my head that something was missing with the hd650 "up there".  Also I've always been turned off by a mid-bass hump, especially at the expense of lower bass extension, which is what I perceived the hd650 to have relative to the hd600.  I know people go simply gaga over the hd650, so, maybe I had a fluke; maybe I needed a more powerful amp with more headroom, or perhaps my tastes are just different.  As much as I love he-500, though, I find my hd600 gives it a run for the money.

 

[fuzzy1969]

The hd650 was a variation of the hd600, the hd600 being more 'neutral'.

 

[Keevs]

Quote:

Just as an aside...... I am looking to purchase a desktop amp and posibly DAC to use with the HD650. I have seen a lot on here about the Schiit Lyr and Bitfrost (both of which I have on my wishlist when funds and a UK distributor arrives).....but other than those can anybody recommend anything else, I was potentially thinking of the following if anyone can comment:
 
ALO PanAm and possibly the standalone power supply
 
Little Dot III - Mainly because it has RCA in and so I could connect my DIY Modded iPod directly to it.

The ALO PanAm is a good match for the HD650 for my ears. It has power aplenty, and the sound is warm and full, with a good bottom end. I didn't compare the PanAm to the Lyr but did compare it to a Valhalla which, didn't sound as full or powerful then the PanAm. And the PanAm has a built in 24/96 DAC which also sounds pretty good. However, it is fairly expensive, especially once you start adding the power and battery units.
 
I have a Little Dot MkIII, and for the price, it's hard to beat. It is at least the equal, if not slightly better after upgrading the tubes, to the Valhalla to my ears. Like a lot of others have mentioned, the HD650 can scale up, and for the moment, I'd rather put more money to a better DAC.