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Are the HD650's forgiving?

post #1 of 25
9/29/09 at 8:51am
Thread Starter 
I'm wanting to buy a pair of HD650's and I was just wondering if they are forgiving at all to music that isn't mastered brilliantly. I don't want headphones that are brutal and deem my poorly recorded music unlistenable.

I've heard that they are more forgiving than their contemporaries, so that's what steered me to them I just wanted to clarify it some more.
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post #2 of 25
9/29/09 at 9:31am
Depends. 650s are very accurate, so things like compression artifacts stand out a bit more. Stuff like vinyl hiss/scratches/pops actually sound better on my 650s than on my Grados, though, making my 650s my go-to vinyl cans.

Also, 650s demand a decent amp too.

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post #3 of 25
9/29/09 at 10:07am
The 650s are very revealing of source and amp choices.
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post #4 of 25
9/29/09 at 10:15am
Hmmm... from my experience, I would say the HD650's have a smoother signature. I would not say forgiving, but I am sure you will find more ruthless cans out there.

Agree that they need a good amp to drive them to their fullest.
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post #5 of 25
9/29/09 at 10:43am
Thread Starter 
My WooAudio6 should be posted out in the next couple of days, so I have an amp. I am most excited!
It's just on like Zeppelin and other raw rock that I don't want sounding **** because the headphones are too analytical if that makes sense.
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post #6 of 25
9/29/09 at 10:48am
The HD650 are incredible in a manner that they sound forgiving (smooth and veiled) but they aren't. Staxes forgave much more for me.
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post #7 of 25
9/29/09 at 10:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bohemianism View Post
I'm wanting to buy a pair of HD650's and I was just wondering if they are forgiving at all to music that isn't mastered brilliantly. I don't want headphones that are brutal and deem my poorly recorded music unlistenable.

I've heard that they are more forgiving than their contemporaries, so that's what steered me to them I just wanted to clarify it some more.
They are some of the most forgiving midrange headphones I can think of, if not the most forgiving.
Smooth as a buttercup!
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post #8 of 25
9/29/09 at 10:58am
Thread Starter 
Well I'll definately get them then. I was already leaning towards them but just wanted to check.
That smooth as a buttercup only served as a cherry on top of my decision
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post #9 of 25
9/29/09 at 11:08am
FWIW, I found the HD650s somewhat warm and muffled sounding with a prominent lower midrange. I suspect that they would sound fairly "safe" and pleasing on most material. However, for me, I found them lacking detail, as I prefer my K702s....
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post #10 of 25
9/29/09 at 11:18am
You'll find them forgiving, but give them time to burn in, at least 200 hours, before making a judgement. Before that, like most phones, they can have a slight cutting edge.
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post #11 of 25
9/29/09 at 11:38am
I've owned HD650, MS-2, MS-Pro, Woodied HF-1, RS-1, K3000 and heard DT-990 extensively as well and the HD650 is the most forgiving of all of those to my ears.
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post #12 of 25
9/29/09 at 11:56am
I think you're on the right track. They are paradoxically both forgiving and revealing...somehow!
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post #13 of 25
9/29/09 at 12:15pm
They don't accentuate the faults of the recordings that's for sure. That combined with the smooth treble and laid-back nature makes listening very relaxing.
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post #14 of 25
9/29/09 at 12:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bohemianism View Post
I'm wanting to buy a pair of HD650's and I was just wondering if they are forgiving at all to music that isn't mastered brilliantly. I don't want headphones that are brutal and deem my poorly recorded music unlistenable.

I've heard that they are more forgiving than their contemporaries, so that's what steered me to them I just wanted to clarify it some more.
They are indead very forgiving, They are surely not very revealing on source and really not the most detailed headphone out there but scale well with amplification surely.

You really have to provoke these headphones with some really crappy recordings to make them show sibilance and such
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post #15 of 25
9/29/09 at 12:28pm
It depends greatly on your amp. The more revealing your amp, the more revealing the HD-650. The HD-650 can be brutally revealing with the right amp.
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