HD650 is not dark/warm enough...need your advice. - Page 5

The DT990 is great for metal and electronica. Plenty of bass that you're looking for compared to the HD650. Going from the HD650 to the DT990 you will notice a "thinner" yet sharper treble and a sucked out midrange (which you may find suits metal music just fine).

You may like the DT990 better than the D5000 for metal music as it really brings out the vocals and guitars but doesn't make the drums any less enjoyable.

Just my thoughts having experience with the headphones you own or are considering.

the EP version has more bass for sure, but it is not as tight, punchy bass. They are technically inferior cans in terms of soundstage, probably detail, refinement. But, like I said, they have a magical rich tone, and image seperation is top notch. Probably a can to just buy used on ebay and try out, since it's not too expensive, and get a DT990 or something else as well. If you just want to enjoy music, the sextetts are great, but if you're a clinical listener, you'll find faults.

I have a $17 solution for you: RFT 12AT7

Looking in your other thread at the tubes you bought (Mullard/TungSol etc) they all are very similar with a lush/warm/tubey sound but very little weight or punch (if any) in the low end (also I find the Mullard a wee bright for my taste). You should really give a try at the other end of the spectrum, the "cold" german tubes (RFT was east-german). They provide a completely different sound: cold, forward, dynamic and really punchy. I hate bright sound, my ears are overly sensitive to treble but this is from very far my favorite tube. Now my HD650 have a LOT of weight and punch in the bass department. It feels like they're closed headphones compared to when I use the Mullard or Amperex. I would never have imagined such a transformation was possible before I tried it by accident.
The magic trick is that now that they have so much punch I listen at a fraction of the volume I used to (no need to up the volume to get my bass fix) and the treble is perfect at that volume. The sound is dynamic in the treble also but without hurting my ears at all.

It may not end up being the sound signature you're after but the stark contrast with your current tubes will give you a much wider perspective on what HD650 are capable of. Just beware: your head will explode if you try the RFT with the Denons

I've been trying to settle into the HD650s for a good month and a half now. I've changed sources 2 times, and have now settled on a PS Audio DL III which I know for a fact sounds warm; I've heard it in a few different speaker systems, comparing to a Marantz SA11-S1 and a DacMagic. The DL III was much smoother, warmer, and lush sounding than the other two. So that factor has been ruled out for me. I also first tried a Compass with the 650s, which was much too bright. I then got an Elekit TU-882 tube amp. The 650s still sound harsh in the treble despite a knowingly smooth amp and dac, therefore I've concluded that the 650s are to blame. Anyone interested in a 1.5 month old set of HD650s, keep an eye out in the for sale forums, or PM me.

Now, I'm very interested in finding a smooth, open can, just like Plonter is. I enjoy my DT770-80s very much, but they are extremely heavy in the bass, and closed. I want something for a more "neutral" mood, but preferably something with treble that doesn't feel like sandpaper against my ear drums. Despite many people saying they think Beyers sound bright, I find the treble in these cans to be much much smoother than my HD650s.

Maybe I'll go for a pair of DT990s.....

When I'm in a "warmer" kind of mood, I play with Voxengo's Tube Amp to get a VERY lush sound!

Glad you can finally listen to Astral Projection with a smile on your face! I listen to a lot of electronica myself and this is probably why I like the RFT so much as it works really well for that genre in my amp (Jade).

Keep us updated!

bump on this thread - I also have found the HD650 to be not nearly as warm and dark and bassy as reviews have lead me to believe (I'm coming from a Futuresonics Atrio M8 out of an iPod classic).

 

Now that a year has past, are there any OPEN, currently in production 'phones that are warmer/darker than the HD650?

 

And, are there any (solid state prefereably) amps that are very warm and known for pumping out an absurd amount of bass that I could pair the HD650 to? I was thinking the Heed Canamp, but is the bass on that even that big, and does is it also bright in the treble region?

a HeadRoom amp with the crossfeed on will add warmth and bass. bad news is that they are not cheap.