Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › HD 650 - which amp is best for 1000 USD (no DIY)
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

HD 650 - which amp is best for 1000 USD (no DIY)

post #1 of 39
3/31/10 at 6:08pm
Thread Starter 
First, if there are any users with "stock" HD 650, I would be happy to read which AMPs sounded best for you (and why, if you remember ).

Second.. there is small list of amps, can someone point which one is most suitable for HD 650? (Im looking for less bass then default HD 650 and more of everything else).

Listed ones (which one is best for HD 650?):

DYNAVOX CSM-112

Fubar 4

Vincent KHV 111 MK

Vincent KHV 1

CARAT - EMERALD

Price doesnt matter.. sound does. Apply for best and for best of that list.

Edit: Topic name changed - no DIY and limit is 1000 USD (or bit more.. around 20% is within tolerance).

Edit: And no, I dont have anything against DIY .. I would love to, but I would need step-by-step howto to make something working..
Reply

Gear mentioned in this thread:

Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones
post #2 of 39
3/31/10 at 6:20pm
Earmax Pro. Hands down.
Reply
post #3 of 39
3/31/10 at 7:30pm
My Beta22 gets the best sound I've heard from my HD650s. They are completely stock, ignore the red cable in the pics, as I've since gone back to the original.
Reply
post #4 of 39
3/31/10 at 7:33pm
You've asked a question I don't think you intended to.

What's the best amp for the HD650? The best you can afford. The beta22 is a lot more expensive than the Carat Emerald you've listed.
Reply
post #5 of 39
3/31/10 at 7:38pm
Woo Audio WA5 maybe?
Not heard it myself, but remember people praising the combo.

WA5 Speaker and Headphone Amplifier
Reply
post #6 of 39
3/31/10 at 7:44pm

Don't Know If...

Don't know if its "the best" with Senns... but... it's "darn good"... maybe great - the WA6 SE Maxed!

UPDATE: Oh yes... for the money... the WA 3 and 3+ match the Senns superbly! The 3+ is a little more versatile.

If you want a real value... that's also "darn good" with Senns, as well as other phones... get yourself a Millett MiniMax!

Also... the Darkvoice amps are great with Senns!

The GS Solo II is superb with Senns!!!

You've got a tough decision!!!

Although... all these require a great source, and possibly a after market cable (i.e. RAL Cryo-silver, or Cardas, etc.) if you're "finnicky." But... once you "get there" the Senns are very balanced, with a great rich sound, good soundstage, and lots of clarity and detail. But... you really have to select well matched components, and make a bit of an investment. The quality of the components and how well they match totally determines the quality of the sound from Senns - GIGO! Which is moreless true of all phones, but expecially Senns. You can't expect to invest a lot in any set of phones and expect them to sound great, unless you've invested in the components and carefully matched them to the phones.
Reply
post #7 of 39
3/31/10 at 8:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by krmathis View Post
Woo Audio WA5 maybe?
Not heard it myself, but remember people praising the combo.

WA5 Speaker and Headphone Amplifier
How do they sound to you with your setup?
Reply
post #8 of 39
3/31/10 at 8:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ridleyguy View Post
How do they sound to you with your setup?
No idea. As I have never heard a HD650 paired up with my β22.
Reply
post #9 of 39
3/31/10 at 8:31pm
I have an Isabellina HPA, that's why I was asking and I see you have the DAC and power amp. (?)
Reply
post #10 of 39
3/31/10 at 8:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anonanimal View Post
My Beta22 gets the best sound I've heard from my HD650s. They are completely stock, ignore the red cable in the pics, as I've since gone back to the original.
What it improved sound wise? Thanks for answer..

Edit: Forget it, thanks anyway.. I should wrote "no DYI AMPs". I dont have equip for that.. and even if I have some soldering skills and understand "howto" I still have very vague idea how "headphone AMP" works.. So, not for me.. at least not yet.
Reply
post #11 of 39
3/31/10 at 8:45pm
Thread Starter 
Woo audio looks really great.. price looks less great. HD 800 would be more worthy than HD 650. Not sure if its "sensible" to buy AMP that cost like 10x of headphones?
Reply
post #12 of 39
3/31/10 at 8:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mescalamba View Post
Woo audio looks really great.. price looks less great. HD 800 would be more worthy than HD 650. Not sure if its "sensible" to buy AMP that cost like 10x of headphones?
well people can argue for a while about that!
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/hea...s-mind-480173/

I started with a presonus central station (solid state), which sounded pretty good with my hd650s. now i moved to tubes with a little dot mkiv, which sounds even better. i just bought a fixed singlepower extreme which should be another improvement. i've spent more than 3x as much on amps and sources as i did for my hd650s, even with an aftermarket cable for them
Reply
post #13 of 39
3/31/10 at 8:59pm
If you have a budget you should state it. Headphones like the 650/600's and any number of other very good headphones (701/2's 880's 5000's both Sony and Denon and others) are good enough to improve when the associated equipment is improved; meaning they scale well. Is a WA5 out of line with 650's? not IMO (Although I'm not a fan of the 650/600's).

Asking for the best amp is very open ended, if you have a budget, state it.

No one here is a mind reader.
Reply
post #14 of 39
3/31/10 at 9:03pm
Thread Starter 
Its not about budget (its still withing budget).. just wasnt sure how good HD 650s are. Eg. if that upgrade is worth it, or I simply should get HD 800 + that Woo highest end AMP.

As I noticed HD 800 are very different from HD 650 (and I kinda like HD 650 and much less like AKG 701 and similar ones).
Reply
post #15 of 39
3/31/10 at 9:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeremyzone View Post
well people can argue for a while about that!
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/hea...s-mind-480173/

I started with a presonus central station (solid state), which sounded pretty good with my hd650s. now i moved to tubes with a little dot mkiv, which sounds even better. i just bought a fixed singlepower extreme which should be another improvement. i've spent more than 3x as much on amps and sources as i did for my hd650s, even with an aftermarket cable for them
Thanks for link. Seems pretty interesting..
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headphone Amps (full-size)

Gear mentioned in this thread:

Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › HD 650 - which amp is best for 1000 USD (no DIY)