AKG K701 vs. Sennheiser HD650

Weather or not a headphone gives a more "emotional" experience varies per person. The best way to find out is to pick up a pair used and spend a few weeks with it. If you don't like them they should be easy enough to sell off.

I find the "veiled" description that is common here inaccurate with the current silver screen drivers. There is more bass and mid-bass so everything sounds 'thicker' and have more 'body'. This description is meaningless until you actually hear a pair. Personally I love the sound, so much that I have 2 pairs, (a real HD650 as well as a HD580 converted into 650's)

off the top of my reading experience here, the k701s are known for their analytical way about music which is something I believe, you would have discovered when researching which amp to pair with it. That said, there are genres of music that the k701 caters to, and if you are into beats and stuff, ya better off going with the HD650s, but how they pair up with the heed canamp and v-dac, that I cannot help.

the k701s are used as reference and are very revealing. again, I'm going at this without much experience but pure heresay on what I've read on the boards. I've ordered the k702 despite knowing this, despite wanting the emotional and musicality because I need something to pair off with my IE8s and cos' at home, I'll be relaxing and I know, chances are, I'll still enjoy them in that manner. :)

Yea I could agree with you guys on that note; I have the K702s and they are very revealing, very detailed phones. However because of this, I don't use them with certain genres of music like rap, rock, hip hop, techno, and the like; they just don't carry the weight that other phones do. 

However I LOVE them for classical and acoustic music (which is what I bought them for). 

if you do decide to go with hd650's instead, you should probably start doing research on different amps as well. I haven't seen too many people enjoy sennheisers with the canamp.

This is why suggestions for a tube or hybrid amp. A digital source with a SS amp is an audio microscope using the 70x. Add some tube bloom and things start sounding more like music and less like a mixing can. 

IMO

I agree that the newer "silver" driver sennheisers, do not have "veil."  However they are not as bright or detailed as the K701.  I love the midrange of the hd650's, very smooth and relaxing.  My issue with them is that the bass is a bit slow and muddy.  I like both, but if I had one it would be the k701....for now.

Curious... how long have the 'newer silver' drivers been around?

There are several tube and hybrid options. Budget?

Re-cabled and good amp, HD650 hands down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zack916 
Any suggestions for an amp for the 650s?

I've heard some talk about Darkvoice and HD650 making good synergy, but I'm skeptical on Chinese stuff. I'm planning on going Diy route by building a 3 channel Beta22.

While HD650 gives you more bass, the "emotion" comes in Grado headphones.

I know a lot of people dislike this, but can't you use equalizer to adjust the sound to your like? Theoretically you can get similar sound signature as most of the headphones.