Hello there.

In my eternal quest for a nice headphone, I'm now standing before a difficult choice.

I currently own the Sennheiser HD650 and HD555 (mod). Previously I've owned AKG K501, AKG K702 and Beyerdynamic DT770 pro.

The HD650 is relatively new, I've owned them for a month or so. But to be honest, I'm disappointed, and I actually find myself going back to the HD555 quite often. I WANT to like the 650's, but I cannot.

First, let me tell you what I think about them.
Pros: Musical, laid back, easy treble, no grainy sound, mid-range is very nice. Smooth sound, in general.
Cons: Narrow soundstage, slow, fat bass. The bass seems to affect the entire sound of the headphones. Everything sounds the same.

The cons are the biggest dealbreakers. Coming from the AKG-world and the dynamic, open and airy HD555, HD650 was quite the opposite. The cans also came with a £150 Russ Andrews HC1 (Kibmer Kable) cable. (I bought them used). But the lack of soundstage is maybe my biggest concern. You might ask why I sold the AKG's... The K501 was a mistake, but the K701 was too dry, analytical and boring.. and the soundstage was too wide, and not that deep. They also lacked the bass impact that could have made them fun.

On the HD555 (mod), i find the bass is layered and faster. The soundstage is way wider than the one on HD650 and the general sound is easier on the ear. However, the headphones general sound is not that smooth. It struggles on high volumes and I find it a bit grainy sometimes. The sound is not as effortless as the HD650's.

If I am to take Headfonia's word and this personal review on Headphone.com the new Sennheiser HD598 improves on HD555/HD595 in every possible way. The HD598 have allegedly an improved soundstage over HD555, which speaks in my favor.

So what I'm actually considering, is downgrading. Replace the HD650's with the HD598's...

Any input on this maybe not-so-clever-choice?

Something is wrong if your hd650 soundstage is narrower than your hd555 soundstage. 
 
After you fix that problem, I would suggest you buy a Stefan AudioArt Euinox cable to solve that bass problem and increase clarity throughout the entire sound.
 
If you still are not satisfied, then sell the cable and the hd650, and then proceed to downgrade or in your case an upgrade, and save yourself a bit of money.

They don't have a narrow soundstage, just seems that way since the HD555 is 'airier' and the HD650 is very thick and lush sounding.

Quote:

idletime1213 said:

They don't have a narrow soundstage, just seems that way since the HD555 is 'airier' and the HD650 is very thick and lush sounding.

Click to expand...

Do you regret selling those k501's? Maybe they deserve a second chance? Many people say that the hd598's are too similar to the hd595's which are then very similar to the hd555's. Lateral movement is no good, you have to keep going up!

I'm curious though. You said that the HD-650 is only a month old. Is it the newer white screened version? Honestly I think if you don't like the HD-650 there is very little chance you'll love the HD-598. The HD-598 is quite nice, but the HD-650 is an improvement in every area except for soundstage and how more forward sounding the mids are on the HD-598. The sound is a lot less clear on the HD-598, but is still very very good. Some probably couldn't tell unless they were compared side by side. I do prefer the bass on the HD-598. I don't find the bass on the HD-650 slow and bloated, but it does have a tad more then I'd like. It's also terrible for gaming, which is a huge disappointment for me, but I didn't buy it for that.
 
I think you're better off with something else. I guess my suggestion is to try the HD-598 out anyway and then return them if you don't like them. I personally don't think they're worth more than say $200 since they're plastic. I guess if it was my only headphone then I'd pay more. They'll be worth more to people that use them for 50% music and 50% gaming. If I had to pick a headphone for EVERYTHING, I'd probably just use the HD-598.
 
HD-598 has less detail and clarity, but it's soundstage is huge and so much larger than the HD-650. I would say the sound signature is a little more fun than the HD-650. I actually find the HD-650 much brighter and fatiguing somehow! Sometimes I feel like I'd just love a headphone that was a combination of the K701 and an HD-600/650. Strangely I prefer the HD-650 for female vocals. That's a huge priority for me.

I just purchased the Fii0 e9 and Fii0 e7. I am using the 7 with a set of Miles Davis Tribute earbuds. What I am confused about (there was no owner's manual) is how the two pieces (e7 and e9) should be used together. What hooks up to what? If someone could post a picture, all the better.

This youtube vidieo will provide you with the information you need, at about the 9 minute mark he connects the E7 to the E9-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmJlFBDNZrQ
 
By the way thread jacking to definitely NOT cool.  The next time you have a question, I advise that you create your own thread to have it answered.

Kabforks, are you using an amp with your HD650s?  If so, what amp are you using?

I think words like "soundstage" and "fun" and "laid-back" just get in the way of thinking clearly about what you want. If you're using the amplification that you intend to keep using for a while, then in reality the only two technical terms you need to be considering are "like" and "better". As in do you "like" the HD650 "better" than the HD598 for your music with your equipment or do you "like" the HD598 "better".

Don't worry about labels or matching up what you hear to what you read someone else writing about their own experience. The techny mumbo-jumbo makes it seem like there's something more there than just what you enjoy listening to. There's not.

The only thing I'd worry about is getting rid of the HD650 then shortly turning around and getting a much better amplifier or listening to another style of music. That would be a case of always wondering what you're missing once the other changes are made. Suffice it to say that most people find a properly amp'd HD650 provides a superior listening experience to an HD598. Problem is, you may or may not be "most people"!

Interesting. . . I actually really like the HD 650's soundstage.

Some people just have bad taste.
 
just kidding.
 
I like the HD650 more than HD800, just more of my style.
 
 

Quote:

jeust0999 said:

Some people just have bad taste.
 
just kidding.
 
I like the HD650 more than HD800, just more of my style.

 

Click to expand...

 
makes a lot of sense for me
I will rather have a easy-to-amp headphone that is good ( ATH) than something that will only sound good
on my specific rig
Moreover, a lot of people prefer twisted sound over loyally presented sound , and since they are similar brands
a little flavor added will not hurt
 
to OP
If you don't want to buy an amp, and is not really into putting a lot of effort into dealing with HD650, go for HD598
cost less, take less effort, and if it gives you the same joy, why not ?
 

HD 650 is harder to "Push"
to unlock its potential u need a decent amp.
HD 650 should not lose in any category

It is not that I prefer "twisted", I just like the unique HD650 flavor.
 
In the $1,000+ headphone category the T1 appeals to me more than any other headphone, including the HD800.

A lot of nice replies here...

enthusia said:

Something is wrong if your hd650 soundstage is narrower than your hd555 soundstage. 
 
After you fix that problem, I would suggest you buy a Stefan AudioArt Euinox cable to solve that bass problem and increase clarity throughout the entire sound.
 
If you still are not satisfied, then sell the cable and the hd650, and then proceed to downgrade or in your case an upgrade, and save yourself a bit of money.

Click to expand...

I don't believe there is something wrong with them... if my memory serves me well, HD595/555 do have a wider soundstage or it might just seem that wide...

idletime1213 said:

They don't have a narrow soundstage, just seems that way since the HD555 is 'airier' and the HD650 is very thick and lush sounding.

Click to expand...

I agree that the sound is thicker

enthusia said:

Do you regret selling those k501's? Maybe they deserve a second chance? Many people say that the hd598's are too similar to the hd595's which are then very similar to the hd555's. Lateral movement is no good, you have to keep going up!

Click to expand...

Yes I agree selling them. I've been trying to get them back, but they are overpriced on the used market...

tdockweiler said:

I'm curious though. You said that the HD-650 is only a month old. Is it the newer white screened version? Honestly I think if you don't like the HD-650 there is very little chance you'll love the HD-598. The HD-598 is quite nice, but the HD-650 is an improvement in every area except for soundstage and how more forward sounding the mids are on the HD-598. The sound is a lot less clear on the HD-598, but is still very very good. Some probably couldn't tell unless they were compared side by side. I do prefer the bass on the HD-598. I don't find the bass on the HD-650 slow and bloated, but it does have a tad more then I'd like. It's also terrible for gaming, which is a huge disappointment for me, but I didn't buy it for that.
 
I think you're better off with something else. I guess my suggestion is to try the HD-598 out anyway and then return them if you don't like them. I personally don't think they're worth more than say $200 since they're plastic. I guess if it was my only headphone then I'd pay more. They'll be worth more to people that use them for 50% music and 50% gaming. If I had to pick a headphone for EVERYTHING, I'd probably just use the HD-598.
 
HD-598 has less detail and clarity, but it's soundstage is huge and so much larger than the HD-650. I would say the sound signature is a little more fun than the HD-650. I actually find the HD-650 much brighter and fatiguing somehow! Sometimes I feel like I'd just love a headphone that was a combination of the K701 and an HD-600/650. Strangely I prefer the HD-650 for female vocals. That's a huge priority for me.

Click to expand...

They have been in my possession for a month, but I have no idea of how long the previous owner have owned them. It is not the newer white screened version.... I've also read that, despite the 598's aren't quite as good as the 650's, they are more fun. Yes, I'd very much like a combo of K701 and HD650.... maybe I need something the LCD-2 or something, but thats way out of my budget .

digital-pride said:

Kabforks, are you using an amp with your HD650s?  If so, what amp are you using?

Click to expand...

I am using a Little Dot MK III tube amp.

brent hutto said:

I think words like "soundstage" and "fun" and "laid-back" just get in the way of thinking clearly about what you want. If you're using the amplification that you intend to keep using for a while, then in reality the only two technical terms you need to be considering are "like" and "better". As in do you "like" the HD650 "better" than the HD598 for your music with your equipment or do you "like" the HD598 "better".
Don't worry about labels or matching up what you hear to what you read someone else writing about their own experience. The techny mumbo-jumbo makes it seem like there's something more there than just what you enjoy listening to. There's not.
The only thing I'd worry about is getting rid of the HD650 then shortly turning around and getting a much better amplifier or listening to another style of music. That would be a case of always wondering what you're missing once the other changes are made. Suffice it to say that most people find a properly amp'd HD650 provides a superior listening experience to an HD598. Problem is, you may or may not be "most people"!

Click to expand...

That's quite insightful. Regarding labels, I've been trying to avoid them, but I somehow ended up writing exactly the same as everyone else is writing. I partially agree on you that fluffy words like soundstage, fun and lack-back clouds the overall discussion, but they are one subjective way of describing something difficult as sound. What other terms would we use?

Both headphones (555 and 650) amped by a Little Dot MK III, the 555's do have quicker bass and an overall airer sound compared to the 650's. That, in my opinion, is greatly in favor of the way cheaper headphone. I want that kind of sound. That's what I'm looking for. And want to pursue that kind of sound. So even though HD650 may give a superior listening experience, and I will agree it does that on some aspects, it's unfortunately not superior on the tings I consider important. And yes, I'm probably not "most people". So maybe the 650 is superior to 598 technical and specification wise, it might just happen that I like it's cheaper brother better. Anyway, I'm willing to them them a chance *before* I sell the 650's.

I don't think the purchase will happen yet, but I will report back when I get a chance to listen to them...