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Unhappy with HD-600s.
May 14, 2011 at 9:55 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 97
VuongPham117

VuongPham117

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Hi guys.
 
I recently bought the HD-600s and I am very unsatisfied with them. Thinking that it was just because I was listening to them unamped, I went ahead and bought the E7 + E9 combo to listen to through my laptop. I am still really unsatisfied. Is it my set up?
 
I am running 320kbps songs through itunes on my laptop, usb out to my E9 with the E7 docked on top. The HD-600's with the HD-650 cords are plugged in to the 6.3mm jack.
 
But to me, the difference the amp makes is minimal at best. The only thing the E9 does is make the sennheisers louder and most of the time, that volume is too loud. I find that both my iphone and my laptop can power the HD-600's to decent levels.
 
At around the same volume, I can NOT distinguish the difference between the audio output from my laptop or my amp with the soundcard.
 
I've also tried listening to some FLAC versions of my songs, but they are totally indistinguishable from 320kbps, so I know it's not that.
 
What is wrong here?
 
May 14, 2011 at 10:00 PM Post #2 of 97
Maybe it's the headphones themselves. Do you find the sound not to your liking? Boring, not involving, lacking energy? Or were you just expecting miracles from these only to get a sound that is only slightly more refined that headphones that much less? Either way, maybe you need to go a different route. But a really nice amp will always make the Senn HD6** series shine. Yet if you don't like it now, I don't think you will later.
 
May 14, 2011 at 10:00 PM Post #3 of 97
Well, are the HD600's you first set of cans?
And also are you able to distinguish between 128kbps and 320kbps?
Cuz half the things you just said just doesn't seem right.
Or maybe they are just cans that just don't fit your taste...
Or maybe you got chinese made ones?
Or maybe you used to have a subwoofer and you loved how music felt and sounded from speakers and you don't like headphones?
idk there are many reasons... but if you don like em, return them.
 
May 14, 2011 at 10:03 PM Post #5 of 97


Quote:
eriktheg said:
Well, are the HD600's you first set of cans?
And also are you able to distinguish between 128kbps and 320kbps?
Cuz half the things you just said just doesn't seem right.
Or maybe they are just cans that just don't fit your taste...
Or maybe you got chinese made ones?
Or maybe you used to have a subwoofer and you loved how music felt and sounded from speakers and you don't like headphones?
idk there are many reasons... but if you don like em, return them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the 600s are my first cans. I don't really have anything to compare them with.
 
 
 
May 14, 2011 at 10:05 PM Post #7 of 97
Quote:
wind016 said:
Why?
Click to expand...


confused.gif

 
 
May 14, 2011 at 10:11 PM Post #10 of 97
 
Quote:
vuongpham117 said:
Hi guys.
 
I recently bought the HD-600s and I am very unsatisfied with them. Thinking that it was just because I was listening to them unamped, I went ahead and bought the E7 + E9 combo to listen to through my laptop. I am still really unsatisfied. Is it my set up?
 
I am running 320kbps songs through itunes on my laptop, usb out to my E9 with the E7 docked on top. The HD-600's with the HD-650 cords are plugged in to the 6.3mm jack.
 
But to me, the difference the amp makes is minimal at best. The only thing the E9 does is make the sennheisers louder and most of the time, that volume is too loud. I find that both my iphone and my laptop can power the HD-600's to decent levels.
 
At around the same volume, I can NOT distinguish the difference between the audio output from my laptop or my amp with the soundcard.
 
I've also tried listening to some FLAC versions of my songs, but they are totally indistinguishable from 320kbps, so I know it's not that.
 
What is wrong here?
Click to expand...


Hmmm... I had a great time with my HD600 when I owned it.
 
I'm unfamiliar with Fiio's offerings so I have no idea how they perform.  Also, does it have a built in DAC that you're utilizing or are you just running sound directly from your laptop's headphone output to the amp?  Laptop outputs are crap and, if that's how you're hooking it up, you're amplifying crap.
 
PC or Mac?  If PC, replace iTunes with Foobar.  If Mac, there's a number of player options, but IMO the best free one I've used so far is Audirvana. 
 
EDIT:
 

Quote:
vuongpham117 said:
Perhaps I should better explain my situation with them. I find myself using the HD-600's all day and night. They are ultra comfortable. But what I am complaining about is sound quality. It just doesn't sound that sharp. It sounds quite muffled sometimes.
Click to expand...




I found the HD600 fairly transparent and resolving... certainly not "muffled."  Something in the chain definitely isn't right.
 
May 14, 2011 at 10:12 PM Post #11 of 97
Quote:
vuongpham117 said:
Perhaps I should better explain my situation with them. I find myself using the HD-600's all day and night. They are ultra comfortable. But what I am complaining about is sound quality. It just doesn't sound that sharp. It sounds quite muffled sometimes.
Click to expand...


You may try the HD598 instead. I don't have the HD6XX series with me to compare directly but I didn't like them too much for the 'veil' you are mentioning. If I remember correctly the HD598 probably has a wider soundstage too, it's almost speaker-like.
 
 
May 14, 2011 at 10:17 PM Post #13 of 97


Quote:
katun said:
That's Sennheiser for you...
popcorn.gif

 
Jokes aside, it may not just be your sound. Senns are too smooth for many detail freaks. Perhaps try more treble heavy headphones that are known for clarity like Beyerdynamic.
Click to expand...


Hmm, it's just that I see so many comments from people saying how detailed the sennheisers are but to me they are somewhat muffled. I will try out some Beyerdynamics though. Thank you for the suggestion :)
 
 
May 14, 2011 at 10:19 PM Post #14 of 97
 
Quote:
katun said:
That's Sennheiser for you...
popcorn.gif

 
Jokes aside, it may not just be your sound. Senns are too smooth for many detail freaks. Perhaps try more treble heavy headphones that are known for clarity like Beyerdynamic.
Click to expand...


Dang it Katun. Just say HD598
 
 
May 14, 2011 at 10:20 PM Post #15 of 97
^^^So a few others found the 600 "veiled?"  Interesting.  I ran them out of a Headroom Portable Desktop for years.  I didn't use the crossfade, but I did keep one of the filters on to give it a bit more sparkle.  Is that considered a bright amp?
 
I would agree with the "veiled" description for the HD650, even though I did enjoy what I heard of it for its ultra-laid back, non-fatiguing presentation. 
 
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