From HD650 to something else...

if you are a serious studio engineer then why are you asking about other models of headphone to do what EQ is there for? - for the lowest register bass no headphone will be satisfactory - add subwoofer or butt-kicker

even iem with great seal sound different from loudspeaker/room bass even though there is no question they can pressurize your ear canal just fine
 

the Aphex isn't speced for hi Z drive - it may be OK but it may lack V headroom for the HD650

if you want a serious step up in mixing on headphones maybe you should check out the Smyth SVS Realizer - the HD650 are probably adequate headphones so maybe you can get it without the Stax

 you specifically mention bass - but leave the impression that you  have some idea that it can be "improved" in a way not reflected by frequency response? - in headphones? (room modes can cause big phase, resonance differences that headphone's response simply can't - although DSP, "simulation" addresses this)

and http://home.provide.net/~djcarlst/abx_crit.htm

put the 2 together and you can see that HD650/800 are perceptually the same and even LCD-2 are barely expected to differ audibly due to their inherent response differences below a few hundred Hz - not to say that perceived response FR balance may not seem different when your ear uses parts of the spectrum above 1KHz as the "perceptual anchor" - to make these sound equivalent it is those higher frequency differences that need EQ - not the low bass

even the HD650/LCD-2 ~5 dB in the 20-40 Hz octave isn't a easily audible difference - especially with few musical insturments having any content there - B0 is "halfway" through that octave already

The Sennheiser HD800(highely recommended) offers deep punchy bass and more detailed sound than HD650. The other headphones like Ultrasone Edition 9 (offers deep subbass, huge soundstage, clear very detailed mids n highs), Beyerdynamic T1(overall very clean sounding with punchy bass), Grado GS1000(wide soundstage, deep punchy bass) and AD2000(very detailed with deep punchy bass).

LCD 2 Rev 2s, fabulous headphones. You might want to consider stax too if you want to be blown away by detail.

The HD800 is nice.  However you will probably find it very bright compared to the HD-650.  In my rig it feels like the hd800 has slightly less bass but it is more detailed.  I think the hd-650 and hd-800 have about the same amount of bass but one gets lost in the mids and highs of the hd800 and the bass no longer feels real significant.  If you are concerned with weight at all do not go LCD-2 I found them to be very heavy and actually cause me some neck problems.  The HD-800 are way more comfortable than even the HD-650.  Even with the HD-800s I am not so sure I could go without the HD-650 but at the same token I am not sure if I could do without the HD-800.  They are both good compliments to each other.  I don't think you will find exactly what you are seeking.  I have never tested a headphone yet that had subwoofer like bass.  I looked and looked for something, but I believe I am done chasing that now.  If you really think about it your ears get somewhat immune to bass in headphones.  When you first put your headphones the bass sounds very strong and punchy but it seems like the longer I wear them the less I hear the punch.   Where as if you have a sub you can actually feel the bass.  Hopefully this helps

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaps11 

The HD800 is nice.  However you will probably find it very bright compared to the HD-650.

Yup, the HD800 will sound extremely bright compared to the 650s, especially if you use solid state amps.

I have owned or auditioned all the headphones you are asking about, and from one audio professional to another, just get the LCD-2 Rev.2 and be done with it. 

After having the LCD-2 r2 I would not pay more than $500 to get them back.  They are big, heavy, and not that huge of a difference from the HD-650 IMO. The build in my particular pair was very much so lacking and Audeze did not want to help me but YMMV.  The LCD-2 is a upgrade from the HD-650 but if you want something different I wouldn't go LCD-2.  They were great at first but they seemed to have more downfalls than redeeming attributes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaps11 

After having the LCD-2 r2 I would not pay more than $500 to get them back.  They are big, heavy, and not that huge of a difference from the HD-650 IMO. The build in my particular pair was very much so lacking and Audeze did not want to help me but YMMV.  The LCD-2 is a upgrade from the HD-650 but if you want something different I wouldn't go LCD-2.  They were great at first but they seemed to have more downfalls than redeeming attributes.

If I were to lose my LCD-2 and forced to only use my HD650, I would be kind of depressed, and I would immediately buy another LCD-2. That's how much of a difference there is between the two for me. The HD650 is no slouch, but it is not in the same tier as LCD-2 in terms of refinement, sub-bass extension/authority, or overall presentation. I NEVER touch the HD650 when the LCD-2 is around, and the only time I would is if I want a different opinion on a critical mix/master I'm working on. During the time when the HD650 was my main headphone, I would often be disappointed by its sub-bass capabilities, to the point of not being able to enjoy a game or movie as much and would switch to the M50 just so I can get the bass impact necessary for visceral enjoyment. With the LCD-2, it does everything well enough that I don't ever feel the need to switch headphones--not even the Stax 007MK2. With my custom EQ curve activated, the LCD-2 is pretty much perfect--I don't feel wanting for anything more. If in the future, someone designs a headphone that sounds just as good as the LCD-2 but lighter and more comfortable, then I would consider upgrading. But the LCD-2 isn't uncomfortable as is. I suppose if someone has a really weak and fragile neck, then maybe it'll be uncomfortable, but for a normal, healthy person, it's not a problem at all. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunatique 

If I were to lose my LCD-2 and forced to only use my HD650, I would be kind of depressed, and I would immediately buy another LCD-2. That's how much of a difference there is between the two for me. The HD650 is no slouch, but it is not in the same tier as LCD-2 in terms of refinement, sub-bass extension/authority, or overall presentation. I NEVER touch the HD650 when the LCD-2 is around, and the only time I would is if I want a different opinion on a critical mix/master I'm working on. During the time when the HD650 was my main headphone, I would often be disappointed by its sub-bass capabilities, to the point of not being able to enjoy a game or movie as much and would switch to the M50 just so I can get the bass impact necessary for visceral enjoyment. With the LCD-2, it does everything well enough that I don't ever feel the need to switch headphones--not even the Stax 007MK2. With my custom EQ curve activated, the LCD-2 is pretty much perfect--I don't feel wanting for anything more. If in the future, someone designs a headphone that sounds just as good as the LCD-2 but lighter and more comfortable, then I would consider upgrading. But the LCD-2 isn't uncomfortable as is. I suppose if someone has a really weak and fragile neck, then maybe it'll be uncomfortable, but for a normal, healthy person, it's not a problem at all.   I could probably wear the HD-800 even longer (Yeah its that comfortable)..

 

The HD-650 will sound different on different amp/dac combos.  On the Burson HA-160 + DA-160 combo the impact between the both was pretty darn close for me.  For me the LCD-2 started to feel really heavy after about 2 hours. Most of the neck problems came in because I was looking down most of the time reading a book (studying for college courses).  The neck issues may not be as bad if you are looking up most of the time. However, I have never had this issue with any other headphone before the LCD-2.  I can wear my HD-650 for 6 hours + without any fatigue or neck issues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaps11 

For me the LCD-2 started to feel really heavy after about 2 hours. Most of the neck problems came in because I was looking down most of the time reading a book (studying for college courses).  The neck issues may not be as bad if you are looking up most of the time. However, I have never had this issue with any other headphone before the LCD-2.  I can wear my HD-650 for 6 hours + without any fatigue or neck issues.

 

Haha, no sneaking sentences into quoting other people! No fair! But I agree, the HD800 is damn comfortable, and one of the most comfortable I've experienced. 

It's true that if you are not sitting up straight while wearing the LCD-2, it's going to get uncomfortable because it is one of the heavier headphones on the market. I have to have it perfectly straight when I wear LCD-2. 

Although I did say that the LCD-2 isn't exactly uncomfortable, I should also be fair and say that it is one of the less comfortable headphones when compared to the really comfortable headphones I have experienced such as the 007mk2, HD650, D7000, K701, HD550...etc. But it's better than say, something like the Equation RP-21 or M-Audio Q40, or maybe even the HD280 Pro. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunatique 

Haha, no sneaking sentences into quoting other people! No fair! But I agree, the HD800 is damn comfortable, and one of the most comfortable I've experienced. 

 

It's true that if you are not sitting up straight while wearing the LCD-2, it's going to get uncomfortable because it is one of the heavier headphones on the market. I have to have it perfectly straight when I wear LCD-2. 

 

Although I did say that the LCD-2 isn't exactly uncomfortable, I should also be fair and say that it is one of the less comfortable headphones when compared to the really comfortable headphones I have experienced such as the 007mk2, HD650, D7000, K701, HD550...etc. But it's better than say, something like the Equation RP-21 or M-Audio Q40, or maybe even the HD280 Pro. 

Sometime ago l had some HD650's and to what l can remember they were tight, and l've only a smallish head, l think.