Need Help! Closed Headphones with HD650 SQ?

Short answer? No 

HD650 in my opinion has a pretty unique sound signature, alas I'm not familiar with the 

MarkL modded Denons so I cannot comment.

An IEM might be your best bet but I doubt you'll find a perfect signature match with

the HD650, but I'm no expert in that area of audio.

Quote:

Originally Posted by meltdown117 

Hello, I'm a college student who loves music.

I have recently purchased Sennheiser HD650 with FiiO E7/E9 combo, and I think it's the best cans I have ever heard.

Recently, I find myself using the school's library more often, but can't use the HD650 because they annoy others around me.

I fell back to my previous Sennheiser PXC 450, which shouldn't sound bad, but after my ears are used to listening to delicious goodness from HD650, I just can't go back.

 

My concern: is there any closed headphones that can match the SQ of HD650?

My budget is $500.

I have looked at Denon AH-D2000 and D5000, but reviews say that D2000 is not in the same league with HD650, and D5000 can be bass heavy.

I listen to all kinds of genre (except classic and heavy metal) and want something that sounds similar to HD650 and just as good as well.

 

Any suggestions?

As someone who owns both the HD650 and the D2000 I can offer some feedback. The HD650 is not, by any means, godlike as some here on headfi try to convey. It is a good pair of cans with a certain sound signature that may or may not please certain people. In addition, the HD650s are very picky and in order to take advantage of their sound quality you need more than a FiiO E7/E9 combo. Regarding the sound on the HD650, even if you set it right, you will notice that they are a bit short of bass, mid happy and hit excellent treble. 

Now, while the D2Ks are not in the same league, I can honestly say that once you put them on your head and see how comfortable they are you are willing to give them a chance. The D2Ks, as well as the D5Ks, have excellent bass (really go low), very good mids (not excessive like the HD650) and spot on treble. Overall, I enjoy the D2ks more as they are easier to drive and hook up to my iPhone 4 with FiiO E11 without a hitch. Up to 700 pounds you will not find a pair of cans with better bass and a peculiar thing about Denon is how they tune their products. Denon's sonic signature is for a different niche of people, where, dynamic range is important as well as good frequency separation. Many cans offer excelent mids, good treble but sacrifice the bass. The D2Ks and D5Ks (almost the same drivers) do not compromise : they offer good sound on any frequency. 

Bottom line, the Denon's are better on the move, have superior bass compared to the HD650, and are more comfortable. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wishmaker 

 

As someone who owns both the HD650 and the D2000 I can offer some feedback. The HD650 is not, by any means, godlike as some here on headfi try to convey. It is a good pair of cans with a certain sound signature that may or may not please certain people. In addition, the HD650s are very picky and in order to take advantage of their sound quality you need more than a FiiO E7/E9 combo. Regarding the sound on the HD650, even if you set it right, you will notice that they are a bit short of bass, mid happy and hit excellent treble. 

 

 

 

Now, while the D2Ks are not in the same league, I can honestly say that once you put them on your head and see how comfortable they are you are willing to give them a chance. The D2Ks, as well as the D5Ks, have excellent bass (really go low), very good mids (not excessive like the HD650) and spot on treble. Overall, I enjoy the D2ks more as they are easier to drive and hook up to my iPhone 4 with FiiO E11 without a hitch. Up to 700 pounds you will not find a pair of cans with better bass and a peculiar thing about Denon is how they tune their products. Denon's sonic signature is for a different niche of people, where, dynamic range is important as well as good frequency separation. Many cans offer excelent mids, good treble but sacrifice the bass. The D2Ks and D5Ks (almost the same drivers) do not compromise : they offer good sound on any frequency. 

 

 

Bottom line, the Denon's are better on the move, have superior bass compared to the HD650, and are more comfortable. 

 

 

 

 

Are you serious?
 

The Denons have a very different sound than the HD650.  Much less even frequency response, more bass, inferior midrange by far, and peaky treble.  IME at least. 

The Thunderpants are your best bet, and you may wind up preferring them to your HD650.  They are made by Smeggy, a member here on the forums.  Here's a video Jude made about them http://www.head-fi.org/t/572769/thunderpants-a-world-class-closed-planar-magnetic-headphone-by-head-fier-smeggy-head-fi-tv-episode-012

And they can be purchased from Smeggy's new website http://home.comcast.net/~garybutcher/Thunderpants_TP1/Home.html

Closed headphones generally don't sound very good so there aren't really a lot more options unless you like a more colored/specific sound.  But coming from the warm, even HD650 I don't think you'd be happy with most of them unless you actively want something different. 

They can be driven from an ipod and sound great with plenty of volume as well.  But they do improve a lot with more power.  So starting with your fiio should be fine.  Then down the road if you want to get something more powerful, you'll have lots of room for improvement. 

Edit:  Actually I just thought of the V-Moda M80 which I have not heard, but I've seen a few trusty head-fiers describe them in an HD650-ish sort of way.  They sit on your ears though, and I don't think they are going to be very close to the TP's...

I am pretty familiar with the 'anything that is not flat sucks, is coloured, and do not use EQ' syndrome. To those who say that the D2000s do not have mids, it is pretty obvious that they prefer mid happy cans like the HD650. This can easily be corrected via an EQ if you like a different sound signature. Regarding the peaky treble, I wholeheartedly disagree. At the end of the day, it is a matter of perception, hearing quality, and ability to distinguish good quality from high quality music. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wishmaker 

I am pretty familiar with the 'anything that is not flat sucks, is coloured, and do not use EQ' syndrome. To those who say that the D2000s do not have mids, it is pretty obvious that they prefer mid happy cans like the HD650. This can easily be corrected via an EQ if you like a different sound signature. Regarding the peaky treble, I wholeheartedly disagree. At the end of the day, it is a matter of perception, hearing quality, and ability to distinguish good quality from high quality music. 

EQing the mids up disturbs the rest of the frequency spectrum as well.  Sounds in life don't have recessed mids, so why can we not point out that fault in the D2000s?

As for the ability to distinguish between good quality from high quality, are you implying that the D2000s are high quality while the rest are merely good quality? I prefer my K702 and T1s over the D2000; are they both just good quality while the D2000 is high quality?