Sennheiser HD 700 Appreciation Thread - Page 8

Are you powering the HE-6 with a Lyr? If so I can see why you'd prefer the HD700. There's no contest with more power feeding the HE-6, IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsplice 

I just a pair of these on loan today and I'm pretty impressed.  I also received loaner sets of the HE-6 and HE-500.  I would say that both the HE-6 and HD700s are superior to the HE-500, which is no surprise, given their cost.  However, I'm having a hard time deciding whether I prefer the HE-6 or the HD700.  It will take time to become familiar with both sound signatures.  Unfortunately (or fortunately?) my dealer sent me a Cardas Clear cable for the HE cans, which tends to give them an unfair advantage when comparing against the stock HD700 cable.  I'm pretty amazed how how much of an improvement the Clear cable provides.

I also owned the HE-6, which I decided would become my ultimate and only can after having spent time with all the other flagships, and I am shocked to admit that I equally enjoyed the HD700 and those are definitely staying. The HD700 is an easy choice if you don't want to experiment a lot trying to find the right amplifier for the HE-6.

Yes, I am powering all my headphones with the Lyr.  I purchased the Lyr in advance, knowing I would be demoing a lot of headphones to find the next pair that I'm going to buy.  I figured I could get away with using the Lyr and the HE-6, given that the Lyr is supposed to be one of the most powerful headphone amps on the market.  However, I don't think I'd want to go crazy experimenting with speaker amps.  I do have a PrimaLuna Prologue Two integrated, but I can't use that during the summer, so I don't even want to temp myself my trying it.

One of the integrated units I've had my eye on. I'd give it a try if at all possible before sending them back. The Lyr is just nowhere near good enough for the HE-6, IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsplice 

Yes, I am powering all my headphones with the Lyr.  I purchased the Lyr in advance, knowing I would be demoing a lot of headphones to find the next pair that I'm going to buy.  I figured I could get away with using the Lyr and the HE-6, given that the Lyr is supposed to be one of the most powerful headphone amps on the market.  However, I don't think I'd want to go crazy experimenting with speaker amps.  I do have a PrimaLuna Prologue Two integrated, but I can't use that during the summer, so I don't even want to temp myself my trying it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MorbidToaster 

One of the integrated units I've had my eye on. I'd give it a try if at all possible before sending them back. The Lyr is just nowhere near good enough for the HE-6, IMO.

 

That's a good suggestion, but I kinda told myself that I wouldn't go down that path.  The bad thing is that my dealer shipped my demo HE-6 and HE-500s with the pleather pads.  Probably isn't a fair evaluation of them.  The comfort of the HD700s is so amazing that I feel that it's biasing my opinion as well.  With the pleather pads on the HEs, my ears just get too hot.  The clamping force made me get out wireframe glasses I haven't worn in years, just so I could be on my laptop while listening to them.

To be honest, I'm really not hearing THAT much that's better about the Hifimans over the HD700s.  Sure, they have a bit more "ease" and naturalness to the sound, but when compared to the HD700s, the soundstage seems closed in and compressed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dionysus 

I purchased the 700 despite most of the negative post here, on the other hand the net reviews are pretty positive.
I think people should let there own ears pass judgement and I am not surprises by your positive findings and yes they confortable for me they are by far the most comfortable over the ear cans I ever used.

Good advice to all.  And that's exactly what I fortunately have the opportunity to do now with these demo headphones I have at the moment.  I just can't get into the Hifiman flavor.  I know my Lyr may not be absolutely ideal for the HE-6, but I just feel like they aren't $1300 headphones.  But even the HE-500s seem to sound congested and "boxed in" to my ears, even when comparing to my HD650s.  

These HD700s sound fantastic with vinyl.  I have heard a few recordings now though with the HD700s that can sound a tad bright, but they are bright recordings.  It's a shame, but the more headphones I demo, the more and more I realize that there just isn't a "one size fits all" headphone.  The HE-500s to me are very good for rock and electronic, and things where soundstage and separation aren't critical.  So to me, the ideal compliment would be a pair of HD700s and a pair of HE-500s.

Ditto.. I purchased the HD700 despite the may early negative comments. Auditioned them 3 times before I purchased them and spend the first week breaking them in and listening pretty much in all my free time. I had a week to return for full refund so I wanted to be sure. I also had the HD650s and have taken a number of jabs, but that's OK.  

I absolutely love my HD700s and can't go back to the HD650 so I sold them. C'est la vie!  I use iTunes and even with its limited equalizer, I seem to have found a curve that works for me and basically tamed the highs.

I have the HE400 with the Q cable and love them too.  I read somewhere that they are the anti-HD700 but not sure what that really means.  I find the HE400 and HD700 a complementary set to own. If Steve ever comes out with a Q cable for the HD700, I'll be all over it.  Does wonders for the HE400 smoothing things out, tightening the bass and cleaning up some micro detail. Would love to hear what it does with the HD700.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyVee 

Ditto.. I purchased the HD700 despite the may early negative comments. Auditioned them 3 times before I purchased them and spend the first week breaking them in and listening pretty much in all my free time. I had a week to return for full refund so I wanted to be sure. I also had the HD650s and have taken a number of jabs, but that's OK.  

 

I absolutely love my HD700s and can't go back to the HD650 so I sold them. C'est la vie!  I use iTunes and even with its limited equalizer, I seem to have found a curve that works for me and basically tamed the highs.

 

I have the HE400 with the Q cable and love them too.  I read somewhere that they are the anti-HD700 but not sure what that really means.  I find the HE400 and HD700 a complementary set to own. If Steve ever comes out with a Q cable for the HD700, I'll be all over it.  Does wonders for the HE400 smoothing things out, tightening the bass and cleaning up some micro detail. Would love to hear what it does with the HD700.

That kinda makes me want to purchase the HD700s, just cause we can all be the small "rebellion" group of head-fi! It sounds like a long uphill battle fighting all the negativity towards them on this forum.  But really, who cares.  I'm not buying headphones to win a popularity contest.  

I've tried getting to the HE-500s and HE-6s that I have on loan, but I just keep coming back to the HD700s.  The pleather pads that I have with them probably don't allow me to give them a fair judgement though.  I do like your idea of owning the HD700s and the complimentary HE-400s though.  The HE-400s seem fairly priced that it's doable to own both the HD700s and the HE-400s.

Great article.  Thanks for sharing.

Man I am going nuts trying to decide between these HE-500s, HE-6, and HD700s.  One day I like the HE-500s more, the next day, the HD700s.  I will admit that the HD700s can tend to have a somewhat "thin" presentation compared to the HE's, but for some reason I don't mind it that much.  If there's one thing that'll keep me from purchasing the HE's, it'll be the comfort. 

I have been looking all throughout the Internet, and I simply don't understand why there is all the hate towards the HD700s.  It's a shame because I love these headphones, and if I decide I like them enough to buy them, other opinions won't affect my decision.  However, the resale value and overall demand is something to consider as well.  This false negative consensus can easily influence others who would potentially be in the market for the HD700s, meaning I would get less for them if I chose to sell them at some point.

I've read comments saying that the HD700s are just rehashed HD600/650s.  I don't know enough about them to prove or disprove that, but I can certainly say that without knowing that fact, comparing the HD700s side by side with the HD650s that I own, the HD700s are far superior.  So regardless of how the HD700s are made, they produce a sound that to my ears sounds great.  They've done a very good job at bringing out a lot of detail but keeping the sound relatively smooth at the same time.  I just wish there was more of a community behind these.  It just seems that it's not "cool" to own the HD700s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MomijiTMO 


I'm going to take a stab at it and say the underlying issue is the price relative to the HD800, HD650 and HD600.

I can see that as a possibility, but really I don't see the price as too much of an issue.  The HD700s is a merging of the technologies in the lower HD series and and the HD800s.  If you compare the HD650 and HD700 side by side (which I've done), it's clear that the HD700 is a much better headphone.  I don't have an HD800 on hand to compare all 3, but as far as price, I'd say they're all fairly in line.  There are a few reviews from people that have actually heard the HD700s, and from those people, the reviews seem to be positive.  There is a lot of FUD being spread about the HD700 that I just don't understand.  People complain that they aren't the HD800s, like they expect to get a pair of HD800s for $1000.  And the people who own HD600/650 complain because they expect the  HD700s to be an upgraded HD650.  The HD700 are not the HD600/650, and they aren't the HD800s; they are the HD700s.  People need to start accepting that and stop spreading the FUD, and give these headphones a chance.  The same thing happened when the HD800s came out; everyone expected them to be an enhanced HD650, and everyone was thrown for a loop once they actually heard them.

Also, don't forget, the retail price of the HD650s is still around $500.  So that puts the HD700s smack dab in the middle between the HD650s and HD800s.