Sennheiser HD 700 Impressions Thread
Aug 23, 2014 at 7:31 PM Post #1,981 of 9,276
They're brand new and I've only put maybe 45 minutes of head time on them.
I will definitely try the high output but I doubt that'll help.
I think once I put my EML rectifier and Sylvanias in they'll sing. That setup will make any pair of cans scream.

My initial impression of the hd700 is dull, lifeless and boring. They don't sound bad persay.
Obviously this is just an initial impression and I'll follow up once I've gotten more time with em

i tried to listen to my dx90 straight out to hd700's on low gain and the 'phones became dull and lifeless, not at all like when i listen from my integrated amp.  i haven't tried the dx90's higher gain settings, so i don't know if that would make a difference.  anyway, they are supposed to be MUCH easier to drive than hd800's, but that doesn't mean that anything at all will be sufficient.
 
Aug 23, 2014 at 8:23 PM Post #1,982 of 9,276
i tried to listen to my dx90 straight out to hd700's on low gain and the 'phones became dull and lifeless, not at all like when i listen from my integrated amp.  i haven't tried the dx90's higher gain settings, so i don't know if that would make a difference.  anyway, they are supposed to be MUCH easier to drive than hd800's, but that doesn't mean that anything at all will be sufficient.

Very true, DX90 has a great DAC, Amp not so much for hungry cans. I like to line out it to E18 for HD700 and SE846.
 
Aug 24, 2014 at 8:04 AM Post #1,983 of 9,276
Yes, I believe it is often forgotten that it's just not the amount of power that matters for making a headphone sound good, but the quality of the power is arguably much more important.
 
Aug 24, 2014 at 1:07 PM Post #1,984 of 9,276
  I have found that they are easy to drive and reflect the quality of the amp as one moves up. Have you tried both the low and high impedance outputs as the HD700's have the efficiency of a low impedance headphone but a relatively high impedance? What are the differences you hear? How many hours are on them?

Thanks for the output tip.. I'm running them off of the high output with a better tube setup, soph princess/ silvanias, and they are much much more lively. great bass with tight impact and a very decent midrange. The highs leave a little to be desired as I actually liked the "spike" that the HD 800s have, I think it hit 6khz at some points.  Theres just something about highs that are uncontrolled that appeals to me. 
 
Anyways.  All in all i'm pretty happy with the HD700s and am looking forward to "breaking" them in. 
 
Aug 26, 2014 at 8:43 PM Post #1,985 of 9,276
Did some searching and couldn't really determine if there are people who find an upgrade cable to the HD700 just as worthwhile as on the HD650.  I noticed a clear benefit by upgrading my HD650 cable to the Equinox, but the HD700 already sounds so much better than that did, I'm not sure if a new cable is necessary. 
 
I'm thinking about the Double Helix cable if anything...any opinions?
 
Aug 26, 2014 at 9:24 PM Post #1,986 of 9,276
  Did some searching and couldn't really determine if there are people who find an upgrade cable to the HD700 just as worthwhile as on the HD650.  I noticed a clear benefit by upgrading my HD650 cable to the Equinox, but the HD700 already sounds so much better than that did, I'm not sure if a new cable is necessary. 
 
I'm thinking about the Double Helix cable if anything...any opinions?

That's interesting for me, how do you find your HD-700 compared to you HD-650?
 
Got the HD-650 and a bit more clarity and refinement/crispiness would be nice. Tried the HD-600 and it was a bit better, but I was missing the immersion of the 650. The fact that you have the impression to be on scene compared to just observe and listen to a certain distance with the 600.
 
I'm wondering how the 700 fit into this.
 
Aug 26, 2014 at 9:50 PM Post #1,987 of 9,276
To me the HD600 and HD650 are very close in competence, but the HD650 sounds a bit more refined and has a more pleasing signature to my ears.  It sounds richer, is the simplest way to put it.
 
When I upgraded the HD650 cable to the Equinox, everything improved noticeable, I only had to AB the cables once.  The signature brightened up a bit, and the bass became fuller, faster, and less muddy. The cable basically fleshed out the entire sound signature of the HD650.  Slightly brighter, but everything sounded noticeably better.  
 
Now, for my preferences, the HD650 doesn't hold a candle to the HD700.  the HD700 is ever more detailed, has a much better soundstage, much better highs, better PRAT, incredible attack and decay, and very textured bass, though it doesn't hit as hard as the HD650.  I love the bass of the HD700, it doesn't feel lacking to me and is greater in quantity than the HD800.
 
When comparing the two side by side, the HD650 will sound dark, muddy, veiled, slow, and imprecise. However, I know from owning them for quite a while they sound amazing when listened to with fresh ears and without comparing to another HP.
 
Aug 26, 2014 at 10:53 PM Post #1,988 of 9,276
  To me the HD600 and HD650 are very close in competence, but the HD650 sounds a bit more refined and has a more pleasing signature to my ears.  It sounds richer, is the simplest way to put it.
 
When I upgraded the HD650 cable to the Equinox, everything improved noticeable, I only had to AB the cables once.  The signature brightened up a bit, and the bass became fuller, faster, and less muddy. The cable basically fleshed out the entire sound signature of the HD650.  Slightly brighter, but everything sounded noticeably better.  
 
Now, for my preferences, the HD650 doesn't hold a candle to the HD700.  the HD700 is ever more detailed, has a much better soundstage, much better highs, better PRAT, incredible attack and decay, and very textured bass, though it doesn't hit as hard as the HD650.  I love the bass of the HD700, it doesn't feel lacking to me and is greater in quantity than the HD800.
 
When comparing the two side by side, the HD650 will sound dark, muddy, veiled, slow, and imprecise. However, I know from owning them for quite a while they sound amazing when listened to with fresh ears and without comparing to another HP.

Thanks a lot for the info!
 
I've been wondering if I should give them a try or not for a while, I'm starting to believe it's worth at least a shot :)
 
Aug 31, 2014 at 4:27 AM Post #1,990 of 9,276
hi all, procured a hd700
 
was told that the schiit stack of magni/modi would be too bright sounding
 
any inputs on vali/modi or anything within the budget of the stack?
 
or should i just get myself a ASUS xonar DG / xonar STX  / soundblaster
 
Aug 31, 2014 at 12:32 PM Post #1,993 of 9,276
Geek Out 1000, just wow... it made me sold my Burson HA-160D
There are probably a lot of very good options, but so far I'm very happy with my GO


I second the geek out, btw, the same place is doing a group sale on the GO750 which should be good enough as the 1000 is overkill as I was only able to use about 15 percent of the volume. The geek out plus hd700 is truly magical. One other even more magical pairing is the $300 bottlehead crack tube amp if you are willing to go tube. But the geek out is a dac and an amp where you still need a dac with the crack. Hey, that rhymed.
 
Aug 31, 2014 at 1:09 PM Post #1,994 of 9,276
I've been very happy with the DACmini amp/dac  unit for the HD700. It has a very analog sound which pairs with them nicely.
 

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