[buke9]

   
Re: my leaning towards the HD700 over the HD650. Yep - I feel like the things that are important to me - comfort, spacious sound, separation of instruments, clarity, beautiful midrange - are all just a little better on the HD700. Obviously that's IMO and on my system. 
 
On its own, the HD650 is a beautiful, lush headphone. I could absolutely be happy with it. But, head to head with the HD700, I'm finding that I prefer the 700s. Keep in mind, I'm coming from Grado PS500s and I always loved my SR60s. The review mentioned above notes that the 700 might be the perfect entry into Sennheisers for the Grado lover and I'm finding that to be true. 
 
Here's an example of what I mean. One Wye Oak's Plains, I got my first taste of what I'd consider to be the HD700's brightness or harshness. Comes just after the 1:30 mark on this video, though I'm listening on Tidal. The song goes from brooding and rhythmic to discordant, intentionally. It's almost painful on the HD700. Uh oh. So, I swapped to the HD650, and it's similarly painful. It's just that two second burst of the song.
 
But, everything is clearer on the HD700 throughout the rest of the song, and while I understand why people appreciate the HD650's lushness, the HD700s suit me better. 
 
 

Just listen to this on my Ether-C's and it was also just as offensive in the high freq's wow. I'll give it a listen with the 700's and He-400's and S's but damn that is harsh.

 

[DavidA]

The AQ Jitterbug and iP2 are quite different functionally to be fair. I have compared them both on my ifi Audio rig via HD700s and the iP2 made a useful and sustained improvement over the the Jbug.

I would hope the iP2 worked better on ifi gear as they are made by the same company.  I've never noticed a difference with USB cables, either they work or they don't, like HDMI cable to me.  That's not to say that there are some who do benefit from these accessories due to their equipment setup/environment.

 

[DavidA]

  Just listen to this on my Ether-C's and it was also just as offensive in the high freq's wow. I'll give it a listen with the 700's and He-400's and S's but damn that is harsh.

Willing to risk it again?  Once as enough for me, I got the point, that part of the song is harsh, kinda wonder what they were thinking?  The rest of the song is pretty nice to me.

 

[buke9]

  Willing to risk it again?  Once as enough for me, I got the point, that part of the song is harsh, kinda wonder what they were thinking?  The rest of the song is pretty nice to me.

I agree I liked the song but then lets burst treble . 

 

[Matro5]

  Just listen to this on my Ether-C's and it was also just as offensive in the high freq's wow. I'll give it a listen with the 700's and He-400's and S's but damn that is harsh.

It really is. They're trying to do a Pixies soft-loud thing, I think, according to an interview.
 
My only point is that - if I only had one pair of headphones, I'd have blamed them for that. Like, "I see what you mean about the HD700s being bright." But, side by side, I can see it a little more clearly. 
 
I'm also powering them with a tube amp - a lyr 2 - so, it's not likely that "too harsh" is going to be an issue for me. 

 

[Zombie_X]

To me, the HD800 works really damn good with rock and metal. Like really good. It does ok with bass heavy genre's like rap and dubstep, but lacks punch. Recently I discovered GUNSHIP and they sound really good out of the HD800. Punchy bass, smooth sound, and excellent transient attack.
 
The HD700 is a brighter headphone for sure, but the darker tone counteracts this. These aren't slow headphones but the thicker presentation gives everything more weight/body. This really makes them a better all rounder headphone. They have more bass impact than the HD800, so they perform pretty good with rap and other bassy genre's.

 

[buke9]

  It really is. They're trying to do a Pixies soft-loud thing, I think, according to an interview.
 
My only point is that - if I only had one pair of headphones, I'd have blamed them for that. Like, "I see what you mean about the HD700s being bright." But, side by side, I can see it a little more clearly. 
 
I'm also powering them with a tube amp - a lyr 2 - so, it's not likely that "too harsh" is going to be an issue for me. 

Powering with Liquid Carbon from a Teac Ud-301b still wow.

 

[DavidA]

  It really is. They're trying to do a Pixies soft-loud thing, I think, according to an interview.
 
My only point is that - if I only had one pair of headphones, I'd have blamed them for that. Like, "I see what you mean about the HD700s being bright." But, side by side, I can see it a little more clearly.
 
I'm also powering them with a tube amp - a lyr 2 - so, it's not likely that "too harsh" is going to be an issue for me.

What tubes are you using in the Lyr2?  I've been using Vokshods for the last 2 months or so, a nice balance between extended FR and clarity.

 

[Matro5]

  What tubes are you using in the Lyr2?  I've been using Vokshods for the last 2 months or so, a nice balance between extended FR and clarity.

74 Voskhod Rocket SWGP Silver Shields - bought it from still unused from someone who got them from rb1023, the guy who ( almost literally ) wrote the book on tube rolling the Ly 2. 

 

[DavidA]

  74 Voskhod Rocket SWGP Silver Shields
74 Voskhod Rocket SWGP Silver Shields - bought it from still unused from someone who got them from rb1023, the guy who ( almost literally ) wrote the book on tube rolling the Ly 2.

Cool, have those too, I think once rb1023 did his review the prices really went up for those tubes that he rated highly.  I was lucky and got mine before so they were cheaper.  Also have 70, 71, 75 and 83, only the 83 is not that great.

 

[dazzerfong]

So, err, my HD700 pads burst at the seam. I swear, no funny business was going on with them.
 

 
Thankfully, Sennheiser just requested my proof of purchase, and just like that, without even submitting a picture or jumping through hurdles (I feared that I needed to return my entire headphone to their centre), they're sending me a new pad. Kudos to them for their stellar customer service.

 

[DavidA]

First time I've seen a Senn ear pad broken, I've had Hifiman and M50 pad burst.

 

[moonbogg]

I have been using the HD700 tonight.  Firstly, the fit and finish and aesthetic is incredible.  The sound threw me off at first.  It was different from the X2 I had been using.  It took about 10 minutes of use and my brain started to adjust to the sonic differences and I began liking it.  I didn't dislike it at first, I was just more confused than anything.  These sound amazing.  I haven't had any treble issues or anything and I was looking for it but its fine to me. 
The bass is better than I expected it to be as far as quantity is concerned.  There is plenty for me and I am relieved by that.  Playing a song on the 700's where bass hits, the 700's are like, "Bass goes here, some right here, more right there, ok that's right" while the X2's playing the same song are like, "Um, I think bass goes here, there and some...oh F-it...BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM"
So I like the controlled and clean nature of the 700 bass.  The X2's are great sounding headphones as well, so I can't just say one is clearly "better" than the other.  They are different, but I think I notice more clarity and definition with the 700's.  For instance, it can display more clarity in mids and highs during a heavy bass session, or at least that's what I think I am hearing.
Sound stage is awesome.  Playing BF4 confused me at first because my mind was so used to the X2, but after a few minutes I was saying, "yep, this is nice".  The shot from my M98 sound punchy and clean.  Its great.  Gaming audio is just wonderful. 
The cans are comfortable and my ears don't even touch the drivers very much, if at all.  My ears get buried against the X2 drivers.  Its not uncomfortable but I prefer the feeling of wearing the 700's.  It feels like the sound enters my consciousness without any physical feedback as to how it got there.  it almost feels like nothing is touching my head.  I just hear the sound.  I am going to get along really well with these I can tell already.  I just hope they hold up to daily use since they are my only headphone I will be using.  If something happens, at least it appears customer service is helpful and I can get replacement parts and fix the thing or get it fixed, unlike the X2 which is all glued together on the inside and cannot be repaired.
 
Oh, the smell!  Almost forgot.  These have a scent of a high end piece of electronics equipment.  High quality synthetics and metals give off the signature aroma of excitement and pure happiness.  These smell like win.
 
One more thing.  These are loud.  They are louder than the X2 at the same system settings and volume position.  I find that odd since the impedance is so much higher.  Anyway, no volume issues and they certainly appear to be working properly, but I admit having nothing to compare my set up to.
 
WIN WIN WIN

 

[dazzerfong]

  First time I've seen a Senn ear pad broken, I've had Hifiman and M50 pad burst.

The strange thing was that it burst -there-. Yes, I know it's probably the weakest point of the entire earpad: however, it's the place where I access the least. I was expecting it to break near the seams to the plastic ring.
 
Still, issue's sorted out (hopefully) and I'm just waiting for my package to arrive now.

 

[sygnus21]

Well I ordered a 6-foot heavy gauge custom made balanced cable for the HD700’s from Surf Cables, and today they arrived.  Here’s some initial impressions on the cable itself, followed by use with my Teac UD-503’s head amp (HA), and the music used to "test" them along with some final thoughts.
 
So as mentioned these are custom made balanced cables made by Surf Cables for the HD700’s. Instead of the standard XLR balanced end, these come 2 quarter inch jacks. I wanted those as the UD-503 uses this layout for both Balance and Active Ground mode (Bal / AG) connections.  You simply plug the left jack into the left headphone input, and the right into the right. Choose Bal or AG and you’re set.  To be honest I’ve not been able to discern any difference whatsoever between Bal and AG… well I take that back, there is ever so slight difference, but really nothing to make you stick with one or the other.
 
The construction is quality and they seem to be made with high quality materials. The cable wires are 20-guage, (can also be had in a smaller 24 gauge) with a black nylon sleeve covering.  Surf Cables states their wires are silver plated copper with a Teflon insulation. The ¼ inch connectors are made by Neutrik. Not sure who makes the ends going into the headphones but they’re metal and gold plated. Of note is they don’t have the lock mechanism like those that come with the HD700, but they aren’t loose fitting.
 
You also get a black canvas type pouch with the company’s name and logo on it.  Cost was $160 flat with free shipping.  I ordered Wednesday and received today (Saturday). That’s darn good service there!!!
 

 
Sound… I’m not sure where credit (or blame) goes where sound is concerned because they definitely make a difference in sound over the supplied HD700 cable. 
First the setup. And by no means am I a professional audiophile reviewer so take “my test results” with a grain of salt. With that…
 
JRiver Media Center 21, with DSP enhancements off (no EQ or up-sampling).  Music files encoded in Monkey (APE).  Teac UD-503: Filter off, up-sampled to 192k and DSD (filter 150k).
 
For reference I always listen to two songs to determine how well I like a headphone – Hiromi’s title track 11:49 PM (YouTube clip) off her Move CD, and J’s Bee Naked off their 5 (Five) CD.
  
On 11:49, I love the way she opens up with her piano solo (in the bass region), for about a minute then have Simon Phillips come in with his drums.  Anthony Jackson follows and hits you with his bass notes and from there the jam is on until closed by Hiromi’s solo play again in which you imagining an ice skater finishing off her closing performance with fast paced spiral. With the HD700’s this track sounds live with a luscious open soundstage. 
 
Then there’s J’s Bee Naked which is a keyboard/piano solo piece played on the bass end of the spectrum that provides a richness of sound. There’s an airiness about this piece that’s both haunting and beautiful.  It’s a track I often use when closing a CD – whether jazz or lounge music.  Again, with the HD700’s airiness, this piece sounds really wonderful, as well as powerful.
That said, with the standard stereo cable of the HD700’s, and the UD-503 in Stereo mode, the HD700’s sound wonderfully airy though a tad bright with good bass extension. 
 
BTW playing other types of music reveals the same… less airy, more weight. I also need to state that that the UD-503’s HA for Stereo is rated at 500mv + 500mv pair into 32 Ohms, whereas Bal/AG is 700mv + 700mv at 32Ohms.  The impedance range of the head amp 16-600 Ohms.  Note the HD 700 is 150 Ohms.
 
Now, with the balanced cables, and the UD-503’s head amp set to either Bal or AG mode, the phones sound more balanced, weighty, and less airy; however, the bass notes don’t seem to go as deep as they do in stereo mode.  Is this a result of the cables, the UD-503’s HA, or perhaps a combination of both?
 
Unfortunately, you can’t use the standard stereo cable of the HD700’s in Bal or AG mode because they aren’t designed for that and won’t sound right; thus you can’t compare them to a balanced cable.
 
At the end of the day I suppose it comes down to what you like in your music and the equipment used. Before the HD700’s came along, airy wasn’t my thing. Now that I’ve gotten a taste of airy, I rather like what the HD700’s brings, especially their openness in stereo mode under the Teac UD-503.
 
On the other hand, I also like the warmer more balance sound they seem to provide with the balanced cables from Surf Cables under the Teac UD-503’s balanced mode.  So, I ask again, who gets the credit (or blame) here? 
 
Thanks.
 

 
Oh, and this will also be posted in the Teac UD 503 DAC (2015 New Release, DXD, DSD256) forum from the HA perspective.
 
Peace