Hifiman HE-500 versus Sennheiser HD650 - Page 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grev 

Simply... HE-500 > HD650.  The HD650 is (slightly muddy in my case) muddy as you suggested even with good amplification...

 I had the same problem with the HD650 for a while, but always thought it sounded good.  Once I got a Lyr, all that extra power really opened up the HD650s.  Of course my new LCD-2s are better.  However, I did have the HE-500s on demo for a few weeks, and preferred the HD650s.

My RX Mk3-B is pretty powerful, same goes for the Triad L3, the HD650 sounded on the dark side with both of the amps.  Maybe a high powered desktop amp, I don't know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grev 

My RX Mk3-B is pretty powerful, same goes for the Triad L3, the HD650 sounded on the dark side with both of the amps.  Maybe a high powered desktop amp, I don't know.

Yea, the HD650 will always have a somewhat dark sound signature.  But the beauty of the Lyr/HD650 combo was that it gave those headphones a very nice open, powerful, and exciting sound.  A great combination for very long listening sessions.  It just seemed to get all the necessary things right for me, and that is creating a very listenable sound with emotion and excitement above all else.

Did you change the tubes in your Lyr or are they stock?  

The 650s and a tube amps are to dark for some.

Couldn't resist a good offer and so I bought the HE500 from a fellow HeadFier.

Right now I have my second set of HD650(new driver and not as laid back as my old version)and the HE500 side by side run balanced and plugged in the Phoenix and I like the Hifiman so much more!

Not much coloration and a great sense of space/air.The bass does have impact(not as much as the LCD2 but more than the HD650)and everything seems to be in a tonal balance.

I even prefer the HE500 to the LCD2 as it gives me a more delicate and coherent image of all the instruments where as the Audeze is just spreading out the instruments in a very forceful way without resulting in a coherent sound....but thats just me!

^ Good to hear!  The planars are more neutral and has deep bass instead of a mid bass boost knob.

I bought the HD650, listened for about 2 weeks, try to love it but couldn't, sold it, no regret.

I bought my HE-500, fell in love in the first 2 minutes.

Guess that tell you sth.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frihed89 

 None of the new big bucks cans(Audeze, hifiman, etc.) match the sonic presentation of the 650s, if you are a 650-lover.  To my ears, they have no romance.  They aren't coherent.  They are not engaging. They are at their best with highly compressed pop music, which already sounds awful due to the compression. If you enjoy jazz, chamber music, acoustic guitar, solo instrument music in general, or even symphonic music...I think you get what I am driving at...i'd stay with what you have, the 650s. The 800s are very good, too, but far more neutral and you might not like that.  I have not heard the 700s, but from what I have read they are in the same class as the 800s: neutral, coherent, lively, great detail and inner resolution.  

 

Bit late replying to this as Frihed89 is probably in a nursing home by now, but there are a few too many points here that need challenging.

None of the "big bucks" cans are coherent or engaging, eh? Wow, that statement is almost too ricketty already to bother demolishing. As one who came to the LCD-2 via HD650 I can assure you that to some of us the LCD-2 far more coherent and engaging, plus neutral and punchy and one or two other things besides. Perhaps you mean that the LCD doesn't present the music as a comforting wodge of sound like the 650, in which case you'd be right--and I freely admit it took me a while to ween myself from that wodge of sound when I changed over. There is something addictive about the 650, but to say that it's more coherent and engaging than all the many more expensive and respected phones is nonsense.

"They are at their best with highly compressed pop music, which already sounds awful due to the compression."  Eek! That's just so far off the trail you may never find your way back again, pardner.

"If you enjoy jazz, chamber music, acoustic guitar, solo instrument music in general, or even symphonic music...i'd stay with what you have, the 650s."

My advice: If you enjoy any of those genres, don't deny yourself a chance to hear the orthodynamics at least. I enjoy symphonic music and haven't stopped air conducting since I got the LCD-2.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pp312 

 

 

Bit late replying to this as Frihed89 is probably in a nursing home by now, but there are a few too many points here that need challenging.

 

None of the "big bucks" cans are coherent or engaging, eh? Wow, that statement is almost too ricketty already to bother demolishing. As one who came to the LCD-2 via HD650 I can assure you that to some of us the LCD-2 far more coherent and engaging, plus neutral and punchy and one or two other things besides. Perhaps you mean that the LCD doesn't present the music as a comforting wodge of sound like the 650, in which case you'd be right--and I freely admit it took me a while to ween myself from that wodge of sound when I changed over. There is something addictive about the 650, but to say that it's more coherent and engaging than all the many more expensive and respected phones is nonsense.

 

"They are at their best with highly compressed pop music, which already sounds awful due to the compression."  Eek! That's just so far off the trail you may never find your way back again, pardner.

 

"If you enjoy jazz, chamber music, acoustic guitar, solo instrument music in general, or even symphonic music...i'd stay with what you have, the 650s."

 

My advice: If you enjoy any of those genres, don't deny yourself a chance to hear the orthodynamics at least. I enjoy symphonic music and haven't stopped air conducting since I got the LCD-2.

I will agree with this.  I am another one who came to the LCD-2.2 via the HD650.  After reading this post, I took off my LCD-2 and put my HD650 back on just for the heck of it.  Sounded good for a minute, then quickly realized all that it's missing compared to the LCD-2.  The LCD-2 are absolutely, positively, without a doubt, in another league above the HD650s.  I still love the HD650s and feel that they are awesome cans for the money, but it really is no comparison.  Not to offend anyone, because I know everyone has preferences, but even if you don't prefer the sound signature of the LCD-2, you have to be able to acknowledge that it's in a technical legue far above the HD650.  If you don't recognize that, then I'd have to say that you need to listen harder or get your ears checked 

OK so both planars beat out the HD650.  How does the LCD-2.2 compare to the HE-500?

Like them both but prefer the HE500 and I also like the design more(despite being Made in China)!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike1127 

I have a recabled LCD 2.2 (by a little known company, K Works) and a stock cable HE-500. The bass on the Audeze wins by far. The HE-500 bass can be a little flabby, and it must be driven by a low-impedance amp or else it gets boomy/one-note-y. But the HE-500 has the top octave that the Audeze is missing, and even with a stock cable it's a marvelous headphone. Certain music I prefer on my HE-500 with the stock cable and that's saying a lot because the aftermarket cable on my Audeze is fabulous. I'm going to get the same guy to do a cable for the Hifiman.

Does this K Works have a web site?  Do you know if he is willing to hard wire some HiFiMan HE-xx headphones with a cable I provide him?

...  Just get custom cables...  I have balanced cables for both audeze and hifiman and it's great.