This question has been asked a lot, but please bear another one.
Recently I purchased a HD 650 and Corda HA-2 and and for the first time in maybe a year or so I’m starting to get the feeling of buying more CDs again. Before, it always used to be the pursuit for a better system. The search may never end but right now is a very good time to just sit back and listen.
In any case, the final thing I need is an upgrade cable to complement the HD 650. Even after reading both Tuberoller’s and JaZZ’s excellent reviews on Sennheiser aftermarket cables I still can’t decide between the Zu or Moon Audio silver cable. Before I actually got the HD 650 it was "clear" to me that I would go for the more widespread and supposedly more natural sounding Zu cable since the Moon Audio cable was recounted be too hyperdetailed, hence causing listening fatigue which I am very prone to. However, right now I’m not so sure about it anymore.
Firstly, I was rather afraid of silver due to the supposedly increased treble energy as compared to copper cables. Yet, after having my HD 25-1 upgraded with a silver cable by Larry from Headphile I’m starting to believe that silver might not be too bad after all. The silver cable on my HD 25-1 sort of opened a new window for the music to shine through. I actually took the term “opening a window” from Larry himself but it hits the nail on the head. Well, at times, I do encounter the infamous ‘silver cable treble emphasis’ but that emphasis lies beyond the 8khz mark and I’m prone to the mid highs in the 5-7khz range and some lower highs as well. Further, that treble emphasis only gets annoying on sources such as my portable players.
Secondly, my major issue with the HD 650 lies within its limited treble extension and the slightly too smooth and polite midrange. Sometimes, my upgraded HD 25 have the upperhand in the treble area, i.e. more air, more sparkle. I think sparkle is the right word to use. I want sparkle with the HD 650. And I want more attack in the mids (not upper mids). There’s no veil but I’d like to lift the slightly dark presentation bit a little bit.
Tuberoller said in his review that the Zu was probably designed with the HD600’s veil in mind and has a rather forward midrange. JaZZ’s review on the other hand says that the Zu has more of a recessed midrange (very subtle however). One reason could be that Tuberoller used the HD600 and JaZZ used the 650 as reference headphone for evaluating the cables. I'm rather confused on this issue here.
I am fine with the HD650’s bass right now as it’s among the best I’ve heard but in my opinion it may need a slightly better control/damping to be a first-class headphone.
The Behringer digital EQ which GerG has mentioned is also out of question as I’m not planning on getting an external DAC in the near future and the Behringer 2496 is already quite expensive by itself.
Any input would be very helpful.
Recently I purchased a HD 650 and Corda HA-2 and and for the first time in maybe a year or so I’m starting to get the feeling of buying more CDs again. Before, it always used to be the pursuit for a better system. The search may never end but right now is a very good time to just sit back and listen.
In any case, the final thing I need is an upgrade cable to complement the HD 650. Even after reading both Tuberoller’s and JaZZ’s excellent reviews on Sennheiser aftermarket cables I still can’t decide between the Zu or Moon Audio silver cable. Before I actually got the HD 650 it was "clear" to me that I would go for the more widespread and supposedly more natural sounding Zu cable since the Moon Audio cable was recounted be too hyperdetailed, hence causing listening fatigue which I am very prone to. However, right now I’m not so sure about it anymore.
Firstly, I was rather afraid of silver due to the supposedly increased treble energy as compared to copper cables. Yet, after having my HD 25-1 upgraded with a silver cable by Larry from Headphile I’m starting to believe that silver might not be too bad after all. The silver cable on my HD 25-1 sort of opened a new window for the music to shine through. I actually took the term “opening a window” from Larry himself but it hits the nail on the head. Well, at times, I do encounter the infamous ‘silver cable treble emphasis’ but that emphasis lies beyond the 8khz mark and I’m prone to the mid highs in the 5-7khz range and some lower highs as well. Further, that treble emphasis only gets annoying on sources such as my portable players.
Secondly, my major issue with the HD 650 lies within its limited treble extension and the slightly too smooth and polite midrange. Sometimes, my upgraded HD 25 have the upperhand in the treble area, i.e. more air, more sparkle. I think sparkle is the right word to use. I want sparkle with the HD 650. And I want more attack in the mids (not upper mids). There’s no veil but I’d like to lift the slightly dark presentation bit a little bit.
Tuberoller said in his review that the Zu was probably designed with the HD600’s veil in mind and has a rather forward midrange. JaZZ’s review on the other hand says that the Zu has more of a recessed midrange (very subtle however). One reason could be that Tuberoller used the HD600 and JaZZ used the 650 as reference headphone for evaluating the cables. I'm rather confused on this issue here.
I am fine with the HD650’s bass right now as it’s among the best I’ve heard but in my opinion it may need a slightly better control/damping to be a first-class headphone.
The Behringer digital EQ which GerG has mentioned is also out of question as I’m not planning on getting an external DAC in the near future and the Behringer 2496 is already quite expensive by itself.
Any input would be very helpful.
