I prefer HD650 because you can get one in a reasonable price. It sounds very dynamic and unique, like adding grey on a colorful picture. In other words, there's a bit of a film camera feel to it.
Sennheiser HD650 & Massdrop HD6XX Impressions Thread
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drummerman1
100+ Head-Fier
So, if I would get a 650 what would I find sonically compared to my 58X?
Mojo 2 is the amp/DAC.
Mojo 2 is the amp/DAC.
Why not a HD600?
HD58X and HD6XX are more similar than not. Actually they are the most similar among all the 6series.
Of course, putting aside for the moment the discussion for the differences between 6XX and 650 if any.
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HD58X vs HD6xx is the same as HD600 vs HD650
I haven’t heard the HD 58X, so can’t say if I agree or not. But I do have both the HD 600 and HD 650 and find them very different sounding from each other.
With this we agree. This is why i suggested to try something different like hd600. He can try also hd660s2.
You mean the differences? The delta is the same between these two comparison pairs?
No i do not agree. In tonality the 58x is more close to hd6xx than hd600 is to hd6xx.
Honestly find the HD 600, HD 650, HD 660S, and HD 660S2 all sound quite different from each other.
The HD 650 is my least favorite of the four as I think it sounds the most artificial to my ears, I’m personally not a fan of warmth mixed with prominent upper mids, I prefer the S2’s approach of warmth with more relaxed upper mids. The HD 600 imho has the best timbre and sounds the most pure and real to me. The 660S is the most spacious sounding but a bit flat sounding due to more relaxed upper mids but has better quality bass (not more) than the HD 600/650. The HD 660S sounds more like a R70x with less bass extension than any of the other HD 6xx line imho. The S2 is the most technically impressive and has the best quality bass and treble but does lack some liveliness in the upper mids.
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I agree with some of your statements but not all.
The hd6xx (hopefully the same with 650 more or less since many people claim different arguments) i find it very organic for some vocal songs has the most audiophile quality. Is a bit lethargic in comparison especially if is not driven properly and having a good balanced cable. It has some mid bass bloat and does not have the agility of others including 58x.
I have NOT studied the HD600 adequately enough as it was bought in my home country and stayed there. But i was very impressed with it and already love it. I reserve judgement for its final ranking.
The 660s2 is superb i find much better technically even from 660s and i prefer it even more than elex where i prefer the elex more than my 660s.
The 58x is fun and musical and I simply love it. If someone is not happy with the technicalities in comparison with 660s1,2 i completely understand.
I am happy that i have them all and sad that i do notbalso have the new version of 650 to complete the collection just for fun.
Also note these are all newer pairs with the new refreshed pads (all S2’s have new pads of course) which do sound a bit different. The old pads have somewhat different presentation and compress quicker than the newer pads.
Haven’t compared the HD 650 to the HD 6XX, but did own both at different times. I thought they were basically the same thing. I find the new HD 650 with the pad refresh does tweak the sound some from the old HD 650/6XX. The HD 650 has always been a mixed bag for me sadly. I guess I just fall more in the HD 600 camp. Also note this doesn't mean I dislike the HD 650, I do still like the headphone, it's just my least favorite of the lineup.
The S2 is really nice and like it a lot, but in some ways it competes with my T1.3 for my warm headphone but I prefer the Beyers as the T1 is more technically impressive and musical to me than the S2. Leaves the S2 in a bit of an odd spot for me.
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Regarding 6XX vs 650 my first encounter with the series was from an ex colleague that gave me his used 650 pair made around 2014 to try at home when i started my first steps with headphones. It was when my first kid was borned and i could not hear my speakers anymore.
As i remember he gave me 650 and pm3 and although i liked the pm3, the 650 was love at first sight. Something like robert de niro watching saron stone in casino for first time.
After few months my new 6xx arrived and by memory comparison the 6xx sounded quite different to me. Obviously new pads (old version) against old pads (old version) but the sound difference was apparent and there. But was from memory and a new headphone against a well burned in headphone with very used pads. So i reserve judgement.
Then the massdrop cover of the box of hd6xx is writing clearly HD650. So clearly sennheiser claims this is the hd650. However their representative last year in a you-tube responce claimed that they are different headphones but afterwards he retracted his comments.
Some people i know claim big difference among these models so go figure...
I have no strong opinion about the matter and I am quite open minded.
As i remember he gave me 650 and pm3 and although i liked the pm3, the 650 was love at first sight. Something like robert de niro watching saron stone in casino for first time.
After few months my new 6xx arrived and by memory comparison the 6xx sounded quite different to me. Obviously new pads (old version) against old pads (old version) but the sound difference was apparent and there. But was from memory and a new headphone against a well burned in headphone with very used pads. So i reserve judgement.
Then the massdrop cover of the box of hd6xx is writing clearly HD650. So clearly sennheiser claims this is the hd650. However their representative last year in a you-tube responce claimed that they are different headphones but afterwards he retracted his comments.
Some people i know claim big difference among these models so go figure...
I have no strong opinion about the matter and I am quite open minded.
Regarding 6XX vs 58x.
Mojo 2 is quite serious and respectable amp/dac so no issues there.
I describe in one of my reviews (ipurifier or xcan) that i find 6xx a category above 58x in a very elaborate setting.
I claimed that the 6xx when driven well is simply a category above 58x in resolution and soundstage. Is like having bigger drivers. However that comparison happened between a 6xx with a good balanced cable vs the original unbalanced cable of 58x.
Back then i failed to realise how much difference a balanced cable can make to the 6 series and it was really cumbersome to A-B test back then with a single balanced cable.
With time i realised how important is a balanced cable or the fact to be driven balanced by devices that are designed to work optimally in balanced mode for the whole 6 series so now i start to question partially my stamenents back then.
I have also the new version pads that i put to 58x and i have compared them directly with 660s with the same exactly usage both with same version pads. ( I have pictures in the 58x thread)
When driven from a simple modest source like a decent dongle the 58x is simply better to me than the 6xx. The 6xx needs a lot of power to shine. The lower bass in 58x is enormous and fun but the mid bass in 6xx dominates but many times is too much. The treble in 6xx is more. The 58x has more dynamics, is more agile and reminds some technicalities of 660s but its tonality is more close to 6xx than 660s.
Worth to having both and even more.
drummerman1
100+ Head-Fier
Thank you all. I believe I've stated elsewhere that I don't really need 2 headphones that nearly sound the same. It's just that I am wondering what I'm missing by having the poor cousin of the 6series, the 58X.
From your comments, I (perhaps wrongly) gather that my initial thought, the 650, is closest in sound to the 58 ... ?
The 660s2 seems very expensive and I did listen to it (and liked it) at the Bristol show but I did not have the 58X with me to compare. Still, at its current price I probably won't.
I guess this leaves the 600 or 660s ...
From your comments, I (perhaps wrongly) gather that my initial thought, the 650, is closest in sound to the 58 ... ?
The 660s2 seems very expensive and I did listen to it (and liked it) at the Bristol show but I did not have the 58X with me to compare. Still, at its current price I probably won't.
I guess this leaves the 600 or 660s ...
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I have 58X, 6XX, 660s, 660s2 and 600.
In your case I would go for hd600 or HD600s2 first. It depends also what discounts or sales you can find. But those would be my first choices because obviously you need something a bit different.
I would go only towards 650 if you like this smoothness and thickness so much that you want even more, you want to go more towards a specific direction.
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