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Originally posted by kelly
I haven't read the amp thread yet. If you're going to plug the HD600 into the RA-1 amp, ever, then don't bother. Skip the HD600. If you're going to get a different amp, it becomes an option |
It sounds fine through the RA-1. Better clarity and transparity that with the X-Cans.
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Beagle, you've previously mentioned thinking the HD600 has very overamphasized bass. The midbass hump is somewhat tamed by the Cardas cable but not to a great extent. If you think the HD600's bass is fatiguing before adding the Cardas, it probably still will be after Cardas -- even on a good amp |
It's not fatiguing, just not defined very well, it lacks dynamics and impact. It's like "simulated" bass, like "we don't have any real bass so we'll substitute this instead". The Cardas cable seems to help, at first, but this characteristic never really changes.
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You've also said, repeatedly, that you don't believe the SR- series Grados to be bright whereas most of us, including me, very much do. If you don't find the SR- series too bright, you shouldn't find the RS-1 bright either |
I use the flat pads and have never experienced a bright Grado when using them. The bowl pads can sound bright.
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The RS-1 is faster and cleaner and still very smooth, especially compared to the (to me) somewhat harsh Grado SR-s. The HD600 is more on the lush side which I think Sennheiser fans find more inviting. The Cardas helps with the recessed upper midrange/vocal range but doesn't completely solve that problem, either. Texture is greatly improved with the Cardas, but the resolution of the HD600 takes a back seat to most more expensive cans.
My belief is that many people like the sound of the HD600 because headphones in general have a tendency to sound too up close and personal compared to good speakers (and arguably compared to the way the engineer intended the recording to sound). The HD600 pushes you away from that a little and for some this meakes the sound more natural and less fatiguing |
Yes, the HD600 holds everything back at a distance and from a distance, everything looks good, which is not accuracy. After a time, everything becomes samey and boring. You can't get INTO the music, you can only LOOK at it and analyze the recordings. Not much fun. But for those times when you want smooth, laid back and relaxing sound, the HD600 is superb. But I can use the AKGK501 for those times when I want a more distant perspective, but still keeping dynamics intact.
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If part of what drives you to love headphones is being able to analyze the details, I can't help but feel the HD600 is the wrong headphone for you--at least if you're only going to have one pair |
Interesting, because one of the problems I had with the HD600 was that it seemed to present music as individual components, rather than the whole. The Grados deliver a nice tight musical package that is very involving and dynamic.
The HD600 is like a tour guide, pretty, polite, helpful, shows you everything but makes you yawn and long for something else after a while.
I've owned the HD600 for 3 1/2 years and respect the things it does well (and it does do a lot of things well) but I have never learned to live with it's politeness and lack of dynamics and impact.