Intro
The Sennheiser HD650 has been a standard for audiophiles since its introduction 14 or 15 years ago. Because of its already stellar sound as well as being relatively easy to disassemble, the 650 has also been a staple for headphone DIYers everywhere. The JAR650 (JAR stands for Jupiter Audio Research) is one of the newest takes on a HD650 mod, but this one isn’t geared toward the DIY community so much as those looking to maximize the sound of their 650 or anyone looking to buy one of the best sounding headphones I’ve heard.
(Photo courtesy of Jupiter Audio Research)
Disclosure
Although Jupiter and I have been friendly over the past 1 ½ years or so, I have not (to my knowledge) let that friendship unduly influence my review. We are in negotiations for trading my HD600 for an older prototype of the current JAR650. I can honestly say that after hearing Jupiter’s end product, the review would have happened regardless, and I would have more than likely saved up for my own JAR creation.
Meet the maker
I met Jupiter (the brains behind the JAR650, AKA the J-Mod) online here on Head-Fi. He bought a couple of headphones from me back in November of 2016, and we have kept in touch ever since. When I first heard Jupiter talking about his modded 650, the passion he communicated with was readily evident. He was constantly working on it, tweaking it until the sound was just where he wanted it. Once I got to hear the end result, I finally understood.
I don’t know the whole story, but I do know that the creation of the JAR650 has been a long and arduous journey for Jupiter. He is an engineering student and like most of us here on Head-Fi he loves music. Unlike many he has had the good fortune of owning and enjoying several of the TOTL headphones on the market including Utopia, HD800, and Stax (007 &009). As much as he’s enjoyed them all he always found something to nitpick about and so started where many modders do: The HD650.
The HD650 as a standard
It’s time to give credit where credit is due. Jupiter was kind enough to lend me a stock HD650 for comparison, and I feel it’s safe to say that the HD650 is a fantastic headphone in its own right. There are multiple reasons that this headphone is a classic, and I am very glad I got to spend time with it.
This Senn may be the best known headphone to dance the line between smooth & resolving. A mid-bass bump, and gentle, perhaps slightly rolled off treble were more than likely keys in coining the term ‘Sennheiser veil’, but the details in the music are all there. It should be noted that a good amp is a requirement for getting maximum aural pleasure(which also holds true for the JAR650). Thankfully there is plenty of pleasure to be had with the stock 650.
-The midrange is absolute magic giving vocals and acoustic instruments life.
-The bass is definitely rolled off below 100 Hz or so, but the bass that is there is punchy without being overbearing.
-Soundstage or headstage is not considered to be a strong suit. It is considered more intimate in size, however imaging is quite good.
Either in spite of or because of all these traits, the 650 remains one of the most beloved headphones on the market today, and is a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience. Sennheiser definitely did a lot of things right with the driver and tuning of the HD650.
Setup
All listening was done from my JRiver Media Player on my HP all in one PC feeding a mix of high rez and MP3 files to a Schiit Gungnir D/S into either an ifi iCan Pro or a MCTH with the stock tube. Like the HD650, the J-Mod sounded great through both SS & my hybrid tube amp each bringing its own flavor to the already stellar sound.
The physical headphone
Like all 650 mods there are various parts removed from the stock configuration and dampening applied to key areas. What parts are removed as well as the location and material for dampening vary from mod to mod, but the basic idea is the same: make sure what you add doesn’t take away from the sound. Jupiter tried several of the various mods, but still walked away dissatisfied. Over a period of months, he used trial & error to zero in on the sound he wanted. He also developed a novel idea that I haven’t seen used before. He created 3D printed part for the back of the headphones. This has the dual purpose of further tailoring the sound as well as adding some rear protection. For me, it’s also an aesthetically appealing feature. It’s a shame he wasn’t able to address the clamp of the headband, but he could hardly be considered at fault for that. A new headband would also likely increase the price considerably.
The differences
Personally I have never attempted to mod a headphone beyond adding a filter (TP mod!) or pad rolling, so I don’t know how hard or easy it would be to mess up the venerated stock HD650 sound. I do know there are a variety of mods available, although I haven’t heard any of them up until now. If I had never heard the JAR650, I would be quite happy with a stock HD650 in my collection.
It seems to me that the object of modding any headphone is to tailor the sound to your tastes which is therefore a subjective affair. Obviously, what is a sonic step forward for me may very well be less enjoyable for you. That being said what Jupiter has done is take a classic headphone and worked on evolving the sound into something I find to be all together even more engaging than the original. I’ll do my best to describe the differences.
Starting down low, the bass seems tighter to my ears, but no less impactful. The stock 650 has a loose quality to the bass. Although the Stock bass is punchy, I do hear a smear to the sound of an upright bass, maybe a touch too long in the decay of notes. The JAR has a bit more snap in the bass. The punch is still there but it’s quicker. The bass is still rolled off so there’s no miracle here but as with the stock 650, I didn’t miss it at all for most of my listening.
Thank goodness the mids still sound magical to me. If anything they are even clearer, without edging anywhere close to shouty or strident. If I was to guess I would say it’s because the bass is tighter, making the information in the mids and treble easier to discern. Whatever the reason vocals, strings et al sound phenomenal through the JAR650.
As I hinted at, I found that the treble was more resolving as well with no audible peaks, spikes or valleys. I was treated to what is, for my tastes, one of the best treble presentations that I have ever heard. While still leaning toward a relaxed presentation, resolution was increased to my ears without introducing harshness. The sound was not aggressive, but still detailed. Cowbells, triangles cymbals all sounded crisper, more of the overtones were easily heard, but the tonality remained true. I couldn’t detect the infamous Sennheiser veil at all.
Soundstage seemed relatively unchanged to me, that is to say relatively narrow. Imaging as well sounded on par if not a little better, but I’m not particularly skilled with observing that. When I put it all together though, I find myself struggling not to dip into the big book of audio clichés. This headphone absolutely drew me into the music like few headphones can. That is what I’m looking for in a headphone. That is what I’m listening to music for.
Conclusion
To be fair, there may be those out there that prefer the more laid back stock 650. That headphone is smoother overall, very easy on the ears and the design has stood the test of time (albeit with some silent revisions over the years). The JAR650 on the other hand is more energetic and lively. The difference is not stark but incremental; however the contrast is there nonetheless. For my tastes, if you can add resolution without harshness and increase my desire to keep listening to the music you’ve definitely done something right. I don’t want to sound too effusive, and it’s been a struggle not to in this review. With that being said if your goal is to better a classic headphone and you achieve that goal, it’s hard not to seem overzealous. IMHO Jupiter has achieved that goal admirably.
The JAR650 is available for $390 (USD, plus shipping)*, and the mod can be purchased for any existing stock HD650 for $100 (USD, plus shipping).
(For further information about the JAR650 contact @ext1 on Head-Fi)
*Edit: Price quoted was at the time of writing, apparently current retail will vary.
https://www.head-fi.org/members/ext1.460358/
The Sennheiser HD650 has been a standard for audiophiles since its introduction 14 or 15 years ago. Because of its already stellar sound as well as being relatively easy to disassemble, the 650 has also been a staple for headphone DIYers everywhere. The JAR650 (JAR stands for Jupiter Audio Research) is one of the newest takes on a HD650 mod, but this one isn’t geared toward the DIY community so much as those looking to maximize the sound of their 650 or anyone looking to buy one of the best sounding headphones I’ve heard.
(Photo courtesy of Jupiter Audio Research)
Disclosure
Although Jupiter and I have been friendly over the past 1 ½ years or so, I have not (to my knowledge) let that friendship unduly influence my review. We are in negotiations for trading my HD600 for an older prototype of the current JAR650. I can honestly say that after hearing Jupiter’s end product, the review would have happened regardless, and I would have more than likely saved up for my own JAR creation.
Meet the maker
I met Jupiter (the brains behind the JAR650, AKA the J-Mod) online here on Head-Fi. He bought a couple of headphones from me back in November of 2016, and we have kept in touch ever since. When I first heard Jupiter talking about his modded 650, the passion he communicated with was readily evident. He was constantly working on it, tweaking it until the sound was just where he wanted it. Once I got to hear the end result, I finally understood.
I don’t know the whole story, but I do know that the creation of the JAR650 has been a long and arduous journey for Jupiter. He is an engineering student and like most of us here on Head-Fi he loves music. Unlike many he has had the good fortune of owning and enjoying several of the TOTL headphones on the market including Utopia, HD800, and Stax (007 &009). As much as he’s enjoyed them all he always found something to nitpick about and so started where many modders do: The HD650.
The HD650 as a standard
It’s time to give credit where credit is due. Jupiter was kind enough to lend me a stock HD650 for comparison, and I feel it’s safe to say that the HD650 is a fantastic headphone in its own right. There are multiple reasons that this headphone is a classic, and I am very glad I got to spend time with it.
This Senn may be the best known headphone to dance the line between smooth & resolving. A mid-bass bump, and gentle, perhaps slightly rolled off treble were more than likely keys in coining the term ‘Sennheiser veil’, but the details in the music are all there. It should be noted that a good amp is a requirement for getting maximum aural pleasure(which also holds true for the JAR650). Thankfully there is plenty of pleasure to be had with the stock 650.
-The midrange is absolute magic giving vocals and acoustic instruments life.
-The bass is definitely rolled off below 100 Hz or so, but the bass that is there is punchy without being overbearing.
-Soundstage or headstage is not considered to be a strong suit. It is considered more intimate in size, however imaging is quite good.
Either in spite of or because of all these traits, the 650 remains one of the most beloved headphones on the market today, and is a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience. Sennheiser definitely did a lot of things right with the driver and tuning of the HD650.
Setup
All listening was done from my JRiver Media Player on my HP all in one PC feeding a mix of high rez and MP3 files to a Schiit Gungnir D/S into either an ifi iCan Pro or a MCTH with the stock tube. Like the HD650, the J-Mod sounded great through both SS & my hybrid tube amp each bringing its own flavor to the already stellar sound.
The physical headphone
Like all 650 mods there are various parts removed from the stock configuration and dampening applied to key areas. What parts are removed as well as the location and material for dampening vary from mod to mod, but the basic idea is the same: make sure what you add doesn’t take away from the sound. Jupiter tried several of the various mods, but still walked away dissatisfied. Over a period of months, he used trial & error to zero in on the sound he wanted. He also developed a novel idea that I haven’t seen used before. He created 3D printed part for the back of the headphones. This has the dual purpose of further tailoring the sound as well as adding some rear protection. For me, it’s also an aesthetically appealing feature. It’s a shame he wasn’t able to address the clamp of the headband, but he could hardly be considered at fault for that. A new headband would also likely increase the price considerably.
The differences
Personally I have never attempted to mod a headphone beyond adding a filter (TP mod!) or pad rolling, so I don’t know how hard or easy it would be to mess up the venerated stock HD650 sound. I do know there are a variety of mods available, although I haven’t heard any of them up until now. If I had never heard the JAR650, I would be quite happy with a stock HD650 in my collection.
It seems to me that the object of modding any headphone is to tailor the sound to your tastes which is therefore a subjective affair. Obviously, what is a sonic step forward for me may very well be less enjoyable for you. That being said what Jupiter has done is take a classic headphone and worked on evolving the sound into something I find to be all together even more engaging than the original. I’ll do my best to describe the differences.
Starting down low, the bass seems tighter to my ears, but no less impactful. The stock 650 has a loose quality to the bass. Although the Stock bass is punchy, I do hear a smear to the sound of an upright bass, maybe a touch too long in the decay of notes. The JAR has a bit more snap in the bass. The punch is still there but it’s quicker. The bass is still rolled off so there’s no miracle here but as with the stock 650, I didn’t miss it at all for most of my listening.
Thank goodness the mids still sound magical to me. If anything they are even clearer, without edging anywhere close to shouty or strident. If I was to guess I would say it’s because the bass is tighter, making the information in the mids and treble easier to discern. Whatever the reason vocals, strings et al sound phenomenal through the JAR650.
As I hinted at, I found that the treble was more resolving as well with no audible peaks, spikes or valleys. I was treated to what is, for my tastes, one of the best treble presentations that I have ever heard. While still leaning toward a relaxed presentation, resolution was increased to my ears without introducing harshness. The sound was not aggressive, but still detailed. Cowbells, triangles cymbals all sounded crisper, more of the overtones were easily heard, but the tonality remained true. I couldn’t detect the infamous Sennheiser veil at all.
Soundstage seemed relatively unchanged to me, that is to say relatively narrow. Imaging as well sounded on par if not a little better, but I’m not particularly skilled with observing that. When I put it all together though, I find myself struggling not to dip into the big book of audio clichés. This headphone absolutely drew me into the music like few headphones can. That is what I’m looking for in a headphone. That is what I’m listening to music for.
Conclusion
To be fair, there may be those out there that prefer the more laid back stock 650. That headphone is smoother overall, very easy on the ears and the design has stood the test of time (albeit with some silent revisions over the years). The JAR650 on the other hand is more energetic and lively. The difference is not stark but incremental; however the contrast is there nonetheless. For my tastes, if you can add resolution without harshness and increase my desire to keep listening to the music you’ve definitely done something right. I don’t want to sound too effusive, and it’s been a struggle not to in this review. With that being said if your goal is to better a classic headphone and you achieve that goal, it’s hard not to seem overzealous. IMHO Jupiter has achieved that goal admirably.
The JAR650 is available for $390 (USD, plus shipping)*, and the mod can be purchased for any existing stock HD650 for $100 (USD, plus shipping).
(For further information about the JAR650 contact @ext1 on Head-Fi)
*Edit: Price quoted was at the time of writing, apparently current retail will vary.
https://www.head-fi.org/members/ext1.460358/
