luckybaer
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2006
- Posts
- 2,086
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- 155
I received my AH-D2000 and HD650 a day and a half ago, and I've been listening to them (along with my venerable DT880) as often as possible. I've only played pop/rock type music so far, and I am looking forward to playing some classical music in a few days.
All I can say is the two new headphones are making me quite happy with the investment. They both compliment each other and the DT880 well.
Initial impressions (PC -> MP3 320Kbps -> Foobar -> HeadRoom Micro DAC -> HeadRoom Micro Amp):
HD650 - I can see why these are considered darker/warmer headphones. To me, it isn't completely due to the fact that they do roll off the higher end (around 10 kHz). Rather, in these early stages of listening and usage, I think the bass (the 50-250 Hz range) - is emphasized - strongly enough to create that warmth, and when coupled with the not-too-bright high end, that sense is intensified. I don't see this as a negative, though. I see it more of a difference compared to other headphones.
I see words like "lush" and "smooth" tossed around to describe headphones including the HD650, and I now understand what those listeners are describing. Words like harsh, bright, etc. will probably never be mentioned in the same breath with the HD650. I am completely lost when I have these headphones on. I've spent a lot of time looping songs like Rush's "YYZ", Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein", and XTC's "Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" and "Mayor of Simpleton." I like to call the experience "polished, smooth, and meaty."
On songs with a lot of activity above the 10 kHz area, the HD650 softens them just enough to facilitate a longer, non-fatiguing listening session. On songs that don't emphasize that frequency area much, I am finding myself asking for a bit more high-end - I noticed this on "Frankenstein." This point is a result of me really, REALLY trying to find something to grumble about. The HD650s deserve every bit of the praise they've received over the years.
Comfort is good. They seem comparable in weight to the DT880, and although they clamp on my size 7 1/4 melon pretty well, it is not uncomfortable. It is noticeable, however, but it makes me take the phones off every now and then, and that gives my head AND my hearing a break.
D2000 - These headphones sound really good. I think they are pretty neutral until you hit the 1-3 kHz zone. It doesn't jump out at me, but on some higher male vocals and some guitar work it is noticeable. I looked at the frequency response graph at headphone.com, and it looked as though that part of the spectrum was REALLY rolled off relative to the HD650 and DT880, but in actuality, it didn't sound as dramatic. I think that maybe the D2000 picks things up around >3 kHz that the graphically depicted drop isn't as noticeable to my ears. For the most part, these headphones are as lush and smooth as the HD650, but they aren't nearly as warm.
I've read that the bass on these beauties is pretty strong. It doesn't seem too strong to me, but I do notice that it has a firm structure provided by the lowest of the lows audible to my ears. In that regard it tops the HD650's bass and the DT880's. I'm listening to the Pixies' "Here Comes Your Man", and these cans really do a great job with the song. Nice extension on the bass without overdoing the warmth. Super smooth vocals and guitar, but with enough bite so as to not lose the oh-so-slight edge to the guitars.
There isn't anything for me to complain about (identifying the rolled off mids is kind of nit-picky). They are pretty comfortable, but I feel as though I really need to be extra-EXTRA careful with them. The cups look like they are greasy fingerprint magnets! Oh, and the pleather pads haven't made me sweat, but I am sitting in a relatively cool and dry climate controlled environment.
DT880 - Crisp and analytical with an under-rated lower end. I've had these for almost 4 years, and they are (were?) the go-to headphone in my collection. To me, they are almost perfect, except for their brightness - which can be a big issue, unlike the darker HD650, whose darkness isn't something that causes me discomfort. There are some songs that are just too fatiguing to use the DT880. For those moments I used to reach for the K601, but now I'll probably be using the HD650 for those bright works.
But man, with the right music, these babies are so clean and so crisp. What many don't talk about is the firm, deeply extending, tightly controlled bass. I like to joke around and say they make listening to poppy hip-hop stuff like Gorillaz tolerable because I don't feel like someone strapped a 10 inch subwoofer to my head. I guess I just ain't a basshead.
The DT880 is a fun can! Seriously! Just throw on some Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, or even some Alice in Chains! Guitars ring true, bass doesn't muddy things up, etc.
Comfort-wise, the DT880 is a comfort champ. Just the right amount of clamping, a padded headband that doesn't cause my noggin any pain - quite unlike like the unpadded, hard as heck headband on the K601.
These three headphones are definitely keepers for me. It looks as though the new purchases have made my K601 obsolete. If it weren't for the fact that it was a gift from my mother, I'd sell it. My DT770/80 had been collecting dust until my 3-year old discovered it so he can listen quietly to Black Sabbath, Crazy 8's, and Gorillaz with me and get 100% of his old man's attention.
Sorry to be such a bore. I know I haven't said anything that dozens haven't already posted or published, but I just wanted to provide a new perspective on some tried and true cans.
Quick update: I've got the HD650 on my head, and Foobar randomly selected "Security Joan" by Donald Fagen. Wow! This headphone has got to be the ballz out shizzle with that type of music. Jazz/Fusion genre, I guess...
All I can say is the two new headphones are making me quite happy with the investment. They both compliment each other and the DT880 well.
Initial impressions (PC -> MP3 320Kbps -> Foobar -> HeadRoom Micro DAC -> HeadRoom Micro Amp):
HD650 - I can see why these are considered darker/warmer headphones. To me, it isn't completely due to the fact that they do roll off the higher end (around 10 kHz). Rather, in these early stages of listening and usage, I think the bass (the 50-250 Hz range) - is emphasized - strongly enough to create that warmth, and when coupled with the not-too-bright high end, that sense is intensified. I don't see this as a negative, though. I see it more of a difference compared to other headphones.
I see words like "lush" and "smooth" tossed around to describe headphones including the HD650, and I now understand what those listeners are describing. Words like harsh, bright, etc. will probably never be mentioned in the same breath with the HD650. I am completely lost when I have these headphones on. I've spent a lot of time looping songs like Rush's "YYZ", Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein", and XTC's "Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" and "Mayor of Simpleton." I like to call the experience "polished, smooth, and meaty."
On songs with a lot of activity above the 10 kHz area, the HD650 softens them just enough to facilitate a longer, non-fatiguing listening session. On songs that don't emphasize that frequency area much, I am finding myself asking for a bit more high-end - I noticed this on "Frankenstein." This point is a result of me really, REALLY trying to find something to grumble about. The HD650s deserve every bit of the praise they've received over the years.
Comfort is good. They seem comparable in weight to the DT880, and although they clamp on my size 7 1/4 melon pretty well, it is not uncomfortable. It is noticeable, however, but it makes me take the phones off every now and then, and that gives my head AND my hearing a break.
D2000 - These headphones sound really good. I think they are pretty neutral until you hit the 1-3 kHz zone. It doesn't jump out at me, but on some higher male vocals and some guitar work it is noticeable. I looked at the frequency response graph at headphone.com, and it looked as though that part of the spectrum was REALLY rolled off relative to the HD650 and DT880, but in actuality, it didn't sound as dramatic. I think that maybe the D2000 picks things up around >3 kHz that the graphically depicted drop isn't as noticeable to my ears. For the most part, these headphones are as lush and smooth as the HD650, but they aren't nearly as warm.
I've read that the bass on these beauties is pretty strong. It doesn't seem too strong to me, but I do notice that it has a firm structure provided by the lowest of the lows audible to my ears. In that regard it tops the HD650's bass and the DT880's. I'm listening to the Pixies' "Here Comes Your Man", and these cans really do a great job with the song. Nice extension on the bass without overdoing the warmth. Super smooth vocals and guitar, but with enough bite so as to not lose the oh-so-slight edge to the guitars.
There isn't anything for me to complain about (identifying the rolled off mids is kind of nit-picky). They are pretty comfortable, but I feel as though I really need to be extra-EXTRA careful with them. The cups look like they are greasy fingerprint magnets! Oh, and the pleather pads haven't made me sweat, but I am sitting in a relatively cool and dry climate controlled environment.
DT880 - Crisp and analytical with an under-rated lower end. I've had these for almost 4 years, and they are (were?) the go-to headphone in my collection. To me, they are almost perfect, except for their brightness - which can be a big issue, unlike the darker HD650, whose darkness isn't something that causes me discomfort. There are some songs that are just too fatiguing to use the DT880. For those moments I used to reach for the K601, but now I'll probably be using the HD650 for those bright works.
But man, with the right music, these babies are so clean and so crisp. What many don't talk about is the firm, deeply extending, tightly controlled bass. I like to joke around and say they make listening to poppy hip-hop stuff like Gorillaz tolerable because I don't feel like someone strapped a 10 inch subwoofer to my head. I guess I just ain't a basshead.
The DT880 is a fun can! Seriously! Just throw on some Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, or even some Alice in Chains! Guitars ring true, bass doesn't muddy things up, etc.
Comfort-wise, the DT880 is a comfort champ. Just the right amount of clamping, a padded headband that doesn't cause my noggin any pain - quite unlike like the unpadded, hard as heck headband on the K601.
These three headphones are definitely keepers for me. It looks as though the new purchases have made my K601 obsolete. If it weren't for the fact that it was a gift from my mother, I'd sell it. My DT770/80 had been collecting dust until my 3-year old discovered it so he can listen quietly to Black Sabbath, Crazy 8's, and Gorillaz with me and get 100% of his old man's attention.
Sorry to be such a bore. I know I haven't said anything that dozens haven't already posted or published, but I just wanted to provide a new perspective on some tried and true cans.
Quick update: I've got the HD650 on my head, and Foobar randomly selected "Security Joan" by Donald Fagen. Wow! This headphone has got to be the ballz out shizzle with that type of music. Jazz/Fusion genre, I guess...
