[TinearedOne]

If classical is a big genre for you get the 600 as it's faster and more incisive. If you lean more towards pop/rock and hip-hop go with 650.

Acoustic, classical = the music I listen to when I’m likely to want to hear into the music, but my tastes are all over the place.

 

[MRC001]

BTW, I'll add that I still have the original HD580 that I bought in 1998. Over the years I've replaced the earpads, headband pad, and cable, but everything else is still original. They still perform and measure like new, indistinguishable from the original HD600. That's the kind of quality you're talking about here. Take care of them and they'll last pretty much forever.
Big classical music listener here, about 85% of my listening. But like any truly neutral low distortion headphone they're great for just about any kind of music.

 

[TWerk]

For me, the 600 is so much better for treble as the 650 sounds slightly muffled to me.

It's like the 600 fixes what I don't like from the 650, making it super easy choice. I also think the 600 has less coloration, it comes closer to the recording.

Guess it also depends on amp pairing, maybe on a bright amp, the 650 would sound better than it did to me.

Essentially, once I got my 600, had no interest in trying 650 again.

 

[equalspeace]

Acoustic, classical = the music I listen to when I’m likely to want to hear into the music, but my tastes are all over the place.

Yea the 650 won't get you what you need out of those genres imo. I luv the 650, but I listen to it when I just want to chill and occasionally be seduced by the way it portrays a song. 600 is better across genres. I can strongly rec the HD490 Pro as well as a headphone that is incisive but kind of melds the qualities of both the 600 and 650. It replaced my 600 and i ended up keeping the 650 cause it's just a unique HP

 

[TinearedOne]

Thanks to all who contributed. I will probably purchase the HD 600 as my first dip into the Sennheiser pool. That seems like it may be the first and last dip I need to take if it works as well as its fans say it does for my ears. I expect they will provide a different experience than my AKG K612 and Hifiman HE-X4.

 

[pataburd]

With the right amplification, the HD650 can sound shockingly good.

 

[TinearedOne]

Well, I took the plunge and ordered the HD 600. Very eager for them to arrive. Expectations are high. We will see if they live up to the hype. Of course, this might open me up to the endless pursuit of better amplification.

 

[drummerman1]

With the right amplification, the HD650 can sound shockingly good.

But doesn't that also make it a (likely) more expensive and less flexible headphone with run of the mill 'normal' amplification not bringing out it's best, instead requiring less price equivalent and more specialised (niche) amplification?

 

[pataburd]

But doesn't that also make it an ultimately more expensive and less flexible headphone with run of the mill 'normal' amplification not bringing out it's best, instead requiring less price equivalent and more specialized (niche) amplification?

Agreed. Although I thought the HD650 sounded excellent with a $250 Meier Audio HeadFive, too. So "right amplification" doesn't necessarily mean unduly expensive.

 

[r343]

Had both next to next while ago and preferred HD6XX (HD650) because

- Stock frequency response felt more balanced, HD600 had bit bass deficiency and got shouty after raising volume.
- HD600 soundstage height was smaller.
- HD6XX driver resolved better.

 

[TinearedOne]

Had both next to next while ago and preferred HD6XX (HD650) because

- Stock frequency response felt more balanced, HD600 had bit bass deficiency and got shouty after raising volume.
- HD600 soundstage height was smaller.
- HD6XX driver resolved better.

Yeah, I just decided I didn't want the excess "warmth" of the bass hump in the 650.