HD-600

[estreeter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heimdal /img/forum/go_quote.gif 3. HD600 is an audiophile headphone; their upside potential is almost limitless. Once I DAC/amped it with an Audio-GD Compass (~$330), it blew all the Grados I've heard out of the water.

I am still interested in the HD600, despite my concerns about amps, but I really need to know which Grados you've heard so that we can establish how deep the water was when the 600s blew them out of it, and whether you have heard said Grados from the same kit. Its a fallacy that Grados dont improve from an amp, possibly spread by folk who only own a portable player. I also have a sneaking suspicion that the HD600 may be similar to my K601 in one sense : very proficient technically and capable of very good sound with the right amp, but just not sufficiently immersive. Hopefully, I am completely off-base with this assumption.

My Grados put me onstage with the band - not everyone's preference, but there you have it.

Thanks,

estreeter

 

[ksu06]

Quote:

Originally Posted by estreeter /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am still interested in the HD600, despite my concerns about amps, but I really need to know which Grados you've heard so that we can establish how deep the water was when the 600s blew them out of it, and whether you have heard said Grados from the same kit. Its a fallacy that Grados dont improve from an amp, possibly spread by folk who only own a portable player. I also have a sneaking suspicion that the HD600 may be similar to my K601 in one sense : very proficient technically and capable of very good sound with the right amp, but just not sufficiently immersive. Hopefully, I am completely off-base with this assumption. My Grados put me onstage with the band - not everyone's preference, but there you have it.

The comparison to Grado is probably more a testament to personal preference than anything else ... I personally have an extremely difficult time comparing Senns to Grados objectively, the sound is just too different. Definitely try for yourself.

And it is interesting that you mention immersive ... along those lines, the HD600 is definitely not as "immersive" as Grados when it comes to rock or anything with PRaT. At the same time, changing over to a symphony makes Grados seem like the least "immersive" headphones I have ever heard in comparison to the HD600. So I guess immersion is highly dependent on the genre.

 

[userlander]

Quote:

Originally Posted by estreeter /img/forum/go_quote.gif I also have a sneaking suspicion that the HD600 may be similar to my K601 in one sense : very proficient technically and capable of very good sound with the right amp, but just not sufficiently immersive.

I think that is actually a pretty accurate appraisal. And with the right amp, they might even become immersive. If you favor a grado sound, however, it's going to be even harder to attain that perceived sense of involvement, imho.