[balanceofpower]

I still have 600/650s as my main cans. The soundstage placement and warmth of these guys is what I seem to love best. Most cans now seem too 'forward' for my tastes and these I feel like I'm at a good concert hall or symphony a few rows back.

 

[upstateguy]

This is a great thread...


USG

 

[Fidel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfusion770 The problem I have with the 650 is that it can be muddy at times. I really enjoy it about 95% of the time, but recently listening to the K701 made me a little jealous of it separation and soundstage. I'm unsure if it is a limitation I just need to live with, if there is another dynamic out there that resembles a K701/650, or if a wholesale sell off and second look at the OII is warranted.

This is exactly how I feel as well...I'm still trying to get more detail and a bigger soundstage with the 650s. I just wish they can combine the 701 strengths with those of the 650s (maybe that = HE90

). Are there any balanced amps that can improve these areas significantly?

 

[Rise To The Top]

When I was in San Diego, I got to listen to the RS1 next my HD650s, and I took my HD650s over them. I feel that the HD650 has it all, soundstage, bass, good mids and well shaped highs when you match it with the right system. By far the best headphone for its price, cant be beat.

 

[Schalldampfer]

Now the question is... how will Sennheiser improve upon the 650 to bring out their next model?

 

[sacd lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schalldämpfer /img/forum/go_quote.gif Now the question is... how will Sennheiser improve upon the 650 to bring out their next model?

Move the sound, particularly the bass, back towards the senn 580/600.

 

[donlin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sacd lover /img/forum/go_quote.gif Move the sound, particularly the bass, back towards the senn 580/600.

Oh no, I sure hope not! I remember when the 650's first came out, I had been listening to the 600's for a couple years and thought they sounded good, but the first time I heard the 650's it was such a wonderful surprise. Finally some realistic bass weight and natural treble balance to go along with the great midrange. I know that two of the main criticisms of the 650's are too much bass and not enough treble, but to me, from day one, they sound more real at both ends of the spectrum. Since then, any of the more expensive phones I have tried, with the exception of the PS-1, have too much treble energy. For me only the 650 and the Grado HP-2, which are both generally considered too laid back in the treble, get the treble right.

 

[donlin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fidel /img/forum/go_quote.gif This is exactly how I feel as well...I'm still trying to get more detail and a bigger soundstage with the 650s. I just wish they can combine the 701 strengths with those of the 650s (maybe that = HE90 ). Are there any balanced amps that can improve these areas significantly?

For more detail and a bigger soundstage you must try the PS Audio GCHA, not balanced, but a perfect synergy with the 650's. I think my honeymoon period with the Singlepower MPX3 Slam is about over and I'm moving back to the GCHA again, as usual.

 

[sacd lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcoheda /img/forum/go_quote.gif what a great topic. hopefully it will stay on point and many will comment. if anyone has preferred the HD650 (Bal or SE) to the GS1000, Ed.9, L3000, or other limited edition AT or grado headphones, or any other expensive dynamic or electrotstatic headphones, please share your experience. thanks

I definitely prefer the 650 balanced or single ended to the GS1000. I also clearly prefer the balanced 650 to the single ended L3000. I also prefer the 650 single ended to the L3000. The preferance is slight in favor of the 650 .... but the cost differential of owning the L3000 is huge. The more affordable AT W5000 is fair to good, IMO, but again, I prefer the 580/600/650.

Single ended, I prefer the Senn 580/600 to the 650 because I prefer the older senns tonal balance. But balanced I am still trying to decide; although at this point I think the 600 is the best of the three, overall, using a Singlepower Square Wave XL.

I dont like the Beyer DT880 nearly as well as the 650; although personally I find the new DT880 an improvement over the first edition. I like the AKG K 701. But, in the end the 701 just doesnt give me the enjoyment the Senn 580/600/650 or Alessandro MS2's do. With the right amp I do prefer the K1000 to the 650 .... in limited listening.

I have auditioned some of the Ultrasones and I plain dont like them. They have weird mids, a steely treble and excessive sibilance in every model I have heard. So far, I dont understand the appeal of this manufacturers headphones at all. To my ears they dont sound anything at all like what I hear live. I have not heard the E9's but unless they have a distinctly different sound from other Ultrasones I would bet on preferring the 650's.

Taking all factors into account .... comfort, price etc... with an emphasis on sound quality, I would rank my current preferance for headphones I own, have owned or auditioned extensively/ single ended something like this ....

1) Grado HP-2 .... despite the poor comfort, and being discontinued these headphones sound awesome. I had mine when they were well under $1k though.

2) Alessandro MS2 .... poor mans HP-2

2B) Senn HD 580/600

3) Grado SR-200

4) AKG K1000 .... if these had not been discontinued, had more comfort and more amp options/ flexibility the K1000 would move up.

5) Grado PS-1 .... a little bassy single ended and to expensive, plus similar to my MS2 .... or I would probably have a pair.

6A) Senn HD 650
6B) AT L3000
6C) Grado RS-1

7) Grado SR-225

8) AKG K701

9) Beyer DT880

10) Sony CD3000

999) Anything Ultrasone

Interestingly, if you balance the Senn HD 650 the headphone moves up to the MS2 / Senn 580/600 level. As a side note, I was skeptical about balanced, but it does wonders for the 650.

So, if the other headphones improve as much or more balanced the 650 would move back down.

 

[jjhatfield]

The HD650 is the screaming deal in headphonedom. About the only place it falls short is imaging. I really fell in love with the HD650 when I first pushed them with some 5687s out of my PPX3 Slam, but I grew to love and appreciate them even more when I bought my Dynahi. Now I'm looking forward to hearing how they fair with a balanced beta22.

I probably spend more time with my Grados (RS-1, more recently the remarkable MS2i, and the HP-2 before that [sold]), but the HD650 is still one of my all time favorite cans. I've said before, and I'll say it again: if tomorrow my whole system blew up, the first thing I'd buy to start it all over would be an HD650.

 

[sacd lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by donlin /img/forum/go_quote.gif For more detail and a bigger soundstage you must try the PS Audio GCHA, not balanced, but a perfect synergy with the 650's. I think my honeymoon period with the Singlepower MPX3 Slam is about over and I'm moving back to the GCHA again, as usual.

Use a brighter gain tube like the 6CG7/ 6GU7/ 7119 and/ or Sylvania 5687's. That will wake the Senns right up.

 

[Rise To The Top]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schalldämpfer /img/forum/go_quote.gif Now the question is... how will Sennheiser improve upon the 650 to bring out their next model?

I'm hoping for a tad less bass, and a little bump in the upper mids/highs. Would definatly make the phone more engaging.

 

[feifan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sacd lover /img/forum/go_quote.gif I definitely prefer the 650 balanced or single ended to the GS1000.

The GSKs are finicky. In the wrong lineup, they sound crappy. Get it right, and it's in a class of its own. There was a discussion elsewhere about the "sweet spot" and how hard it is to attain with some cans. And the GSK is one of them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sacd lover /img/forum/go_quote.gif Interestingly, if you balance the Senn HD 650 the headphone moves up to the MS2 / Senn 580/600 level. As a side note, I was skeptical about balanced, but it does wonders for the 650.

Yep. The veil disappears when balanced. It's like a completely different heaphone -- the one that should've been in the first place.

 

[Murugesh]

I tried DT880, HD595, K701 before buying HD650. I'm still keeping HD650 because my hands always reach for 650. I do have K701 and I use it only for non-classical/Jazz music.

 

[fkclo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfusion770 /img/forum/go_quote.gif ......... By the way, the RAL is my favorite of the 3 cables I've tried. Equinox- too trebly; Cardas V1, didnt seem that much better than stock. Even single ended the RAL opened up the 650 adding a nice sparkle, but not the trebley type that tends to aggravate me with time. Completely non- fatiguing to me, which seems to be a huge problem with most other headphones I sample these days.

Very well said. Same here. My RAL'd HD650 is still my favorite, despite my growing collection.

F. Lo