HD600 Followers: Why do you prefer it over the HD650!

[DJGeorgeT]

if the HD 600 is more neutral than the HD 650, then why did you go for the HD 600 if you can get the HD 580 for cheap and it is essentially a HD 600 with better parts?

 

[Ikon]

The bass is obscenely overblown, it masks a lot of the midrange and poses a serious source of fatigue for me. The popular head-fier's description "in the face" fits quite well here, that bass feels like a punch in your face or a kick to your head

I don't really get what Sennheiser tried to do here. Could the HD580/600 use more bass? Perhaps, but I don't feel that they need it.
And aside from the boosted bass, the HD650 IMO doesn't really deliver more than the HD580/600 - or could I just not hear it behind that "bass assault"? Who knows.

The HD650 are dirt cheap in Germany, Amazon.de sells them for 229 EUR including shipping and taxes. Still my first question after I got them was: Am I supposed to pay more money for this? Needless to say that the HD650 was returned later, I wouldn't even take it over the HD600 even if it were available for the same price.

 

[pbalcer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshan Are the HD650 "purer" sounding than the HD600 (e.g. less distortion from better, cable, better baffling, better matched drivers, etc.)?

A long time ago I tried HD650 at local Hi-Fi store and I didn't like them.
Last Christmas I decided to give HD650 another chance since I were
able to find them for < $300 new. When they arrived I did extensive
comparison with HD600 I used to own and love for 4 years.
In the end, the HD650 won and I sold the HD600.

However my first imression was that HD650 were TERRIBLE! Too much bass and too little treble (almost non-existent). Ithought I _wasted_ almost $300!That was before they were properly burned in. Later on I found myself listening to HD650 more often than to HD600 - almost exclusively in fact.

The HD650 _are_ more bassy (nasty mid-bass coloration) than HD600 and they lack treble - in comparison. But HD650 are to my ears much more precise and way smoother. I also have the impression that they produce less distortions (but this could be just my imagination...) and have better imaging capability.

Although the tonal balance of HD650 is messed up (HD600 are very natural-sounding in comparison), I find them quite "addictive" because of their precission - they allow me hearing things in recordings that I didn't hear when using HD600. It were their precission and imaging that finally won me over.

They funny thing is that when I got HD600 they captivated my attention from the very beginning with their natural sound. On the other hand I needed almost three weeks and couple hundred hours of listening to get used to HD650... And I still think that HD600 may be a bit better for listening to classical music.

 

[mshan]

When you say precision, do you mean genuine resolution or just some sort of etching that makes detail more readily apparent? For example, is it resolution that evenly spans the full frequency response range?

Also, does this precision make you more aware of recording technique / deficiencies or does it draw you deeper into the musical message of whatever you happen to be listening to?

 

[cheechoz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJGeorgeT if the HD 600 is more neutral than the HD 650, then why did you go for the HD 600 if you can get the HD 580 for cheap and it is essentially a HD 600 with better parts?

Actually, the HD600 sounds different than an HD580, plus I think it looks better!

 

[mshan]

Criticisms of the HD650 seem very similar to that of the Sennheiser PX100.

Do you guys think that's a fair comparison (obviously with less resolution and refinement, I'm assuming).

 

[NotJeffBuckley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshan Criticisms of the HD650 seem very similar to that of the Sennheiser PX100. Do you guys think that's a fair comparison (obviously with less resolution and refinement, I'm assuming).

No, not really. They're completely different animals.

HD580/HD600 differences stem mostly from driver matching (what, +/-3db vs. +/-1db?) as they both use the same driver and nearly identical enclosures, with only the grille being different (and also making up for some of the sonic difference). HD600 is a little less bassy but also gives the impression of not going quite as low as a result, though it does give audible bass at 20hz it's not nearly as present as the HD650's. The highs are slightly more present with the HD600, too, but not hugely so - the HD580 and HD595 have very similar highs, as I recall.

It's a matter of preference rather than absolute quality.

 

[jrosenth]

I used a 580 with 600 grills to avoid the teal blue flecks but went with that combo because I found it to be airier/open than the 650. Using the 650 cable gave it a bit more smoothness and umph, admittedly at the expense of the openess of the stock 580 cable. I prefered it to the 650 but must admit that the differences in that configuration were minimal, especially when using a Rega or something short of an amp that would thoroughly drain the checkbook - to the point were I couldn't justify a 650 - especially when the money could be put towards a better source

Incidentiall the can and rega are for sale - shameless, shameless plug

 

[pbalcer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshan When you say precision, do you mean genuine resolution or just some sort of etching that makes detail more readily apparent? For example, is it resolution that evenly spans the full frequency response range?

By "precission" I meant the resolution - not some special "etching" (as you call it). I used the word "precission" because I didn't want to use word "detail" that is often understood as boosted high-frequency response.

The resolution of HD650 is fantastic. The problem is that high frequencies are muffled (aside from the bass being exaggerated).

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshan Also, does this precision make you more aware of recording technique / deficiencies or does it draw you deeper into the musical message of whatever you happen to be listening to?

Exactly that! With good recording you can "immerse" completely in the world of music.

HD600 were sweet sounding, etc. but they masked some nuances of music. HD650 shows everyhing (including recording problems). If only HD650 had less bass and more highs they woud be truly the best headphones...

 

[jagorev]

Answer to OP's question: Because I listen mostly to classical music, and the 600 presents the timbre of instruments in a completely natural and organic way.

 

[cheechoz]

Well, it's official, I'm going back to the 600/Cardas comination!

On newly recorded CD's, such as the DMB, they sound very good, with nice trble extension, but whenever I jump to an older recording, such as Steely Dan - Aja, I just can't enjoy the music like an HD600, everything is just to far in the back, like the cymbals are hidden behing the other instruments. I just can't use the HD650's for 1 or 2 bands, when other headphones just sound better at that job!

I am sure they are wonderful cans for other members, but I just can't see myself finding a home for them!

UPDATE: You see!! I just got the Joshua Tree in the mail. I popped it in and started playing, but where's the music, it's like covered up somewhere on the disc.

 

[geforcewong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbalcer By "precission" I meant the resolution - not some special "etching" (as you call it). I used the word "precission" because I didn't want to use word "detail" that is often understood as boosted high-frequency response.

Precision isn't spelled with one "s" in Canada? Just curious.

 

[pbalcer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by geforcewong Precision isn't spelled with one "s" in Canada? Just curious.

It is. Thanks for the correction.

 

[cheechoz]

I always wonder what road Sennheiser will take, if they ever decide to make a new flagship model. I'm sure they are aware that many people prefer the HD600 sound to the HD650. Could they ever go back the other direction, to the brighter side of things!

 

[J-Pak]

I prefer the HD600 to the HD650 as well. But I wonder if a recable on the HD650 would change my mind. Like a Zu Mobius.

I've never heard a HD650 balanced, but what exactly does it do for the headphone? (assuming it's an excellent source and amp in the SDS-XLR/Dynamite arena)