amartignano
1000+ Head-Fier
Some weeks ago, "inspired" by the cheap price on an ebay site, I bought the HD600, mostly for curiosity... and I've found quite surprisingly (but not too much surprisingly
), that they are close to what I ever wanted in a dynamic heaphone.
I find their sound very exciting, in my setup, more exciting than the HD650 sound (all stock cables).
What are the main differences in my opinion? Imho the HD600 has a better overall balance, wich slightly less prononunced bass, and more "luminosity" and colors from the mid-highs up to the high-end. Yes, this is what I've found: a more colorful reproduction, more color-changing sound, more abililty to follow the music changes.
But HD650 wasn't engineered to be an improvement on the HD600? Yes, and, in fact, for this "balance" and expressiveness in the HD600 I pay something, and it's quite important: the HD600 has a bit more roughness, they tends to be less refined, especially in the mid-highs (nothing tragical, but this is). They tend sometimes to become a little "harsh" in the most dynamic passages, and on some very delicate passages with many voices at loud volumes. I must say that I'm happy to accept this in change of the imho more balanced sound. Basing the listening on my setup and my tastes, the HD650 solved some "problems" of the HD600 (this "harshness" for example), but ended to exaggerate a bit the bass (that bit is just a little too much for my tastes, and note that I amp these Senns with a very low output impedance amp), and they've also stolen a bit of expressiveness in the mid-highs, one of the "signatures" of the "old-school" Sennheiser sound, which I admit to like very much.
So... I ended preferring the HD600, paying what I've already said, and also with a slightly less pronounced overall dynamic (but the micro-dynamic is neverthless very good).
Overall I've found the HD600 to be very balanced, with the right body on all instruments, with a special ability to render the soundstage not much out of head, but very perspectively correct and proportioned. All orchestral parts are enlightened with the right spot and intensity, and the big drums don't overwhelm the other musician and stay after them, with a very deep and physical sound (but not that much). They also are able to reproduce some cd that I've found a little to mid-bass pronounced with the HD650, with the same body and fullness, but without the too pronounced mid-bass. Ok the bass overall presentation is not so well delineated, the contours are not so "sharp" as the HD650 ones, but you obtain some more roundness and pleasing bass, that "stay in its right place". Anyway, I know that sometimes in some cds I like that more "hitting" bass of the HD650 (and more defined too), but... you can't have all...
Anyway, I know people that solved the "problems" (in bass and some "openness" in the mid-highs and highs) of the HD650, with Equinox cable and amping them with some special amps, not headphones-dedicated, but very sinergic with the HD650, i.e. Cary Audio 300B integrated amp.
I've not money/patient to buy another amplification, so I will stay with the HD600 and I'll try to "solve" some problems with some signal cable search (I've tried some and I've noticed improvemens in mid-highs refinement) and maybe some after-market headphone cable (more unlikely really...).
Attention: I'm not saying that HD600 are better than HD650, because they are not. I'm saying that in my setup and for my tastes (and I've explained why) their sound is overall more balanced and expressive than the HD650, which, on its part, is more refined, more controlled on the mid-highs, and more "clean" overall, but with a slightly darker sound balance which I don't like too much.
So I think in the end that they are different interpretations of the same project, with different balancing of some features, in one you obtain something and loose something else and viceversa, so the choice between them is not so obvious like the prices and listings suggest, it's more "taste" based.
At least this my two cents, go figure...
Anyway, for the cost I've paid the HD600 (170 eur), they are imho a true bargain in high-end headphones, but... if well amped!!!, they loose a lot with a poor amplification (also with a cheap integrated amp), as their bigger sister HD650.
bye
Andrew
Ps. my baby-
are always in first place, anyway...
I find their sound very exciting, in my setup, more exciting than the HD650 sound (all stock cables).
What are the main differences in my opinion? Imho the HD600 has a better overall balance, wich slightly less prononunced bass, and more "luminosity" and colors from the mid-highs up to the high-end. Yes, this is what I've found: a more colorful reproduction, more color-changing sound, more abililty to follow the music changes.
But HD650 wasn't engineered to be an improvement on the HD600? Yes, and, in fact, for this "balance" and expressiveness in the HD600 I pay something, and it's quite important: the HD600 has a bit more roughness, they tends to be less refined, especially in the mid-highs (nothing tragical, but this is). They tend sometimes to become a little "harsh" in the most dynamic passages, and on some very delicate passages with many voices at loud volumes. I must say that I'm happy to accept this in change of the imho more balanced sound. Basing the listening on my setup and my tastes, the HD650 solved some "problems" of the HD600 (this "harshness" for example), but ended to exaggerate a bit the bass (that bit is just a little too much for my tastes, and note that I amp these Senns with a very low output impedance amp), and they've also stolen a bit of expressiveness in the mid-highs, one of the "signatures" of the "old-school" Sennheiser sound, which I admit to like very much.
So... I ended preferring the HD600, paying what I've already said, and also with a slightly less pronounced overall dynamic (but the micro-dynamic is neverthless very good).
Overall I've found the HD600 to be very balanced, with the right body on all instruments, with a special ability to render the soundstage not much out of head, but very perspectively correct and proportioned. All orchestral parts are enlightened with the right spot and intensity, and the big drums don't overwhelm the other musician and stay after them, with a very deep and physical sound (but not that much). They also are able to reproduce some cd that I've found a little to mid-bass pronounced with the HD650, with the same body and fullness, but without the too pronounced mid-bass. Ok the bass overall presentation is not so well delineated, the contours are not so "sharp" as the HD650 ones, but you obtain some more roundness and pleasing bass, that "stay in its right place". Anyway, I know that sometimes in some cds I like that more "hitting" bass of the HD650 (and more defined too), but... you can't have all...
Anyway, I know people that solved the "problems" (in bass and some "openness" in the mid-highs and highs) of the HD650, with Equinox cable and amping them with some special amps, not headphones-dedicated, but very sinergic with the HD650, i.e. Cary Audio 300B integrated amp.
I've not money/patient to buy another amplification, so I will stay with the HD600 and I'll try to "solve" some problems with some signal cable search (I've tried some and I've noticed improvemens in mid-highs refinement) and maybe some after-market headphone cable (more unlikely really...).
Attention: I'm not saying that HD600 are better than HD650, because they are not. I'm saying that in my setup and for my tastes (and I've explained why) their sound is overall more balanced and expressive than the HD650, which, on its part, is more refined, more controlled on the mid-highs, and more "clean" overall, but with a slightly darker sound balance which I don't like too much.
So I think in the end that they are different interpretations of the same project, with different balancing of some features, in one you obtain something and loose something else and viceversa, so the choice between them is not so obvious like the prices and listings suggest, it's more "taste" based.
At least this my two cents, go figure...
Anyway, for the cost I've paid the HD600 (170 eur), they are imho a true bargain in high-end headphones, but... if well amped!!!, they loose a lot with a poor amplification (also with a cheap integrated amp), as their bigger sister HD650.
bye
Andrew
Ps. my baby-
