HD600 vs. HD650's

[walls]

The 600's can be found at a pretty good bargain so I was wondering if it is better to wait and save for the 650's or grab the 600's?

 

[hanalei mike]

A lot of people like the 600's better. They are supposed to be more neutral. A lot of people like the 650's better. I have the hd650, they supposedly have more bass and sound a bit darker, But as I have not heard the 600's, can't compare. If one is "better" it would be the one that sounds better to you, for the kind of music you listen to. They are both highly regarded cans.
many people on this forum have owned both, I am sure they will speak up.

 

[marillion64]

I have both of them. I like better the hd650 with rock and the 600 with all kind of music but I mean I cannot say it's better then 650. to me even if the 650 it's "darker" and a little bit more boomy in the bass region is more enjoyable then the 600. They are two great cans. You'd better have the opportunity to listen to them in order to find what'd you like most..or you can do like I did....buy both of them..

 

[Capunk]

Does HD650 and HD600 share the same sonic characteristic? or both headphone is two different creature?

 

[tot]

They are very alike. I am not sure if I could tell which one is which if I would listen them at different times, side by side the 650's elevated mid-bass gives it a way immediately.

 

[JaZZ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capunk /img/forum/go_quote.gif Does HD650 and HD600 share the same sonic characteristic? or both headphone is two different creature?

They sound quite a bit different. The HD 600 has a slightly more neutral sonic balance and a «snappier» sound, whereas the HD 650 sounds smoother, lusher and has the clearly higher resolution and refinement. The latter point is decisive to me.
.

 

[pataburd]

I've owned both (the HD650 three times and the HD600 twice) and invariably have preferred the HD600. The HD650, to me, sound unnnaturally bassy, and their highs too distant. Overall, the HD600 sound (IMHO) clearer and slightly more forward, which is more to my liking. Truthfully, w/my current sale of the HD600, I am waving a more-or-less "permanent" (well, as permanent as a head-fier's resolve can be) good-bye to Sennheiser HD6xx. My longstanding headphones of choice being the RAL re-cabled K701. In addition, I've just begun auditioning Grados, which I also find (much) more to my liking than Sennheiser, too. In the years long process of discovery, I have emerged w/a decided preference for something other than Sennheiser HD.

 

[jirams]

I have had both at same time but now only need the HD650. They present my classical music closest to the sound as I hear it at a live performance - generally warm and without undue treble emphasis.

 

[Kuba4]

You need good source and amp for recognition differences. But better is HD650. Price? It's up to You.

 

[anoobis]

<caution>Bear in mind that my experience is limited to an audition of less than 1 hour!<\caution>

To my mind the HD600 and HD650 are very different and I think you can only say which you prefer, not which is better. For me, the HD650 were too bass heavy. That said, I may just not be used to hearing the 'correct' amount. Overall, I couldn't decide which I preferred in the time I had but very much got the impression that the sound of the 600s would be closer to the original sound (of course I can't substantiate this).

I've deliberately avoided using any jargon or trying to descibe to sound in more detail because to me they are different enough that you need to hear them. I realise that is not very helpful but even as a noobie I can see why there are so many different opinions from the more experience members on this one, so I think it's the best advice.

If you prefer the cheaper pair, then bonus. In this case I really don't think more expensive necessarily means better.

 

[QQQ]

650 is better OVERALL, through, some prefer 600.

 

[Drumonron]

I was wondering about this comparison too...I have the 650 but was reading that some people thought the 600 was more detailed with less of an overbearing bass. I'm anxious to hear more comparisons...I was mainly wondering whether it would be worth grabbin' a 600 after the new can is announced on 1/06/08 by Sennheiser.

 

[jh4db536]

i have read about people preferring the 600 single ended over the 650; balanced the 650 is a different story.

Although i havent heard a 600 myself, i could agree with these assesments given to the 650.

I found the 650 to be sloppy and slow in mid bass making it sound overbearing because it is simply not in control and underdriven. This improves a lot with the amp. I found balancing brings out the true character of the 650.

i might just grab a 600 if i can find one cheap, used, w/o cables. Maybe the drivers will fit inside my 650's chassis?

 

[vcoheda]

600 is not to my liking. much prefer the 650.

 

[progo]

With low end source and/or amp they sound pretty much the same. At least it was my case. The slight differences raised HD650 as the winner.