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Originally Posted by bjackson /img/forum/go_quote.gif
There are about a million of these threads, but I thought I'd add my 2 cents to them.
These are the first cans I've tried where I haven't had to EQ down the treble (on most albums). I have always hated how obnoxious and loud the highs are on most all cans I've tried (esp. Grados). This could be a combination of many things, bad recordings, my young ears (20 years and counting), and my general tastes, but what many refer to as dark or veiled I see as "listenable for more than 5 minutes".
On well recorded music (Telarc/Chesky are the two studios I've listened to in this category on these cans), I sometimes wish for a bit more treble, but I find it to be a very listenable and the midrange is superb, along with bass response.
On poorly recorded music (Everything else), well, they sound like everything else. I've noticed that most every high end piece of equipment sounds the same (quality, not signature wise) with Greenday
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I've found they have the perfect amount of bass for me. The DT770s I love for their bass response, but I couldn't tolerate it for a long time.
Just another opinion.
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I agree with OP. Love HD650 with most of my music, it has the perfect amount of bass, beautiful mids and refined highs that are never fatiguing. I can listen to several albums and different types of music without feeling like a need a break and even at low volumes I can hear all the music.
Maybe there are better headphones out there, but so far this is the best all 'rounder that does a lot of things right for me.
Since I listen to a wide variety of music I would need several other sets to replace them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NotJeffBuckley /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I'll contribute.
I use my HD650 for nearly everything, from classical to adult contemporary alt-pop to classic rock to melodic death metal. It's the most universally capable can I've ever owned, and the only contender for "best open headphone" for me is the DT-880 (though the K701 is an excellent headphone as well). Love, love, love this headphone.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NotJeffBuckley /img/forum/go_quote.gif
M-Audio Revo 5.1 headphone DAC, volume control to 9/10 (minimal distortion even at 10/10, but 9/10 is well within tolerances) --> plugged in PA2V2 to minimize voltage dropoff (clipping becomes mildly noticable past 9 o'clock, but it never has to get past about 7 o'clock with my setup to start really hurting my ears; the Sennheisers are great in that they're both high impedance and yet very sensitive) --> Sennheiser HD650, stock cable.
I don't find it boring at all, as long as the production job was adequate. For example, Opeth's first three albums, poorly produced, sound passable - but it's only a passable production and mastering job. Everything from Still Life to Ghost Reveries, though, sound fantastic - and they're fantastically produced.
Similarly, Agalloch sounds awesome, but they're very well recorded and produced, whereas Nevermore's pre-Sneep albums sound rather like ass, being poorly produced.
I've found the HD650 to be unforgiving to bad production jobs more than any other headphone I've ever used except the DT-880; Grados liven up even poor mixes and make them wonderfully listenable, and the HD595 and A900 both benefit from a great soundstage and heavy mids with enough treble for detail but not overbearingly so, making them forgiving too. The Sennheiser HD650 has their EQ curve at the points where a ****** production job will really screw up a mix: the midbass and mids, where most instruments in Western music find their fundamental frequencies, and the particular section of the mid-to-upper treble in which most sibilant and percussive sounds give definition to sounds.
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I guess I'm not the only unconventional person who enjoys HD650 with metal. Well produced metal sounds absolutely beautiful on this phone, especially if the music calls for a big soundstage, deep bass for effect and accoustic guitars mixed with electric. The slight mid-bass hump makes voices sound deeper and come out with emotion, and rythm guitars are thick and chunky, This is not boring to me! this is actually very moving, well, if you're into that sort of stuff.
Of course there's metal that sounds great on Grados and speakers, but don't discount using these Senns for metal just because they're supposed to be boring, let your ears decide, you may be surprised.
