HD650 cable sounds the same as the HD600/580 cable, right?

[Patrickhat2001]

I know this question has been addressed a few times in the early threads about the HD650s but I never found a definite answer. It seems that many people who bought HD650s just slapped on their aftermarket cables without even giving the stock HD650 cable a shot.

Anyway the reason I ask is that I've never heard the stock HD600 cable (same as the stock HD580 cable) on my HD600s. I bought them used from an owner who upgraded to the HD650s and who already had an aftermarket cable for his new Senns so he just included the HD650 cable with my HD600 when he shipped them to me. And, in all honesty, my HD600s sound pretty decent with the stock HD650 cable even compared to the Cardas and Equinox cables I also own. Now don't get me wrong the two aftermarket cables improve on the Senn sound in a number of ways (namely smoothing out the bass bloat and filling out the midrange) but they also seem to slow the Senns down and roll off the highs. With the stock HD650 cable on my HD600s the midrange is both more transparent and detailed than with either of of the two aftermarket cables--although the midrange it is thinner sounding, especially compared to the bass (which sounds overly bloated with the stock HD650 cable)--and the high end extension is better with the HD650 cable (although, it can make the Senns seem overly bright). I could go mention countless other details between the cables but the point is to my ears the stock HD650 cable on my HD600s sounds almost as good as the two aftermarket cables and maybe even better, to my ears, than the Cardas. So the question is does the stock cable of the HD650s sound the same as the stock cable of the HD600s/580s?

 

[gpalmer]

I remember reading that the conducting wires were supposed to be identical between the two. I have seen at least one post where the poster believed the stock 650 cable sounded better than the stock 600 cable. I've never compared them myself.

I've tried the stock cable on the 600s against the Cardas and the Cardas impressed me more. Likewise I was forced to use the stock cable with the 650s for a while and I can't tell you how happy I was to get the Silver Dragon and Zu in here, it really holds the headphone back.

Sorry if this didn't quite answer what you were looking for, I did my best!

EDIT - D'Oh put in stating when I meant reading, I was talking while posting!

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrickhat2001 So the question is does the stock cable of the HD650s sound the same as the stock cable of the HD600s/580s?

No, not to my ears. I have the stock HD650 cable which I've tried on my HD600s, and it definitely sounds different than the stock HD600 cable. The difference is not dramatic, but quite obvious... the overall presentation "firms up" and loses some of its airy, ethereal quality (which I admit to liking no matter how many people think I'm nuts, so I'm still using the 600 stock cable).

 

[zeplin]

Wupsy. double post! How this happens is still a mystery to head-fi.

 

[zeplin]

Quote:

which I admit to liking no matter how many people think I'm nuts

And just who has said that?? It is perfectly understandable fewtch. The 600 sound, when driven properly, has this sort of magic about it that no other headphone (including the 650) I've heard has yet to match.


To the topic at hand....
Before I sent out my 600, I had the chance to fool around with the 650 stock and put it on the 600's. To me, there was a VERY little difference in the treble energy. Using the stock 650 cable on the 600's seemed to create a little more presense in the treble making it both sound a tad smoother but also extending it a little more. But that's about all I noticed. And again, any differences are relatively small compared to the difference between say, the stock 650 cable and the Zu Mobius. I think any difference one might hear is more closely correlated with the different models themselves rather than what one would hear from switching the cables. Just my opinion though. One thing is for sure, the stock cable on both models aren't of any type of high quality cable.

 

[tom hankins]

I guess you guys still hear the higher frequencies better than these old ears. I didnt do an in depth listen or anything like that. But I could hear no difference between the stock 600 and 650 cables on either phone. The build quality of the 650 cable is much, much better though.