Yesterday, I arranged a nano-meet with a friend of mine who just got an HD650. We used a Little Dot Mk2 (not great, I know) with stock tubes and my Firestudio Mobile for comparison.
They're absolutely incomparable. The HD650's are much lighter in the bass, have a smaller but more subtle soundstage, and, especially with Norah Jones' voice, sound somewhat sweet - perhaps overly sweet in those circumstances. The HD650 sounds rather... shy, in comparison, I'd say.
The HE300 is such a drug to me! It sounds like a perfect DT770 replacement with better highs and soundstage, and the bass, the real deep low-end sounds like that in a good subwoofer. It makes me tap my foot and rock my head and really enjoy myself! Meanwhile, Norah's voice sounds a little more hoarse and a bit more natural at the same time, while the sounds around me move further from left to right, but it doesn't sound as subtle in its soundstage as the HD650. All in all, I'm very pleased with a little company like Hifiman bringing out a pair of headphones that, at a similar price point, can not only compete but in my opinion even defeat the HD650, at least with the Little Dot.
I'm less pleased about the cable. It's not only fat and unwieldy, but mine also doesn't work on the left side when I hold it a certain way - a way I can get to by moving my head around. I contacted head-direct and asked if they can send a replacement when I order the leather pads.
All in all, I am curious to hear these puppies with a good amp and really delve deep into the differences between some. I'm not a tube person to be honest, and the HE300's are warm enough (and yet have good highs!) to make me nudge these into the "try to amp them with solid-state if possible" pidgeon-hole. I think these could be great giant-killers, and they offer a very different sound from both the HD650 and the HD800, nudging more towards grado-style fun while staying absurdly detailed and composed about it. Color me intrigued.
