I just tested my DT531's against HD650's...

[Factor]

I went to Audio Consultants in Evanston, IL and directly tested my Beyer DT 531's against Senn HD650's.

I preferred the 531's, hands down.

Granted, the 650's had stock cables and there was no dedicated headphone amp. However, all the source components were of exceptional quality. And regardless of the source equipment, I was expecting the 650's (for about 3 times the cost) to easily best my Beyers. But to me, the Beyers had better controlled mid-bass and an airier, more free-sounding high end. I think the best way to put it is to say that they just breathed easier than the 650's.

I didn't test them for very long, and I've also never heard the Senns with all the recommended upgrades and added gear. But still, the fact that those sub-$150 Beyers can hang in there just fine with what Headroom calls "the world’s best headphone" is amazing. Those Beyers are unbelievable.

 

[Snufkin]

You're not alone there

Just be careful, opinions like ours aren't always welcome

 

[BaboonGuy]

The DT440s are an upgrade to the DT531s sonically no?

 

[Snufkin]

I'd say the DT440 does have a slightly more refined sound while being pretty similar to the DT531, "crossgrade" is probably a better word though.

 

[commando]

There's a lot of people around lately singing the praises of the 531s. I wonder if it's the latest flavour of the month? All the talk is tempting though...

 

[plainsong]

The dt531's have been around far too long to be a flavor of the month I think.

Personally, I think it depends on the recording. If the recording can take advantage of the resolution (sound can be more full than the dt531's - but only if that information is in the recording), then the Senn600's are great. If not, time to groove with the dt531's.

 

[akellor]

I've been thinking of picking up some senn 555s or 595s (depending on how much $ I have) as a good general purpose headphone, but this thread has me thinking about dt531s. Which ones would better serve me? I listen to all sorts of music including techno, rock, pop & occasionally classical.

 

[greenhorn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Factor I preferred the 531's, hands down. Granted, the 650's had stock cables and there was no dedicated headphone amp.

I don't doubt Beyer 531 being a very good headphone, but I think that listening to Senns 600 or 650 without a good amp doesn't allow a fair comparison.

 

[Snufkin]

I've tried the HD650 with multiple "good" amps and I still prefer the DT531 and DT440

 

[NightStalker]

a few days ago i found myself listenning to some DT 440's/Allesandro MS 2/PRO and the HD 650 through quite a nice sounding headphone amp (unsure of model now) but i really did like
-the sound of the allesandros
-the comfort and sound of the beyers
-the look of the 650's

now i think it pretty obvious to see that a wasnt all that immpressed with the HD 650's and wouldnt have even puchased them for the same price as the 440 let along 2 1/2 times it. The phones did not even seem all that detailed but with no better word - distant. now it seems we must b the only 3 ppl on these boards that dont appreciate these but all i did was let my ears do the listenning not my thorts of the phones reputation.

cheers
-jake

 

[Patrickhat2001]

Although I haven't yet heard any of the Beyerdynamic phones mentioned in this thread or the MS-2s I know where you guys are coming from. I owned the HD650s for about a month and absolutely loved them--their sepration and microdetails were outstanding but at the end of the day they were just too laid back and thick sounding (even with the Mobius cable)--i.e. not tranparent enough. Yet I think thick sound of the HD650 was in many ways an improvment over the more transparent sound of the HD600--the HD600 (and most other high end headphones) can be soo transparent that it can seem as if all the details of the music can fly by you without you being able to perceive them. The HD650 slowed things down a little and thickened them up and by doing so made the details of the music easier to hear and also made them sound more realistic (I find many high end headphones to be too transparent--i.e. more transparent than reality)--especially in the timbre of instruments. But, in the end, I found the HD650s to be just a little to slow so I decided to just stick with my HD600s for now and hope that the HD700 gets the transparency/thickness balance just right.

But alas if I had the money I would have LOVED to keep the HD650s around as well. IMO it truly is a unique and somewhat revolutionary phone for the reasons mentioned above.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

I didn't compare the DT531 directly to the HD650, but it was definitely, easily better than the HD600 (stock cable) and SR225 (flat pads) to me, which was a bit of a pleasant suprise. I can't wait for the little Beyers to arrive hopefully some time next week.

 

[plainsong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenhorn I don't doubt Beyer 531 being a very good headphone, but I think that listening to Senns 600 or 650 without a good amp doesn't allow a fair comparison.

Add to that, the fact that the dt531's demand a decent amp.

 

[Factor]

I disagree. I've compared the sound of my 531's running out of my Meta versus running straight out of my CD player or computer. The Meta could drive it to higher volumes, but in terms of the sound, the difference was extremely tiny if it existed at all. I'd say that no headphone amp is needed for the 531's if your source has enough muscle.

Maybe my opinion would change if I heard them with a more high-end amp... but then the amp would cost more than the Beyers themselves.

And yes, "thick" is the perfect word for the HD650's. I can understand how some people would enjoy that englufed-by-the-music feel, but I find it to be kind of suffocative in comparison. I need to find a store that carries the 5X5 series so I can see how those stack up to the 600's/650's.

 

[ampgalore]

HD650's sound is thick indeed.