[Profoundsoup]

The HD800's and HD700's are such boring headphones to listen to IMO. Are the 650's and 600's any different?

 

[flatmap]

  The HD800's and HD700's are such boring headphones to listen to IMO. Are the 650's and 600's any different?

 I do find that the HD 650s (which I love) are a bit laid back.  However, as with the HD 800, this depends considerably on what amp you're using.  It also makes a positive difference in this regard, if you can go with a balanced amp and balanced cable for these.
 
 

 

[poikkeus]

Consider that I really, really like the HD800.
 
That said, the HD650 has a rich, organic sound that comes close to listening to live music. I've always been unsatisfied without an amp; amped, these headphones deserve high praise. On the other hand, the HD600 has a sound that's best suited for classical music, but handles other genres with ease. 
 
flatmap's remarks apply equally for all four headphones here: appropriate amping can significantly improve the sound.

 

[Army-Firedawg]

I can't comment on the HD800 but the 700s I know exactly what you mean, they're just souless despite what amp or media I used. The 650's are wonderfully laid back and relaxing to listen to (primarily on a tube amp, a SS is alright but doesn't give that nice warmth that a tube does). Are they the most sonically accurate, no but if you're like myself and just want to lay back and enjoy your music then the 650's will serve you wonderfully. Despite them being 500 Id take them (and did) over the 700s 

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  The HD800's and HD700's are such boring headphones to listen to IMO. Are the 650's and 600's any different?

 

Only if you wear them a bit tight on broken-in earpads to make them sound a bit warmer. As for an "exciting" sound you need to have an amp that has a fair bit of clean output at 300ohms. The way I wear my HD600 it barely has more clamping pressure than the HD800, and tonally sounds close to it, it really just can't compete with the deeper and more coherent soundstage (as far as my wallet is concerned though for the money I'd stick with the HD600 for a long time). Note though that I'm using the Meier Cantate.2 and it's one of the amps that really make the percussion "pop" out a bit more vs a few other amps, in the sense that when I got it, it basically bridged the gap between the HD600 and SR225 in that regard; the SR225 didn't sound much more like what one expects from a Grado - modest amplification is enough to get it to sound better than right off an iPod but the HD600 at 300ohms is a lot harder to drive out of the portable amps I had at the time. That said even the D-Zero is fantastic with the HD600 compared to the CMOY I had six years ago.

 

Unless you don't like the fit of the RS1, you probably should get that one instead of the HD650.

 

 

 

[Sefelt103]

If you find the Sennheiser HD800 and HD700 'boriing' then why not get a more 'interesting' type of headphone. The audio world is full of headphones that colourise the sound and boost bass/treble or 'enhance' the dynamics by emphasising the attack characteristics. Grado, Sony and many others produce these sort of headphones. An amplifier that does more than amplify the signal might also be what you require. It is much harder trying to find 'boring' audio equipment than the reverse as the public is in love with colourised distortion and manufacturers think neutral equipment won't sell.

 

[TMRaven]

Depends on what you find boring.  I find the sound of the HD800 rather exciting, while others like the LCD2 boring.
 
You might look into the TH900.

 

[heathdwatts]

The HD800's and HD700's are such boring headphones to listen to IMO. Are the 650's and 600's any different?

I don't find the HD800S boring at all. I listen to jazz, folk, classical, and classic rock on them, and I always enjoy how the music sounds like music, rather than bass-heavy noise. I wanted headphones that delivered the music to my ears in the purest manner. The HD800S headphone is perfect for that requirement.

 

[kman1211]

It’s been too long since I’ve heard the HD 700 and HD 800 so can’t say if I found them boring or not. The HD 600 and HD 650 are found boring by many. Me being one of those who honestly finds most Sennheisers in general on the boring side. I feel the HD 600 and HD 650 don’t have the best PRaT personally and I’m not the biggest fan of their upper mids on either model, but I like their treble and overall tuning. I didn’t find the HD 660 S boring though. But it depends on what you find boring.

 

[heathdwatts]

Yes, it's all subjective. I have Denon AH-D5000, Fostex Massdrop TH-X00, PSB M4U 2, and Oppo PM-3 headphones. Since I bought my HD800s, I still use my PSB noise cancelling headphones when flying, but I use my Sennheisers for everything else. Every time I listen to my HD800s, I'm amazed by what I missed in recordings when using speakers or other headphones.

 

[SilverEars]

It’s been too long since I’ve heard the HD 700 and HD 800 so can’t say if I found them boring or not. The HD 600 and HD 650 are found boring by many. Me being one of those who honestly finds most Sennheisers in general on the boring side. I feel the HD 600 and HD 650 don’t have the best PRaT personally and I’m not the biggest fan of their upper mids on either model, but I like their treble and overall tuning. I didn’t find the HD 660 S boring though. But it depends on what you find boring.

It seems your perspective of excitment is from extreme amount of color the headphone delivers. Like Beyers are colored when it comes to treble with peakiness, but it gets fitiguing for a lot of us from so much excitement. Most of use like balance just like balance in everything in this world.

Perhaps balance is too boring for some. I take the boring, although I wouldn't call mid-centric boring. There is also flat and boring, in which sennheisers arn't. I find better accuracy in tonality very exciting. Lol

 

[kman1211]

It seems your perspective of excitment is from extreme amount of color the headphone delivers. Like Beyers are colored when it comes to treble with peakiness, but it gets fitiguing for a lot of us from so much excitement. Most of use like balance just like balance in everything in this world.

Perhaps balance is too boring for some. I take the boring, although I wouldn't call mid-centric boring. There is also flat and boring, in which sennheisers arn't. I find better accuracy in tonality very exciting. Lol

Then why do I find the HD 660 S very engaging and the HD 600 and HD 650 boring? The reason I don’t like the HD 600/650 much is because I find them fatiguing. Beyers do have some coloration in the treble, but not my DT 480 which has so little distortion and handles vocals so well the HD 6 family can’t compare in that aspect. I dislike the DT 880/990, etc. The T1.2 and Amiron Home have peaks but it doesn’t fatigue me. The DT 1990 Pro is too bright and energetic for my liking.

 

[SilverEars]

Then why do I find the HD 660 S very engaging and the HD 600 and HD 650 boring? The reason I don’t like the HD 600/650 much is because I find them fatiguing. Beyers do have some coloration in the treble, but not my DT 480 which has so little distortion and handles vocals so well the HD 6 family can’t compare in that aspect. I dislike the DT 880/990, etc. The T1.2 and Amiron Home have peaks but it doesn’t fatigue me. The DT 1990 Pro is too bright and energetic for my liking.

No idea. I found 660S boring and only good for pop due to blunted response. The Beyers publicized most I have tried and they show peaky responses in the measurements as well, and it's generally been said Beyers are bright, brings our sibilence, etc.. if you look around.

Just face the fact that your ears are tolerant to Beyers than others. That should have been obvious to you by now. Sometimes stats shows people the differences in tastes.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

The HD800's and HD700's are such boring headphones to listen to IMO. Are the 650's and 600's any different?

Probably lumping too much together and not giving much info for anybody to help you.

What kind of music do you like and what is your equipment as in what source(s) and amp(s). Yes, the 600 is different from the 800. I don't know about the 650 or 700.

 

[kman1211]

No idea. I found 660S boring and only good for pop due to blunted response. The Beyers publicized most I have tried and they show peaky responses in the measurements as well, and it's generally been said Beyers are bright, brings our sibilence, etc.. if you look around.

Just face the fact that your ears are tolerant to Beyers than others. That should have been obvious to you by now.

The DT 48/480 don’t show peaky treble in their measurements and are more midrange focused stock than the Hd 6xx family. Not really, most Beyers are way too sibilant for my liking, the DT 990 and 880 felt piercing and like daggers in my ears. The DT 150 was fine treble wise, just a bit of sharpness. I’m well aware of the Amirons and T1.2’a treble spike and know I’m not overly sensitive to them like on the DT Beyers. I’m aware of the general trends with Beyers and I actually agree with most assessments of their treble but also know how sensitive their treble is to systems. It’s actually the midrange and bass I prefer on Beyers and I wish there were more midrange focused Beyers out there.