[Connectz]

If the Sennheiser HD650 is in the same league as the Beyer Dynamic DT880, then why such a large price difference? Is the extra $200 bucks really warranted or is Sennheiser charging a little too much for the cans?

Do the Senns have better build quality? Do they have better parts? Whenever I do a search, the DT880 is always compared to the HD595's and the HD650's, moreso the 650's.

I understand now that at that level of headphone quality, its just a matter of which you prefer as far as sound (DT880 is nuetral, revealing, big soundstage, etc. The HD650 is veiled, dark, neutral, revealing, etc.), but I haven't found a thread that addressed this.

Please, enlighten me.

 

[jvbb2005]

May I know where you find HD650s 200 bucks more expensive than DT880s?

 

[Connectz]

Here are three popular stores.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HD650/

http://www.guitarvision.com/mf/mf_frameset.htm

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

(with the google link, theyhave them for $325 and $374 but I don't know about those companies.)

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connectz If the Sennheiser HD650 is in the same league as the Beyer Dynamic DT880, then why such a large price difference? Is the extra $200 bucks really warranted or is Sennheiser charging a little too much for the cans?

Actually, I'd say that Beyerdynamic is undercharging for the DT880 by a significant amount. IMO it's one of the great headphone bargains, where the HD650 is merely an average-to-good deal.

I'm admittedly a lover of the DT880s, but to my ears it's $450-$500 worth of sound.

 

[jvbb2005]

Thanks for updating on the latest prices. I thought a brand new pair of HD650s can be had for USD350 from an ebay seller. Whereas the DT880s are going for around USD220.

To me they are in the same league. But of course, Senn has a better reputation in the industry + lots awards, hence, chargining a premium. Just my 2 cents, correct me if I am wrong.

 

[some1x]

You can usually find brand new HD650s for ~$280+shipping on eBay. Thats only $55 more than cheapest new DT880's I've seen. It shouldn't be surprising that they are in the same league.

One interesting thing to note is that there are some head-fi'ers with extremely high end setups still using HD650 as secondary or even primary phone; not as many among them are still using DT880s.

 

[bulls]

i think most of the 350 dollar hd650's are b-stock

 

[Clutz]

Please note: What is written below is entirely my opinion about how I think a majority of Head-Fiers would respond if polled in a properly designed poll, and in no way should be interpretted as an absolute statement about the relative qualities of the DT880s or HD650s. As I have not heard neither the HD650 or DT880 for any length of time, I therefore have no personal preference for one headphone over the other.

If memory serves, DT880s typically go for about $279 US. You can now find HD650s for about $359 US I believe, which is an $80 difference, not $200, altough the 650's have recently come down in price. Maybe I'm wrong about this, but my impression is that if you asked, most people would say that the HD650 headphone is superior to the DT880. They may be in the same league, but it doesn't mean that the HD650s aren't still better than the DT880s in the same league. Just like I think most people would say the HD580s are in the same league as the HD600s and HD650s, but still inferior to the HD600s or HD650s. Similarly, the New York Yankee's and the Toronto Blue Jays are in the same league, but the Yankee's are a much better team.

 

[some1x]

http://cgi.ebay.com/SENNHEISER-HD-65...QQcmdZViewItem

AFAIK: Not refurb/b-stock

 

[Connectz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clutz If memory serves, DT880s typically go for about $279 US. You can now find HD650s for about $359 US I believe, which is an $80 difference, not $200, altough the 650's have recently come down in price. Maybe I'm wrong about this, but my impression is that if you asked, most people would say that the HD650 headphone is superior to the DT880. They may be in the same league, but it doesn't mean that the HD650s aren't still better than the DT880s in the same league. Just like I think most people would say the HD580s are in the same league as the HD600s and HD650s, but still inferior to the HD600s or HD650s. Similarly, the New York Yankee's and the Toronto Blue Jays are in the same league, but the Yankee's are a much better team.

Maaaaan, you guys are gonna break my wallet

I already want like 4 pairs of cans! I definatelyt want the 325i's next, then I think I will get the HD 650's, or maybe the HD 650's first and then the 325i's. And then I want to maybe get an RS1 or a high level MDR or maybe even a used STAX or something.

 

[CousCous]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulls i think most of the 350 dollar hd650's are b-stock

Click on the first sponsor at the top of the page and check their prices. I doubt they sell b-stock.

 

[bulls]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CousCous Click on the first sponsor at the top of the page and check their prices. I doubt they sell b-stock.

can't right now, but i haven't check prices on these for a while now. how much are they from todd?

 

[Clutz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connectz Maaaaan, you guys are gonna break my wallet I already want like 4 pairs of cans! I definatelyt want the 325i's next, then I think I will get the HD 650's, or maybe the HD 650's first and then the 325i's. And then I want to maybe get an RS1 or a high level MDR or maybe even a used STAX or something.

I think I'd like a pair of HD650s, and maybe a pair of IEMs for portable use (planes, trains, buses) to go along with what I already have. I'd try out some of the higher end Grado's, but they don't do much for me.

What I'm really dreaming of is the Hd700s.. Whatever they turn out to be.

 

[Connectz]

Quote:

Sennheiser HD 650 2 to 4 weeks $499.99

So how much are they from HEADROOM?

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clutz Maybe I'm wrong about this, but my impression is that if you asked, most people would say that the HD650 headphone is superior to the DT880. They may be in the same league, but it doesn't mean that the HD650s aren't still better than the DT880s in the same league. Just like I think most people would say the HD580s are in the same league as the HD600s and HD650s, but still inferior to the HD600s or HD650s. Similarly, the New York Yankee's and the Toronto Blue Jays are in the same league, but the Yankee's are a much better team.

Personally I wouldn't dream of selling the DT880 and getting an HD650. Why? Because DT880 is the perfect headphone for my sonic tastes... I literally am not interested in switching to other cans (unless a second/third headphone for the fun of it), because I'm fulfilled by these completely. When something fits your tastes to perfection, will you go looking for something "superior?"

I already know the HD650 is less lively/energetic on top, bassier, and that the comfort will be much worse to me than the DT880. Deal-killers without ever even hearing the HD650. Being intimately familiar with HD580/600 already and knowing HD650 is a refinement of those and in the same family... forget it, HD650 is out. How can a headphone be "superior" when it doesn't offer what you're looking for sonically?

Headphones are not like baseball teams, jockeying for position and winning championships. This is an illusion created and sustained only here at head-fi... and it's ridiculous, if you think about it. Much saner is the view that personal preference decides what headphone is right for whom, not "superiority." Better/worse are subjective judgment calls, and numbers don't count (if you think so then you also must believe McDonald's food is delicious, because of the number of people who eat there).