[orangesky]

Hello, I am new to high quality headphones.

I picked up Sennheiser HD650 from Best Buy (315.99 plus tax). There are two suspicious aspects. Do you think the HD650 is fake or genuine?


[1] No serial number sticker inside

I read on a thread in head-fi.org that there is a sticker visible after detaching the ear-pad. I detached both ear-pads, but could not see any sticker at all.


[2] No NEW MATERIAL ONLY sticker

On the Sennheiser HD599 box recently purchased from en-us.sennheiser.com, there is such a sticker.

NEW MATERIAL ONLY
THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS POLYURETHANE FOAM

As I understand, such a sticker is required by law for hygiene for some upholstered products: pillow, bed, etc. So the HD599 box has it. I think the same law applies to HD650, too, and thus HD650 should have the NEW MATERIAL sticker, too. However, the HD650 box does not have such a sticker.

 

[serman005]

I did not remove pads, but my relatively new (from amazon) HD650 box does not have the "New Materials" sticker. I am pretty sure they are legit. FWIW.

 

[buke9]

I doubt that Best Buy is dealing with counterfeit headphones if found out it would be their end.

 

[GREQ]

If you pull off the earpads and the foam (should just 'click' off) you can check the printed text on the drivers.
It should say:

04.12.09
600129
Minisys

Fakes never have genuine drivers.

 

[wsqqq777]

I know there are many fake Senheiser IEMs, like IE80, IE800, but ... I never heard of a fake HD650.

 

[orangesky]

I did not remove pads, but my relatively new (from amazon) HD650 box does not have the "New Materials" sticker. I am pretty sure they are legit. FWIW.

That is interesting.

1:17
This Massdrop HD6XX unboxing video.


We can see NEW MATERIAL ONLY sticker next to the serial number sticker.

 

[serman005]

That is interesting. Mine is an actual HD650. The one in the video is an HD6XX. I wonder if that makes a difference??? Or if there is just some variability between the HD650 boxes and headphones.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

That is interesting. Mine is an actual HD650. The one in the video is an HD6XX. I wonder if that makes a difference??? Or if there is just some variability between the HD650 boxes and headphones.

Maybe the "new materials only" certification requirement is fairly new or having the sticker is newly enforced, so older production runs don't have them.

 

[HBen]

Kind of interesting how everyone seems to focus on the stickers ...
Thought of trying to find out if its fake or not by listening to it ?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Kind of interesting how everyone seems to focus on the stickers ...
Thought of trying to find out if its fake or not by listening to it ?

How does that help someone who only has that one pair on him when people who all agree they have or have tried the genuine HD600 argue online about whether they're neutral, dark, bright, "bass-light," "too bassy"...

 

[orangesky]

If you pull off the earpads and the foam (should just 'click' off) you can check the printed text on the drivers.
It should say:

04.12.09
600129
Minisys

Fakes never have genuine drivers.

I returned the one from Best Buy because I heard creaking sound from the swivel mechanism when my jaw moves a little. (I was wondering whether the creak would goes away naturally with usage, but I wanted to avoid the case of creaking after the return period.)

This one is from Sweetwater.

Right side. The letter 5 is a little unclear: I had to look carefully to distinguish it from 3. The letter 1 in "12" in "05 12 16" is shorter.

05 12 16
600129
MiniSys

Left side. The printing is off center ("7" is at the edge), and is upside down. Strangely, the letter 1 in "01" in "13 01 17" looks shorter.

13 01 17
600129
MiniSys


The sponges are torn partly along the oval.

The black cup has a spot that looks as if a crack was repaired with glue. The spot is at the same location on each of L and R.

 

[orangesky]

This is Sennheiser's reply.

About the 39 day manufacturing time difference: "It is possible . . . "

About the crack: "The crack does seem odd. Are you sure you purchased your headphones from an authorized Sennheiser re-seller"

Could you in the forum tell me about the crack? Does yours have it too?

 

[buke9]

Just popped the pads on my HD-6xx's and looks identical it is not a crack it is just part of the molding process unless Massdrop just unloaded 5000 fakes. They are real.

 

[orangesky]

Just popped the pads on my HD-6xx's and looks identical it is not a crack it is just part of the molding process unless Massdrop just unloaded 5000 fakes. They are real.

That is interesting. This is the second reply from Sennheiser.

Sweetwater is an authorsized resller so if you just purchased from Sweetwater I would recommend that you contact them and have them exchange your headphones.

If Sweetwater cannot exchange the headphones for you then you would need to send the headphones in under warranty.


Other online image of HD 600/650 does not have that crack or crack-looking spot: