[KCK]

Hello all, I am strongly considering the Sennheiser 600 and actually have 3 questions:

1) My stereo amp is a McIntosh MA6500 integrated amp. It has a miniplug outlet for 'phones. Being that the 600 is a notorious drive, does anyone have experience driving it with such an amp? I know it will not be up to a dedicated hp amp, but funds are not currently available for it all, plus I would like to see if I use the phones very much before committing to more expense. (I cannot get HP specs for the Mac, but will keep trying).

2) Can you recommend a good (read: cheap) place to buy the 600? AudioAdvisor and Amazon both want about $260; I would think that it could be had for less. Is Used a risk for this model?

3) I need phones that provide good transparency and realism, along with comfort (I am a large hat size). I recently sold Magnepan 3.6 and kinda miss the sound (though not the speakers themselves- too much trouble). Who among you who has/had Maggies would like to recommend a headphone other than the 600. Budget is $250 and it should work with something like the Mac.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mulveling]

Quote:

Originally posted by KCK 2) Can you recommend a good (read: cheap) place to buy the 600? AudioAdvisor and Amazon both want about $260; I would think that it could be had for less. Is Used a risk for this model?

If I were you I would strongly consider getting some HD580's used from the nice folk on the for sale forum here (should find for $120 shipped), and then see if you can get a decent used amp to drive them for $130-$140 (maybe a Meta?). If you're hell bent on the 600's you can get them used here in mint condition for $200 or less shipped.

I recommend used because the people here take good care of their stuff so used equipment will sound like new, except better 'cause it's been burned in.

I recommend the HD580's because they sound pretty much the same as my HD600's, though a really hi-fi system with hi-fi ears may be able to discern more differnces - use that money for an amp! The HD580's/600's won't come alive without a decent amp (much more so than with most phones), and while your McIntosh may do a decent job (hopefully someone here who has experience with it and can comment), it probably won't do nearly as well as a dedicated.

Just my thoughts, sorry if that's not what you wanted/needed

 

[Number9]

I use my McIntosh MA6200 with great success. It has two headphone jacks. I also have a headphone jack on my MCD-7007 CD player, but the jack sounds awful by comparison. So I can only say, it is probably hit and miss.

Not sure about later models such as your 6500 though. McIntosh starting putting mini-jacks vs. standard 1/4" plug jacks on some gear.

The best stuff are the C32 and C33 preamps, and some of the amps (not sure the model numbers), which all had dedicated 20W headhone amps built-in. Those were the days (as with most vintage McIntosh gear)!

As for the HD600, expect to see more fluctuations in price with the HD650 around the corner. Sennheiser says that they will continue with the 600 even when the 650 is introduced.

If you want to pay the cheapest, you can aways try some of the "grey" market sellers on eBay, who sell for less e.g. last Christmas - they were going for $239 ... but who knows what type of warranty you get. I'd stick with Headroom ... they support these forums and allow for exchanges if you are not happy.

 

[MoLtoSoLo]

The AKG K1000 is the closest thing I can think of to the Magnepan. It's one of the best headphone/headspeaker around, however it costs around $450. If possible, I suggest you try the AKG K501 for the taste.
Personally I like both K1000 and Senn 600. Try for yourself.
If you don't mind second hand stuff, the trading form here usually got some good condition and low price items.

 

[Chops]

I've got a pair of Maggie MGLR 1 loudspeakers and find that the HD600s compare pretty good to the Maggies. Both are very detailed, accurate, and revealing. Both of them will quickly let you know if you're listening to a good recording or a bad one.

If anything, because of their dipolar design, they will be a better match to the Maggies than anything else, except something like the AKG K1000s.