Keep in mind, when someone tell something about a headphone/amp/source, it's all the setup they listening.
I only judge a setup like a whole unless I took time to put in competition two components.
HD650 : The bad thing with the HD650, they don't sound all the same. I suspect the production having somes deviations and somes and of the HD650 are FAR better than other. Me and my 2 other friends have done the test on the same gear and they don't sound the same. They all have the silver fabric inside.
The 650's on the Woo2/raysonic was VERY good. Was recabled with double helix and defoamed. I found the setup dynamic, pretty detailled, nice wide soundstage for HD650
and strong and fast bass. I have similar setup at home and never hear another HD650's setup as good. This setup is a good competition to mine ... if not better.
For me, a setup based on a good HD650 it's tap foot, good quality, and forgiving ... When I am listening my HD650, it's not for analytic listening ... it's for enjoy the music.
The 650's balanced on the Phoenix/behringer/stereovox coax was a deception ... I had impression of lifeless... I don't know why ... Balanced HD650 have weight, punch ... Who else heard the HD650 on the Phoenix ? I am wrong ?
HE-5 on the Fulcrom setup : I enjoyed. They was faster, the highs was more defined than the HD650. The bass was strong and fast. I found the tonal balance good. Only the vocal's seem a bit less euphoric than HD650 and not enough detached from the music.
I tried them on my Archos/iBasso D10 ... forgot that!
they too hard to drive to have something special on micro-portable gear. Remember those HE-5 was recabled with unknow cable. So! Nice setup!
T1: On the Leihman + weiss minerva ... Without any reference point, I'm not sure what I'll say. In general, I've liked. They did not appear neutral but not very colorful. We still feel the brilliance specific to all Beyers.I compared with the DT990 and DT880 but the T1 is the best. I'm not sure they "forgive" a bad recording. I actually played a CD that I know well and it was not without blame.
For sure, I want to listen them more to be able to know how they really worth.
Coax: Stereovox (prior version of XV2) vs DB-510:
I own a DB-510 and having the stereovox (loaner). I prefer the Stereovox overall. More space in the layers of the music (more 3d), more details, bass is less predominant and the soundstage is less "front row" than the DB-510. DB-510 seem to me as a wall of sound ... it has a soundstage but it's less apparent than the stereovox. DB-510 give more weight at the music but I don't have the feeling with Stereovox to miss something.
* I made this comparison on a very good stereo system and come to similar conclusions.
Behringer ... In DIYAudio forum, peaple put it against serious DAC and CD Player ... I am glad to see it's world class DAC without the look and the price.
* It's not harsh at all ... it's simply detailled.
(ciselé sans la moindre agressivité).
Bah ok ... to preach for my family ...
My Behringer have NOTHING to do with stock version. No more opamp in the signal, far better caps, lundhal LL1690 output transformer in full balanced operation. Just don't let be fooled with the small size unit, and the pro design.
Each time I put the Behringer against another source, it's all time the same thing. It's win on the 3D soundstage, more space between the layers and bring the details from the background and better slam/dynamic. The ability to hear the room (micro details, reverb, echos) come to my attention more easily.
HD800:
With HD650 the band/performer is performing for you.
With HD800 the band/performer is performing for audience and you are in the audience. It's the strength of the HD800 ... you hear where you are.
The shell of the hD800 is designed to not damped the reflexions from the driver iut for using it. When you listening speakers, you have side reflexions, back reflexions ... top and ground reflexions. You not only hear the direct sound from the driver. It's the same thing.
When recording include elements (reverbs, echos, delay, microdetails), they was amplified with the reflexions in the shell. You got this incredible soundstage.
But if the recording is artificial or low quality, you still have the reflexion.
Admitting this fact, when using components that give "front row" presentation, I feel that the music flows over me. Then I found the sound stage less realistic and interesting.
I chose my DAC, coax cable, signal cable in order to get a deep soundstage and be "laid back". Stepping back, all become more natural and everything becomes more natural and consistent. The soundstage become smaller. Listening different styles of music becomes much more accessible to the point where I do not see much use to use my HD650.
Now, first time I heard them in balanced. I can't tell what do the headphone cable, the balanced operation ... but the whole setup is more transparent with more dynamic and more weight. I really enjoyed it! I don't having impression to miss bass and impact. It's not night/day difference for sure, but it's enough to liked them even more!
I noticed a tad of brightness ... but I was listening at incredible level for the show. I don't think it's a problem. If I am worry about it, I can only work on different interconnect ... I was using pure silver as XLR cable (I have less bright XLR cable at home).
JH13 : CRAP! Music in my head!
I will tell the patch was not installed correctly to give them a chance!
ASL twinhead amp with HD650 ... (short listening) ... one word : tubey ...It's for the pleasure to listen the music ... not for realistic experience. BTW, I found the sound inviting and relaxing. I close my eyes, drink a hot chocolate, put my attention on the vocals, rythm ... That give a different experience from Phoenix + HD800 ... My SinglePower amps are far less tubey ... is-it better ... depend what you looking for.
HB-1 ... fun amp and very cheap price ... but can't put that against other gear like W2, Phoenix, Twinhead ... it's a clear step down.