[outmatch]

I have been researching about these two for some time. But I still could not decide between the 595 and the 650. Need some experts to clarify some of my questions.

Now I
- have no amp
- have a set of AltecLansing FX6021 speaker set with headphone out
- have a fine source (FLAC-->X-Fi XtremeMusic)

I believe that one day I will get the 650 anyway, but now I'm pretty much broke T_T, I can't afford both 650 and a nice amp at the same time. So I come up with 2 ideas:
1.Buy the 595 w/o amp, be happy with the phone until I have enough money to buy the 650 and an amp, or,
2.buy the 650 w/o amp, use it through my fx6021 headphone out, keep money for an amp later(at least a year).

What should I do???

 

[gordolindsay]

If it will be a year before you can get an amp, go ahead with the 595's. They're not terrible phones and I'm sure you can be happy with them without an amp, atleast for a year.

Then if you feel you need to upgrade, buy an amp, and if you're still not done, go for the 650's.

650's out of your speakers headphone out probably won't float your boat.

 

[Chrysoberyl]

I have listened to both,and they sound very similar.For the price difference,the 650s are not worth it if you don't have a great system.

 

[The Monkey]

I have owned both. IMO, the 650 is significantly better than the 595. The 650 just scales up and up and up (which is both good and bad...

). That said, the 595 is a fun phone and will give you plenty of enjoyment, even unamped, which is just not feasible with the 650. So, my recommendation is to get yourself the 595 now, save some money, get a decent amp, and then decide if it's time to take the next step to the 650 (or 600). You will always be able to sell the 595.

EDIT: I disagree with the poster above that these phones sound similar. The 595 has a more forward presentation and is a bit quicker on a less robust system. The 650 can be a little syrupy without the right components. But once you have the right rig, it just sings, with far more extension than the 595 at both ends.

 

[Ghost Hog]

650 will do the job and you can add to it later when you get the dole. start with the best straight away. it doesn't make much sense to spent what you have now and get the 595...then safe...and then get the 650...you will then have 2 headphones and still without amp.

 

[dbfx]

ive got the 650s and run them directly out of my sucky audigy2.. sound decent enough to me.. can only imagine what theyll sound like with good gear

 

[Davesrose]

The 650s really need a good source and amp to sound better then the 595 for most rock genres. I still own both, and on a relatively expensive system....they both can scale up. The 595 has less bass, more upfront soundstage, and can be more aggressive. The 650s have more bass and soundstage and can offer more refinement and PRAT if properly amped. The 650s are clearly better then the 595s for classical and electronica. Other rock genres, you can scale up the 595s easy. So my vote would be the 595 as your first can....especially since it's cheaper

 

[augustwest]

If you are not going to amp in the near future, go for the 595's.

- augustwest

 

[Murdoch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davesrose /img/forum/go_quote.gif The 650s really need a good source and amp to sound better then the 595 for most rock genres. I still own both, and on a relatively expensive system....they both can scale up. The 595 has less bass, more upfront soundstage, and can be more aggressive. The 650s have more bass and soundstage and can offer more refinement and PRAT if properly amped. The 650s are clearly better then the 595s for classical and electronica. Other rock genres, you can scale up the 595s easy. So my vote would be the 595 as your first can....especially since it's cheaper

I haven't heard the hd650, but I own the 595 and this sounds like solid advice...

 

[outmatch]

Hmm.. A lot of people here have recommended the 595. As for my music genre, It's quite universal. I listen to classic, rock, jazz, metal, country, folk, pop, trance, vocal.

Can I conclude that the 595 w/o an amp sounds better than the 650 w/o an amp?

 

[Solrighal]

I can't comment on the 650's but I'm using the 595's with my set-up below and I think they're tremendous. I'm sure the 650's are even better but they do seem to benefit more from amping than the 595's, at least that's what all the threads around here seem to suggest. Having said that, if I could afford 650's now I'd buy them and force myself to find the money for an amp. Given your situation there's a logic to buying 595's now and then buying an amp. By the time you can afford the 650's the price should have dropped anyway. This way every purchase is an upgrade.

 

[lutwey]

no amp??.................then 595 ive read lots of great reviews about them most people claim that once they heard the 595 they immediately embrace the sq of 595 as "their" sound. not to mention they are almost half the price of the 650. plus u can get the 580(smaller brother of the 650) if u decided to get the 595

think about it a 650 or a 580 and 595????

 

[Corrupt^]

Dunno about those speakers, but at first, when I didn't have an amp to power the HD650, I used other ways to boost the signal from my pc.

- Make sure your pc's volume isn't to high to avoid distortion, preferable under 0db
- Hook it up to a radio/speaker set/whatever and set it quite loud

This should work, however, out of an amp the HD650 sounds better.

 

[Gurra1980]

Yes 595 is the way to go. I had a hard time going to bed last night because I couldn't stop listening to my 595, God damn I love them!

Later on when sennheiser HD-700 comes out the price for 650 will (hopfully) go down. And then you gona start a thread about 650 vs 700

And wait with the amp untill you know how hard 700 will be to drive.

 

[Norman]

I'd go for the 650s hands down.

They're a whole different league compared to the 595s and since you think you're going to get the 650s anyway then you might as well not waste money getting the 595s.