New HD650 owner, some thoughts.

Sep 23, 2004 at 10:31 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 51
AuroraProject

AuroraProject

Headphoneus Supremus
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I received my Senn HD-650's today. I excitedly pulled them out of the box and plugged them into my ASL MG Head OTL, I let the tubes warm up for a few and threw a cd in. My first impression? Dark, and congested, I sure hope these open up a bit. Of course I've got maybe 3 hours on them right now, and I have not connected the Zu Mobius yet, but it would take a lot to open up the highs to what I was expecting.
For the last 6 weeks or so I've been listening to my home rig with Ety ER-4p's, which have a great sparkle at the high end. I was hoping the 650's would be close. Will the Mobius open them up a lot, or is the difference subtle?
Don't get me wrong, the bass and the details are excellent, I just like a little sparkle in my highs, and male and female vocals sound nasally right now.
I'm not ready to pass judgement on these just yet, these are just my first impressions. I've got a solid state amp on it's way to try them with and I'm sure these get better over time, I'm just wondering if I made the right choice.
 
Sep 23, 2004 at 10:34 PM Post #2 of 51
how much does it cost you
smily_headphones1.gif
 
Sep 23, 2004 at 10:59 PM Post #7 of 51
Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyfrenchman27
I don't think they're that much better than the HD600, to be truthful.

What alternatives were you considering other than the HD650?



Nothing really, I had considered the CD3000 but was put off because many people say they are excessively bright.
 
Sep 23, 2004 at 11:02 PM Post #8 of 51
another new sennheiser owner here.
the headphones are amazing, bass and midrange are full, natural, transparent, resolving and smooth, and the high is 'just right', my cd3k gave me lots of trouble because of its rigged high and thats the main reason i sold them. keep the sennheiser treble the way it is...
 
Sep 23, 2004 at 11:18 PM Post #9 of 51
It sounds like a preference thing. Too high, too dark - you may just gravitate towards something brighter naturally - now that you've heard the 650s for yourself after reading about it, you should be in good shape to try a brighter alternative based on the opinions you find here - either that or give the aftermarket cables a try that have a good rep for brighter characteristics.
 
Sep 23, 2004 at 11:22 PM Post #11 of 51
...or try new tubes. LOL! Grats on the rediscovery of your cans!
 
Sep 23, 2004 at 11:23 PM Post #12 of 51
Quote:

Originally Posted by AuroraProject
I received my Senn HD-650's today. I excitedly pulled them out of the box and plugged them into my ASL MG Head OTL, I let the tubes warm up for a few and threw a cd in. My first impression? Dark, and congested, I sure hope these open up a bit. Of course I've got maybe 3 hours on them right now, and I have not connected the Zu Mobius yet, but it would take a lot to open up the highs to what I was expecting.
For the last 6 weeks or so I've been listening to my home rig with Ety ER-4p's, which have a great sparkle at the high end. I was hoping the 650's would be close. Will the Mobius open them up a lot, or is the difference subtle?
Don't get me wrong, the bass and the details are excellent, I just like a little sparkle in my highs, and male and female vocals sound nasally right now.
I'm not ready to pass judgement on these just yet, these are just my first impressions. I've got a solid state amp on it's way to try them with and I'm sure these get better over time, I'm just wondering if I made the right choice.


Throw the Zu cable on there and let it burn-in for about 50 hours. I greatly prefered my hd650/zu to my etys in my setup: PPA w/diamond buffer and emu-1212.
 
Sep 23, 2004 at 11:27 PM Post #13 of 51
Good for you, you realized you should swap your tubes. I had 650's with my MG Head (stock cable) for many months before, thanks to Head-fi, I went on a serious upgrade kick, and they sounded superb with a tube-rolled MG Head. I think you've got yourself a great combo there, just keep experimenting with the tubes till you dial it in precisely.
 
Sep 23, 2004 at 11:36 PM Post #14 of 51
Quote:

Originally Posted by AuroraProject
You know, I really should have waited before speaking! I just switched some tubes around and guess what? Treble appeared!


I know, I'm a schmuck.
600smile.gif




You might as well plug in the Zu and let it get going too. The treble will sparkle even more. They will always lean towards the dark side of the spectrum.(HD650) They will change alot and the treble will open up more. Mine were "treble challenged" at first also.
600smile.gif
 
Sep 23, 2004 at 11:43 PM Post #15 of 51
The Senns may not be for you, but give them some time (and as mentioned if you want to invest more get a Silver Dragon or Zu, but I'd hold off on that until you lean one way or another). You do have to judge them on their own terms. They're very different than the Etys. I go back and forth which I prefer (phones... and detail versus warmth), but lately it's been the Senns. For awhile I had difficulty finding Etys full-sized equivilents (HD600/Cardas, HD650, K501, CD3000, etc.), until I gave up looking specifically for that.
 
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