[Patu]

You might want to check out these two threads:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/old...hd650s-318945/
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/hd650-hd600-317321/

New HD650 sounds much better than the old one.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patu /img/forum/go_quote.gif You might want to check out these two threads: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/old...hd650s-318945/ http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/hd650-hd600-317321/ New HD650 sounds much better than the old one.

Or the same, depends on who you ask.

 

[b0dhi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kabeer /img/forum/go_quote.gif Isnt it well known Sennheiser changed the HD-650, something about white insides. And a less veiled sound.

Senn also said that that change doesn't affect the sound at all.

 

[subtle]

Based on what I have read so far concerning this issue, it seems to be more of a myth/placebo effect than anything else.

I'm really not sure how a different colored screen material can magically subdue bass and enhance mids and highs. Just not a believer on that.

 

[Patu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew_WOT /img/forum/go_quote.gif Or the same, depends on who you ask.

It's easy to ignore this kind of messages when I've heard the difference myself.

The difference wasn't even comparable to some voodoo crap like cable elevators or $5000 equipment racks. I'd say that anyone without any experience of hifi would be capable of hearing the difference between the old and new model.

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0dhi /img/forum/go_quote.gif Senn also said that that change doesn't affect the sound at all.

 

[jantze]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patu /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's easy to ignore this kind of messages when I've heard the difference myself. The difference wasn't even comparable to some voodoo crap like cable elevators or $5000 equipment racks. I'd say that anyone without any experience of hifi would be capable of hearing the difference between the old and new model.

Patu, why do you still answer to these questions? Some are believers and some are not. I'm not a High Fidelity listener, but even I noticed the difference.

I know it hurts, especially if you own the old version.

If someone would like to know how we compared the new and old senns, please read the previous posts.

 

[Audio-Omega]

I'm curious about the sound quality of the new version. I'm sure mine is the older version which I bought three years ago.

 

[Beagle]

Interesting. I took possession of a new HD650 from HeadRoom last month, and the sound is not as I had remembered from my first HD650 in 2004. This new one actually sounds brighter than my modded HD580 (580 w/600 screens and 650 cable). My first HD650 was less bright in the treble than the 600 (in direct A/B comparison)

Not sure if I like this "new" 650 sound. Like I sez, it's a tad bright and cold.

 

[Gradofan2]

In a word... YES... much better.

But... it is brighter, faster, clearer... more Gradoish... and if you don't have the right set up - it could be too bright for some tastes.

And... "once and for all"... you can honestly say... "what veil."

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gradofan2 /img/forum/go_quote.gif In a word... YES... much better. But... it is brighter, faster, clearer... more Gradoish... and if you don't have the right set up - it could be too bright for some tastes. And... "once and for all"... you can honestly say... "what veil."

Aren't you the guy who could not distinguish between new version of HD650 and HD600 and sent HD650 back because of that? How does it make "new" HD650 better if it's sounds like cheaper and inferior (by manufacturer standards) sibling? That's like preferring Pucker over well aged vintage wine because it has more kick.

 

[LostOne.TR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by subtle /img/forum/go_quote.gif Based on what I have read so far concerning this issue, it seems to be more of a myth/placebo effect than anything else. I'm really not sure how a different colored screen material can magically subdue bass and enhance mids and highs. Just not a believer on that.

If it did change, I'd say maybe a change in material caused it, and most definitely not the color difference.

 

[Audio-Omega]

Is it better to buy a new HD650 or a better cable for an old HD650 ?

 

[kg21]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gradofan2 /img/forum/go_quote.gif In a word... YES... much better. But... it is brighter, faster, clearer... more Gradoish... and if you don't have the right set up - it could be too bright for some tastes. And... "once and for all"... you can honestly say... "what veil."

I have to say let's not get carried away. I'm not disagreeing with everything your saying but the "new" hd650 is still a dark headphone, not even close to being gradoish; I would not even call it a semi-bright headphone. It may be brighter/clearer than the "old" hd650 I haven't heard that one.

 

[accurate_dB]

With all due respect...
Hopefully someone can validate this claim from the horse's mouth,
I for one can not.

However I have heard things like this in another industry.
For instance if you approach an automotive technical or sales specialist,
they will tell you that even if the silver color came off a brand new Mercedes or a Cadillac, the silver off of the exact same model and year of that car of a few months back will look slightly different from the brand new car off the assembly. Its just the production process and all of the variability that goes along with it creates some unavoidable tolerances.

So if newer HD650 is better, then resale value of older HD650 goes down.
However if for some reason majority prefers the older HD650, then
the resale value of older HD650 goes up.
Regardless, if there is confirmation of difference between the model years, then there will be increased volatility in the HD650 trading (buying/selling) market.

Sometimes companies make slight production changes for cost or supply/source availability reasons.

And not to mention, don't drivers wear out over time also?

But then again there is also the "emperor's new clothes" theory as well.

 

[nickchen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverrain /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've bought 5 pairs of HD650 over the past 5 years or so (don't ask) -- 2 of the old type, and 3 of the newer type. Anyway, I could tell they had changed immediately the first time I used one of the newer types. And 2 more of them subsequently purchased, (all 3 purchased in the past year) confirmed that the SQ had indeed changed from the first 2 pairs. The sound spectrum had shifted from the bass side, upward towards the trebles side. Same good mids, of course.

Absolutely confirmed. I've compared an older with a newer model some months ago, the difference was stunning. I couldn't live with the elder "veiled" version.