Open-Back headphones with bass

[cel4145]

Yes i've tried the HD650's. And no, I don't think they're bass light. However, they weren't adequately amped causing them to sound muddy. I was told that expensive high-end amps were required in order for them to sound the way they're supposed to.

What amp were they using? Any decent amp should be able to drive the HD650s fine.

 

[Mani ATH 87]

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Its a weird world where we don't buy a good product because it can't be as good as it could be. Imagine not buying engagement rings because you couldn't afford the best diamond or a home because you couldn't make the biggest improvement. I think the HD650 has great bass, lots of it and if you're into that kind of thing, someone could be very happy w/ the HD650 and E09K. IMO, don't let perfect be the enemy of really, really good. 

I think the HD650's are great headphones. I just think they scale up with amps a lot more then other headphones in their price range, it's an important issue for some people.
 

 

[ethan7000]

Sound Quest, the X1 sounds like what you're looking for

 

[chrislangley4253]

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And to that other guy. Yes, the 650's can be powered relatively easy with cheaper amps. But power isn't everything. The 650's require expensive tube amping to get them sounding exactly the way they were intended. Otherwise they just don't sound quite right.

 
No, they do not require expensive tube amping. That is just the plain and simple truth.
 
 
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Thanks for the link. That amp/dac combo looks quite nice. I'm just wondering if a 0.5ohm output would be enough to drive demanding headphones?
 
Yes i've tried the HD650's. And no, I don't think they're bass light. However, they weren't adequately amped causing them to sound muddy. I was told that expensive high-end amps were required in order for them to sound the way they're supposed to.

OP, you need to further educate yourself on amps and dacs and when and why they are needed before you go and buy stuff. Until you do that, none of this is going to make much sense.
 
That .5ohm output is the output impedance and that is a very good number. As far as power goes, the o2 has plenty and was designed to power anything you throw at it. Apart from a few more esoteric headphones.
 
I think the HE500's and LCD2's might be the only headphones mentioned in this thread that the o2 couldn't drive properly due to their ortho nature. I am not positive on that, however. 
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Who told you that and what amp were they using to amp the HD650?  There won't be a magical transformation of muddy to crystal clear sound on the HD650 with really high end amps, unless the amp being used in the first place is very muddy sounding itself.  You don't need any top of the line transformer tube amp to make the HD650 sound good, in fact they can sound pretty clean out of just a cheap solid state amp.  It's more about subtle refinement and scalability with more expensive amps and the HD650 than just sounding bad and then sounding good.
 
I've not heard the X1 but you might look into it if you think the HD650 to be a little too muddy.  The X1 has a little bit of a treble spike to give some clarity.

Good advice, listen to Raven

 

[hatrix]

On the topic of very bassy headphones, my first pair of "decent" headphones are Sennheiser HD 238s.
 
They are supra-aural however, which I realize isn't what you're looking for. But it still amazes me how much bass they have for their design type. My AKG K240 Studios don't have nearly the same amount of bass. When I got the K240s the other day and did a comparison between the two I couldn't believe how much bass the 238s pumped out for their size.
 
They are still good sounding headphones, the 238s. Just more of a cheap plastic feel once you get used to higher end headphones. They've never failed on me though and I've had them for years.

 

[Sound Quest]

Ok, i'll say it for the 3rd or 4th time. I'm not looking for a "very bassy headphone". I'm just looking for a headphone thats slighty above neutral in the low end, not way over the top like a pair of Beats.
 
Perhaps the 650's would be a good choice if adequately amped. I perhaps never gave them a fair test.
 
But I know a lot of you guys on here only listen to the likes of classical and jazz. I'm the kind of person that listens to everything. I need the headphone to be able to handle anything I throw at it.
 
I'm just worried that the 650's might only be good enough for simplistic warm instrument pieces. I've heard that they're "not" a very "fast" headphone. If that's the case, then is it fair to assume that they'll struggle with more complex genres. Such as heavy metal, or trance?

 

[DairyProduce]

Since you seem so against getting a HD650, I'd recommend the HE-400. 
 
IMHO though, saying you want something that's "slightly above neutral in the low end" is still kind of vague. Maybe if you gave some actual examples of your thoughts on your past headphones, we can try to suggest something that you'd like?

 

[ethan7000]

I listen to everything. From Dillinger escape plan, to Steve Coleman, to Ani, to killabyte, to grant stewart, to Alison krauss, to la follia barocca, to dmb, to squarepusher, you name it. You will like the X1. Kinda narrow minded to think everyone on here only listens to classical and jazz, although I understand the preference for some since the instruments are typically faithfully reproduced in those genres.

 

[cocolinho]

HD600, easier to drive than HD650. Bass level is perfect for my taste

 

[Monsterzero]

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I think the HD650's are great headphones. I just think they scale up with amps a lot more then other headphones in their price range, it's an important issue for some people.
 

im sorta new to this hobby but...running thru a Sony PHA-1 the Senn 600 sounded awesome,while the 650 DID sound muddy in the bass...for what thats worth

 

[Sound Quest]

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im sorta new to this hobby but...running thru a Sony PHA-1 the Senn 600 sounded awesome,while the 650 DID sound muddy in the bass...for what thats worth

 
That was my experience with the 650's as well. Perhaps it just comes down to preference. But to me through the Fiio 17/E09K combo, the 650's seemed somewhat lacking. They seemed a little too laid back for my tastes. But that may well have been down to the DAC and AMP.
 
Apparently the 600's are considerably easier to drive, despite being 300ohms as well. They just don't have the same potential for upgrade as the 650's. Which I really don't care about.

 

[cel4145]

That was my experience with the 650's as well. Perhaps it just comes down to preference. But to me through the Fiio 17/E09K combo, the 650's seemed somewhat lacking. They seemed a little too laid back for my tastes. But that may well have been down to the DAC and AMP.

I haven't heard the E09K, but I know once one has heard a lot better, the E17 can sound lacking. I still like it for the price, but I prefer my ODAC/Asgard 2 (or O2) amp setup better.

 

[Sound Quest]

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I haven't heard the E09K, but I know once one has heard a lot better, the E17 can sound lacking. I still like it for the price, but I prefer my ODAC/Asgard 2 (or O2) amp setup better.

 
I'm thinking of getting the Meridian Explorer DAC. It seems to get rave reviews from the general public and audiophiles alike. It's a bit on the warmish side, or so i'm told. But not at the cost of detail. I'm just trying to figure out what would pair well with a DAC on the warmish side.
 
I was always under the impression that colder/analytical headphones paired well with warmish DACs/AMPs. But i'm not all that clued up on audio.

 

[cel4145]

I'm thinking of getting the Meridian Explorer DAC. It seems to get rave reviews from the general public and audiophiles alike. It's a bit on the warmish side, or so i'm told. But not at the cost of detail. I'm just trying to figure out what would pair well with a DAC on the warmish side.

I was always under the impression that colder/analytical headphones paired well with warmish DACs/AMPs. But i'm not all that clued up on audio.

A good DAC is transparent. It should not color the sound, and the difference between good ones is very, very minor. Solid state amps the same thing. While some people do try to tweak their headphone sound with different DAC/amp pairings, the difference to you might not even be worth considering.

Now tube amps can help with analytical headphones, because they do color the sound and you can get tubes that add warmth. But otherwise, I would pick the best quality amp/dac you can get for the money and not worry about synergy between them and headphones.

 

[Sound Quest]

I'm currently looking into the SoundMAGIC HP200's. There doesn't seem to be much coverage on them, but the reviews I have seen are all positive ones.
 
Does anybody have any experience with them?