quick question about the HD 650

[Krause]

I have caught the bug for sure. I have the hd 280s hd 201 hd 555 and I have been thinking about getting a decent portable amp. I was going to go with the portaphile v2^2 but then I saw the for sale forum and saw that hd650s were going for around $250.00 used. OMG how can I pass that up ?

Problem is if I spring for those cans I wont have the money to buy a decent amp for a few months. So my question is should I get the cans and buy a cheap amp ($65 amp) or should I be content with my 555s for right now get the portaphile and upgrade my cans in a few months ? God the 650s are so pretty

Got so excited I forgot to post my question...

So how do the 650s do unamped. Could I use them out of my computers audigy 2 zs platinum pro ? Or would I absolutely need an amp.

 

[blessingx]

A lot of people run their HD650s underpowered IMO. Take that for what it's worth. I wouldn't pick them up until you have a few hundred for a decent amp (and don't forget source).

 

[Krause]

is this the general consensus of 650 owners ? has anyone tried to run them strait off the audigy2zs ?

 

[wakeride74]

It's better to build around the cans. Get the 650's, that price is a steal and they will still sound pretty good. Save a few hundered and pick up a Headroom Micro with Desktop Module (best bang for buck) and you'll be set!

 

[Krause]

My thing is I have this feeling I will not be satisfied until I have tried the best so intermediate steps are only a waste of money. I should have never purchased the hd555s. I should have just gone strait with the 650s

But unfortunately I wasnt a nut about this stuff a week ago

I guess I could get the 650s and sell my 555s and get a decent starter amp and upgrade the amp later. I am really not interested in moving to a different headphone line as I have become very fond of the sennheiser sound and I dont think I will be satisfied until I have tried the best they have to offer. If I am still unsatisfied I will venture out from there.

I am still interested to hear what other people have to say about this... Should I opp for the amp with the hd 555 or get the better cans and build more down the road.

 

[discord]

I would just get the 650's while you can and avoid all other baby steps. I agree with wakeride.

 

[JaZZ]

Get the HD 650 and use the Audigy's line out as headphone amp until you can afford a good amp -- at best one with built-in DAC! It worked in my case, with the SB Live Platinum, and although the sound wasn't great, I think it's still better than from the HD 555 driven by e.g. a Gilmore Light -- apart from the latter's higher volume headroom.

 

[Andrea]

After getting the HD650 you could buy a very cheap but good amp like the Xenos 0HA-R, so you could very well carry on for a while...

 

[moongate]

I first bought the HD650´s but wasen´t satisfied at all. My Sony STR-DB790 was just to blurry and underpowered headphoneoutwise. I had to buy the Heed can amp the very next week. Now everything is fine and I shure know why I spent the money. The sound is very clear, intense and straight forward now. You might get disappointed driving the HD650 without appropriate equipment.

 

[applebook]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeride74 It's better to build around the cans.

Finally, the Jedi speaks the truth!

The reason for building around cans is two-fold: first, they're the cheapest and the weakest link in any system. A great CDP at 2K is going to sound mediocre on cheap cans, but a cheap CDP at $100 is going to sound half decent on $250 phones.

Anyway, I run my 600 on my fairly high-powered (for a headphone-out) CDP, and the SQ is good. If you're going to run the 650 out of a portable device like an iPod or a PCDP, then you can't expect the most of out those cans but will be surprised how well it can still sound.

 

[Krause]

I cant wait... Now I just have to find a pair at the right price.

Anyone mind commenting on the trade offs of buying used versus new ?

Would it be worth it to buy new so that if I dont like them I can send them back ? Or should I buy one slightly used for 65 bucks less ?

 

[euclid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krause I cant wait... Now I just have to find a pair at the right price. Anyone mind commenting on the trade offs of buying used versus new ? Would it be worth it to buy new so that if I dont like them I can send them back ? Or should I buy one slightly used for 65 bucks less ?

as stated above the 650 are often underpowered, this can be damaging to the drivers if they are clipping. i'd say the senn lineup are the only headphones i would be cautious about buying used and for the extra $50 or so it would be worth it to buy a new pair... but only after you have an amp, no point of buying new if your going to be clipping them yourself .

 

[ej82m]

I don't know, I kinda like baby steps...Where's the fun in just buying your optimized setup?

I like the journey it takes to get there, though it does hurt my wallet. Oh boy does it ever hurt my wallet. -_-

The 650's tend to hold their value used so I wouldnt be too worried about buying them for $250 and reselling them for the same price or close to same price you paid for them, unless you damaged them in some way.

 

[Krause]

The first I have heard about damaging them by underpowering them. Is this a real threat or just an urban legend. I would be running out of the line out of my audigy2 zs platinum pro from my computer.

I could always just get a really cheap pa2v2 or something in the mean time so that I dont underpower them. Is this a real concern damage by underopwer ?

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krause Problem is if I spring for those cans I wont have the money to buy a decent amp for a few months. So my question is should I get the cans and buy a cheap amp ($65 amp) or should I be content with my 555s for right now get the portaphile and upgrade my cans in a few months ? God the 650s are so pretty Got so excited I forgot to post my question... So how do the 650s do unamped. Could I use them out of my computers audigy 2 zs platinum pro ? Or would I absolutely need an amp.

A go-vibe ($69) with AD8620 ($20) would be fine for starters. But do yourself a favor -- if you get an HD650, amp it. Period.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krause The first I have heard about damaging them by underpowering them. Is this a real threat or just an urban legend.

It's very unlikely to occur, unless clipping and distortion from the source are extreme. But do you want good sound, or don't you? Just get an inexpensive amp.