[FullBright1]

I waited a while to get this one.
Not a lot of reviews, as this product is sort of a world unto itself.
But i did buy it, and i wanted to tell you what it sounds like, as maybe you need it
 
It sounds like the Audeze EL-8 + the Fostex TH-500RP + the Sennheiser HD 650.
That what it sounds like.
Like those 3.
 
Where it is better then those in my opinion, is regarding the treble, as it offers more extension then the Audeze and Fostex, but not quite as much as the Sennheiser.
 
I would describe the sound as smooth, rich, refined,  and delicious.
It is definitely an audiophile sound with no shortage of bass.
The mids are typical of Sennheiser, in that they are very accurate.
 
Its a comfortable, easy to drive, very smooth sounding headphone.
 
If treble is your thing, then this isn't your headphone.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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[FullBright1]

As a matter of fact..
 
If you wanted to get the Senn 630-VB Headphones and wanted a really good Dac- Amp match for it, then look no farther then the very affordable and extremely fine sounding  Apogee "One".
These 2 gears are seemingly made for each other according to my ears.,=  they have a truly valid synchronicity thing happening...
 
 
If treble is your thing, then this isn't your headphone.
 
 
 
 
FB1

 

[FullBright1]

They are made to be together......
 
 
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[Dr Zingo]

I'm glad you like them. I have a pair but although I have been a Sennheiser aficionado since my early teens (the old 424) these were a disappointment. To my ears they seem to have a peak around 1-2 kHz and a hard, tiled room edge to the sound with little airiness in the frequencies above, giving a boxy impression reminiscent of older closed 'phones. I don't personally find that they sound much like my HD-600 at all and nothing like as refined as what the price would suggest - in fact, the only definite positives for me are the build quality and the comfort (and I suppose they also look expensive, if perhaps not exactly discreet). The two closest comparisons (closed, sameish price range) among the headphones I own are Beyer T70p and Shure 1540 and both are to my ears much better headphones than the Sennheisers. Obviously we all have different tastes but I would personally strongly suggest trying them out before committing to a purchase. (The two portable dacs/amps I've used them with are Denon DA10 and Teac HP50 fed by an iPod touch, digital out.)

 

[FullBright1]

Ok, well, i appreciate your opinion.
Ive owned the Shure 1540's that you love,  and if you like THE icepick bright sibilance  in your ears that will pierce steel that they offer, then i can see why you would hate the refined lush sound of the Sennheiser HD-630 VBs.
I also suggest you stay away from Audeze and Fostex 500RP, or any of the more expensive headphones that offer full mids and accurate sound.
From your perspective as stated you should stay with Audio Technica, as this has that bright edgy sound that you like.
Definitely not going to find that in the Sennheiser HD-630VBs, as these are an audiophile sound... = very refined.
Check out my profile here and see what ive owned.
 
 
 
 
 
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[Dr Zingo]

Heh. We seem to have very different ears. I don't personally find the Shure 1540 sibilant - their weakness for me is more the bass region which can sound a bit emphatic/bloated. I like the sound but I wouldn't describe them as a bright headphone. The T70p is definitely brighter and more sibilant, even piercing on much modern pop for example, but I mainly listen to classical where it's much less of a problem. I love the flat bass response of the T70p - you can always easily hear when the cellos are doubled by the basses, for example, in a way you can't on the 1540. (I couldn't stand the stock pads though and changed them for DT-770 plastic pads, which gave a better seal.)

It would be nice if some other HD-630 owners could share their opinion - there seem to be very little discussion about them and virtually no reviews. I'll give Audio Technica more attention in the future, thanks for the tip.

 

[FullBright1]

One reviewer commented...."these are great but they just dont grab me".
 
So, its kinda like that, regarding these Senns, as they are not going to grab you and say....."how about all that resolution", or "isnt that bass DEEEEP"...
No, they are not going to override a frequency to try to compete with consumer grade headphone sound.
The VBs are relaxed and rich and have a sort of comfortable sound that does not excite the trebles or thunder the bass.
The mids are really accurate as Senns are like that, and the rest is just very accurate.
In some ways they are similar to the ATH-R70X, in that this it the one AT headphone that is reference quality.....and it too does not overextend any frequency, so, 
most people will hear this in the context of what they are use to and think....."kinda dull".., and that is how sound sounds using headphones if you are use to spiked frequencies.
"i like mine better as there is more treble", "there is more bass".
YEAH, and thats the issue
Funny isnt it that the more you pay the less you get.....regarding headphones......as the more accurate the sound the less its going to sound jacked.
"wow, i paid $2500 for these and they sound flat...
Exactly.....
The idea is for them to sound musical.., and you pay for that quality in a headphone.
Next ill be trying the Focal Elear.
The reviews have been off the chain.
I just hope they are not bright as bright sounding headphones are not accurate.
 
 
Happy listening, 
 
 
 
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[Dr Zingo]

I actually agree with everything you say. I'm just not sure that the HD-630 is a very good example of of a flat frequency headphone.They seem emphatic to me in the 1-2 kHz region as I said above, but I haven't seen a frequency plot so I can't back up my impressions with any hard data. (It's a little strange that Tyll H of Innerfidelity hasn't measured them yet, I think.)
On a side note, at the end of the day I'm not sure that frequency reponse is the most important property of a headphone. Personally I tend to adjust to a dark or bright slant after a few hours of listening. Poor imaging/resolution is more damning, in my opinion. No amount of listening (or equalising) can remedy that.

 

[Bern2]

Here's a graph that Jude posted initially....
 
Bern