Sennheiser HD 650 - iPhone

[Ayman250]

I am new to this forum as well has high-end headphone equipment in general. I was wondering how well Sennheiser 650's would fare powered by an iPhone. I understand listening without an amp is not doing these hp's justice. I plan on purchasing an amp in the near future for movies and listening at home, however, for now I will be without one. Will the difference between lower end headphones and the 650's be noticeable without an amp? Is there anything portable than can be used to enhance the listening experience.
-Excuse my ignorance
Thank you
 
Edit*
Do they even work without an amp?

 

[juantendo8]

I think you will find the sound to still be good. It will still sound more refined than a lesser headphone but it really, really appreciates an amp with sufficient power. The clarity, soundstage, and especially dynamic range will all greatly improve with sufficient power. I would say go for it, if you truly do intend to buy the amp.
 
If you want a portable amp, the Objective2 amp is the only inexpensive one off the top of my head that can easily drive the HD650 off battery power, and it is more transportable than portable.

 

[proton007]

@juantendo
You're kidding, right?
 
The HD650 is 300 Ohms. Its going to suck the life out of your iPhone, and you still won't hear anything. I tried it with the iPhone at a shop, I wasn't actually looking to buy it so didn't bring my amp. Couldn't hear a thing until the iPhone was full volume, and even then, it was like some frequencies had been removed from the music.
No amp -> no HD 650. 

 

[Pseudoflowers]

I don't think it's going to be a matter of you hearing a noticeable difference or not; I think it's going to be a matter of you not hearing anything at all. 

 

[juantendo8]

 
Quote:

@juantendo
You're kidding, right?
 
The HD650 is 300 Ohms. Its going to suck the life out of your iPhone, and you still won't hear anything. I tried it with the iPhone at a shop, I wasn't actually looking to buy it so didn't bring my amp. Couldn't hear a thing until the iPhone was full volume, and even then, it was like some frequencies had been removed from the music.
No amp -> no HD 650. 

 
Oh please, we can all do without the exaggeration. I know that the HD650 is 300 ohms and I even ran some 600 ohm Beyers with a DAP.  I admit that I don't own an iphone, but I have tested this on my Sansa Clip+. It certainly gets loud enough for me on almost all music before it even gets to clipping volume. I highly doubt the iphone has much less volume output than the tiny and MUCH cheaper Clip. No, you shouldn't ideally listen to the HD650 through a DAP, but its the best option (at least compared with generic sound cards) until the OP gets his hands on an amp. Worst case scenario, get an E5/E6.

 

[Ayman250]

I really appreciate the prompt responses. I will most likely end purchasing a less powerful amp until i can get my hands on a sufficient one. That being said, and excuse me if changing the subject is inappropriate, but are there any headphones very similar to the 650's in terms of price and quality that sport a closed design instead?

 

[proton007]

Its not about the volume. As I said, close to full iPhone volume it works, but the sound was rather wierd, it was as if the bass didn't exist.
I highly doubt the iPhone / iPod can supply the current needed. 
Even if it does, its 10x more than the earbuds, and I'm pretty sure the internal circuitry will hit its current limit.

 

[DevilDog]

I have an iphone 4 and HD650s, it's not that bad. There's plenty of bass, granted it's not the best in the world,an amp would improve it by cleaning it up. But the frequencies are there, just not as tight as it can get with a good amp.
As far as volume, it gets loud enough to listen to but definitely not loud. It's loud enough for me but it won't hurt my ears.
 

 

[Ayman250]

Wow, really surprised to hear form someone whose on my boat. I really appreciate the feedback! I might just go through with it, and continue to save for a proper amp.
 

 

[Ayman250]

 
Quote:

I have an iphone 4 and HD650s, it's not that bad. There's plenty of bass, granted it's not the best in the world,an amp would improve it by cleaning it up. But the frequencies are there, just not as tight as it can get with a good amp.
As far as volume, it gets loud enough to listen to but definitely not loud. It's loud enough for me but it won't hurt my ears.
 

 
I understand these are open design headphones, so how loud can you have them before people around you begin to hear what you are listening to?

 

[DevilDog]

They're open, so they leak a LOT of sound. A LOT. Someone across the room can hear it if you have it a comfortable volume.

 

[proton007]

The frequency issue I mentioned is because the impedance of headphones varies according to the signal frequency. The HD650 can go upto 550 Ohms @ 100 Hz, hence low response in the bass region.
 

 

[smcginni]

It'll certainly be good enough to get you going until you can amp it. I use my 650 while working around the house and they still sound better than anything else I have. Amped, they'll really shine. But an iPhone is just fine to drive them *enough*.

If you're interested in an iPhone control cable, I posted this a while back...

http://www.head-fi.org/t/597996/hd650-iphone-remote-cable-amping-with-remote-and-a-baggie

 

[dennis118]

You can take a look at the Denon D5000. It's a closed full-size headphone. It's very iPhone friendly because of the low [size=small]impedance. I am using it with my 3gs at this very moment. I set the volume one step past the middle for quiet indoor use. I use it without an amp of course. I also have the hd650. I set it about 3-4 steps past the middle mark on the volume for similar loudness.So, I can tell you iphone can use with hd650 without an amp. They both sound good. I think the d5000 sound better than hd650 on iphone without amp, but it makes sense. [/size]

 ​

[size=small]However, both of them are probably not for portable use if this matter.[/size]​

[size=small](btw, I think d5000 has deeper bass than the hd650 if you like bass)[/size]​

 
 

 

[KG Jag]

Quote:

I am new to this forum as well has high-end headphone equipment in general. I was wondering how well Sennheiser 650's would fare powered by an iPhone. I understand listening without an amp is not doing these hp's justice. I plan on purchasing an amp in the near future for movies and listening at home, however, for now I will be without one. Will the difference between lower end headphones and the 650's be noticeable without an amp? Is there anything portable than can be used to enhance the listening experience.
-Excuse my ignorance
Thank you
 
Edit*
Do they even work without an amp?

 
ACK!!  That's a horrible mismatch for all sorts of reasons. 
 
What are your music files (mp3?) in your iPhone?