[Tostitostelli]

  Hey guys, new here.
I have the 650 but I noticed them to be very offensive and harsh, what should I do?
I am using a old Pioneer AV receiver, thanks
 
I also asked someone on YT and he told him those should't be a problem due to 650's 300Ohm impedance.

If you use a pc. Just buy a relatively cheap, but still very very excellent O2/ODAC. From either Mayflower, or JDS jabs.
https://www.mayflowerelectronics.com/shop/digital-to-analog-converters/objective2-with-odac/
 
If you want to connect to your av-reciever, you could consider spending a bit more.
https://www.mayflowerelectronics.com/shop/mayflower-custom-products/desktop-objective2odac-with-rca/
This version has RCA in AND out. This means you can plug any device into these yellow and red ports, to either input audio or output.
This is on top of usb functionality. so you can hook it up to your phone/pc and av reciever. (assuming your av reciever has rca out, which is very likely).
I use this one, and i am very satisfied. (also use HD650's)
 
What this little box does, is amplify your headphones(more then capable of driving the 650's), AND it neutralizes the sound. Meaning that music/videos etc, will sound as the moviedirector, or musicartist intended you to hear it. 

 

[raybone0566]

My 650's sound a limitless muddy at very low volume, but increasing volume to tolerable level does open up the dynamics. Proper source and amplification is definitely necessary. Feed em' right and they will shine. I have never heard vocals reproduced as well as what the 650's do. Breathtaking !

 

[MattTCG]

  Using a WA6. I did change the rectifier, had been using a Sophia. Already a bit better, but the muddiness continues. And the WA6 is just fine, honestly. It does make me wonder if a brighter sounding dac would help. I have a Fiio E10 right now, not ideal, but It really is just the clamping force that is forcing them on my ears so hard, just is simply too close. Looks like you can widen them a bit just by stretching the cans outwards, but I don't want to do it too much, as the headband is plastic.
 
Like I said, I'll just wait for now, I think. Maybe a bit of air will come later. Simply bending them a bit has already helped. I also need time to adjust to the signature, coming from listening to almost purely PS500s. I will say, I'm super impressed by how it renders cellos. Just enough midrange juiciness that the cello can really speak out in its own voicing. Very satisfying, the PS500 does many things well, but allowing a cello to speak out of the texture of a quartet is not one of them.
 
edit: Ya, instant love, just need the pads to hold the drivers about 2mm further from my head. Glad I bought these, they will eventually sound amazing I think. Makes me wonder about the HD-600.

 
I think that you said it all in your last sentence. The wa6 is a very good amp, no worries there. I'd be looking at the hd600. Many prefer it to the 650...it comes down to preference. 

 

[Koukol]

Last night I did some experimenting with My Little Pono

DAP, the 650's, an ART EQ and my Little Dot MKIII Tube Amp.
I bought the ART eq for fine tweaking of my older HP the 601's which lack bass.
 
I listen all types of music from Punk to Bluegrass and last night was very relieving on how well these cans can take punishment.
I put on Wednesday 13's latest recording and cranked the MF up to almost concert levels.
Only the 650's shined without ANY distortion EVEN when I cranked the bass with my ART.
Bottom line is these cans rock!
 
So If anyone is experiencing muddiness or distortion I'd look at the other equipment used or if the they're just exposing crappy recordings.
Of course your 650's could be damaged too.

 

[penmarker]

I think its because of the 300 ohm impedance. Higher impedance cans usually are able to be cranked up to high volumes with no distortion from powerful amps. Planar magnetic headphones are probably different though because some of them are <100 ohms but still has no distortion cranked all the way up (LCD series aside from the LCD3 all has less than 100 ohm impedance).

 

[Tuneslover]

Brand new HD650 owner here, never listened to them before, but the amazon deal was too good. So, I have a question.

Upon first listen, they were, um, not so great. Everyone talks about the veil, and sure, recessed highs to some degree, but I was much more worried about the muddy presentation at all frequencies, including the mids. So, I held them about a quarter of an inch further from my head, if that, and boom, much better. From a set of cans I would never enjoy to quite good. Bass did not suffer, all that happened is that they gained a bit of air, everything cleared up. Highs still lack a bit of extension, but there is this dark, juicy midrange that I could totally fall in love with, I think.

So do any others have this same problem? I am sure there is a somewhat easy mod to fix this.

edit: Obviously I will allow these to open up for maybe 100 hours before deciding to do anything to them, but I cannot imagine that them being just a bit further from my ears will not help things immensely.

Coming from the HE500's I was shocked how "boring" the HD650's sounded, yeah veiled, by comparison. I couldn't understand all those Sennheads ravings. Then last year at an audio show I had the opportunity to compare all the big headphone players including the HD650's (which I almost skipped). It was then and there that I appreciated they're warm (as opposed to veiled) sound signature. Listening more critically and honestly I realized that nothing was truly missing and they were in fact extremely engaging but in a serene, as opposed to brash way. I bought a pair and they have been my go to pair ever since.

I too like to pull them slightly forward on my head as I believe they sound more open that way. Also most owners believe they get better over time and they really can sing as you introduce good amplification.

 

[Koukol]

  Last night I did some experimenting with My Little Pono

DAP, the 650's, an ART EQ and my Little Dot MKIII Tube Amp.
I bought the ART eq for fine tweaking of my older HP the 601's which lack bass.
 
I listen all types of music from Punk to Bluegrass and last night was very relieving on how well these cans can take punishment.
I put on Wednesday 13's latest recording and cranked the MF up to almost concert levels.
Only the 650's shined without ANY distortion EVEN when I cranked the bass with my ART.
Bottom line is these cans rock!
 
So If anyone is experiencing muddiness or distortion I'd look at the other equipment used or if the they're just exposing crappy recordings.
Of course your 650's could be damaged too.

I'd like to add that plugging the 650's directly into the Pono does make them sound muddy or veiled...not enough power.

 

[thinkpol]

Hey guys! I have owned HD650s for quite some time and absolutely LOVE them. I use them with the Schiit Valhalla 2 and the Bifrost Uber. My question to you all: is it worth trying out a pair of AKG K701 with my setup as another "flavor" to add some variety? If not, what would be a good complement to the HD650 with my amp/dac? 
 
Thanks

 

[onebigunion]

Coming from the HE500's I was shocked how "boring" the HD650's sounded, yeah veiled, by comparison. I couldn't understand all those Sennheads ravings. Then last year at an audio show I had the opportunity to compare all the big headphone players including the HD650's (which I almost skipped). It was then and there that I appreciated they're warm (as opposed to veiled) sound signature. Listening more critically and honestly I realized that nothing was truly missing and they were in fact extremely engaging but in a serene, as opposed to brash way. I bought a pair and they have been my go to pair ever since.

I too like to pull them slightly forward on my head as I believe they sound more open that way. Also most owners believe they get better over time and they really can sing as you introduce good amplification.

 
I think this is a phenomenon not unique to the 650.  And I think its something all listeners should experiment with and pay attention too.   Changing the position on the head will result in a different acoustic alignment and driver / ear interaction.  The effect will largely, but not totally,.be seen in the lower frequencies.  I've noticed it with most of my 'phones.

 

[xpboy7]

Hello guys, I am preparing to buy the Sennheiser HD650, for now on I've got a Creative Sound Blaster z/zx, was think of buying a AMP with the headphones and would like to spend as much as 150$, I'll be buying through Amazon, both. Which AMP should I buy for Rock, Hard Rock, Reggae, FPS games and movies? Will the sound blaster be enough for the time being? Do I need a DAC too? I was thinking about the Schiit Vali and little dot mk i/ii, what do you say about those?

 

[Mr Rick]

  Hey guys! I have owned HD650s for quite some time and absolutely LOVE them. I use them with the Schiit Valhalla 2 and the Bifrost Uber. My question to you all: is it worth trying out a pair of AKG K701 with my setup as another "flavor" to add some variety? If not, what would be a good complement to the HD650 with my amp/dac? 
 
Thanks

I also wanted some difference in listening. I went for the Philips X2s, the AKG 712s and the Beyerdynamic DT880/600s. I think I have pretty much all the bases covered now.

 

[pietcux]

Hello guys, I am preparing to buy the Sennheiser HD650, for now on I've got a Creative Sound Blaster z/zx, was think of buying a AMP with the headphones and would like to spend as much as 150$, I'll be buying through Amazon, both. Which AMP should I buy for Rock, Hard Rock, Reggae, FPS games and movies? Will the sound blaster be enough for the time being? Do I need a DAC too? I was thinking about the Schiit Vali and little dot mk i/ii, what do you say about those?

I have a Z/ZX too in my PC. It runs the HD650 quite well. So it will be good enough for the time being. The recommendation of an amp is hard to do as everyone here has differnt ideas. I use a Fiio E12A and a Meier Audio Stepdance. The first is quite good, the second is fantastic. Both are portable.

 

[m8o]

I got mine on Wednesday from Amazon. The HD650 box is in a non-sealed plastic bag. The plastic bag is longer than the HD650 bag about 8 inches.

yep. This is exactly how mine arrived.

Cardboard adorama box with some evidence it got sprayed but not soaked and no water under its footprint, sealed air bags, and most important the same plastic bag around the outer hd650 box. So, all is well that ends well.

I'm liking them. Sti'll too new and stiff to really say. Very good fast uncongested music reproduction. But I did need to bump bass +4 and treble +2 on my E17 DAC/AMP fed by DAP to get the dynamics I prefer. Still, its early. Looking forward to use my quality CD player feeding a tube amp.

 

[cuiter23]

I have a Z/ZX too in my PC. It runs the HD650 quite well. So it will be good enough for the time being. The recommendation of an amp is hard to do as everyone here has differnt ideas. I use a Fiio E12A and a Meier Audio Stepdance. The first is quite good, the second is fantastic. Both are portable.

I see you own an F886, just wanted to see how you like them. thanks!

 

[weitn]

yep. This is exactly how mine arrived.

Cardboard adorama box with some evidence it got sprayed but not soaked and no water under its footprint, sealed air bags, and most important the same plastic bag around the outer hd650 box. So, all is well that ends well.

I'm liking them. Sti'll too new and stiff to really say. Very good fast uncongested music reproduction. But I did need to bump bass +4 and treble +2 on my E17 DAC/AMP fed by DAP to get the dynamics I prefer. Still, its early. Looking forward to use my quality CD player feeding a tube amp.

 
Glad to hear it is all good. Enjoy the cans.