So my old HD650 died. I replaced it with... another HD650. There's really nothing quite like these headphones out there.
They're the perfect day-to-day headphone in so many ways. Because they're warm and smooth, there's no long-term listener fatigue. But because they're clear and detailed, you don't need to crank them up to hear everything. They're comfy enough to wear all day, forgiving enough where compressed audio over youtube isn't a problem, but also resolving enough to warrant quality sources. Plus, they're also inexpensive enough where you aren't worried about putting wear and tear on them. I don't relish the thought of dropping the Stax 007 onto a hardwood floor, but with the HD650 I don't have to worry about it. Plus, it's built really well, and is modular, so when you do wear stuff out you can just replace it piecemeal.
Someone asked about HD600 vs HD650. The HD650 is more technically competent. There's more detail, and its imaging and soundstaging abilities are better. The 600 is more neutral though, and the extra presence in the highs makes it a bit more punchy and dynamic, at least on initial listen. I prefer the HD650, but if you want something more neutral you'll probably like the HD600. Though I do have to add the disclaimer that my HD600 is the old version with the black cloth screens. I don't know if there's any actual difference between that and the new version with the silver screens, but people say the new version sounds brighter.
I'm gonna build a Bottlehead Crack for these, just as a nice, easy way to get into DIY. The ultimate plan is to build more and more complicated gear and eventually work my way up to building a Stax T2 or equivalent amp for the 007, but for now something simple for the HD650 will suffice.
And yes, they clamp like a person when new, but they'll relent in a few weeks. Don't muscle the headband around, or you'll crack the plastic.
