[Paganini Alfredo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aimlink /img/forum/go_quote.gif They both use the same chassis with similar external connections and features. However, the difference lies in the electronics. For the Amp electronics, the Desktop Amp uses the Home module while the Ultra Desktop Amp uses the Max module. You can read the details here. For the DAC electronics, the Desktop Amp uses the Home DAC module while the Ultra Desktop uses the Max DAC. You can read more about that here. I had a Micro Amp so I know that the home electronics sound great. The general sonic character is the same but with the Max electronics there's improved detail and dynamics. The HeadRoom amps pair very well with the HD650's.

Well I'm not pretending that I understood everything, even 80%, of what Headroom explained about the ultra being better but I got the jist I believe. Very pleased with the Desktop though, don't think I'll be needing to change my setup for some time. Luckily I had enough money to blow...

Oh yeah, why aren't Headroom's amps mentioned/used around this forum?? Seems like a great product.

 

[Stoney]

I'm a tube lover, not any tubes, but very neutral with just a hint of a tilt in the musicality direction. Still, I was very impressed with HeadRoom's Home Max Balanced (IIRC the name). Balanced SS works great with the HD650s. It was the opposite of a veil, in fact a kind of hyper/enhanced reality. I didn't feel it was exaggerated transients or any artifice but was indeed tapping the potential of the HD650.

I'm not the most experience with them, but I think the Headroom products are perhaps a bit literal sounding whereas some here prefer a bit of editorial interpretation in their amps and phones. For example, at $600, I chose the (then original) Woo Audio WA6, then swapped out a few regulator tubes and found my preference of detail and extension without being harsh or aggressive. Tube rolling is useful like that.

Perhaps Headroom stuff just isn't considered sexy, too corporate? I'm not saying it is true... But it is not flavor of the month, which is what tends to draw people to post. Those who are happy with what they own aren't as vocal as those who are searching and comparing.

 

[aimlink]

I wrote a lot of this in another thread, but thought I'd include it here as well. This is how I currently feel.

I just rebought my HD650's after hastily and regretfully selling them a few months back. I now think they're my favourite cans. True all-rounders and great sounding. They'll not part with me again! What I love about them? ... that laid back sonic signature that makes for a very relaxing and yet, lush sound. Never too harsh in the mids or highs, and yet, clear and articulate. It has good bass that's never overwhelming, but which brings life to all that you throw at it. Really first class, IMO. The interesting thing is the fall in price as the crowds flock to the $1000 and over cans. I got my replacement for $375!!

With all that's said, its sound is not for everyone. Like colours for buildings and homes, the increasingly busy appearance of home design, landscaping, building architecture, car design, and the general abandonment of simplicity, it would seem that mankind in urbanized areas are seeking more and more stimulation. Audio seems to be going in this direction. The HD650 sound brings me back down to earth and reminds of what really matters since you feel right after experiencing them, i.e., rested and refreshed.

 

[Stoney]

I'm playing with the position of the HD650 (brand new) on my ears/head.

Sitting low emphasizes the extremes a bit more, sounds flatter and a bit more distant, a good thing.

Sitting high emphasizes the upper midrange, which I could see some liking depending on equipment and cabling, and expectations; also good for the older, darker version.

Sitting forward tends to make the sound richer; back tends to thin it out.

So, I'm using them sitting forward and low so that they touch the upper rear of my pinnae.

The treble of these new ones is more present, more extended, but not really more defined. These phones always struck me as a bit less sharp and focused in treble, a little hazy rather than sharply defined transients into the highest treble. OTOH, a friend's Beyer was well defined but too sharp, exaggerated, and a bit too tipped up in the treble for me to enjoy. And too sibiliant.

I can see why people get multiple headphones seeking solution to each complaint. In this economy, I look for the right compromise at a price point and stand pat.

 

[Pltinum]

I haven't read alot of post here. Just wanted to jump in and say: I love my hd650's! It just sounds so comforting... It made me want to listen to more music. (just got them yesterday, but I know I'm gonna love them forever!)

 

[donlin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aimlink /img/forum/go_quote.gif I wrote a lot of this in another thread, but thought I'd include it here as well. This is how I currently feel. I just rebought my HD650's after hastily and regretfully selling them a few months back. I now think they're my favourite cans. True all-rounders and great sounding. They'll not part with me again! What I love about them? ... that laid back sonic signature that makes for a very relaxing and yet, lush sound. Never too harsh in the mids or highs, and yet, clear and articulate. It has good bass that's never overwhelming, but which brings life to all that you throw at it. Really first class, IMO. The interesting thing is the fall in price as the crowds flock to the $1000 and over cans. I got my replacement for $375!! With all that's said, its sound is not for everyone. Like colours for buildings and homes, the increasingly busy appearance of home design, landscaping, building architecture, car design, and the general abandonment of simplicity, it would seem that mankind in urbanized areas are seeking more and more stimulation. Audio seems to be going in this direction. The HD650 sound brings me back down to earth and reminds of what really matters since you feel right after experiencing them, i.e., rested and refreshed.

This is an excellent post. I've lived with most of the new 1k+ headphones and while they are each spectacular in certain areas they also each had an aspect that bothered me and I had to make an effort to overlook. While the 650 may not be spectacular it is completely enjoyable and comforting with nothing to have to listen through.

 

[pp312]

Absolutely. I've tried most of the others and found them either too bright or coloured in some way. Just not right, anyway. The 650 is the ideal compromise (and everything is a compromise).

 

[MomijiTMO]

I thought I'd just chime in and say the HD650s are great all rounders. Sure I like my AD2k better but it is different. I like that difference while I'm sure pp312 doesn't

I'm really enjoying the HD800's and T1's impact on pricing. It makes all these mid-fi phones more affordable for me lol.

 

[fenixdown110]

Keep spreading the HD650 love!

 

[Pltinum]

After reading those posts. I know I'm never going to sell them to upgrade... I'll just save some more! Who knows, I might regret it too..

 

[pp312]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MomijiTMO /img/forum/go_quote.gif I thought I'd just chime in and say the HD650s are great all rounders. Sure I like my AD2k better but it is different. I like that difference while I'm sure pp312 doesn't

You're entirely correct in that assumption. Congratulations.

 

[egokun]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aimlink /img/forum/go_quote.gif I wrote a lot of this in another thread, but thought I'd include it here as well. This is how I currently feel. I just rebought my HD650's after hastily and regretfully selling them a few months back. I now think they're my favourite cans. True all-rounders and great sounding. They'll not part with me again! What I love about them? ... that laid back sonic signature that makes for a very relaxing and yet, lush sound. Never too harsh in the mids or highs, and yet, clear and articulate. It has good bass that's never overwhelming, but which brings life to all that you throw at it. Really first class, IMO. The interesting thing is the fall in price as the crowds flock to the $1000 and over cans. I got my replacement for $375!! With all that's said, its sound is not for everyone. Like colours for buildings and homes, the increasingly busy appearance of home design, landscaping, building architecture, car design, and the general abandonment of simplicity, it would seem that mankind in urbanized areas are seeking more and more stimulation. Audio seems to be going in this direction. The HD650 sound brings me back down to earth and reminds of what really matters since you feel right after experiencing them, i.e., rested and refreshed.

Beautiful post. I'm gonna get the HD650 sooner or later, I guess they'll be a nice alternative to my ATH-AD2000 which are also great cans.

 

[Ridleyguy]

I think they are great all-rounders with sound that is not fatiguing after hours of listening. Try doing that with many of the Grados - or even Stax (some older models anyway) for example.

 

[WalkGood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aimlink /img/forum/go_quote.gif I wrote a lot of this in another thread, but thought I'd include it here as well. This is how I currently feel. I just rebought my HD650's after hastily and regretfully selling them a few months back. I now think they're my favourite cans. True all-rounders and great sounding. They'll not part with me again! What I love about them? ... that laid back sonic signature that makes for a very relaxing and yet, lush sound. Never too harsh in the mids or highs, and yet, clear and articulate. It has good bass that's never overwhelming, but which brings life to all that you throw at it. Really first class, IMO. The interesting thing is the fall in price as the crowds flock to the $1000 and over cans. I got my replacement for $375!! With all that's said, its sound is not for everyone. Like colours for buildings and homes, the increasingly busy appearance of home design, landscaping, building architecture, car design, and the general abandonment of simplicity, it would seem that mankind in urbanized areas are seeking more and more stimulation. Audio seems to be going in this direction. The HD650 sound brings me back down to earth and reminds of what really matters since you feel right after experiencing them, i.e., rested and refreshed.

I’m surprised you ever sold them, mine will be with me till either they die or I and I'm unable to get parts to fix them. Congrats on your repurchase and I a agree with your thoughts, I couldn’t have worded it better, other than adding hours and hours of unabridged comfort

 

[aimlink]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalkGood /img/forum/go_quote.gif I’m surprised you ever sold them, mine will be with me till either they die or I and I'm unable to get parts to fix them. Congrats on your repurchase and I a agree with your thoughts, I couldn’t have worded it better, other than adding hours and hours of unabridged comfort

The HD650's were my first step into really great sound.

This is what followed:
AH-D5000 -> SR325is -> RS2i -> Edition 8.

When I got the Edition 8, I thought I had made a breakthrough. I sold the AH-D5000 and my HD650's. At the time, I didn't really appreciate the HD650's for what they had to offer. I thought I could do without them since I was pretty well taken up with the different enhancements in sound balance these various cans provided. I enjoyed the Ed8 as my only pair of cans at home, for several months. The SR325is were off for a Magnum upgrade and this took a lot longer than expected. It turns out that those 3-4 months were important. I began to realize that my RS2i's that I used at work, were really just as enjoyable as the Ed8's, only different. The Ed8 had more clarity in some areas, and a different tonal balance but that was about it.

It was then that I got interested in the so-called mid-fi offerings again. Before I got my Magnums back, I got myself an ALO K702. I've liked them a lot and with them, discovered even more the sort of sound I really like. It was then that I began realizing my mistake in selling the HD650's. I was now surrounded by a set of cans that did something or another too much, and in the process, prevented them from being all-rounders and hence, fatiguing if you took them out of their specialised zone of listening comfort.

I then got my Symphones Magnums back and after a couple months with them, I was underwhelmed. To my ears, they are so close to the RS2i's (just a bit brighter in the high end), and yet, I'm being told that there's little between the Magnums and the HD800's. I was actually advised by an owner of both the Magnums and HD800's to perhaps improve on my amp'ing rather than get an HD800 since I was finding the Magnums to be that similar to the RS2i's. I needed a more resolving amp. This may be true, but I actually saw it differently. I thought I was beginning to hear through it all. I'd prefer to call it sonic liberation, though it's not quite over yet since you're rarely convinced in one fell swoop.

I ordered an RS1i from Moon-Audio and am waiting for it. It was during this waiting period that I saw the HD650's for a price I couldn't pass up and here we are. I'm actually contemplating canceling the RS1i order as I had done with the T1's earlier this year but may well take them anyway. It may well turn out to prevent further purchases for the foreseeable future. Like the K702's, they are another can that has quite a following and I wish to see what the fuss is about.