[olor1n]

 

Regarding the 650/Crack combo vs SummitFi.. I'd absolutely put it in that category.

No

I'd prefer the Crack/HD650 over an HD800 that's paired with most $500-$700 amps (outside of the Crack)

M-Stage $280

 
Schiit Vali $119.

 

[MattTCG]

The Vali is a good amp and pretty good with the 650. But it doesn't take the wrinkles out of my pants like the Crack does. It is fantastic at the price offered and even works well with some planars...lcd2, he400/500 and MD/AD. 

 

[pdrm360]

IMO, comparing the HD650 with the HD800 is not fair for both cans. 

 

[JacobLee89]

M-Stage $280

 
From what I've read, people have mixed preferences between the O2 and M-Stage.
 
Therefore I should just stop the idea of getting the BH C and just save up for a HD800 with my O2 + ODAC and join the summit-fi gang?
 
*Sarcasm is not intended regardless of how you read it*

 

[MattTCG]

^^ Do you have the 650 now?

 

[olor1n]

  The Vali is a good amp and pretty good with the 650. But it doesn't take the wrinkles out of my pants like the Crack does. It is fantastic at the price offered and even works well with some planars...lcd2, he400/500 and MD/AD. 

 
Wasn't talking about the HD650.
 
If the differential in price isn't a limiting factor - I can't fathom anyone taking the HD650 with any rig, over the HD800 driven by the Vali from a decent source.

 

[JacobLee89]

  ^^ Do you have the 650 now?

I most certainly do. I thought my constant queries about the humble crack was hint enough 

or was that question directed at someone other than myself?

 

[Maxvla]

@Jacob

O2 stack with HD800 is not bad at all, but I found it lacking in dynamic contrast. Everything else was fine.

I've heard the Crack twice. The first was with the HD650 on Bottlehead's tape rig at RMAF and I didn't like it at all. The second time was a few weeks ago using HD650, DT990 and HE-500. I preferred and enjoyed the DT990. The HD650 was a distant 2nd and the HE-500 is not a good match with the Crack. I find the Crack to be a middling amp.

I've compared the HD600 and HD650 many times over the years, but always came away preferring the HD600. About 5 years ago my main rig was a Little Dot MKVI balanced with DACMagic and HD600. I preferred it over setups much more expensive and have never truly settled on a full size headphone I would own until the HD800 after going through an IEM-only phase and brief flirt with stats (O2 MK1).

 

[MattTCG]

The problem is that price is a limiting factor for all of us...at least most all.  Although if I had Vali and a good source and could choose between the 650/800 and price was no object then I'd take the 800. 

 
Now if I had the crack and had to choose between the 650 and 800. 

 

[pdrm360]

  The problem is that price is a limiting factor for all of us...at least most all.  Although if I had Vali and a good source and could choose between the 650/800 and price was no object then I'd take the 800. 

 
Now if I had the crack and had to choose between the 650 and 800. 

 
You just need to choose both of them. 

 

 

[olor1n]

Ok -
 
Über Bifrost (non usb) + Crack w/ SB + HD650 = ~$1200 used. Could vary based on build and tube compliment.
UB (non usb) + Vali + HD800 = ~$1400 used. You could do better if a bargain HD800 is nabbed (not uncommon)
 
So a $200 differential at most? Hardly insurmountable.

 

[scolaiw]

   
You just need to choose both of them. 

 

At least that's what I did. 

 

[yonitaun]

So, I finally got around to building the crack I bought during the Bottlehead free speedball sale last year.  Had to see what all the fuss is about.
 
I have to say, I'm thoroughly impressed.  I don't have any experience w/ any of the other phones in Sennheisers line up, but you can count me 'on board' the 650/crack train.
 
An incredibly beautiful sounding combo.
 

 

[PTom]

@Jacob

O2 stack with HD800 is not bad at all, but I found it lacking in dynamic contrast. Everything else was fine.

I've heard the Crack twice. The first was with the HD650 on Bottlehead's tape rig at RMAF and I didn't like it at all. The second time was a few weeks ago using HD650, DT990 and HE-500. I preferred and enjoyed the DT990. The HD650 was a distant 2nd and the HE-500 is not a good match with the Crack. I find the Crack to be a middling amp.

I've compared the HD600 and HD650 many times over the years, but always came away preferring the HD600. About 5 years ago my main rig was a Little Dot MKVI balanced with DACMagic and HD600. I preferred it over setups much more expensive and have never truly settled on a full size headphone I would own until the HD800 after going through an IEM-only phase and brief flirt with stats (O2 MK1).

Wow, I think this is the first negative comment I've read about the HD 650/crack combo!

 

[SP Wild]

  IMO, comparing the HD650 with the HD800 is not fair for both cans. 

 
I agree.
 
The HD650 presets the music as the producers wants you to hear it.  The HD800 is ideal for someone that wants to listen to and exaggerate the difference in to their gears, studio use for tracking errors in the treble, perhaps classical listeners and people that enjoy a colored sound that likes their soundscape "enhanced" by adding treble to the entire soundscape.
 
The HD650 for everything else, and if one wants to hear more details whilst listening to their music akin to how the producer wants it to sound and sacrifice just little tune purity I recommend the T1.