Sennheiser HD650 & Massdrop HD6XX Impressions Thread

[Plieb]

Oh dont worry protoss got that cover...
I have my HD6XX with a custom cable with a dual 3-pin xlr cables on my beautiful gxx-mk2.



Not sure why he wants to expose the summit-fi cult (all of them are amateurs) to explain that a 22 year old headphone is actually top-tier and can scale.
The headfi police will be after him now because the Karen's over at summit-fi will report for emotional damage.


Yes, both or like 10 of them, lol, i found a few sounding different. And yes, it could be the pads, the wires and the degraded internal wiring that could of made it sound good or bad. But my HD650 sounds just a tab and more better than my HD6xx. As of being more cleaner, less dark and muffle vs the hd6xx.
overall 90-98%+ the same.

Yeah my 6xx with new pads and same cable as 650 does sound a bit darker a bit less seperation with bass a little less detailed.
However possibly being caused by unit variances.
Actually maybe an unfair comparison because the pads on the 6xx are new but an older version vs the 650.

 

[jonathan c]

.... but are you seriously telling me that with $2000 you’d get better sound if you spent $300 on a 6xx and $1700 on a source, and not the other way round?

.... actually, I've gone much further:

... ...

 

[Charade19]

This seems to be a perennial debate, with some contending that they are the same headphone (or at least, the same driver), just one rebranded by Massdrop. I realize it's never that simple (e.g. baffle materials may change), but for those who have heard both, how would you characterize the differences?

With new pads on both, the HD650 sounded less detailed and less crispy, but had this nice warmer relaxed sound. The 6xx to me sounded nicer. I gave the HD 650 to my brother since at that time I preferred the 6xx and 600 more. It could have been a unit variance, but I heard a difference. It could have all been imaginary. I am tempted to get another 650 and see what wonders it can generate with the Elise ii.

 

[jonathan c]

.... test by using the very same earpads on 650 and 6XX .... ? Check for differences between 650 and 6XX in the earside foams .... ?

 

[Plieb]

With new pads on both, the HD650 sounded less detailed and less crispy, but had this nice warmer relaxed sound. The 6xx to me sounded nicer. I gave the HD 650 to my brother since at that time I preferred the 6xx and 600 more. It could have been a unit variance, but I heard a difference. It could have all been imaginary. I am tempted to get another 650 and see what wonders it can generate with the Elise ii.

Funny had the opposite experience as i stated. I think the latest version of the 600 series pads are definitely brighter than the older "softer" version that was used a few years back.

 

[WILLJS]

Nice try. If you were joking, you would have let it go after your first post, as most people do with jokes.

I would have done if i hadn’t been slandered a bunch of times.

I’d think you’d have been grown up enough to let it go

 

[Digital Enigma]

Just so people know there are two different stock pads, the most current revision has a slight inward bevel/slope and the foam is meant to last a bit longer.

Ill let @ericpalonen explain properly if he has the time

 

[Charade19]

.... test by using the very same earpads on 650 and 6XX .... ? Check for differences between 650 and 6XX in the earside foams .... ?

I didn't go that far..should have done that. Didn't cross my mind.

 

[jonathan c]

yeah i would have if i hadn’t been slandered a bunch of times.

... slander requires falsehood ... delivery of opinions does not meet that criterion ...

 

[Digital Enigma]

I would have done if i hadn’t been slandered a bunch of times.

I’d think you’d have been grown up enough to let it go

Did you expect everyone to agree with you? dont be a drama queen.

 

[WILLJS]

... slander requires falsehood ... delivery of opinions does not meet that criterion ...

i’m delivering my opinion that a group of adults should be grown up enough to leave this be

 

[karloil]

i’m delivering my opinion that a group of adults should be grown up enough to leave this be

But not everyone shares your insights (you would have obviously felt that by now). Yes, you're entitled to your opinion and have aired it in a thread that's focused on die hard 600/650/6XX fans. I'm looking at this wearing your shoes - maybe there's a defect with your 6XX unit? Maybe you haven't tried if with other "better" amps? Or maybe you just really don't like it? Maybe you're still used to the SQ of your other cans (saw that you still have an ATH-M50) I get it. And I will expect to be pushed around a bunch of times - specially in this thread.

Now looking at this on the other side of the fence. We are also entitled to our opinion. There's a reason why the 600/650 stood the test of time. I love my 600/650s. I have 2 650s (one original, one modded), 1 600 and another 600 on the way (to be modded) - I just pair it with a cheapo tube amp (TA-26) and or a K17 being my most pricey device. Sounds good to me on both (scratch that, sounds better on the TA-26!). Btw, your rant post doesn't look like it's a joke - it was pure screaming rant at 1st glance. You are bound to get spicy comments back.

Just commenting, not attacking you. Just stating facts.

 

[WILLJS]

I gave my m50x away last month to a friend, my cheapest headphones now are - the HD6xx. sure they sound good, but I just can not understand for the life of me where the fanbase comes from. the only thing they ever did that is of note (in my opinion) is to be not good or bad in every category, OK across the board. most headphones have low points, these don’t, they just don’t have a high point to their name. I would just rather listen to any of my other headphones, excluding the momentums, in 9/10 scenarios.

I do not have lots of expensive headphones, but out of the 6 pairs of headphones I own that are even worth a mention, I would pick the 6xx second last, even after the HE400

 

[karloil]

I gave my m50x away last month to a friend, my cheapest headphones now are - the HD6xx. sure they sound good, but I just can not understand for the life of me where the fanbase comes from. the only thing they ever did that is of note (in my opinion) is to be not good or bad in every category, OK across the board. most headphones have low points, these don’t, they just don’t have a high point to their name. I would just rather listen to any of my other headphones, excluding the momentums, in 9/10 scenarios.

I do not have lots of expensive headphones, but out of the 6 pairs of headphones I own that are even worth a mention, I would pick the 6xx second last, even after the HE400

Sure, I get you. Maybe it isn't really just your cup of tea. I get you. As mentioned, maybe there's an issue with your unit? Maybe you haven't tried driving it with another amp (perhaps)? Maybe your amp isn't a good pairing with your 6XX? (Saw you have a Topping something 70) Maybe the genre that you're listening to just doesn't jive well with your 6XX? Maybe the 6XX isn't just driven well? Did you get it 2nd hand? (Maybe the pads are already worn down?)

But yeah, honestly - you will still get pushed around in this thread (In this whole website with your comment)!

TBC - Not on your side (just trying to see your point), I'm on the other side of the fence. I love my 600/650.

 

[jonathan c]

I gave my m50x away last month to a friend, my cheapest headphones now are - the HD6xx. sure they sound good, but I just cannot understand for the life of me where the fanbase comes from. The only thing they ever did that is of note (in my opinion) was to be not good or bad in every category, OK across the board.

• "Where the fanbase comes from" is from individuals all with differences in hearing, in sonic perception, in sonic preference collectively discovering some overlap.

• That a fanbase for 6XX, or for any headphone, exists is not to be understood but to be acknowledged.

EDIT: If a 6XX fanbase is a mystery to you, what does that make a "Grado Fan Club!" member?