[fuzzybaffy]

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Just got my HD650 and breaking them in. I am noticing a slight crackle or distortion on the very high frequencies.  Is this normal? It appears like a slight crackle in both earcups. I am using a Woo Audio WA6 and a V-DAC II.

 
It could be the fabric in your earpads moving, as the headphone shifts around your head. Funny as it seems, that's what happens with me. I sometimes notice a slight crackle on my left side, but I realized it was just the sound of the velcro/fabric of the earpads moving, while the headphone slides around and/or adjusts position around the head. 

 

[Draygonn]

Just got my HD650 and breaking them in. I am noticing a slight crackle or distortion on the very high frequencies.  Is this normal? It appears like a slight crackle in both earcups. I am using a Woo Audio WA6 and a V-DAC II.

Sounds like a tube issue. Are the tubes completely warmed up? Have you tried different tubes?

 

[teknikk7]

I actually just got my WA6, I let it burn in over night.  

 

[maarek99]

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You could be feeling placebo. Before anyone tells me I may not have the right source for my 650s... I'm using Lehmann BCL with a seperate DAC. The BCL is known to be designed for sennheisers and especially the 650s.

 
I didn't like the BCL with the HD650. Too veiled and slow. There are better and cheaper amps that synergize better. Offcourse it depends on the dac too.

 

[serious7]

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I didn't like the BCL with the HD650. Too veiled and slow. There are better and cheaper amps that synergize better. Offcourse it depends on the dac too.

I don't know what you meant by too veiled and slow. Sennheiser uses the BCL to show case their HD800's and 650s in conventions. Did you own the BCL with DAC built in?

 

[longbowbbs]

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What amps do you guys like for the 600/650? Both tube and solid state.

Decware CSP2+ with a little tube rolling....

 

[swmtnbiker]

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What amps do you guys like for the 600/650? Both tube and solid state.

 
For me the Bottlehead Crack + Speedball is the sh!t paired with the HD650, beating out the ALO Pan Am and Schiit Lyr handily. I also feel the Crack is better than the Burson Soloist for this headphone, but if you must have SS then the Soloist is a wonderful choice.

 

[imackler]

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For me the Bottlehead Crack + Speedball is the sh!t paired with the HD650, beating out the ALO Pan Am and Schiit Lyr handily. I also feel the Crack is better than the Burson Soloist for this headphone, but if you must have SS then the Soloist is a wonderful choice.

 
I love that how often Bottlehead gets recommended. Sometimes I worry on review sites that the sponsors all get great reviews. No one gets a kickback from praising a DIY project...unless, of course, you count the buy-in from doing a DIY. That being said, I hate often Bottlehead gets recommended: I have noooo confidence in my DIY skills. You should see what my entertainment center looks like... 

 

[seacard]

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For me the Bottlehead Crack + Speedball is the sh!t paired with the HD650, beating out the ALO Pan Am and Schiit Lyr handily. I also feel the Crack is better than the Burson Soloist for this headphone, but if you must have SS then the Soloist is a wonderful choice.

I spent most of the evening swapping out the HD650 and the HD800 with the Crack + Speedball. I paid over $1000 more for the HD800. I am not sure which one I like better. In fact, over the last week, the HD800 has spent a lot more time on the shelf than the HD650.

 

[imackler]

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I spent most of the evening swapping out the HD650 and the HD800 with the Crack + Speedball. I paid over $1000 more for the HD800. I am not sure which one I like better. In fact, over the last week, the HD800 has spent a lot more time on the shelf than the HD650.

Stop teasing! I may just have to try the Bottlhead! 

 

[swmtnbiker]

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I spent most of the evening swapping out the HD650 and the HD800 with the Crack + Speedball. I paid over $1000 more for the HD800. I am not sure which one I like better. In fact, over the last week, the HD800 has spent a lot more time on the shelf than the HD650.

 
I'd love to give the HD800 a spin sometime, but it's waaaay out of my price range and I'm afraid that I may actually *like* it. Think I'll stick with my $324 HD650 for now...

 

[seacard]

I think the HD800 is undoubtedly the "better" headphone. Very open sounding, great extension, incredible clarity. But it's lacking in musicality and timbre; I wish I knew what it was about some headphones (Grado HP1000 is the best example) that gave them that natural tone. The HD650 is excellent in that regard.

 

[Loquah]

I don't want to head off topic, but do any Crack owners here know what would cause a 50Hz hum (I think) to creep in after an hour or so of listening?
 
I've asked on the Bottlehead forums, but haven't had much luck. If you have any ideas, I'd love a PM with suggestions! 

 

[calipilot227]

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Sounds like a tube issue. Are the tubes completely warmed up? Have you tried different tubes?

 
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I actually just got my WA6, I let it burn in over night.  

 
I had this happen with my HD580's when I first got my Little Dot MKIII. Once the tubes settled in after about a week, it was gone. It only came back if I moved the amp before the tubes were fully warmed up.

 

[calipilot227]

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I don't want to head off topic, but do any Crack owners here know what would cause a 50Hz hum (I think) to creep in after an hour or so of listening?
 
I've asked on the Bottlehead forums, but haven't had much luck. If you have any ideas, I'd love a PM with suggestions! 

 
Line noise maybe. Might be time to invest in a power conditioner. I know I probably need one; my apartment building was constructed in 1963, and the neighborhood power infrastructure is questionable (just had a transformer blow up on our street a few weeks ago). I get hum mostly through my phonostage, but I definitely hear it a little from my receiver as well.
 
Edit: On second thought, if it comes in slowly, it might also be your tubes.