Sennheiser HD650 w/budget amp or Stax 2050II for classical?

[Dexon]

I've recently took my HD600s to use it in my office and left with speakers rig at home which can't compete with senns, neither room acoustic is great. I decieded to bring the music back to my head but not sure which way to go. Senns are pretty much safe bet, although I can't forget those immensely beautiful sounds I heard coming from Martin Logan Vantage speakers. It's sound had unique freedom from boxines and lightness of touch unknown to me till then. There was also one very distinguished quality within the sound and I'm not comfortable enough with English to describe it well. I assume US audio journalist would call that microdynamics.

Anyway, will I be able to get a glimpse of that feeling with tha basic stax system? Will Senn HD650 with some of the budget amps offers (LD mkIII, DV336..) do more? Most important that me is that rig sounds good with chamber classical, usualy strings only. Somtimes I listen to big orchestral stuff from Mahler and Bruckner and I konw that dynamic phones should win there but by how much? Will I miss much with Stax in that department?

Also important is that comfort I get with Senns, can easily wear them for 4-5 hours. Can you guys do the same with your Stax? I heard ears could become a bit hot under those square-shaped pads.

Btw, source will be Sony CDP-X20ES and stock Zhoulu 2.5c for next couple of months, at least.

thanx!

 

[MaloS]

Stax 2050II should be able to give you the ultra-detailed/layered sensation and pull out fine textures. Since you have a fairly good source it will give you an absolutely lovely spacious performance with classical. Stax will tend to sound effortless, airy.

HD650 with budget amp: in this amp range HD650 will sound slowish and bloated in the bass (it is not like HD600, it has softer treble and much strong midbass). It is a warm, relaxed sound, which is not necessarily bad at all. But if what you have in mind is similarities to a pair of Martin Logan's, this has nothing to do with it. =)

On the case of Stax comfort: better than Senns (lighter and less clamping force). Ears should not get hot, the whole chamber is vented.


(I heard all of the equipment in question more than sufficiently).

 

[mypasswordis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexon /img/forum/go_quote.gif Mahler and Bruckner and I konw that dynamic phones should win there but by how much? Will I miss much with Stax in that department?

Why do you "know" that dynamic phones should win at large orchestral stuff? I love my Lambdas with large orchestral stuff. I think they do a bit worse with small scale chamber music since they kind of have a permanently large soundstage but they are still better than most if not all dynamics costing much more in terms of detail retrieval, correct tonality, etc, reproducing the sounds of instruments much better.

 

[kool bubba ice]

The AKG501 and the 48s would also suit you well. The 48s will give you tonal balance, neutrality, micro detal, great instrument placement and a great coherent sound stage.. And easily rivaling the 02 for acoustics.. At least to one 02 owners ears.

 

[MaloS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kool bubba ice /img/forum/go_quote.gif The AKG501 and the 48s would also suit you well. The 48s will give you tonal balance, neutrality, micro detal, great instrument placement and a great coherent sound stage.. And easily rivaling the 02 for acoustics.. At least to one 02 owners ears.

That O2 owner's amp sucks. =) The rest of the post is probably true...(unless OP digs HD600 as much as I do, but that is a different story).

 

[Dexon]

48s? Those are beyers out of production, like AKG501s are? I only heard dt880 but like HD600 better. Senn's timbre simply seemed truer. I read before people suggesting 501s for classical but it's hard to find a pair lately.


Quote:

Originally Posted by mypasswordis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Why do you "know" that dynamic phones should win at large orchestral stuff?

Doesn't dynamics phones supposed to be more powerfull at low end, with greater weight and impact? This is certainly a factor with large orchestral works.

How can I order from pricejapan.com? Is there any other supplier for Europe with similiar prices?

 

[MaloS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexon /img/forum/go_quote.gif Doesn't dynamics phones supposed to be more powerfull at low end, with greater weight and impact? This is certainly a factor with large orchestral works. How can I order from pricejapan.com? Is there any other supplier for Europe with similiar prices?

Good E-Stat has plenty of weight in the bottom weight also...although not necessarily the case with most of current production models. Either way, you want good weight/impact, I agree, but it shouldn't be at the cost of clarity in the low end...

Check audiocubes2.com, I believe they also ship to Europe?

 

[mypasswordis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexon /img/forum/go_quote.gif Doesn't dynamics phones supposed to be more powerfull at low end, with greater weight and impact? This is certainly a factor with large orchestral works.

Doesn't help if basses, tubas, contrabassoons, tympani, etc, don't sound like they do in real life and just sound like some low rumbling. Most dynamics can't even extend as low as large driver electrostatics in terms of frequency response. I'm not sure about the SR-202 specifically though.

 

[s1rrah]

Stax.

 

[Dexon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mypasswordis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Doesn't help if basses, tubas, contrabassoons, tympani, etc, don't sound like they do in real life and just sound like some low rumbling.

So true. Can't argue with that.

Thanks for all the info MaloS.

I'll probably go with a 2050 or even 3050 if I decide to live on pretzels next month

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaloS /img/forum/go_quote.gif That O2 owner's amp sucks. =) The rest of the post is probably true...(unless OP digs HD600 as much as I do, but that is a different story).

OK.

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexon /img/forum/go_quote.gif 48s? Those are beyers out of production, like AKG501s are? I only heard dt880 but like HD600 better. Senn's timbre simply seemed truer. I read before people suggesting 501s for classical but it's hard to find a pair lately. Doesn't dynamics phones supposed to be more powerfull at low end, with greater weight and impact? This is certainly a factor with large orchestral works. How can I order from pricejapan.com? Is there any other supplier for Europe with similiar prices?

Only the orignal 48 and 48s are out of production. The DT48a and 48e are readily available. Erik found all his for around 60.00 on ebay or other used selling sites. Your best bet would be ebay Germany. Acix was nice enough to give me the link. If you can get the 200 ohm version, and don't like it, I'd buy them from you. I'm collecting all the different versions and models. I really don't want to spend 313 for a new pair, but will if I have to.

 

[kool bubba ice]

Planar will give you the type of smoothness you can't find in a dynamic. They are never harsh.. Now I understand what natural sounding detail is like. No treble spikes.