pietcux
Headphoneus Supremus
Lonely Shepherd, I appreciate your comments.
First, a word about my ATC's. I have in fact owned them since 1994 at which time they cost a fraction of what they do now. They weren't the SL version then, but I've had them upgraded to the latest spec. The only reason I mentioned them was because I wanted to make it clear that I knew what a good transducer should sound like. You're going to point out that a headphone and a speaker don't sound anything alike and you'd be right, but as far as is possible they should. It's the reason why, for instance, some headphone manufacturers have introduced headphones with angled drivers - to help give something of the soundstage which is available with speakers. My point was that I was comparing the HD 650 with a very familiar high quality sound source, so that my specific questions, for example about detail on the HD 660 S, were not asked without any comparative reference.
Second, let me take the opportunity to apologise to Sigmaaa, yourself, and anyone else who may have found any of my comments about the HD 660 S overly negative. I concede that my last comment about the price drop, whilst genuinely said in jest, could have caused offence. None was meant, and I'm sorry if any was taken.
It was in fact my intention to leave this thread, having made an informed decision not to buy the HD 660 S, several pages ago, but I came back to respond to Sigmaaa's post about pads where he was clearly, in my view, trying to discredit a certain reviewer. I have to say, in my defence, that if I've been guilty of any negativity in this thread then I'm not the only one.
I will also tell you that more recently I have been having a PM discussion with another member who is on this thread (whom I won't name, of course) because I wanted to continue the discussion about the sound differences between the HD 650 and HD 660 S. I contacted him saying that I no longer felt comfortable with asking questions on the forum because of the negative reaction that I was receiving from some members who owned the HD 660 S. I said I thought that they were taking anything I questioned as criticism of the HD 660 S which they also seemed to be taking personally. This member totally agreed with me and understood why I didn't want to continue the discussion on the forum. Furthermore he told me that at the beginning the thread hadn't been like that but more recently had become so, and that he himself had 'held back' from giving his thoughts on the HD 660 S for the same reasons.
I have absolutely no wish to ruin this thread or sour relationships here. I came here to have a good and informative discussion and I'd like to thank those members who have kindly interacted with me. I also want to add that I hope that those of you who like the HD 660 S continue to enjoy it and that it's a success for Sennheiser, even if I'm sure that it's not for me. If I get to hear it and I change my mind I will come back and say so. Perhaps some of you will hope that doesn't happen!
Mike, I am with you on the freedom of speech. That's a fantastic British achievement. And yes it is hard for people with a deviating opinion. But it is as I said an achievement that I defend. Looking around the globe it needs to be defended.
