[VALIENTE]

If I will try to hear the sound of Sennheisers, which of these two models should I get, HD600 or HD650?

Which of these two is the best money can buy at this time?

Some of you guys prefer the HD600 and others prefer H650.

Consider that HD600 has a lower price than an HD650.

Is there a great gap between the sound quality of an HD600 and HD650?

Kindly inform me headfiers.

Note: Please don't consider my present setup below.

 

[hentai]

Neither as both won't sound good with your setup. If you intend to upgrade your source and amp, I will recommend a recabled hd600.

 

[koven]

HD650 sounds a bit darker w/ more bass. But they are more similar than different.

 

[oqvist]

From my HD 650 experience I suspect the HD 600 is quite a bit better balanced

.

But German Maestro 435S may be the best option for you. They are in many ways what I expected from the 650. Now I find it synergizing amazingly with my goldpoint headphone Pro but yes I suspect it´s just the synergy since they are quite efficient surely. They sound great straight unamped as well.

 

[estreeter]

Hentai is right - either upgrade your source/amp or consider one of the other Grado models. Even a portable DAC/amp like the iBasso D10 will give you better results out of the Grados than you can expect from harder to drive cans like the Senns. I agree that the HD600 are tempting, but the cans would be worse than useless without the right amp under them.

 

[Marco2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by koven /img/forum/go_quote.gif HD650 sounds a bit darker w/ more bass. But they are more similar than different.

I agree, and to add to that, to my ears the 650's are more refined.

 

[plonter]

I have the HD650 for about 5 monthes now..and I find them very balanced.
If I had any less bass, it would be bass anemic IMO,In fact,I thought that they would be much more bass heavy from all the reviews.
so I am glad that i didn't got the HD600 instead (I almost did), well...I am a basshead alright. but the overall sound is very good,accurate but still fun. the mids are a bit too farward for my taste, but that's gonna change with my coming earmax pro

they do need a good amp to drive them, they are very power hungry.

 

[hentai]

I went for a 'headphone audition' trip this afternoon and listened to some headphones on different setups. At the end of the trip , I have gained more appreciation for my hd600 setup.

HD800 out of marantz cd6003 headphone output- This is the 1st time I get to hear the hd800 but unfortunately its not an ideal setup. It sounds bright, lean, slightly harsh and spacious. I believe hd800 requires a much better source and amp for it. Mids are good.

D7000 out of naim cd/headphone amp combo- very harsh. Probably the headphone has not been burned in or bad synergy. Hd800 out of the much cheaper marantz cd player sounds much better.

Mspro out of denon cd player and corda amp- freakingly bright, totally unbearable

Koss ESP950 on sherwood cd player -Smooth, not harsh at all , nice vocals but not as impactful as other headphones i tried. I like it the most but it may not be nessary to have them.

Music- my favourite jpop group

Jpop normally sound bright but thats what i listen to all the time

These are my impressions from listening to these headphones on these not ideal settings ( fans of these cans , kindly disregard the comments). Besides hd600/hd650, you can also consider the koss esp950.

 

[tdogzthmn]

I have owned the HD580, HD600, and HD650 and of those I kept the HD600 because it offered the cleanest uncolored sound of the bunch. Also I have listened to all those cans both straight from my computer and amped and was never disappointed. As you get a nicer amp of upgraded source the music will only sound better.

 

[chinesekiwi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdogzthmn /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have owned the HD580, HD600, and HD650 and of those I kept the HD600 because it offered the cleanest uncolored sound of the bunch. Also I have listened to all those cans both straight from my computer and amped and was never disappointed. As you get a nicer amp of upgraded source the music will only sound better.

This tbh. HD600 > HD650. That said though, I prefer the DT880 > HD600 but however I would say that the DT880 (doesn't matter what version) is 'harder to drive' in terms of amplification. The best of the DT880's is definitely the DT880 600 ohm tbh and tbh, contrary to what the ohmage suggests, it 'drives the same' as the 250ohm but probably has more potential sound wise with a good amp.

Funnily enough, I feel the HD600 also has less amp synergy issues than the HD650 e.g. I did try out both the HD600 and HD650 with a decent Lehmann amp and the HD650 had the 'Sennheiser veil' whilst the HD600 didn't at all, which was interesting.

 

[john11f]

i'm about to plunge myself into getting a dt880 myself (going to jaben tomorrow) but i'm still thinking if the hd650 is better for my benchmark dac1 pre/iMac setup. i guess in the end, you got to audition them yourself. goodluck!

 

[paaj]

value wise, the HD600 is best because they are very close.
sound wise, only you can tell

 

[Seamaster]

It all come to music tast in the end.

 

[beez]

i've owned both in an attempt to find a complement to my rs1i and i traded my hd600 for a stax 005a rig which i liked more. i then traded my stax rig for an hd650 and i think i like the hd650 more. it's definitely a keeper for me. the hd600 was way too similar but not really better at anything than my rs1i. that being said it was a great headphone and i don't think you'd be disappointed with either.

 

[John Willett]

I have found that about as many people prefer the HD 650 over the 600 than prefer the 600 over the 650.

I would not like to say one is "better" than the other.

It's really a matter of listening to both for yourself and choose the one that suits you best.

I have both.