[moriez]

 
WTH? Must be a mistake.

 

[o0CosmoMemory0o]

By the way, I have four HD560 Ovation II headphones in excellent condition that need new homes. If anyone would like any further information about them, just send me a personal message and I will get back to you.

 

[o0CosmoMemory0o]

I will shortly have an AKG K1000 and HD800 to compare alongside my HD540 I/II and HD560II (which remain unsold). This is going to be interesting. There will be photos, written impressions and more Youtube videos to come.

 

[moriez]

  Somewhat confused at why rocksteady65 has been banned. This thread and its members are beginning to out-stay their welcome?? O_o

 
About that, let me summarize that he apparently was in disagreement with a moderator about a thing or two. Too bad that a checkbox ticked means someone can no longer be part of the community. If you're reading this Leonel, you are missed
 
 

I will shortly have an AKG K1000 and HD800 to compare alongside my HD540 I/II and HD560II (which remain unsold). This is going to be interesting. There will be photos, written impressions and more Youtube videos to come.

 
Very interesting. You know I will be watching this space. Hopefully you can pull off sincere objectivity given how much you love the 540's.

 

[o0CosmoMemory0o]

I intend for the AKG K1000 to be my alternative to speakers. The physical design alone suggests to me that they will outclass both HD800 and HD540. I predict that HD800 and HD540 will have greater bass extension at the very bottom because their enclosures and earpads allow them to achieve this. HD800 will likely extend slightly lower than HD540 because the diaphragm size of the driver is much larger. HD540 may sound more analogue with vinyl though; I'll have to try it. K1000 is the only one that will offer the interaural crosstalk required for true binaural perception of standard stereo recordings. Stereo image size of HD800 will be a bit bigger than my HD540 but whether this is naturally so, I will need time to assess.
 
I don't like to lie to myself so my fondness of the HD540 will not bias my listening results. I care about the music, not the equipment. I shall be outlining strengths and weaknesses of each transducer.

 

[daltonlanny]

So far, very impressed after doing a lot of pad and driver cover rolling on my 540's.
Except for bass impact,, and being harder to drive, the HD 540's surpass my HD600 in most every area...timbre, clarity, detail, imaging.
The 600's sound somewhat harsh, forward, on some songs, and too mid/upper bassy, after getting used to the 540's.
The peaked bass can make them also sound somewhat muddy, congested, compared to the 540's.The 540's definitely seem to have more extension in the top octave too.
I also find them more comfortable and lighter than the 600's as well.
Very impressed and shocked!

 

[o0CosmoMemory0o]

Yes, HD600 has upper bass emphasis that just helps to congest the presentation. HD800 is currently beating my HD540II with digital audio. It isn't as comfy as HD540II but bass weight and scale of the presentation are improved and more realistic. I attribute this to larger diaphragm size, not to angled drivers or non-resonant enclosure materials.

K1000 is here and I will try them out in a little while.

 

[daltonlanny]

Is there anything the 540 II does as well or better than the 800, or is the 800 superior in all areas, sonically?
I sold my 650's with upgrade Equinox cable, cause I felt overall the 540's sounded sonically superior in most areas, and the 650's weren't getting much attention anynore after I bought the 540's. Lol

 

[o0CosmoMemory0o]

HD650 is not a high-fidelity device; the drivers have a poorly calibrated frequency response. HD800 has larger drivers than HD540 so it moves more air, which gives it a more powerful bass impact. I do not yet like my HD800 more than my HD540II though; not as musical. HD800 needs more use before I can evaluate it confidently.

 

[pkshan]

  HD650 is not a high-fidelity device; the drivers have a poorly calibrated frequency response. HD800 has larger drivers than HD540 so it moves more air, which gives it a more powerful bass impact. I do not yet like my HD800 more than my HD540II though; not as musical. HD800 needs more use before I can evaluate it confidently.

 
get a HD540I or HD540 gold

 

[vid]

  HD650 is not a high-fidelity device; the drivers have a poorly calibrated frequency response.

 
The lines are blurred, since you can calibrate the response without ever changing the headphones. That is, is high-fidelity an innate property of headphones or more an attribute in the interface between the headphone and the listener?

 

[daltonlanny]

I still think it is amazing that  20+ year old vintage Sennheiser headphones can still hold their own against the current Sennheiser flagship, and equal and/or surpass the HD 6xx series.

 

[o0CosmoMemory0o]

My HD800 currently has less clarity than my HD540II. I guess it still has a lot of "burn-in" left to go...

 

[daltonlanny]

Has anyone ever compared the Sennheiser HD 540 Reference I or Reference II to the old AKG K340 2-way, electrostatic/dynamic headphone?
If so, how did they compare sonically?
What about the old Beyerdynamic DT 880 S, with the plastic earcups and plastic grilles?
They were all being manufactured at about the same time.Anyway, the clarity and resolution of both of my HD 540's is amazing.
I am on the top of the HIFIMAN HE-560 US tour list, and will be receiving a new pair to audition for two weeks.
Can't wait to compare the HD 540's to the HE-560!

 

[vid]

  Has anyone ever compared the Sennheiser HD 540 Reference I or Reference II to the old AKG K340 2-way, electrostatic/dynamic headphone?
If so, how did they compare sonically?
What about the old Beyerdynamic DT 880 S, with the plastic earcups and plastic grilles?

 
I compared the DT 990 from the same era as the DT 880 S to the HD 530. They're about equal but different-sounding, so get the DT as well.
 
I owned the K 340 but didn't compare it the against the HD 530. I think it's safe to extrapolate, though, and to the HD 540 as well, and say that the K 340 have better treble but poorer resolution.