Sennheiser HD650 Love (Appreciation Thread)

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by purr1n, Sep 27, 2015.

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  1. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    The T3 I heard with mods and Brimar tubes was more lush and full sounding than not. Kinda tubey. The S7 has two variants, with the Mk1 units being bassier. Mk2 stock is pretty damn neutral. Think a non-grainy, more powerful Valhalla 2. Both can be modded and rolled to sound lush but don't have to be inherently.
     
  2. SineDave

    SineDave Friend

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    I bought Brencho's maxed T3, and it's amazing with my 650's. Definitely a synergistic pairing. I'm running with these tubes:

    BRIMAR CV4033 - MINT NOS 1960-62 Military Black Plate Prem. Grade Long Life ECC81/CV4024/12AT7 Halo Getter
     
  3. James Whiting

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  4. James Whiting

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    The Oppo Sonica is pretty amazing! EVS Mods should take it much further! Audiophile Optimiser is ridiculous! Running it with Fidelizer Pro and Process Lasso! The HAD 650's are so much better now! I began to understand the end game comments far better. They are not a weak link in any way.. nor does the Neco V5 seem to be. Resolution and just natural vibrant immediacy to the sound. Huge focused layered space! Any signature or filter recommendations with the optimizer!?
     
  5. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    U OK, hun?
     
  6. James Whiting

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    Nevermind then!
     
  7. Delayeed

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    Just got mine earlier today, listened stock for maybe 2 minutes and knew what to do, so instantly went ahead and reterminated to 4 pin XLR and did the mods I've read about here (I trust you guys haha)


    [​IMG]

    Used some DT770 custom damping kit that I ordered some time ago for the DT770 (Lead weight damping) and I think that made a clear difference in soundstage and tightness (not sure, as I really didn't compare more than few minutes) Then did the Coin mod but actually found it JUST a tad too much HD 600-like so I put some double layer stocking on top of that lmao. Doesn't matter it sounds insanely great.

    I was really happy about the fact that these don't have the same grainy treble as the HD600s have by nature. Even when I took all the foam out the 650s the treble wasn't annoyingly harsh.

    I find this now the perfect companion headphone to my Ether C 1.1 which ACTUALLY doesn't sound that different (don't get me wrong, they do) but I can relax and not be fatigued on both headphones and that is what I've been looking for since forever. Obviously these have that crazy aggressive sound and that midbass but even still both seem to translate very well mix wise due to midrange-highend evenness.

    EDIT: Ended up cutting the thicker foam circles out of the actual foam that is in the box the headphones come in.
    Damn.... Guess I'm a warmfag now.
     
    Last edited: Jun 27, 2017
  8. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    You did your coin mod too large. ;) Should only be open where you can see the driver. Oh well. You can always replace the material or experiment with other front damping anyway.
     
  9. Delayeed

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    I know, I did that first then went crazy with experiementing. Now I'm back with the thicker foam from the included box and proper quarter size mod. Not sure what I like the best yet. Ahh the tweaking is so addicting!
     
  10. BenjaminBore

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    I've had the HD650 for four years, I always thought they were great for the money, but lacked technicals compared to some TOTL priced headphones. But it turns out I had never really heard what the HD650 could do until I put 2017 drivers in them and added DC+EMI/RFI filtering to the Mj2. Holy shit. Speed, layering, texture, air, micro-dynamics, vocals. All very very nice indeed. Even the imaging is good, it was always pretty kludged up before on the L and R.

    I do still crave what they are missing. Overall resolution, clarity, bass performance, and a wider stage. I may have to trial the TH900 with the cups off again, and get ahold of an Elear. EQed to a HD650 like sig.

    Damn, those mids really are gorgeous.
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2017
  11. Stuff Jones

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    I'm an IEM guy but tempted to make the plunge on these given insane plaudits to price ratio. Is it worth getting a balanced cable to pair with the GOV2A? If yes, any affordable recommendations? I saw Surf cables recommended but they're out of stock.
     
  12. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    That ratio would be even higher for the HD600s! These days, possibly even absurdly high: the HD600 barely counts as even modestly expensive now.

    You might want to check out the difference. Open to either, but having heard neither, I plumped for 600s simply on the basis of advice that their tone might suit my taste and hearing better. I've still not tried the 650s, but won't ever regret buying the 600s :)

    :oops::oops::oops: Hope it's ok to mention the 600s on this thread :D
     
  13. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    Well it's only a 30 dollar difference now and the 650's plaudits seem to outstrap that handily, at least on this site. ;)
     
  14. Delayeed

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    Owned 600s for like 2-3 years and loved them a lot at first but over time as I got better gear they just didn't seem to scale as much as I would've hoped. The treble grain and weird fatigue was always there. Tried modding them and couldn't get them to sound right for me. Got the 650s like a week ago and they were instantly noticeably more thick and smooth, now modded they have more 600-like tonality but the midrange is fuller (less V-shaped) and tiny midbass boost which is still way better than a midbass suck out lol.

    I think the HD650 are technically superior headphones: seems to resolve more, smoother treble and just tighter and punchier.
    A steal at under 400 or whatever it is outside EU.
    This is NOT to say 600s aren't fantastic, very good value too and I think it comes down to taste as the two really are in the end very similiar sounding.
     
  15. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Wow. When I was last looking, 600s had fallen through the floor, but 650s, errm, hadn't.

    So money is just not a consideration here then. Free choice! :D
     
  16. mawk

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    Just a follow up to my post a few months ago about making diy memory foam pads. I've finally managed to cobble together a basic measurement rig and had some time this weekend to experiment a little. To cut a long story short, these pads don't really do the frequency response any favours...

    Yellow = stock pads (albeit very well worn), purple = diy pads:

    [​IMG]

    Bass response is not too bad but there's a bit of an upper midrange suckout and an overall reduced treble region. Subjectively it doesn't sound that bad, maybe I'm getting lost in the slightly increased upper bass area.

    So back to the drawing board with pads... Might try to remove some of the foam to make them less stiff and remeasure. Big thanks to @AMW1011 and @cskippy for encouraging me to be skeptical with mods.
     
  17. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Maybe at a future meet we can all bring modded 650s and measure them. I guarantee you mine will not win since I don't like the coin mod. All I did to mine ultimately was get rid of the rear foam and add some dynamat. More bass, not really any additional treble.
     
  18. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Anyone have any suggestions about how to get the foam back in behind the driver? I prodded for a bit to try to get it back in one side cleanly to listen to the differences between a couple of ideas and failed to get it back in there nicely.
     
  19. MLegend

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    Wouldn't you just do the removal process in reverse? Squish the foam with needle nose pliers and drop down into the center hole and then adjust the sides accordingly.
     
  20. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Doesn't seem completely reversible. Stock, the foam covers the entire silver circle. The space under the spider cage piece is simply too thin to compress the foam enough to slip it back under. I think some people's 650s had multiple layers of foam, so maybe that could be reversed, but mine have one piece that's about 8x thicker than the space I should squish it back into.
     

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