HD600

Oh got it I thought purrin was saying that both the HD600 and HD650s were moded. So then only the 650s were?

 

I picked up the HD600 during the recent Amazon sale and am very impressed. They're a noticeable step up from my K7XX in almost all respects: more transparent, more resolving, more even tonally. (The K7XX edge them only in bass texture & extension, soundstage and, most notably, comfort.) I had been avoiding the HD6X0 based on reading too many comments describing them as "laid back", "relaxing", and the like. I'm glad I went ahead anyway, as those aren't the terms I'd use to to describe the HD600 at all. Instead they're engaging and demand my attention when listening, and do very little wrong to distract me from the music.

One niggle, however, is that hard panned instruments sound like they're coming from over my shoulder, behind me. It's not a problem with most recordings, thankfully, but I haven't experienced this with other headphones before. Anyone else experiencing something similar?

 

I believe you are hearing things that way. I have been startled or tried to turn around and look at things in recordings that sounded like they were behind me (and in an unusual spot so I didn't think it was in my music).

The placement & forwardness/closeness/concentration of the headstage can vary based on the gear chain too.

That's one reason that many of us love the HD6X0 on a proper tube amp: the raising of the headstage, increasing width/depth, moving the stage in front/out from the head, and adding more of an "openness" of presentation is a real treat.
(That might even throw the sound further behind you at times, but wanted to let you know someone else has experienced it + gear chains can affect the overall stage.)
Example: PS Audio PWD > Black Widow > HD6X0 presentation is quite noticeably different than MB Bifrost > Zana Deux > HD6X0.

 

I'm super thankful I had the inclination to spray-paint my used HD580's quickly after buying them. Like most people entering this hobby, it's a constant game of buying, loving, then selling for the search of an upgrade. Having ratchet looking yellow HD580's (avatar) kept me from being able to sell them, and I couldn't be happier. I got to enjoy the headphone ride with a consistent set of great reference headphones.

I eventually picked up a second pair of HD580's, slapped on some HD600 grills, and a custom 3D printed black headband (creating a sexy full-black headphone, thanks to the HD580 black gimbals). I also braided a bright red DIY cable for them; this headphone sounds amazing and looks amazing doing it.

As far as equipment goes, I've been pairing these with a Valhalla or Valhalla 2 with my Uberfrost for the past year or so. The Valhalla was great: syrupy, smooth, and expansive. The Valhalla 2 cleans up the syrup for the sake of more resolution, but equally expansive. I would take either Valhalla over my friend's Crack+Speedball. The Crack is great though. It's very punchy and warm, but it doesn't sound noticeably different than my Project Ember. Seriously. And Ember gives me a bunch of tube options. Still though, the instrument separation on the Valhallas is unmatched by Ember or Crack, IMO.

Anyway, I hope one day to really upgrade my chain so that I can see what these headphones are really all about. Definitely enjoying them though, as they are the only dynamic headphone that I can hold on to (I'm a bit of an ortho fan, I'm afraid).

(For those of you who may be confused, the HD580 drivers are identical to the HD600 drivers, sources say. I know my measurements comparing my HD580's and my buddy's HD600's show no differences, and that's enough for me.)

 

The next step is to get the MB upgrade for your bifrost! Or step up to a Gungnir Multibit

 

Ugh, I know. Gungnir Multibit makes more sense in the long run but I hate the financial burden of going balanced (no balanced amps or cables here!). Do you enjoy SE output from Gungnir Multibit?

 

You don't have to commit to going balanced at all. I don't have a Gungnir Multibit but I use the SE out from my Yggdrasil to my valhalla 2. I haven't had any balanced amps since my A-GD NFB-10ES2.

I don't know if you've read the balanced discussion thread yet but it's nothing to get stressed over. Consider the balanced output a bonus if you do get a balanced amp in the future.

 

Damn, thanks for the link! I remember reading someone, possibly an idiot (can't remember), saying the SE output of Gungnir Multibit is significantly worse than the balanced output. My limited electrical knowledge had me almost immediately give up on the Gungnir Multibit plan.

Glad to see that the word "significant" was likely misplaced. And you're right, having the balanced option for the future is just a bonus!

 

I think I found the culprit. Head-fi's new messiah

http://www.head-fi.org/t/763905/fin...bon-only-four-months-to-go/1005#post_11872598

 

Stillhart is an incredible moron.

Unfortunately, I believe I found that SE vs. balanced discussion being dissected here or at chang. I'd like to think I wouldn't ever listen to Stillhart, but I've also been a moron more times than once.

 

Made myself some 'Stealth HD600'. I ordered HD600 replacement drivers and put them into an old HD580 frame with HD600 grilles, repainted the frame and refurbished the headband and headband pad with some fine Italian lambskin leather. As for the drivers, they are perfectly matched. So I guess one can easily replace the drivers without worrying about unmatched drivers.

 

EDIT: with HD 600 baffles, it doesn't batter. the springs will wear out in 580s and HD 25s if you change cable. Happened to me with both cans.

 

Thanks, CEE TEE. Glad to know I'm not crazy hearing it that way. Currently I'm using the M2/M2 stack, so no tube goodness here. I'm willing to believe that soundstage can be more expansive with tubes—and varies with amps more generally, of couse—but I sure wish I had a better understanding of how tubes would make that difference. (It's easier for me to grasp the wherefores of some of the other changes attributable to tubes.) If I continue to enjoy the HD600 as much as I am, I may go for a tube amp down the road a bit, perhaps a Valhalla 2 or Project Horizon to start me out.

 

Not an idiot, but your comment did remind me of this: http://www.head-fi.org/t/701900/sch...s-most-improbable-start-up/8700#post_12074396

 

Will any of the following do anything good for the HD600? Planning to upgrade from a Dzero MK2. (No GO/Leck/Schiit/Crack)

CL Trio
CL Theorem 720
ALO RX MK3B+
ALO Pan Am
Chord Mojo

Or am I better off going all cheapo with an O2 as they are all basicall entry-fi shit?

 

Looking great! The formica pattern on the 600s is, to my eye, one of the strangest styling choices I've seen headphone-land. Not sure what the industrial design team was thinking. Black is definitely an improvement!

 

I'm guessing it was intended to minimize the appearance of scratches, but a dark solid color--grey or black--is better-looking.

 

You have to remember that this is the company that went on to produce the crappy car interior HD598. Their potential is limitless.

 

You forgot about the CIS-targeted Adidas HD 25 for all the Russian EDM bros and the purple HD 595 for women. And the special edition of the HD 598 just so Amazon could discount it.

 

You're also forgetting that HD700 and HD800 look like UFOs. They sort of sound like them too, albeit from different galaxies.