Sennheiser HD650

Has anyone tried this copper mass loading from CustomCans?
https://customcans.co.uk/s/s/index.php/headphone-modding-service/hd600-mass-loading-mod.html
Kinda neat to see an actual hunk of copper being used there. I believe the owner of the site is actually on here (paging @jfunk if this is you)

 

I have this on an HD600. The effect of the copper mass loading on the HD600 is akin to the kiss mods on the HD650. It actually isn't a world of difference, but seems to smoothen the low-end and possibly distortion characteristics. I have no measurement rig though... so can only describe what I noticed

 

But then dust gets into the drivers because of the angle they're at...

 

Plastic bags I pick up from the supermarket use for dust cover since I got my headphones.

 

Hey folks, I just got ahold of an HD6XX and it sounded incredible out of my Gungnir MB -> Black Window 2 and I wanted to try it out on my other amps.

I made the mistake of plugging it into a Lyr 3 that has been having some issues. I foolishly turned it too far up, hearing occasional pops but mostly silence… then there was a BIG pop. I haven't used it for a while and forgot about the warmup time, but also it's probably broken. Plugging my HD6XX back into the BW2 I'm disappointed to hear the bass and subbass have been blown out and now my perfect new headphones sound super thin. My Focal Clear out of the BW2 still sounds perfect. I unplugged/securely plugged every cable back in to no avail. I want to ask if anyone here has had a similar experience and if they were able to remedy it somehow. I saw a post by @The Alchemist in this thread where thin sound turned out to be a cable issue. But based on what happened, I'm pretty sure the cause is with the headphones themselves. Could it be repaired?

 

Could you take a look at the drivers themselves, just take the pads and foam off? Could be that the diaphragm overextended and needs to be coaxed back into place. Happened with me when I was cleaning HD600s out with air and it sounded a whit as you described.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rvlhScrihsp4LjFzwnOGDwc0NxxLKrU6/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ru4YczMrxUyjinC6kwlR2dqkye4trtDl/view?usp=sharing

EDIT: fixed links

 

Ah poop sorry I messed up in what I said. I'd meant to ask if you could take the capsules out of the baffle too to check whether the diaphragm was deformed or not, though that'd be a bit more involved a process and may require a flathead screwdriver. Just from how that looks I think the diaphragm is fine though so the damage could be a bit more difficult? Uncertain at this point though.

 

If you have a multimeter, also check the DC resistance on each side. Should be close to 300 ohms. If not, the driver is toast.

However, it could be the drivers got hyper extended and not seating in the magnet housing correctly. Only way to tell is to take the whole housing out of the headband, remove the back screen from the middle seam, and remove the driver and visually inspect. The driver is secured by four plastic arms. Usually I just put in a screwdriver and twist and lift each side.

 

The replacement capsules arrived today! So impressed by the user-friendly engineering, they were a breeze to swap out, and my HD6XX sounds superb once again. I love how comfortable they are, light as a feather unlike my Focal Clear, and so much easier to position and stay where I place them on my head. I seriously believe the weight and difficulty of finding the "sweet spot" on the Clear distracts me from the music, say I'm on a vinyl binge, at the beginning of every side I need to readjust them and they don't stay in place. They can put pressure on the crown of my head too, where the HD6XX alleviates this with a notch.

It is amazing how favourably the $150 (used) HD6XX stacks up in sound quality to the $1000+ Clear. I feel completely immersed in the music, enjoying smooth-as-still-ocean beautiful sections of midrange that feel recessed/uneven on the Clear, which over-accentuates the treble on top of that (still quality treble completely unlike cheap unresolving cans, but I find there's a set of high frequencies that stick out like a sore thumb when accentuated in the music like the metal percussion on Meet The Residents)

That said, plugging the HD6XX into a Jotunheim (also connected to my Gungnir MB), and I'm not left with the same stellar impression, the Black Widow 2 is the superior amp by a long shot bringing out magical detail and improved imaging to boot.

I couldn't be more satisfied, I have a new go-to headphone and it didn't break my bank!

 

Has anyone else removed the driver pads from the 650/6XX's? I tried this tonight and to me they sound so much better. I assume there won't be any longevity issues? When not in use, I'll be storing mine in the original box.

 

If by driver pads you mean the foam discs that are on the inner side of the headphone (touching your ears) then yep, that'll tend to brighten the sound up a bit. It's a bit overmuch for the HD600 but kinda helps the darker HD650, though do be careful of dust and pet hair making its way onto the diaphragm surface.

 

Yes, that's what I meant. Anyway, yeah I'll have to watch the dust/hair. Thanks.

 

Silk organza is a workable, sonically transparent substitute.

 

I'll check it out, thanks!

 

I ended up using Secret Silky Sheer (denier 20) Black pantyhose. I got my sister to pick them up for me. They work perfectly. There's been some chatter on the HD58X head-fi thread about using sheer voile material but I can't imagine it (or Organza) would be more sheer than these.

 

Well that's something I didn't expect to read this Sunday.

 

Unfortunately, I can't take credit for this idea. It goes way back (2005)...

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/removing-the-hd650-foam-over-the-drivers.141950/page-2

 

I just noticed something interesting on the box of my HD6XX, which I got a few weeks ago...

(Number 4).

The first HD6XX box had "Made In Ireland" printed on the box (no sticker). The initial wave of Romania 6XX had "Made In Romania" on a sticker, covering up the Ireland printing. Then they started printing "Made In Romania" on the box without the need for a sticker and now we seem to have a fourth variation with a "Made In Ireland" sticker covering up the Romania printing.

My headphones do not say Ireland on them. But if they are made in Romania, why would Sennheiser go out of their way to cover Romania up with Ireland? It makes me wonder if they have already switched some of the manufacturing back to Ireland. (As per their announcement)