MrSpeakers Ether (vs. HD650 and HE-560)

Great overview. I felt the Ether were in a similar class to the HE560 when I heard them, with the differences I noted illustrated well in your polygon. I wish we could add soundstage/imaging to the chart.

 

I'm pretty much ready to get ah HD650 as well, even though I do have an HE560. Like having a great dynamic to go with the planar.

 

" The ZDS threw the HD650 stage six feet in front."

That is quite amazing. Wish I have a chance to listen to the ZDS.

 

I think Mr Speakers, Hifiman, AKG and Audeze probably hate Sennheiser...The HD600 and HD650 have always compared favorably to their more pricier offerings and the HD800, while not cheap at $1500 (well, no one pays $1500 for it nowadays!) has always stood as a great value. You REALLY have to outdo Sennheiser at those price points, unless someone is damn set on going ortho....That's the danger of charging the prices people do for their newer headphones. The Ether has never come up for consideration, due solely to the price.

 

I dont think so, there's so many who find Audeze, Hifiman etc better then HD600/HD650 for different reasons. And those looking for headphones at 1000+ wont look at HD600/HD650, most likly.

 

From my NY meet impressions thread, with EC 2A3 MK IV & Lampi Lite 7 or Yggdrasil

 

I buy, sell and trade lot's of headphone searching for "the one." I bought the hd650 five years ago. It's the only can the I haven't sold and still have. If a group of regular non-audiophiles toured the factory in Germany and got to hear the new Orpheus, and someone did a swticheroo with the Orpheus and the he650, I'd bet those regular folks would all say, "damn, so that's what $50k sounds like." Baahaha...I joke, kinda.

Here is my personal headphone journey. Buy the hd650, fall in love with the wonderful music they make. Start thinking to myself, "well damn, if $500 headphones can sound this good, then $1500 will make me wet myself." So I go buy a pair of $1500 cans and then a few others. I think to myself, "meh...these are pretty good in some capacities." But then I find myself still listening to the hd650 a good portion of the time. Then I say, what I really need is a better amp and dac to get these $1500 headphones to rock my world. So I spend $2500 on Gungnir Multibit, mjo2 and a sweet set of holy grail tubes. Then plug in the $1500 cans and I say, "that's a bit better...not bad." Then I look over at the hd650 and think, "maybe I should plug these lowly hd650's into my $2500 setup, yeah why the hell not." So I pop the 650 into the new setup and cue up some music...HOLY MOTHER OF GOD YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then I pull off the 650 and try to figure out how the hell what just happened. Screw it, I put the 650 back on and keep rocking the tunes. Of course I exaggerate for the effect of the story but you get the picture.

I have been messing around testing a trio myself which includes the hd650, Ether and Ether closed. The hd650 just nails the tone and timbre of voices and instruments. And also scales like a boss. I also like the Ether and Ether closed. Let me say that both Ether products showed significant improvement with burn in time. Some headphones don't change very much IMO with burn in, but the Ethers do. Ether closed is meatier and punchy. Great isolation both incoming and outgoing. Both are pretty easy to drive. Good times.

 

You have me worried I'm on the same path as you, only replacing "HD650" with "HE500." Just got the Ethers and a Mjolnir 2 (from a Lyr) and initially I have a sneaking suspicion I won't be selling these HE500's as I originally planned... Good to know about the Ether burn in, Dan says 100-200 hours but I never know what to believe. I'll make sure to burn 'em a while once they arrive back from those measurements Purrin just took

 

I need more time with both Ethers. I've been trying out a tuning kit for the Ether closed...initial impressions are favorable.

 

@purrin Curiously just want to know how did you modify the HD650.

 

Not him but there's a thread in the Headphone Measurements section that carries over from the original Changstar one with details and measurements:

http://superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/sennheiser-hd650-love.44/

 

Can confirm. George Lucas, episodes 1-3 - childhood ruined. Life ruined.

 

This report makes it very hard to justify paying that much for the Ether. Many have said the he560 has better technical abilities.

Is there a mod to curb that treble?