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HD 650
Posted by x on 2013-05-11Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros:
Cons:
*****
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Maybe Best Bang For The Buck
Posted by reeltime from Studio City, CA on 2013-05-07Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Superlative Sound, Scales Well With Equipment
Cons: A Case Would Be Nice
I regard the HD650 as the entry into hi-fidelity headphones. With the HifiMan HE-400 that may no longer be the case, but you get the idea. That's not to say the HD650 brings entry level sound quality.
For some, this is the best practical headphone ever made, and it would be difficult to argue the point. I know a lot of folks who say anything beyond the HD650 is overkill-- put a good amp on the HD650 and they hold their own with the best of the best.
I paired mine with everything from a FiiO E17 to a Woo Audio WA6, and the headphone never failed to deliver. Great sound, tremendous soundstage, inky dark bass-- it's certainly world class. Yet it's forgiving. You won't be totally turned off by plugging them into an iPod (though they appreciate more power).
I enjoyed the HD650 with both solid state and tube amps. I loved the WA6 matchup most, but Burson's D-160 was a worthy combination, too. (The Conductor and Soloist models weren't on the market when I owned them).
Sennheiser is terrific at industrial design. They clearly consider that the listener is planning on spending a lot of time with their products, so they design them as if you will be keeping them on for a while. Construction and fit are top-notch. My head never tired of the HD650, and I have a fairly large noggin.
At this price point, there are very few peers. They grow with you, and improve with equipment upgrades. There's a reason the headphone has been around a long time. You can't go wrong.
NOTE:
I sold mine in 2012, but I still hold them in high regard.
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A review for you iPhone, iPod guys!
Posted by oceans22 from Orange County, CA on 2012-12-23Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: No
Pros: Very well made
Cons: iphone/ipod/iphone people...don't expect miracles!!
I have wanted the infamous pair of HD650's for probably a good 2 years now.
Let me start off by saying I understand right from the start that my source unit is of a poor choice, but it's of a typical one for a lot of people who listen to music. I listen to my music completely compressed, some at 128kb others at 256 & still others at 320 through my iPhone & sometimes my iPod & iPad. Yes I'm a sheep, baahhhhhhh!!!
I have a pair of Sennheiser CX880i in ear phones with the iPod controller. I wanted something with the controller because of the ease of use, but I wanted a better sound than the stock buds that come with the iPhone. They sound awesome but I'm getting quite tired of the irritating sweat building up after an hour or 2 of listening so I wanted to get the HD650's.
Time & time again I would lose bids on eBay until I finally won with a great price! So I was excited, they even came early 3 days before Christmas 2012. I put them on & just to ad I also have a TotalBithead Amp so I wasn't caught off guard with not having a DAC + AMP!
Boy! Was I sooo disappointed! They didn't sound any better than the CX 880i in ear headphones!!
I was expecting this supposed "wide open" sound stage with 3D effects & instruments coming from all different angles & all this BS I've heard other posters write about. NOT!
Now, let me say that these aren't bad headphones, just the opposite I know they're terrific but I believe you better have a 1/2 decent HOME AUDIO setup in order to get the most out of them.
"Putting on fancy expensive rims on a Hyundai....it's still going to be a Hyundai". Remember that!
My post is specifically for the person who wants some hi end headphones for their ipod, iphone listening pleasure but don't want to look like some NBA guy coming off the tour bus with the Dre Beats! Which I have nothing against.
Seriously unless yo have all Apple Lossless music or ripped all your CD's & music at 320kb then you iphone/ipod guys/girls save your money & definitely don't buy new! OR bid on them first like I did. I got mine for $335 & just resold them for $345 after only a few days use.
Also, they aren't as comfortable as some say. Yes the velour pads are super soft but they clamp around the ear area a bit tight & I'm sure I'd get a headache after a while. I'm sure that so you get a good seal but it presses a bit too hard for my taste around the bottom portion of your ear near your rear jaw bone!
For those who are going to say, "Oh you didn't burn them in" They were used and the person before me stated he had 300+ hours so they were burned it just fine!
Sennheisers are great but they can't perform miracles!
I believe I will be experimenting next with the Sennheiser Momentums since they're designed for listening on the iphone/ipods. I'm crossing my fingers I won't have to immediately re-list these as well!
36 out of 42 people found this review unhelpful. Did you?
Great - but maybe not for all types of music
Posted by JoeCanadianGuy from near Toronto, Canada on 2012-03-16Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: transparent, clean mids and highs
Cons: overdone upper bass/low mids
After my son borrowed my decades-old AKG 400s and carefully avoided returning them for many months, I decided to give him and me a break and get myself something new. I decided on the new Senn 598s after reading a few reviews. Why those? My bald, thick head was looking for a comfortable fit and my ears were hoping for a neutral balance that did not fry eardrums with gritty highs. However there was a production shortage of that model and so I settled on upgrading to the 650s plus Total Bithead amp.
I find that most pop/rock music is EQ'd heavily for "warmth" or "body" in upper bass/lower mids. This effect is accentuated with the 650s, giving the overall balance a downward tilt and the sense that the highs are veiled. This is not the case, because the mids and highs on this model are actually very neutral with a good sense of real instruments and voices. There is never any artificial sizzle to cymbals or sibilance in voices. The bulge in the lows, however, tends to muddy the mids on most pop recordings. It can fixed by holding the phones slightly away from the ears, but I'm not about to sit there doing that all night. Hey now there's an accessory idea for some young enterpreneur to develop!
The balance and transparency are excellent with acoustic, well-recorded jazz, singer-songwiter, and classical music, especially any bass-light music that benefits from a bit of warmth. So that explains all the high ratings for this model from Stereophile and other golden-eared reviewers who tend to gravitate to acoustic music.
The upper bass hump was reduced a bit after some break-in time, but I think I'll have to get some kind of EQ software for my PC to reduce the upper bass (any suggestions for good parametric EQ software, anyone?).
The phones were a bit tight for my wide head, but the cushions were very velvety, and bending the metal part of the headband very (very very) gently and occasionally near the earpieces has helped alleviate the clamping effect over time.
As for the Bithead amp, it does offer a minor overall improvement in transparency through the USB input, though I might have found even a bigger difference with one of the pricier amps. I have never found the need for the boost in gain that this amp provides, so there's no need to get one for that reason only, despite what many reviewers caution about lack of gain with these high impedence 650s. My laptops and even my iPhone seem to provide plenty of volume for normal istening. The crossfeed circuit is a good reason to get a Headroom amp, giving a subtle effect, especially on older, overly-separated recordings, and the circuit doesn't seem to affect clarity.
Anyway, I find myself listening through the 650s for long periods of time and forgetting they're there, so that says a lot.
If you're looking to buy, I hope this helps you make the right decision.
110 out of 114 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Amazing, even 5 years later
Posted by Elnrik from Denver, CO on 2012-02-27Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Very comfortable, excellent sound.
Cons: Shows imperfections in low bitrate/sample rate sources (Not a con, imo.)
I purchased my Senn HD 650's in '08, and they're still great. I got these with the HR Micro Amp and was amazed at how much better they sounded vs anything else I owned. Puts my Denon receiver w/ Klipsch bookshelf speakers + sub to shame. I just purchased the HR Micro DAC and connected it via TOSlink and I'm noticing little things I couldn't quite pick up before, and the music seems so much more... hard to describe it... it sounds more full, detailed and natural. Now I'm on the hunt for higher bit rate/sample rate sources - the better stuff I find, the better these things sound! (Go figure, huh?) Connecting my iPhone to the setup really reveals how crappy compressed audio is, even from purchased tracks at higher bit rates. Needless to say, I'm pleased as could be with the entire setup.
As an aside - I put well over $4000 into a car audio system, and had brought the installer over to the house to have him listen to my Sennheisers (he's a friend). I told him I wanted my car to sound like that. He was floored, but said he would try. He couldn't do it. The car sounds good, don't get me wrong, but its nothing like my beloved Senns!
21 out of 25 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Top notch for price
Posted by KK from Holland,Oh on 2011-08-19Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Comfortable, Sound quality scales well, lightweight
Cons: Slightly dark sounding, ear cups could swivel a tad more
I have owned this headphone for about a year. Throughout the year I have upgraded many components in my audio chain and this headphone scaled very well with every upgrade. This is a very warm sounding headphone and is non-fatiguing. I could listen to these for hours without a problem. Very good value for the price.
-The headband started cracking after a year. Sennheiser is replacing the headband and more free of charge. They said the issue has now been corrected. Sennheiser is very easy to deal with, so far A++ support.
Don't hesitate to buy this!
66 out of 67 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Manufactured Auditory Happiness
Posted by Goomphy from Michigan on 2011-07-28Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Clean, distinguished, beautiful sounding
Cons: None
I upgraded from HD555s to these little wonders. What an amazing set of headphones. I'm no expert but I know I've never experienced audio at this level before. Clean, precise and effortless reproduction. Expensive for my budget, but worth every penny. I'm very fortunate to have these. Compared to my HD555s, they are a huge upgrade. Vastly superior. Buying here was a pleasure as well. Very fast shipping, excellent packaging.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Still the best audio-based purchase I've made in recent years
Posted by JR from Corona, CA on 2011-06-14Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Comfortable earpads, open-back for lengthy listening
Cons: High impedance, cord is a bit long
These were an upgrade from HD-280s and wow, what difference! Of course, you'll need an amp (with a crossfeed filter is a big plus!) to properly drive these cans, but it's well worth the additional cost. Though it doesn't really sing for all musical genres (i.e. rock, electronic), it has a lovely, warm sound that helps when listening for long periods of time, and is not fatiguing at all, especially if you can hear "mistakes" in audio production. It's okay with movies, though it is fun with some Dolby Headphone decoding in the mix. It's about time for some new earpads and a cable upgrade (I've rolled my chair over the cable, which is quite tough, though it will eventually wear down) to make it last a lot while longer. I haven't heard the HD-800s, but I wouldn't mind if I had the HD-650s as a lifelong companion. A definite must for headphone lovers of all kinds!
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Did you?
All pretention aside, true audiophile headphones
Posted by melllowgold from NYC on 2011-03-23Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Incredible balance and comfort
Cons: Relatively high cost
Many here will be quick to suggest that these headphones are not audiophile quality, that they are really nothing special. All snobbery aside, if you are a somewhat normal person I can assure you that these will blow your mind.
I have them running through a total bithead amplifier. Incredibly balanced and articulate from bass to treble. Powerful, big sound that brings music to life without blowing it out of proportion in the way that true audiophile equipment does. I have experienced the hd800 and feel the hd650 sounds just as good, although the 650 doesn't create such surreal staging sensations. It's also a third of the price, so pick your poison.
They are big, open and loud... definitely not a commuting headphone. And they quickly bring out imperfections in mp3s/sound cards... 320kbps files help here.
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Time to feed your ears with some 650 protein?
Posted by NA Blur from Bozeman, MT on 2011-02-03Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Quality in both sound and design
Cons: Price may be a bit out of reach for some
These cans are a wonderful upgrade from something like the HD-280 pros or ATH-M50's. Both of those cans are tremendous in their own right, but if you wish expand into the realm of superior headphonia the HD-650 is a good place to start. They are light, comfortable, open-back, and known for their quality in sound and performance.
So you are looking for some serious cans? Stuck between the HD-650, AH-D2000, and the AKG-701(2)? You are not alone my sonic friend. I have been lucky enough to test this pinnacle triumvirate in a single listening session. I used uncompressed audio straight from CD fed optically into an Ultra Desktop Amp / Dac. Why did I decide on the HD-650?
The HD-650 was closely matched by the AKG-701. I felt that the AKG-701 lacked a little bass impact and the mids were a little bit too smooth. Nothing in there that kept me interested. The AKG-701 did have slightly better performance in the highs, but not enough to discourage my ears.
The AH-D2000 is a wonderful can full of fun. They are detailed and articulate. They were too fatiguing for my ears due to the exaggerated bass. After 10 minutes my ears needed a break even at moderate to low volume.
So you decided, like I did, on the HD-650 what else do you need to know?
The HD-650 needs to be driven by a decent amp. At minimum pick up a bithead and set it to high gain. These cans will need at least 40 hours of burn in time. I have had some Sennheiser cans take up to 100 hours to fully reach their potential. This is due to the loosening of the transducer / driver. Keep this in mind if the bass impact is not as absolute as you expected.
The sound stage can be enhanced marvelously with an upper-end amp such as the Ultra Desktop Amp. The 650 is fully upgradable to balanced wiring which gives you another upgrade option in the future.
Still not getting all you can out of your cans? The best thing to upgrade if you have not done so already is your CD player. If you are using a CD player that cost around $50 or less you are likely missing out significantly on the performance of the 650. Try to bring your cans somewhere you can test CD players and always remember "test before you buy when possible."
Welcome to the new world of great listening.
In the end I found the HD-650 to be a bit veiled. It sounded too much like a speaker playing through a thick pillow. I prefer a more upfront sound and I am certainly not the only one to not enjoy the 650 because of this. If you find that the 650 is just not your headphones try a pair of AH-D2000's and Grado RS-1i's. Those were much more upfront and pleasant for me.
23 out of 26 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Way Past Due
Posted by Squeezeflo from Hotchkiss, CO on 2010-11-17Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Value, comfort, sound, removable cable
Cons: I never found any
I should have written this review years ago, but I've raised procrastination to an artform, I have a maxed out home headroom amp and had a pair of HD 600's and loved them until that fateful day when the HD 650's arrived. I was blown away, still the comfort, great sound, removable cable, but all was better. I just LOVED these cans. I got myself Cardas cable and the DiMarzio extension cable. Heaven was in my mind well at least my head. Moved to CO in 2005 and had one of the best listening rooms ever, but still loved those cans. Then as things started to go downhill economically I lost the house and night before I was to start moving stuff to storage I ended up in the hospital almost dying. Anyway, while I was in the hospital some people were kind enough to get into the house and steal a bunch of my stuff - kick a man when he's down. Anyway the Sennheisers were one of the things they stole so I'm without and bummed. I will buy another pair at some point, but not sure when as disability isn't too much, but I can tell you that as my life starts to get better as soon as I can I will be getting another pair of Sennheisers. The new HD 800's look awfully nice, but I think I will be going for another pair of HD 650's purely for money reasons. Unless I win the Lotto or something, I really miss that smooth, detailed, and airy Sennheiser sound floating around my head. I had one record, but can't remember which where I distinctly heard the bass at the base of my skull!! Luckily they didn't take the Home Headroom. The 650's are simply some of the best cans you can get out there. Highly recommended. Haven't heard the 800's so can't compare, but I would try them in a shot if it was possible. You will NOT be sorry if you get any of these Sennheiser's I am sure of that.
9 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Really Good sounding cans
Posted by nmlpg on 2010-10-01Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros:
Cons:
defenetly an upgrade to the bose cans i had.. now i understand,,, now i i am not drinking bose Kool Aid
8 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Power, Control, and Accuracy
Posted by John Black from Virginia on 2010-09-16Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Accurate/Precise, clarifying, reference quality
Cons: Volume limit
These headphones have serviced my needs for well over 2 years now, and I can say without a doubt they are good. Not great, but good. I have pushed this set of canns to its absolute limits in sound reproduction. Music, movies, sampling, engineering, recording, etc., they do sound nice. My only complaint is the volume limitation, upper limit being around 105 dB. Many people may feel this is too loud. When engineering or sampling two things matter, loudness and/or the lack thereof. How low can I go and still detect frequencies, how high can I go without overpowering mid-ranges and discoloring the entire frequency range. You can push these all day long and they will last. Treat them well and upgrade the cable to a Cardas or other high-spec cable and they will cry out to you in ecstasy. My requirements are power, control, and accuracy, and while these certainly are not perfect, they almost as close as you can get for under $1k.
Now I am not normally one to recommend a product simply because of my insanely high standards, however, given two years of extreme usage and neither a falter nor a failure, these headphones are truly awesome. Sound quality rivals that of the Grado RS1, and very close to the newer HD800 which I listen to as well. Durability is good and even though these may look a bit flimsy being all plastic, they have held up for me in the demanding conditions of a studio.
They look alright, but are not outstandingly stylish as the HD800 is, although they are very comfortable and can easily be worn for upwards of 8+ hours at a time in one sitting. Normal people do not use headphones for that long and you should not, as it will eventually cause damage to the hearing and possibly tinnitus.
My recommendation for Sennheiser as a brand stands firm, as it has over the years. I can honestly recommend all of their audiophile grade products. Buy a pair and invest in a good source, an amp, an upgraded cable, and some real music. You will thank yourself.
18 out of 19 people found this review helpful. Did you?
The Gentle Workhorse
Posted by Rob "Lunatique" Chang on 2010-05-30Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Smooth, non-fatiguing sound, comfortable, well-balanced sonic signature
Cons: Sub-bass could be deeper, treble could be slightly more airy
My first Sennheiser was the HD555, which was a real gem for its price bracket, and then when it broke, I replaced it with the HD600. I immediately exchanged it for the HD650 as I found the HD600 to sound so similar to the HD555 (just a little bit more treble mainly) that the price difference wasn't justified. The HD650 is very similar to the HD600, but with a bit more weight in the bass, and a slightly smoother sound overall. But in any case, these upgrades are all diminishing returns, as the HD555 really is excellent already.
The HD650's clamping force is strongest of the three, but it's still comfortable enough that I often forget to take them off after I was done listening to something. The velour earcups are always the most comfortable to me compared to leather, pleather, or foam.
In terms of looks, the Sennheiser are probably lagging behind all the competitors, looking kind of drab and boring, while the HD800 takes things to the opposite extreme, looking like some science-fiction head gear.
I quite like the Sennheiser sonic signaure, which many people refer to as being relaxed, or veiled. I think of it as being very smooth and non-offensive. The treble and upper mids never get fatiguing or too bright, and the overall tonal balance is very good, with nothing sticking out or recessed in any of the frequency ranges. The sub-bass rolls off around 30Hz and I wish the HD650 had more extended sub-bass and weight, since that's what it needs in order to sound like a full-range speaker system. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50, ES-10, and Denon AH-D7000 all do this very well--sounding like there's a subwoofer in the headphones. The treble of the Sennheiser is nice and smooth and articulate, but it seems to lack just a little bit of that airiness that audiophiles really love.
Overall, I tend to think of the Sennheiser HD5xx/6xx series as workhorse headphones that sound great, are very comfortable, and are never offensive. They may not win awards for looks or have that really high-end "magical" hi-fi sound, but they are tonally well-balanced and very pleasant to listen to.
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Did you?
May Not Need Amplifier
Posted by Jack_Hammer from Texas on 2010-04-10Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Great Sound and Comfort
Cons: None That I Can Hear
These headphones are every bit as good as others have said. I only question the need for an amplifier for this product. If your music source is an iPod, then yes, you probably will need an amplifier. In my case these headphones provide full, loud, and clear sound coming straight from my 10 year old Sony Discman portable CD player. So I say buy them first and try them out without an amplifier. You can always buy the amplifier later if you determine that one is needed. I should also mention that I listen only to classical music. Bruckner 7th is on right now. I can't speak for how these headphones perform with other types of music. And headphone.com is where I bought them. They seemed to have the best price.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Great Headphone
Posted by Milhouse on 2010-02-14Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Very clear sound
Cons: It is a bit tight around the head
The sound is amazing. You can hear each instrument very clearly. My music has never sounded better. As all the other reviews state, you really do need an amplifier. It's a good headphone without one but it's an excellent one with an amplifier.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Did you?
simply one of the best!
Posted by crossfire from Egypt on 2010-02-13Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: very comfortable and very relaxing listen
Cons: for me none
I had the k701 but sold them because i couldnt stand their sharp treble which was for me very fatiguing over time,thats why i purchased the hd650.Truly an excellent headphone and very relaxing and mellow listening experiance with them,never fatiguing over long listening sessions.Deep punchy bass that is never bloated,excllent mids and laid back with great tonality and presence and never thin sounding or sibilant,Highs are clear and never sharp unlike the k701 that is razor sharp for long hours.Overall,the best headphone in its price range and i can easily recomend them to anyone who likes easy sound and airy and out of the head presentation.But remember that this headphone recquires a powerful amp and in my situation i use the headroom micro amp which have excellent synergy with them,i hope i go balanced soon and get the balanced desktop amp.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Best Headphones
Posted by svfoo123 from New York on 2010-02-01Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Very Comfortable
Cons: Hard to Drive
Make sure that you get a home desktop amp to run these otherwise you are not getting the full effect. The bass is a little bit emphasized but it makes the full audio spectrum more even. It is worth getting a replace chord for them as the original chord does not do them justice. Try cardas for enigma audio.They are very laid back and easy to listen to. The detail is definetly there as well.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Perhaps the king of
Posted by A HeadRoom Fan on 2010-01-25Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros:
Cons:
It's hard to say much about this headphone that has not been said already. This, the AKG K 702, the beyerdynamic DT 880 and the Denon AH-D2000 are the common places to look if you are seeking a first-rate headphone that does not have an MSRP nearing a grand. Of course, not everyone likes them, but of all the ones mentioned above, my own personal observation is that these are liked by more people than all the others. I have never done a poll, that's just my own assessment. Many characterize the K 702 as being too thin and uninvolving, the DT 880 as being too bright and analytical, and the AH-D2000 as being too bassy and spiky on the highs. Not that the HD 650 doesn't have its detractors for being too dark or "veiled," it's just that in the final analysis, people generally seem to like this headphone anyway. A classic, and perhaps the king of "reasonably-priced" headphones. Tends to clamp slightly hard, but I find that I can wear them for hours, and often do.
15 out of 17 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Yum!
Posted by Rocket Richard from San Diego, CA on 2010-01-21Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros:
Cons:
The first time I heard this headphone, I was seduced by its warm embrace. You just want to lie back, relax, and let it have its way with you....
Ok, I'm back from my cold shower. My Total Bithead amp is not powerful enough to drive this headphone (I tried it and it sounds lousy) so I won't buy it until I have a better amp.
4 out of 7 people found this review unhelpful. Did you?
Don't think just buy.
Posted by headphone addicted from Rochester MN on 2010-01-19Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: No headphones I've owned even come close to theHD 650's.
Cons: They made me spend hundreds of hours listening to my entire music collection (for the first time)
I paid 650 plus tax for these gems. And spent another 500on a wooAudio 3 amplifier. My wife thought I was nuts. Until she listened to her favorite cd on them and fell in love with them just as much as I did. I have over ten thousand dollars into my home theater, but the sound can't even come close to the pure audio bliss I get with my headphones.
If you're even considering buying these, make sure you have enough money leftover for an amp. Without an amp.they just sound like good headphones. With proper amplification they will make anyone who listens to them envious. But l caution you. You will want to listen to every album you own. Witch may take you hundreds or even thousands of hours.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Did you?
These rock!
Posted by bikeguy from Los Angeles on 2010-01-17Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: comfort, sound, metal construction
Cons: none
I had HD 555's before these and had to replace as they were falling apart. They still sounded great, but were held together with tape. Got a great deal (yeah Headroom!) and spent more than I would normally, but these are worth it. The sound is better than the 555's and construction is much more solid with nary a plastic piece to break. I recommend!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Did you?
This one is about letting the music come to you
Posted by aimlink from Kingston, JM on 2010-01-17Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Very easy listening experience
Cons: May be unexciting/involving for some
These headphones make for a great listening experience and deserves mention among headphones sold for a lot more money.
It's solidly built and is fully circumaural in that your ears will be floating untouched within the more than amply sized cups. The grip may be unnervingly or even annoyingly tight for some, but I found it to be fine as I grew accustomed to it. One's mileage definitely varies with the fit of these phones.
With the HD650's, be prepared for a very detailed, liquid and lush sound. They are very well balanced, though there is some warmth to them that adds to their characteristic sonic signature. There's nothing forward in presentation about these cans so one may get the impression of a veiled sound in the mids to highs if one is accustomed to listening to cans that are more forward sounding in this regard.
Though the HD650's may sound OK unamped, they do scale really well in that the better amp/source combo you use them with, the better they'll sound. You will be hearing only a shadow of its full glory unamp'd, so if you're already impressed, you need get some amp'ing setup to further deepen your appreciation.
They come with a detachable cable configuration which makes it very easy for exchanging cables - a big plus for those who wish to squeeze that extra performance out of them with a cable upgrade.
All, in all, a fine pair of cans.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Outstanding
Posted by WillDaddy from Seattle on 2010-01-16Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: A steal compared to speakers!
Cons: No ambient noise shielding whatsoever
OK, so I can't review these in context of direct competitors like the AKG k701, but I can say that these headphones are better than any of the other small, sealed full-sized, and IEM headphones that I own (some of which cost nearly as much).
Also, Tyll Herstens (sorry if misspelled) is absolutely right about the value of headphones compared to speakers. They can't match the sound-stage of properly positioned speakers in an acoustically-friendly room, but what a listening experience for the money.
Get the Cardas upgrade cable and a dedicated headphone amp with plenty of power and you'll never regret your purchase.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Best headphone for the price
Posted by enigma from St Louis, MO on 2010-01-16Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Great sound, size, comfort, looks
Cons: Sometimes makes a squeaking noise
I prefer open headphones and these seem to be the perfect fit for me. I like their shape as well because I have semi-large ears and don't like when the earpads are on top of part of my ear. Great sound reproduction means I don't like my old low quality MP3s. I've been re-ripping them in VBR 256kbps or higher to alleviate this problem. I also am using these with a headphone amp, so I can't comment on how they are without it.
These headphones are definitely comfortable, but the earpads took a little getting used to. After about a week I didn't even notice them. Also, the clamping of the headphones either took some time to get used to or they opened up from enough use.
My one con is that they "squeak." What I mean by that is when I'm wearing them, if I yawn or move my cheek for some reason, some plastic parts rub together and make a squeaking noise. It's not something that happens often but I do notice it.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Did you?
The former champion
Posted by Doug from Edmonton, AB on 2010-01-15Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros:
Cons:
The best pair of Sennheiser headphones I've owned to date. After owning lower-tier Sennheiser models and having them crack, begin distorting, and lose the ability to maintain a reliable audio connection thanks to a short in the cable. I was absolutely bowled over by this pair.
Sound is clear, the headphones can be driven a lot without any noticeable distortion, and I can easily swap and upgrade the cables if they get a short. Fantastic headphones!
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Excellent Audio Standby
Posted by Born2bwire from Hong Kong on 2010-01-15Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Great sound and scalability. Classic reference phone.
Cons: Minor durability quibbles
The HD650s carry the standard HD580/600 signature sound. A bit laid back in the presentation with a decently wide and airy soundstage. The have a detailed and warm sound that postively excells with classical, jazz, acoustic and big band. They still hold their own with rock, metal, pop and other electronica, but the warmer sound can lend a slower feel to the music, making some people prefer other headphones for these genres. For the money, these headphones can scale very well with the equipment. They sound good with a modest source and amplifier but still have room to improve with better amplifiers and sources.
The build quality overall is good but two problems still remain that plagued the HD600s. After owning this pair for over six years now, some of the paint is chipping off of the underside and side of the band. In addition, the cable makes contact by inserting metal prongs between the coils of a spring. This spring can weaken its contact over extended insertion and removal of the cable connectors. After many years the contact can crackle and needs a bit of readjustment every now and then. This can be fixed by the owner though it is not a very desirable procedure. In addition, the ear pads have probably compressed slightly over the years but headphone still remains very comfortable and has maintained an adequate clamp pressure. The initial pressure may be strong for some people but it does relax over use.
Overall, these headphones still remain excellent overall performers. They perform well over a variety of music and gear and remain a standard for comparison with other headphones. Even if you get other headphones, these are always worth keeping around.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Did you?
An Absolute Great
Posted by Logwed from Wauwatosa, WI on 2010-01-14Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Comfortable, clean sound, revealing
Cons: Not the most durable
The Sennheiser HD650 is a great headphone, most likely the best in its price range. It is tonally balanced very well, though its soundstage leaves some things left to be desired. It requires a strong amplifier to drive it properly, but when proper synergy is achieved the results are very satisfying. The HD650 can be pretty revealing of other components 'upstream,' so I would recommend it only if you are prepared to dive head-in to this hobby. Also, the cable is removable, allowing for easy upgrades and fixes. It has problems with paint chipping off of the headband and ear-cups, so the aesthetic durability is not the best.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Love my HD650
Posted by Glen from Aspen CO on 2010-01-11Posted on Sennheiser HD 650
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Most perfect sound
Cons: Back row sound stage but clear.
Wow! Again the HeadRoom staff helped me make this choice. My second pair of pricy headphones. 1st. Dennon AH D2000. I wanted something to complerment them and the Senns are great. I use them for acustic music, soft rock and blues. I purchased the Cardos cables for them and it made a big diffrence. I use them with the Ultra Desk Amp & Ultra Desk DAC with a CD player or my i pod. Just a clean equal sound threw the range. Bass, Mids & Highs work well together. If you like classacal or Jazz this would be a good choice. The fit is just perfect. Very comfortable. the sound does leak a little as my wife can here the music when I wear in bed. So if you need a closed pair of headphones these might not work. Over all I would recomend them to any one.
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Did you?
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