Sennheiser HD650 Full Size Desktop Headphones Review
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- Опубліковано 18 жов 2024
- A classic headphone, and for good reason.
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This was one of the best headphone comparisons I have heard on UA-cam. You describe the differences very well with terminology that is better designed for understanding than impressing.
Nice review mate. Id just add that although I've always loved my 650's they really came into their own when I bought my Project Ember tube hybrid amp. They sound simply superb now.
Awesome reviews. I enjoy watching your reviews. Your approach is "no non-sense" and there are no claims of superior audio quality files and high end cables and amps. I have the Beyerdynamic DT880 and was looking to purchase the HD650. Do you think they will make a good companion pair to have or are there more similarities than differences? Thanks!
+Jeraz Mewawalla thanks! I think they will be a nice contrast. The DT880, HD650 and AKG701 (or variants) are usually thought of as a classic triplet all with their own qualities.
Well there are higher quality files...
I think what he's referring to is the inferred _absolute necessity_ that some reviewers tend to attach to using FLAC and other lossless sound codecs, when in fact it is often very difficult to differentiate a song encoded in 320kbps mp3 from one encoded in FLAC, beyond placebo.
I like your analytical style very much.
Great Review lachlan. have been waiting for this review. didnt think it would come this early. considering a pair of these to replace my 10 year old + Senn HD598 which have never been boring nor steller.
A nicely done video. I liked the way you held the headphones you were talking about. Excellent production values and an excellent review.
Thank to your review, I've ordered my pair of HD650. Can't wait to put my hands on this headphones. Thank you very much, dear @lachlanlikesathing
Subbed... Ive seen quite a few of your reviews, top notch, and all around 10 min mark..perfect.
Looking for some 650's in the future, enjoying my AKG 7xx for now.
Awesome review. I currently have a pair of PC360's I've been using for many years now but am wanting to step it up a notch and make the most of the ZxR sound card I have - so was considering these. I'd be using it for editing, music and gaming, so will be pairing it with a ModMic. Would you say it'd be a noticeable and worthwhile improvement over the 360's which are more like a 598?
Loved this review. Great job. I owned a pair of the 650's about a year ago but didn't have an AMP and felt it really needed it. Since then I bought a pair of AKG K545 and Fiio Mont Blanc amp I love the combo but I think I'm going to give the 650's one more go.
What reasonably priced DAC & AMP setup will bring out the best in the HD 650 in your opinion? I am currently running my pair with an ASUS Essence STX II PC soundcard and I feel like they aren't really running at their best this way.
+TurboPummel If you can, at the very least, get a used Bottlehead Crack (preferably with Speedball). The HD650's scale almost infinitely, so giving them a lowly amp isn't even worth it IMO. Worry about the DAC later on.
+TurboPummel the objective O2 dac/amp combo is probably your best bang for your buck, can be had for around $300 and can compete with $1000 rigs. Schitt also makes so excellent dacs and amps that won't break the bank. Don't let audiophiles fool you, you can get excellent dacs and amps without spending a shit ton of money.
+Braden Olszewski is the magni and modi 2 a good combo aswell ?
Maybe a hair better than the o2 odac combo, so if you are really on a limited budget then that's probably your best bet. A Vali 2/ Valhalla 2 will help a lot more though, and a Bifrost 4490 could be an endgame dac for a lot of 650 owners.
Also, saying the o2 combo competes with $1000 rigs is laughable. Head-Fi has brainwashed all of the newer audiophiles into thinking dacs and amps all sound the same, yet $4,000 headphones are ZOMG the best things to ever come out, even with massive treble issues...
Nice review on the HD 650! Could you also check out the SoundMAGIC HP200 some time in the future? I have read some thoughts of those and some have said that they sound cleaner than the HD 650 and goes for less but I would like to hear your thoughts on them.
I really can't wrap my head around your claims that the iPhone 5 can drive the HD650s just fine. When I connect my AKG K612s to my iPod Touch 5G, I have to turn it up to full blast to get a satisfying volume, and that is 120 ohms vs. 300 for the HD650s. The audio world is so bizarre, not to mention dark and full of terrors.
Adam Nelson Stay safe out there D:
The volume comes out of your cans depends on not only the impedance of your cans but their electric efficiency. And people have different preference in "enough" volume.
But you had better not hear your music louder than 85dBSPL.
It's not really that simple. Driver sensitivity is the number you need to look at and not just impedance.
I'm still a total newbie when it comes to the nitty-gritty of headphone tech, so you'll have to forgive me.
Awesome review! I was just wondering if you've compared this with the HD600. I've heard that the 600 is more neutral, but I want to hear your thoughts about it. I've been trying to decide between the two as I want one to use at home - once I am able to afford one. =)
Hi, love your reviews. Very clear, at least on which one is more fit in with my style of listening. One question though, how is the Sony ma900 compare to HD598?
cool review, what about connecting HD650 through a focusrite scarlet 2i2 on my laptop? Does it perform better? Or can I replace it instead of a regular amplifier? I´m not an expert so I appreciate your thoughts.
Hey lachlanlikesathing, thanks for that review! Do you have a good headphone amp recommendation in the price range of about 300-1000 for the HD650? Thanks!
7:49 "more resolution and bass" I agree completely and that is a good summation of these headphones and why I really like them. Given the chance listen to stax SR-009 (has a lingering presence to the sound that i didn't find with any others), audeze lcd-3/2 (sounded kind of average), HD 800 (out of a schiit lyr tubed amp, not sure what tubes but I wasn't blown away and noticed they lacked the body of sound of the HD650) and the audeze EL-8 open back (in the middle of the HD-650 and everything else in terms of sound body). I completely agree with you on that statement.
Just got these a few days ago and I'm mad I didn't buy them sooner, such a magical headphone.
HD650 is my favourite pair of headphones. It sounds so musical and unfatiguing. I agree with you on what you said about the amplification: it sounds surprisingly good even from a cheap CMOY-type headphone amplifier. I don't own an iPhone but when driven from my mobile devices the sound lacks some bass and it's also hard to get enough volume. So I think a headphone amp of some kind is kinda must have with these headphones. But it doesn't have to be an expensive one!
Found that the HD650 plugged into an RCA NOS tubed EAR HP4 sounded good but when switching to the SS Bakoon Amp11-R, which is actually a loudspeaker amp with an excellent headphone section, these cans really came to life. The headphone scales very well so forget amping with an iphone. That is silliness.
One hears that the 650 is "veiled" from many reviewers. Not in this audiophile's system. While not the reference can in house, once in awhile it's fun to go back and listen to the headphone that served well for a few years. Best bang for your buck in today's market IMHO.
Great review as allways! :) I'm looking for a pair of headphones for watching movies and tv-series. Which headphone do you think suits best for this purpose? Thanks in advance.
Emil Lundberg I'd go the Sony MDR-MA900 for long term wearing comfort / listening :)
***** Thanks a bunch for answering my question! :) Do you have any recommendations on speakers for the same purpose?
Nice review, where I live I can get HD 650 or fidelio X2 for similar prices, and I've herd very good things about both, which would you recommend ?
joseph harrison They are different. The X2's have more bass and a large soundstage and also have boosted highs, making it slightly V shaped. The HD650 overall is more balanced with less bass but also less highs, making the mids more present as well. If you want fun EDM and gaming headphones the Fidelio X2 is better. If you listen to less bassy genres like Jazz, Rock, Classical etc. then the HD650 might be better.
The iPhone 5's pretty damn impressive in terms of output power! My poor Nexus 4 only plays nicely with super-efficient earphones and portable headphones. Even something like the Sennheiser Momentum I have to crank the volume up to 60-70% to get my normal listening volume!
Shame nobody on the Android side can make a smartphone with the same audio chops as Apple does. :(
Corinn Heathers Htc one M8.
I know this comment was 3 yrs ago and I just stumbled across this video :D anyway everyone has a different listening level mine has gone up over the past few months now everything I use to listen to feels quiet, mainly cause I started changing the eq to get a better listening experience, usually In the process it also increases the volume a lot.
Pretty much agree with everything you said. I own the MA-900, HD650, Senn Amperior, Hifiman HE-400, Bose QC25 and DT770 (600ohm). Running them all thru Asgard 2 amp. My favorite is the HD650 simply because vocals have the most presence on these without sounding hyped. Totally agree the MA-900 is similar to the HD-650 and also agree that for casual listening I always reach for the Sony's. More comfortable, bigger soundstage but for sure less critical. So, when doing the dishes around the house etc, the MA-900 gets a lot of wear time. Having said that, when I want to be blown away by the music and really listen I've found nothing better than the HD-650 for me.
One other thing you said I've also found true. I've read so much about how the HD-650 scales well and sounds like garbage without an amp and I don't agree. I use the 650's with phones, a Fiio X3 and so on and it still sounds like HD-650's. The character does NOT change that much when I listen to them thru the Asgard 2. Having said that, I did get a change one time to listen to them thru the bottlehead crack amp and I don't know what was going on but they sounded amazing there. Anyway, as usual, great reviews!
How would the HD650s be as a headphone for music, movies and gaming?
I'd be really interested to hear your take on the Sennheiser HD598's, if you can get your hands on a pair. I've had a chance to compare them to the HD800's, and I actually prefer the HD598's to the HD800's for half the stuff I was listening to. I've never had the chance to listen to the HD650's though, so I'm wondering how the 598 compares to these.
Wow, bashing a own personal opinion. You must be so proud.
You guys are so stupid.
A nice and concise review Lachlan. But, I have to comment on amplification part of the review! I have an O2 and often drive my HD650 with the O2, it is good, though nothing special. On my desk, the 650 is driven by the Burson HA160 & or BH Crack (SB) and those two amps take the 650 to a whole new level!!!. Frankly, I could notice the (night & day) change that those two amps brought to the game but after listening to setups like LCD2/Auralic, HD800/BH Crack(SB) I have developed a whole new appreciation for the pairing. I have also tried the 650 on a Violectric V200 and the Bakoon amps and can assure the "scaling" character of the headphone. Ofcourse, the O2 is a neutral flavoured amp where as the other two amps show enough character making them more appealing and provide that synergy with the HD650.
Yeah, I really have to try things out. Will be getting a Geek Pulse soon!
Hey Lachlan. Which headphone do you prefer; HD650 or R70x? Why?
Hi Lachlan. Love your reviews. Would appreciate if you can review Sennheiser HD660S and compare with AKG-K712.
I had the HD600 for 2 years. When people mention that it really scales with better amps they mostly mean that OTL Tube amps turn the HD6xx series into a world class headphone. The Bottlehead Crack with either the HD600 or HD650 is one of the most revered/best pairings one can find in the audio world. Pair it with either a Modi or an Odac and you have a reasonable end-game set up for under $1000. If your friend still hast it, let him know. He'll thank you for it if he ever gets it.
Hey lachlan, will you ever be willing to review the hifiman he-400? Im intrested in your opinions on that headphone. :)
Good video Lachlan
Love my 650s , 880s and 702s ...classic trio FTW
Lachlan, do you plan on doing any reviews of some of the "elite" headphones? (HD800, BeyerT1, Hifiman, Audeze etc) I've always wondered what the diminishing returns are like for spending $700+ on headphones.
I don't have any specific plans since they're a bit out of my reach at this point, but I'd certainly borrow or listen to them if I got the chance! I actually think the whole diminishing return thing varies. For instance I still haven't heard many headphones that do bass as well as the Audezes. But some other high end options I'm not so sure about. My knowledge in this area is kinda shaky...
Lol he told me that the hd800 (i think, I just remembered it being $1400) being bland and tasteless in an audio convention. Convinced me it was a waste of money which it probably is. I dont know if I helped any lol.
I actually repeated those comments here! ua-cam.com/video/aXTttdNS5x0/v-deo.html Don't get me wrong, I think the HD800 is an engineering marvel. I just didn't really grab me ifyaknowwhatimean
Lol yes I know you told me before
Great video! I've been watching some of your videos lately, one more sub here =). Do you plan on doing a fidelio x1 review? Really like the way you review the headphones, would be nice to hear what you think about it.
No specific plans but if I get a chance in the future I will jump on it!
Thanks for your reviews Lachlan. Very helpful!
Hey Lach is this good for producing electronic music?
Great review of these classic headplhones, subscribed!
Did you use the HD650 with a headphone amp? If not, when and why would one want to use a "headphone amp"? And, another great review! :)
+Anderson C When: always if possible. Why: cleaner sound (shows more detail), often gets punchier, often gives better low-end (just my experience). How: try a DAC/amp combo unit, doesn't have to be pricey (micca origen, schiit fulla, etc.)
You don't understand how excited I am about you doing this review. The HD650 is my favourite headphone. Driving the headphone with a amp that has a really wide and deep soundstage is amazing and they don't have to be super expensive. I was using it with the Topping NX1 a $40 portable headphone amp and it was an absolutely amazing experience. I hope to own a pair of the HD650s one day.
That's great to hear :) The first time I heard the HD650 I really enjoyed it too. But owning so many headphones I kind of thought it was wasteful. It's great that I got a chance to borrow them!
I'm more of a one pair of headphones person. It's only really downfall, IMO of course, is it being a fully open back headphone and of course its price. I have kids, so I don't really want open headphone at this stage. But in terms of overall sound experience, they're the best sounding headphones I've used.
Still waiting for you to get your hands on the Takstar Pro 80. I'll keep bringing it up until you review them. =P
***** I'm too broke to be a swap-cans-for-music person, so I feel you on that. Right now I'm just trying to check all the boxes... extreme portability is filled by my four year old pair of UE Super Fi 5 (not-Pro) which I absolutely love (and unfortunately have been discontinued and replaced with the UE600, which have an even worse cable, if that's possible) and my desktop/gaming use has been handled with AT AD700, until they were stolen, and I've been using the JVC RX700s in their stead for the past three years. Which I kind of like better, because they aren't so peaky in the treble and have more bass, plus being (sorta) closed headphones they leak a lot less sound.
My problem right now is I'm trying to find a set of closed, circumaural, decently-portable and decently-isolating cans that are durable, comfortable and have a similar sound character to my other headphones... good but not overwhelming bass, good mids, not too sharp in the treble (keep my headaches at bay). Also not terribly expensive because I am poor. I want something for long-term wear while out writing, and the problem with the UEs is that they give me itchy ears after about an hour or two of wear--they're usually worn while on the bus or train and taken off when I get out. But for all-day writing sessions... I need something that doesn't go inside my ears!
You could maybe try the ATH-M50X, but I don't know how you would feel about the treble. Otherwise seems to fit most of your other requirements...
***** That was one of my first auditions since it's super popular and thus super easy to get a listen to. Unfortunately the bass is a tad bit too strong and the treble a tad bit too spiky. It's also not really comfortable. I don't see myself being able to wear it for hours on end.
I'm kind of really annoyed the MDR-10R was such a departure from the 1R's sound. It's small, easy to carry, reasonably well-constructed and is so light and comfy I could wear it all day. Unfortunately it sounds reallt weird. :/
how does the hd650 compare to the hd6 mix? i've always bought sennheiser for music production mixing mastering and can't decide between the two ??
How does the bass and soundstage compare to the AKG K701/Q701? The only open backed headphone I've owned is the Q701? I liked the sound stage but they lacked enough bass impact for me. But I definitely don't want too much bass either because that seems to fatigue my ears pretty quick (I had this problem with the Audio technica M50s)
Decent review. Good clarity of comparison of headphones.
Super important, would you buy the HD650s or the ATH R70X for an all around open back headphone?
Darvoice336SE and Bottlehead Crack was made for the HD650, I have the former, and it's a sound to die for, organic, warm, and detailed. and the signature changes when and if you decide to mix and match tubes, aka Tube Rolling. And after further watching this video I'm now interested in the MA900...lol..wow, those are hard to find!
Can we all just take a moment to appreciate your buttery skin AND the fact that you dropped the word "triumvirate" so casually?
Gay
So I tried these out at Best Buy which I was surprised to see them there on demo. I intentionally went to see the Momentums. The Momentums sounded nice, but when I tried the 650's, wow so much nicer. I did have to up the volume some when switching to the 650's but not much, both were not amp'd. I don't hear music really loud usually at about 50-65% on a laptop/iphone.
Just noticed the Bowers & Wilkins MM-1's in the background are they recently new? Bought the Z2 iPod/airplay dock from Bowers & Wilkins a few weeks ago really enjoying the sound they produce.
I've had the Denon D2000 and the DT880 600 Ohm in the past, and had to part with both due to issues I've had with them (bass looseness and weight/comfort of the former, and the dry, analytical and moderately bright sound of the latter) and it looks like I'm finally going to try the classic Senn 600 line in the hope I can finally have my endgame headphone. I listen primarily with speakers now, but I'd like a good hifi headphone under $500 for certain uses. I have been considering the Fidelio X2 but I think they might be more v shaped than I'd really like, and without the awesome availability of spare parts that sennheiser have.
Regarding comfort, the clamp force, I am aware that you can lightly bend the metal arms that connect the cups to the plastic headband to lower the clamp force, so I'm not worried about it being too clampy. That's pretty routine for me with full sized headphones, most of them I've had to bend something to get the clamp force down. I also find the light weight of the 600 series quite appealing.
I must say I am tempted by this Massdrop HD6XX. However, the lack of steady availability of it is pretty inconvenient and I really dislike the plain dark blue paint job on it. I actually like the look of the 650, due in no small part to it's nice speckled silver-grey paint job. So, I think what I'll do is go to Addicted to Audio here in Melbourne to audition the 600 and 650 side by side and walk out the door with one of them, just for the sake of convenience and supporting local business. I'm expecting to like the 650 more, but we'll see. If either of them sound like a full sized, hi-fi version of my little Senn PX100ii's then I think I'll be in love.
Thanks for the review, man!
5 years later… which one did you end up buying?
VERY well done review! The way you compared things and spoke about the overall experience of using them is great. (I'm just now finding this as I'm just now getting around to being tempted by these.)
Awesome video! Extremely helpful!
just like my experience building a top tier hifi system, lower priced gear will usually sound just slightly different. i can completely understand that you could not discern a great difference between the o2 and the iPhone. But as you go much higher up in priced and quality there is a big difference in sound. My SHL5 PLUS Harbeth speakers sounded ok on an 1000 pound integrated but when i put 5k amplification behind them they came to life and sounded like a completely different speaker. Ive experienced the same in headphones. i ended up selling headphones in the past because i thought there is no difference but my problem was amplification. in my experience amplification and source is as important as the transducer.
About the clamping force: Yes, the force is strong with this one (hirrhirr), but people extend to the maximum and bend slightly (it will not damage them in any way, and I think it is intended to be that way to give a good fit). This makes them disappear. :) Had the exact same take as you on the clamping before that simple mod.
As for the performance with and without amp, I'm going to measure it using O2 vs HTC One [which might not be good, due to beats audio off mode EQ] (or HTC Desire HD) vs iPad Mini 1st gen. Personally, I do think they sound better with the o2, but curious to see some measurements, so I will revisit both the HD650 and HD600 in a more "objective manner". I did run them through the insanely high priced Auralic Taurus a lot, and even built a balanced 4-pin XLR cable for them. And truth be told, when running the HD650's balanced out of that (which is extremely powerful) they sounded more like the HD600's in single ended mode, haha. When the impedance varies so much, it really puts a strain on the amp. The voltage is constant, but as the impedance changes so does the current, and the amp need to be able to supply the current. Would I buy an amp for the 650's? Yes. Which one? The O2.
As for subjective impressions. I feel that they don't have good low frequency extension, but they do have a lot of midbass (a good impact even, considering they're closed). This is not a problem with most music but with some genres it is. I do love them, and am more of a HD650 guy than a HD600 guy, even though I own both.
Remember that a lot of people who review gear and write they're veiled are old chaps, and old people lose sensitivity in the upper octaves, so when something is as dark sounding (ie, not elevated treble) those guys will perceive that as veiled, as they can't hear any details. Try Beyerdynamic T1 or Fostex TH-900. Those are so ear piercing to a young person with intact hearing that you can hardly believe what people are saying about them. When they say HD 650 is veiled, I think it is due to these reasons. Myself don't find them veiled but smooth. Their like an oil painting, whereas something like the T1 is laser cut.
I think people have broken their HD650 by bending the headband haha. But yeah I agree that older folks might think differently.
I have noticed the clamp on the HD 650 when I tried it. I am thinking about getting the headphone sometime, I am curious how it would compare to the K712 on my system or new system when I get my new amp. I am not too worried about the clamp much as I have an HD 545 and I can use it's wider more comfortable headband that will fit the HD 650 and it has far less clamp(it is MA900 light in clamp). It's either the HD 650 or the new Hifiman HE-400i as my next major headphone purchase.
Kevin Smith Well, as far as the clamping goes, all I can say is that you extend it to the maximum, then the steel is exposed, you put your thumb on both sides supporing the metal and bend it to your hearts content with a sturdy move. It worked for me, and I don't understand how people can break them if they support the metal on each side as they are bending. Look at this image of them extended. www.headphonereviews.org/headphonepics/116.jpg
HeadphoneAddictCOM
I can see the plastic part of the headband breaking personally given someone bends it a bit too far. I do hope my HD 545 headband would fit alright though as I do really like how the headband fits on my head, I'm just not sure if the housing of the HD 650 will interfere or not. Pictures of my HD 545, notice the width of the headband and how it covers part of the housing. The parts are interchangeable with the HD 650 just a different housing and headband design and drivers(150 ohms). It's sound is more akin to the HD 600 than the HD 650.
cdn.head-fi.org/e/e4/900x900px-LL-e4cabdd4_IMG_2702.jpeg
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Yeeeiii, Happy Reviewing! :D
How would you say the hd650's compare to the hd600's? ^^ so far I don't hear the need to get a new pair but if they're that much better Iill consider it~
I guess some people call them "veiled" because they comparing them with the HD600 or HD700. I bet they are awesome headphones (i use the HD600). Also the clamping force was crazy at the first day but after 2 months are almost perfect. I left them to stretch out for 2-3 nights though...
Hey Lachlan. I love your channel. Your AKG 712 Pro review sold me on those, but now I'm having second thoughts since it seems everybody and their mother is all about the HD650s. Since you've reviewed both, how would you say they compare?
I have both. k712 is great for vocal, has a better sound stage and lacks bass. It has significantly less clamping force and it just sits on your head. It's my PC headphone.
HD650(I just bought the hd650 yesterday so take it with a grain of salt) in comparison has more bass, sound are tighter and performs less well towards higher frequency. It clamps on your head and it's not coming off, it however could be annoying over extended period of listening. It's currently somewhat similar to my W40.
Thanks, appreciate the insight.
Jerry Meng When you say the K712 lacks bass are you saying it just has less compared to the HD650 or is the bass actually barely present? Would you say the K712 is a balanced headphone?
I've now tried both sets of headphones extensively. I agree mostly with Jerry. The K712s do very nicely with vocals. I wouldn't say they "lack bass", probably have more than HD650s. But there is something else going on... For me they just weren't a very transparent headphone. Imaging was poor. It's like they were "balanced" but "unorganized". Sounds just come from all over the place. Totally useless for FPS like Overwatch...caused complete confusion.
Your ASMR guy Awww man thanks for your comment
Lachlan, what's your fav pair of earphones?
Any PORTABLE amp you would recommend for these?
Oppo HA 2se ??
DEAFidelity Trasam HA 2 ??
Creative e5 ??
On hd 600/650, the 1/4 jack unscrews to reveal a 1/8. Just a heads up!
Hmm not on my one. Was this a production change?
HD600 has 1/8 plug as standard and it comes with a 1/8->1/4 -adaptor. HD650 has 1/4 plug as standard and it comes with this adaptor cable that Lachlan shows in the video.
if i get the hd 650 would i be able to use it with my iphone 6s plus for at least a couple months before i can afford a nice amp? or should i just use my cheap iems until i can get them together?
Is that a 27 inch iMac? I got a gaming pc with a 24 inch screen, thinking of getting a 27 inch screen.
Review the LCD-2 please :D
I just bought some not to long ago, just curious as to what you'll think of them.
I would love to but they are megabucks!
I'm looking to pick up the sennheiser game one with astro mixamp to use with my ps4.
Should I stick with that or should I get the hd 650 with a amplifier?
Honestly I can't decide between gaming headset and audiophile headphones.
Mainly im looking for awareness footsteps in gaming headset.
Much appreciate your help thank you.
Randy King I hear that the game one is essentially the Sennheiser HD598, with more bloated bass and slightly less soundstage, so I would look towards that option. The bass might feel lacking, but for the equivalent or even greater positional audio than the Game One, it has been on sale for $115 on Amazon before.
Otherwise, I hear the Audio Technica AD700x is one of the most recommended audiophile headphones for gaming, with some of the best soundstage and positional imaging of anything in its price range.
Mark_Exel thank you very much really appreciate the info.
I know this is a slightly older video but I'm a bit lost as to what to pair up with my DT880s (which I'm using for my linear phones, and love), what should I go for a warmer sound - Sony MA900 or Sennheiser HD650? I can audition the latter one but can't audition the MA900.
Do a review of the HD6XX when that comes out
A tube amp is a match in heaven for HD650
I need advice. So i currently have a sennheiser hd 558 and i use a fiio x1 music player, which supoosedly has a built in amp. I mostly listen to hiphop, r&b, some classical/orchestral, and jazz. I was looking to upgrade soon and i was thinking about the hd 700 or hd 650. I mostly travel so i try to carry just my music player and headphone. Im not really looking to carrying an amp with me, even though i have a fiio e06 that i used to use with a zune hd. What would be the better option of the two? The hd 700 seems like it would be easier to drive but i heard people bashing it's sound signature.
I prefer the HD650 myself. However if you are concerned about amping, why not consider the Philips Fidelio X2? It's a bit more of a fun version of the HD650.
Lachlan, have you ever given the HD598 a listen?
Yep, it's sorta similar to the MDR-MA900!
***** That's what I was driving at, no headphone pun intended.
The clamping force can be adjusted. Just extend the legs and stretch them out a bit until you get a good fit. Freakin' pillows after that. 650's are king for me. 600's are good too but not as fun. It's like my friend today who switched beers because he enjoys the subtle taste difference but paid more for it and I'm like, "dude, I just wanna drink, get drunk and have fun." So to everyone out there on the bubble about what to buy - save your money, get this and just chill.
What amp would be the best for the HD650s under $250? I will mostly be listening to hip hop. Please let me know!
+Tom Moore objective or schitt, both are excellent. you could spend a little bit more and get the objective dac/amp combo and have it all one one small package.
Hi Lachlan. It'd be good to see you review the V-Moda M100 Crossfade :).
Watching your review with my pair of hd650 on, THAT'S SO META.
***** I'm sure I've seen you do review of a headphone in the past that you tested with how well it does will gaming. As a gamer myself i was wondering if you have tests either of the AKG K712 Pro, AKG K7XX, Sennheiser HD 650, Philips Fidelio X2 or HiFiMAN HE-500 and if so which do you prefer gaming with judging on sound quality alone? Amplification is not a problem as i recently purchased the Magni 2 + Modi 2 Combo which is amazing!
Thanks. Keep the work up. Love the reviews and the way you review them ( Intro > Design > Comfort > Sound > Overall).
Based on the fact that you would be using these for gaming, I would highly recommend the Philips Fidelio X2. Out of all of the headphones you listed, these are, in my opinion, the most "cinematic." They have rather booming bass and accentuated highs, which make them seem this way. Also, assuming you will be wearing them for long periods of time, they are extremely comfortable, and should not get obnoxious or uncomfortable for a very long time.
Thanks for the advise
RoboquadV2
Brandon Saiger Or even the 598 is great for gaming.
mindsmirror Wow thanks for the response haha. I personally own the HD650 I was just giving the OP another viable option. The 600 or 650 is gonna cost $300+ no matter what after shipping taxes etc the 598 can be had for just over $100 USD brand new. I think the HD598 is great for gaming due to its larger and more realistic soundstage compared to the higher end 600/650. The 600/650s are the better headphone in terms of musicality with the 650s edging the 600s out in terms of overall enjoyment and refinement however for movies and gaming I would take the 598 any day. Unfortunately the lowest price you can find the HD650s up here are $500-600... You guys have it lucky in the US :(
I'm just here to hear Lachlan say "haych dee six fifty" - because of his accent. Nice video and trustworthy info as always.
So was it a permanent swap?
I think you said the sound was about the same plugged into a phone or amp. I guess if you don"t need any appreciable volume, maybe that"s true. The MA900 is an easy listening headphone. That is why I sent them back.
Hey Lachlan, are you Syd?
It would be cool if you did an update on this review on a balanced setup.
Would you get the philips fidelo x2's or Sennheiser HD650's?
mindsmirror would you be able to describe the differences between the two in gaming? I am trying to decide between the 6xx +a dac/amp or the x2 and saving for an amp.
Dylan O. X2 for gaming. Wider soundstage and more bass for explosions. Also the ability to use a shorter cable.
mindsmirror Yeah. The 650's are my favorite for music. Though I don't listen to much hip-hop so take that with a grain of salt.
I will say unless your gaming as a profession the X2 is more fun. Otherwise save yourself $200 and get the ad700x.
mindsmirror Okay. I was replying to his question regarding gaming. I didn't realize you work for Sennheiser. You win.
I have the hd650s and they are amazing but definitely not recommended to drive with phones. Not even a small amp like the schiit fulla is good enough for me allbeit fine for most people. I recommend the o2 amp and odac combo
As compared with the Momentum? I once read a comment about the sound of Momentum is quite similiar, but keeping the differences in soundstage and detail. Almost as a portable HD 650.
Sir; I would like to run 320 kbps, mp3 and flac files on an HTC one, m9, through a fiio e-17k, to either, The momentum. 2.0, or the sennheiser HD 650. Considering sound quality only, which would absolutely, Sound the best for the jazz and concert music that I listen to?
Ronald Phillips trust me on this...the hd650's. I use a cheap beginner amp with my phone and it is the best thing I have ever heard.
Hey Iachlan, I was wondering how these compare with the SoundMAGIC HP200? Particularly the soundstage between these two headphones. If anyone else has any input on this, I would love to hear from you.
Sir_Sniff-A-Lot Unfortunately I don't have any input, but you could try asking on Head Fi or Reddit r/headphones!
***** Alright no problem. I actually found a review on Head Fi and Noble Hi-Fi just an hour ago. I was just wondering if I should get the SoundMAGIC HP200 since they are 50% off on MassDrop now with 3 days left to buy and it looks like I will buy them.
Out of the dt 880 and these which has more bass and a larger/wider soundstage ?
If you stretch out the metal part of the headband it will become insanely comfortable, so no, it is not "as good as it gets" comfort wise, you can stretch it out until it is so loose that it will fall off your head.- obviously going so far is not recommended.
I listen to rock, Ozzie, Jethro Tull, Stones, to name a few. That is over 50% of the time. The rest of the time is classical, Moody Blues, mostly old stuff. Tried out the ma900 today, will send it back soon. You need a amp for sure in my opinion. The music I listen to requires volume plain & simple. Beats is for rap & is a inferior phone, any novice I believe would agree. For me its the 880pro but that"s me. Have you ever reviewed a headphone you did not like?
Comparing the Sennheiser 650 with that Sony should be ilegal.
Great video, someday I would like to own it.
did you try out the HD700?
Hi bro, can I ask what amp and dac are u using
Awesome review, I personally didn't like the hd650s sound. Too laid back and warm for me, very good for classical music though and the bass was very tight too. Of course I will always prefer my dt770s with a more involving and bass oriented sound signature. Everyone has different taste in sound I guess lol.
pretty good review!!!
Also idk about the 650 but with the 600 there's a drastic difference in sound quality with a proper source. I can hear every detail in FLAC files and it's beautiful;likewise, they really expose how crappy file quality is with an insufficient source and file.
Have you reviewed the hd 600 if not you should
Lachlan did you make the permanent swap?
Barry Wong Nahh. Tempting but in the end having the MA900 meant it didn't make much sense.
***** Thx for the quick reply. Any suggestions on what earphones that are similar in sound to the HD650? It's my favourite sound signature to date. I tried a whole bunch and the only ones that sound similar are the Shure SE846 and that's a bit expensive.
+Barry Wong Momentum 2.0 is similar
Been thinking about selling off my ATH-M50 to get either a K612 or a Beyerdynamic DT880 Premium, both of which are on Massdrop. Although it doesn't look like the K612 is gonna make it. Regretfully I've yet to see a top of the line Sennheiser product on that site.
Massdrop now has the HD6xx which is basically a HD650. I know this is an old comment, but for someone else who may be viewing...
What is that album background display/screensaver you have?
i think they may actually win beauty contests, something about them just, they just ... mmhh
but they're hideous though...
@@danielsaur9553 Give me an example of a good looking headset then
@@XenithLive I didn't mean to be rude. I personally like my klipsch hp3. I'm just not drawn to the hd650.
@@danielsaur9553 I guess that's fair, I quite like wood on my tech, but i do quite like the oval shaped earcups of the hd650, they are very comfortable but not really special in terms of looks.
great review!!!
Would the audioengine d1 be able to run the 650?