6XX vs Sundara or Any Advice

[emresarii]

Hello everyone, I recently bought Fiio K11 with HE400se.

I'm very happy with the K11, they are very good at driving 400se. I like the general sound of 400se but I returned them twice because of faulty drivers. This was my first planar experience and I enjoyed them pretty much. I know 6xx is similar to HD650 and I tried 650 before but was not able to apply any eq to them. Applying eq to 400se is a very good experience they take it very well IMO. 6xx costs the same as a Drop in my region. But Sundara is around 400 bucks almost double the 6xx's price. And have a bad history with Hifiman's QC. Should I try to get Sundara or stick into 6xx? Or maybe dt 00 pro x (300$)?

Ps: Generally listen to EDM and Hip Hop. I know closed-backs are better but I have good closed-backs like k371. I like the 400se's bass and open design so I want something open back.

 

[staticV3]

HD600/650 bass is not very satisfying even after EQing bass to Harman OE2018. I greatly prefer IEMs over them.

I've owned the 770 and 990 as well and wouldn't purchase either one again. They sound fine, but nothing special.
The 700 or 900 is probably a slight improvement, but I don't expect wonders.

 

[emresarii]

HD600/650 bass is not very satisfying even after EQing bass to Harman OE2018. I greatly prefer IEMs over them.

I really like 400se and intented to buy Sundara but afraid about the QC.

 

[Curupira]

You could also try the Aune AR5000 or the Verum One (if you're planning on spending more), both reviewed here on this site. Another option that'd require EQ IMO is the HarmonicDyne Zeus, they have leftover mid bass and a somewhat subdued pinna, but the former is easy to fix as you'd just be putting a negative peak filter. Another dynamic that should be considered is the Thieaudio Ghost. It's very similar to the sennheisers, almost to a fault: it's nice and OK, but don't have a distinctive wow factor in anything.

About Hifiman QC, it indeed is pretty bad, but knowing that you could try getting one second hand to avoid initial and obvious failures.

I'd stay clear of the beyerdinamics, as static said, they are fine headphones but not that relevant anymore in today's market, specially considering their distortion figures in bass, résonances for the closed models and peaky treble for the older models.

 

[emresarii]

You could also try the Aune AR5000 or the Verum One (if you're planning on spending more), both reviewed here on this site. Another option that'd require EQ IMO is the HarmonicDyne Zeus, they have leftover mid bass and a somewhat subdued pinna, but the former is easy to fix as you'd just be putting a negative peak filter. Another dynamic that should be considered is the Thieaudio Ghost. It's very similar to the sennheisers, almost to a fault: it's nice and OK, but don't have a distinctive wow factor in anything.

About Hifiman QC, it indeed is pretty bad, but knowing that you could try getting one second hand to avoid initial and obvious failures.

I'd stay clear of the beyerdinamics, as static said, they are fine headphones but not that relevant anymore in today's market, specially considering their distortion figures in bass, résonances for the closed models and peaky treble for the older models.

Unfortunately, none of this is available in my region…

 

[Curupira]

Unfortunately, none of this is available in my region…

If you don't mind me asking, where do you live? The Chinese models I recommended all sell on AliExpress, Linsoul and Hifigo, so unless customs is a huge problem, getting them wouldn't be that hard.

 

[emresarii]

If you don't mind me asking, where do you live? The Chinese models I recommended all sell on AliExpress, Linsoul and Hifigo, so unless customs is a huge problem, getting them wouldn't be that hard.

I’m living in Turkey. Turkey has a $150 limit on customs. So if I wanna buy something it should be under 150$ from Aliexpress.

 

[Curupira]

I’m living in Turkey. Turkey has a $150 limit on customs. So if I wanna buy something it should be under 150$ from Aliexpress.

The Ghost fits that budget, here is it's FR among some others, just be mindful that it's measured on a 711 so not the most accurate for OE:

BTW, I also live in a protectionist country, and because of that I recommend you to search inside the used market for the other models (or pay the extra, ofc).

 

[Dunring]

I second the above. Just got a Thiaudio Ghost and it sounds great and competes with the Sennheiser at 1/3 the price. Same feel and weight too, and under $150.

 

[Misguided]

Hifiman regularly have sales on and refurbished / open box products also there are usually a lot of open box ones sold cheap on Amazon via Warehouse Deals. I have seen them for half price when Amazon have sales on.

I understand your concerns about QC, I had the same concerns when I bought mine but they are really good in my opinion.

Just a little left field but have you considered Sennheiser HD560s, they can be picked up for about £130 here and sound great after EQ. They have a similar sound and a wide sound stage.

 

[dzerig]

I would buy Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire or Aeon X for less.

 

[johny_2000]

I got Sundara new a couple of weeks ago. I haven't noticed any problems with quality control yet. I've also owned an HD650 for a decade and a half now.
From a sound point of view, they are different. And I can't say for sure which one is better.
The HD650 has a more rounded, warmer and more ear-pleasing sound profile. Very high fidelity of mid and high frequencies. We know there is a lack of bass, even with EQs.
The Sundara is more analytical and a bit more dynamic, with deeper bass with EQs, but the sound profile is somewhat artificial. It seems to me that the music tracks I know sound unrealistic on them. These are not the best planar headphones I've listened to. But, of course, cheaper than others. It will take more listening time to decide on their value.

 

[hash70]

I don't get the big worry over quality control with hifiman,I got mines off amazon,so any issues I jst return them

 

[RoA]

Sundara user here. No issues with QC and it EQ's very well with either Roon or my Mojo 2. I don't own the 600 or 650 but have a 58X Jubilee which I also like very much. They are so different that I would say it is absolutely worth owning both (in your case the 600 or 650). 58X has more bass than either of those by the way.

 

[Audiobernd]

If you want something, which is similar to the HE400, but not planar, then the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X are worth a listen. Their STELLAR.45-Drivers sound surprisingly Planar-like, though with less bass definition, but more bass slam and impact. The Sennheisers of the 600-Line are much more in the vein of typical dynamic-driver-cans. Which is not a bad thing, but thery are slower and the bass is less in quantity and, to my ears, also quality in comparison to the 900 Pro X (or good Planars). You could also look at the Philips X3, which are like a more pleasent , more detailled and more exiting HD-600.

 

[Dazerdoreal]

HD600/650 bass is not very satisfying even after EQing bass to Harman OE2018. I greatly prefer IEMs over them.

My bass performance seems to improve when I add -1,5db Q3 @55hz to Oratorys EQ. I kind of perceive a "bass peak" around there (might be my glasses).