Sennheiser HD650 Review (Headphone)

[Tup3x]

My HD 6XX (2018) came with the box and it has indeed been very handy.

 

[fragzone]

My HD 6XX (2018) came with the box and it has indeed been very handy.

Got mine April 2019 IIRC

 

[olds1959special]

I just got a used pair of HD650's after not owning them for awhile and found an old HD650 cable I made from Mogami 2543. I plugged it in and felt a possible improvement. The sound feels deeper, more clear, bigger but also slightly darker.

 

[AnalogSteph]

If there's any headphone that doesn't need any cable upgrades, it's the HD6xx family. Just a new one every once in a while if you notice that it gets flaky. The stock cables are constructed correctly, lightweight and flexible with well-managed microphonics.

 

[olds1959special]

If there's any headphone that doesn't need any cable upgrades, it's the HD6xx family. Just a new one every once in a while if you notice that it gets flaky. The stock cables are constructed correctly, lightweight and flexible with well-managed microphonics.

Well I guess you are right. The stock cable was fine, and sounded great. But my cable is a bit shorter which means I’m not going to roll my chair over it, and I definitely noticed an increase in the bass and a little more width to the sound.

 

[Doodski]

Well I guess you are right. The stock cable was fine, and sounded great. But my cable is a bit shorter which means I’m not going to roll my chair over it, and I definitely noticed an increase in the bass.

At the worst something can be taken away by a cable change if a cable has a issue but things cannot be added.

 

[olds1959special]

At the worst something can be taken away by a cable change if a cable has an issue but things cannot be added.

My cable is a bit shorter, so you could say that improves the signal quality.

 

[Doodski]

My cable is a bit shorter, so you could say that improves the signal quality.

With the reduced length it might reduce a voltage drop across it in theory but that would be so tiny as to be not noticeable and difficult to meter out too. It might in theory have capacitive reactance or inductive reactance but again that's in theory and will be so tiny as to not make a effective change noticeable at the ear let alone be able to meter it with test gear. We are talking down into the micro measurements as into maybe parts per million or less. So no worries about losing something in the new cable it will be just fine.

 

[restorer-john]

But my cable is a bit shorter which means I’m not going to roll my chair over it

That's more than good enough reason to use a shorter cable.

I made various length mini xlr - 1/4" cables for my AKGs. Cannot stand 1/8" (3.5mm) screw on adaptor plugs. All proper HiFi should have 1/4" HP plugs.

 

[dzerig]

At the worst something can be taken away by a cable change if a cable has a issue but things cannot be added.

Well ok but how to tell if something seemingly added is not in fact the right way and previously the added thing was actually taken away earlier?

 

[Doodski]

Well ok but how to tell if something seemingly added is not in fact the right way and previously the added thing was actually taken away earlier?

A frequency sweep graph would be a good start. There is a issue in that these measurements require highly resolving test gear and jigs for testing. Not for run of the mill metering gear nor test personnel that is not accustomed to metering to such tight tolerances. As tolerances get smaller and smaller the test method requires more experience and know how in order to get at the fine detail and the test gear becomes very expensive.

 

[Steve356]

What would be an appropriate and high quality small portable Amp/DAC for the HD 650 driven by a MacBook running Qobuz?

 

[Jimbob54]

What would be an appropriate and high quality small portable Amp/DAC for the HD 650 driven by a MacBook running Qobuz?

Single ended or balanced?

Id look at either the e1da 9038 d (se )or 9038s (bal ) . Search for reviews on here.

 

[Steve356]

Single ended or balanced?

Id look at either the e1da 9038 d (se )or 9038s (bal ) . Search for reviews on here.

Single ended would do fine.

 

[Jimbob54]

Single ended would do fine.

9038D gets you up to 3v out single ended . Should be more than enough for the senns even with quiet recordings . About as powerful as dongles get and very clean power too .

 

[Steve356]

9038D gets you up to 3v out single ended . Should be more than enough for the senns even with quiet recordings . About as powerful as dongles get and very clean power too .

Looking at various reviews, it seems to get very hot and has one of the highest current draws. Are there any others out there that you could recommend that have less current draw and don't get so hot, or is it par for the course with these devices?

Thanks.

 

[phoenixsong]

Looking at various reviews, it seems to get very hot and has one of the highest current draws. Are there any others out there that you could recommend that have less current draw and don't get so hot, or is it par for the course with these devices?

Thanks.

Maybe the Tempotec Sonata BHD Pro (look at the review and comments here though first, I heard complaints about the way its volume works) and Tanchjim Space, although I don't think they can match the 9038D in raw power. The Moondrop Dawn Pro and Fosi DS2 are well regarded too but don't seem to do as well in single ended performance

 

[Steve356]

Maybe the Tempotec Sonata BHD Pro (look at the review and comments here though first, I heard complaints about the way its volume works) and Tanchjim Space, although I don't think they can match the 9038D in raw power. The Moondrop Dawn Pro and Fosi DS2 are well regarded too but don't seem to do as well in single ended performance

Thanks. Any experience of the Qudelix 5K?

 

[Chester]

Thanks. Any experience of the Qudelix 5K?

I have both the Qudelix and Fosi DS2. Both drive the 650 fine single ended.

Between these two right now it’s the Fosi for me, but that may just be new toy syndrome.

 

[Steve356]

I have both the Qudelix and Fosi DS2. Both drive the 650 fine single ended.

Between these two right now it’s the Fosi for me, but that may just be new toy syndrome.

Many thanks. Really useful.