• Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Sennheiser HD650 Review (Headphone)

olds1959special said:
it lets more sound through, and I think it sounds better. Using the headphones without the foam coverings at all results in a slightly harsh treble but using the nylon stocking is the perfect compromise, I feel.
Click to expand...

Interesting, please post a pic of this mod.
 
olds1959special said:
it lets more sound through, and I think it sounds better. Using the headphones without the foam coverings at all results in a slightly harsh treble but using the nylon stocking is the perfect compromise, I feel.
Click to expand...

I see. Did you break them in? ;)
 
RickS said:
Interesting, please post a pic of this mod.
Click to expand...
Attached is a pic. I just cut the stocking to match the shape of the foam covering and replaced it. Maybe there's a reason they use the foam but I'm enjoying the sound of them now without really hearing any issues.
 

Attachments

  • tempImagefTHkyB.png
    tempImagefTHkyB.png
    2.7 MB · Views: 138
Last edited:
olds1959special said:
Attached is a pic. I just cut the stocking to match the shape of the foam covering and replaced it.
Click to expand...

Thanks, did not get that it was just the inner cover. Is this pic with the mod?
 
I have been listening with the stocking covering (foam covering front of drivers removed), and the difference in sound is not subtle. The highs are more clear. Overall I'm enjoying it more than before, it just seems more lively. I hear some slight resonances in the bass (maybe?) that were not there before but I can live with it.
 
Last edited:
Curupira said:
It's a common mod to make them brighter. While it's not that common with the HD6XX/650, it is rather popular with the HD 58X Jubilees due to their darker profile.

IME, though, when removing the foam starts to make the sound specially appealing, it's the time to swap the worn earpads for a new pair. With these, I always found the modification unnecessary.

Here's a video covering the modification with the HD 58X:
Click to expand...

olds1959special said:
I have been listening with the stocking covering (foam covering front of drivers removed), and the difference in sound is not subtle. The highs are more clear. Overall I'm enjoying it more than before, it just seems more lively. I hear some slight resonances in the bass (maybe?) that were not there before but I can live with it.
Click to expand...

Okay, didn't know this is a thing. Apologies @olds1959special.
Why not just EQ it?
 
Chagall said:
Okay, didn't know this is a thing. Apologies @olds1959special.
Why not just EQ it?
Click to expand...
It's one of those things that are hard to EQ due to you actually changing some physical variables like dampening. With old pads you can try to put a high shelf analog to the loss in treble, but it simply won't be the same as new pads as the actual distance to the driver is being affected (with worn pads your pinna hugs the baffle).
 
Curupira said:
It's one of those things that are hard to EQ due to you actually changing some physical variables like dampening. With old pads you can try to put a high shelf analog to the loss in treble, but it simply won't be the same as new pads as the actual distance to the driver is being affected (with worn pads your pinna hugs the baffle).
Click to expand...
With this mod and using my Apogee Duet 2 (unbalanced) with THX AAA 789 amp (with aftermarket 5A 24V PSU which probably doesn't matter) on the high gain setting, along with SoundSource and the oratory1990 HD650 Harman AE/OE 2018 EQ preset and balanced "Toxaoii" 5 ft cable, I think I'm getting the best sound I've ever heard from these headphones. The sound is just exquisite, not bloated or veiled, and the pantyhose covering is very soft on the ears.
 
Last edited:
I need to buy headphones for the office, and I'm considering the HD650 or HD600. The price is the same (around 290 EUR), but I've heard some talk about the HD650 having better channel matching. Is that just a rumor?

Some time ago, I had the HD600 but gave it to my father, so I know what to expect in terms of sound and comfort. However, the HD600 I had was made in Ireland and had a different headband pad compared to the HD650. Is there any difference with the current HD600 model?
 
Chagall said:
I've heard some talk about the HD650 having better channel matching. Is that just a rumor?
Click to expand...
Probably. If you want to check it for yourself, just go to squig.link measurement tool and see, from different squigs, if both channels measure the same. The current models are so alike nowadays, though, that I'd be surprised they'd vary in QC.


Chagall said:
However, the HD600 I had was made in Ireland and had a different headband pad compared to the HD650. Is there any difference with the current HD600 model?
Click to expand...

Yes, there is. The current model, after 2019, is made in Romania. They lost the marbled headband and is closer to the HD 650. The difference, though, is marginal, and everyone trying to pinpoint big variances due to assembly (rather than the farther apart silent revisions of the past 20 years) is grasping at straws, because auditory memory is prone to biases and the HD 6X0 changes a lot with pad wear (you can't compare your worn old pair with a brand-new pair)

graph (16).png


The biggest difference you'll hear is from the earpads themselves, as Sennheiser changed their format and foam. They are still similarish, but not equal. And since the old stock is already gone, I wouldn't worry about it.
 
Last edited:
Curupira said:
Probably. If you want to check it for yourself, just go to squig.link measurement tool and see, from different squigs, if both channels measure the same. The current models are so alike nowadays, though, that I'd be surprised they'd vary in QC.




Yes, there is. The current model, after 2019, is made in Romania. They lost the marbled headband and is closer to the HD 650. The difference, though, is marginal, and everyone trying to pinpoint big variances due to assembly (rather than the farther apart silent revisions of the past 20 years) is grasping at straws, because auditory memory is prone to biases and the HD 6X0 changes a lot with pad wear (you can't compare your worn old pair with a brand-new pair)

View attachment 468562

The biggest difference you'll hear is from the earpads themselves, as Sennheiser changed their format and foam. They are still similarish, but not equal. And since the old stock is already gone, I wouldn't worry about it.
Click to expand...

I'm really not worried about the sound - I'm sure it'll be good enough for the office. I just got tired of constantly putting IEMs in and out whenever I need to talk to colleagues. Since I haven't kept up with any HD6xx revisions, I thought I'd ask if there are some known issues.

Thanks
 
@solderdude @Curupira
Oh, wait! I almost forgot about the clamp force between HD600/650? I remember the clamp was strong with this one (HD600).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
How necessary is an amp for Sennheiser HD650?
Replies
19
Views
4K
SonnySide
S
F
Good somewhat neutral mixing headphones with good bass extension for max. 350€?
5 6 7
Replies
138
Views
7K
FTB
FTB
amirm
  • Poll Poll
Lily Audio Genesis One Headphone Review
3 4 5
Replies
90
Views
16K
solderdude
solderdude
amirm
  • Poll Poll
Drop + Grell OAE1 Headphone Review
2 3 4
Replies
69
Views
16K
ObjectiveSubjectivist
ObjectiveSubjectivist
kokono
Why my headphones sound better out of my integrated than my Headphone amplifier?
Replies
6
Views
2K
usern
U
Back
Top Bottom