Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Need to replace/upgrade headphone. Most neutral/acureate/detailed Sub-$500 choice?

Lunatique · 8th November 2009

My Sennheiser HD555 just got it's right side blown (one of my Samson C-Control's been overloading sporadically on its own for no reason. It also blew one of my subwoofers. It even makes a loud buzzing sound by itself when it happens--the volume meter is full red and it sometimes is only in short bursts, and sometimes very long bursts, and only way to stop it is to turn it off).

Anyway, so now I'm looking to replace the HD555. I'd like to get something that sounds as close to my K+H O 300D's as possible (I've heard that Sennheiser HD650/600 comparison to K+H before, and I kind of understand. I feel that too with my HD555, except the K+H is more extended at both ends). I'm only interested in open-back designs since I already have the AT M-50 as my go-to closed-back tracking headphones.

In general I have a hard time tolerating any kind of over-brightness and shrillness, as I find it fatiguing, irritating, and uncomfortable. If I absolutely had to settle for either shrillness or bloated/muddy bass, I would grudgingly pick bloated/muddy bass as the lesser evil, mainly because it doesn't bore into my skull like sharp shards of sonic knife that shrillness does (it's more like getting pounded on the head with large pillows--still uncomfortable, but not as painful).

The contenders I have been considering are:

AKG K702 - I like that it's got a detachable cable over the 701, since I'm a klutz and often trip over/pull out stuff by accident. I like that the AKG has auto-adjusting headband, since I'm a little annoyed with accidentally altering the headband size when I pull on the cans. I'm a little concerned that they might be too bright since some people have said that they sound a lot like the Beyerdynamic DT880, and I thought the DT880/770 were too bright. Some also said the bass is lacking, but I have to wonder if it's really lacking or it's simply not bloated/hyped.

Sennheiser HD650 - I'm very comfortable with the Sennheiser signature sound, and I loved my HD555. From the frequency graph at headphone.com, it seems it's very similar to the HD555 in the rolled off treble, and it's got a bit more bass bloat/hype.

Sennheiser HD600 - I've tested it against the HD555 years ago, and they were so similar, with the HD600's treble not as rolled off like the HD555. I would have no problem with the HD600 since I'm already so comfortable with the HD555 already.

My heart is leaning towards K702 since I'd like to try a different brand just to experience a wider variety, and also I like the auto-adjusting headband. I know all three cans sound amazing, are very comfortable, and all are worthy reference quality cans, so it's really hard to pick.

Your advice?

8th November 2009	#1
Lunatique Gear addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Fuzhou, China Posts: 452 Thread Starter 4 Reviews written	Need to replace/upgrade headphone. Most neutral/acureate/detailed Sub-$500 choice? My Sennheiser HD555 just got it's right side blown (one of my Samson C-Control's been overloading sporadically on its own for no reason. It also blew one of my subwoofers. It even makes a loud buzzing sound by itself when it happens--the volume meter is full red and it sometimes is only in short bursts, and sometimes very long bursts, and only way to stop it is to turn it off). Anyway, so now I'm looking to replace the HD555. I'd like to get something that sounds as close to my K+H O 300D's as possible (I've heard that Sennheiser HD650/600 comparison to K+H before, and I kind of understand. I feel that too with my HD555, except the K+H is more extended at both ends). I'm only interested in open-back designs since I already have the AT M-50 as my go-to closed-back tracking headphones. In general I have a hard time tolerating any kind of over-brightness and shrillness, as I find it fatiguing, irritating, and uncomfortable. If I absolutely had to settle for either shrillness or bloated/muddy bass, I would grudgingly pick bloated/muddy bass as the lesser evil, mainly because it doesn't bore into my skull like sharp shards of sonic knife that shrillness does (it's more like getting pounded on the head with large pillows--still uncomfortable, but not as painful). The contenders I have been considering are: AKG K702 - I like that it's got a detachable cable over the 701, since I'm a klutz and often trip over/pull out stuff by accident. I like that the AKG has auto-adjusting headband, since I'm a little annoyed with accidentally altering the headband size when I pull on the cans. I'm a little concerned that they might be too bright since some people have said that they sound a lot like the Beyerdynamic DT880, and I thought the DT880/770 were too bright. Some also said the bass is lacking, but I have to wonder if it's really lacking or it's simply not bloated/hyped. Sennheiser HD650 - I'm very comfortable with the Sennheiser signature sound, and I loved my HD555. From the frequency graph at headphone.com, it seems it's very similar to the HD555 in the rolled off treble, and it's got a bit more bass bloat/hype. Sennheiser HD600 - I've tested it against the HD555 years ago, and they were so similar, with the HD600's treble not as rolled off like the HD555. I would have no problem with the HD600 since I'm already so comfortable with the HD555 already. My heart is leaning towards K702 since I'd like to try a different brand just to experience a wider variety, and also I like the auto-adjusting headband. I know all three cans sound amazing, are very comfortable, and all are worthy reference quality cans, so it's really hard to pick. Your advice?