Sennheiser HD600 vs HD650

[mosrite]

Well for one reason or another it is to be either the HD600's or the K701's.

I am on the verge so any last comments / answers to the following most appreciated:

The K701's are £50 more than the HD600's.

The K701's also match the impedence of my AT's which makes me think that I could split my headphone out and feed both if required at the same level. Or are there other things at play that might create a mismatch?

Also, I have been hearing more and more of the HD600's flimsy cable. Would I have to factor in the cost of a replacement already?

I am hoping that, from what I have read, the K701's are the most tonally accurate. Anyone disagree?

[Plush]

Mosrite, the AKG K701 headphones are a phenomenal headphone.
You cannot go wrong with them and the sound is the best currently available.

Give them several weeks of usage to break in. They really do need it (this time the break in suggestion is not just some high end hi-fi audiophile mumbo-jumbo.)

They are available in the USA for around $260.00 plus shipping.
try http://www.bluecraze.com

[lucey]

The 701s are very flat if you want a reference phone.

+1 on the break in, they need like 200 hours.

I find them uncomfortable but others don't.

[mosrite]

Mosrite, the AKG K701 headphones are a phenomenal headphone.
You cannot go wrong with them and the sound is the best currently available.

Give them several weeks of usage to break in. They really do need it (this time the break in suggestion is not just some high end hi-fi audiophile mumbo-jumbo.)

They are available in the USA for around $260.00 plus shipping.
try http://www.bluecraze.com

Cheers Plush, that's the kind of reassurance I need before spending another large ammount of cash

It is a little depressing that they seem to be cheaper in the USA than in Europe at the moment (seeing as they are European cans and all). Might be something to do with the strength of the pound at the moment or something but I am about to spend the equivelent of $434 on a pair

That is another reason I've been swinging toward the HD600's as the price I can get them for is much more competitive. Ho hum, gotta do what you gotta do...

The 701s are very flat if you want a reference phone.

That's is exactly what I am looking for. Cheers.

[0VU]

Mosrite, you should be able to find them cheaper than that. They usually go for less than £200 inc shipping from various eBay 'shops'. And there's been several very low mileage used pairs going for around £120-£150. (Probably people judging them before they've given them time to run in properly.) Iirr, my pairs cost me (new) between about £160-£170/pr. inc. shipping.

[mosrite]

Hi Ovu,

Cheers for the heads up on price.

I have just been reading reports of the 701's being more amp dependant than the HD series, is this something that you guys have noticed? (I'll be powering them through my Lavry DA10 - supposed to have a decent discrete headphone amp stage though).

[d_fu]

Originally Posted by mosrite

Might be something to do with the strength of the pound at the moment or something but I am about to spend the equivelent of $434 on a pair

That's kinda hard to believe...
Thomann in Germany (and others) is selling it for € 269 (GBP 181). You certainly don't want to spend more than twice as much...

Daniel

[lucey]

Originally Posted by mosrite

If any of you could perhaps try and describe the tonality of each in a few words?, would be most appreciated. I'm nothing if not thorough

Best to hit up the junkies for detailed reviews ...

headphone forum - Google Search

This is a reviews only page, including the K701s after 1000 hours of detailed burn in.
Featured Full Reviews of Headphone, Earphones, In-Ear Monitors - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

[Adebar]

I have compared the 600 to the 650 very often. We have both in the studio and I prefer the 600. It is more flat, the mids have better definition.

The 650 sounds to me a bit more hifi like, the bass is a little exagerated withless contur and the highs seem to be a little pronounced. Sometimes i miss the details in the mids.

In my view (ears) the 600 is the better one on is closer to the source.

Comparisons are made with Benchmark DAC1, Grace Design m902 and m904, and the combination of Meitner converter with Lake People headphones or the analog Grace section - always the same result, for me the 600 is the better one.

[Yannick]

I think headphones are a very personal choice.
We already listen to speakers differently, imagine what happens when you put them ON your ears ...

I prefer a HD580 over a HD600.
I prefer a HD650 over a HD580.

Soundwise one can argue, but comfortwise the HD650 wins for sure.

[Adebar]

That´s true, a very personal choice - I agree.

[mosrite]

This is a reviews only page, including the K701s after 1000 hours of detailed burn in.

Just read it, he didn't seem to be a huge fan of them. He felt the HD600 had more 'realism' with the K701's strength being in the soundstaging.

Well I've gone for the HD600's. It might just be because the K701's are newer but the HD's seem to have less dispute over their sound.

I guess, like a lot of things, they are both up there with the best and maybe thats all that matters.

People have been succesfully referencing off the HD's for a good while now so they must be accurate enough.

[mosrite]

Originally Posted by Plush

The reason I like the Sennheiser phones is that they imitate a speaker very well. After a period of getting acquainted, one can transfer the sound heard in the Sennheisers to how it would sound on good monitors.

And I kept coming back to that comment of yours Plush. Don't think I could ask for more in a reference headphone right?

[mosrite]

Originally Posted by Adebar

That´s true, a very personal choice - I agree.

Yeah it's just a shame that, unlike monitors, it's nigh on impossible to test a bunch of headphones out.

[Plush]

Nice choice!

Youse is going to like those headphones.

There is no "bad choice" among the headphones that have been discussed here.

If you like the 600's and need another one (at less money) keep in mind that the
HD 580 is basically the same thing. We have many HD580 pairs here and besides some of them needing new cables, they have been great for 10-15 years.

Enjoy your new phones, Mosrite.

[mosrite]

There is no "bad choice" among the headphones that have been discussed here.

That's what I figured, cheers for your input guys

[peeder]

I had to try these...the HD600's arrived today and they are a bit bass-shy and maybe a teency bit rolled but otherwise are the best headphones I've ever heard (although I have demoed some rather nice Stax...). Very punchy in the mids! (i.e. a lot of dynamic range/depth...the mids don't get smeared, reverb is restrained, etc.) The K701 comes monday and should be broken in by the end of the week...

[HIGHENDONLY]

I just received Audio-Technica ATH-AD1000 yesterday. WOW WOW I never heard a better headphone. I thought the proline 750 were good til i heard these sucker's. There imported from Japan and sound mighty good. Check em out..

[peeder]

I think the question is whether there's a better closed-back can than the 750. The DT770Pro and the HD280pro don't do it for me (and please spare me the miserable 7506 and the hoary old t20)...the low end isn't clear and tight enough. Open-back is obviously an advantaged design, but you can't track with it.

[HIGHENDONLY]

Originally Posted by peeder

I think the question is whether there's a better closed-back can than the 750. The DT770Pro and the HD280pro don't do it for me (and please spare me the miserable 7506 and the hoary old t20)...the low end isn't clear and tight enough. Open-back is obviously an advantaged design, but you can't track with it.

That's true, the at's i just bought are open.

[mosrite]

The K701 comes monday and should be broken in by the end of the week..

Would be interested to know how you compare them to the hd600's. make sure to report back

[HIGHENDONLY]

One my buddies let me use his sen 650's today. First time i ever used them. Is it me or do these sound waaaay to good to mix with? I mean the headphone's sound very very good. Like if you want to listen to music for pleasure these take the cake. For mixing they just seem waay to colored. Is it just me?

[Remoteness]

IMO mixing on those headphones is like mixing on Genelec monitors...

Your mixes cannot just sound good; they got to sound astonishing.

Originally Posted by HIGHENDONLY

One my buddies let me use his sen 650's today. First time i ever used them. Is it me or do these sound waaaay to good to mix with? I mean the headphone's sound very very good. Like if you want to listen to music for pleasure these take the cake. For mixing they just seem waay to colored. Is it just me?

[peeder]

Once again,

Do Not Mix On Headphones.

This has been a public service announcement of the Unified Front for Mixology™. Your cooperation is appreciated.

[HIGHENDONLY]

Originally Posted by peeder

Once again,

Do Not Mix On Headphones.

This has been a public service announcement of the Unified Front for Mixology™. Your cooperation is appreciated.

haha i don't mix on headphones. I have my adams for that. I just been on a lil headphone craze this week. lol

[clownjuggles]

Get your headphones from HeadRoom - Right Between Your Ears, they allow you to try and if you don't like the cans, you can keep trying till you find what you want!

[peeder]

So the K701 arrived. Of course I need to let them break in before making a sound sound judgment.

Tres Swank unboxing. "Expect and receive perfection!" Talk about keeping expectations low...

However, I can say I find them pretty uncomfortable compared to the others in this range. They look fairly fragile as well, with little trapeze strings clinging to the headband. I like the base idea, although it's too easily knocked off the desk. They do feel light on the head but they dig in a bit in places and they don't go quite big enough for my savagely ego-swollen coconut.

Rotating the velveteen cushion thing helped a bit. AKG gives monthly seminars in how to re-attach these cushions after you take them off, and I missed this month's. After much struggle I was able to get it back on. The velveteen is nappy and reminds of one of grandma's old threadbare cushions...not as nice as the other contenders' velveteen.

Sine wave sweeps confirm what a cursory listen reveals: prior to break-in, at least, there ain't much bass at all. However, these headphones are remarkably clean and flat. I.e. no noticeable harmonic distortion, anywhere on the spectrum, and very even response, at least above ~150Hz.

Maybe what they need is a personal subwoofer, that rests on the nape of the neck and thumps to DC.

If the bass doesn't show up after break-in, they will still be useful as a bass-light reference. Everything very calm and controlled. Just the tone you send in, ma'am, no frills.

Will report back after break-in.

[peeder]

Originally Posted by clownjuggles

Get your headphones from HeadRoom - Right Between Your Ears, they allow you to try and if you don't like the cans, you can keep trying till you find what you want!

That sounds great, provided you don't mind a bit of community earcheese along the way.

But what I'm wondering is, what is this "balanced drive" thing they mention?

The HD650's have two-prong inputs. There is no way in the world to run them balanced, unless they put baluns inside the cans (which might have sonic constrictions), which they apparently don't. Clearly the XLRs are wired with one of the pins just floating.

This is not very slutty.

[edham]

Peeder-
I too found the 701's to be both lacking in lows and low mids (even after break in) plus the hurt my oversized head (right on top).

Very pretty sounding headphones but couldn't live with the lows and the pain.
So close to my ideal headphone. no cigar though.
YMMV.

[mosrite]

Peeder, thanks for posting your intitial impressions.

Could you now confirm if the K701's look like some futuristic to