Sennheiser headphones

[BrianHanke]

I'm curious about what differentiates the top three headphones made by Sennheiser. The HD 595, HD 600 and HD 650 all look very similar on paper but vary a lot in terms of price. Would the 50 ohm impedance of the 595 (versus 300 ohm on the 600 and 650) make it more suitable for connecting to my Saffire Pro 40? Are there any appreciable sound differences? I'd be using them only to listen to classical music. Thanks in advance!

[avebr]

They are 3 different beasts, for sure.!

The HD595 is the more affordable of the 3. It's lower impendance, I believe, is to allow use with portable devices without volume prejudice.

For quite a while, the HD600 was considered the reference (at least for those that like Sennheisers).

The newer HD650 was received with split opinions - some accepted as the new standard, some (like me) kept working with the older HD600... The 650 really sounds 'different' than the 600, not exactly 'better' or expanded.

There's also AKG K701/702 that have some quite good opinions; and the Grados, Beyer-Dynamics,... not to mention electrostatics like Stax.


I would suggest to you try to find an HD580 - it uses the same drivers of the HD600, it's just lest fancy and ergonomic. You may find a very good deal on it, and the same HD600 sound.


all the best,
ave.

PS: someone here heard the new HD800???

[John Willett]

The top of the range is the HD 800 (which I have now switched over to). Sells for £1,000 / $1,400. Don't listen to it if you can't afford it - I can't listen to my HD650 and 600 anymore after the HD 800.

The HD 600 and HD 650 are similar - the 650 being the later model and a further refinement of the 650. I have both - the mix is about 50/50 as to what people think is better - you should listen and make up your own mind.

All the above are much better than the HD 595.

[BrianHanke]

Great tip about the HD 580, thanks! I'm not too keen to pay full price for any of these options (especially the HD 800 ), so going used definitely appeals. I've heard good things about the K 701/702 models; I see they go for around $250 on eBay.

[avebr]

Be careful with non-new units - it's possible to someone try to sell you a semi-defective unit - by 'semi' I mean a headphone with one or both drivers that appear to sound good, but already have a 'scar' or other issue on the very begining - so they will sound ok for a while but will have a problem very soon.

Try to find a new unit from a dealear or respectable on-line vendor/site!

I believe the HD580 will get you the best cost vs. benefit!


all the best,
ave.


PS: keeping myself away from HD800 and those esoteric Stax!! (just for now)

[jnorman]

brian - i have a pair of the hd600's and i love them. they just sound wonderful. they can be problemmatic in the studio, as they are 'open', and you can get bleed from them into your mics, but for monitoring, they are spectacular. i remember getting my first pair of the original HD414's way back in the early 70s and falling in love with this kind of headphone sound.

[Baithak]

Hey Brian: I have been a very happy user of the 600s for over 8 years now and except for a bit of fragility with the cables, the headphone has been a pleasure to use. Nice, liquid easy sound and very effortlessly musical.

Several years ago when the 650 came out as the NEW and Improved 600, I jumped at it without auditioning and suffice it to say that Senn was at least half right (the new part). I guess it is as improved as the 184 is over the 84 or the MD 421 MkII is over the original. I shouldn't be complaining too much since they still make the 600s. Also, when the 650s first came out, they were significantly more expensive than 600s but now sometimes you can snag one for even lower than the 600s. Oh well.

Re. the 800s I have been curious about them but not found an easy way to audition them in far off India. Surprisingly they did not have them front and center at the AES (maybe they did but I didn't see them). If I had a "Flagship" I would certainly not want to hide it ... anyway.

When I can't have bleed or am working outdoors, I have the ATH M50s and found them a joy to use.

Baithak

[bishopthomas]

I also use the M50's and enjoy them much more than my 280's. But I haven't tried any of the high end Senny's yet.

[Petrus]

I also have the Audio Technica ATH M50 cans, very good on location headphones, good isolation but slightly bass heavy (not necessarily a bad thing out there). I confess I got the HD800 phones just last friday, and have been sitting listening my old recordings with a stupid grin on my face...

And doing fixes on my mixes...

[Kolt45]

i use Sennheiser 437's.

I don't know alot about all this stuff, but they work really good for me!

[Baithak]

Originally Posted by Petrus

I also have the Audio Technica ATH M50 cans, very good on location headphones, good isolation but slightly bass heavy (not necessarily a bad thing out there). I confess I got the HD800 phones just last friday, and have been sitting listening my old recordings with a stupid grin on my face...

And doing fixes on my mixes...

Petrus you are killing me. I don't want the 800s to be that good, I don't want them to be that good ... I can already feel my resolve weakening. OK maybe I will just make a bigger effort to audition them. Just one teeny tiny listen can't hurt anyone.

Baithak

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Baithak

....... Just one teeny tiny listen can't hurt anyone.

I wouldn't be so sure - one teeny listen and I bought a pair (HD 800)

[DCtoDaylight]

Others here are probably better able to discuss the fine points, but I'll just say that I migrated from my old AKG 240s to a pair of Senn 650s a little over a year ago, and I've loved them. I didn't listen to the 600s so I can't compare the two, but I can say that the feeling was similar to putting on a new pair of glasses with a proper prescription - everything's *there* and in focus all of a sudden. Do be aware that there's a breakin period - mine sounded a little clattery at first but smoothed out nicely after being left to play for a day or so.

[BrianHanke]

Many thanks to everyone for the wonderful suggestions! I've narrowed my choice down to either the HD 600 or K 702. Both can be had for under $300 new on eBay. I couldn't find any HD 580s anywhere online...

[Yannick]

I just compared a K702 to a HD650.



Buy the HD600 or HD650 ...

[BrianHanke]

What difference did you notice? What did you not like about the AKGs?

Originally Posted by Yannick

I just compared a K702 to a HD650.



Buy the HD600 or HD650 ...

[Yannick]

On orchestral recordings this was very obvious: a huge hole where the upper bass-lower mid should be.

Makes it very transparant sounding, very hifi ... Lot's of lows and highs, very clean sound. But a big hole. A big nono for soundchecks.

And while on one thread there is talk about Sennheiser quality control on the MKH800 series, the K702 we tested was resonating badly on the left side whenever a marimba playd a high B. bzzz bzzz bzzz

It was new out of the box, which means no quality control on what is a 400 euro headphone ?

[Petrus]

I have had buzzing problems on two pairs (out of 3...) of high class monitor headphones: a loose bead of soldering tin rattling inside the driver. One (Sony) I could open myself, the other one (Audio Technica) I had to take to the service to have it opened.

After that everything was perfect.

[didier.brest]

From which European Internet shop can one order an HD 800?

[Yannick]

only authorized dealers, no online shops ...

[Bixby]

Originally Posted by Yannick

On orchestral recordings this was very obvious: a huge hole where the upper bass-lower mid should be.

Makes it very transparant sounding, very hifi ... Lot's of lows and highs, very clean sound. But a big hole. A big nono for soundchecks.

/cut/

It was new out of the box, which means no quality control on what is a 400 euro headphone ?

I believe the AKGs require a couple hundred hours of break-in to get the bass happening.

[brock]

Originally Posted by Bixby

I believe the AKGs require a couple hundred hours of break-in to get the bass happening.

I bought a pair of k702's and had heard that was the case as well. Burned them in for 250+, still no bass. Very nice mids and highs but the bass is completely non-existent. If you think that you could mix or track on those things, you have another thing coming. They are only good for music that doesn't have much bass, ie. orchestral. The Sennheiser HD600's are also more neutral to my ear than the HD650's. I bought the 650's and sold my 600's sight unseen, thinking they would be an improvement. The 600's are very very nice, the 650's are too bass heavy in my opinion.

[DCtoDaylight]

Originally Posted by brock

The Sennheiser HD600's are also more neutral to my ear than the HD650's. I bought the 650's and sold my 600's sight unseen, thinking they would be an improvement. The 600's are very very nice, the 650's are too bass heavy in my opinion.

I've heard this opinion from a couple of people here, and I've also heard people complain that the 650s have no bass at all! I guess it just shows the range of options and perspectives out there.

To my ear, the 650s are pretty well balanced - the bass is there, but not hyped....but to be sure, I *am* coming from the 240s, which by comparison are massively bass-y.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by didier.brest

From which European Internet shop can one order an HD 800?

You can't - it's not available on-line.

Specialist dealers only.

Your local Sennheiser agent will be able to let you know who has it.

[roonsbane]

I am a very happy 580 user myself. I had a very meticulous former coworker who once auditioned the Benchmark DAC, the original 901 Grace DAC converter headphone amp, as well as 580, 600's and 650 over the course of several weeks. Everyone agreed the 650's were the the most inaccurate. I believe I remember them as being flabby in the low mids. He ended up going with the Grace 901 and I believe keeping his 580's. He was very prepared to spend the money on whatever was the "best". He is quite a fine engineer.

I also have custom molded etymotic's and 7506's which use on location when necessary. I wish there was a closed design equivalent to the 580 series.

Cameron

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by John Willett

I wouldn't be so sure - one teeny listen and I bought a pair (HD 800)

I'm thinking about grabbing a pair; I'm thinking Monday is the day to make it happen.

[avebr]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

I'm thinking about grabbing a pair; I'm thinking Monday is the day to make it happen.

For so much money I would try an electrostatic... Stax?

Even if a bit more expensive.


all the best,
ave.

[Remoteness]

...and, how would the Stax fair on the road on all sorts of location productions?

[avebr]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

...and, how would the Stax fair on the road on all sorts of location productions?

Maybe a little more cumbersome than the Sennheisers?

People from BIS usually bring Staxes and electrostatic panels (!?!) to in-situ recordings... And Tony Faulkner (his work is great!) ?

Let's go crazy!


all the best,
ave.

PS: surely a dynamic headphone is more 'portable', trouble-free...

PS2: I would/will bring the HD600 to the road, and keep the Stax in the studio!

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by avebr

...I would/will bring the HD600 to the road, and keep the Stax in the studio!

Unless you're Tony Faulkner.
Hey, it should not be a problem if they're properly taken care.