What do you think?

"Asterix" wrote in message
news:5nOad.3850$Rp4.1095@trnddc01
Hi,

trying to gain insight into these phones... they have a fascinating
character that I getting used to. Definately a high-quality, detailed
sound but maybe a little bit bright and stinging (not-so-mellow) and
somehow tainted with a sort of coating of some sort. That's my major
gripe. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? It's as if the phones
were designed with primarily pop and rock music in mind (not
classical like the hd600 'symphony'.) The response is not flat and
there is something tiresome about it. Nonetheless I can't seem to put
them down, since the sound is very immersive and sensous.

So what's going on here, are you suffering from buyer's remorse?

"Jerry G." wrote in message

I would suggest you listen to them, and judge buy what you hear. Also,
visit the various sites that give out opinion, but in the end, you
must trust what you hear. Sennheiser is a reputable manufacture of
professional audio equipment with a very high reputation for all their
products.

The irony is that the OP already owns them.

Arny Krueger wrote:

"Asterix" wrote in message
news:5nOad.3850$Rp4.1095@trnddc01
Hi,

trying to gain insight into these phones... they have a fascinating
character that I getting used to. Definately a high-quality, detailed
sound but maybe a little bit bright and stinging (not-so-mellow) and
somehow tainted with a sort of coating of some sort. That's my major
gripe. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? It's as if the phones
were designed with primarily pop and rock music in mind (not
classical like the hd600 'symphony'.) The response is not flat and
there is something tiresome about it. Nonetheless I can't seem to put
them down, since the sound is very immersive and sensous.

So what's going on here, are you suffering from buyer's remorse?


Arny, that's one of the things I really like about you--right to
the point! I very much think I would like to meet you personally
some day. :-)

I think I empathize with the OP questions as I've been there
before. You get a system put together and it does so many things
just "right" to your liking but there's this one thing that
doesn't fit into your comfort zone the way you want it to. In
order to decide what to do about it, you need to get a better
handle on exactly what "it" is. I've always found that getting
other's opinions and interpretations was always beneficial to me,
even if I end up disagreeing with them. Ultimately the increase
in understanding of the problem winds up with you replacing the
component or changing something else to balance out the things
you don't like about it but enabling you to keep what you do like.

Anyway, responding to the OP's question, I'm not familiar with
the 650's but I did use the 580 and 600s a lot prior to loosing
my job a way's back (and subsequently most of my audio equipment)
:-( The 580 and 600 phones are extremely similar. If you know of
anywhere you could get a pair to borrow for a while, listen to
them at length and use them in comparison with the 650's. The
600s or 580s may be a bit less fatiquing to listen than the 650s
and that might be what you are experiencing. Also, because the
580/600 phones are similar in other ways to the 650s, it could
help you get a better handle on what it is that doesn't seem
quite "right" to you.

Also, the electronics driving the phones can have subtle
differences in the way the final sound is presented. Some of the
phones like the 600's can also sound better with an external
headphone amp that can better drive the higher impedance phones
so you might want to experiment there too if you really like most
of how the 650's sound.

- Jeff

The
600s or 580s may be a bit less fatiquing to listen than the 650s
and that might be what you are experiencing.

They are! (I own a pair of 580's) Not only that but the 580's sound more
accurate/even in terms of the tonal spectrum.

Some of the
phones like the 600's can also sound better with an external
headphone amp that can better drive the higher impedance phones
so you might want to experiment there too if you really like most
of how the 650's sound.

Absolutely, these headphones require an amp, and since the 650's are so
extraordinarily sensitive, a good quality one is necessary to reap the
benefits of these higher end phones. My $50 cmoy amp just doesn't cut it. I
am considering upgrading to a Ray Samuels Audio Emmeline SR-71 portable
solid-state amp.

On my Luxman tube amp, with 2 EL34's/channel in a push/pull configuration
(35 watts/channel,) the 650's reveal everything. The sweet, laid-back sound
of the tubes comes right through. Everything is there. Not to mention the
improvements in the sound all the way from the deepest bass to piercing high
notes. These headphones sound amazingly in tune (perhaps because they are
made with a diaphragm of variable strength tuned by ear) as well.

What I don't like about them is that they are not as laid-back as the 580's.
The 580's make it feel like you are in the center of the audience, not right
next to the instrumentalist. They simply are a pleasure on my ears from that
regard. But at the same time they don't reveal all of the details and
nuances that the 650's can. They also don't have as pure a sound, without as
much sparkle and shine.

The 650's are great phones but the 580/600 may be more listenable.
Personally I can't put the 650's down because of the good things it offers.
I just wish it would more like the 580/600 in terms of basic listenability.

Asterix



"Jeff Wiseman" wrote in message
...


Arny Krueger wrote:

"Asterix" wrote in message
news:5nOad.3850$Rp4.1095@trnddc01
Hi,

trying to gain insight into these phones... they have a fascinating
character that I getting used to. Definately a high-quality, detailed
sound but maybe a little bit bright and stinging (not-so-mellow) and
somehow tainted with a sort of coating of some sort. That's my major
gripe. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? It's as if the phones
were designed with primarily pop and rock music in mind (not
classical like the hd600 'symphony'.) The response is not flat and
there is something tiresome about it. Nonetheless I can't seem to put
them down, since the sound is very immersive and sensous.

So what's going on here, are you suffering from buyer's remorse?


Arny, that's one of the things I really like about you--right to
the point! I very much think I would like to meet you personally
some day. :-)

I think I empathize with the OP questions as I've been there
before. You get a system put together and it does so many things
just "right" to your liking but there's this one thing that
doesn't fit into your comfort zone the way you want it to. In
order to decide what to do about it, you need to get a better
handle on exactly what "it" is. I've always found that getting
other's opinions and interpretations was always beneficial to me,
even if I end up disagreeing with them. Ultimately the increase
in understanding of the problem winds up with you replacing the
component or changing something else to balance out the things
you don't like about it but enabling you to keep what you do like.

Anyway, responding to the OP's question, I'm not familiar with
the 650's but I did use the 580 and 600s a lot prior to loosing
my job a way's back (and subsequently most of my audio equipment)
:-( The 580 and 600 phones are extremely similar. If you know of
anywhere you could get a pair to borrow for a while, listen to
them at length and use them in comparison with the 650's. The
600s or 580s may be a bit less fatiquing to listen than the 650s
and that might be what you are experiencing. Also, because the
580/600 phones are similar in other ways to the 650s, it could
help you get a better handle on what it is that doesn't seem
quite "right" to you.

Also, the electronics driving the phones can have subtle
differences in the way the final sound is presented. Some of the
phones like the 600's can also sound better with an external
headphone amp that can better drive the higher impedance phones
so you might want to experiment there too if you really like most
of how the 650's sound.

- Jeff

Asterix wrote:
stuff deleted
What I don't like about them is that they are not as laid-back as the 580's.
The 580's make it feel like you are in the center of the audience, not right
next to the instrumentalist. They simply are a pleasure on my ears from that
regard. But at the same time they don't reveal all of the details and
nuances that the 650's can. They also don't have as pure a sound, without as
much sparkle and shine.

The 650's are great phones but the 580/600 may be more listenable.
Personally I can't put the 650's down because of the good things it offers.
I just wish it would more like the 580/600 in terms of basic listenability.


In my previous note I suggested to comparitively listen to both
the 580/600 and the 650 for long periods in order to get a better
feel for the differences. Don't discount the possibility that the
differences may be mutually exclusive. I.e., it may not be
posssible to have both attributes that you want at the same time.
Some folks will have two pair so that they just pick up the pair
who's sound is what they are in the mood for at the time.

I've run into this before but for the convenience and cost I
usually pick what satisfies me "most" (like 90%) of the time. For
example, I had a Maxed Out Home phone amp that I really liked.
Although it added a subtle tonal variation that I wasn't really
thrilled with when its processor was turned on, it was slight
enough and I liked the more relaxing sense the processor gave so
I normally used it with the processor on (although occasionally I
would turn it off depending on how I felt at the time).

If you discover the differences ARE mutually exclusive to you and
your satisfaction is only 60% of the time or less, you might
consider getting two different sets of phones. Again though,
you'll really only be able to figure this out with some
comparisons over a longer period of time.

- Jeff