Sennheiser HD650 Review (Headphone)

[Somafunk]

I’m considering the HD 650/HD 600 or perhaps the Audeze MM 100, the bass response looks quite anaemic on the HD’s so how well do they take to eq as I pretty much listen to electronic music 90% of the time?

 

[staticV3]

I’m considering the HD 650/HD 600 or perhaps the Audeze MM 100, the bass response looks quite anaemic on the HD’s so how well do they take to eq as I pretty much listen to electronic music 90% of the time?

HD600 takes OE2018 bass without audible distortion, but IEMs are way more fun in that regard, imo.

 

[A Surfer]

HD600 takes OE2018 bass without audible distortion, but IEMs are way more fun in that regard, imo.

Unless you're like me and cannot ever get anything to fit (it is impossible for me it seems). As well, IEMs can cause problems associated with tightly sealing a space that is designed to allow airflow, and for me, more importantly, if I remember correctly, hearing damage is more likely when using IEMs.

 

[Somafunk]

but IEMs are way more fun in that regard, imo.

Yeah that’s what held me off buying something so far, just bought a Hiby R6 Gen 3 Dap to play with around the house along with my 7Hz Zero 2 iem’s and I have the new Kiwi Ears Singolo colab with Crinacle that should be here by the end of the week, I guess iem’s are always going to give more vfm but sometimes a headphone would be nice to plonk on and have good soundstage, and it’s a different listening experience but I do like good bass response.

 

[staticV3]

but sometimes a headphone would be nice to plonk on and have good soundstage

HD600/650 is the wrong address if you're looking for good soundstage.

 

[Robin L]

HD600/650 is the wrong address if you're looking for good soundstage.

Headphones are the wrong addresses if you're looking for good soundstage. I've never heard any headphones that produced a realistic soundstage. The closest I've experienced were Stax "Earspeakers" but they were quite limited, with no real depth. Other than that, headphones are mostly in the head as regards soundstage.

 

[Somafunk]

Ahh……well. I guess I’ll stick to my iem’s when I want an audible change from my Dynaudio setup

 

[Robbo99999]

I’m considering the HD 650/HD 600 or perhaps the Audeze MM 100, the bass response looks quite anaemic on the HD’s so how well do they take to eq as I pretty much listen to electronic music 90% of the time?

HD600 bass EQ to Harman didn't really work well for me - I found the bass really quite woolly & lacking detail, I put it down to the distortion issues. It certainly wasn't well-defined bass.

 

[WhereTheTimeWent]

@amirm Do you still use the same EQ preset from the review with the HD 650? If not, could we get a screenshot of your current EQ profile? Thank you!

 

[Angel II]

I attach the mapping of my HD650. Slider resolution 2.5 dB (e.g. 7.5dB at 25Hz). I'm still working on this curve.. reat to hear with the Violectric V200 and DAC schiit.

 

[SATB]

I got an HD650 a week before I got a Salnotes Zero and they nearly sounded identical to me outside of the better bass of the Salnotes. I've made my case for keeping the HD650 because they are infinitely more comfortable to me for longer use than the Salnotes, but I am enjoying how similar they are to me and having the option to use each for when the situation is right.

 

[Robbo99999]

I got an HD650 a week before I got a Salnotes Zero and they nearly sounded identical to me outside of the better bass of the Salnotes. I've made my case for keeping the HD650 because they are infinitely more comfortable to me for longer use than the Salnotes, but I am enjoying how similar they are to me and having the option to use each for when the situation is right.

You can't deny the bass though! Fortunately you can EQ the HD650 and get a bit of that bass back. My experience with HD600 though is that doesn't respond great to greatly increased bass EQ, as in I don't find it very detailed/defined bass after EQ. Your HD650 will be a bit different to my HD600 but there are similarities, but HD600 was very nice tonally after putting in something like a +3dB Low Shelf at 70Hz, it didn't seem to like an Oratory EQ. For the HD600 I liked the pure unadulterated nature of it with only that little bass shelf attached, which is contrary to my normal way of laying on EQ to my other headphones where I modify everything. HD650 is different though, but quite similar, so you might benefit by just putting on a little bass shelf, probably just very slightly less bass EQ than I suggest given the differences between the two headphones in frequency response. I just feel that way about the HD600, I don't think much should be done to it, albeit it's not my favourite headphone.