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Sennheiser HD650 and ASL HP amp

Number 6

Number 6

Active Member
I just bought a pair of Sennheiser HD650 headphones, and then an Antique Sound Lab 'MG Head DT OTL MKIII' headphone amp. It's a really nice match, but the headphones and the tube amp both require a lot of break in time. After about one week, I decided I will need to upgrade the tubes in the amp though. It comes stock with Sovtek EL84's, and they are just to bass heavy.

The HD650 headphones initially have a dark, bassy sound which starts to change after about three days of continuous use. They become more full ranged and brighter after a week and much more enjoyable. The MG headphone amp is also still breaking in I think. If anyone is considering this amp, I suggest also factoring the cost of better EL84 tubes.
 
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I'm considering the HD650s so your input helps. Is there any reason why you picked that particular brand and model? How are they for comfort?

Thanks!
 
onepixel said:
I'm considering the HD650s so your input helps. Is there any reason why you picked that particular brand and model? How are they for comfort?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I also have a pair of HD650s, but for quite a few years now, so I thought I'd give you some 100.000 miles feedback. I bought them as a replacement for my previous pair of HD430, an open type headset.

The reason I bought this particular set was a couple of reviews, raving about the low distortion at high SPLs. At the time I was mainly listening through headphones at home so the set was to be the "main speaker set".

The sound was so clear from the first moment that I thought they weren't playing loud. I had assosiated loud music with distortion - and I wasn't getting any. It was my wife that woke up across two closed doors that made me realize the sound level.

They need a bit higher output from the headphone amp compared to other headphones. I don't have a dedicated headphone; just plug them to amps, decks or preamps.

The finish is exceptional and the cushions are made of velvet(ish) fabric. I was afraid that this would tear apart with time and although I'm not anal about taking care of the kit (but this of course has received some special treatment because of the steep price) they are still in perfect condition 4 years later.

They sit comfortable on my head (a large one) and mind you the headphones are large. The pads (cushions) seem to be a bit too long at the bottom (mind you I have a large head) and at times seem to interfere with my jaw if I chew or talk.

Would I prefer a different model?
Well I bought a few sets of CXL400 for me and colleagues. This is an earplug capsule sporting noise cancelation. I used my pair with a portable CD / MP3 player at the beach. A noisy beach. The bass extension of these plugs was astonishing - perhaps a bit more boomy than the HD650. They had audibly higher distortion and noticeably less max SPL and on occasion they clipped. All for 1/10th of the price. Not bad. For beach listening (and occasionally falling asleep) they are great. Tried them at home. For short periods they are fine. To listen a complete album on them - at the midle of side B I get tired.

Is there anything I hate about them?
YES and I hate that thing on all Sennheiser headphones I've seen or used. The cable cord. It is not coiled, it is long and it attaches to the headset with plugs. It inevitably get's caught somewhere and you either yank your head or whatever caught them - something could be dropped and broken then. Inevitably, all this abuse starts to attach the plugs. Eventually you will find yourself pushing these plugs better in as it will start to sound as if the source has dropouts. My set has faintly started doing that on the left channel plug. And btw, this is the main reason I had to replace my previous set - the Sennheiser HD430 - but can't complain there: bought them new in '82 and they lasted through almost daily use until '05. But I had to repair the plugs a couple of times in between.
 
I use the previous generation but nearly identical Sennheiser HD-580 along with a Musical Fidelity X-Can V3 amp. I bought the set lightly used around two years ago and listen mostly in the summer when the windows are open and I don't want to annoy the neighbors.

The over the ear style HD-580 are the most comfortable headphones I've ever owned, the on the ear style phones start to hurt my ears after extended listening and when it's hot build up perspiration too.

At first I didn't like the sound of the HD-580 but soon discovered the brightness was the fault of the Philips JAN tubes in the X-Can, a quick switch to a pair of 6DJ8 Bugle Boy tubes made the HD-580 settle down and really played music, these headphones sound very good and deserve all the praise written about them.

My only criticism of the HD-580 is the velvet fabric ear pad covering seems to attract dust when left out and I worry oil from my skin will stain the fabric too. Don't laugh, I actually wash my face before listening, well at least most times. So far I see no stains and the fact that Sennheiser sells replacement pads is a plus, which reminds me, I should order that extra set now.

The cord must be a personal thing SaSi because I actually prefer the straight Sennheiser cord, at least for me the coiled style cords get tangled up every time I set them down. I also added a Grado straight extension cord and it works well for me.

I recommend anyone considering a good pair of headphones give the Sennheiser a listen.
 
I have 650's also and Sasi pretty well nailed it. They have such low distortion that they can damage your hearing. You just don't realize how loud they are till you notice your ears ringing. But after the first time you'll know not to do that!
 
I forgot to mention that I tested the HD650's with a Shanling solid state headphone amp and the ASL tube headphone amp. I thought they sounded much warmer and more realistic with a tube amp. They are so distortion free and non fatiguing to listen to that I think they are a great value for the money. There might be better sounding headphones available, but at a much higher price. By the way, the HD650's are really tight on your head when you get them. The head band seems to require a significant break in time before it fits you comfortably.

I haven't had a chance to change out the two EL84's on the ASL yet, but I did change the stock EH 12AX7 for a NOS RCA. That alone seemed to smooth the sound somewhat.
 
onepixel said:
I'm considering the HD650s so your input helps. Is there any reason why you picked that particular brand and model? How are they for comfort?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I picked the HD650's because I thought they were good value for the money, considering the great reviews I'd heard from knowledgeable audiophiles. As I said earlier, there are better headphones but they cost two to three times as much. And I also prefer them with a tube amp as opposed to solid state. They are very accurate (but not in a bad sense) so any defects in your source + amp will be apparent. If your spending serious money on headphones, you might as well get a good matching amp to go with it.
 
I've had scads of Sennheisers over the decades and presently have a pair of HD570s, a pair of HD540s, a pair of cheaper Senns I can't remember the model number of (they're at the gym so I don't know the model number) and what are considered the 'poor man's HD650', the HD600s. If there were anything I would change it would be an addition of a bit more low bass. Lots of sound stage, very competent rendition of the mids and treble. In many ways I feel they are only as good as the source material.... the better the material the better they sound. They are extremely musical, and I can't imagine not liking the HD650s! One huge plus is the fact that the cord can be easily replaced without having to perform surgery on the cans - unplug the old cord, plug a new cord in.
 
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