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- Specially designed acoustic silk ensures precision damping over the entire frequency range and helps to reduce THD to an incredible 0.05%
- Improved frequency response is 10 – 39,500 Hz (-10 dB)
- Hand-selected matched driver elements
- High power neodymium magnets deliver maximum efficiency
- Lightweight aluminum voice coils for very fast transient response
Product Description
The HD 650 has superbly low harmonic distortion and precision sound reproduction across the entire frequency range. The bass is well ballanced and crisp, with authentic deep bass reproduction. The trble and mid range are well ballanced and ensure superbly realistic voice reproduction. Instrumental music pleasantly natural and yet lower notes clear and vibrant.Amazon.com Hands-On Review
The Sennheiser HD 650 open-air dynamic headphone is a music lover’s dr
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So headphone.com calls them “simply the world’s best headphone.” I can’t speak for the Grado or AKG contenders. I can say that they’re better than my Sennheiser 590’s, and that is shocking.
Which leads me to my first (and probably most important) point about this headphone. They cost a lot. A whole lot. Sennheiser has many units, including the 580, 590, 595, 600, and 650 (among many others), which could be construed as ‘reference’ quality. You’ll spend about half as much on one of the 5xx models as you will on the 650. So if you were to ask me whether the 650 is *twice as good* (that is to say, it costs more in proportion to its increased capability), I’ll tell you no, probably not. I might just not buy them, given the decision again. Perhaps if the price came down a bit.
At any rate, they are really a superb headphone. The sound is really incredible. You never really realize what you’re missing in a recording until you’ve heard it through a set like this. You can hear the saliva in the back of a vocalist’s throat. I’m not kidding. Everything is reproduced clearly, accurately, crisply, and I’ve yet to find any recording (Vocal, Classical, Electronic, etc) that can tax them. I suppose I’ll stop trying to some day, but it’s just wonderful to hear the headphones doing their job.
The construction is far more solid than the 590’s are. Where there is plastic on the 590, you see metal and (no kidding) Kevlar. They are more attractive. They are also quite a bit heavier. They have a 1/4″ connector instead of the more customary 1/8″ mini connector — this doesn’t particularly bother me, I’ll get to it in a minute.
Like the 590, they are an open headphone. That is, they are not “sealed” or “isolated”. Sound from around you will seep in, and it is possible for others to hear what you are listening to (somewhat).
They are less comfortable. My guess is because of the metal band, the “spring” mechanism that keeps them round is tighter than the 590’s, and it pinches. It really feels as though somebody is compressing your head. The ear cups are fine. They are almost identical to the 590’s, but a little larger.
So, you probably wouldn’t be here if you didn’t know you needed an amplifier for these headphones (this is where the 1/4″ plug comes in). However, it bears mentioning that you should not even consider buying these cans without first buying a capable amplifier. The PPA/PIMETA amps are cheapish, and Headphone.com has some that will work fine. To demonstrate this, you’ll need another headphone and the 650. Connect the other headphone to your amplifier. Listen at a comfortable level. Then, relax a second, and attach the 650. The first thing you should notice is that the white noise is gone. The second thing — other than the sound quality, of course — is that it is much quieter. These cans need a lot of power to drive them effectively. Look at their specifications and you will understand (300 ohms of impedance!).
Buy em if you want the best and aren’t afraid to spend the $$. Buy the 590’s or 595’s if what you need is a stellar headphone and you don’t want to spend too much. Use the extra money to buy yourself an amp. You’ll need it.
Rating: 5 / 5
SOUNDSTAGE: Some people claim that the 650 puts you at a distance from the music, “a few rows back.” That is nonsense. On some recordings the music is right in the center of my head. If you want immediacy and closeness, simply search for the right recording. The HD 650 offers a deeply recessed, “three dimensional” soundfield. Nice feeling of space all around. Maybe it could be a little wider.
COMFORT: The cups are relatively deep. They don’t squash your ears or make them sweat. On the whole, however, comfort is only slightly on the plus side. They still feel stiff after years of use and, for some reason, the left earcup drives me crazy sometimes and I keep having to adjust it. The positive side: since they grip your head firmly, the bridge stays in place at the top of your head. The 650 feels much better than phones with shallower cups that squash your ears. The velour earpads can be replaced, which is good because earpads often wear down on headphones. The ultra-soft, velvetlike velour is much better than pleather, which can peel or flake with time. Very sturdy phones, but I wish Sennheiser had made them more comfortable.
THE “DARK VEIL”: Do these phones sound “darkly veiled,” as critics claim? Systems vary, but at least playing them on my equipment they do sound dark, especially with the factory cable. The 650 user’s guide says: “In spite of all purism and the highest demands on precise sound reproduction . . . [t]oday many music-lovers want to feel the sound more instead of plainly analyzing it. The HD now captivates your senses where you used to be a mere observer. It allows total submersion into an ocean of music.” I take this to mean that the main difference between the 650 and its HD predecessors is that it favors balance over precision. Classical music tends to sound too bright (i.e., bass-impoverished) on headphones, so Sennheiser tried to balance things by reinforcing the low end. However, other reviewers claim that there simply is no “dark veil.” But then why does Sennheiser say “in spite of all purism”? It seems to me that Sennheiser is admitting that the 650 isn’t neutral. The 650 has a smooth, dark sound that lets it be marvelously easy on the ears, with none of the high frequency headaches you get after listening for a while to other phones. You can listen to the 650 for many hours and not get fatigued.
I was disappointed with the sound when I first got them. I was expecting something more neutral. The phones sounded muddy. Because of this, I gave them only three stars. But after a transcendent experience listening to Sinopoli’s recording of “The Flying Dutchman,” and after noticing how non-fatiguing the 650 is (even with Cheryl Studer’s piercing voice), I realized that these are five star phones. Just be prepared for a little “darkness.”
TO AMP OR NOT TO AMP: As long as you have a good source such as a high-end home system with a good headphone jack (and a good recording!), these phones sound excellent. According to popular observation, the 650 should be “juiced up” with lots of electricity. Supposedly, they truly come alive only when properly powered on the best amps. However, they sound excellent just plugged into my CD changer. But their sound slightly changes depending on whether I plug the 650 into my CD changer, my receiver, or my HeadRoom amp, so it might sound a little different on your system than it does on mine or somebody else’s.
BUILD QUALITY: The interior of the padded bridge is made of a hard, flexible metal that won’t be cracking or breaking any time soon. The phones are sturdy without being heavy. The parts that would normally be plastic on cheaper phones are reinforced with carbon fiber, making them light yet strong. With proper care, they should last a lifetime. After dropping them hard three or four times, they finally did require repairing, though. (One of the drivers got dislodged.)
LEAKY: Thanks to the wide open grills, these are the leakiest phones I’ve ever heard. They are not to be worn if you need to keep noise in or out.
CARDAS CABLE: You can replace the factory cable that comes with the 650 (just pull out the old cable and plug in the new). I chose to upgrade to the Cardas, which is specifically designed for the HD line. The Cardas is sensitive, producing contact noise when rubbed or tapped in certain places. Is the difference between the stock and Cardas cables that huge? The Cardas brightens the sound, adding some clarity. But the cable is more unwieldy than the factory cable, which is lighter and more supple, so if you move around a lot while listening to your headphones or require total comfort and flexibility, save yourself some money and stick with the stock cable. The Cardas cable always seems to be in my way when I move around. I keep stepping on it, and it has caused the phones to drop to the floor several times. The Cardas cable is thick and gray. Its color-coded (black/red) wires make it look like something from workshop: unpretentious and functional. But if you don’t mind the unwieldiness or barebonesness of the Cardas, I strongly suggest ugrading because it does brighten up the sound and give it an extra sparkle. The improvement is noticeable.
STORAGE: The earpads are made of a soft, plush, velvety material that feels great against the skin. However, the muffs attract a lot of lint and dust if you leave the headphones out. The hard case they come in does a good job protecting, but it is large and not very convenient for quick, everyday storage. A soft, cinched cloth sack would have been nice for easy everyday storage and dust protection. By contrast, my 280s don’t collect any dust at all.
BREAK-IN TIME: What is this stuff about “burning the phones in”? Is there any truth to it? I asked somebody at the HeadRoom company, which deals specifically with headphones and headphone gear. He said yes, the diaphragm has to loosen up a little to sound its best. Lesson: don’t judge the 650 overnight. Give it some time. It might pleasantly surprise you.
WHAT SOUNDS GOOD ON THESE PHONES AND WHAT DOESN’T: You might listen to a favorite recording and be disappointed with it on the 650. You will be tempted to blame the headphones, but the fault will likely be in the recording. These phones must only be judged on the basis of fine recordings. My one point of contention is that they are ever slightly too dark, and perhaps a bit too glassy and smooth. But I’m willing to accept this as a trade off, since even the high frequencies are relatively easy on the ears. I rather have this than phones that make my ears ring after only an hour or two of listening because of the unbearable highs. That they are so easy on my hearing makes these my favorite phones for long classical works such as Wagner’s Ring or Bruckner’s 8th.
BOTTOM LINE: The 650 sounds great OR terrible depending on the recording. The HD 650 is not for purists or technicians who require the most accurate or neutral reproduction, as they sound a little “dark.” They are phones to enjoy and relish at home. I don’t like the way most rock sounds on them, but there are exceptions. For instance, I love listening to Radiohead’s OK COMPUTER on these phones. Generally, pop and rock music that has been well studio-engineered sounds excellent. But, if what I have read is correct, people who mostly listen to rock should look at Grado and AKG headsets. The 650 doesn’t make me hate my speakers, but it is STILL an excellent choice for listening to music, especially classical.
WARNING: After mailing my headphones to Sennheiser for repair, I was called and told there was a problem because they were not purchased from an authorized dealer. I purchased them brand new here at Amazon from ELECTRONICA DIRECT, a seller often featured right on the product page. Sennheiser told me that I probably purchased stolen phones. Shoppers who want the warranty honored SHOULD NOT BUY FROM ELECTRONICA DIRECT or any unauthorized dealer. Verify that the seller you are buying from is recognized by Sennheiser. Sennheiser was finally kind enough to repair (actually they replaced) the phones after I complained up the chain, but it was a hassle.
Rating: 3 / 5
As a lover of classical music I am a confirmed headphone listener. No set of speakers will offer the same amount of detail, most living rooms will add acoustic distortions, and many of us are not lucky enough to be able to play Mahler or Shostakovich at full power on a daily basis without getting into trouble with the neighbours.
For years I have been very happy with the Sony CD1700, an excellent headphone which is my point of reference for evaluating the HD650. The rest of my hifi set-up consists of a Marantz cd7300 CD player, PM7200 amplifier, and Musical Fidelity X-Can v3 headphone amplifier (a mandatory commodity if you intend to spend serious money on a headphone like this one). Also, I invested in the Cardas replacement cable for the HD650.
It is often said phones like this one need a ‘break in’ period. I used to regard this merely as snobbish audiophile technobabble – but found it to be actually true. Initially, I was less than pleased with the sound of the HD650, to put it mildly. Mid-range, mezzoforte strings (which make up a VERY large part of orchestral music!) sounded grey and weirdly disembodied. Stereo separation was exaggerated while the middle part of the soundstage seemed empty. Compared to the breezy, open sound of the Sony, the Sennheiser seemed compressed and less immediately involving.
Things were not helped by the fact that the wearing comfort of these cans is markedly inferior to that of the Sony. The HD650 has fairly small shells that are not ideal if your ears aren’t quite that small. Also, they are clamped against the head rather tightly, which is not entirely pleasant. The Sony, by contrast, simply lets you forget you are wearing it.
But then, after about 50 hours of listening, things had changed rather much. Not with regard to the wearing comfort, obviously, though you do get used to the way the HD650 feels; – but soundwise. The sound had opened up completely; not only is it now as fresh and involving as that of the Sony, it is clearly superior. Everything is incredibly focused, tightly in place, resulting in a very clean sound picture. The bass is far superior to the Sony, and is noticeably warmer. Bass drum strokes or double bass pizzicati sound nothing short of sensational. Instrumental colours are marvellously defined throughout the orchestral ranges. The level of detail is quite simply stunning. I am not exagerrating when I say that I’ve heard new things in nearly every disc I played until now (in an old-time favourite, Bernstein’s DG recording of Stravinsky’s Les Noces, I was bowled over by the precision with which the four piano’s, which had always sounded as a single instrument to me, were individually separated). Interestingly, a sense of underlying energy is retained even in the softest passages; I notice that with this headphone large scale symphonic works may sound completely satisfying even when played at fairly low volume.
All in all, I am now extremely pleased with this acquisition. It is hard to imagine that headphone sound can be much better. Listening to a well-recorded disc (and beware! these cans will mercilessly reveal which discs aren’t so well recorded) you can easily imagine yourself to be sitting in the concert hall.
As a postscript: I am less sure about the cable issue. Many HD650 owners advise the replacement of Sennheiser’s stock cable with a Cardas cable. Now, I always have the feeling that in these more esoteric regions of audiophilia, there is somewhere a point where actual sound improvements become extremely minimal, and myth or even madness set in. Yet, as I was splurging anyway, for once I went the whole hog and bought myself the Cardas cable, too. Frankly; you don’t really need it. I will not go so far as to say it doesn’t make a difference; it does. There is, at times, an extra sparkle to the sound. But it certainly is not a prerequisite to fully enjoy the wonders of the HD650 (quite apart from the fact that the Cardas cable is a hideously ugly thing to behold, makes the phones far more cumbersome to wear, and unlike the thinner, more supple stock cable causes contact noise).
Rating: 5 / 5
Rumor has it that Sennheiser will be introducing a new top of the line headphone early next year, so if you’re not in a huge hurry, you might wait to see if the HD 650s will be dropped from the product line. If they are, you’ll probably be able to pick up a pair at a reduced price.
The HD650s are great headphones, but they are not perfect. However, neither is anything else. I’ve (at one time or another) owned the top offerings from the “Big 3″ makers of dynamic headphones: Sennheiser, AKG, and Grado. I’ve also tried Ultrasones. Each brand has a distinctive “house sound.” Translation: some recordings will sound better on one brand than the others and vice-versa.
The 650s have a warm, laid-back sound…with a bit of hump in the bass frequencies. This is a mixed blessing. It helps out some recordings, but leaves others sounding a bit too bassy. If you are using them on a portable amp (which will have less prodigious bass than a home unit due to power supply limitations), the slight bass hump may really help the sound. On the upside, the midrange and high frequencies on the HD 650s are totally smooth, the phones have a great soundstage, and they are fairly comfortable. To get the most from them though, you will need a separate headphone amplifier.
I use my pair with an aftermarket Cardas cable. To my ears, the difference (and improvement) in reproduction was there from the start. The Cardas cable opened up the mid and high ranges over what I got with the stock cable. However, I can’t say you won’t be happy with the HD 650s without a replacement cable. We all hear things a bit differently due to the shapes of our outer ears. To some people, the Sennheiser line has a slightly veiled sound. A Grado will sound like you are on the front row or on the stage itself. A Sennheiser will place you a few rows back in the hall.
A bit further down, someone recommends the HD 600s over the HD 650s. I say try them both out. I find the high ranges on the 650s to sound a bit smoother and they are perhaps a bit more extended. On the other hand, the HD 600s do not have a bass hump. The differences in sound are apparent, so try both out if you can before buying.
Even though this review may strike the reader as being a bit negative, it’s really not. My hope is that it’s a realistic assessment from a listener who is not a fanboy or a pimp for any brand. Is the HD 650 the best dynamic headphone out there? Maybe… maybe not. Let your own ears be the judge. I love my HD 650s and can’t see myself selling them anytime soon. However, I also own two other pairs of headphones from other manufacturers and find myself rotating between them all periodically.
Rating: 4 / 5
My review should end there. But for those who need to know more, here’s my take. My head-amp is a Musical Fidelity XCan-V3 and I use the Cardas replacement cable. I also own Sennheiser HD600s, AKG K701s and Beyerdynamic DT880s. Each has its special qualities, and all are superb. I listen mainly to classical music, so let’s talk concert halls. The Sennheisers are like a “warm” 19th century hall: think Symphony Hall in Boston or the “old” (before the 90s refurbishment) Carnegie Hall. (The AKGs and Beyerdynamic phones are like a 20th century hall and are “airy” and exciting. In fact, the Beyerdynamic phones, to my ears, emphasize sibilants but are otherwise superb. The AKGs “throw the best soundstage” and their presentation almost seems as if it is coming from somewhere outside of my head, which is very unusual for a headphone and quite beguiling. If forced to choose, I’d probably narrow it down to the HD650s and the K701s.) As for any differences between the two Sennheisers, I prefer the HD650s. My HD600s are about 5 years old (I don’t think I’ve put in more than 500 hours with them, though) and they sound slightly “grainy” compared to the HD650s. The HD650s respond to transients faster and are thereofore somewhat clearer and more involving, to my ears. Again, all of this is very subjective, but I was just listening (through the HD650s) to the new Abbado recording of Mozart’s “Zauberflote” and I have never heard a celesta sound so beautiful and ethereal. But be forewarned: No matter what anyone says (and several professional reviewers claim that they are quite comfortable), the HD650s are a far tighter fit than the HD600s. They grasp the sides of my head with some force, but this becomes less acute after a few moments. I can also somewhat alleviate the pressure by pushing outward on the earcups from time to time and by adjusting the rake angle of the earcups so they they are angled more to the back of my head than to the front. I strongly recommend that you try them on for comfort before buying. (In contrast, the Beyerdynamic phones are extremely comfortable on my head, even more comfortable than the HD600s, and are just about the most comfortable “high-end” phones out there that I have tried, but the sibilant emphasis issue is important to me.) Remember these are headphones. First, if you’re uncomfortable wearing them, they’re likely to stay unused; and second, they may likely sound different to you than they do to me because our ears are shaped differently. It is very important to listen to headphones before you buy.
Rating: 5 / 5