Headphone amps, are they bollocks?

[Floyddroid]

I've not heard the HD-600s.
Are they anything like the HD-650s?
If so, that could well be why you can't hear any real differences between amplifiers.

I have heard HD-560s, and they're far more accurate than the HD-650s.

The 600's sit between the 650 and 590. The 650 are a lot smoother and to me sounded a little dull where as the 600's are a bit livelier. I sold my 590's on as they were a little raucous for me.

[Stratmangler]

The 600's sit between the 650 and 590. The 650 are a lot smoother and to me sounded a little dull where as the 600's are a bit livelier. I sold my 590's on as they were a little raucous for me.

The raucous bit is interesting.
My friend with the NAD3020 has the HD-560s, and he hated them driven by the NAD. Said that they ripped his head off.
We stuck a decent headphone amp in front of them (ie my Graham Slee Solo SRG II) and he was quite literally blown away - the grip and dynamics were something he'd never heard before, and the cans no longer made a sound to rip his head off.

Just to pour a bit more petrol on the flames, I use AKG K702s, because they have a pretty flat response and sound right to me.
The HD-650s on the other hand sounded as thought someone had dropped a blanket on them. To get any detail out of them in the high frequencies I had to turn them up, and then they were too loud and made my ears ring after listening to an album. Could be where the Sennheisers developed a reputation for needing a grippy stage.

I had the opportunity to hear some HD-700s up at wee tee cee's place a few months back - I wish I'd given them a drive ....

[RMutt]

Chris. I’ve got HD 700’s your are more than welcome to try for week or so if you wish.

[Stratmangler]

Chris. I’ve got HD 700’s your are more than welcome to try for week or so if you wish.

Thanks Andrew.
I shall take you up on your kind offer.
It will be most interesting if their response is more akin to that of my AKGs

[wee tee cee]

Thanks Andrew.
I shall take you up on your kind offer.
It will be most interesting if their response is more akin to that of my AKGs

Chris,
I found with both 650s and 700s removing the inner foams make a significant difference.

HPAs make a very real difference sonically-Stans Capella is fantastic in the ability to tune it to different cans for sensible money.

Ive had several HPAs all sounded different but really helped to drive cans properly.

Stans SEG has a variable gain switch behind the volume knob that lets you tune the output to your cans of choice.

Let us know how you get on with 700s-they are a tremendous evolution of the 650s-worth every penny IMHO!

[Sherwood]

The raucous bit is interesting.
My friend with the NAD3020 has the HD-560s, and he hated them driven by the NAD. Said that they ripped his head off.
We stuck a decent headphone amp in front of them (ie my Graham Slee Solo SRG II) and he was quite literally blown away - the grip and dynamics were something he'd never heard before, and the cans no longer made a sound to rip his head off.

Just to pour a bit more petrol on the flames, I use AKG K702s, because they have a pretty flat response and sound right to me.
The HD-650s on the other hand sounded as thought someone had dropped a blanket on them. To get any detail out of them in the high frequencies I had to turn them up, and then they were too loud and made my ears ring after listening to an album. Could be where the Sennheisers developed a reputation for needing a grippy stage.

I had the opportunity to hear some HD-700s up at wee tee cee's place a few months back - I wish I'd given them a drive ....

Did you ever find him again?

Geoff

[Stratmangler]

Did you ever find him again?

Geoff

Eventually.
He was under a bush down the bottom end of the garden