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Post by leporello on Dec 28, 2007 12:22:10 GMT
Dear Friends, I'm still in the process of burning in my newish HD650s and a Solo Green. The HD650s have about 150 hours on them and the Solo about 100hours. Over time I have noticed a steady improvement in my audio quality. I intend to post a detailed account of my experiences with this combination in due course, but there's one thing that continues to bug me about my HD650s is that the bass seems over prominent, particularly with rock or blues. It's not that the detail of bass is badly impaired. It's just that the volume of the bass often seems to overwhelm the melody. I love the Sennheisers for their comfort and for classical music and modern jazz but am less enthusiastic about their rendition of blues and rock. I'd welcome your comments. Will the relative volume of the bass over melody moderate over time with burning in? I've noticed quite a few comments on the bass characteristics of the HD650s. Some seem to like it, others not. If this is a known characteristic of the Sennheisers that can't be changed I'll probably be looking for another set of headphones to complement the HD650s. Failing that, head replacement surgery. Thanks for your attention. P.S. I appear to have been smitten in the last few days and thus been deprived of my single karma award. Seems sneaky and ungenerous to me. Perhaps I'll get it back when my attitude has had time to burn in?
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Post by dc on Dec 28, 2007 12:58:42 GMT
HD600s might be more your cup of tea, or a whole different beast the K701 =)
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leo
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Post by leo on Dec 28, 2007 13:57:22 GMT
I thought the same about the 650's bass, I've said it a few times they remind me of cheap speakers especially the lower end B&W's, I liked the HD600's better, of course its all personnel opinion I still prefer the K701's but only if using a good source, lots of speed and detail which some may find thin and tiring
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Post by merton on Dec 28, 2007 18:15:02 GMT
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leo
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Post by leo on Dec 28, 2007 22:16:51 GMT
I often find two things may measure the same but sound completely different
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Post by fanboi on Dec 28, 2007 22:58:22 GMT
Whilst your observations WRT the 650 and bass emphasis are in line with many other reports and echo my own (admittedly from a very brief audition) - I would draw attention to the fact that at ca 100 hrs, your Solo is far from fully burnt-in, general consensus here seems to be around 400 hrs (see Miguels posts on this). For that reason, I would not be making any replacement decisions for a while yet.
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toad
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Post by toad on Dec 28, 2007 23:30:03 GMT
Fanboi makes a very good point about the solo. When the bass kicked in on my solo it spent a day or so when there was a lot of it but lacking control. A day or two later and it had tightened up considerably. Sennheiser use the Solo as a demo amp for the 650s so they must consider it a good match
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Post by leporello on Dec 29, 2007 11:50:13 GMT
Thanks for your observations re. the Solo and HD650s. Firstly, as a newcomer to high ends 'phones, it was reassuring that my experience of the Sennheisers is reflected in the opinions of more knowledgeable people. It helps me to establish a baseline when comparing my own rather naive experience of particular products with those of others. I have no intention of getting rid of the HD650s as I very much like their rendering of classical music and modern jazz. Listening to old Coltrane tracks is a joy, as is flying with JJ and K on "The Surrey with the Fringe on top,"or any of the old MJQ standards. So I'll persevere with burning in the HD650s and Solo. However, I shall buy another set of cans, possibly closed with polished wood ear cups for more boisterous music. Also, having read through Mike's thread on the Audio Technica W-1000, I'm very tempted to re-furnish my head. I might also try for a set of spectacles with cherrywood frames and gold plated fittings. I've followed Mike's link to pricejapan, got a quote for £219.81 inclusive, have the cash available, but... I could press the pay now button at any time but for now I'm going to continue the exquisite pain of self denial, wearing a pair of Grados with Brillo earpads and listening to some Gangsta rap, clutching my crotch and waving my extended thumb and pinkie over my head.
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Post by merton on Dec 29, 2007 20:03:04 GMT
you're really sadistic you know.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 29, 2007 21:25:02 GMT
Main reason I still have my HD-600, the HD-650 seem to have been tuned for mainstream ears (ie: those used to listening to sub woofers in car boots) definitely a tad overwhelming in the bass dept. I don't know how they pan out in the long run (I only listened to a pair for about 1 hour from new) maybe they neutralise a bit with less emphasis on the bass... dunno but the short listen I had with them was enough to convince me it wasn't worthwhile buying them as I prefered my trusty old HD-600.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Dec 29, 2007 21:31:14 GMT
Just a thought.......... the Solo green has an output impedance of 32 ohm whereas the Solo 2007 has an output impedance of 120 ohm... you could try an inline 90ohm resistor, it may tone the bass down a bit..... then again, maybe not.... worth a try though!
If you're into DIY let me know and I'll tell you how to go about it.
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Post by leporello on Dec 30, 2007 13:53:47 GMT
Thanks Mike, but it would be imprudent of me to accept your very kind offer to help me modify my Green Solo. Irreverent I may be, but a heretic I am not. I know you meant well so I shan't report your subversive offer to Graham. My Green Solo is connected by a twenty metre solid silver cable to the coffee table in the drawing room, where I am not only able to enjoy it's superb musicality but I can share it's aesthetic splendour with our guests. On a more practical note I should point out that I am very experienced with soldering irons, resistors and capacitors and such. However, that experience has taught me to leave well alone. In my infancy I was a rather dysfunctional member of R.A.F. As an Air Radio Fitter I was a somewhat concentric cog in Britain's Independent Nuclear Deterrent. My role in defeating the Soviet Communism probably adds up to no more than delaying the victory by several seconds. My experience of maintaining rather complicated electronics was always overshadowed by the fear that I would be found out. I had then and still have a complete intellectual block to any understanding of circuit diagrams and things. Having led an almost blameless life and avoided the perils of sin, sloth and wasted opportunity I am fortunate enough (just!) not to need to risk ruining my manicured hands by messing around with tools and things. P.S. If I press the pay now button on the pricejapan link you provided, I'll tell my wife that you're the one to blame. She knows I'm easily led so it won't be too long before she settles down, so that I can enjoy listening to my new head furniture. Win. win!
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Post by leporello on Dec 30, 2007 17:32:33 GMT
you're really sadistic you know. I don't quite know what you mean Merton. I thought my act of self denial was more in keeping with the writings of Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch, rather than the much revered Maquis de Sade. However, if it's the sadist you want me to be, so be it. I shall tweak one of your metaphorical nipples with a pair of burning tongs by telling you that I have ordered the cherrywood head furniture from Japan. My shiny new ATH W1000s should be with me within a week.
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Post by bennyboy on Dec 31, 2007 7:56:08 GMT
I thought the same about the 650's bass, I've said it a few times they remind me of cheap speakers especially the lower end B&W's, I liked the HD600's better, of course its all personnel opinion I still prefer the K701's but only if using a good source, lots of speed and detail which some may find thin and tiring Sorry! My 650;s sound more like 801's! anything but cheap speakers. IMO The 650's have just the right amount of SLAM! ;D ;D ;D
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FritzS
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Post by FritzS on Dec 31, 2007 13:44:20 GMT
Today I make a comparison AKG K701 vs. Sennheiser HD 600 (I have one) with my green Solo. The HD sounds a bit discolored, dark, lifeless and constrained for me. The K701 confident, dynamic - he is the king for me
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leo
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Post by leo on Dec 31, 2007 21:01:01 GMT
The HD sounds a bit discolored, dark, lifeless and constrained for me. Yes, just like any B&W's including the 801's Just pulling your leg Benny
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