Sennheiser HD595/650 - Amps / DACS

[MIB]

Starting researching decent headphones and going to try to audition Grado SR60/80 and Sennheiser HD595/650 but finding it difficult to find a dealer with all on demo. Was going to settle for the SR60/80 or HD595 at around £80-£100 but noticed play.com have the HD650 for £180 so tempted to go the whole hog and avoid latter upgraditus. Problem with that is many threads suggest that the HD650 need a decent headphone amp.

If I don't get an amp immediately would I be better off with the SR80 / HD595, or will the HD650 still sound better with no amp and have even more potential when I finally get an amp.

Source will be macbook or a new ipod. Listened to my PX100 with an iPod mini / macbook and through my Onkyo 805 and the IPOD seemed the best so I assume the headphone amp in the 805 isn't great and the DAC in the macbook is probably rubbish. So think I'll also need a DAC....

... as usual a simple £100 purchase becomes more complicated and expensive when the AVForums search facility is used

Noticed the Fubar III has USB Dac and amp built in, would this do justice to the HD650 or should I be looking at a GS Solo and separate DAC like the new CA Dac or Beresford DAC???
Fubar III USB DAC and Headphone Amplifer : Bypass your computer's soundcard The Fu...

[HiFi Headphones]

I haven't properly auditioned Fubar, but I'm highly doubtful that it's comparable with the Graham Slee Solo or the new Graham Slee Novo.

Both of these amps are able to drive the Sennheiser HD650 with real authority. The Graham Slee amplifiers add a bit of depth to the bass response and really open up the mid-range and highs on the HD650. In my opinion these amps convert the HD650 from a quite nice headphone to a lively and dynamic sounding headphone.

[MIB]

Thanks for the advise.

Have you listened to the HD595 vs HD650 without a dedicated headphone amp?

Also notice you sell the Pro-ject Head Box II - will this be much of an upgrade for the HD650?

[alnwrd]

If you are anywhere near Peterborough I can thouroughly recommend these people

Analogue Seduction

[MIB]

Sennheisher HD650 ordered and Zero DAC/Amp purchased from the forum

Had a demo of some Grados and Sennheisers and the Senns were a clear winner for my tastes (and the 650 are worth the extra £80 IMHO if you can stretch the budget - also saves the what-ifs and future upgrades). As most reviews say this is a subjective area, both brands sound great but have quite different signature sound so I fully recommend anyone looking to buy quality headphones to get a demo first.

[oldson]

Originally Posted by MIB

Sennheisher HD650 ordered and Zero DAC/Amp purchased from the forum

Had a demo of some Grados and Sennheisers and the Senns were a clear winner for my tastes (and the 650 are worth the extra £80 IMHO if you can stretch the budget - also saves the what-ifs and future upgrades). As most reviews say this is a subjective area, both brands sound great but have quite different signature sound so I fully recommend anyone looking to buy quality headphones to get a demo first.

i am also thinking of getting the 650's.
i started with the zero dac/amp, modded it, now replaced it with MF vdac.
am using little dot mkv SS amp at the moment. but have ordered the new GS solo SRG intro.
if you are like me you will constantly be looking to upgrade. its an annoyingly addictive hobby!
is your zero a "stock" model or has it been modded? brilliant bit of kit, even if considered "budget". but the senns will show up a poor quality source.
my audio technica ath-a900's are definitely more forgiving!
looking forward to hearing your comments.

[MIB]

Originally Posted by oldson

i am also thinking of getting the 650's.
i started with the zero dac/amp, modded it, now replaced it with MF vdac.
am using little dot mkv SS amp at the moment. but have ordered the new GS solo SRG intro.
if you are like me you will constantly be looking to upgrade. its an annoyingly addictive hobby!
is your zero a "stock" model or has it been modded? brilliant bit of kit, even if considered "budget". but the senns will show up a poor quality source.
my audio technica ath-a900's are definitely more forgiving!
looking forward to hearing your comments.

I think the Zero is a stock model
http://www.avforums.com/forums/ampli...b-pc-link.html

What did you think to the zero vs LD5 & V-Dac?

I thought about the graham sell novo at £230 but then I'd need a DAC aswell and it was all starting to add up. Think I'll try the Zero for a while, see how I get on with headphone listening and take i from there.

Have you demoed the HD650, if so how do they compare to your a900's

[jon1]

Originally Posted by MIB

I think the Zero is a stock model
http://www.avforums.com/forums/ampli...b-pc-link.html

What did you think to the zero vs LD5 & V-Dac?

I thought about the graham sell novo at £230 but then I'd need a DAC as well and it was all starting to add up. Think I'll try the Zero for a while, see how I get on with headphone listening and take i from there.

Have you demoed the HD650, if so how do they compare to your a900's

Hi mib without demo of some these headphone amps you are taking pot luck ....just had a hand build preamp converted Severn years old to take a headphone jack..not a dac insight just op amps all the best stuff went in to the pre-amp when i had it built by a mate of mine ...who built all my mono blocks...back to the headphone amps..I tried some of the headphone amps round at his house...and some new that his amp working on .the sound was excerllent...As for the pre-am i had converted that worked a treat..It all depends on the components that have gone to build some of these headphone amps


jon

[MIB]

Originally Posted by jon1

Hi mib without demo of some these headphone amps you are taking pot luck ....just had a hand build preamp converted Severn years old to take a headphone jack..not a dac insight just op amps all the best stuff went in to the pre-amp when i had it built by a mate of mine ...who built all my mono blocks...back to the headphone amps..I tried some of the headphone amps round at his house...and some new that his amp working on .the sound was excerllent...As for the pre-am i had converted that worked a treat..It all depends on the components that have gone to build some of these headphone amps


jon

Hi jon

I know what you mean about needing to try any AV gear before you can be sure. Think I'll see how I get on with the Zero for a while but might try a Graham Slee at some point as I've read they have good synergy with Sennheiser and I've seen them offered with a full refund if not entirely happy (which is usually a very good sign)

My HD650's arrived from Amazon today but sadly they'll be going back as I've managed to source some s/h HD600 from the forums which by most accounts are very similar to the 650's (and saved me £95)

[jon1]

Originally Posted by MIB

Hi jon

I know what you mean about needing to try any AV gear before you can be sure. Think I'll see how I get on with the Zero for a while but might try a Graham Slee at some point as I've read they have good synergy with Sennheiser and I've seen them offered with a full refund if not entirely happy (which is usually a very good sign)

My HD650's arrived from Amazon today but sadly they'll be going back as I've managed to source some s/h HD600 from the forums which by most accounts are very similar to the 650's (and saved me £95:thumbs up

Hi mate you will not go wrong with the HD600 my mate has a pair..have tried them out spot on...be careful of the dimension returns syndromegood luck

[Arcam_boy]

My 650's sound wonderful with my fubar II DAC and graham slee solo with upgraded PSU1 power supply. I'm going to eventually upgrade the power cables on my equipment and headphone cable to try and squeeze the best from my system.

I'm currently looking at a few valve amps but its so hard to get a demo I'm not too keen on blowing £500 on an amp I've never listened too!

[jon1]

Originally Posted by Arcam_boy

My 650's sound wonderful with my fubar II DAC and graham slee solo with upgraded PSU1 power supply. I'm going to eventually upgrade the power cables on my equipment and headphone cable to try and squeeze the best from my system.

I'm currently looking at a few valve amps but its so hard to get a demo I'm not too keen on blowing £500 on an amp I've never listened too!

Do you think the valve amps will be a bit warmer in the sound department?




jon

[jon1]

Originally Posted by Arcam_boy

My 650's sound wonderful with my fubar II DAC and graham slee solo with upgraded PSU1 power supply. I'm going to eventually upgrade the power cables on my equipment and headphone cable to try and squeeze the best from my system.

I'm currently looking at a few valve amps but its so hard to get a demo I'm not too keen on blowing £500 on an amp I've never listened too!

Is the power supply regulated?




jon

[MIB]

Originally Posted by jon1

Hi mate you will not go wrong with the HD600 my mate has a pair..have tried them out spot on

Cool

Originally Posted by jon1

be careful of the dimension returns syndrome

[MIB]

Originally Posted by Arcam_boy

My 650's sound wonderful with my fubar II DAC and graham slee solo with upgraded PSU1 power supply. I'm going to eventually upgrade the power cables on my equipment and headphone cable to try and squeeze the best from my system.

I'm currently looking at a few valve amps but its so hard to get a demo I'm not too keen on blowing £500 on an amp I've never listened too!

Started having a read about value amps over at head-fi but it blew my mind

Please give me a nudge if you decide to sell the Slee on the forum