I have always enjoyed music, and over the last three years, I have looked to improve the quality of music playback to get the best sound. The final piece of the jigsaw was a pair of true quality audiophile headphones. See me wearing them below.
Would they really be better than my existing headphones, or have I wasted my money?
The Sennheiser HD650 headphones
The Sennheiser HD650 is part of the HD600 range of headphones, all of which normally cost over £300.00 here in the UK. I saw my HD650s in last year’s Black Friday sales for less than £250, so I decided to buy them as a Christmas present to myself.
The Sennheiser HD650 features an open-back design. As there is no back, sound from the outside world bleeds through to your ears, and others can listen to you, making them unsuitable for listening in noisy environments.
Open-back headphones are supposed to help improve the performance. The HD650 is said to have a natural sound signature but can sometimes lack low bass frequencies.
I don’t know if this is the case with my headphones. I’m no audiophile, and I don’t have the equipment to test. All I can really use to judge them are my own ears.
My experience with using the Sennheiser HD650
I mainly use them around the house in my bedroom and study. I have been listening to music on them via the iFi Zen DAC connected to my PC via USB.
I couldn’t believe how good these headphones were; the sound detail was incredible. I have never heard music sound so good.
At first, I didn’t really notice the lack of low bass frequencies, and I probably wouldn’t have until I turned on the iFi Zen DAC bass boost, which made a noticeable difference. It improved the headphones so much.
The build quality is excellent, even though the headphones are made of plastic. They seem solid. The clamping force is strong when you’re wearing them, and while I’m writing about it, I can feel it, but you quickly forget about it. They are really comfortable. I can happily wear them for hours.
Conclusion
The Sennheiser HD650s are the best headphones I have ever owned. If you enjoy your music and want to hear every detail, you should consider buying these headphones.
However, to get the best out of them, you will need a decent DAC and access to at least CD-quality music.