Preface:
It's been 22 years since the Sennheiser HD650 headphones, a 22-year-old evolution of the award-winning HD600, have been a popular reference model in open dynamic design, once forming a triumvirate of open-back full-size headphones along with the Beyer Dynamic DT880 and AKG K701, so why is the HD650 so classic? And is it still worth buying in 2024? You might be wondering why I'm reviewing this old classic big ear. I actually bought his little brother Senhai HD600 many years ago, and I didn't listen to it twice before I was immediately returned by its bland tuning, and even made the store confused why I had such a downgrade for such a classic big ear. This left a rare auditory shadow on my fever road to this series of Senhai big ears, which is the real reason why I have not been too keen on HiFi wearing big ears; In addition, last month, I just reviewed Senhai's 2024 new product HD490 PRO in detail because of its high quality, and the initial impression of Senhai's big ears has changed greatly; Another reason is that since participating in the second Canjam International Audio Exhibition in Shanghai this year, I missed out on experiencing a newly released open headset HD620S in Shanghai and felt deeply regretful. To sum up, just when the toluene audition Huijin Ear Group released Senhai HD650 has a prototype audition, I immediately signed up for the first application, but I didn't know that I mistook HD650 for HD620S, so I took the wrong opportunity to seize this mistake, and I used HD650 as a classic in the classic to regain my memories and baptism of Senhai's initial impression!
Test Equipment:
(1) Sennheiser HD650 (reference price: 1949 yuan, nominal impedance: 300 ohms, frequency response range: 10Hz-41,000Hz, sound pressure level: 103dB, transducer principle: open, dynamic coil)
(2) Sony Z7M2 wears big ears
③欧尼士Overture XM5播放器
(4) Onishi Mystic decoder headphone amplifier all-in-one
(5) FiiO R7 desktop personal audio center
⑥Burson Audio Playmate 2解码耳放一体机
Appearance and wear:
As we all know, HD650 should not win any beauty contests from the perspective of appearance and styling, but it has a solid and practical design, which truly reflects Senhai's classic material engineering awareness, the main body of the headphones is made of high-strength metal and plastic, it feels like it is indeed durable, and the most important thing is that most of the accessories of HD650 can be repaired and replaced by users, you can easily disassemble them for cleaning and care, including the cable itself can be removed, 3 meters of cable is very soft, not easy to tangleAnother point worth praising is that it comes with Senhai original threaded port 3.5 single-ended to 6.35 adapter plug, which is convenient for connecting to almost any portable desktop or desktop decoding headphone amplifier equipment on the market, the design of the threaded port avoids falling off in the process of unplugging and plugging the cable and causing unnecessary potential output short circuit problems, the drivers you see are 42mm moving coil units, in terms of design they are a recreation of the classic HD600, you must have seen them in many videos or photos before, but once you get them in your hands, they are like plastic with spring steel headbands, but their quality control feels great,Because whenever you pull the twisted headband parts, you won't hear that kind of "squeak" or "rattle" abnormal sound, when you wear HD650, there is really no noise, it is more comfortable to wear for my not small head, some people may feel that the clamping force is a little tight, it can be said that the tightening force is slightly higher than average, but for me, I can wear this thing all day, it is very breathable, unlike the Sony Z7M2 with big ears like the pillow on the ear is stuffy and hot, And it will be for different sizes of listeners with adjustable head beams, the adjustment range is huge, all in all, don't look at the workmanship of the plastic-metal hybrid material seems ordinary, but the build quality is very big factory style and craftsmanship. When it comes to cables, it's super long, it's a three-meter cable, yes, it supports detachability, although the long cable isn't exactly portable, but then again, the HD650 isn't an open-back headphone, they're not designed for portability, this three-meter cable is a very common type of outer rubber-wrapped material, but it handles it very well without any microphone auscultation effect.
Equipment matching and hearing sharing:
1. The sound is where this HD650 really shines, the bass is tight and clear, the midrange and treble are clear and delicate, and the overall sound signature is naturally balanced, suitable for listening to a variety of music genres. The HD650 is a high-quality over-ear pair of big ears, but it does need a bit of thrust to reach its full potential, which will inevitably require some amplifiers to get the best out of it, so you don't usually plug it into your phone and expect it to give you the best performance, but I would add that although the HD650 has an impedance of up to 300 ohms, But I found that any portable DAP player or even a mobile phone or tape drive at hand like the FiiO CP13 can generally push and drive the big ears directly as long as the volume is turned up, which does mean that you will get more distortion in some of the above use cases, but at least the HD650 can listen to it without any decoding headphone amp or small tail. Especially if you have a decoder headphone amp plus a 4.4 balanced cable, you can say that the HD650 is like a luxury sports car that needs more and better fuel to start, once it starts, it will run at a high level and provide an exciting and rewarding experience, if you want to unleash its full power, then you need a desktop headphone amp because the HD650 can handle a lot of power and it will be enjoyed without skimps and without shyness. Listening to the HD650 has a wonderful feeling, and the classic inherits the authoritative sound background of the Senhai family. The bass of the HD650 doesn't necessarily grab your attention right away, but when it does it does it in an authoritative way, deep and powerful, with a strict and controlled quality, like a trained professional athlete, without wasting energy or unnecessary movement, just more focused and precise, it's by no means the type of bass that will shake your walls or make your chest suffocated, but it has a solid and impactful presence, Adding weight and substance to the overall sound, I can say that the low frequency of the HD650 is like a reliable best friend, it is always ready to lend a helping hand or provide the necessary support when you need it, this characteristic is a bit like the ceiling-level three-inch tabletop active speaker system I have at hand Zenith g1 matching the golden partner Genelec subwoofer f1, the low frequency of the HD650 knows how to listen and adapt to different situations, it can be that subtle presence and low-key display when needed, Or adjust the intensity if necessary. Now moving on to the alto, its midrange is like the most perfect second of the three brothers, not as restrained as the bass or as gorgeous as the treble, but it still manages to keep its own style and shine in its own way, so to say it's clear and detailed, with a warm and smooth quality, like giving your ears a cozy hug, it won't be too edgy or aggressive, but still tries to show the nuances and subtleties of the vocals and instruments, you could say it's a peacemaker of the spectrum, Bringing balance and harmony to the overall sound, it's like a peace messenger or community sister who always manages to defuse tensions and bring people together, maybe some burners will say that the sound of Senhai HD650 is a little hidden or very slow, I personally think that the midrange area is a bit smooth, not the most detailed sound, but it is very natural, and very neutral, and there is no color coloration, so this is a very accurate headphone, if you are not used to this kind of complete neutrality, it will sound a little flat at first, Until you slowly get used to it. Moving on to the treble, the HD650 is a headphone known for its warm, smooth, smooth and textured sound, with a balance and natural presentation of bass, midrange and treble, I would describe the HD650's treble as smooth and detailed, well extended, with good clarity and gloss (brilliance sparkle), but not too bright, certainly not harsh, But it still manages to add some sparkle and shine to the overall sound, I can say that the HD650's treble is like that cherry on a delicious sundae ice cream, it adds a touch of sweetness and excitement to the overall sound, and the high frequencies don't overpower the other notes when mixed with the various bands, but don't underestimate the importance of the treble, it may not attract attention as much as other bands, but it's an important part of this anagram puzzle, It helps to create a cohesive and well-round sound. Finally, let's talk about the sound stage and technical performance of the HD650, one of the reasons why I like the HD650 more and more is its expansive sound stage, this Senhai big ear has an excellent sense of space, which makes me feel like listening to music in a well-tuned acoustic room, not just through headphones, I admire the imaging of a simple pair of headphones so well, the instruments and vocals are placed in a very precise and realistic way, Of course, the HD650's expansive soundstage isn't as wide as other headphones, but it's a very convincing and very realistic sound reproduction.
2. Senhai HD650, with Omnis Mystic decoder (HEAD high gain) vs. FiiO R7 personal audio center (super big ear mode), 6.35 single-ended, by comparison: listen to the audiophile audition disc of "Cai Kexin - Listen to the Soul", play the 14th lead Céline Dion and Clive Griffin in the movie Seattle"Sleepless in Seattle" (Sleepless in Seattle) Singing the classic love song duet "When I Fall in Love" (When I Fall in Love) (When I Fall in Love) first, first use HD650 to listen to European and American pop Of course, it is not the first choice and not good at it, after all, we start with easy listening as an entry point, Mystic's sound base is slightly more mellow and charming than R7, although under the combination of HD650, the low frequency is relatively calm, and it will never give you a sense of atmosphere with ups and downs, And it is this kind of thin water and long stream of bass presentation is also a rare back-to-basics pastoral feeling,R7The advantage is shown in the resolution density and reduction ability,From the point of view of the details of the vocals and accompaniment,R7Slightly detailed and rich,The vocal position is more concentrated and close to the ear,Mystic withHD650The lead singer position is slightly back,The residual sound is more spatially extended。 The treble part of the two decoded headphone amps with HD650 is relatively smooth and well controlled, and there is no scattered treble phenomenon everywhere, which is worth savoring. Listen to the classic album "Glenn Gould Music From Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five", as one fan commented on this fever classic: Because of this album, I began to like Glenn · Gould. It all begins with the Fifth Concerto, sensitive, intense, creating expressions of emotions and inner beauty...... I found many other pianists playing the Fifth Concerto, and none of them could match Glenn · Gould, who was only addictive. The instrumental positioning and level of the two decoded headphone amplifiers are relatively accurate, almost comparable, the slight difference is that the three-dimensional sense of the sound field is still slightly more circular venue space effect, and the overall thickness of the three frequencies is still more enveloping, in the playback of the sixth song, the cello string unison part that gradually enters from the opening right channel slowly continues to the center of the stage, and then gradually several violins open from the left channel, the whole sound field is very open, and the instrumental music and the instrumental music are kept at a certain distance and staggered, In factR7There is still a slight advantage in the delicacy of the residual part of the strings,Of courseHD650When expressing this kind of classical music, it can still play more vividly with the blessing of the amplification thrust of the decoding ear。
3. Senhai HD650 vs. Sony Z7M2, with Burson Audio Playmate 2 decoding headphone amplifier all-in-one, 3.5 single-ended to 6.35, through comparison: choose to listen to "Cai Kexin-Voice of Longyuan II" audiophile disc, play the 14th song "Fishing Boat Singing Night", HD650 The overall listening experience is looser, more natural, and more durable; The Z7M2 has a sharper overall sound, with some aggressive tuning. In terms of treble,HD650The treble is the non-aggressive and silky smooth sound characteristics of the old Senhai,And in this regardSonyZ7M2At first glance, people with a discerning eye know that this pair of big ears is not a device for folk music or classical as the main service object,To interpret the texture of string music and folk music in a popular style to interpret the texture of strings and folk music in a popular style, in front of Senhai HD650, it is a bit of a class to get the taste of an axe, It is mainly reflected in the unique and good sense of atmosphere of Z7M2, in the process of interpretation of this relatively quiet pure instrumental section, there are sometimes too many or redundant spatial reverberations, and this relatively dragged reverberation does not increase the necessary sense of air, but gives the listener a less natural "hum" like a cabinet resonant aftersound, which is an unnatural and healthy sound coloration.
4. HD650 headset with big ears with Omnis XM5 player, 3.5 single-ended, optional Omnis Mystic portable desktop decoder headphone amplifier all-in-one: choose to listen to the "Berlin Sound 3" audiophile test disc, play the first song "A Time For Love" jazz vocals, we can only know that such a small portable player can push the Senhai HD650 headset with an impedance of 300 ohms, not only to push, And XM5 can be pushed at a volume above 60 can be described as decent, and even the margin of output power has a large surplus, which will definitely not let the listener worry about whether there will be a virtual drift at the bottom of the voice, the positioning of the vocals is precise and the mouth shape is clear, the position of the lead singer is in the center of the head, stable and real, the frequency control at the top of the high frequency is quite mature and stable, moist and without aggression or burr, the female voice is neither dry nor harsh and sharp, the tooth sound that should be restored is in place, and the residual sound of the space that you should be able to experience more is rich but not excessive; The sound texture of the piano keys is rich, thanks to the blessing of XM5's abundant energy, Senhai HD650's super linear and neutral midrange thickness and resolution, and the spatial distance between vocals and accompaniment is wider and unrestrained. The second Sonata Concertata duo for violin and guitar is even more able to bring out the gorgeous and sweet instrumental expression of this combination for classical small compositions, and the rich musicality they bring is easy for the listener to perceive.
Summary:
There are a lot of headphones that are sexier than this old design, but the HD650, as the backbone of Senhai's big brand, not only does it maintain its own Senhai's unique balanced fidelity style, but you can still enjoy a lot of what this headset has to offer. Over the years, with such a long life cycle and beyond, it, along with the HD600, is considered by many enthusiasts to be a true reference headphone, not only in terms of sound characteristics, but also in terms of listening comfort.