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RE: A Tale of 10 Cans

Posted by stp (P) on April 21, 2021 at 17:20:23

In Reply to: A Tale of 10 Cans posted by stp on March 26, 2020 at 17:24:14:

(Update a year later)

Hi all,

I've tried a couple of new headphones over the last year, but stuck with the Audio Technica ATH-R70x and Westone W30 as my "daily drivers." Then... I saw a pair of the Sennheiser HD650 (Massdrop 6XX version) real cheap and bought them.

Well, after starting this whole journey looking for an alternative to the Sennheiser HD600s that I had used for years, I'm back "home" again with the 650s as my new/old favorites. I use them with the Sonarworks correction software and a slight bass band-boost in the region 40-120 Hz. I can wear them all day.

Compared to the Audio Technica ATH-R70x, the HD650s are just better (IMHO) - clearer soundstage and more articulated instruments, better ability to hear background instruments/voices distinctly, scale better from soft to loud listening levels, more linear reverb tails.

Looking for an explanation, I compared the measurements of the 2 cans, and noticed that the Sennheisers have really quite low distortion -- less than 0.2% over the all-important central decade of the audio spectrum (200-2000 Hz). The attached document show this comparison in the middle row of spectra.

The HD650 is also better-behaved in the upper-mid-range (2-5 kHz). Look as the bottom graphs in the attached PDF, which shows the response of the Sonarworks correction filters, and note that the curve for the HD650 describes a much simpler filter with fewer changes of direction and gentler slope (group-delay) compared to the ATH-R70x in the same region.

I've also updated the comparison spreadsheet and attached an update; while I still can't give the HD650 a perfect 10 for sound, after listening to the competition, it's tied with the ATH-R70x. After listening to them 1-on-1, I might even demote the ATH-R70x to an 8.5 for sound.

I should also note here that the 2 "winners" in my comparison are among the cheapest ones in the comparison.

I guess I've learned about my own preferences is that:

1. I value comfort a lot; several of the contenders sounded great but were just too heavy, loose or uncomfortable for me to use regularly.

2. Accuracy (spectral flatness and low distortion) across the mid-range trumps extension at either end of the spectrum.

3. I value the soundstage and spatial imaging more than I thought I did at the beginning.

4. Very low distortion leads to a cleaner sound (what a surprise).

5. After-market cables can sound better, even on cans that come with good cables; thick, stiff or noisy cables make a difference.

I'm still using the same DACs in the office/studio, listening about 50% each to the Antelope Orion Studio and (truly awesome) Chord Mojo. In the living room, after an extended side-by-side comparison, I traded my Mytek Brooklyn for a PS Audio Stellar GainCell DAC/pre-amp (cheaper and more flexible, though without a phono stage).

Happy listening!

stp in SB/CA

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