Hi all.
Yesterday evening, I’ve unroll the red carpet for the visit to my listening room of Mr. Phuong proud owner of a Bottlehead Crack and several headphone units such as:
Sennheiser HD600, HD800 and Bayer Dynamic T1.
He brought them all with him to try on my Bottlehead Crack headphone amplifier.
Of course I had my own HD650 that’s why he did not bring his HD650.
I will spare you a long list of the CDs I’ve used to evaluate the headphones.
I will only say that they were all well recorded and
Music varied from solo guitar to drum, to vocal and small ensemble.
For me, the first priority is comfort since headphones become part of you, they touch you, therefore, they should, like your wife, pamper you…
HD600/650 are by far the most comfortable of all.
The velour padding squeezes and caresses your head all around your ears. They have a snug fit that I like, yes they are tight,
but not too much, just enough for me.
For me, they are not heavy.
The HD800, well that’s a complete different story. They are big and loose over my head.
They even push downward the tip of my ears.
No way to make they fit snuggly.
Maybe my noggin is too small…
They are physically too big to my liking, not a bit comfortable.
The BD T1 are a little too big to my liking, not as much as the HD800, but still. However, they are more adjustable than the HD800.
The look:
Well the HD600/650 win the beauty contest. Simple design, classy and I love the oval look of them.
The HD800 are, well they are, humm mmm, I must say:
Ugly to my eyes.
It’s that simple. No need to say why.
The BD T1 has a nice look. They look solid and professional, but they are round and a little cold looking.
Now, construction:
All good, but the BD T1 look like it’s built like a German tank.
The HD800 look a little fragile, even if it not really that fragile.
The HD600/650 are between the T1 and HD800.
Time will tell me if they are durable,
I think time is the only way to know for sure if something is durable.
Now the sound:
The bass.
The BD T1 wins, lots of deep and powerful bass,
maybe even too much, but I will not complain, because I love bass.
The HD800 has less bass, but a higher quality bass.
The HD650 as good bass, between the T1 and the HD800.
The HD600 as a little, to me, very little less bass than the HD650, but it’s a good quality bass, not like the HD800, but still very good to my ears.
Now the mids and highs.
Of course, as I wrote several times since I got my HD650, the sound is dark and veiled. (Sorry don’t know any other words to describe the sound of my HD650)
Now the HD600, that’s a different story, much better, clearer, but not too bright, perfect, well near perfect for me. Much better than the HD650, the difference is instantly noticeable.
The HD800 of course are the winners.
Clear and natural.
The BD T1 are good, but I am not sure, I think they are colored, not neutral or less natural that the others.
At first, I like the sound of the T1, but after a while, I preferred the HD600.
One comment.
Each time I have listen to other headphones and then switch back to the HD650, the HD650 always sound better, seems that they are not dark and veiled anymore or at least, less than the previous listening.
The soundstage:
What sound stage?
No sound stage with headphones or maybe a simile soundstage with the HD800, just a little more, but still far away from soundstage from speakers box.
So, who said headphones could have a HUGE soundstage ?
I would sure like to put my hands on such headphones.
Now the winner is:
The HD600, why?
Not veiled and not dark, clear, but not bright, not perfect at everything, but good enough for me.
Who what to make a swap my HD650 for a pair of HD600 new or mint condition with box ? ? ?
No one, that’s O.K. then I will keep my HD650.
After that headphones listening session,
my HD650 are not as bad as I wrote many times previously.
Guy 13
If this review was boring, I will make it up to you with some pictures, if the pictures are boring to you, well then: Go fly a kike.
Oups… Sorry.
Which one I should start my review/evaluation with?
The winner, the HD600
