Sennheiser HD 650 Review
Stereo Reference Headphones
Introduction
In this article, we delve into a detailed analysis of 49,818 user reviews from various languages worldwide to examine the Sennheiser HD 650. This analysis is performed by the RR artificial intelligence and updated daily with newly submitted reviews. The RR AI utilizes a complex algorithm to first scrutinize user reviews for credibility, filtering out unreliable ones. It then proceeds to dissect and evaluate the valuable insights within these reviews, providing users with ratings regarding the features of this product. Based on these assessments, users can make informed decisions about whether this product is suitable for them or not.
Ratings Based on Features
These results are a summary of user reviews of the Sennheiser HD 650. For example, 93% of 20,738 users who have commented on the Comfort of the Sennheiser HD 650 have given positive feedback.
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 1 to 20 of 114 Reviews
The King Is Dead. Long Live the King!
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by David on B&H Photo Video
My beloved AKG 701's inexplicably died recently. I was left with something of a dilemma. I really did love those phones, but they took hundreds of hours to break-in,and even after several years use sometimes felt as much clinical as musical. So, I began to shop around. I looked at the Ultrasone 900's, the Beyerdynamic T70's, the Grado RS2i, and finally, the Sennheiser HD650s. Briefly, the Ultrasone 900's felt poorly controlled, both classical and jazz recordings felt punchy and perhaps a bit screechy. They seem lacking of tightness in both bass and high frequency areas. I very much wanted to like the Beyerdynamic T70's. But, I must admit to a strong sense of disappointment. Like most phones from that company, then T70 is very comfortable. But, like most closed phones, the bass is a bit uncontrolled. I would never accuse them of being flabby, but coming after the AKG 701's, they seem to lack precision. The Grado's were simply uncomfortable. I have never cared for on-the-ear cans and the RS2i's confirmed my preference. So, finally, the Sennheiser HD650s. I was immediately struck by the musicality of these headphones. Trying them for the first time, I found myself going from one CD to another, one Apple Lossless File to another. I was the proverbial child in a candy store, trying one treat after another. My old CDs and files seemed new: I was hearing new material, unheard lines, staging and detail. The low growling bass and tuba of Wagner's vorspiel to Siegfried (Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic, 1969) seemed again terrifying, as they were when I first heard them at a performance of the Ring in Seattle. In Birlli and Pastorius's Stuttgart Aria I felt as if I could see Pastorius dancing across the stage, bass in hand, delivering one impossible riff after another. In Kurt Weill's Das Berliner Requiem, I can almost see the small, male chorus, leaning forward as they deliver one pensive, pouncing line after another.A great set of headphones re-creates the stage in a new, and more directly accessible way. With these headphones, Sennheiser moved us another step forward into Glenn Gould's more perfect concertthat is to say a recording. They bring my music files to a livelier, and perhaps more life-like place. There is very little more that I could ask of a headphone. I have one minor criticism: the top surface of the headband seems to be made of a rather cheap glossy plastic. The material seems very much out of place on a $ headphone. ... More
The world is a better place...
Sennheiser HD 650 Open-Air Pro Headphones
Reviewed by M. Jin on Guitar Center
So I had been mulling over these headphones for a while. Until I purchased the HD650's my primary headphones had been Audio Technica ATH-M50's. While I was pretty satisfied with those, I felt a desire to purchase a good pair of open headphones for longer listening sessions, reference, and general use outside of tracking. After spending some time with these headphones, I can definitely say that the world just seems like a better place when I have them on. I'll try to give a few of my honest impressions of them, but I will emphasize that no matter how much you read or how much research you do, there's really nothing that can fully describe how any piece of gear sounds until you try it out yourself. I encourage people to take the leap of faith once in a while, especially with the security of Guitar Center's no-hassle return policy. Features: It's a headphone... It's got two earpads, an adjustable band connecting them, detachable cables, etc. Really, just look at the pictures. Quality & Reliability: While I haven't had the product long enough to speak to the long-term durability of the headphones, I can definitely say that the quality is absolutely top notch. There's a real openness to the sound that you'll only get from open headphones and I've found the HD650's to really excel in terms of providing clarity and separation in the music I listen to. I will admit that I expected them to sound a little more clinical from much of what I read, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that they do have a warmth and punch that really allow you to feel the music (for lack of a better term). One could argue about how that would affect the suitability of the HD650's for mixing and reference, but as far as headphones go, I think they are balanced enough in their sound to be useful. You just need to keep in mind how the sound you hear in your headphones translates to other systems, which is something you would really have to do regardless. As long as you can make those adjustments I think in most cases, you should be fine. Look & Feel: Once again, pictures would describe how the headphones look much better than any of my words will. Each person is going to have their own opinion regarding this, but I personally love the way they look. As far as the feel goes, this is really where I'm slightly conflicted. On the one hand, the ear pads and overall fit are very comfortable, which makes long listening sessions no problem. The thing I'm really conflicted about is the weight. One of the first things many people are bound to notice when they pick up these headphones is that they are light... very light. While I can understand that the reduced weight can help make the headphones more comfortable to wear, I can't help but feel like they are incredibly flimsy and delicate, particularly for a pair of headphones at this price point. This may largely be a matter of personal preference (I prefer my equipment overall to be a bit more rugged), but I just don't feel the type of solidness in them that would scream build quality which is disappointing due to how good they actually are otherwise. Suffice to say that these headphones aren't going to be right for everyone, but the few flaws that they have are largely going to be matters of personal preference rather than anything else. If you can get over these things (and even if you can't), it can't be denied that the HD650's are absolutely amazing headphones that will likely transform the way you experience the music you listen to regardless of genre. The last thing I would like to point out is that these are pretty high impedance headphones so you're probably going to need to also get yourself a good headphone amp to drive them to their full potential. That's not a plus or a minus. It's just a reality with headphones in this class. ... More
HD 650 / Incredible sound!
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by HotBiker on B&H Photo Video
These headphones sound absolutely incredible! They deliver as promised by Sennheiser and as commented upon by other reviewers. I was looking as a slightly lesser model to upgrade from my old Sennheiser HD-424's (yes, from the 70's and still going strong after several earpad replacements!). When I found the 650's with a mail-in rebate, I raised the bar on my purchase and, man-oh-man, am I glad I did. My old 424's, while certainly not reference by any means, delivered awesome sound, though fairly weak on the bass end. But WOW ... the 650's blew me away! Not only was there top-end sizzle (cymbols and bells sounded like they were right in front of me), really accurate mids (voice, & instruments), but the BASS was nothing short of astounding! I put on some recordings which had passages down in the 16-20Hz range (e.g., Enya Watermark, John Williams Greatest Hits by Sony - 20bit mastering, Phantom of the Opera, etc.) and heard every note loud and clear; some material that was totally missing on my 424's. By the way, I was powering them out of an Oppo BDP-105 DVD/CD/sound processor. And not just the bass was accurate and present in totality, but EVERYTHING was! And the soundstage is beyond belief ... they reproduce audio almost as well as my audiophile-grade home system (400W Ascend fronts, 1000W Hsu sub). These babies sound like you're live in a concert hall. About the only difference between the 650's and the home system is that I couldn't feel the low bass vibrating my body (and sometimes the furniture!). Regarding the realism and soundstage presence, on a particular reference recording (made in concert hall with live audience), just as the featured organist (R. Jelani Eddington) started getting lively, a single person in the audience clapped. I was so startled I literally turned around and looked because it sounded as if they were sitting just behind me. And not only that, I heard when people in the audience coughed and, I swear, could tell if they were male or female. Incredibly realistic! If you're looking for audiophile grade reference phones that give a world-class soundstage presence, but don't want to spend $1,000 or more, look no further. Just purchase the Sennheiser HD650's and don't look back! ... More
Best I have ever owned at terrific price point!
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by Steven on B&H Photo Video
I consider myself a budget minded audiophile so for me to own the HD 650's was a very big deal at the $315 price point. Having read that the 600's are more detailed but the 650's had the better sound stage I decided on the HD 650's. Now I use a Emotiva A-100 Flex-Amp to drive my 650's along with a Little Dot MK II with up-graded tubes. These headphones sound fantastic with the all tube headphone amp and the sound stage is what I like the most about these headphones. Price didn't really play a roll in me picking the 650's since both the 600's and 650's were within $60 of each other. I figured i would try the 650's first and then is I was not impressed I would return them and buy the 600's. Well I love the sound of the 650's! A large sound stage is their best attribute, along with a nice even and neutral playback sound. I know many people that claim the 600's sound better, and have a more even and detailed sound but to me the 650's were exactly what I was looking for in a good pair of headphones. The 650 certainly have the better overall build quality and a .05% THD is literally 50% less distortion than the 600's and my 598's as well. I know I will buy the 600's in a few months so I can hear them as well and see which I prefer but I have a feeling I'll like both and keep both mainly since I use headphones a lot living in a apartment I can't really play my speakers as loud as I would like to. So headphones and having two dedicated headphone amps was important to me. The Emotiva A-100 with a 50 wat rating into 8 Ohms can be setup to put this power to the headphone output with 2 internal jumpers you place inside to by pass the inline resisters to allow the amp to put out 1.3 watts into a 300 Ohm load at .05% THD. So this Class A/B amp is not only a perfect match distortion wise but the A-100 can drive any headphones to their top output. Be careful if you by pass the resisters as you can literally blow your expensive drivers in your HD 600's or HD 650's. I love the 650's and I love both of the headphone amps I have mentioned as well. If you want the best all tube and the best solid state headphone amps for the money buy the two I listed here and you will be very happy with both your headphone amps and your headphones will sound their best. At least for me the HD 650's are the best headphones I could have bought at a price point that was easily within reach. Sennheiser has never let me down over the last 7 years! I bought the HD 598's when they just were released for $225 and they still sound wonderful, but my HD 650's are my go to pair of headphones that simply sound better to me than any other pair of headphones I have heard. ... More
HD650 / Superb Monitoring Headphones
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
We have been using several pairs of Sennheiser HD650 headphonesas our very best monitoring reference in remote recording sessionswith the famous, restored Wanamaker pipe organ in the Grand Court of the the downtown .../Wanamaker store in Philadelphia. The headphones are driven by nothing less than Grace Design 902 headphone amps.These headphones absolutely rival the sound quality from the very best,customized, fixed-place studio monitor speaker systems at a mere fraction of the cost. They render a brilliant, clean sound that reaches way down to the 16 Hz fundamentals (at zero recording level!) that this huge organ so easily belts out at full tilt. Mids and highs with the HD650's are as smooth as silk too.The current project is Christmas music featuring the Wanamaker organ accompanied by the Philadelphia Brass. Brass pickup was by anotherfantastic Sennheiser product, a matched pair of the new Sennheiser MKH-8040 cardioid microphones. You may hear the results this Fall when the Wanamaker Christmas CDcomes out on the Gothic Label. The disc may be available in Macy's stores nationally. Tune in, because every single note on this upcoming album was meticulously monitored by HD650 headphones!Alex Martin, Assistant Recording Engineerdsp Recording/ Chicago ... More
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Smooth and detailed
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by Temeculan on B&H Photo Video
After years of using Sony headphones (MDR-V6s and MDR-V900s), I've been very used to 'closed back' headphones. Had tried many headphones over the years that were of the open and semi-open back design, including several Sennheiser, AKG, Beterdynamic, and others. Admittedly, I was trying these back in 2004ish. I never could find anything that fit my particular taste in sound reproduction. Well, after years of faithful service, my Sony MRR-V900's finally died, and decided to upgrade. Researched like mad through all sorts of websites, reviews, and word of mouth from friends, the Sennheiser HD650 was near the top of every list, especially for headphones under $, which is out of my budget. So I ordered them.B&H has really good service, so I knew if I really disliked them, there would be no hassles returning or exchanging. I was concerned that many websites mentioned needing a headphone pre-amp to extract proper loudness and sound. I needn't have worried. My Yamaha amplifier has a plenty loud headphone jack (surprisingly, my MacBook Pro can pump out pretty good volume too). These headphones are quite comfortable, have wonderful bass, and the high end on some recordings that sounded borderline shrill in the Sonys sound beautifully detailed and rich. These are far from broken in, and already I'm discovering nuances in recordings I never heard before. The separations of the instruments makes it so easy to hear everything. I'm sure better headphones may exist to someone else's ears, but for my ears, I've never heard such detailed, smooth, and yet punchy headphones. I love these! ... More
Smooth, silky sound at a reasonable price point
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by David on B&H Photo Video
The variety of options to choose from is overwhelming for the headphone shopper. I have been listening to open-back design headphones for several years, I've tried many different models with selected reference tracks with the goal of finding an upgrade to my current headphones that I use for both music listening and sound editing. Ideally I want something that is reasonably accurate with a smooth frequency response, but comfort and affordability are also factors that come into the equation of what's the best headphone for my application. Enter the Sennheiser HD 650 headphones. After four months of listening to these I can say they are smoother and warmer than other open-back headphones without any exaggeration of the high end and the bass is tight without any boominess. Musically they are like equisitely smooth silk. It's no surprise that these headphones have been in the Sennheiser high-end line up for a very long time. I enjoy listening to music on these far more than I do compared to the Sony MDR-7506 headphones that live in my sound recording kit or the Audio-Technica TH-M50xBT headphones that live in my backpack for listening to music on my commute or while traveling. You will find many headphones that cost more, and you'll find many headphones that cost less. The Sennheiser HD 650 headphones are in a sweet spot of balance between audio performance and value for the money. Spend more and you hit the realm of diminishing returns targeted at audiophile fools who part easily with their hard earned money. Spend less and you're not quite in the realm of their smooth, accurate, warm sound, but there are many worthy contenders, but you don't have to spend this much on headphones if you're happier with high-end sparkle and/or Beatsesque bass. The only downside? Some portable devices may not drive them as loud as you might like given their 300-ohm impedance, so a headphone amp might be needed, however, I found that my MacBook Pro and iPad did fine with them. I even compared direct output from the MacBook and iPad to a headphone amp, and quality-wise there was no difference, though the headphone amp did allow for higher-volume playback. ... More
Awesome sound, not so comfortable
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by drgb on B&H Photo Video
I got my Sennheiser HD650s and immediately opened them and hooked them up to my FiiO X3 player and was wowed by the sound. I have never owned a serious set of headphones, and the sound (from classical music) I heard was a revelation: in 3D, with the instrument positions clearly audible and many, many details audible that I had never even heard before. The second revelation came when I decided to hook up the HD 650s to my FiiO E17/E09 combo, which is designed to drive a high resistance headphone (300 ohms) like the HD 650. With this proper headphone amplifier, the bass sounds are five times bigger and richer; the organ bass from Bach's iconic Toccata and Fugue in D-minor was truly stupefying. Now for the con: these headphones grip your head like a vise that won't let go. I have experimented with different adjustments and positions, but it is mostly the same. This is why my review gives the set four stars instead of an enthusiastic 5. My advice would still be to purchase some kind of real headphone DAC/amp to go with the HD 650. You will not regret it, and you will have $20,000 of sound for a few hundred. ... More
Excellent in all respects
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
The HD650 is the best I've ever put over my ears - and I've been an audiophile most of my 60 years. The sound is full and clear (response seems smooth throughout), and their construction seems completely solid. The fit is very comfortable. Worth the cost.
HD650s, where've you been all my life?
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by Hifi Dan on B&H Photo Video
In the world of audiophile headphones has gotten awfully crowded and high-priced of late. Just when you think you've come upon the best that Audeze, Hifiman, Beyerdynamic, and their ilk have to offer, you're left wanting more. You wonder, where are those perfect cans, my dream set? I'd never owned the HD650s, and I'd read so much about them over the years. I knew that they had champions people who swore by the HD650s. So I decided to purchase them recently at B&H. What a revelation! The soundstage, the balance, the oh-so just-right bass, and the versatility. My search for an open-back headphone (and I've always leaned toward closed-backs) has surely ended. Do you know, I plugged the HD650s into my iPod classic/Fostex HP-P1 portable rig, expecting very little based on the HD650s 300 ohm impedanceand the sound powerful and beautiful, the soundstage wide and immersive. I've bought and sold many headphones over the years, but the HD650s are timeless keepers! ... More
Best Audiophile Headphones at the this price range
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by Cagatay on B&H Photo Video
Honestly, this headphone can re-define the rules in terms of music clarity. I have experienced many different studio class audio products but what Sennheiser created is a magnificent piece of art. Most of the reference class products can give you an accurate sound but they may not suitable for long listening sessions, but this headphone does not bother your listening experience. After more than 20hours of listening, I would like to say that the Sennheiser Hd650 is more likely to be an headphone that may change your thoughts about the music that you have been listening to. The only problem with this headphone is the built quality. Since it is made out of hard plastic, some headphone enthusiasts especially the ones, who like the sense of high quality products, may not be satisfied. ... More
Reference, audiophile, rough mixing. . . these cans can do
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by JazzHat on B&H Photo Video
I use these in conjunction with monitors for mixing in my studio. If you have to use cans for mixing, these are the ones to get. All the positive reviews you've read are true. Very nearly flat with just enough bass emphasis to make them fun to listen to. The bass has a wonderful open & airy feel, never boomy. Learn to listen through these and you can easily produce credible mixes that translate well to other audio platforms. Get some nice closed backs for tracking, use these HD650s for mixing and your are all set. Afterwards, sit back & use the Senns for general listening. . . They are a joy! Oh, don't be afraid of the 300 ohm rating or the reviews that say your iPod won't drive these. I use em all the time with my IPod and they are fine. You will hear slightly more immersive bass through a powered headphone amp but the IPod difference is VERY slight. I've never regretted for a moment spending the money for my Senn 650s. ... More
Sennheiser HD650 The best I've Heard
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by Robert on B&H Photo Video
Professional Film and Broadcast monitoring. They are very comfortable, you sometimes don't even realize you have them on. The 650's reproduce the entire audible sound range. I listen to sound with very high dynamic range (Close lightning strikes, explosions, jet engines, etc) all recorded with state of the art equipment. The 650's handle these sounds very smoothly and do not collapse at sudden high Db with low frequencies. They reproduce bass like nothing I've ever heard. All this; and I haven't even broken them in yet! (40 hrs) The only thing I would add is kevlar netting around the cord (I have a cat that likes to chew on cables) ... More
Professional Monitoring
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
HD650's being used with Grace Design 902 headphone amp for classical music monitoring during recording sessions. Far greater sonic fidelity and image accuracy than even the very best studio speaker installations. No exaggeration. And, at a fraction of the cost, plus being easily transportable to remote sessions.
Very easy to listen to
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by John on B&H Photo Video
By now I have listened to several hours of many genres of music with my newSennheiser HD 650's (powered by an Integra DTR 50.3 home theater reciever),and find the frequency response of the very accurate and detailed. Having said that, I would agree with other reviews citing the headphone's sonics as being 'warm'. I personally don't find that degree of warmth a problem. When headphones tend to the 'bright' side I find I can't wear them overly long but i can literally wear the HD 650's for hours. I will admit to sometimes bumping up the treble a notch or two to add a little punch on brass or percussion pieces and even for action videos with lots of explosions, jets dopplering by, etc. This, by the way is where the 'hours at a time' often comes into play. -I live in a small attached double where a family with two small children live next door, and, late at night when i want to watch something loud and violent I use the Sennheiser's. They are both sonicly and physically comfortable enough for the duration of long videos. Not all headphones can manage that. ... More
Why 4 stars!
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by Jayvant on B&H Photo Video
I purchased the 650s in Nov-2019. I believe these are a new batch of headphones as they were on backorder for a while and they are made in Romania, which I was NOT expecting. Sadly they are no longer made in Ireland. Remember these are NOT 6xx headphones which are made in Romania. The packaging was not good at all. They were inside an open plastic bag (not sealed) and they did not seem to fit well inside the plastic bag. I think this is rather unusual for a high end, high priced item. Also, the box was NOT sealed. I do not remember purchasing anything recently that did not have a clear seal tape on the box unless I was purchasing an open box item. I did confirm with BHPhoto that this was NOT an open box item, yet it was an open box and an open bag item directly from the factory. I believe this is how they come now. They are most likely saving money on sealing the box and a plastic bag. I can only hope they did not cut costs in the quality of the headphones. They do sound great so I will keep them. ... More
Amazing mids, a little tight at first..
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by Stephen on B&H Photo Video
I use these headphones with a Schiit Magni 3+ headphone amp and the Schiit Modi 3 DAC. I primarily use this setup to watch movies, and I really like it. As most online reviews will tell you, the mids are amazing. Voices are clear and dialog is easy to understand. My only concern was when I first got them that they were really tight and I couldn't see myself wearing them for the length of an entire movie. The HD 650's are notoriously tight at first and then they loosen up after some use. For me, after about 6-10 hours of wearing them they loosed up to where I like them. Some people say the build quality feels a little sub-par because they're plastic, but I disagree. I think the plastic is purposeful because it keeps them light-weight and comfortable, and it seems to match the overall sound experience I get with the HD 650. ... More
Excellent, High Quality Headphones!!
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by Kara on B&H Photo Video
I purchased these headphones in a panic after the built in headphone cable and 3.5mm jack on my DT880 Pro Beyers broke unexpectedly. I live in a little NYC apartment with paper thin walls, so speakers are not an option for me. Regardless, a reliable pair of headphones are an absolute necessity for any producer or mixer, but without mine I'm lost at sea without a paddle. I also use Sonarworks headphone software as well to achieve as flat a reference as possible. After doing quick research and consulting a fellow producer I trust, I settled on the Sennheiser HD 650 headphones. Normally I wouldn't make this expensive of an impulse gear buy without trying them out first, but I figured you know what, it's an investment in my career. Long story short, these were an excellent choice. I love my Beyers, and do plan on getting them repaired in the near future, but ultimately this was an upgrade. I'm VERY happy with my purchase.` ... More
Reputation is well deserved
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
These headphones do make justice to their reputation. After 100h of burning in, they are by far the best I have tried (and I have been listening carefully to headphones for more than 10 years). You should use a headphone amplifier. They are good without one, but brilliant with one. Also, very comfortable.
Slightly bulky, but comfortable.
Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones
Reviewed by galpalval on B&H Photo Video
I use my HD650's every day in radio. I love them! They're a little bulky, but fit comfortably; sound is full, clear and round. I'm gentle with my cans, but they are designed to take a beating if you tend to be hard on your headphones. I used my last headset (Sennheiser) for 25-years. The product is well built for on air radio professionals.
