Sennheiser HD650 Review

Pop

The Sennheiser HD650 wasn’t just designed for metal heads and rockers, it handles other genres of music well, too. Michael Jackson’s music often start off with a bassline after which drums and vocals join in. The HD650 has well pronounced bass, but you can’t call them a basshead’s cans. You don’t get a headache after listening to tracks on this. 

Electronica

LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem is another bass heavy track that has a very low-end bass track in the background, which kicks in and drops every couple of times. Listening to it is a treat and like with some of the tracks we’ve talked about, there’s hardly anything to complain about, at least, so far. Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger has some similarities with synthesized voice effects playing off what is a very bass heavy track. We also enjoyed listening to Deadmau5’s Ghosts N Stuff as well as Nero’s Me and You, (Dirtyphonics Remix). Dubstep feels right at home here, those who need more bass will have to look elsewhere, though.

Vocals

Songs by Beth Gibbons (from Portishead), such as Sand River are very soft, warm sounding tracks. There’s an incredible richness in the sound and fine details, such as Beth breathing in slowly, without making a quick sniffing sound can be heard. 

Flexible headband on the HD650

Reggae / Ska

One of our favourite tracks - Two Shoes by The Cat Empire is a ska/reggae kind of song. Like metal, it’s got a variety of instruments, but they’re not always playing like they would in a metal song. Although easier to handle, the HD650 make the track really come alive. All through the track, it’s easy to make out. Every aspect of the instruments used - from the drums, to the bass to the trumpets are all rendered with precision - there’s no loss in quality or mixing or the feeling that they could sound much better. Other fine details that can be heard is the rattling sound of the metal coiled wires under the snare drum moving by the sound of other instruments. This sound seems to be pan from one side to the other in the recording. 

Verdict

The Sennheiser HD650 truly offers an incredible experience and once you listen to it for a while, there’s little doubt left as to why they are so popular. The Sennheiser HD650 are pricey, without a doubt and they’re not value-for-money, either. Here in India, they sell for a maximum retail price of Rs. 29,990. Add in the price of a decent source and amplifier, and you’re looking at good Rs. 40,000 at least, for an audiophile-class set-up.

Sennheiser HD650 - designed with performance in mind

Sure, it’s a lot of money and if you’re not the kind of person who spends enough time listening to quality music, then don’t really bother thinking about these. However, if you like spending half your free time with headphones on your head, then you’ll agree that the HD650 are some of the best sounding headphones that you’re likely to come across. You will appreciate them and find your money well spent.