Should I Get an HD600?

[aardvark baguette]

stick w/ marshmallows so u can buy more sources

[morphsci]

Actually, I am going to say that if you do not really like the 650 you probably should look elsewhere than the 600. Now that is for buying, but if you have the option of a free loaner, then hell yes.

[Tony]

I have heard (and currently have at home for loan) the HD580, which is described to be almost equal as the HD600, so keep this in mind when reading my impressions.

I don't like it. Granted, I am used to stuff like modded 404, SR-X Pro, Omega 2, but the HD580 don't even give me the same enjoyment as certain IEMs. My amplifier is a CKKIII, just to put it in perspective. On the good, the bass is pretty deep, the soundstage is big, the midrange is on the full, lush side. On the bad, the midbass/upper bass is painfully, irritatingly slow and prominent. In fact, it's so slow that it manages to make the pacing in the music wrong, and superimpose it's own "rhytm" to everything else. Treble is not exciting enough. Although I hate sibilance and crap like that, and the HD580 doesn't suffer from that, I feel the headphone is not exciting, not involving and sleep inducing... or at least, it would be, if the wrong timing of the bass didn't annoy me.

[dreamwhisper]

if you do get the hd600, I have a feeling you'll want a hybrid amp next (though I've only heard the hd650s)

Jeff- the hd25-1 isn't that bad if you get over the lack of soundstage

they are indeed quite indestructible

[spritzer]

I don't know you anymore.

The HD600 was my first high-end headphone and one I still like to this day.

[Torpedo]

The HD600 was my first high-end headphone and one I still like to this day.

x2 while I agree with Tony that it requires some amp-matching to make it sounding a bit enticing. With many amps it's not a fun can at all. It also depends on the music you listen. I enjoy it much more with classical and jazz than with anything else.

[Tony]

Agreed, its issues are less prominent with Jazz (actually it helps jazz to sound good). Classical... I don't know, I heave heard it sound more involving and less sedated. The other genres just don't sound good to me. What it does well is the midrange, but bass and treble have way more issues.

[LFF]

Yes. It's a fantastic headphone. I use it for monitoring my remasters late at night when the neighbors are sleeping.

However, if you can place the $$ towards JH13's - do that instead. I'm dying to get a pair of JH13's but I am too broke and poor to buy some.

[Augsburger]

Dinny, ignore everyone. Buy a ULN-2 and JH-13s, trust me, I can be trusted really, no really............

[oogabooga]

I really enjoy listening to my HD600s (I'm using an HD650 cable with them, because it was cheap and long) - I listen to them for hours quite comfortably, both because the headband is comfortable and the sound is pleasant. They don't sound boomy to me. I'll watch TV/movies and listen to music with them - they do a good job all around.

Granted, I don't have many other high-end cans to compare them to - but I can say that compared to my SE530s (which I really like, and also listen to for 8 hours a day in the lab), the HD600s just sound moar better (one example is that in a lot of techno I listen to there are beats and synths that sound more spine-tingling on HD600s than the SE530s). Other headphones that I've heard (K601s, Grado SR-80) don't lend themselves to longer listening sessions for my tastes.

[catscratch]

I like the HD600 a lot, and it's one of the few dynamics I can say that about. If I were less financially irresponsible I could probably have stopped with the HD600 and would have been happy. But then again the O2 is similar in many ways and better. But then again again, the HD600 is cheap enough that you can just get one to mess around with. A source that's good with the O2 will probably be good with the HD600. Also, run it balanced, you'll speed up the transient response a bit. It won't be fast, but it will be faster than SE at least. For music that requires speed the HD600 just won't do on most rigs, but for everything else it's nice. An amp with some tube color can also liven it up a bit.

[The Monkey]

Yes. It's a fantastic headphone. I use it for monitoring my remasters late at night when the neighbors are sleeping.

However, if you can place the $$ towards JH13's - do that instead. I'm dying to get a pair of JH13's but I am too broke and poor to buy some.

I hear the JH13 sucks.

[jinp6301]

Well, stay away from me at the NYC meet then

[deepak]

I hear the JH13 sucks.

You aren't alone.

i can see myself borrowing a pair of HD600s, but i can't see myself buying them.

The ugly splatter paint?

[mrarroyo]

Don't get the HD580/600! they suck. Instead get a Grado RS-2 or RS-1, perhaps even an LA2000.

[thrice]

I've purchased the HD600 5 times now. They're the only headphone I've purchased 5 times. I've purchased other twice and one other headphone thrice.... but nothing else has been purchased fivice by me except the HD600.

[Beefy]

I've purchased the HD600 5 times now. They're the only headphone I've purchased 5 times. I've purchased other twice and one other headphone thrice.... but nothing else has been purchased fivice by me except the HD600.

....... you could always just keep a set, you know......

[cetoole]

I owned HD580 for years, was happy with them for years, and sold an HD650 (with and without closed headphile deep woodies) in favor of HD580. Really cant see buying another one though.

[thrice]

....... you could always just keep a set, you know......

I might do that this time.

[dreamwhisper]

I hear the JH13 sucks

You aren't alone.

What? Who? Where>

Link to thread?

[cetoole]

What? Who? Where>

Link to thread?

Brent has been practically proselytizing us with said information in the chat for the past few months.

[deepak]

What? Who? Where>

Link to thread?

Why are you assuming it's in a thread? Everything doesn't have to be on the internet.

I don't think they're worth $1000. Just my opinion and I'm not saying any more.

[Hopstretch]

Yay! The backlash is officially underway.

[HeadphoneAddict]

I think Blutarsky is selling his HD600 for a good price. I told him I'd loan him a nice 4-pin XLR cable for his ZDT and he'd change his mind real fast (he also should get new pads).

[The Monkey]

Yay! The backlash is officially underway.

Mid-Fi FTW.