Sennheiser HD 650 Open-back Audiophile and Reference Headphones Reviews

Everything is replaceable and they're as flat as the flat earth. They're really the only headphones I'd look at if I were serious about having reference headphones. Additionally, they're light and super comfortable. There are only two things I can nitpick about them: 1) there's a fair amount of plastic in the construction and 2) the soundstage is pretty narrow compared to what you might expect. Just get them and if you can't afford them now, they're worth saving up for.

Each sound comes through these headphones flat, clear, and isolated, allowing for superior mix adjustment. I am very happy with these.

I really like the new headphones and they are worth the money.

Really good headphones for mixing. If you own one of the newer MacBook pros with High Impedance amp they will drive them loud enough with clean power. The lack of low end is something you have to get used to, especially when compared to Airpods pro 2 and Audio Technica ATHm50Xs, but these headphones strength is in the midrange and top end clarity, spacious presentation of the music with some time an illusion that sounds are actually there in your space. Definitely a good addition to my Yamaha HS8 and iLoud micro monitors.

The HD 650 headphones are simply magnificent. One adjective I'd use to describe them is smooth. Nothing is hyped. I use them for mixing and mastering and they always tell me the truth. Highly recommended! You can pay a lot more, but you won't get anything better. The HD 600 are also fantastic headphones.

If you're wondering which to buy, buy both! The AKG's are more like your on stage with the performers and the HD650's feel like your about 1/2 way back in the performance space. If I'm listening to Jazz, Big Band, Soul & rock, latin... I like the AKG's. For folk, classical, solo piano, orchestra, choir and some classic small group jazz I like the HD 650's. One is not better than the other, just different. They both do an excellent job of delivering the music. If you plan to plug either into a laptop you'll need an inline amp or headphone amp as the output is not enough to drive these headphones directly from an 1/8" stereo jack.
Either way you go, plug them into a stereo tuner and play them on a radio station 24/7 for about a week to break them in (at a low to med volume)..it'll take some of the high end harshness off of them.
As I've gone back & forth listening to the same music over the past 10 years of owning both, it's interesting how certain musical parts are louder or softer on the two different headphones. I had originally bought both and was going to send one back, but it never happened!

The most important thing for me is that these headphones don't lie to me about the 350-400 Hz 'mud' range. This is critical for me for mixing and mastering. I can do it strictly with headphones now if I so choose and with complete confidence.

I wont go into a long list of things, just buy the headphones already. Very very nice quality vs price.
Bought these for a studio environment, and I immediately hear the benefits.

I've heard all they hype on the sound of these cans and I have to say they exceed expectations. They are comfortable to wear and are built to last. My only gripe would be that the cable has dedicated connectors, so you would need to replace it directly if anything happened to it.

I don't feel like my ears are refined enough to detect the subtleties and nuance between "good" pairs of headphones, so I was hesitant on this purchase. I bought these as a second tool to use for mixing when I am not using my monitors, and they are a treat. Besides the open sound, the HD650 are much more comfortable than my two different pairs of Grados (both of which also have more pronounced bass frequency).

I bought these to help me judge what I'm doing when I'm Mastering recordings. They live up to their reputation and are very accurate.

Great set of Headphones with amazing sound. They feel great even wearing them for a few hours. Once again Sweetwater came through with amazing service and fast delivery on a great product. Thank you..

I mix in them and I trust them 100%

I have others, Grado, Beyer and Akg's and can finally say I found my absolute favorite pair.. I use them with an Uad Apollo twin.

Thanks Candace

I'd been researching open back headphones to use for mixing and was considering the HD 650 among others (I have an untreated room so better off mixing with good headphones). When I saw the Sweetwater sale I had to get them and there are no regrets. The sound is very smooth, clean, accurate, and beyond amazing! … I almost feel like getting a second pair just for general music listening. Looking forward to my next mixing session with them.
I was considering getting a headphone amp as suggested in many reviews for this headphone and I'm glad I didn't as my mixer, synths, and iPad Air are more than capable of driving them loud without issue/power to spare.

Se escucha la música con detalles y puedes estar horas sin sentir fatiga lo mismo escuchando rock,rap o pop ,solo que necesitas un amplificador porque tiene una impedancia alta ,no sirve si lo vas a escuchar con tu teléfono

By far, the most important range is the middle. It is much more important to be accurate from 100 Hz to 10k than go from 5 Hz to 60k with big bumps in that middle. These answer that call beautifully. Thanks, Mr Niven, right as usual!

Can't say enough about these. They're immensely clean and detailed and beautiful. I'm hearing new details in songs I've listened to 1000000 times. They're miles more comfortable than my Audio Technica ATH-M50s and they're more accurate, so this is a big upgrade for someone who has to do a decent amount of mixing on headphones.

I think the biggest thing is the soundstage. You actually feel surrounded by your music as though you're in your prime listening position in front of your monitors, which is another huge difference from my closed-back phones.

I kind of wish it came with a shorter cable in addition to the long one, but I won't complain because it could've came with a not-long-enough cord.

Comfortable, wide and accurate soundstage, and detailed. Great for critical listening and dialing in mixes.

They do require about a 100 hours of break-in; you'll find plenty of sources for this on YouTube to help Judy run the audio while your not using them.

I'm glad I finally bought these things....Kinda sucks that they raised the price,,,,but in my opinion they're still worth every penny....

I don't normally write reviews, but after reading all of the negative comments about the clamping effect of these headphones...I just recently purchased these headphones and they are the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn, there is no clamping effect! Don't let that discourage you from buying these. There are silly people out there that will complain about anything that's not absolutely perfect, they're just a bunch of Mary's! And the sound is amazing, absolutely amazing!!

Bought these in December and have had them for over 2 months now and am finally now appreciating them for what they are. What they are is as well balanced a headphone as you can get. Some cans emphasize a particular part of the spectrum but the 650s even everything out. You don't really realize it until you start comparing them with the competition. I bought 650s and the closed back Meze 99 Classics for a head to head comparison. It's really close but the 650s win out because they just sound cleaner. I'm not sending the Mezes back cause they have more bass but most of the time I select the Sennheisers to listen to. I should note that I upgraded from the Sennheiser HD558. Now the difference between the 650 and 558 is night and day. All the sounds separate themselves way more with the 650. Also, I just use these on my hifi system and listen to primarily vinyl.

They sound amazing

Several years ago I bought Sennheiser HD 600 headphones. They are great headphones, and I still use them. The HD 650 is even better and worth the addition cost. The HD 650 is my current headphone that I use for editing recordings.

- Phantom image just hits you straight in the face!
- Stereo and instrument spreading is just clear and detailed
- No bass boom bouncing in your ears
- Very flat frequency response overall

*Worth every penny for an upgrade.

Buy these you will not be disappointed.

I've had these for a little under a month now, and like them more and more every time I use them. I am going to a music college and won't be able to have monitors, so I thought I should upgrade my headphones. I had previously done my mixing and listening on a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M40x's, and the HD-650's made me realize how colored those headphones are. The flat response of these headphones is something that takes some getting used to, but the clarity and detail is definitely there. There is some slight clamping force at first, but they loosen up with use. They are very light and comfortable, and I have had no problem wearing them for hours on end, whether it's for mixing or listening to music. I found the highs to be a bit harsh at first, but after using them for a while, I have found them to be more tolerable and pleasing to listen to. They have a very wide soundstage, with vocals and instruments sounding separated and clear. No frequencies sound boosted and they have a very warm overall sound. I think these would be great for anyone looking to upgrade their studio headphones, or for anyone who wants a really good pair of headphones for listening to music, with the intention of listening for detail and audio quality.

These are fantastic headphones for doing mixing work, pretty flat to begin with but when I use Sonarworks with them they are even better and my mixes translate really great to my car and earbuds etc.

Moved into a spot where recording and mixing on monitors wasn't really an option, so I decided to step up my headphone game and gave these a shake. It took some getting used to (and will still take some time to really dial in) but I've found my mixes to be on par with anything I've produced on my Focal monitors (in a decently treated room). Truly a great pair of headphones for people listening with a critical ear.

Starting up my home studio and the HD650's were a great option! As soon as I got a chance to listen to some of my favorite tracks it was very "clear" these are great for almost anything I plan to do.
Until I can spring for a monitor setup, these'll be more than enough.
When casually listening, they're comfortable and make me feel immersed in the music, it's an awesome experience! Sound is so clear and defined!

These headphones are very balanced and detailed. They replaced my 25 year old Beyerdynamic DT990 headphones that had quit working. The HD650 are much clearer than the DT990 and make listening to voices much easier to understand. I not only use them to listen to music but I also listen to U-tube how to video's.

I bought this to be used with my Helix, since I have 3 kids and need quiet rehearsals at night.
I had the HD 280 Pro before, but it only lasted a few months till I took it to an airplane, my little one went off her seat, didn’t see the wire, and snapped the headphone plug. Since I had to by another one, I decided to upgrade. I know this is 4x more expensive than the HD 280 Pro, but I can assure you that it’s at least 4x better, at least for my purpose. Don’t get me wrong, for the price the 280 Pro is awesome. However, for the first time, I didn’t have to compensate my guitar tone at home to match it on our church loudspeakers. What I got on the HD 650 was right on point, especially with the high frequencies. With the 280 Pro, and even with my JBL studio monitors, I had to dial my tone darker to get the tone I wanted on our loudspeakers, not anymore.
Another great reason to spend some extra money on this is how comfortable it is. I usually spend 3-4 hours straight rehearsing. With the 280 Pro I felt like I shouldn’t do more than 2 hours, cause my head and ears would hurt a little afterwards. With the HD 650 I feel like I can easily spend 5-6 hours with no problem.
Lastly, the replaceable wires is a big +. You never know when something stupid like what happened to me will happen to you, so better be safe having the option to replace wires, than having to trash or repair your headphones cause of a broken plug.
If you’re a Helix user and is searching for headphones, think HD 650 + Sweetwater. This is the way. I have spoken.

I purchased these to assist me in fine tuning mixes and so far I have been very impressed with the results. They have excellent clarity, seem to faithfully reproduce sound, and are very comfortable. Not cheap, but definitely worth the investment.

I can"t say enough about what these headphones are doing for me in my in home studio. I was referencing with monitors for the most part and it is all fin e during normal hours, but I"m not a normal hours type of producer. At night I was using my dj headphones and I thought they were ok, but I wasn"t getting the natural sound necessary to produce with the type of quality i thought I was capable of because my low end bass and kicks were always quiet when I"d play my tracks outside of my studio. I fixed that problem with these headphones. My dj headphones were too punchy. I had briefly used a pair of open back Sennheiser frhat belonged to a friend of mine and it blew me away. The sound was so natural and roomy. It was no wonder my tracks were turning out the way they were. I didn"t hesitate to get my self a pair and man do I love them. The comfort is amazing if your gonna spend long hours in the studio mixing and mastering. The only issue I had was that my pair did not come with the 3.5 mm adapter. Upon opening the sealed box it was nowhere to be found. Otherwise they are fantastic and the customer service experience was top notch as always!

I was looking for a reasonably price audiophile phone. I needed a higher impedance set so Sennheiser was a logical place to look. I figured that these had the possibility of being great phones as Sennheiser has been making the 650's since 2003! I listened carefully to my various choices in your show room and these were more open, better sounding, and with a greater sense of space than the 600's. (I had read some reviews that cited the 600's to be better than the 650's) They did require considerable breaking in to sound their best as they were 'stiff' right out of the box, but now have a very refined sound that to me is neutral, well balanced, and sweet throughout the spectrum. I have heard them referred to as 'darker' sounding and this is not my experience driven with both solid state and tube. What you will hear will obviously be greatly influenced by your amplifier.

One of my concerns was if I could enjoy my music in the same room with someone else watching TV or other activity without going to a closed back set. I found that if everyone chooses moderate volumes there is no annoying bleed-through either way. This is reassuring, because both noise canceling and closed back phones, though sometimes necessary, are not as comfortable on the ears for the wearer. These are comfortable on the ears as well as the head. I am pleased with the purchase and the price at Sweetwater.

My headphone experience goes way back to Koss Pro4AA, but other current sets are from AT and Shure.

I"ve just started using mine but so far the results have been very good. The mixes I have done using them sound very focused and balanced. They are a good team with my Focal monitors and Avantone MixCubes.

I"ve had these headphones for four years now, and I"ve decided the main reason they get so much love from certain superstar engineers (like George Massenburg) is that they have more of a "hi-fi" sound that lends itself well to making mixing and mastering decisions that translate better into the real world.

Bob Katz, for example, has said that one of the main problems with mastering on headphones (especially higher-end headphones) is that they exaggerate transients compared to most consumer playback systems. When I was learning how to mix, this was the root of a common problem I had... what sounded right in my headphones sounded dull in the car or on the living room stereo. So I would bounce back and forth between my studio and the other systems and end-up overcompensating with high frequency eq and low-end roll off.

The HD 650 helps to counter that disconnect with its "warm accuracy." Knowing how good recordings sound on these headphones is still absolutely mandatory... there is no substitute for knowing one"s monitoring system inside and out. But this makes the transition between consumer systems and highly-detailed monitoring a bit less jarring.

Ironically, these are the most popular headphones for using with Sonarworks Reference. They do take corrective EQ very well, I will admit. But that correction completely negates what makes these headphones so useful for mixing and mastering applications.

There is no "perfect" playback system out in the wild - obviously. Most of those miss that mark quite dramatically. The HD 650s help audio engineers deal with that reality, but without sacrificing overall transient response and accuracy. You can still hear the little details with these. They just won"t jump out and bite you in the eardrum when they do, and that is the crucial difference.

Undoubtedly the best headphones ever..

These are great neutral headphones. Ideal with dialing in tones with the Line 6 Helix.

Yes - the price is justified. Amazing sound and comfort.

I purchased these recently, and couldn't be happier. The mixes I do with these headphones translate consistently to my monitors and other listening environments. Highly recommend.

These headphones deserve your consideration.

I've been waiting for the right mixing headphone and wow now I have found them Truly happy with this purchase recommend any producer mixing their project grab a pair you won't be disappointed

I have used a variety of Sennheiser products over the years, always impressed with their combination of form and function. These are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used, very good if you spend long hours "in the cans". The sound is amazing, a very flat and balanced frequency response, accurately representing the source material so you can make good decisions about tracking and mixing that you won't regret later. The 650's bring out a lot of subtle details that you might have missed otherwise. I cannot say enough good things about these headphones!!

Thanks to my sales engineer Matt Alexander for quick responses, great advice, and great product knowledge, the best!!

I really didn't expect for them to sound as good as they sounded! I forgot I had them on! It gives you the same experience as if you were listening to your monitors.

I really don't need to say much in my review because I would be repeating what so many others have said. I'm the type of guy that prefers a flat and true sound. I enjoy hearing music exactly the way it was produced to sound like. My amp/DAC has a "Direct Mode" that when checked gives me the audio, mostly lossless FLAC or Monkey's Audio, in its purest form straight from the source. Any time I'm listening to music that mode is always enabled. I don't even use any EQ's at all.

I'm addicted to these and also my pair of HD 600's. I bought lighter and shorter oxygen free cables for both pair. The longer and heavier stock cables are in the boxes safe from harm. If you want a good quality case for the 650 or 600 check out the Geekria EJB-0034-01 case. They fit perfectly in that great looking case.

The only negative I have to add is that I regret not getting these sooner. I've known about them for many years. Many hours disappear quickly with these on my head but I suppose I'm trying to make up for the time I've lost not being able to enjoy them.

10 out of 10 stars!

Great pair of headphones that really bring music to life. The surround-sound effect these give you is unbelievable and make them the perfect pair to watch a movie on. I recommend them to anyone who really wants to be absolutely lost into their audio. The bass isn't crazy like the standard consumer sound, and much more reserved. The bass notes come through with detail I've never heard before.

If you're looking for something to mix and master on, I recommend getting the HD 600's, as they're flatter sounding and have a solid center. The HD 650's lack a strong center which was hard to mix on. The sound of these is colored, and may be too warm for some, so the 600's can be seen as the tame, less adulterated version. HD700 is just over the top, don't even think about it.

I am not a professional but needed an extra tool beside my monitors in order to increase the quality of my mixes, as my home office is not ideal for mixing.
My Sales engineer, Aaron Cieslikowski suggested this reference headphones over other open-back reference headphones (including Shure SRH1840, which was my first choice based on the customer reviews) and I am very happy that I eventually listened to him. As many other people truly mentioned here, you definitely need a good pair of monitors for mixing and mastering but HD650 is a very good extra reference tool for a final check over your mix and as Aaron said, you can hear things that you could hardly hear on monitors.
Nice and solid design, comes with a wooden box, very comfortable, super clear sound.

It's been about a year since I've purchased these headphones; I wanted to tune my ears to them before giving an accurate review.

I have to say, after listening to these day in and day out, and finally having a listen on my old cans (HD280), I really have no idea how I ever got by without them.

Granted, you should use monitors when mixing. However, certain details will only be revealed by having the sound directly up to your ears, and at the end of the day if your mix is good on your monitors, your headphones will confirm that. These are so well balanced, bass extremely tight and detailed, highs are crisp and detailed, and mid tone detail is very transparent.

As for comfort, these headphones can be worn all day, and when you take them off there will be no irritation.

These headphones are worth every penny, as you will never need another pair of headphones again after buying them.

Well, goes without saying that you don't need hyped frequencies or a lack of clarity when you're working on your mix or master. Senheiser HD 650 is the one I needed the most, because of its flat reference!
These are extremely accurate, natural-sounding headphones, an utmost importance for any recording engineer like me, who does his own mixing and mastering.
YOU HEAR THE REALITY!!!
Thank you Senheiser for this AWESOME headphones.

Mixes and Masters translate well. If a something sounds bad on these there is a big problem you need to fix... Don't quote me wrong...you still need speakers to reference effects (reverb,Delays and compression) however EQ decisions are easier to make on these. I took em for a spin in the mastering house and boy do they give the mastering speakers (i.e Barefoots) a good run...sssshhh don't tell anyone...

If you need them to be completely flat in response i recommend the sonarworks plugin but they are very pleasant in response regardless. Extended listening is a breeze.

I read reviews from many sites and from InnerFidelity and all the great things said about these headphones is true. What was even more impressive was how they sounded after about 50 hours of break-in. Don't get me wrong, they are very clear and neutral sounding headphones with a slight bass warming, which I like, especially at normal listening. But, the soundstage is so real after break-in, I wonder if I was listening to the same recording that I listen to with my other headphones, both Sony and Boise. My other headphones are very good performers but they are not in the same class as these Sennheiser's. I highly recommend them and I am sure you will not be disappointed. And if you want to really further your listening pleasure, add a good DAC and AMP and you will be very impressed.

Like so many for years I used good closed back cans to "check" mixes. I finally got wise and bought a pair that were specifically made for that purpose. You have to think about these as a set of alternate speakers. I would use them exclusively, but they will offer a truly valuable and unique perspective on a mix. They're also very comfortable and enjoyable.

If you're in any situation where acoustics are compromised (ie bedroom) these are a must. But even in a pro studio they are very helpful.

Great headphones as recommended. Well built, great looking and the detail is sharp but not cold. Huge soundstage. When you check your mixes you may hear the tiny details that you never knew were there. This is a great thing allowing for better mixes and better work. Very comfortable to wear for hours upon end.

Love the sound, still a bit uncomfortable was expecting it soft and like if you would forget to have it on, but hurts after ten minutes, but that's personal and might go out once it ages and I get used to it.

These could possibly be the best investment of 500 bucks I have made in awhile. You probably should have an amp for them but they sound great regardless. I've been using mine for three years with countless hours in the studio, listening, and traveling. They have held up nicely, but do have some wear/chipping in the paint finish. The material is perhaps a bit plasticky but I do drop them a decent amount and they seem to be in good shape still. These headphones make everything else sound and feel stupid. They are the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn and I have never once gotten tired or uncomfortable with them on. The response is super flat and accurate. It takes some time to get used to this so make sure you check your mixes on other systems. I would not recommend these for anything other than studio use. I am always excited to hear music through these and am convinced that these deliver the most detailed and spectacular listening experience.

Let me start by saying 2 good reasons I will always buy from sweetwater (Dennis k.) great informed advice and the best tech support ever.
The headphones lived up to the claims. An accurate reference for analyzing your mixes. Also great to listen to music on. Not all hyped up. They are a great tool for eq, stereo spread and balance.
Thanx again for the advice

I use my Sennheiser HD 650 headphones for mixing and mastering.
I am extremely satisfied with the results. They accurately translate my masters on systems ranging from PA systems to Ipods.

After reading many reviews on these headphones, I decided to take a chance and buy them. I believe these cans are the best headphones in this price range. I own, or owned Dre Beats Studio Detox, Grado SR125, Shure SRH440, Audio Technica ATH-M50, and Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro headphones. These Sennheisers beat them all in clarity and detail. They bring out every nuance in music, and have an airy, wide soundstage. There are a couple of details that should be said. The first is that these cans require POWER to sound very good. If you try to use these with your MP3 player, they'll most likely sound thin and lackluster. Home stereos, studios, or headphone amps will fare much better. Second, they're open-backed headphones, so anyone in the room can hear what you're listening to. To me, these aren't drawbacks, but they may be for someone else. All in all, if you got the loot (and you do because you're already considering them) buy them. Even if you don't have the money, Sweetwater makes buying them a breeze. Top notch headphones from a top notch company. Thanks Sweetwater!

Awesome !!

Definitively accurate ! Absolutely The Best Flat Reference Headphones for the price. A must have for mixing and/or mastering at a suitable volume. Very impressive bass response and detailed sound dynamics.

When I auditioned these headphones listening to mixes that I've done in the past, they brought a smile of astonishment to my face. They translated exactly how my mixes sounded in the studio! No bass, treble, or mid range hype, just the truth! You can't ask for anything more in a headphone and in fact, I heard slight panning details that I've never heard before when I checked my mixes on other cans. Buy these headphones, you won't be disappointed...

We went on a trip this summer and I let my wife use my Beyer Dynamic DT770's, and she said she wanted them. They are great cans, but this was the opportunity that I need to upgrade to the Sennheiser 650's. Within a week of returning from our trip they were at my door. Thanks Sweetwater.

I use them primarily for listening. Shortly they will be plugged into my Bottlehead Crack Tube Headphone amp. As they are the sound is just awesome. Very clean highs, and a nice but not overpowering bass. One of the most important things besides sound quality for me is the comfort. These are right up there with the Beyer 770's for comfort, but are definitely a step above the Beyer's for sound quality.

I can listen to these for hours with zero fatigue.

How good can these headphones be? The price says they gotta be good, but really, that good?
The HD 650 is Sennheiser's current top-of-the-line, serious, audiophile, reference headphone, and I've had them long enough now to listen to all types of music (through a special headphone amp) and they just keep sounding better and better. I don't get it. Well, I do . . .

The HD 650's are very nicely-built, light, yet substantial-feeling. Very comfortable soft velour pads. Quality, make no mistake. The cable is fairly heavy-duty (but not a sausage), unlike most phones' cables where they are skinny and frail. These have a gold-plated, one-quarter-inch pro phono plug and come with a likewise gold plated mini-plug adapter. The box these headphones come in has metal hinges, if that tells you anything.

If one were to describe the airiness, the spacial, tonal width, the landscape, the effortlessly tight response, the naturally keen detail, the lack of point source and the total, overall sonic VIEW these phones lay down, it would be very difficult to say enough about them. I mean, when you hear music (or anything) through these phones it's like nothing you've ever experienced. Speakers can't even come close. I have owned a bunch of headphones in my time, and always better, more expensive ones. These are the top of the mountain. From hear you can see it all.

Sorry if you were waiting for something negative about these headphones. I can't find anything like that to say.

Get these phones to experience the best. I don't say that because I bought a set. I say I bought a set because it is true.

I am very pleased with these headphones. The sound is amazing. I hear things now, I've never heard before. I edit TV shows and audio edits are a breeze. I know if a tough edit sounds good in my ears, they will be unnoticed through speaker. The lows are well defined and the highs are crisp but not tinny. And these are lightweight, so wearing them 8-10 hours a day without even knowing it, is a tremendous help. In this price range they can't be beat!

First thing i noticed right off the bat is that these sounded a bit darker than the DT-990s, ala 5-10k frequencies were a bit dampened. But the more i dug into it seems the DT-990s may have a slight boost in the high end so they may not have necessarily been telling me the truth when mixing/mastering. The DT-990s seem a bit better for finding splice pops from editing or clipping, etc. but i feel like the 650s are more truthful to how a mix will sound on loudspeakers. Additionally, these also aren't as comfortable as the DT-990s and fit a little tighter on my head, but I wouldn't say uncomfortable. Bottom line i think these have a more flat response, and if you get a mix sounding good on these it will translate well to other sound systems.

When I put them on I never want to take them off! There light, comfortable, and sound all together awesome!!! Thanks Sweetwater! Your friend Peter

These are most excellent headphones and a pleasure to listen to. They aren't truly studio headphones, but are, rather, audiophile headphones, which means that they are very precise, well-balanced, clear, and you can hear details you might never have heard before. But, I'm not sure they are particularly accurate.

By comparison with my studio monitors/subwoofer, these headphones produce a significantly darker sound, so instead of confirming what my monitors told me, I find that I am using them more to catch details and to hear my mix through a different sound producer. Used this way, these headphones are a very useful addition to the arsenal and they really help me to produce a better mix that will sound good in a wide variety of environments.

I looked long and hard at what was available in headphones of this quality and price, and to be completely honest, the reason that I bought these was that the price had just dropped significantly, due, I believe, to a new model coming to market. As it turns out, I am VERY pleased with these headphones, and would have been happy with my purchase, even at their normal price.

Highly recommended.

Flat, clean response...does need headphone amp to drive the heavy impedence to it's full potential...otherwise would be 5 star rating

Solid set of cans! I am definitely hearing details compared to the DT880 pro owning both of them now. These have a very balanced sound across the sound stage not emphasizing one band of frequencies over the other.

I ding them .5 stars ONLY because my DT880's feels like a cloud on my ears, and these are not as comfortable. I'm sure in time they will wear in though.

While not completely transparent, (there's a dip at 1Khz), these phones provide a rich and satisfying musical experience. They're not so colored that you couldn't use them for mixing, but I think they're better suited to mastering tasks.

And for pure listening pleasure, these cans make "Dark Side" sound phenomenal! ("Money" just KILLS!) And with the open back design you can still hear the environment around you, plus no "bass reflex" hype that you get from closed back designs. Can't go wrong with this pair!

Having owned a lot of headphones over the years, I think I have tentatively settled on these - after I finally matched them up with a headphone amplifier that is capable of working with 300-ohm cans. Plugged straight into my “decent” audio interface, I found them to be a little underwhelming - and after looking at the specs of the built-in headphone amp, it became clear why. Specs aside, the high frequencies seemed a bit recessed, and the mid-range lacked the clarity I expected of a pair of "reference headphones."

I tolerated this for almost a year. Then I caved and bought a third-party headphone amp for a reasonable price. (i.e. Not more expensive than the headphones themselves!)

The difference was not night-and-day, at least at first, but after hours of critical listening and hearing refinements that I was not hearing before, I came to the conclusion that the HD 650s really do benefit from a dedicated, powerful headphone amp - more than most.

So, now that I have them working the way I want them to, I will say that they do have a subjectively "warm" sound. My previous reference headphones were the AKG K701s, and they were noticeably more clinical. But with a 62-ohm impedance, they didn't seem to need a dedicated amplifier as much as the HD 650s do. Also, the low-mid frequencies are slightly more present on the Sennheisers (hence the “warm sound”), and the bass frequencies are MUCH more present than on the AKG headphones, which always sounded bass-light to me - this was the reason I let them go. I prefer something that makes bass-frequency problems more obvious than the K701s did.

I’ll also say that the HD 650s are a good reference, in that they give an engineer a better idea of how a mix will sound in the real-world than more linear transducers would - and since 99% of end-listeners listen on headphones that are far from that ideal, it is my opinion that rigid linearity is an unnecessary complication to the mixing process. I know some engineers who would disagree with me on that, and I would say to that, “to each their own.”

Here’s the bottom line: these headphones work for me because they are comfortable, they reveal more detail in recordings than I need them to the vast majority of the time, and their sonic presentation is not fatiguing in the least - something that I can't say for many of the headphones I have owned. The trade-off in absolute accuracy is one that I believe is worthwhile, keeping in mind that recording is a fundamentally reductive process as it is. Also worth mentioning is that they are reasonably priced. I have auditioned much more expensive headphones than these, and the value of that extra $ is dubious.

I’ll end this review with the standard audio-engineer-consumerist proverb: if you can’t make a good recording with these, you have bigger problems to address. These headphones (with an adequate amp) will not stand in your way, at any level. Whether they work for you is impossible to know until you integrate them into your workflow for a significant amount of time. Auditioning is HIGHLY recommended!

True reference sound, along with the ATH-RX70s by (Audio Technica).
Nice low end, full mids, and the treble is nicely extended but never SssssSSSSSSSSSSSsssss.
Best for listening, tho excellent for mixing & mastering.
Real value for your dollar.
You really cant go wrong with these or the ATH-RX70s.

This headphones are, extremely confortable, but over all the sound is really close to what I hear coming out of my main studio monitors, ecxellent to do mix reference, to do mixing on the go then to come back to the studio and just do minor ajustment, this cans are expensive, but you will get what you pay for.

Maybe it was 2004 - I can't recall.

For the money, the HD 600 or 650's are by far the best mid-ranged headphones you can get.

The cans are clarity in a word, nothing is overstated in any meaningful way allowing studio work (or just listening) to be represented with accuracy.
The high end has been coined as "veiled" - slightly dark, though I haven't found this to be the case for me personally. Top end sounds clear and precise without being sharp, mid range is warm and detailed, plenty of depth, and the bass is responsive without being overpowering or misleading.
Exactly what you need.
Also super comfortable for long listening, breathable. They do grip like a vice, maybe not in a bad way, but I imagine if you've got a larger head they may feel tight over time. For me they work just fine.

Sennheiser has been making these since the early 2000's (with some minor upgrades on the design since original release), says allot when the company doesn't need to replace the model after a few years - they work - don't fix what ain't broke!

The HD650's are decent on their own, but I honestly might have returned them if I hadn't tried them with Sonarworks Sound ID Reference headphone calibration software. I wanted something with a really flat, natural sound, and these just weren't doing it for me. The low end was lacking and the mids were just off enough that I didn't feel like I could trust them. Once I demo'd them with Sonarworks, it was a whole different story. The bass came to life, the mids flattened out, and my buyer's remorse melted away. Sonarworks also works in and out of your DAW, so you can listen to anything on your computer through it. Add GoodHertz Can Opener into the mix and I feel like I'm mixing on high end studio monitors in a well treated studio. So I do recommend the HD650's, but with the caveat that it's probably worth your while to invest in Sonarworks or other similar software with it.

To burn-in my Sennheiser HD650, I subjected it to 120 hours of music (pink noise, rock, jazz and classical). Now it sounds slightly smoother and more relaxed, perhaps due to a placebo effect. I also own a Sony WH-1000XM3 which I prefer thanks to its warmer tonality.
Thank you Sweetwater for an excellent customer service.

I bought these on the recommendation of a Grammy award winning engineer producer turned mastering engineer. They are very detailed and easy to listen to. An extremely smooth and extended top end. They have already taught me some valuable lessons in constructing the soundstage in my mixes (I've been mixing for 30 years). My only gripe is that they are slow to break in as regards the headband being a bit tight. I can tell that it is loosening up to fit my head shape (narrow), but I wish it would hurry up and settle. The sound quality is excellent for the money. You would have to spend $1,200.00 to get into the realm of a significantly better set of headphones.

I use these HPs for listening in a home system. My rating is this low only because I'm comparing these with some reference headphones that I own. These are some of the best bang for the buck cans that I own but I'm not saying they are inexpensive. They have the Senn. smoothness but with a warmer sound than an unmodded HE 800. To get everything these beauties can give, I would use them with a dedicated headphone amp. If the user has a balanced output on their amp I would recommend getting a 4 pin XLR balanced cable. The clamping force is tighter than some cans I own but because of the sound quality, I can put up with that slight inconvenience. If I only had to have one set of headphones and wasn't going to spend for one of the reference cans then these are the ones I would buy. Also Sweetwater's finance plan is a great way to get into some nice equipment.

These are my go to headphones for studio mix and CD listening reference!
Open sound field with balanced response and imaging.

For years I've read glowing reviews about the HD650 headphones, so I finally decided to give them a try. Do they sound good? Yes. Are they worth the expense? I dunno. To be honest, I'm not blown away by their sound. I own a pair of the DT990 Pros and they're 80% as good as they 650's for less than half the price. I'm having a little bit of buyer's remorse here. They are very good headphones, I just expected something more for the money.

Sure these are perfect for some and while they were really flat I found myself overcompensating on the highs in a mix. Didn't work for me.

I like these cans, but I was a bit disappointed. The sound is a bit flat for my tastes when compared to some of my other headphones; for example my Grado 225's blow them out of the water. But those Grado's are a twisted up mess, so I guess the HD 650's have that on them.

Spend this type of money for headphones only to have to purchase new pads to be able to use them.